WebParenTips - The Online Parenting Newsletter vol.4 no.10, Oct, 2003 

                           LEARNING AT HOME

OK, the kids are back at school. Now what they learn is up to the teachers, right?

Wrong!

Parents have a huge role to play in how and what their children learn. Children's
brains soak up knowledge like sponges but they need a little help from the adults
in their lives, especially their parents.

I talked to a single father last week who is very devoted to his two boys. The father
told me he feels inadequate to help teach his sons because he didn't have much
schooling himself. My son asked me where Ethiopia was and I didn't know.

None of us, no matter how many degree initials we are entitled to put after our name
know everything. But there is a way for ALL parents to be able to answer most
questions posed to them by their kids. Set up a mini reference library in your home.

All it takes is a dictionary and a globe or atlas and a one-volume encyclopedia like
The Columbia Encyclopedia. These are affordable for many but if new books are too
pricey for you check out the used book stores--an outdated reference volume can still
answer most of your kid's questions. (An encyclopedia and computer would be great
but these are always available at the library.)

The advantage of a home reference library is that you can be involved and engaged
with your children while you look up something TOGETHER. You are teaching your
child a life-long lesson: everybody has to keep learning, even grownups, and when
you don't know the answer you look it up. Besides it's fun to look something up
and learn it together.

Your kids won't remember you didn't know where Ethiopia was. But they will
always remember you cared enough about them and the world to look it up together.


Happy Parenting,
Marilyn Heins, M.D.


NOTE: There are New ParenTips on the website. See: ParenTips


For comments, suggestions or requests for future topics
please write: info@parentkidsright.com


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Dr. Marilyn Heins is a Tucson pediatrician, parenting
columnist for the Arizona Daily Star, author of the book,
ParenTips, as well as a mother, stepmother and grandmother.

She is available for workshops and lectures to groups of
parents, teachers, and grandparents. Dr. Heins' Lectures
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More parenting information can be found in
Dr. Heins' book, ParenTips