Promoting Family Togetherness With Communal Computing

Families are often fractured these days, whether through work or social commitments, marriage breakdown, the social lives of children – the list goes on. However it is so important for families to do things together, even when they are amazingly busy. One simple thing to do is to bring establish a family computer for use in a communal family area like the living room – it allows the family to learn and interact together, and is one simple way to promote togetherness as a positive thing.

Every member of the family can get something out of it. Not only is the family spending more time together, but they are doing it in safety and together. The more a family does together, the closer they are, and that’s a simple fact. It is also beneficial for members of the family to see what the others are doing – sort of broadening their horizons and learning new skill sets and concepts at the same time.

For example, the kids could get a lot out of seeing Mom and Dad explore different investment options and comparing online penny stock brokers to try and get a better deal. Not only does it introduce important adult concepts such as responsible investing, but also comparison and analysis. Parents can also help the older kids out by helping to search for jobs for teenagers online in an effort to earn extra money and learn responsibilities and time management.

All in all, moving a computer to a central communal location is a good idea for the whole family. IT promotes togetherness and safety online, which is always the most important issue. It’s important to be a part of each other’s lives, and encouraging a communal focus on online activities is one of the best ways to achieve that – after all the online world is here to stay, it is us that has to adapt.

  • Tailgating Family Style (fryingpansports.com)

Teaching Your Child Critical Thinking

Children who are critical thinkers are not afraid to be curious.  They have the ability to ask good grades that are higher than average; even in public school systems where individualized teaching is largely impossible, they thrive better than most peers because teachers have a better idea on how to address their academic needs.  While critical thinking may come naturally to some children, parents can provide guidelines and foster this skill as well.  Teach your child to think critically by allowing them to consider the following methods of inquiry:

  • What exactly do you mean by that? Clarifying meaning is a more active way of learning rather than simply accepting what you are told.  Asking for clarification indicates interest, and communicates the desire to learn more.  Children who are not afraid to ask questions when they do not fully understand something make the most out of their education.  Even outside the class, asking for clarifications fosters good interaction with other people, and helps curb the bad habit of assuming too much.
  • I wonder why that happens. Curiosity is the jumping board for learning.  It opens up the mind to new things and deeper knowledge.  Moreover, it shows awareness of the surroundings and sharpens the intellect.  The curious child is a learning child.
  • How can you tell? It isn’t enough to know information.  In a lot of academic subjects, the ability to arrive at the correct answer is important.  The child must learn the logical processes involved in order to be able to duplicate the solution to a particular answer.
  • Is there any other explanation? Critical thinking implies being able to discern things rather than just memorizing data.  If school is preparation for the real life, then students must learn to think for themselves.  In the adult world, one problem often has more than just one solution.
  • Am I explaining something or just labeling it? Book learning is somewhat heavily focused on categorizing things rather than truly understanding what it means.  For example, while a child knows that biology uses binomial nomenclature, he must also be able to know what it means.  Understanding what a thing really is and knowing how it works rather than simply knowing what it is called is the hallmark of analytical thinking.

Critical thinking goes beyond the mere accumulation of data.  It promotes comprehension and enhances the ability to appropriately apply gained knowledge to real-life situations and problems.  It is never too early, nor too late to teach your child how to think critically.  This is a skill that will prove valuable to him for the rest of his life.

Joana Chrystal Ventura-Moises RN is also our expert blogger on plumbing and shower screens.  She contributes home improvement articles to other websites as well.

  • Encourage Critical Thinking in Gifted Students (brighthub.com)
Enhanced by Zemanta