While math can be fun and challenging for some children, others will be more like “I’m not good at math” or “I don’t like math”. For kids who struggle with math – the ones who have trouble with math no matter what they try – it’s not uncommon to feel anxiety when even simply thinking about math. Math anxiety includes negative feelings about math, feelings of inadequacy and general fear and avoidance of math.

Challenges in Understanding Math Anxiety

A growing body of research shows that many adults and older students experience math anxiety. But only in recent years have researchers been looking to early childhood to understand the roots of the problem and how it is entangled with math performance. Molly Jameson, professor of educational psychology at the University of Northern Colorado who studies math anxiety in young children, indicates that it’s unclear in the literature if people with a low level of knowledge develop anxiety because they need skills or whether a low feeling of confidence leads to lack of knowledge. Exploring the causes and effects of math anxiety can help teachers identify how and where to intervene when students are struggling.

Measuring Math Anxiety

The first step in understanding math anxiety is determining how to measure how math-anxious young students are in the first place. However, the scales used to measure anxiety in adults aren’t always appropriate for young children, and there is no single scale used by most researchers.

In her Children’s Anxiety in Math Scale, Jameson uses a series of faces “” smiling face vs. frowning face for lack of anxiety/ anxiety.

Colleen Ganley, professor of psychology at Florida State University, developed a different scale for her research that asks students to answer questions about their relationship with math on a scale of “yes, kind of, not really, and no.” She also notes that some surveys ask if a child feels butterflies in his or her stomach in math class. But one child she surveyed said he felt butterflies because he loved math so much, and another associated that feeling with hunger.

Copyright: Milica Nistoran

Causes of Math Anxiety

In the study conducted at the University of Chicago, Sian Beilock, professor of psychology, found that students report worry and fear about doing math as early as first grade. Most surprisingly math anxiety harmed the highest-achieving students. According to Beilock math anxiety has a variety of sources including:

• Prior unpleasant math experiences – Anxiety is often cumulative, and students may look back at a frustrating experience learning math from parents, or a previous bad grade from years ago.
• Timed tests and related pressures – Even if a student has no problems completing their work at home, they could temporarily forget the needed math concepts in the middle of a major test. Since the outcome of tests usually affects a student’s overall math grade, the negative results of math anxiety reinforce their feeling of inadequacy, thus creating a cycle of anxiety and failure.
• Risk of public embarrassment – If a student has been embarrassed in front of a sibling or group of peers when failing to correctly complete a math problem, it can make his or her anxiety worse.
• Parental and teacher attitude towards math – Students can also pick up on their teacher’s/parent’s feelings about math. If a teacher/parent is excited and positive about math, the students will be as well. But if educators or parents are negative about it, this can have the opposite effect.

Helping students see math tests and assignments as challenges instead of threats

Parents play a crucial role in encouraging more positive attitudes in students about math. In the process students should also develop positive study habits that will help them excel in math as math concepts become more complex. Here are some ways parents can help their children avoid stress about math:

• Positive Reinforcement

One of the best ways to help children overcome math anxiety is through positive reinforcement of their intelligence and skills. Review homework with your child and point out all the questions he or she got right. Focus on correct answers rather than mistakes. Or try to create positive emotions by connecting math to the child’s interests. For example, if the student likes sports, use sport-related word problems. It’s also beneficial to surround your child with peers and teachers who feel comfortable with and excited about math.  

• Show them the Relevance

Kids are turned off when they don’t see a purpose for what they’re learning. Therefore, it’s important to help them connect and practice math in real life. Involve them in activities like telling time, checking temperature and using money. Have your child measure ingredients for a recipe you are making. Little ones can sort coins, older ones can help estimate the total cost while shopping or count the change at the grocery store.

• Make Math Fun

Playing math games (using math apps, solving math puzzles or using LEGO bricks to build geometric shapes) calms kids who are naturally math anxious and allow them to practice skills in a non-threatening environment. Games also tend to be more engaging than typical math curriculum and stimulate multiple senses that accelerate learning.

• Reframe Anxiety

Experts suggest that reframing anxiety can improve math performance. Encourage your child to discuss and write down his or her concerns and worries regarding math ahead of time. When they think critically, students can realize their fears are groundless. For younger students, expressive picture drawing, rather than writing, may also help lessen the burden of math anxiety.

How did you prevent your children from becoming math-anxious or help them overcome their math anxiety? Share with us your ideas and experiences. We’d like to hear from you.

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Your child is learning all the time, whether that be being taught the alphabet by their kindergarten teacher or discovering the meaning of a new word during their bedtime story. So it’s important that you and kindergarten teachers work in tandem to allow your child to reach their full learning potential. Kindergarten teachers have been aware of this for quite some time – parent-teacher conferences are there for a reason! It’s not too late for you to jump on board too by realising the 4 things teachers want you to know.

1. Parents Play a Critical Role

It’s obvious that parents play a critical role at home, but when your child starts kindergarten it’s important that you don’t just give them a kiss goodbye and say I’ll pick you up soon. While this is helpful in comforting your child, it’s important that you also take some steps to help out their teacher – this will have huge benefits for your child’s development. As your child’s first teacher (you did teach them how to walk and talk, among other things, after all), you may feel like you’re missing out on their growth. Nonetheless, you should welcome kindergarten teachers as important partners over the next stages of your child’s development and ensure they are kept up to speed with what you’ve noticed in your child. Is your child a visual learner or do they prefer to learn by doing? Does your child have a relatively short or long attention span? These are all things involving your child’s development that are important for kindergarten teachers to know so they can determine a learning program that best fits your child’s needs – so work together with their kindergarten teacher. That being said”¦

2. The Value of Families and Teachers Working Together as Partners is Research-Based

You hear a lot of things as a parent – everyone always seems to want to give you advice. But establishing a collaborative partnership with your child’s kindergarten teacher carries a value that has been proven by research. When schools and families acknowledge the relevance of parental involvement, kindergarten teachers are able to develop a supportive environment for learning. The benefits for children may at such an early stage appear too broad or long-term, but the patterns for success begin in early childhood and extend into later life with things such as higher grades, better attendance, more positive attitudes and behaviour, as well as greater enrolment in higher education.

3. Communication is Key

It’s all very well for you to know that partnership with kindergarten teachers is important, but the only way to actually achieve this is through communication. The best way to do this is to establish a means of talking to your child’s kindergarten teacher, who will want to accommodate this in the best way for you and your family. Approach your child’s teacher and ask them how they recommend you learn more about your child’s learning programme, as well as their wider school life. Also be sure to share your preferred method of communication, whether that be email, text, phone call or through “letters home” in your child’s book bag. There’s no right way – just make sure you and your child’s kindergarten teacher are on the same page!

Copyright: Photographee.eu

4. Teachers Want to Know What Makes Your Family Unique

Life is incredibly diverse and kindergarten is no different; the relevance of your specific home and culture is of great importance in terms of your collaboration with your child’s kindergarten teacher. You should take the time to inform the teacher of the unique characteristics that define your family and the way your child is being brought up. For instance, my parents always made sure my kindergarten teachers knew I was being brought up in a multilingual home and that they were both immigrants whose native languages weren’t English. Not only did sharing this information mean my teachers knew to focus on helping me develop my English language skills, but it also allowed them to appreciate that I was open-minded and curious to learn about different ideas, thereby meaning I received a kindergarten education that was catered towards developing both my identified strengths and weaknesses. For the sake of your child’s education and development, “sharing is caring” – so let’s do more of it.

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MyChild is a groundbreaking app that updates parents with information, reports, and pictures of their children during their time at daycare.  It is currently used by childcare centers in over 25 states across the country and is still rapidly expanding. Since its inception in 2012, the company has raised $3 million in funding.  It’s amount of employees is also increasing as they plan to jump from 10 to 19 staff members by the end of this month. As more daycare centers across the United States begin to use MyChild, the company will only continue to grow. Plans are already in motion to expand internationally in the near future.

Copyright: Fh Photo

MyChild was founded by a Dad, Hugo Augusto. Like most people with children, Augusto sends his two year-old boy to daycare while he works. Augusto came up with the idea for the app because he never really had a good idea how his child was doing during the course of the day. The written reports from the daycare was so generic and often got lost in the daily shuffle of his busy workday combined with raising his toddler. A phone app was therefore the best solution.

MyChild Promotes Parent and Child Bonding

The idea behind the app is that parents can check in whenever they get the chance during their busy days. Whether this is at lunch or in between meetings, parents will be able to carry on with a clear conscience knowing that their child is happy, healthy, and taken care of. The accessibility of technology today makes this such a successful way of getting information to parents. In an instant they can pull up an update or picture of their little ones no matter what they’re doing or where they are.

Copyright: GaudiLab

Besides just updating the parents, MyChild also promotes parent and child bonding. According to the Center for American Progress, about 24 percent of children attend some sort of daycare. This can lead to a lack of substance in a parent-child relationship as the two just aren’t together for enough time during the day. MyChild provides a solution to the issue as it can let you know what your child is up to. Maybe one day they’re playing with blocks or spending time with a new friend. Whatever they are up to, parents can see this and have a better idea how their child wants to spend their time. This will keep parents in better touch with their children.

MyChild Application Allows Parents to Be Close to Their Children

Other important information can be shared on the app.  This includes what meals the child has been served and how much they ate, the amount of time then spent sleeping versus socializing, and even updates on the child’s mood and attitude.  The overarching goal is to keep parents up to speed with everything going on with their child.

Copyright: Patryk Kosmider

MyChild is one of many new innovations utilizing modern technology to make the world a better place. So much focus recently has been on the dangers of becoming too digital that sometimes we lose sight of how technology can truly benefit the world. Companies like MyChild display the true power of the modern world and just how greatly we can positively impact the world by making use of the resources around us. Something as simple as daycare updates via an app can aid thousands of parents with their ability to be close to their children while raising them properly and catering to their needs.  

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How do you like the idea behind this app? Would you like it to be made available in your country too? Please share your comments with us in the section below.  

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– No?

– We can’t either.

Colors, imagination, fun: this all comes into mind when somebody starts to design a space for children. Their world is, after all, made of dreams, colors and rainbows, so an architect really needs to let his inner child out so he can design a place that a kid too will love and enjoy.

This is why we have decided to start a series of texts showing the world’s most interesting kindergartens. Let’s let our inner child out and get inspired to give the best to our kids too. Maybe some of these designs will inspire an architect to design a kindergarten in your neighbourhood too.

Inside the world’s most interesting kindergarten

How do you build school where you let children be children?

Think like a kid, says Takaharu Tezuka.

At Fuji Kindergarten outside Tokyo, kids make the most of a magical environment designed just for them. The roof of their oval-shaped school, designed by Tokyo-based firm Tezuka Architects, is an endless playground, and trees grow right through classrooms.

The main designer, Takahuru Tezuka, said that the main source of inspiration for this kindergarten were his own kids, who are now 12 and 9. Whenever he felt in doubt, he would channel them and try to think like they think, feel what they feel.

Listen to his charming talk where he talks about a design process that made this kindergarten kids’ favorite:

What do you think? Would you too wish that there are schools like this in your neighbourhood? What about the concept? How do you like it?

The post The Most Interesting Kindergartens of the World appeared first on Novak Djokovic Foundation.

Should we enroll our child into kindergarten? We already have some family members who can take care of our kid, and we can even hire a nanny…So, we are not sure what would be the best option for the child”¦

Many parents have the same dilemma, they ask similar questions, trying to find the best solution.Why is that so?

The way teachers work with children, nutrition issues, child’s disapproval and rejection of   kindergarten and obligatory afternoon naps are just some of the reasons why parents give up the idea of kindergarten, so they try to find another solution. These and many other questions also have the parents of children with special needs. Not every kindergarten has specially trained teachers to work with children with disabilities, and that might be a problem. Another thing is that such institutions are often quite distant and it is difficult for parents to take their children there .

Therefore, I would like to tell you how my brother felt in the kindergarten, and to share his experience over this. He spent some great time there, and with the help of loving and caring teachers he learned to accept other children. He made many new friends there, too. I hope this story will provide answers to some of the questions parents of children with special needs face with, and to solve their dilemma – to enroll a child in kindergarten or not?

Luka started kindergarten before he was 6. Before that, my parents have tried to get him work with defectologist, but he was not so cooperative. It seemed that defectologist worked inadequately with Luka, since after a couple of months it showed no results. Then we started looking for an institution that would be appropriate for him. We soon discovered that there is a kindergarten in our neighbourhood, named after the famous Serbian children’s poet Duško Radović. It has special groups for not more than five children with different types of disabilities. Some of these kids are blind, others do not speak, some have celebral palsy or other kind of disabilities. The questions parents try to find an answer to are – who will take care of children; are the teachers experienced educators; are they fully committed to work? Is it safe to leave a child with special needs during the day, since the child has already built habits? Will the teachers be able to recognize these things and will they understand your child better than you, especially if the child says nothing?

First of all, without any doubt, teachers who work with children with special needs are trained to do so, they are experienced enough, they can understand the needs of your child and help him or her learn something new. It may not be easy at the beginning, but over time, with your help and suggestions, they will get to know your child well enough and they will be able to give him the best care and attention at any moment. Before going to kindergarten Luka was very attached to family members. He rarely allowed a stranger to come near him, or to cuddle and play with him. That’s why we were worried about his starting kindergarten. We were wondering how would he behave and whether would he want to cooperate at all…

However, the same situation is with children without developmental disabilities. They also do not accept so easily staying in kindergarten. I remember how I used to run away from my grandmother when I realized that I had to sleep in the nursery. My sister also cried every time our parents took her to kindergarten. This lasted until she discovered a delicious snack, met new friends and when she realized that being in kindergarten and playing with kids could be so much fun. My parents knew that even though there was a possibility that Luka did not immediately accept new environment, staying with children was very important and would be of great importance for his socialization.

During his first day in kindergarten Luka spent just half an hour with teachers. Every next day he stayed longer and it turned out that there was no reason for worry. He even found his favourite place in the room – he liked to rest sitting on a lazy bag or mattress. He slowly got to know kindergarten teachers. At first, he did not accept any of their suggestions, the overall environment was new for him, and like every child it took him some time to fully adjust. He was lucky to have wonderful teachers such as Gaga and Bilja, as well as nurse Daca, who were constantly there for him and his friends. Although each of these kids has specific needs and different characters, the teachers   became their friends and they found a way to meet their every need.

This provides an answer   to another question that bothers many parents. Given the specific medical condition of their child, many fear that the teacher will not know how to react in case of emergency such as epileptic seizures, injuries or similar things in the right way in order to help the child.   That’s why each group has a nurse who is there to provide the child with adequate care and to help him according to his or her health condition. If she is as nice, funny and thoughtful as Luka’s nurse Daca, parents can be sure that their child is in good hands. Luka’s kindergarten teachers quickly became fond of him. They tried to get to know him, discovering what he likes in order to make his staying in kindergarten nice and interesting. He tried to climb to every place he could find in the room, when he thought that the teachers went out. They sometimes remained silent on purpose, just to see if he would make some mischief. They let him explore every corner of the room and playground. Most of the time he was swinging and climbing on the jungle gym. Thanks to Gaga, Daca and Bilja, my brother Luka has mastered various skills and became popular among friends.

The next thing parents fear is whether their child would like food in kindergarten.Many of Luka’s friends have a specific diet. When he went to kindergarten Luka refused to eat many things. Only a few dishes were on his menu, and my mom had to feed him. In case she was absent, the feeding was dad’s or my own responsibility. “How will he hold all day without eating?” – we frequently wondered. Indeed, Luka initially refused to eat in kindergarten. Like all blind children, he has a very developed sense of smell, and before he tastes sometning, he smells it and if he does not like the smell, he refuses even to try it. I can say that his eating was my mom’s biggest concern. However, as the time passed Luka slowly started to eat different dishes in the kindergarten. He also accepted to be fed by teachers. I believe that other children, who are in the same situation, stop refusing food. Being hungry they eat and try out some new flavours. In most cases in kindergarten kids eat what they have never tasted before at home. It takes only a little bit of patience and persistence. Even today we are surprised when the teacher tells us that Luka has drunk yogurt, or ate a cucumber or croissant. He does not want even to try these things at home. So, do not be afraid to enroll your child in kindergarten only because you are worried what your child should eat there. You may soon ask for the recipes that kindergarten is using to prepare food for children and make the very same cake that your child is eating in kindergarten.

The fact that small number of kindergartens that have groups for children with special needs is definitely a problem in the city we live. As a result, distance to adequate institutions seems like a big obstacle for some parents. However, it is very important for your child’s socialization to be in a group with other children. Staying in kindergarten is also an excellent preparation for school. The benefits are great and it is worth changing two bus lines and crossing a few kilometres to get to the kindergarten.

Groups for children with special needs are small and parents may think that their children are too isolated, comparing to other kids. They are also concerned that their children with disabilities will not be accepted in the community, and that it would be better to enroll them in an institution for children with special needs only. To our surprise, Luka quickly accepted other children, and they became fond of him as well. Girls of his age from regular groups often took him out to play. He also used to come to regular groups on his own, and he spent some time there with the children. Everybody liked him and shared toys with him. I believe that, if there is a posibility, every kindergarten should have a group for children with special needs. In that way other kids could learn to accept children with disabilities.

Luka went to kindergarten until last fall when he started first grade at school for the blind and visually impaired. Staying in kindergarten and working with dedicated and attentive teachers prepared him not only for school, but for everyday situations as well. He was no longer a child who did not allow almost anyone to come near him. Instead, he became one of the most popular boys in kindergarten and definitely one of the biggest molly-coddies. For a New Year the teachers gave him as a present album with the photos on which was Luka taking part in the masquerade ball, playing and making mischief. I hope that Luka’s experience with kindergarten will encourage many moms and dads who hesitate to enroll their children with special needs in kindergarten. I also believe that every nursery has its own Gaga, Bilja or Daca with whom your child can spend great time and learn many new things.

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