Why Parents Should Consider Volunteering?
As parents, we often guilt ourselves for not spending more quality time with our children. One way to make up for lost time with your child is to volunteer at their school. Volunteering is a great way for parents to be more involved in their child’s life. Here are some of the top reasons volunteering can be so beneficial! 1. You get a better understanding of how your child is performing at school. Children spend a great deal of time…
5 Fun Kid-Friendly Things to Do In Winter Garden, Florida
With Winter Garden being one of the more popular places to live in Orange County, the city has several activities the whole family will enjoy. Located only 11 miles away from Disney World and 14 miles west of Downtown Orlando, Winter Garden is close to many of top tourist attractions. Here are some of the best kid-friendly things you can do in Winter Garden, Florida: 1. Monkey Joe’s – Pointe Orlando: 9101 International Dr International Drive / I-Drive, Orlando, FL…
10 Fast and Healthy Breakfast Ideas
As one of the most important meals of the day, breakfast is often the meal skipped the most. As parents, it’s easy to get carried away with our busy schedules and forget to make breakfast, but it’s important that you make sure your child has a balanced breakfast every day to support their growth and development! If you want to ensure your child’s success in school, breakfast will give your child the nutrients they’ll need to perform well in the…
4 Ways To Teach Your Child Empathy
As parents, most of us make sure our children are put in the best schools so they can reach their full potential and attain a high level of intelligence. However, one aspect of intelligence that’s often overlooked is emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is important because it is the key to both personal and professional success, as it deals with the ability of being aware of, controlling, and expressing one’s emotions, and handling interpersonal relationships with logic. One of the main…
Making the Most of Birthdays
Birthdays come once a year, and they are special days for everyone, especially young children. They look forward to a whole day dedicated to them, with lots of food and fun in store. If you want to make the most of your child’s birthday, here are some tips to prepare and throw a great party! Plan ahead Any good celebration takes some planning in advance. Even when a birthday party is casual, party-goers need to know what time to show…
The Benefits of Sports
Sports, or any physical activity, are important for a child’s whole well-being. Whether playing with a club or just casually with a few friends, sports can offer many benefits for a child’s physical, social and emotional growth! Sports, for the body Staying active is especially important for children, because they are at a stage in life where physical development occurs quickly. Specifically, sports can help with physical growth in these ways: Motor skills: Hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills come…
Handling Anger
Anger is a difficult emotion for children to handle, and it sometimes leads to undesirable behaviors. But anger is a natural emotional response for everyone, especially for children who are learning to recognize and control their feelings. Here are a few tips you may keep in mind when teaching your child how to manage their anger. Anger is natural, expect it When your child gets angry, it doesn’t mean that is one of their personality traits. Children naturally have a…
“Do as I Say, Not as I Do”: Does it Work?
“Do as I say, not as I do” is a typical parenting phrase that signals children not to copy negative behaviors they are about to witness. Some parents believe that simply telling their children what to do is enough to ensure positive development. But is that really the case? How Children Learn To understand how children learn, we must first look into how children absorb information. Between the ages of 0-5, your child’s capacity for learning is at its peak.…
“No”, The Discussion on Negative Language
Keeping a positive learning environment for children at all times is a challenge, for parents and teachers alike. Children don’t have all the answers or know how to behave in every situation, and guiding them through the learning process often comes with some frustration. In these moments, it’s easy to use negative words, like the word “No”. But is it harmful to a child’s development to use “No”? The discussion on positive vs. negative language has been around for years,…
Sleepy Time: Getting a Full Night’s Sleep
Getting enough sleep is essential. This is true for everyone, and especially for children. Numerous studies have discovered the benefits of getting a full night of sleep every evening, as well as the consequences of sleep deprivation. Here are a few ways of getting the proper amount of sleep can help your child: The Health Benefits of Sleep Prevents Illnesses: During the sleep cycle, the body repairs itself and lets the immune system push out toxins that can make us…
Teaching Your Child the Value of Money
We all want our children to grow up to be successful individuals. A strong academic foundation, like the one at Cranium Academy, is a great start but there are other ways that you can start ensuring your child’s future success. One of them is teaching them good financial habits. Attitudes and financial habits develop at a very early age, which is why it’s so important for us to teach our children how to responsibly handle money from the get-go. Below…
Building Cranium Character – Creating Good Citizens
Today many parents are not only searching for schools that will set up their children for strong academic success, but also for schools that will develop their child both socially and emotionally. Strengthening and building a child’s character while in school can be every bit as important as learning reading or math. Martin Luther King Jr. once said “Intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education.” Many preschool and elementary schools focus solely on…
Building Cranium Character – Raising a Compassionate Child
When looking for a childcare center for their little one, most parents want to ensure their child is receiving the best academic education. But for young children, there is so much more to learn than ABCs and 123s. It’s important to look at the learning environment and the overall atmosphere of the establishment. In addition to academic development, does the childcare center prioritize the importance of learning valuable life lessons and developing a good moral compass? The best childcare center…
Building Cranium Character – Raising a Respectful Child
Parents (and school teachers) often focus on developing a child’s academic and cognitive skills. Sometimes we overlook the importance of social and emotional development, which can be equally important. While cultivating a child’s reading and math skills is essential, instilling a strong sense of values and character traits that improve social and emotional wellness can be key in helping children succeed. This is where character education comes in. Character education helps build a moral foundation for children, teaching them valuable…
Building Cranium Character – Fostering Fairness
Most parents worry about finding a school with the best academic education for their children. But sometimes we forget that cognitive skills are not the only skills that need to be nurtured beginning at a young age. To help children be successful in school and beyond, it’s equally as important to help them develop social and emotional skills. This is where character education comes in. Character education helps teach children essential life skills and values that they will carry with…
Building Cranium Character – Rearing a Responsible Child
From fairness and generosity to responsibility and respect, instilling good character traits is a high priority for most parents. Children learn about character through their relationships and interactions, and they learn to model the behavior that they see around them. We place a lot of emphasis on academics in education, but are we nurturing the development of life skills while encouraging ethical and responsible behaviors? This is where character education comes in. Character education is about teaching children valuable life…
The Benefits of Raising a Bilingual Child
In an increasingly interconnected world, where diversity is celebrated now more than ever, bilingualism has become a main topic in many family households. Some parents have even made raising a bilingual child a top priority. There are many benefits to raising a bilingual child, including cognitive and social benefits. Here are just a few: Positive Effects on the Brain According to pediatrician Dr. Gwendolyn Delaney, when an additional language is introduced before age 5, there is a more pronounced effect…
Curing the School Day Blues
If you are a parent (and your child is not attending Cranium Academy), you have probably heard the dreaded words through pouty lips and clenched fists, “I don’t wanna go to school!” or worse yet, “I hate school!” But what exactly is it that gives children the school day blues just before getting out of the house to go to school? Reason #1 – Your child might be bored. In traditional schools where teachers must remain focused on preparing kids…
How to Avoid Spoiling and Build Gratitude During the Holiday Season
With the holiday season in full swing and the wish lists getting longer each day, we often get carried away with presents. We all want our kids to feel special, but many parents worry about spoiling their children during the holidays. Sharing our time, values and traditions with them can often be more meaningful. The holidays are a great time to teach our children lessons in gratitude, setting limits and giving to others. Here are some ways to give your…
Tackling the Tooth Topic – What To Know About Losing Teeth
Although it’s different for each child, most kids start losing their baby teeth around age 6 when they are in kindergarten or first grade. This can be scary for some children, and exciting for others. If you have an older child as well, then you already know the drill. But if you’re a first-time parent, then you might have a few burning questions. Here are some tips that can help you tackle this toothy situation! Which teeth fall out first?…
Kicking the Bad Habits: Nail Biting and Picking
If your child is about to start preschool or daycare, it’s time to start breaking some of their bad habits. In this series, we will cover some tactics that will help you kick those bad habits to the curb. Today’s bad habit is nail biting and picking. Nail biting and picking is the most common of the bad habits. Your child might bite her nails because of boredom, stress, or even just to imitate you. Nail biting is a bad…
Kicking the Bad Habits: Nose Picking
If your child is about to start preschool or daycare, it’s time to start breaking some of their bad habits. In this series, we will cover some tactics that will help you kick those bad habits to the curb. Today’s bad habit is nose picking. If you’ve ever noticed your child digging for gold anywhere in public, you’re probably familiar with that immediate feeling of embarrassment that washes over you. As gross as it seems, nose picking is a normal…
Kicking the Bad Habits: Hair Pulling
If your child is about to start preschool or daycare, it’s time to start breaking some of their bad habits. In this series, we will cover some tactics that will help you kick those bad habits to the curb. Today’s bad habit is hair pulling. Yanking hair is usually a quick way for children to exert control over their environment, when they’re still too young to communicate why they are upset. Once children discover the reaction they get from hair…
Kicking the Bad Habits: Thumb Sucking
If your child is about to start preschool or daycare, it’s time to start breaking some of their bad habits. In this series, we will cover some tactics that will help you kick those bad habits to the curb. Today’s bad habit is thumb and finger sucking. During infancy, thumb and finger sucking is a completely normal way for children to soothe and entertain themselves. However, past toddlerhood thumb sucking can become one of the worst habits for your…
Tips to Keep Your Child Safe While Swimming
Summer is the season for swimming! With all the fun that this recreational sport provides, it’s still important that your child stays safe while swimming. It is always a good idea to sign your child up for swimming lessons which will help them develop into strong swimmers. Here are some tips on other ways to take the proper safety precautions while your child swims this summer: In Swimming Pools Maintain constant supervision over your child and make sure they swim…
Caring for a sick child
No matter how much you try to shield you children from sicknesses, they will most likely come down with something eventually. That’s just a fact of life and while you can’t prevent the inevitable, you can prepare yourself for it. Below are some tips to help you care for your little one when they’re feeling under the weather. Check for a fever. Use a thermometer to take your child’s temperature. If the fever is high or prolonged, seek medical attention…
Technology Tips for Parents
In this day and age, we see more kids reaching for a smartphone before they’ve even reached for a sippy cup. This early and frequent exposure to the tech world makes it crucial to understand how your children are using their technology. The digital age has brought with it many possibilities that can be used to your advantage in educating your children, but must also be monitored to prevent contact with inappropriate and harmful web content. If you set a…
Chores for Children
Getting your kids involved in household chores at an early age has so many benefits. When you give young children chores to complete, they begin to gain a sense of responsibility, self-reliance, and empathy. They learn skills that will carry with them throughout the rest of their lives, including time management, prioritizing tasks, and basic organizational abilities. If you want your child to start developing these behaviors and abilities, then you should get them participating in household chores as soon…
10 Fast and Healthy Lunch Ideas
You know how important it is to keep your kids healthy. Making sure that they maintain a well-balanced and nutritious diet has become one of your main priorities. But going in the kitchen at least five times a day and spending hours cooking and preparing meals for the kiddos can be exhausting. And let’s face it, they’re probably getting tired of the same old ham and cheese sandwiches. Have no fear, though – Cranium is here to help you! 10…
Summer Reading Tips for Parents
There’s no time like summertime to brush up on your child’s reading skills. If there’s one thing you want to avoid, it’s “summer setback” or the loss of comprehension skills after a long summer vacation without reading. As parents, you want your child to be prepared for the upcoming school year so it’s important to keep them reading throughout the summer. Here are some tips on how you can keep your kids cracking open those books: Go to the library.…
Keeping Your Cool Over the Summer
If you’ve ever lived in Florida, you know that summers here can make outdoor play with your children almost unbearable. Just step foot out of your door and you’re met with either a sweltering wave of heat and humidity, or a downpour! Taking the kids outside to play often becomes a dreaded part of your day and, at times, can be unsafe. Sun damage, thunderstorms, and bug bites are all dangers that come with the territory. So how can you…
Unlock the Power of Early Reading
You probably know that reading to children is a good thing, but do you know the specific advantages even the youngest children can gain by being exposed to reading? From the beginning, children can begin to develop a lifelong relationship with reading which helps them grow into adults who love to read and…
Get Creative! Exploring the Benefits of Art
If you have a child, or know one, you know that children naturally love art. You’ve probably noticed their eyes light up when given paint, crayons, or other art supplies. You may have also noticed that schools seem less able to allow time for creativity or art.
Simple creative activities…
Feeling Thankful – Tips for Creating an Attitude of Gratitude
The holidays often stir up feelings of joy and excitement. For many families, the holiday hustle can also lead to feelings of overwhelm. Regardless of what holidays you celebrate, it is up to us to ensure that the holidays mean more to our children than stress…
Building Cranium Character – Raising Kids Who Care and Contribute
Chances are you’ve read or watched the news lately and felt discouraged. Stories of kindness and compassion seem harder and harder to come by. As parents, we all hope our children will grow up to be kind, caring individuals who make a difference and leave a positive legacy. But how can we be…
Send-Off Success! Tips to Ease Your Morning Drop-Off
So you finally managed to get your child through breakfast, getting dressed, brushing teeth, and getting in the car, but one hurdle remains – saying goodbye!
Whether going to school for the first time, or returning after a summer at home, going to school involves transition. Feelings of…
Keeping Children Curious Over the Summer – Encouraging Critical Thinking
With the long, hot days of summer upon us, parents often ensure kids stay hydrated with plenty of water. But what about your child’s thirst for learning? Although school is out, their need for learning continues.
Children are naturally curious. Did you know that all of those questions,…
The Cranium Academy Story – Help Us Write the Next Chapter
The story of Cranium Academy began in 2002. Allison and Eddie Gray were visiting preschools and private schools, searching for the perfect place for their daughter. They were frustrated with what seemed to be very basic curriculum offered at even the…
Choosing a Preschool Program – Some Research Tips for Parents
There are many questions that can be asked to help in selecting the best preschool program for you and your child. From the learning environment, to what type of method the school uses to teach your child, you can expect to find many differences between child care and development facilities…
Summer Camp – The Solution for Your Child to Help Them Stay Sharp
Parents are constantly on a mission to find the best opportunities for their children. Enrolling them in a summer camp program can not only help keep children sharp and active over the summer, but can also increase independence by developing problem-solving and social skills. From self-esteem…
Building Cranium Character – Teaching Children to be Trustworthy
We all make mistakes, and we can all think of a time when we didn’t act honestly. The key is learning from the mistakes we have made and working towards more trustworthy behavior. This is true for both children and adults. The first Pillar of Character that our Cranium Character program focuses…
Maximizing Your Child’s Cranium Capacity
Research has shown that 50% of the brain’s neural network is set by the age of five, and 80% by the age of eight. This means that a child’s capacity for developmental mind and body learning is expanding at an amazing rate, and at a very early age. We’ve designed the learning programs at Cranium…
Cranium Explorers Use Critical Thinking to Dive into the Earth’s Crust
Our young explorers set out on another amazing adventure as we dove into the Earth’s layers, exploring its crust, mantle, and core! The further into the Earth we traveled, the warmer we got. We discovered how hot it really is in the core of the Earth, and children used critical thinking to…