As a parent there is so much that you worry about. Is my child eating right, are they getting enough sleep, are they developing at the pace that they should? It’s a never-ending list of concerns, which can drive you crazy if you let it. But handling all of that is an entirely different article on trust and faith, which is not what I wanted to address here.

What I did want to address is how reading to your children (even after they can read on their own), is a really important part of their development and will build skills and abilities in them that they will need in high school, college and beyond. And I’m not just talking about reading "The Adventures of Zip, Zap, and Zup" stories here, I am talking about all literature, good literature, literature that plays a key role in many cognitive skills.
Have you realized that most people in our society are not good listeners? A lot of the trouble we experience as a society and that individuals experience in their own lives goes back to an inability to listen. How often do we observe others who aren’t following simple instructions? How often do we speak to someone and realize they aren’t hearing a word we are saying, or maybe we ourselves do that to others? Our inability to really ‘hear’ each other has resulted in a loss of civil discourse over the years, and I believe it affects all of us profoundly. There are lots of reasons for this, among them are the visual and audio distractions that surround us, the mental clutter that we try to pass off as “multi-tasking”, and yes, even a lack of discipline in being able to focus on the message being communicated. It’s that last idea, learning to discipline yourself to really hear a message, verbal or otherwise, that is so important for our children to develop, and I am convinced that one of the key ways to do that is to regularly read to your children.

Being able to communicate with one another is a key skill that all people must develop. While words are just one part of communication, they are an important part and one’s command of the language directly influences your effectiveness and precision in communicating. Languages are rich and varied and always growing. The words we select not only say a lot about us, but if chosen properly, say a lot about the message we are communicating. Using the best word to describe an idea can add nuance, texture, and depth to our communication. Said another way, you should help your child build a vast, robust vocabulary, and one of the best ways to do that is by reading to your children. Words that you hear in books are typically more complex, and difficult words than you might hear in typical conversations. In a 2019 study by Ohio State University, researchers estimated that children who were read at least 5 books a day may have heard over a million more words prior to starting their formal education, than children who were not read to. (Ohio State University, sciencedaily.com)
But a strong vocabulary is only the start of the benefits for children who are read to by their parents. In our home we had a child who was diagnosed with dyslexia and other learning challenges. Yet, when he was older, he tested above the 90th percentile in reading comprehension. How could that be, wondered the neural developmentalist who worked with him. Children who had the learning challenges that he had simply didn’t score well on those types of tests. As we discussed and unpacked what had transpired in our home over the years, she latched onto one routine discipline that we had practiced, regular reading. And not just kiddie books, but challenging books, and book series. As soon as I felt that they could sit for at least 15 minutes we graduated from the finger puppet books with single words, into real stories. While my wife read with them earlier in the day, my time was bedtime, and it became a sacred rite of passage from busy, sun-drenched days into the dreamy, comfortably snug world of nighttime. A time that I enjoyed as much as the children. Babar, Curious George, and many Dr. Seuss books, as well as one of his other pseudonyms, PD Eastman, were on the list early. And we didn’t feel that we had to finish the book each night. There was no crime in stopping if I could see that they were drifting off to sleep before we were done. Yet, there were many times when I thought they might be asleep, only to have a small voice ask a probing question. They were listening much more than I knew. And they were learning, learning to follow a train of thought, to critically analyze what they were hearing, to assign meaning and purpose.
I have a fuller reading list at the bottom of this article, but in due time we moved on to E.B White. Most of you are familiar with Charlotte’s Web, and many know Stuart Little, but we particularly enjoyed the Trumpet of the Swan as well. It wasn’t long after that when we picked up such classic book series as Little House on the Prairie, the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. Another series that we especially enjoyed was the American Adventure. This 48-book series in Historical Fiction takes you from the Mayflower through the end of WWII. Another great Historical Fiction writer is the English Writer, G.A. Henty. We read Shakespeare, which the children especially liked, Aesop’s Fables, and eventually took on the Lord of the Ring series. But each evening, not only did we read good literature, we read from the best literature, from the Holy Scriptures. The Proverbs, I believe, are especially helpful for a young mind to consider.

We also read the original Moby Dick, but that is not for the faint of heart. I think I now know why Mr. Melville’s evocative work did not gain a lot of traction in his lifetime. I thought my vocabulary was good, but it was a rare night when I didn’t come across at least two or three words I didn’t know, and for some of them I was unable to figure out the meaning from the context. And then there was the Encyclopedia of Whales, carefully wedged in the middle of the book. My, how he did go on about the sizes of various whale’s heads, torsos, and fins.

But I digress, my purpose in bringing up these details are to give you an idea of what reading looked like in our house. 

It wasn’t some big curriculum or carefully coordinated program, it was just good literature that we enjoyed. By the way, I must confess that some of what got on the reading list were actually works that I had never gotten to read as a child myself, but really wished that I had. That goes back to the point that I have mentioned in other articles, the books you read should also be something that mom and dad can enjoy as well.
What this reading routine fostered in the children was the key skill to draw out of a passage its’ meaning and the role it played in the overall narrative. This is where I believe the reading comprehension scores saw their boost. The children had been trained, year after year, to listen, analyze, and summarize. And it wasn’t like we did it as a formal course, we just did it because we wanted to know what was happening in the book. There were many lively debates at the dinner table about the books we were reading and what was happening to the characters and why. It was this process of contemplation and pulling apart a story to get to its’ core that I believe really taught them how to read for understanding. And reading, of course, is just the silent form of listening, and listening well.
We have a problem in America today. We don’t know now to listen, and we don’t know how to listen to each other. While reading to your children is not the panacea that will right all wrongs, it is a key cog in my estimation to prepare them with vocabulary, listening skills, and cognitive abilities that they need to succeed in life. And if we can prepare our children to listen and communicate, then maybe our children can be part of the solution rather than just contributing to the problem.
Sources:
Ohio State University. "A 'million word gap' for children who aren't read to at home: That's how many fewer words some may hear by kindergarten." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 April 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190404074947.htm>.
Young Children

The Little Engine Who Could by Watty Piper

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

Corduroy by Don Freeman

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson

Madeline book series by Ludwig Bemelmans

The Rag Coast by Lauren Mills

Barbar by Jean de Brunhoff (Babar’s Anniversary album had several stories, and Barbar’s Museum of Art we especially liked)

Go Dog Go, by PD Eastman

Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little, Trumpet of the Swan by E B White

Slightly Older Children

Hardy Boys by Franklin W Dixon

Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene

Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

American Adventure History Series (various authors, published by Barbour Books)

Crown and Covenant Series by Douglas Bond (Duncan’s War, King’s Arrow, and Rebels Keep)

Aesop’s Fables (published by Grosset & Dunlap)

Anthology of Shakespeares Plays

Lamplighter Books (just a few, there are too many to list)

Teddy’s Button by Amy Lefeuvre

Boys of Grit by Archer Wallace

Stick to the Raft by Mrs. George Gladstone

Hedge of Thorns by Mary Martha Sherwood

The Golden Thread by Norman McLeod

 

G.A. Henty

The Cat of Bubastes

True to the Old Flag

Beric the Briton

In Freedom’s Cause

Wulf the Saxon

Under Drake’s Flag

Winning His Spurs

 

Youth

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Moby Dick (beware) by Herman Melville

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hide (older children) by Robert Louis Stevenson

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (a surprisingly more interesting book than what common parlance conveys)

Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Biographies

Various Missionaries by Janet and Geoff Benge
Gladys Aylward
Amy Carmichael
Hudson Taylor
Nate Saint
George Muller
God’s Call by Brother Andrew

We also did a series on Great Composers (because I’m a classical music nut)

J.S. Bach by Albert Schweitzer
Beethoven by Anne Pimlott Baker
Handel by Christopher Hogwood            

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The summers are hot and the kids are going to be inside for portions of the day to escape the heat, but do you really want them just vegging out in front of the TV, or endlessly looking through social media posts that might actually be harmful?

Enter the humble activity book.

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On face value, it appears to be a quaint way to keep the kids occupied and out of mom and dad’s way for a while. But oh, there is so much more going on, especially with a good activity book that really engages youngsters. An activity book, tied to a story book, not only extends the lessons and skills implicitly introduced  in a story book, but they also stimulate and strengthen other skills and abilities in children. There are three primary benefits that children can get from activity books which I want to address in this article.

1. Studies which show how the development of Fine Motor Skills is enhanced
2. Development of cognitive abilities including creative problem solving
3. Interactive learning that challenges and stimulates

 But they’ll only get these benefits if they are interested in doing them and that is where the Zip, Zap, and Zup Activity Books have a distinct advantage over generic activity books.More on that in a bit.

First, however, let’s talk about the importance of Fine Motor Skill development. Fine motor skills involve the coordination of small muscles in the hands and fingers, which are essential for daily activities such as writing, drawing, tying shoes, and buttoning clothes. Activity books can be a valuable tool for developing fine motor skills in children, as they encourage children to use their hands and fingers in different ways.

Several studies have investigated the effectiveness of activity books in developing fine motor skills in children and identified some key benefits.

Fine Motor Skills During Early Childhood Predict Visuospatial Deductive Reasoning in Adolescence - this study, from March, 2022 by Robert Cortes, Adam Green, Rachel Barr and Rebecca Ryan, concluded that there is evidence to closely connect early development of Fine Motor Skills with improved spatial cognition and deductive reasoning in adolescence.

A study by Brown and Lee (2018) found that activity books were more effective in developing fine motor skills in children than traditional toys. The study found that children who used activity books showed better hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and finger strength.

A study by Chen and Lee (2017) found that activity books were particularly effective in developing fine motor skills in children with developmental delays. The study found that children with developmental delays who used activity books for 30 minutes per day for 12 weeks showed significant improvements in their fine motor skills, compared to a control group who did not use activity books.

A second benefit of activity books is that they promote creativity and problem-solving skills. The diverse activities often found in these books challenge individuals to think outside the box, come up with unique solutions, and explore different possibilities. In the case of the Zip, Zap, and Zup Activity Books we include scavenger hunts, a “Spot the Differences” game where children look for changes between two pictures, and hidden messages, where children are introduced to the idea of encoding and decoding messages in a simple fashion. All of these activities emphasize thinking and finding solutions. 

Activity books are valuable for improving cognitive functions such as memory, focus, and concentration. The brain is like a muscle, and just as physical exercise strengthens the body, mental exercises enhance cognitive abilities.

The last benefit that I want to address is how Activity Books encourage interactive learning. By engaging in the various activities, puzzles, and games, individuals can actively participate in their learning process. This hands-on approach not only makes learning more enjoyable but also enhances retention and understanding. In our Activity Books we include word searches, which reinforce vocabulary and reading for older children and pattern matching for younger children, along connect -the-dots and color by number pages, which drill number sequences and abstract associations. 

 We also include several games in each book where children play with each other - tic-tac-toe, variations on tic-tac-toe, and the dot game offer children the opportunity to learn strategy through friendly competition. The very act of learning how to play a game with someone else playing fair, and being a good winner or a good loser is an important skill set for children to learn. 

And this interactive learning can, in fact, be therapeutic and stress-relieving. Engaging in enjoyable activities can provide a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, which helps reduce stress and promote relaxation. Coloring, for example, has been shown to have a calming effect, and with 14 coloring pages in each Zip, Zap, and Zup Activity Book there are lots of opportunities to relax.

 So this brings up to the last point, an activity book is only helpful if the children will do it. The Zip, Zap, and Zup Activity Books are bright and colorful. Being centered on our friendly characters from the Wandering  Meadow means they already have a connection with the book before they ever open it. And the puzzles, games, and activities all draw from and extend the storylines in the books. The final Hidden Message, for example, always reinforces the title and main theme from the associated Zip, Zap, and Zup Adventure Book. And in case a particular puzzle or maze is too hard, we always have solutions pages in the back. 

We know your child will enjoy the Zip, Zap, and Zup Activity Books and we are confident that they will help develop crucial skills and abilities in them. Sharpen those pencils and get out the crayons!

Sources Cited

Brown, J., & Lee, S. (2018). The effects of activity books on fine motor skill development in children. Journal of Early Childhood Education, 20(3), 1-10.

Cortes RA, Green AE, Barr RF, Ryan RM. Fine motor skills during early childhood predict visuospatial deductive reasoning in adolescence. Dev Psychol. 2022 Jul;58(7):1264-1276. doi: 10.1037/dev0001354. Epub 2022 Mar 31. PMID: 35357864.

Chen, Y. C., & Lee, S. Y. (2017). The effectiveness of activity books in developing fine motor skills in children with developmental delays. Journal of Early Intervention, 39(4), 257-271.

The debate over the impact of reading versus screen time on brain development has gained significant attention in recent years. As digital devices become increasingly prevalent in our lives, understanding their effects on cognitive development, especially in children, is crucial. Research in this area has yielded valuable insights, shedding light on the distinct ways reading and screen time shape the brain.

Reading has long been hailed for its cognitive benefits. Studies consistently show that reading, particularly in early childhood, plays a pivotal role in brain development. It activates and strengthens neural connections in various brain regions associated with language processing, comprehension, imagination, and empathy. Reading enhances vocabulary, improves language skills, and promotes critical thinking abilities. Neuroimaging studies have revealed that reading printed text engages a broader network of brain regions compared to screen-based reading, potentially leading to deeper comprehension and retention of information.

Cognitive neuroscientist Maryanne Wolf, in her book "Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World," argues that the deep reading processes fostered by print are potentially undermined by the distractions and skimming habits encouraged by digital reading.

A 2019 Neuroimaging study by Stanislas Dehaene, using electroencephalography (EEG) to measure brain activity during print and digital reading in children, found that print reading elicited stronger neural responses in regions associated with attention and cognitive control, indicating a greater focus on the reading task. This study corroborated an earlier study from 2016 by Alexander Cohen and Benjamin Singer, found that participants recalled more details from printed texts compared to digital texts. This suggests that the deeper engagement fostered by print reading may lead to better retention of information. A subjective 2013 study by Dr. Anne Mangen reported that participants felt more immersed and engaged with printed texts and reported better comprehension compared to digital texts.

Excessive screen time, especially passive consumption of digital content, has raised concerns about its potential negative impact on brain development. Research suggests that prolonged exposure to screens can affect attention span, memory, and cognitive control. The constant stream of stimuli and rapid transitions common in digital media may hinder the development of sustained attention and deep focus, skills essential for learning and academic success. Additionally, studies have linked excessive screen time to sleep disturbances, which can further impair cognitive function and overall brain health.

However, it is important to note that not all screen time is created equal. Interactive and educational screen-based activities, such as certain educational apps and games, can have positive effects on cognitive development. These activities can promote problem-solving skills, logical reasoning, and spatial awareness. Furthermore, screen time can provide access to a wealth of information and educational resources, expanding children's knowledge and understanding of the world.

The key lies in striking a balance and ensuring that screen time is used intentionally and purposefully. Experts recommend limiting passive screen time and encouraging activities that promote active engagement and learning. Reading, both in print and digital formats, should remain a cornerstone of cognitive development, especially in young children.

Securing Rights are only Part of the Equation

It had been 28 years since the Constitution had been ratified, protecting the rights and freedoms of all Americans, yet, our third President, Thomas Jefferson, recognized that securing rights was only part of the equation. In 1816, in a letter to Charles Yancey, a Virginia legislator, Jefferson wrote, “where the press is free, and every man able to read, all is safe.”

Jefferson was pointing out the importance of literacy, for a message is only successfully sent when the one to whom it is sent is able to read and understand the contents. At the time of the American Revolution the literacy rates in America were very high, somewhere between 85 and 95%, higher even than in England and many countries in Europe. America’s emphasis and dedication to education and literacy meant that here, we had an informed electorate that was not only able to understand what the government was doing, but actively engaged in holding them accountable and voicing their desires and needs. It was in large part through the press that the public was both informed and able to respond to their government.

Only Right Protecting an Institution

Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart noted in a 1975 lecture that the Freedom of the Press is unique among the rights guaranteed in the First Amendment. The other rights (freedom of worship, freedom of speech, freedom to assemble, and freedom of petition), were aimed at individuals and enumerating the rights and liberties to which they were entitled. But here, in the Freedom of the Press clause, we have something different. According to Stewart, the press is an institution, rather than an individual, and it is the only private institution or business given explicit constitutional protection.

It is because the press performs a fundamental role in protecting the individual rights, and in illuminating the infringement of these rights, that it was singled out for protection. Ever since Gutenberg invented the movable type printing press in 1440, and made mass communication possible, the establishment had felt threatened by a loss of control. Now, the people, at all ranks and stations in the social hierarchy, had a means by which to voice their thoughts and ideals. So for a government to enshrine and protect the very vehicle which could protest their actions and shape public opinion in a direction different than what they desired, was both courageous and possibly foolhardy.

Sweden was first

You might be surprised to know that this idea of protecting the Freedom of the Press did not originate in America. In 1766 Sweden passed the Freedom of the Press Act, the world’s first law to abolish censorship and guarantee public access to documents drawn up by government agencies. But Sweden’s Act was a very specific law, and strong punishments for writing against the state or king were kept. Recognizing this freedom as a constitutional right was new with America, and the broad protections afforded to publishers was an important step in securing democracy and the rights of the citizens.

Today, this fundamental right is codified in many constitutions and international human rights declarations around the world, allowing journalists to report on events without fear of censorship or reprisal.

The Role of the Media

The core function of a free press is to act as a watchdog for the public interest. By investigating and reporting on governmental actions, corporations, and other powerful entities, journalists expose corruption, malfeasance, and abuse of power. Holding these entities accountable helps to ensure that they operate in a fair and appropriate manner. Without a free press, wrongdoing can go unnoticed, and those in power can act with impunity. In this capacity, the press acts as the fourth estate, separate from and a check on the other branches of government.

Beyond this, freedom of the press is crucial for public education and awareness. By providing diverse information, the media enables citizens to make informed decisions about issues that affect their lives. This is particularly important during elections, where access to information is essential for voters to choose their representatives. Ideally, a free press facilitates the free exchange of ideas and opinions, fostering a well-informed electorate capable of engaging in constructive dialogue.

Publishing is more than just the media

While the media’s role in democracy is important, when we speak of “the press”, the concept extends beyond just journalists and includes publishers of all kinds of material. During the American Revolution, it was not just newspapers that rendered social commentary, but books and pamphlets as well. The most popular pamphlet at the time was Common Sense, by Thomas Paine. It sold over 150,000 copies, which was a huge circulation for the time. While the pamphlet, published in January 1776, may not have directly led to America’s declaration of independence from England, it eloquently and boldly declared how many Americans were already rethinking their ties to the King.

Protecting civil discourse and social commentary through printed materials of pamphlets and books has been crucial and remains so today. Books such as The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, to name just a couple, have been instrumental in shaping and changing public perceptions and attitudes. Even the Bible itself has been subjected to restrictions and bans from time to time. In 1611, King James I of England outlawed the Geneva Bible, because it contained commentary notes which he found objectionable. It was because of these notes that in 1604 he had authorized a new English version of the Bible, a version that would come to known at the King James Bible.

Conclusion

Historically, the struggle for freedom of the press has been intertwined with the fight for democracy itself. In many parts of the world, journalists and publishers have risked their lives and livelihoods to report on injustices and speak truth to power. It is a freedom that we enjoy here in America and one that should be celebrated and protected by all. So, exercise your right to read, and read a good book today.

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Sources

Gemini AI was used in the creation of this article.

Encyclopedia Britannica; Freedom of the Press Act of 1766; web: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Freedom-of-the-Press-Act-of-1766; accessed on 6/7/25

Encyclopedia Britannica; Geneva Bible; web: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Geneva-Bible; accessed on 6/7/25

Lemann, Nicholas; Thinking the Unthinkable about the First Amendment; web: https://www.amacad.org/publication/daedalus/thinking-unthinkable-about-first-amendment; accessed on 6/6/25

Lynch, Jack; Literacy in Early America; web: https://research.colonialwilliamsburg.org/Foundation/journal/Winter11/literacy.cfm; accessed on 6/6/25

National Archives; Thomas Jefferson to Charles Yancey, 6 January 1816; web: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-09-02-0209; accessed on 6/7/25

Unesco; The Swedish Freedom of the Press Ordinance of 1766: The world’s first legislation guaranteeing free communication of information; web: https://www.unesco.org/en/memory-world/swedish-freedom-press-ordinance-1766-worlds-first-legislation-guaranteeing-free-communication#:~:text=On%202%20December%201766%2C%20the,was%20acknowledged%20in%20constitutional%20law ; accessed on 6/6/25

Wood, Gordon; Revolutionary Characters; What Made the Founders Different; web except: https://www.amrevmuseum.org/read-the-revolution/revolutionary-characters#:~:text=Common%20Sense%20is%20the%20most,a%20few%20thousand%20at%20best ; access on 6/7/25

Delegate, don’t Abdicate

 Whether you homeschool your children or send them to public or private school, the role of parents is crucial in a child's education. Education is a life long endeavor and starts even when the child is in the womb. From recognizing voices, to feelings of comfort and discomfort, our informal education begins almost immediately. Formal education, in Western societies, generally starts at around 4 or 5-years-old. Yet, no matter what method you employ to educate your children, what activities or subjects they are involved with, ultimately the responsibility of ensuring that your children receive an adequate education rests with you, the parent. This is the main idea that I think parents need to embrace. While we may delegate some activities related to education, we must not abdicate our overall responsibility.

I’d like to address this topic using the four main points below:

• Difference between delegating and abdicating
• Parents as first teachers
• Parents role in emotional and social education
• Parents role in academic instruction
  
  

When discussing a topic and contrasting it using two opposing ideas, it’s always good to start with some definitions.

According to The Britannica Dictionary, to abdicate means to fail to do what is required by (a duty or responsibility). And according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, to delegate means to entrust to another.

Delegating isn’t failing to carry out your responsibility, but entrusting the execution of it to someone else, while retaining ultimate oversight and responsibility. One of the major issues, in my estimation, of our public school systems is that too often teachers are given all of the responsibility for teaching the children with none of the authority. The parents all too often abdicate their God-given responsibility and then blame the teachers if the children don’t learn. This is a recipe for disaster, a disaster that we see played out all too often in our society today.

Now the reality is that for some portion of your children’s education, you will delegate the actual instruction and delivery of academic lessons to someone else. Even if you homeschool, most homeschoolers are involved in co-ops for some subjects and at some points during their school years. Obviously, in a public or private school setting, the lion’s share of instruction falls to the teachers and not the parents. Education is a collaborative effort that involves parents, teachers, and students working together to ensure that children receive the best possible learning experience.

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Parents are their children's first teachers, and they have a profound impact on their children's development and learning. From the moment a child is born, parents begin to teach them about the world around them. They read to them, sing to them, and engage them in conversation. As children grow older, parents continue to play a vital role in their education by helping them with their homework, reading to them, and talking to them about what they are learning in school.

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In addition to providing academic support, parents also play an important role in their children's social and emotional development. They help their children learn how to interact with others, how to manage their emotions, and how to cope with challenges. Parents also provide their children with a sense of love and security, which is essential for children's overall well-being and success in school.

“For decades, researchers have point­ed to one key suc­cess fac­tor that tran­scends near­ly all oth­ers, such as socioe­co­nom­ic sta­tus, stu­dent back­ground or the kind of school a stu­dent attends: parental involve­ment… Parental involve­ment also more secure­ly sets these stu­dents up to devel­op a life­long love of learn­ing, which researchers say is key to long-term success… What’s more, researchers say when this hap­pens, the moti­va­tion, behav­ior and aca­d­e­m­ic per­for­mance of all chil­dren at a par­tic­u­lar school improve.” (The Annie E. Casey Foundation)

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When parents are involved in their children's education, children are more likely to succeed in school. Studies have shown that children with involved parents have higher grades, better attendance, and are more likely to graduate from high school. They are also more likely to have positive attitudes towards school and learning.

“Parent involvement in a child's education is consistently found to be positively associated with a child's academic performance. In a study published by the National Library of Medicine, the researchers found a significant association between parent involvement and a child's academic performance, over and above the impact of the child's intelligence.” (Topor)

“At-home discussions and encouragement surrounding school also have a positive impact on students’ academic achievement at all developmental stages, with that type of parent involvement being most effective for high schoolers, according to the study… Reading with children and taking them to the library have a positive impact as well.”(Stanford)

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Parents' involvement in their children's education is not always easy. It takes time and effort, and it can be challenging to balance work, family, and other commitments. However, the benefits of parent involvement are clear. When parents are involved in their children's education, children are more likely to succeed in school and in life. No matter how busy parents are, they should make time to be involved in their children's education. You spend significant time, money, and energy in providing food to feed your children’s stomach, you can do no less to feed their mind.

Works Cited:

The Annie E. Casey Foundation. “Parental Involvement in Your Child’s Education.” The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 14 Dec. 2022, www.aecf.org/blog/parental-involvement-is-key-to-student-success-research-shows.

Stanford, Libby. “Does Parent Involvement Really Help Students? Here’s What the Research Says.” Education Week, Education Week, 15 Aug. 2023, www.edweek.org/leadership/does-parent-involvement-really-help-students-heres-what-the-research-says/2023/07.

Topor DR, Keane SP, Shelton TL, Calkins SD. Parent involvement and student academic performance: a multiple mediational analysis. J Prev Interv Community. 2010;38(3):183-97. doi: 10.1080/10852352.2010.486297. PMID: 20603757; PMCID: PMC3020099.

While curiosity might be a bad thing for cats, since they have no filter and no guiding force like a parent, for a child, it can be the cornerstone of all learning. To want to know how something works, or why something happened the way it did, or what is going to happen next is the key motivation to question, to explore, and to innovate. Encouraging and directing your child to be curious about the right things, and to learn how to discover and attain knowledge are key skills that will last a lifetime.

Curiosity can be defined as a strong desire to know or learn something, according to the Oxford dictionary.

Numerous recent studies have found that fostering a sense of curiosity and wonder in a child can have tangible impacts on brain development. The Cambridge University Handbook on Motivation and Learning suggests that recent studies have found that curiosity elicits activity in the brain’s dopaminergic circuit and thereby enhances hippocampus-dependent learning. (Renninger, p397-417) This appears to be true for both incidental information and in-depth information, when encountered in high-curiosity states.

Further, studies show that curiosity and surprise enhance memory even in adults, stimulating the prefrontal cortex among other areas of the brain. A plethora of research has consistently demonstrated that infants and young children explore their environment actively in systematic ways, driven by a drive to reduce uncertainty and to close knowledge gaps — both key markers of curiosity. (Gruber, p1)

But how can parents be purposeful in fostering their child’s curiosity? The most available method is by having conversations and asking open-ended questions while considering various situations and circumstances. Beyond conversations and questions is the opportunity to have firsthand experiences and encounters with the world around us. When our children were young and we were in the process of homeschooling them, we felt strongly that fields trips were an absolutely essential part of the education process. Both local visits to parks and museums and trips far away from home were all opportunities to foster a sense of curiosity. In fact, most of our vacations involved visits to historic sites or significant cities and landmarks. A small confession on my part, though - when they got older there came a point at which the children asked if we could just go on a vacation for fun. It was a bit of an eye-opening moment for me.

Of course, being able to directly interact with a wide variety of situations and settings can be difficult, especially when we are limited in available time and resources. And that’s where the wonder of books come in. Books allow us to be magically transported to anywhere and anytime, and even to places that are only imaginary. They allow us to encounter circumstances that would be dangerous in real life, and they provide us with the opportunity to view conflict and quandaries from a safe distance, all the while experiencing feelings and emotions associated with the narrative.

The Adventures of Zip, Zap, and Zup are specifically designed to span a wide variety of situations, introducing the tension of a conflict, and tracing the narrative to the point of resolution. From the illustrations to the storyline, we try to include a myriad of details, hoping to encourage thoughts and ideas with some depth to them. Our “Adventures in Learning” bonus pages at the back of each book are there to help prompt conversations with mom and dad. We want to rouse your child’s curiosity by introducing concepts that may not be obvious in the story, or may be an offshoot of something that the story involves. All of these things can deepen curiosity and develop a sense of wonder in your child.

And while the idea of curiosity is implicitly something we want our children to exhibit, beyond enhancing brain development, there are other benefits. Having a robust sense of wonder can lead to a child feeling more excited about the world around them. And because they have learned how to harness their curiosity to analyze and understand a situation, they are more likely to feel confident in themselves and their ability to investigate, attain, and master new ideas and knowledge. It is the spark that leads them boldly engage with others and the world that they inhabit.

So, read a book with your child and watch them as they are charmed by the story and driven to deeper levels of curiosity and wonder.

Sources

Gruber, Matthias J, and Yana Fandakova. “Curiosity in Childhood and Adolescence - What Can We Learn from the Brain.” Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, U.S. National Library of Medicine, June 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8363506/#bib0030.

Renninger, K Ann, and Suzanne E Hidi. “16 - Curiosity and Learning.” The Cambridge Handbook of Motivation and Learning, 1st ed., vol. 1, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2019, pp. 397–417.

Having a hard time keeping up with very busy pre-schoolers? A regular reading time may be just the answer.

Days with a preschooler are exciting, and exhausting. There are so many things to discover, so many places to take your little one, to show them and experience with them, but they always seem to have a lot more energy than you do. Have you noticed that?

When ours were little, one of the things that we found helpful was to add some structure and direction to their day. Don’t get me wrong, there was lots of time to just play outside, or inside, where we let the little one decide what they wanted to do, and they usually weren’t shy about letting us know what they didn’t want to do. But we did find that for our sanity, and theirs, it was helpful to block off specific times in the day for specific activities. Regular mealtimes and nap times were a must (for everyone), but another regular block of time was reading time.

We started when they were quite young, and we found that they were a lot more interested in looking at the books if we didn’t just hand them to them and walk away, but instead, sat down and went through the book together. Obviously, the length and complexity of the story needs to fit the age and attention span of your youngster, and it is always a good idea if it can be at least slightly interesting to mom and dad as well. However, don’t short sell your children. Pretty early on they can start to develop a curiosity and understanding of good story telling. Also, if it is a story they like, it’s very likely you are going read, re-read, re-re-read, and even re-re-re-read it – again and again. Finding good stories is essential.

But the content is only part of the equation. There is something magical when mom or dad breath life into a story with their own additions – the voices you give the characters, the little faux-surprises when something unexpected happens and you cover your mouth and say ‘oh my’, the pensive look you give to your little one when you ask them why they think something happened the way it did in the story. It’s these personal interjections that makes the experience so much more interesting and fun for your youngster than just watching a video or watching someone else doing something. Doing it together engages them and makes all the difference, and the memories that will come from a regular reading time will last a lifetime. Now, don’t expect success the first time out, it is the development of a habit of reading that will make reading time a success and establish a crucial lifelong habit for your child.

A regular reaching time is something important for your child, but it is also something you will enjoy as well. Your time spent together means so much to them and creates cherished childhood memories that they will always remember. So, get started, and rediscover the joy of reading.

Words are the building blocks of communication, the tools we use to express our thoughts, ideas, and emotions. A rich vocabulary is not merely a display of education; it is a fundamental asset that enhances our lives in countless ways. From personal growth and academic success to professional advancement and social connection, the benefits of a robust vocabulary are numerous.

First and foremost, a rich vocabulary improves comprehension and one’s ability to precisely convey meaning when communicating. When we encounter unfamiliar words in reading or conversation, it can hinder our understanding and limit our ability to articulate our own thoughts effectively. However, with a broad vocabulary, we can grasp nuanced meanings, interpret complex texts, and communicate our ideas with clarity and accuracy. This enhanced ability to comprehend and use a large variety of words can open doors to knowledge, enabling us to explore diverse subjects, engage in meaningful discussions, and make informed decisions.

Moreover, a strong vocabulary is inextricably linked to academic success. Research has shown a correlation between vocabulary size and academic achievement across various subjects. Students with larger vocabularies tend to perform better in reading comprehension, writing, and overall academic performance. A robust vocabulary not only helps students understand course material but also empowers them to express their knowledge eloquently in essays, presentations, and exams. Furthermore, standardized tests often assess vocabulary skills, making a strong vocabulary a crucial factor in achieving high scores and gaining admission to prestigious educational institutions.

Even in the professional realm, a rich vocabulary is a valuable asset. It enhances communication skills, enabling individuals to articulate their ideas persuasively, negotiate effectively, and build rapport with colleagues and clients. A strong vocabulary can also make a positive impression in job interviews, presentations, and written communications, contributing to career advancement and overall success. In fields such as law, medicine, and academia, where precise communication is paramount, a rich vocabulary is an indispensable tool.

Beyond academic and professional contexts, a rich vocabulary enriches our personal lives. It allows us to appreciate literature, poetry, and other forms of artistic expression more deeply. We can savor the shades of language, the subtle connotations of words, and the beauty of well-crafted sentences. A broad vocabulary allows us to engage in more stimulating conversations, connect with people from diverse backgrounds, and appreciate different perspectives.

____________

Children hear less words and speak less words when the have too much screen time.

But reading with mom and dad, enhance language skills and build vocabulary.

____________

It’s something we already implicitly knew, but now a recent Australian study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Jama) Pediatrics has documented the reality that screen time significantly impacts toddlers' language development. The research, involving 220 families over two years, used advanced speech recognition technology to track children's exposure to language and screen time.

The study found that for every extra minute of screen time, three-year-olds heard seven fewer words spoken by adults, spoke five fewer words themselves, and engaged in one less conversation. On average, three-year-olds in the study were exposed to nearly three hours of screen time daily, resulting in a significant reduction in language interactions.

Lead researcher Dr. Mary Brushe emphasized the importance of a language-rich home environment for language development in young children. While some educational shows may aim to enhance language skills, toddlers often struggle to translate on-screen content into real-life communication.

And this is where reading to your children really comes into play. Even if you are watching a show or movie with your children, what happens when they ask a question. Everyone says “shhhh”, because talking during a video causes you to miss dialog. But when you are reading and they ask a question, you pause, answer the question, maybe even have a discussion about it, and then pick right back up where you left off. The Adventures in Learning pages in the back of our Zip, Zap, and Zup books are designed to prompt questions and conversations. And the “Hey Little Ladybug” series, for our younger audience, includes scavenger hunts, where discussions about what they are looking for will naturally occur.

Early language acquisition and the opportunity to both hear and use rich vocabulary is crucial. Did you realize that there are between 500,000 to 1,000,000 words in the English language (depending on how you define variations on words and phrases)? Typical English speakers use 20,000 words and recognize about 40,000 words. That means that there are a lot of words that we don’t know.

A rich vocabulary is generally recognized as a sign of intelligence, and being able to more precisely describe one’s ideas and feelings will make them a better communicator.

This study, unlike previous research, used objective measures to track screen time and language exposure over an extended period, providing valuable insights into the impact of screens on early language development.

Professor Angela Morgan, an expert in speech and language development, praised the study's robustness and highlighted the significance of focusing on early language learning opportunities for children's future language outcomes.

The Teen Years Are Not for the Meek

Having raised seven children of our own and walked the path through child rearing with many friends across many years, I can speak with some authority on this topic. The teen years are not for the meek. Thankfully, the issues and challenges that we faced during this time with our own children were very minor within the grand scheme of things, but I would not be being totally candid if I didn’t acknowledge that there were definitely moments that were a struggle to navigate.

Yet, both my wife and I are convinced that one of the things that helped us all get through the teen years (parents and kids as well), is that we had strong bonds and what I called “communication bridges” already erected and in place as the teen years arrived. For those of you with young children today, you know that in their eyes you are the greatest Superhero who has ever lived. But, I hate to tell you, that will come to an end, and almost overnight you will be transformed in their mind from Superhero to an out of touch alien who doesn’t know anything.

Personally, I found calling the elephant in the room out with humor and occasional satire to be helpful in defusing tense moments. Such as if they came in looking like the weight of the world was on them I might say, “what’s wrong Frodo, can’t find your ring?” Often, my silly comment would just bounce off of them like Teflon, but occasionally I would get a mocking “ha ha” followed by an explanation of why they looked down. That was the pay dirt I was looking for and it would give me an opening to discuss it further.

Now this is not an article about parenting teens, but what I wanted you to get was a glimpse of how we approached the challenges. The only reason we were able to approach the situations this way, and by this way I mean by having discussions and conversations about what was happening in their lives, was because we had built up credibility over the years, and even though their teen minds railed at any authority figure, they knew that we loved them, cared for them, and wanted the best for them. They also knew, though they wouldn’t verbally admit it, that we were smarter than we looked.

And there’s the key – how did they know this? How had we planted those ideas, those connection points so firmly in their mind?

Snuggle Time with the Children Builds Closeness

Well, of course, there are a myriad of things that happen in people’s lives that build bonds or break bonds, and parenting is a multi-dimensional endeavor rather than a linear blueprint. While there are a lot of things we could discuss here, like making sure to always keep your promises and therefore being very careful to only promise what you know you are able and willing to do, the area I want to explore is “snuggling” when the children are little.

I know, that this seems like a big leap from where we just were, dealing with potentially life changing events of the teen years, to a simple, casual moment in childhood, but let me explain how the link connects. When the kids were little there were lots of snuggle moments, including around a campfire when camping, watching a movie with popcorn on the couch, and the kids asking if they could sleep in our bed when a bad thunderstorm rolled through. But one of the most consistent times to snuggle up in our house was over a good book.

There is the tactile connection of a child sitting on your lap or bumping up against your shoulder as they peer over to look at the book. Those tender, physical touches are important. But when you snuggle there is also closeness in the sharing of ideas and thoughts, in giggling together over something you find funny, or even feeling sad together if something bad happens to the characters. It is this sharing of ideas and thoughts that build “communication bridges”. Those bridges are strengthened when day after day you engage the children in conversations, sharing personal perspectives and insights. And the literature you share together can be a safe connection point in times of stress, such as playfully attributing one’s frame of mind to the beloved Frodo from The Lord of the Rings.

How to Build Conversation Bridges

While learning how to understand the meaning of a narrative, exploring good and bad character traits, and understanding the ideas of rewards and punishments for our behavior are all important things we can learn by reading a book together, it might be this very basic, tangible connection from snuggling together which yields the most important benefits for parents and their children. With that in mind, let me conclude with four suggestions related to building conversation bridges with your children by snuggling.

• Don’t just hand them a book, but when you can, read it with them. Yes, occasionally you won’t be able to sit down with them, but you should make it a priority to make time to sit with them as often as you can.
• Encourage questions and conversations. Sometimes, especially when we’re tired, the tendency is to try to rush through things, but don’t. Force yourself when reading with the kids to not only allow for questions, but to occasionally prompt a conversation what a question of your own. “What do you think he meant by that”? Or, “why do you think she did that”?
• As the kids get older, ask open-ended, analytical questions. When they are little it may be just ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions, but pretty early on ask them to evaluate the context and the reasons behind the actions of the characters.
• Revisit and retrench the conversations. Maybe the next morning, a recap the following evening when you sit down to read again, or at other times, but when significant ideas or thoughts were exchanged revisit them and tell the children that you were moved by what they had to say.

Getting through the teen years is not easy, but I believe you can lay some of the groundwork for successfully navigating the turbulent waters through a regular reading time where snuggling and conversation bridges are encouraged and built.