Cognitive development, i.e. development of thinking, learning, problem solving and memory in a child, is a lifelong process that does not conclude within the four walls of the classroom. The home setting is a very effective and central learning area where the daily life experiences can largely influence the preparedness of a young mind to formal learning. Whereas the specialized assistance of Kinder Ready Tutoring offers expert, one-on-one academic training, Elizabeth Fraley Kinder Ready retaliates in favor of a strong collaboration with families. This whole child philosophy gives parents the strength to be active participants in their child’s cognitive development, to turn day-to-day life practices into brain-building opportunities that are supportive and further strengthening of learning in a structured way.
The initial action towards effective support of development should be the knowledge of the distinct cognitive space of a child. This is one of the principles of Kinder Ready, Elizabeth Fraley. The program will start with an individualized Pre-K and Kindergarten readiness assessment before entering any instruction. The process gives invaluable information concerning the distinct strengths and the aspects of work in different areas, such as early literacy, numeracy, and executive functioning. This same mindset of observation can be taken by the parents at home. Caregivers can determine the sparks that contribute to intrinsic motivation by paying close attention to what interests the child, be it sorting objects by color, endless inquisitions about nature or trying to make complicated objects and the like. Kinder Ready’s Tutoring mission is to introduce children to multi-faceted methods of learning to find these very sparks.
When the interests of a child are engaged, the home is the best laboratory to acquire the necessary executive function skills. These are the mental activities which deal with attention control, impulse control, information memory and thought flexibility- skills that are specifically addressed in Kinder Ready Tutoring programs. Parents can nurture these skills in some easily established routines. Cooking, e.g., is an executive functioning masterclass: it involves taking up a series of steps (working memory), holding on to a timer (inhibitory control) and making adjustments in the event that something is absent (cognitive flexibility). Arranging toys in a specific category, doing a multi-step cleaning process or a memory-matching game are all activities that help these mental muscles. The trick is to offer mild instructions and applaud effort, which makes the environment of low pressure in which the child will train and be successful.
After all, the greatest mental support that a parent can provide is the development of a self-confident and strong mindset. Elizabeth Fraley Kinder Ready program puts a lot of emphasis on the development of a child as a learner in terms of self-assurance. This at home means concentrating the praise on the process but not the result. When you are complimenting them on their intelligence, underline the action plan: I like that you tried a few more pieces until you could figure out that puzzle. This model, which is similar to the motivation during tutoring sessions, conveys to the children that intelligence increases as one works harder and that the difficulties are a chance to learn. Children will also acquire cognitive resilience to deal with new and challenging tasks in any environment when they feel safe to raise questions, make mistakes, and push on at home.
For further details on Kinder Ready’s programs, visit their website: https://www.kinderready.com/.
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ElizabethFraleyKinderReady