It will either disappear into the rubbish heap of well-meaning but ill-timed social treatises or mark the beginning of a new age of activism by the physicians who care for the nation's children: the American Academy of Pediatrics on Monday issued a technical report linking "toxic stress" in childhood to a lifetime of mental, intellectual and physical ills, and called on pediatricians "to catalyze fundamental change in early childhood policy and services."
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/26/news/la-heb-pediatricians-children-stress-20111226
27.12.11
孩子的健康生活由你起
孩子的健康生活由你起！無論工作怎麼忙，每天抽時間和孩子說故事，玩遊戲，一起看一會書。孩子每星期和外籍朋友碰碰頭，聊聊天，和外語一起長大，外語自然好！
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=715491298
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=715491298
Nature of language learning.
Studying grammar can slow down our progress in English significantly. Basic grammar is a necessity, but focusing on grammar will prevent students from being able to speak English fluently in a reasonable time frame. Grammar is most effective to those who have a solid foundation in English fluency. People learned to speak before they learned grammar. We have to focus on our speaking and listening skills prior to studying grammar. After being able to speak English fluently, we will realize how much easier grammar is.
http://www.englishbaby.com/blog/vijay_raj/view_entry/62816
http://www.englishbaby.com/blog/vijay_raj/view_entry/62816
23.12.11
How moms talk influences children’s perspective-taking ability
Young children whose mothers talk with them more frequently and in more detail about people's thoughts and feelings tend to be better at taking another's perspective than other children of the same age.
That's what researchers from the University of Western Australia found in a new longitudinal study published in the journal Child Development.
"Parents who frequently put themselves in someone else's shoes in conversations with their children make it more likely that their children will be able to do the same."
Children with delayed language acquisition were delayed in their development of perspective-taking skills—though this wasn't necessarily due to moms' use of language. This highlights the role played by language as children develop the ability to take another's perspective.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-12/sfri-hmt121511.php
That's what researchers from the University of Western Australia found in a new longitudinal study published in the journal Child Development.
"Parents who frequently put themselves in someone else's shoes in conversations with their children make it more likely that their children will be able to do the same."
Children with delayed language acquisition were delayed in their development of perspective-taking skills—though this wasn't necessarily due to moms' use of language. This highlights the role played by language as children develop the ability to take another's perspective.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-12/sfri-hmt121511.php
21.12.11
Build a Solid Foundation
Published Online: December 20, 2011
COMMENTARY
Build a Solid Foundation
It’s time for the education policy world to learn a lesson from “The Three Little Pigs.” To withstand the attack of the big, bad wolf, one pig built a house out of straw, the second built a house of wood, and the third built a house of bricks. All three undertook the same project and had the same goal, but they experienced vastly different results. Two houses—and their occupants, in some tellings—sadly succumbed to the wolf. Only the house of brick remained standing as a tribute to that pig’s foresight and hard work.
It’s time for this nation to start planning like the little pig that built his house with bricks. We must invest in the best materials and follow the right blueprint.
Let’s begin with the foundation. Research shows us that 85 percent of the brain is formed by age 5. Nurturing and supportive relationships with adults and positive learning experiences during those early years shape the brain’s architecture and wire it for future learning.
As Walter Gilliam of the Yale School of Medicine’s Child Study Center has noted, addressing missed opportunities later in a child’s life is like physical rehabilitation: It’s harder, less successful, and more expensive than investing early.
Fortunately, policymakers are focusing on early childhood, giving us a golden opportunity to give all historically disadvantaged children the strong starts they deserve. [Children from working parents are disadvantaged, especially in the early months and years when infants need rich daily stimulation from mothers.]
Better-educated and -trained teachers generally are more knowledgeable about appropriate teaching practices and deliver better learning experiences for children. Early-childhood teacher education programs must provide sufficient course content and nurture practical skills, particularly to support children of diverse backgrounds.
Make the necessary financial investments. The nation gets a great return on its investments in early education. Researchers have shown that up to $10 can be returned for every $1 spent on early-childhood education in savings later on remediation and criminal justice, or in the form of higher earnings.
tkn=LZLF9mWqNv%2FL5C351RJWVFE2fEZHcpMrPuKS&cmp=clp-edweek
COMMENTARY
Build a Solid Foundation
It’s time for the education policy world to learn a lesson from “The Three Little Pigs.” To withstand the attack of the big, bad wolf, one pig built a house out of straw, the second built a house of wood, and the third built a house of bricks. All three undertook the same project and had the same goal, but they experienced vastly different results. Two houses—and their occupants, in some tellings—sadly succumbed to the wolf. Only the house of brick remained standing as a tribute to that pig’s foresight and hard work.
It’s time for this nation to start planning like the little pig that built his house with bricks. We must invest in the best materials and follow the right blueprint.
Let’s begin with the foundation. Research shows us that 85 percent of the brain is formed by age 5. Nurturing and supportive relationships with adults and positive learning experiences during those early years shape the brain’s architecture and wire it for future learning.
As Walter Gilliam of the Yale School of Medicine’s Child Study Center has noted, addressing missed opportunities later in a child’s life is like physical rehabilitation: It’s harder, less successful, and more expensive than investing early.
Fortunately, policymakers are focusing on early childhood, giving us a golden opportunity to give all historically disadvantaged children the strong starts they deserve. [Children from working parents are disadvantaged, especially in the early months and years when infants need rich daily stimulation from mothers.]
Better-educated and -trained teachers generally are more knowledgeable about appropriate teaching practices and deliver better learning experiences for children. Early-childhood teacher education programs must provide sufficient course content and nurture practical skills, particularly to support children of diverse backgrounds.
Make the necessary financial investments. The nation gets a great return on its investments in early education. Researchers have shown that up to $10 can be returned for every $1 spent on early-childhood education in savings later on remediation and criminal justice, or in the form of higher earnings.
tkn=LZLF9mWqNv%2FL5C351RJWVFE2fEZHcpMrPuKS&cmp=clp-edweek
17.12.11
Early childhood education is the wisest investment
Funding early childhood education is not charity; it is the wisest investment we can make in our culture. Recent research by the Minneapolis Federal Reserve shows conclusively that, for every dollar invested in early education, society will realize a $16 return, because it dramatically reduces two of our culture’s highest expenses: special education and incarceration. More importantly, it would ensure that our children achieve the skill level required to do the jobs that will keep our country competitive in world markets.
Brain development does not happen by accident. The basic architecture of a child’s brain is constructed through an ongoing process that begins before birth and continues through adulthood.
The most rapid brain development occurs during the first three years of life. Early experiences literally shape how the brain gets built. A strong foundation in the early years increases the probability of positive outcomes. A weak foundation will require ongoing intervention and remediation that is usually much less effective and much more costly than providing effective brain-building interactions during the early years.
One effective way we can prepare our children to enter school ready to learn and succeed is to provide high-quality early childhood education to all children.
http://www.telegram.com/article/20111215/NEWS/112159707/1020
Brain development does not happen by accident. The basic architecture of a child’s brain is constructed through an ongoing process that begins before birth and continues through adulthood.
The most rapid brain development occurs during the first three years of life. Early experiences literally shape how the brain gets built. A strong foundation in the early years increases the probability of positive outcomes. A weak foundation will require ongoing intervention and remediation that is usually much less effective and much more costly than providing effective brain-building interactions during the early years.
One effective way we can prepare our children to enter school ready to learn and succeed is to provide high-quality early childhood education to all children.
http://www.telegram.com/article/20111215/NEWS/112159707/1020
14.12.11
HK Tops Financial Development Index
World Economic Forum
Financial Development Index
2011 Rank
1 Hong Kong SAR
2 U.S.
3 U.K.
4 Singapore
5 Australia
6 Canada
7 Netherlands
8 Japan
9 Switzerland
10 Norway
Financial Development Index
2011 Rank
1 Hong Kong SAR
2 U.S.
3 U.K.
4 Singapore
5 Australia
6 Canada
7 Netherlands
8 Japan
9 Switzerland
10 Norway
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