If your child is struggling with basic skills in school, perhaps the concepts have not been explained in a way that connects to her everyday life and background knowledge. Many kids grow up with computers and are very comfortable using them for entertainment. They see their parents use them to find information, send email and shop. Try introducing your child to difficult material through an online tutorial and game. In a different format, the information may sink in.
Literacy Skills
Reading is one of the most crucial skills your child will learn in early elementary school, and he will be expected to continually improve his vocabulary, comprehension, and speed throughout his academic career. If your child is struggling with reading, help him catch up by introducing reading games that target the specific skills he needs to work on.
The "Between the Lions" section of the PBS Kids website (see Resources) has several early literacy games targeted at preschool and kindergarten kids. For an older child, look at Reading Planet (see Resources). It features offline activities and book reviews by other kids as well as skills-based games.
Math Skills
Learning math requires two fundamental skills: problem solving and memorization. Your child will have to memorize the basic facts in order to use them to solve problems, but many kids struggle with this aspect. Online math games are great for drilling math facts because they add an element of fun to an otherwise tedious task. Look at The Math Arcade at the Fun Brain website for 25 arcade-style games that drill math facts and problem solving skills (see Resources).
Science
Kids are born scientists. They love to explore their world and find out why things work the way they do. Unfortunately, that natural curiosity can be turned off when science becomes synonymous with heavy textbooks and unfamiliar vocabulary. Help your child find the fun in science with informative games like those on the "Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman" area of the PBS Kids website (see Resources).
Art
Art programs are often the first to go when schools face budget cuts, but you can still expose your child to world class art. The National Gallery of Art has an extensive kids' section on their website, with several games that introduce various art styles and encourage kids to create their own masterpiece in the given style (see Resources).
Homework Help
Online research tools designed just for kids are a valuable resource. Kids' online encyclopedias have articles written at a middle elementary reading level, with links to kid-appropriate websites such as National Geographic Kids. Online dictionaries, atlases, and other reference materials are invaluable because they give your child the information they need without pulling her away from the topic she is researching. When your child goes online to research, be sure to be available to supervise and help her if needed.
References
- "Must-See Websites for Busy Teachers;" Lynn Van Gorp; 2007
- Winning Equation: How Technology Can Help Save Math Education
