By Guest Blogger: Sarah Daren

In response to COVID-19, the world of learning has been turned upside down. The heightened use of technology for distance learning has been both a blessing and a curse. Whether you’re one of the 70% of U.S. adults with at least one social media account or not, you’ve realized the double edged sword that comes with social media being a part of children’s lives. With children’s increased use of technology and access to social media, it’s important to teach the youth how to develop a healthy relationship with it.

Sure, there are plenty of things to be cautious about with social media and your kids, especially the time spent using them. Ultimately a healthy relationship with the Facebooks, Instagrams, Twitters, Snapchats, TikToks, etc., of the cyber universe is a good thing. Colleges use social media to communicate, and potential employers often look at it during their hiring processes, so a total avoidance of social media won’t be setting your child up for success in today’s corporate world. There are even college degrees in social media now, so learning how to use these tools in a limited-yet-constructive manner will benefit your children on their paths to independence.

Ask Them To Explain Any Problem They Have With Social Media

As social media is something that younger generations simply have a better grasp on, trying to get “ahead” of any issues your children may be having with social media can be a near-impossible task. The best way to identify any problems your kids may be having is to simply ask. Cyberbullying, impractical self-expectation, and even cyberstalking are all issues that occur because of social media, so be sure to ask if you think your child may be experiencing any of these.

Most times, your child’s time spent online will be devoid of the issues mentioned above, but if that time starts preventing your kids from doing other things, that presents an issue all in itself. Before the internet, the equivalent to going down a social media wormhole was to read the entire newspaper.

With social media, that “newspaper” is endless, and isolation caused by social media can lead to other issues such as loneliness, poor sleep habits, increased stress, and even poor cardiovascular function from a lack of movement. Determining a healthy amount of time spent in front of a screen versus time spent detached from online activities is an important balance for your children.

Limit Screen Time

“Screen time” isn’t solely related to social media, but given the research done on social media use among teens, you can bet it’s a huge chunk of the time your child spends looking at a screen each day.

If your child is very young, screen time should be almost non-existent. For kids who are two years of age and younger, screen time should be limited to occasional face chatting with mom and dad when they are away for work. For preschoolers, it’s recommended that less than an hour a day be spent in front of a screen, and even that hour should be educational.

As your kids reach school age, it becomes impossible to monitor all of the screen time, so conversation again becomes the best way to gauge this. Helping your kids determine their own healthy amounts of screen time can make it seem more like a challenge than a rule, but setting your child up for success is also a good idea. Creating areas of your house that are “tech free” and encouraging time spent there is a great start.

If you’re a bit wary of the amounts of time your kids are telling you they spend on social media, you can also put parental controls and notifications on them to track the amount of time eyes are spent looking at a phone or tablet when it may have been thought they were looking at assignments.

Talk Openly About Social Media Safety

The recurring theme in each section of this article has been communication, and it really is the most important part. The parallel universe that is social media is almost impossible to police, so discussing safe internet practices is crucial. Leading by example with your own (it’s really easy to set up!) can help keep your child’s mind positive and body active beyond the screens.

The post How to Help Children Develop a Healthy Relationship with Social Media appeared first on Total Learning Centers.

By: TLC Education Success Experts

Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings do make a difference for our children’s success in school. Here are powerful ways you can significantly strengthen their impact.

Build Relationships

If you don’t get everything you want (and meetings are often about compromise), remember you will know the people involved for potentially many YEARS that your child is in school. The stronger the relationships (whether we like them or not) the better the meetings will go for all of us and even more importantly, for your child. Rome was not built in a day – you can always call another meeting if you would like.

Keep the Focus on Your Child

Continually remember, and if necessary, remind everybody else, why the meeting is taking place. It is to meet your child’s educational needs. Consider bringing a picture of your child and actually setting it up on the table to help everyone remember why we all are doing this.

Collect Data and Evaluation

A great IEP starts with a great evaluation. The evaluation determines what our goals will be and how the IEP will be written. If you don’t agree with the school’s evaluation, ask for an independent evaluation before even starting to write an IEP. Strengths and needs should be clearly articulated in the evaluation. Make sure you agree with them. Generally, every need should be supported in the IEP.

Good Listening!

Before going to the meeting, review and remind yourself the skills of good listening. Use active listening techniques. Practice saying what you think you heard to make sure that everyone at the meeting is on the same page. And, do take notes. Often it is hard to be fully present listening while you are taking notes. Bring someone with you (a friend, neighbor, relative) whose main job is to be the note-taker. Listen with an open mind. We have a team because we each see the child through our different lenses; often, the student you see at home is different than the student seen in math class. Work together to get an accurate picture of how your child looks right now in the learning environment.

If you don’t understand something – acronyms, time frames, anything – ask!

Kindness

Practice what you preach: Remember to say please and thank you. Be kind to yourself and everyone at the meeting. Though it can be a tough process for everyone, the energy you bring to the conversation – kind and compassionate – while reminding them of their purpose based on an accurate evaluation, will have a powerful positive effect for your child.

The post 5 Easy and Effective Ways YOU Can Make IEP Meetings Successful appeared first on Total Learning Centers.

By: Sarah Daren, Guest Blogger

Being the parent of a young adult who’s about to go off to college can be difficult and scary. For almost two decades, you’ve done your best to teach them skills for the real world. Letting go can be one of the toughest things you’ll ever have to do, and you just have to trust them to make good decisions. Before you pack the truck and get them settled in their new dorm room, it’s crucial to give them some important advice to help during this tough transition. The following four tips are key.

Managing Anxiety

College is a huge step up academically. With that, comes the pressure of making new friends, learning how to manage your time, and taking care of yourself. Unsurprisingly, this leads to anxiety for many college freshmen, causing students to feel overwhelmed. Before sending your kid off to college, talk to them about how anxiety could affect their health, happiness, and grades. Talk to them about learning how to recognize anxiety triggers and managing it with strategies like exercise, journaling, or meditation. Let them know that you are always willing to help if they’re dealing with overwhelming anxiety.

Maintaining Healthy Habits

We’ve all heard jokes about the Freshman 15, but it’s no laughing matter—lots of students gain weight during their first year of college. About a quarter of students gain around 10 pounds during the first semester alone. That can lead to health problems and other issues down the line.

Dining hall food doesn’t always include healthy options. For the first time for many students, they have their choice of what (and how much) to eat. Others may skip the dining hall altogether for the convenience of pop-tarts and ramen. Beyond junk food, students spend lots of time studying and tend to exercise less.

It’s important to acknowledge the reality of the Freshman 15 before the semester starts. Talk to your child about making healthy choices at the dining hall, staying active, and regulating portions. They’ll be responsible for their own lifestyle choices in college, and they need to understand the potential consequences of unhealthy habits.

Monitoring Finances

Families vary in how they handle finances, but that’s no excuse for students to go off to college without basic financial literacy. Many young adults accumulate a huge amount of student debt (an average of around $30,000) but have no idea how to budget or manage their finances once they’re on their own. Student debt often doesn’t feel like “real” money and overspending is common.

You should ensure that your student understands what the costs and responsibilities of attending college involve before they start.  Agree on a plan where costs are managed, checking in regularly if need be. Students may need more or less supervision when it comes to money, but it’s important to be open and communicative about the issue.

Making Mindful Choices

No parent likes to think that their child could struggle with substance abuse, but it’s important not to turn a blind eye. College peer pressure, stress, academic demands, and curiosity are powerful forces leading students to try alcohol and drugs for the first time. This is a tough conversation to have, albeit an important one. Be mindful that forbidding your child from using substances can cause feelings of rebellion, especially once they’re on their own. Instead, try to discuss the dangers of substance abuse, encourage them to make good choices, and respect their ability to make adult decisions.

The first year of college is hard for both parents and students. Give your child space, but let them know that you’re there for them if they ever need any help or advice. Letting go is hard, but it doesn’t happen all at once. Be kind to yourself as you process your feelings and remember that this isn’t goodbye—it’s just a new phase.

The post What to Discuss Before Your Child Goes to College appeared first on Total Learning Centers.

By: Sarah Daren, Guest Blogger

Picture this: it’s Friday after a long week, and you’re just not feeling it in class. It’s so hard to keep your focus on the lecture, especially when you’ve got your laptop open in front of you. By the end of class, you have no idea what the teacher said, and you’re panicking about the next test.

Sound familiar?

If so, try these five tips for staying more focused in class so you can get better grades.

1. Leave Your Phone At Home! (Or at Least Turn it Off)

Can’t sit through a class without peeking at your phone? You’re not alone. Your phone is designed to grab your attention, and it can be more interesting than your history lecture.

The solution? Don’t give it a chance to distract you. If you can, leave your phone at home or in your locker. That way, there’s no way your phone can distract you.

If you really need your phone between classes, then turn it all the way off during the lecture. That means fully off, not just silent. The key is to make it that much harder to get distracted by texts, social media, and everything else our phones have to offer.

2. Choose Your Seat Carefully—and Raise Your Hand Often

Did you start off the semester with the reputation of being “The One Who Sits at the Back?” It’s a comfortable place to be—there’s no one looking over your shoulder and you don’t have to pretend that you’re enthralled by what the professor is saying.

Unfortunately, those benefits are actually huge obstacles to focus, learning, and good grades (and let’s face it, you already know that). Sitting up front can make a big difference. Not only will you hear everything better, but you’ll have access to fewer distractions.

While we’re on the subject of sitting up front, let’s talk about engagement. Engaging with the material will make the class go by faster and help you get a lot more out of it. Raise your hand! Ask questions and participate in class discussions—you’ll be glad you did.

Another good practice for better focus? Don’t sit with your friends. Meet up with them after class instead.

3. Get Enough Sleep and Eat Breakfast

You can’t neglect your body and expect your brain to perform at its peak. A poor diet, lack of sleep, and little to no exercise take a major toll on your health, your ability to focus in class, and while you study. Say no to that morning Pop-Tart, make time to grab some scrambled eggs or oatmeal instead!

Getting enough sleep and fueling your body properly are extremely important for excelling academically. Coffee isn’t enough to keep you focused in class. Plus, you’ll have trouble remembering what you learned, even if you are able to stay awake. Memory is affected by diet and overall health. Maintaining your ability to recall the details of your classes is absolutely crucial to your success in school and in your future career.

Improve your focus and memory by making your health a priority. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly, and make sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep per night. Those all-nighters aren’t doing you any favors. You should also make sure your brain gets some rest and relaxation from time to time—try meditation or make time for some low-key fun.

4. Take Notes on Real Paper

Is your laptop your best friend in class? If so, it might be an unhealthy relationship that you need to rethink if you want to improve your focus.

Sure, a computer is a fantastic note-taking tool. It’s also a huge distraction, allowing you to surf the internet, play games, and watch videos discreetly in class. If you’re finding that your laptop is being used for more than just note-taking, then you may want to switch to a more old-school strategy.

Invest in a notebook for each class, and get some comfortable pencils or pens. It might feel awkward or tiring to take notes by hand, but it’s a great way to stay focused and engaged with the material. Not only that, but physically writing down your notes is a great way to remember what you learned more easily.

5. Take Control of Your Mental Health

For many students, a lack of focus in class doesn’t have to do with the digital distractions of the world or a lack of sleep alone. It also has to do with mental health.

Academic programs can be extremely demanding and stressful. Students are often overworked and feel that they have to study 24/7 in order to succeed. Unfortunately, this often backfires and can lead to anxiety and depression.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in school. In fact, depression and anxiety have been on the rise among college students year after year. If you find that you’re struggling with mental health challenges, know that you don’t have to deal with it on your own. Your school should have counseling services that can help you feel more in control of your life and happier overall.
Anxiety and depression can make it very difficult to focus in class or when you’re trying to study. Your mind might wander, or you might not be able to find any motivation to engage with the learning process. It’s important not to feel any shame about this and to seek help as soon as you can, so you can get your mental health under control and feel better.

Focus Can Be Challenging

Focusing isn’t easy, especially if you’re trying to pay attention during a class you’re not excited about. If you want to graduate with a GPA you can be proud of, then it’s important to develop strategies for staying focused even in the most boring of prerequisite courses.

You might have to experiment a little before you find the focus strategies that work best for you. Everyone is different, and while your friend might be able to stay focused by turning off the wifi on their laptop, you might need to break out an old-fashioned notebook. Whatever works for you is the right strategy. Don’t give up, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. It’s much better to seek out help right away than to panic during finals week because you haven’t been paying attention. You can do it!

The post Five Tricks for Students to Improve Focus in Class appeared first on Total Learning Centers.

By: DJ Crino, Guest Blogger

Exercising regularly benefits virtually everyone. However, it’s particularly important that teenagers exercise consistently. Doing so establishes a foundation that will make staying fit throughout life a much more attainable goal.

That’s not to say teenagers need to spend what disposable income they have on gym memberships or fancy exercise equipment. There are in fact, many different exercises teens can perform at home to burn calories, build strength, and improve their overall health with simple and comfortable footwear. The following are merely a few noteworthy examples to keep in mind.

Squats

A squat may look fairly simple, but if repeated several times, it’s a much more intense exercise move than many people realize.

Luckily, you don’t need much space to perform squats. Start by standing with your feet about shoulder-width apart with your hands resting on your hips. Bend your knees, lower your glutes, and strive to reach a squatting position in which the area behind your knees forms a perfect 90-degree angle. Return to the standing position and repeat until you are too tired to continue.

Squatting and standing back up slowly may be the best approach if you’re just starting to adopt a fitness regimen. However, those who want to add a little more intensity to their workouts can perform squats in quick succession for a minute without stopping before taking a break. Just remember not to sacrifice form in favor of speed. To take advantage of the full benefits any type of exercise offers, it’s important to emphasize maintaining proper form at all times. This is also a basic safety issue.

Yoga

Don’t dismiss yoga as being too gentle to deliver major fitness benefits. Although numerous factors will naturally affect how many calories you burn during a yoga session, including your weight and what type of yoga you perform, you can often burn anywhere from 180 to 460 calories in one session alone.

You also don’t need to necessarily take a yoga class to practice yoga. While it is always helpful to get instruction from an expert, if that’s not an option for you right now, you can still buy a yoga mat and simply follow along with the many different sessions and routines posted on YouTube. Because there are numerous different types of yoga, all of which vary in intensity, it’s a good idea to browse your options thoroughly before choosing one that appeals to you.

That said, this is another instance when you need to prioritize your own safety. Trying to perform certain yoga poses without the supervision of an instructor can be dangerous. Don’t attempt any poses that look or feel too intimidating.

Jumping Rope

The simplest exercises can often be the most surprisingly effective. Consider the example of jumping rope. This isn’t simply an activity reserved for children in phys ed classes. In fact, the average person can actually burn 10 calories a minute by skipping rope, making it one of the more efficient ways to lose weight. They’ll also be strengthening important muscle groups while doing so. This once again proves you don’t need very much equipment to get a very good workout.

Side Leg Raises

Get the most out of your yoga mat by using it for other types of exercises as well. For example, when you’re not in the mood for a full yoga session, you can still burn some calories and build a lot of strength with side leg raises.

This is one of the simpler exercises on this list. That said, it can also be more demanding than you might think. To perform the move, lay on your right side with your right palm holding the floor to stabilize you. Slowly lift your right leg as high as it can comfortably go. Point your toes while doing so. Slowly lower your leg, then raise it up again, performing as many repetitions as you are comfortable with before switching to the other side.

You can also modify side leg raises in many ways. For instance, if you want to work on your balance, instead of laying down on your yoga mat, you can stand up and raise your legs out to the side in a similar fashion. If you struggle to maintain your balance when first attempting this move, consider keeping a chair next to you. This will ensure you have something to hold on to if you need additional stability.

Some Final Tips

These examples should make it clear that getting fit as a teen is much simpler than many realize or imagine. If you can’t justify spending money on a fitness club membership or home gym, you can still use the space you already have to start embracing a life of fitness today.

That said, there are certain essential points you should keep in mind when doing so. Make sure you choose to work out in a space where you won’t run the risk of injuring yourself by banging against a wall or object. If you live with other people, you of course also want to choose a space and time to work out where you won’t disturb the other occupants of your home. Because you are almost certainly going to work up a sweat when exercising, you should also make a point of cleaning your space after every session.

It’s worth noting that you may not always feel motivated to exercise. This is understandable. However, to make fitness a part of your overall lifestyle, you need to exercise even when you would rather not. Maintaining a regular routine is key. Thus, you should prepare for these instances by making a playlist (or several) of music that pumps you up. Research actually confirms that simply listening to some of your favorite tunes during a workout session can significantly boost both your energy and motivation levels.

Most importantly, remember the value of committing to fitness. People who exercise regularly are less prone to everything from heart disease to dementia. The sooner you start exercising, the better the odds you’ll take full advantage of doing so throughout life.

The post Home Workouts for Teens appeared first on Total Learning Centers.

By: Madison Smith, Blog Editor

Executive functioning, the newest buzz in psychology and education, is largely affecting children’s lives in and out of school. This set of mental skills which include: memory, flexible thinking, and self-control is crucial to managing every day life. As of late, student’s are largely experiencing executive functioning issues. Examples of this would include: having trouble completing tasks, forgetting what was just read or heard, getting overly emotional and fixating, having trouble following directions and many more. How can you determine if they have executive functioning issues? Get them tested! At Total Learning Centers, we offer two levels of testing, Essentials and Comprehensive. Either can pinpoint exactly where the child is struggling and we can offer an individualized plan at our center.

Often, executive functioning struggles can go hand in hand with learning disabilities or ADHD. This can cause trouble with learning, but does not mean they lack intelligence. Luckily, Total Learning Centers is trained to identify and remediate these problems using specially and expertly designed programs to help children speed up and organize their thinking. Our Executive Function program improves areas such as: attention & focus, working memory, processing speed, and many others available on our page. As helpful as our program may be, it’s important to maintain what is being learned. The following are powerful ways parents can help children develop this crucial set of life skills.

• Ask questions (not sarcastically) about your child’s perspective of a problem and ask to consider other possibilities. You are asking for AWARENESS OF OTHER PERSPECTIVES OF A PROBLEM, not agreement.
• Even though “brainstorming” has been around since the 1930s, and the concept much longer, many children tell us they stop as soon as they think of one good solution or they get stumped. GENERATE MANY IDEAS SUSPENDING JUDGEMENT UNTIL AFTER THE LIST IS COMPLETE.
• TEACH YOUR CHILD THE STEPS OF PLANNING, ORGANIZING, AND IMPLEMENTING SOLUTIONS. Don’t assume they know even the most obvious step. Be patient as they continue to learn this developing skill.
• DISCUSS VARIOUS WAYS OF KEEPING TRACK OF PROGRESS. Let your child choose one from a limited list of possibilities you generate together.
• Remind your child that it not only is okay but often necessary to MAKE CHANGES AS NEEDED (another important life lesson).
• CELEBRATE SUCCESS, EVEN IF LIMITED. Even if nearly every step of the solution failed, your child was still successful planning and attempting to solve the problem. Recycle through the steps making changes based on lessons learned.
• BE A GOOD MODEL. Give voice to the Executive Functioning in your own brain.

The post Executive Functioning: Seven Ways Parents Can Help appeared first on Total Learning Centers.

New year, new resolutions. Just because 2020 has already officially started, does not mean it is too late to make one. The purpose of a resolution is to benefit you throughout the entire year. Check out these great education resolutions that can work for any student looking to make positive changes to their lives this year.

1. Change your sleeping habits. Sleep is a crucial part of educational development. Your brain will not be able to retain any information during class if you are feeling groggy. The best way to wake up feeling refreshed is to get an allotted number of hours of sleep. Seven to eight hours is an ideal range. To ensure falling asleep and staying asleep, eliminate any screen time 30 minutes before bedtime.
2. Read a new book each month. It’s OK to set aside those textbooks for a couple of minutes each day to enjoy some leisurely reading. When you’re reading a book that interests you, it no longer feels like a chore. Switch out TV or phone time before bed with a chapter or two of a good book. It’s a great way to help you feel relaxed to fall asleep (Hint: #1).
3.  Limit your screen time. If you’re feeling extra brave, extend your break from screen time longer than just before bed. Social media may seem inevitable, but don’t make it the last thing you look at before bed and the very first thing you check in the morning. Switch out the constant scrolling with taking in sights, sounds, and smells around you, or with small productive tasks that will enrich your day and productivity.
4. Take up journaling. Everyday life is not without its stress and anxieties. A great way to battle these effects is through the practice of jotting down your thoughts. Sometimes, seeing your feelings on paper can lead to identifying trigger points and overcoming certain stressors. The journal can also be used to draw, mark important moments, write poems, or whatever help you channel your emotions and creativity in a positive way.
5. Learn outside of the classroom. Resources like books and the internet can provide a world of knowledge. Most public libraries offer a free membership for those living within the county. The internet is a free option housed with informational podcasts, articles, and TED talks.

Resolutions are a positive way to kick start your year. Don’t overwhelm yourself with trying to accomplish all on this list. Working on one or two is a great start. You’ll be surprised at which ones may morph from a resolution to a habit.

The post New Year, New Education Resolutions appeared first on Total Learning Centers.

By Madison Smith, Blog Editor

It’s that time of year again! With the holidays rounding the corner rapidly, it’s time to finish up gift buying. We all want our children to enjoy the gifts they receive, but we also want products that will help them grow and develop on top of having fun. We’ve compiled a list in order to help you find great educational gifts that your children will love.

Gifts for Toddlers

Toddler age is one of the most crucial times in a child’s life for development. This is where they begin learning all the fundamental tools, such as numbers and ABC’s. Here are some wonderful ideas for your blossoming learner.

VTech Count and Learn Turtle: Your little one can take their time learning 123’s with this shelled companion by their side. This toy takes number learning to the next level through incorporating light up buttons, early addition activities, and a Spanish mode. This “turtle” definitely wins the toy race.

LeapFrog Phonics Magnetic Letter Set: Magnetic letters are always a success when learning the alphabet. Through placing the letters in the bus they will hear its name, sound, and how it’s used in a word and sentence. Placing this on the fridge can turn mealtimes into learning time!

Mozart Magic Cube: Keep it classy for your budding, young composer. This light-up cube teaches how sounds (piano, violin, French horn, etc.) are combined to create eight Mozart masterpieces. Allow your child to interact and heighten their creativity.

Gifts for Preschool Age

As your child is reaching school age, you will begin to see tremendous intellectual, social, and emotional changes. These toys will continue to help them develop.

LeapFrog My Own Leaptop: Your little professional has never loved learning the alphabet so much. The “leaptop” includes the alphabet, pretend emails, sing-alongs, and over 26 animal animations. Now your kiddo can feel professional just like mom and dad!

Picasso Tiles 60 Piece Set: Embrace your child’s imaginative side with this colorful, magnetic set. These 3-D geometric shapes allow your child to create architectural masterpieces. A plus? They make little to no noise!

Butterfly Gardener: A whole gift that everyone will love? Yes please! The Butterfly Gardener is perfect for any nature/animal lover. Your child will get to witness the entire butterfly metamorphosis before being able to personally release their butterflies!

Gifts for Grade-schoolers

Between the ages of 7 and 12, your child is becoming more confident in their abilities as they begin solving problems independently. Support this growth with educationally, challenging gifts.

Mindblowing Science Kit: With over 20 pieces in this kit, your budding scientist will be able to experiment with volcanic eruptions, sunsets in a test tube, acids and bases, and much more. These captivating experiments will reinforce their love for science.

Snap Circuit Junior: This is an excellent starter kit for the young STEM enthusiast. Kids will be able to experience the way circuit conducts electricity to power over 100 of their different creations.

Gift an Experience: Pittsburgh is full of educational attractions that the whole family will love. From the Carnegie Science Center to the Children’s Museum, you can fill an entire day or weekend with exciting and educational visits.

Educational gifts will never go out of style. Be the smartest parent around this year, through giving your child the gift of learning.

The post Educational Gifts Your Kids Will Love appeared first on Total Learning Centers.

Video Games are Good for Jobs

By TLA Student: Zach Ravish

When others view you doing something in life that is utterly useless, some may see that it could be beneficial in finding a career. Video games are a great activity that you can play that will increase focus, memory, multitasking, and other kinds of skills that you will encounter in a job. With different games, you may have different ways of approaching a situation or a problem that you have in a job. Also, with different games, the things you learn from playing them might be beneficial in real-life situations. Sometimes, if you are good enough at a video game, you might be eligible to join a league in certain games, which is almost like a job. There are also different types of jobs related to video games such as creating a story, designing a level, programming the game, and many more options.

Multiple games like Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto V, Minecraft, and others create good skills to have for jobs. If you had played a game and had a point in it where you needed to multi-task, that could be a great skill for a job. If you have an hour of playtime on a video game, that can increase concentration and boost focus. This could be useful with paying attention to important meetings or customers that might have a question or a concern. Eye-coordination is also another factor when it comes to playing video games. When playing a game, sometimes there might be multiple things on screen that require your eyes look at. Eye coordination can be beneficial for people who pilot airplanes, commercial pilots, physicians, and other jobs. There was also a study that involved people who played video games and people didn’t play games.

Video games are very diverse and there are many different types of games available to play. They will lead to many skills that apply in real life. While there are negatives to playing video games, the benefits outweigh the cons by large numbers. When you start to use what the video games have taught you, you then start to realize that the video games can be used in real-life situations. For example, artillery games were developed by the military to train soldiers on how to plot rocket coordinates. People that play RPGs can construct a great paper for a college or a job. The level of writing needed for that college or career requires a degree of storytelling that can be taught in the creative storylines that video games tell. Stealth games like the Dishonored and Metal Gear series, require a lot of precise movement and careful planning to progress. Skills like precision, planning-ahead, and strategizing learned from the games, could prepare one to be a surgeon, dentist, or a strategic planner for a company. These are only a few genres of games that can be influential to the people who play them, however there are many skills that you can learn from these games.

When you play a video game for a long time, you understand how to play extremely well, this might steer you into a video game league. A video game league is an electronic sport that is a competitive version of the video game between a collection of people. Being in a league means that you should keep a regular diet and exercise. Also, you must practice the game you excel at; two players who play League of Legends said that they practiced for 12 to 14 hours. These jobs, however, might not be a job that you will keep because most people retire in their mid-20s. The pay is very high with some players being paid up to three million dollars. If you played in a team in the past, then you could add to your resume that you can work in a group. The people in that group may look to you as a leader. Leadership, cooperation, and communication are essential skills that are transferable to nearly every profession.

There are so many skills that you can obtain when you play video games. However, some jobs look for people who can help in creating video games. Some of these skills could include but are not limited to; voice acting, coding the game, writing a script for a game, level designing, 3D modeling, and a vast number of other jobs that video game companies are needing to create a great game. These skills are a great addition to your resume. With having skills as a voice actor, people might think that you have a great voice when it comes to communicating with others. Another great skill to have is to be tech-savvy with computers and technology. Technology keeps improving all the time, some people will not be up to speed with the current system of technology. With these kinds of skills that someone may have, you could use them to fix a computer, solve an internal computer issue, and help with computer maintenance. Writing is also another great skill that you will need throughout your life and that can be developed from being part of the video game industry. It can help you think about the ideas that you have and better communicate with your co-workers. These skills are useful in various ways that will improve your skill set, allowing you to succeed in your job and be possibly promoted to another position.

Video games have skills that you can apply in many different situations in real life and they can help develop skills for many different jobs. Having different games at your disposal means that you have access to different skills that you can use while on the job. There are also skills that you can acquire when developing video games, either writing, voice acting, or coding the game. These skills can be listed on your resume and would look good to a potential employer. Video games can give our children great skills in the work force such as efficiency, accuracy, coordination, multitasking, or storytelling. With video games enveloping the youth, they are a welcoming addition for multiple skills that you can utilize in a job setting. They allow children to learn from experience in a controlled environment without any real-life consequences. Video games give our children great ways to become a master at certain skills required in the job field.

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By Madison Smith, Blog Editor

Dealing with homework is a struggle students and parents face. As the school year moves towards the holidays, student focus lessens. Maintaining positive homework habits eliminate attention from slipping further at home. Accomplishing this daunting task can be made easier by following these homework tips.

Creating a positive place to work

Every student works differently, their environment should reflect that. Homework location should focus on the room being well-lit and exempt from any distractions. Keeping all distractions out seems impossible. To start; eliminate TV, loud noises, or phone calls. For the daydreamers, offer a change in scenery. Suggesting that they work in the home “office” where they’ve seen their parents go to accomplish work is a strong motive. Another great motivator is you! Set a good example by doing your own work while they are doing theirs.

Provide homework materials

After determining a homework spot, materials should be easily accessed from there. A plastic bin can make ideal storage. An added advantage is making these containers portable. Children who are room movers can easily take their materials bin with them. No more time wasted on searching for pencils! Have a separate bin where they can “dump” all their school things, eliminating any important papers from getting forgotten in the depths of their backpacks.

Getting organized

Homework sessions should begin with reviewing what work is assigned. From there, you can help your child prioritize their tasks. A good rule of thumb is to have the child begin and end with assignments they consider “easy,” sandwiching more difficult tasks in-between. Easy tasks will build their confidence before addressing the hard stuff. Ending with easy material will seem to go fast once the fatigue sets in. Incorporating schoolwork and events into a monthly calendar keeps track of due dates while helping to plan homework time around other activities.

Providing guidance, not answers

It’s important to allow a child time to decompress after an eight-hour school day. Allow ten to twenty minutes of down time once they get off the bus. Allotting time longer than this can lead to distractions. Build responsibility through assigning a time slot in which they need to start their homework. If they start on time, be sure to reward them, teaching and reinforcing the importance of time management. Once they’ve started, do not hover, especially if the teacher specifically states the child is to do the work alone. Help can be provided, through giving suggestions and explaining directions. Refrain from directly giving answers, for there is more benefit in your child thinking for themselves and making mistakes. Working alone develops lifelong learning skills.

Monitoring work allows you to keep tabs on your child’s school performance. It’s beneficial to catch any learning struggles early on. Maintain good relationships with their teachers and know what they are expecting from your child. If you are continuing to experience homework problems, don’t hesitate to get help. The solution can be as simple as needing glasses to see the board or requiring an evaluation to determine a learning disorder. Check out our testing options and reinstated HOMEWORK CENTRAL at Total Learning Centers to start overcoming school obstacles today!

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