Leaving home to go into education for the first time is a big step for your little one, so you need to make sure you’ve picked the right establishment. With so many to choose from, how do you make sure you get the best one to suit their unique personality?

Initially, practically is important, so the key focuses should be location, cost and size. You need to make sure you select a school that is near enough to your home so that your child doesn’t have to travel too far. Factor in all the costs, including transport, uniforms and equipment as well as tuition fees so that you can make an accurate budget. Size is also vital, as you don’t want your child to feel too overwhelmed or receive less support from teachers than they need, but at the same time smaller schools can lead to less socialization and fewer activities.

Having narrowed down your list, make sure you go to visit the school and get a feel for what it’s like. Make more than one trip, so that you can create a shortlist alone before you take your kid along. This way they won’t feel too overwhelmed visiting a lot of schools and being introduced to many new environments.

Once you’ve narrowed it down by culture, make sure you have a look at the curriculum to find out what they have to offer in terms of learning. Some schools, like this private preschool in Chicago, offer a flexible curriculum geared around helping infants and pre-schoolers adjust to leaving and moving into full-time education. Larger schools support children from preschool through to middle school, allowing them to stay within the same establishment and get used to the routine. Each option will appeal to different children, so make sure you talk to your child, partner and other caregivers so that you make the best choice for your little one.

Ask lots of questions to make sure that you fully understand the school, its philosophy and the way it will structure your child’s day. Children need some structure, and as such it’s important that you explore the way their day will progress at each school and understand what they will be doing so that you can find the school that will provide the best experience for your child.

Most importantly, make sure you involve your child in the decision. After all, they will be the one spending years attending this school, and so they should have a say in your selection. Take into account their concerns and try to explain any differences in opinion (for example, they may not like the blue carpet or the teacher’s hair, whilst you may be enamoured with the school itself) so that you come to a decision as unanimously as possible.

Finally, remember that this is an important decision, and one well worth taking time over. Preschool will help your child to adjust to education and will often be the first place they make real friends, so make sure you explore all the options available before you commit: your child will thank you in the future.

 

 

People who often change jobs know that a good resume is key to professional success. Perception is very important on the job market; even if you don’t have the best experience or track record, these are some things that can easily be manipulated by properly presenting information.

A good resume has to be flashy, impactful and to be right for a particular company or a position. Creating a generic resume and sending it on numerous addresses usually doesn’t work. Instead, you need to modify it according to specific needs and requirements.

Here are 5 resume tips that will allow you to land the job of your dreams.

 

Start with a nice cover letter

Whether you’ve placed in within the resume itself or you decide to put it in the body of an email, the cover letter is something you can’t go without. It shows that you’re truly interested in a company and a position. The cover letter needs to be professional and to talk about all the benefits of you being accepted. Whenever possible, try using third-person writing.

Place focus on layout

The layout is very important because of the prioritization. Companies receive lots of resumes during the job hunt and it is very important to present information in such a way that a reader doesn’t get bored or annoyed with it. You always have to place the last relevant experience or education first and then go downwards. Also, it is much better if you first put work experience and then education, other skills, and hobbies. Recruiters usually focus on the initial paragraphs often disregarding information such as hobbies, additional accolades, and even education. So, make a statement with your first page and especially upper sections of it.

Avoid too much personal information

Disclosing personal information is usually a double-edged sword. While in some cases it might bring benefits, it often works to your detriment. The best examples are older professionals and men who haven’t served in the army. Although it might sound harsh, most employers are trying to avoid individuals with too much “baggage”. These small things become even more important if there are numerous applicants when every little bit matters. It’s best if you still do things such as your name, phone, and email address. This can also pertain to things such as hobbies and interests: while having them might seem nice, it often works to your detriment and may even lead to prejudice.

Avoid too much length

Ideally, your resume should be around 2 pages long. Some resume experts say that 3 pages might work as well but that is only for specific, high-level positions that allow a limited number of candidates. In most cases, recruiters don’t have enough time to go through all of that content even if you’re one of the best candidates. Long resumes may cause stress to recruiters inadvertently leaving a bad impression.

Adapt resume for a particular position

People oftentimes send one and the same resume to numerous addresses. This is an issue because each position is different with different requirements. If you want to make the most out of your resume, make sure to update it regularly and make adjustments when applying for a new job. This might seem like too much work (especially to those who are applying to various jobs) but it definitely makes a difference.

With these tips, you will create a resume that will make you a frontrunner for any positon.Make sure to be precise, use selective information, and change the resume according to a specific situation.

 

 

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About the author: Nikolay Stoyanov is the content writer and strategist behind Path Consulting – resume writing company based in Australia. If you’re sick and tired of your job – give us a call and we’ll help you land the one you truly deserve.

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Science is boring, or at least that’s what most kids nowadays tend to think. Part of the problem with this statement is that science is the only field that can help us understand how the world works. Often times, children will lack any interest or passions when it comes to studying it, and usually, it comes from the fact that the teachers they have are unable to help them grow keen on their subjects.

Even one of the most user-friendly science fields, such as biology, can raise all sorts of difficulties to a child who hasn’t been exposed to a good deal of information. However, there are some methods that parents can utilize to get their kids to develop an interest in various fields. Of course, doing so with physics or maths might be a bit challenging, especially as these two do not rely heavily on analyzing the world.

 

Look for free documentaries online or on TV

One of the best ways to teach science to children is by explaining it visually. Using their photographic memory is far more enjoyable than relying on their skills, with the help of which they have to learn everything by heart.

Depending on the subject you want to get your kid keen on, you have a plethora of documentaries and fun video resources to choose from. Some are specialized websites that come with animations with the help of which the child can understand the works of physics, math, and biology.

Others, on the other hand, are extremely visually appealing documentaries such as those made by the BBC channel. David Attenborough is one of the best-known narrators and naturalists in the world, and he has presented dozens, if not hundreds of small and long documentaries on nature.

 

Get easy-to-read science books

The common belief that science books are tedious and hard to read isn’t far from the truth. In fact, most are made that way, but this is often due to the author’s and editor’s inability to combine excellent writing with scientific information. As the Yahoo Style Guide used to point out some years ago, it is better to write for a younger audience whose vocabulary is somewhat limited than to use pretentious words that not everybody can understand.

If the age of the child allows you to, don’t hesitate to introduce him or her to fun science books even when he or she is very young. Some colorfully drawn characters can act as teachers in these books.

 

Make use of unusual items

Finally, if you have the budget and availability to purchase some things that can assist you in convincing the kid that science is actually rather interesting, we could suggest some science objects. One would be a user-friendly telescope if you find that the young one is fascinated by astronomy.

Another could be a USB microscope or even a magnifier with the help of which you can perform fire experiments. Just make sure that every idea is acted out safely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ensuring that our children stay out of harms way is a daily task of being a parent. However, as they get older and face their own challenges, it can be tough to keep on top of the stresses that life throws at them. One of the toughest times that children and teenagers face is the dreaded exam period. Although this is naturally a very stressful time, there are a few things that you can do to make the journey as calm as possible.

 

Sleep

It can be tempting to skip the sleep routine in order to get a few extra hours of revision in. However, this is not beneficial in the long run and your children will just end up exhausted, lacking in concentration, and forgetting what they tried to learn. Good sleep improves thinking and is extremely important for development. Give your child 30 minutes to wind down before going to bed, allowing them to take their mind off studying and gadgets. 8-10 hours of sleep per night will help your child remain settled and positive about exams.

 

Talk It Out

Bottling emotions up is a dangerous game; we all know this. Remind your child that the worry and stress they are feeling is completely natural. Comfort them and let them know that you are there for them. If anxiety seems to be taking over, allow them to take a step back and practice exercises that distract them for a while. Talking about worries acts as great therapy for everyone involved!

 

Maintain Healthy Diet

Comfort foods can be extremely appealing throughout exam periods. However, a balanced diet is important for your child’s health and will keep them upbeat and healthy through this tough time. Unhealthy foods can lead to mood swings or hyperactivity, which is the last thing anyone will want when sitting in that terrifying exam hall.

As well as healthy eating, encourage a regular exercise routine to help boost energy levels, relieve stress, and clear the mind. Teamwork activities are particularly beneficial as it will allow your child to socialize with kids who share the same passions.

 

Relax

This ones for you, yes, you! If you are showing signs of stress, then the pressure is going to pile on and your child will feel more anxious than ever before! Be sure to maintain a calm environment at all times, so your home can be a worry-free zone. Be optimistic and reassuring and your good vibes will soon rub off on your child.

 

Look Out For Signs

At the end of the day, there is only so much you can do to make the exam period as relaxed as possible. If your child is displaying the following signs, it might be time to consider getting some extra help:

• Recurring headaches and stomach pains
• Losing interest in food or eating more than normal
• Constant negativity
• Seeming hopeless about the future

Unfortunately, once the exams are over, the worry may not vanish. Until that results in the envelope is open, your child may still remain a bit irritable. Check out this article provided by Cognita Schools, which gives you helpful advice on what to do if your child does not achieve their desired results.

 

 

It’s hard to find many kids that are excited about doing their homework. Your job as a parent, is to help your kids in as many ways as you can. If your child hates doing homework, maybe you can work your magic and help them get excited about it. While it’s not fun being at school all day and then coming home to do homework, you can use these tips to get your kids excited about homework.

Put a Rewards Chart in Place

One thing that works for most kids is setting up a rewards chart for them. If they don’t forget to do their homework for a whole week, then they get some sort of reward. Of course, this is just a suggestion, but you can come up with something that works for your kids.

Have a Yummy Snack Ready

Who doesn’t get motivated by food? When the kids walk in the door, have them do their homework first thing to get it over with, and have a yummy snack ready for them. There are so many fun and healthy snacks floating around that you can make. You can also keep it simple by laying out fruits and veggies. Choose a snack that your kids will love and this is sure to get them excited about homework.

 

Create a Homework “Space” for Your Kids

It’s always fun to have a comfortable space to be able to do homework; your kids will enjoy this. You can set up bean bag chairs or a table and chairs. Make it colorful and inviting, so your kids will love doing their homework in their own space. If you want, your kids can even help you design and create their individual work space.

 

Pick Out Appropriate Music

Some kids do not do well with background music, but others do. If your child is one that enjoys music, while doing homework, have a lineup of tunes that they’ll enjoy. Listening to music can make homework fun because it gives them something to look forward to as they do their work. Allow this space to be somewhere they feel comfortable and are able to freely express themselves. Creativity is always a good thing for a child to express. Maybe an art wall is an excellent idea? The options are endless!

 

Don’t Get Frustrated

A major way to make homework not fun for your kids would be to get upset or frustrated with it often. You want your kids to get excited about learning, and one way to do this is to be positive and not negative. Make homework time an exciting, positive, and creative time.

 

When it comes to getting kids excited about their homework, what tips would you add?