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Snow Days and Holidays Can Help Elementary Students Earn College Scholarships

Throughout the school year there are plenty of “found days” when students don't go to school. Some are weather related, like snow days, when school is closed. Others are holidays, especially on Mondays, resulting in three day weekends. During teacher in-service days school is open, but kids don’t go. Why not use this time to help students do things they enjoy which could help earn more scholarship money for college?

Even in elementary, some pastimes greatly increase the odds of winning scholarships later. It’s always a good idea to determine a child’s talents and interests at an early age, and then reassess from time to time. This way, children will enjoy the activities that are selected, and resistance can be avoided.

It’s wise to prepare for these eventualities in advance. Waiting until you’re snowed in to find something to do really doesn’t work well. But if a list is created beforehand and kept in a safe place, it’ll be ready when needed. The best place to get ideas is at school. Early in the school year, send an email, text or make an appointment with your child’s teacher. Request suggestions for free time play in areas which will be studied that year. Or, let the teacher know your child’s interests and ask where you can find related things to do at home, when school is not in session.

Another place to look is online. Google the interest of your child and see what’s available. Look at YouTube too. Use the area of interest or talent in your search, but be sure to preview the site or video before letting your child see it, to determine if it's age appropriate. Many science videos and sites for kids are online. Bill Nye the Science Guy has several videos on YouTube. So does Samantha Brown. Her “Passport to Europe” segments are light hearted, fun and very educational.

No matter what your child’s strength or interest, you'll find plenty of interesting, educational diversions that can be enjoyed when cooped up in the house. You can also go visit places, if weather is not an issue. Again, it’s wise to prepare in advance. You'll find many that suit each field of interest. Contact your city recreation department, look to local college calendars for events, and again, research online or ask your child’s teacher.

While free play is always a viable choice, using found time to further your child’s interest in something that might lead to college scholarships later is a much better choice. Families who start planning for college while their children are quite young, find that winning lots of scholarship money for college is easier than it is for families who don’t plan ahead.

You are reading from the blog, RoadtoFreeCollege.com, where we empower families with knowledge to navigate the path to higher education without the burden of excessive loans.

 

For more information, you’ll want my book, Free College, CLICK HERE . It teaches families how to help their kids become more successful in school, college, and life.

 

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.

Image Credit: Google Images

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How Young Is Too Young to Prepare for College?

I recently had a conversation with the mother of a fourteen year old boy. She was freaked out, saying her son was feeling anxiety about preparing for college. She complained he was too young to start prepping. I couldn’t disagree more. Parents should start helping their children plan for their future (college or other post high school plans) much sooner. A great deal can be accomplished earlier, so there will be less pressure later.

I observed this during my 40+ year career teaching both college prep and non-college prep students. Students whose families started supporting their future plans when they were little suffered far less stress and anxiety. They seemed calm and almost serene. I also witnessed this while doing research for my book, Free College.  

All the steps families need to follow are in my book, but here’s one strategy parents can start today. This one is appropriate for elementary aged and older students. The next time you’re out shopping, stop by an office supply store, paper boutique, or big box store. Find a wall mounted, age appropriate calendar for the upcoming year. Pick up some stickers CLICK HERE (ad) and colored pens CLICK HERE (ad) too.

Sit down with your child and your own personal planner. Start with the holidays already listed on the calendar. Guide your child in decorating those days, leaving space to write something later, if the need should arise. Second, note the birthdays of family members and close friends. Again, let your child dress up the date. Third, mark school events, such as the first and last day of school, back to school night, and the like.

If there’s anything in your planner for the upcoming year that impacts your child, show him/her how to write it on the correct date. Use different colored markers selected by your child. What you’re doing is demystifying the organizational process.  Hang the calendar on the wall or back of the door in your child’s bedroom. If two children share a room, it will cause less conflict if they each have their own calendar and space where it is hung.

As time goes on, and other events or appointments come up, inform your child and assist him/her in recording it on the correct date. The younger your child when you begin using this process, the more guidance will be needed. As time goes on, or if he/she is older, very little help will be necessary. Just encourage children to develop the habit of recording upcoming events, both the fun ones, and all the rest. When you do so, you’re teaching them one of the sixteen strategies used by all full ride scholarship winning students. They use wall calendars and are very organized.

In answer to the question posed in the title of this article, there’s no such thing as too young. Parents begin setting things up for the child when he/she is little, and the child takes over as he/she matures.

You are reading from the blog, RoadtoFreeCollege.com, where we empower families with knowledge to navigate the path to higher education without the burden of excessive loans.

 

For more information, you’ll want my book, Free College, CLICK HERE. It teaches families how to help their kids become more successful in school, college, and life.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.

Photo Credit: Google Images

Photo credit: Google Images 

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