Safe Search Kids - Education, Parenting, Internet Safety for All

School is pretty much a job that we give to kids.  Like the jobs we have as adults it is the place you must show up to every day, even when you don’t want to go.  The business of learning is work.  It involves mental focus and self-discipline.  That discipline is an important part of how school shapes kids.

The important knowledge and skills that classes such as math, science, history, languages, and English are critical to helping children become well-rounded, intelligent adults but the self-discipline it takes to show up every day, work with others and finish the assigned work might be the most important skill school can instill in us.

The work that kids must put into school and the social anxiety that can come from learning how to interact with other people every day should make it easy to understand why many kids struggle with school.  School can be an unpleasant experience for kids with learning disabilities, kids who have a conflict with teachers, kids who have social anxiety, kids who are bullied, and kids who struggle with the self-discipline you need to be a good student.  Some people simply don’t like school, and some even go as far as being scared to death of going to school (known as Didaskaleinophobia).

So, if school has the potential to be such an unpleasant experience, why do some kids love school so much?  We all went to school with some classmates who were full of enthusiasm and clearly enjoyed their classes.  What can we do to encourage any child to have a positive experience in school and have a huge smile on their face when they step foot into school?  It is possible to make school a place that even kids who were less than excited about going to school come to love.  We explore five ways to make sure kids love school.

1. Make learning interactive and creative.

Different kids have different learning styles.  Some kids can do well with traditional learning.  Some kids adapt to a classroom situation on their first day of school.  They can listen to a lecture, take notes, read textbooks and study, and earn good grades on quizzes and test.  That simply isn’t the case with many kids.  For them, learning needs to be an active, creative process.  They need to be presented with choices in how they will approach learning and they need to be up from their desks and engaged in learning activities.  Even students who do well with traditional teaching methods benefit from this approach.  An engaged student who is empowered to make choices is far more likely to love school.

2. Adults should be role models.

Kids look to adults to model how to behave.  Attitude is contagious!  Every day children are essentially at the mercy of adults.  They must listen to their parents, teachers, coaches, instructors, principals, guidance councilors and other adults.  It is important for kids to be taught respect for adults, but it is also import for adults who are parents or work with kids to remember how much their own attitude affect the kids they are in contact with every day.  If their teachers and the other adults enjoy being at school there then so will the kids.

3. Adults are not the only ones who need work/life balance.

When you become an adult, it can be easy to envy kids their freedom.  With the pressures of bills, work, and parenting it can seem like kids have it easy by comparison.  Today, kids are under a lot of pressure to make good grades, be involved in multiple extracurricular activities and deal with the social pressures of school, which have only become more intense thanks to social media.  In order for them to love school, they need help balancing their schedule.  It is important for them to figure out how to manage their schoolwork, extracurricular activities and free time without becoming over scheduled and stressed out.  With a healthy work/life balance, they will be able to love school.

4. Help kids identify their interests and strengths.

Part of growing up is figuring who you are, what your interests are and what direction you want your life to go in.  That is a tall order!  Kids need room to experiment with different classes and different extracurricular activities.  Some they may quickly give up on.  Others may radically shape who they become and what they do with their life.  Their parents, teachers and the other adults around them should support this process.

5. Foster an environment that is supportive of all kids.

There is a growing awareness of the effect that school bullying and the toxic morass of the online world has on children and their development.  It is crucial for schools to actively promote a school environment that encourages kids who are struggling socially and experiencing bullying to seek help.  It is also crucial for that help to be available.  Too often children who tried to get help were dismissed and bullying was seen as normal childhood behavior.  For kids to love school it needs to be a place they feel safe, respected and listened to.  It also needs to be a place they can develop healthy friendships that enrich their lives.

Preparing Kids for School

The earlier kids are exposed to these these important strategies the better.  This includes making sure children and are socially and mentally ready as early as kindergarten.  Of course, creating beneficial learning experiences for kids as they move through the grades is a process that continually evolves.  Children are resilient and will respond to positive reinforcement at any age to assist them in being better students that want to be in school and learn.

Children today are not as fascinated by things we older generations once enjoyed so much. Back when we were kids, we loved drawing with color pencils and crayons. Coloring books were common and we would also scribble or color anywhere we could express our imagination. But all is not lost!

Today, free coloring pages for kids make it easy for anyone of any age to find printable coloring pages of anything imaginable. It’s true children today are not as fascinated by things older generations once enjoyed so much. It’s unfortunate that many kids now don’t find coloring books enjoyable.
There are some good reasons for this—and yes, I am talking about the internet, smartphones, and tablets. These fantastic inventions have robbed today’s kids of some of the simple pleasures in life. They are often more interested in playing video games on a computer or smartphone, instead of drawing or coloring something using markers or crayons.

However, just because kids like their smartphones and tablets doesn’t mean they wouldn’t love to draw or color. They simply need to be introduced to how fun it can be. For example, if you likes coloring animals, there are hundreds of animal coloring pages to choose from. It may be on a long car trip or at home when parents want to limit screen time. Instead of just saying “no more time on the computer”, why not provide them a fun activity as an alternative?

Online Coloring Pages

Thanks to the internet, children today have a whole new world to explore that will evoke their passion for coloring and drawing. This is something kids a generation ago were not able to experience. Professional artists are now drawing and coloring cartoons, animals, game characters, animations, and much more using highly-sophisticated computer software.

These artists also are sharing their creations on websites for everyone to enjoy. The tools and formats used by them are only available for adults with full-fledged careers. But, there are ‘kids versions’ for these tools, and children can use them to draw and color objects.

When searching for tech-free fun things to do for kids to reduce screen time, there are plenty of websites for kids to draw online with and easy-to-follow instructions to animate their drawings. Simply Google “online coloring pages” and you’ll find websites that are designed for kids to color digitally on the screen. Still, these interactive coloring pages where kids can create using the site’s tools are not the same as finding an image and printing it to color with real crayons.

Coloring Page Communities

Whether the artwork is online for virtual coloring using software or you access printable drawings, many of these coloring pages are created by the artistic community. It’s a way for them to share their art and provide fun for kids without having to publish a coloring book. The great thing about this is that parents and teachers only need to print the specific drawings that kids want to color. It’s a great way for them to explore their artist skills and decide if they some day want to join the artistic community as they grow older.

Simply introducing all the coloring page ideas of what to color could inspire someone to try coloring. Discover drawings such as Athletes, Birds, Cars, Color by number, Dinosaurs, Disney, Educational, Flags of countries and LEGO. Or try Motorcycles, My Little Pony, Princesses, Spider-Man, Star Wars, Superman, Vegetables and Winnie the Pooh. The sky is the limit for what kids can color.

Coloring as also been known to be very therapeutic for kids and adults alike to help with anxiety or stress. Or just to have fun doing something they haven’t experienced since childhood. There are printable drawings available that have been created just for adults or teens. These coloring pages require a finer attention to detail. What a great reactivity to do together as a family.

Inspiring Artistic Creativity

While old-school coloring books may be a thing of the past for most children of our generation, they are one of the best ways to inspire kids and reignite their inner passion for drawing and coloring.

Introducing kids to free coloring pages can have a profound effect on children to encourage them in highlighting their creative side. It may inspire them create their own drawings to color.

It will allow them the freedom to make mistakes and improve their motor skills, thanks to the ability to reprint images and color them a second time. And it’s super easy pin their creations on a fridge without having to rip each page out of a coloring book.

Author Bio

Paul B. Wright has over five years of experience in the field of drawing. He specializes in drawing coloring pages that are printable for kids. It’s is Paul’s desire that children of all ages will will discover and grow in their true creative talents.

Share this article on free printable coloring pages with your friends and family!

Are you a teacher or the administrator of a school seeking free school supplies? School districts with limited budgets are the norm but that doesn’t stop the effort of educators to provide the best education for their students. As for teachers, many purchase classroom supplies from their own personal finances. School supplies at no cost provide the solution.

To be clear, these school supplies are purchased at competitive prices and provided free to those who sign up for Wishing Well™ and then share their school supply wish list with others. It connect educators with donors who are desiring to buy the schools supplies on the list.  Teachers may have a number of items on their list.  Donors can choose to purchase as little or as many of the items as they wish.  Items are shipped directly to teachers at their school in a quick fashion. Sign up to Create Your Free Wish List

Free School Supplies for School-Wide Needs

Administrators can also create a wish list for their school in general.  The success of a campaign to receive free school supplies is dependent on the number of people within your community that you share your needs with.  All the tools are provided within the Wishing Well™ program to have a successful campaign and receive classroom supplies for free as they are purchased.

School supplies are available on the ‘Really Good Stuff’ website, the providers of competitively priced school supplies for those who want to support teachers or find resource for use at home.  It’s all part of innovative, teacher-created solutions.

PTA’s, girls and boys clubs, daycare facilities, after-school programs, community drop-ins and even those in need of homeschooling resources can create their own campaigns for free school supplies.

Once those who are seeking free supplies have signed up, simply browse the many categories according your needs from a large online selection:

• Supplemental curriculum resources.
• Social-emotional learning tools.
• Classroom organizational items.
• Teacher basics and essentials.
• Classroom decorations.

Let’s face it, fundraising can be a challenge.  Whether it’s raising funds for your school or collecting free school supplies for teachers that donated, there are ways to make it easier.  With Wishing Well™, items can be prioritized to ensure the most important items are received first.  Set goals you want to achieve that will benefit your classroom or school the most.

Anyone can shop the website and ship items for their own personal needs, for gift giving or directly to teachers or schools who have created their wish lists. Shop Here!

Classroom Decorating Ideas

Aesthetics are important to make a classroom feel inviting to students, especially at a younger grades.  School is a child’s first impactful experience with a large institution.  They will be spending 30 or more hours a week in school.  A majority of that time will be in the classroom.  The biggest impact in their lives will be interacting with their teacher and fellow students.  When it’s time to get down to the business of learning, a vibrant visual environment will help them feel more at home and engaged.  Decorating a classroom with posters, maps, letters and incorporating classroom theme ideas can always be incorporated into lessons and therefore become no less important than traditional supplies and teaching resources.

Teachers can also get supplies to create holiday themes for their classrooms, such as Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Valentine’s Day.

Social and Emotional Learning

A well rounded student is about more than ‘reading, writing and arithmetic’.  Every student’s emotional well-being and social awareness is vital to successful learning. It re-enforces what they are learning at home and balances their understanding of values they may be learning on television programs or through advertising.   Free school supplies can also include teaching resources for mindfulness, diversity, inclusion, self awareness and how to deal properly with emotions and feelings.

Wishing Well™ – Equipping Educators

Whatever need there is to better equip, enhance and empower teachers and schools to offer the best learning environment for kids of all grade levels, we are proud to partner with this important school and classroom supply platform.  Our hope is that teachers will no longer be required to pay out of their own hard earned dollars to give students the best learning experience in the ideal environment.  Teachers should be able to earn and save their money for themselves.

It’s a sad reality.  Even though the education of our K-12 students is highly valued in most countries worldwide, the education system is vastly underfunded.  According to the USA Department of Education, teachers in the United States are out-of-pocket $478 each year.  That’s $2 Billion of personal money spent on school supplies.

About 44 percent of teachers spend $250 or less, while 36 percent spend from $251 to $500 per year.  The New York times reports that 94 percent of teachers purchase classroom supplies without reimbursement.  The bottom line is that teachers are paying too much of their own money for school supplies.

Fortunately, there is a new program that has been created to give teachers and administrators of schools access to supplies without cost to them.  This program is also available for PTA’s, childcare centers, Head Start Programs, after-school programs, as well as boys and girls clubs.

Wishing Well™ is the simple, easy way for all educators to request vital school supplies and receive them quickly.  You simply sign up to ‘Make a Wish’ List, which is basically creating a campaign listing your needs.  Wish lists can be created by individual teachers or school administrators who want to run a school-wide campaign for the classroom supplies.

In turn, teachers, schools and any group working with kids in need of school supplies will be able to connect with those who are ready to offer support by purchasing and donating items.  School supplies are purchased online within the Wishing Well™ platform and shipped directly to the educators.

Steps for Teachers to Access Free Classroom Supplies

It’s time teachers shopped buying school supplies with their own money.  So, here’s how to begin.

Step 1 is to Sign Up and Create a Wish List

It’s only takes a minute to get started and you will be guided every step of the way.

Step 2 is to select all supplies available.

Easily browse and add anything you need for your classroom or school. Mark items as priorities and put them front and center.

Step 3 is to spread the word.

You’ll be provided with everything you need to reach donors and have a successful campaign.  Teachers and schools will receive supplies as they are purchased, you won’t have to fill you entire campaign goals to begin receiving supplies.

Supporting Your Favorite Schools and Teachers

Whether you have a favorite school or a special teacher, your support helps students get the most out of their classroom experience.  Making a difference is easier than ever.  With Wishing Well™  you can help teachers get the supplies they so desperately need at prices backed by a low price guarantee.

Even Parent Teacher Association’s can sign up and make a wish list of school supplies needed within their school. Then, share the campaign with all parents, friends or businesses within the community who have a desire to help their local schools and teachers.

Here are the simple steps supporters can take:

• Discover campaigns:  Find wish lists by school name, teachers, grade, subject, or interactive map.

• Choose Products to Purchase:  Easily select supplies by priority or cost from wish lists that have been created by teachers.

• Receive Updates from Teachers:  Feel the impact your contribution has made with updates from teachers you support.

Wishing Well enables teachers to stock their classrooms with supplies students need.  Items are shipped as soon as donors make their purchase. Teachers do not have to complete campaign goals to receive supplies.  Items are shipping as ordered by donors.  Items arrive within days of purchase.

School supplies are also available to individuals looking for good prices online for school use or at home.

The Wishing Well™ Advantage means:

• Teachers and schools can receive the supplies they need within days.

• Administrators and other groups can also take part for their entire school.

• Programs outside of the formal educational system that need supplies can also participate.

• There are no fees to sign up and receive supplies from donors.

So let’s not waste any time getting kids the classroom supplied they need, without teachers having to pay out-of-pocket due to underfunded schools.

Educators and School Groups:  Start Your Wish List Now!

Support Your Teacher or School:  Search for Teachers or Schools!

Individual shoppers can instantly shop online now here:

As show below, there are individual communities that have started their own charity drives to supply free school supplies to teachers.  However, this is not available in every school district.  The Wishing Well™ which was started by Really Good Stuff is available nationwide in the United States and in many other countries.

Blogging can be a child’s play if we look at it from a different perspective. There are many children that have started successful blogs around the world. Blogging is also a wonderful hobby that helps bring out the creativity of kids in a field they love.

In this article, we will discuss 21 blog post ideas for kids and adults interested in creating and learning to start a blog.

21 Top Ideas for Kids to Create a Blog

Regardless whether you’re a parent that wishes to encourage your kid to create a blog or the child, you might find these ideas interesting.

Your Experiences

Nothing attracts people than reading your experiences. As a child, you can start a wonderful blog by writing about your own experiences in growing up.

Stamps Collection

Maybe you’re unaware but collecting postage stamps is one of the greatest hobbies worldwide. Start a blog that showcases your collection of postage stamps and speaks about how you got them.

Coins Collection

Numismatics might sound a bit foreign to you. All it means is collecting coins from your own country and abroad. Collecting coins is also a superb way to gain general knowledge. Start a blog about coins collection.

Helping Mom Around

Do you help your Mom around the house? Then surely you can help other kids to learn from your experiences. Write these as a personal experience by creating a wonderful blog.

Dad’s World

All kids have some thoughts about their Dad. Why not write about these. It could prove to be an amazing blog for kids around the world. After all, Dad deserves some appreciation too.

School Experiences

Not all experiences we have at school are happy. Nor are they sad. But that’s exactly how you could help other kids to know the ups and downs of school life while helping them to cope up.

Toys

Getting away from toys can prove hard as we grow up. Buzz Lightyear and those Toy Stores, superheroes, all continue to be an integral part of my life till today. Create a blog that speaks about your favorite toys.

Bullying

Now this is something serious. And I wish and pray you never have been bullied by other kids. Give a voice to injustice you’re facing by writing about bullying. Take some assistance from law enforcement officials in your place to know more about this disease that affects countless kids worldwide.

Volunteering

Encourage other kids of your age to do good for someone else. It could be an elderly in your place or someone you care about. Seniors always love kids. And your blog could possibly help bring a cheer on their faces.

Your Brother or Sister

This might sound funny to you. But if you’re fortunate to have a brother or sister, write interesting articles about them. We love and sometimes hate our brothers and sisters but mean no harm. Write funny things about your brother or sister that would help kids of your age. But remember, never to hurt them.

Pets

Having pets is one of the best parts of childhood. Innocent as we are, dogs and cats never stop fascinating us. Write about your pets and how you handle them.

Cooking

Cooking brings to my mind a Scottish teenager called Fraser Doherty. He began making jams from his grandma’s recipes and eventually became famous as the ‘Jam Boy’ in the UK. If you’ve some ideas about food we all enjoy, write about this.

DIYs

As a child I would love doing stuff myself. Juts for the thrill of seeing something I create works or doesn’t. I’m no engineer but just these simple things like building a small radio or repairing a blender would thrill me.

Toothaches

All of us kids undergo toothache at some time. And if you’ve ever been through one, you’ll know it knocks our senses out. Going to a dentist is scary. Write about own experiences when you have one. Not when you’re down but your personal experiences with a dentist and toothaches.

Birds

We often watch birds around. Some of these birds are seen rarely because they migrate. Should you be the one loving birds, write about the. Also, include some pictures if you can take them.

School Lessons

Good at any subject in your school. Help other students to learn more about subjects they lag. Teach them with you experiences and simple words on how to help learn something the way you cope with.

Music

Music is a universal language everyone can relate to.  What is your favorite type of music?  Who are your favorite singers and bands?  A music blog is a great way to connect with other fans that like the same music as you do.

Shopping

Kids are often curious about what their parents buy at stores. Write about your funny experiences in trying out new and interesting products that your parents buy and you try out.

Video Games

I’ve rarely come across a kid that doesn’t love video games. Create superb posts about video games you’re playing. You might find a lot of kids who share your hobby and would love learning more from you.

Picnics

Personal experiences about picnics are almost popular around the world. Other kids also want to have similar experiences and would identity with you. Create a blog with your own experiences or that of your friends.

Make Money as Kid

American labor laws are strict about kids working. Yet, there are some online jobs you could take as a child where possible. Help other children learn this important skill of making money during holidays.

In Conclusion

Before concluding I’ll add that being a kid isn’t any reason why you can’t start your own blog. Try it out and you could definitely create something that helps the world. Personally, I have amazing hobbies that I write about often. Blogging as a kid helps you earn some income. If you’re successful, it’s possible to create a brand image for yourself too. And this can be an asset all your life.

A little extra effort as a kid can help shape your future too. There are great online resources that can help you set up a website, even for a kid.  The younger you start, the higher your chances of success. Never let age define whom you wish to be and what you could become. Remember, successful adults often start small as kids.