With children now more dependent on technology, their exposure and activities outside their homes may cause fears, anxieties, and even delayed brain development. Parents get more anxious during school opening season, plagued by the thought that they may not be doing enough to prepare their kids for school.
In an event presented by Enfagrow A+ Four NuraPro called “Getting Kids School-Ready, Future Ready!” actress and TV host Iza Calzado talked to fellow parents and experts about ways to develop children’s IQ and EQ to make them ready for challenges and have a smooth transition into the new school year.
Tina Zamora, Director of Nest School for Whole Child Development, stressed the importance of determining which learning approach is best for your kids.
“It starts with understanding your child’s learning style and interests. Montessori education centers on self-directed learning and hands-on exploration. If they thrive in structured environments and value clear guidelines, traditional learning might be suitable. On the other hand, if they’re curious, creative, and enjoy exploring progressive learning could be a better fit.”
Dr. Ma. Theresa Arranz-Lim, founding member and former president of the Philippine Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, further explained how the different learning approaches help shape children’s IQ and EQ.
“Adopting the growth mindset is very relevant now—applying what you’ve learned, accepting feedback, and learning from mistakes. Children are happier when they are affirmed; they feel safe and protected. Keep in mind that every child is unique.”
For example, child star Annika Co has showcased her wit and talents in her TV appearances.
According to her parents, Adrian and Anne Co, Annika has been using the applied learning approach as part of her homeschooling since she was 6 years old. As supportive parents, they just allowed their child to do whatever activities would help her develop her talents further.
Adrian and Anne related, “Our parenting style is tactical—we expose her and involve her. An example of how she learns math better and finds it interesting is that when we go to the grocery store, she will do simple addition, subtraction, and multiplication.”
Celebrity mom Coleen Garcia shared the same experience with her son, Amari.
“We spend a lot of time with him and expose him to various experiences because we want Amari to adapt to different environments and interact with people. We are doing it slowly, using a lot of intuitive tools. That way, we can observe his learning interests.”
Educator Tina Zamora approves of Coleen and Annika’s parents’ way of enriching their kids’ learning experience. In addition, s/he said communicating these experiences to their teacher would help make them school-ready.
“It’s true what they say: it takes a village to raise a kid. The key is collaboration among teachers, parents, and caregivers. We need to observe and see their strengths and weaknesses so we can give them an essential support system.