All You Need to Know about the Russian Empire

All You Need to Know about the Russian Empire Russian History until the 1917 Revolution. ChaptersWhen was the Russian Empire, and how Big was it?The Origins of the Russian EmpireThe Great Emperors of RussiaImperial Russia’s Political SystemThe Decline of the Russian EmpireConclusion.Have you ever wondered what was happening in Russia before that famous Bolshevik revolution in 1917? Have you ever heard of Catherine the Great â€" or even Peter the Great â€" and wondered why they were so great? Maybe you are unsure about how exactly Russia got quite so large.In this piece, we focus on the Russian Empire and we’ll answer any questions you may have about what was history’s third-largest empire (after the British Empire and Genghis Khan’s). So, whether you are studying for the AQA A Level in Tsarist Russia, or if you are just intrigued by the topic, we’ll take you through everything from the Russian Empire's early origins to its political system and great fall.extended Russia to the Pacific Ocean by conquering Siberia. The moment of the 1721 imperial announcement fol lowed Russia’s victory over the Swedish Empire in what is known as the Great Northern War, in which Russia gained control of the Baltic. At this point, Estonia and Livonia (a province of Sweden) also became Russian. Further expansions into Siberia and into Persia shortly followed.From Tsar to EmperorBut then why did the state change from a tsardom to an empire? Whilst the Romanov family â€" including Michael of Russia â€" had all been successful monarchs, to name yourself an Emperor was essentially to say that you were better than a king. And, for Peter the Great, who was generally in thrall to European traditions and wanted Russia to catch up, this was obviously quite important. MarkHistory Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JohnHistory Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarjotteHistory Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErinHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Chantell eHistory Teacher 5.00 (2) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyHistory Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterHistory Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SerenaHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Great Emperors of RussiaPeter the Great (1682-1725)As you can probably tell by his name, Peter I has always been quite an important monarch for the Russians. He is credited with changing many of the ways in which the country operated at the time.He founded and built St. Petersburg, the city that became the capital until 1917, and relocated the government there from Moscow. He is credited with turning the Russian army into a modern machine, taking inspiration from western Europe.This modernising zeal is said to have been inspired by his Grand Embassy through Europe, in which he traveled across the continent in disguise. He was very impressed by the industry, politics, and military of western Europe and believe d Russia to be very backward.As a result, he enforced modern dress in Russia (including a tax on beards) and, in 1700, changed the Russian calendar to the Julian Calendar.Peter the Great founded the Russian Empire in 1721.Catherine the Great (1762-1796)Another ‘great’ Russian, Catherine was an admirer of Peter and continued his process of modernising Russia. Under Catherine, there was something of a golden age in Russia, with what has become known as the Russian Enlightenment, a flourishing of art and culture.Catherine very enthusiastically supported the conquest of Alaska, and during her reign ‘Russian America’ developed. At the same time, she freed aristocrats from military service and extended control over Poland.In 1767, she established a Grand Commission in Moscow, which functioned something like a parliament and was made up of 652 members of different classes â€" from officials to burghers â€" and of various provinces. Its role was to establish the wishes of the people and frame a new constitution.Alexander II (1855-1881)By the reign of Alexander II, the Russian empire had left its golden age and was passing through the period of social discontent and unrest that led to the revolutionary movements that ultimately brought about communism.However, Alexander himself was an enthusiastic reformer. In 1861, he famously liberated the peasantry from bondage, abolished corporal punishment, and promoted university education.This Emperor was killed by assassination, after previous attempts, by revolutionary socialists.Imperial Russia’s Political SystemAbsolute MonarchyThe political system of the Russian Empire was ‘absolute monarchy’ â€" a system in which there were no institutional limitations on royal power. The system was highly autocratic, as evidenced by Peter’s forcible removal of people’s beards.However, the issue for the monarchy was that there was never really any effective means to wield power over its people across the great length of t he empire. Local officials were often unreliable and isolated communities and peoples rarely felt the force of the law.Government ReformAs we have seen, however, the monarchs tried to implement many reforms to liberalise the country, often under the inspiration of western European enlightenment thinkers such as Rousseau and Voltaire.After the 1905 Revolution â€" which was itself the result of the social agitation in which the assassinations played a part â€" the Duma was established, an elected body that had the power to make laws. This was the first time such a thing had existed, whilst the same revolution established a party system and granted citizens rights including the rights to assembly, free speech, and conscience.Whilst the monarch still had significant power â€" including the power of veto â€" the achievements of the Revolution brought about the conditions that would eventually lead to his demise.Religion and EthnicityConsidering the size of the Russian Empire, the people over which it ruled were hugely multi-ethnic and gave loyalty to many different religions. However, the official religion was Russian orthodox: the emperor had to be orthodox, whilst the Holy Governing Synod was a representative function of the church in government.But this body was the result of Peter the Great’s distrust of the church, which he kept under a tight leash by appointing all bishops. Catherine, too, did not think very highly of the church, rather using much of the money earned by their lands to fund her wars.Under Catherine’s reign, Jews were considered foreigners and did not have the same freedoms as Orthodox Russian citizens. She also tried to maintain control of the Muslim population, who, in Russia, were traditionally nomadic. In her reign, towns were built specifically for Muslims to keep them from moving around the empire.The Decline of the Russian EmpireWith the increasing political unrest within the Empire, the rule of law and the monarch’s position was s everely tested â€" by strikes, assassinations, demonstrations, terrorism, and ultimately, the 1905 revolution.The Duma created the conditions for political differences to flourish and it symbolised the growing role of the people and opposition towards the monarch. It would seem that the Emperor, Nicholas II, knew that he did not have the control that he once did, and his repression was heavy handed, with huge increases in death penalties.Revolution and WarRussia entered World War I in defence of the Serbs, with whom they had an alliance. They ultimately fought with the British and French against the Germans, Austrians, and Ottoman Empire. Throughout much of the imperial period, Russia had fraught relations with the Ottomans, whose own empire was on Russia’s doorstep. However, the First World War didn’t go well for either of these powers, as they both collapsed â€" literally ceasing to exist.In 1917, Russia experienced a rerun of the 1905 revolution â€" however, this time, led by the Bolsheviks, it was successful in overthrowing the monarchy. Its war campaign collapsed and the country plunged into a civil war between the supporters of the revolution and the supporters of the monarchy.As we know, the Bolsheviks won, and declared a republic that brought the Empire to an end.Lenin's revolution ended the Russian Empire in 1917.Conclusion.If you want to know more about empires in general, or about the Qing Dynasty or the Roman Empire in particular, we have many other articles on these topics.

Coping with Rejection How to Get Over Not Getting the Job - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Coping with Rejection How to Get Over Not Getting the Job - Introvert Whisperer Coping with Rejection: How to Get Over Not Getting the Job Rejection is tough, no matter what the context.   If you’ve set your heart on a job and then fail to make the grade, it can be hard to pick yourself up and begin yet another round of applications, but it’s worth remembering that rejection can sometimes lead to better things.   You may not be able to draw a line under the experience and move on straight away, but here are just a few ways to help you cope with the pain of not landing your dream job. Smile Like You Mean it  People telling you to ‘cheer up’ will probably just make you feel worse.   It’s easy to feel gloomy when you’ve been rejected, but forcing a smile really can improve your mood and help you approach the new job hunt with a more positive attitude.   Smiling triggers a powerful chemical reaction in the brain, releasing serotonin and dopamine which reduce feelings of stress and boost feelings of happiness.   Even if you don’t feel in the mood for it, try to look yourself in the mirror at the start of the day and give yourself a grin. Ask for Feedback  Rejection is worse when you don’t know the reasons behind it, so if you’ve been turned down for a job, leave it a couple of days and then get back in touch to ask where you went wrong.   Hearing criticism isn’t a very pleasant experience but it’s the only way you will improve and stand a better chance next time.   Some companies may not want to engage in a discussion about where you fell short, but if they can provide you with some constructive feedback then it can help you make sense of the rejection. Build on Your Skillset  If you have managed to get some feedback from the company you applied to, now might be a good time to act on it.   Are there certain skills you need to brush up on, or could you add another string to your bow by taking a short course to boost your CV?   If you didn’t get the job this time, there’s still a chance a similar position could become available soon â€" use your free time productively to add to your skillset.   You could give yourself an advantage over the competition next time around. Take Some Time to Find Out What You Want  What do you really want from your career?   If you didn’t get the job you wanted this time, is it really the right job for you?   Getting a rejection letter can be the spur you need to take a long, hard look at your career and ask what you really want from a job and an employer.   Use the days and weeks after the initial disappointment as a time for reflection and try to work out whether this is what you really wanted after all.   You might decide you want to take a completely different career path or look further afield for work. Don’t Pin Your Hopes on the One Job  When you think you tick all the boxes and would love the role, it can be very easy to pin all your hopes on landing that one job.   That makes rejection all the harder to bear.   If you’ve found it difficult to move on after this disappointment, try to remember not to get carried away next time you spot what looks like your dream job.   The oft-cited warning not to put all your eggs in one basket holds true when it comes to job hunting â€" don’t just apply to the job you like the look of, apply to as many as you can and you might find there’s something even better which you would otherwise have overlooked. Above all, remember that there’s very rarely anything personal in being rejected by a potential employer.   With hundreds of people chasing the one role, it could be that you missed out by the smallest of margins and will have better luck next time around.   Once you’ve indulged in a little self-pity, try to pick yourself up and get back to the job hunt â€" something better might be just around the corner. Lizzie Exton writes for Inspiring Interns, which specialises in sourcing candidates for  internships. To browse our  graduate jobs London listings, visit our website. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Hora do mimimi Não sacaneie o coleguinha!

Hora do mimimi Não sacaneie o coleguinha! Todo mundo brinca quando alguém fala ou escreve errado, quer dizer, pelo menos quem sabe (ou acha que sabe) como escrever ou falar corretamente. Embora seja algo comum, especialmente entre os jovens, além de poder ofender quem é alvo da brincadeira, também pode fazer com que as pessoas se sintam inibidas de participar em conversas, por acreditarem que serão julgadas por tudo aquilo que dizem ou escrevem.Há quem categorize o que vou dizer aqui de mimimi, mas a verdade é que da mesma forma que existe bullying contra quem é gordinho ou homossexual, por exemplo, também existe contra quem escreve e fala errado, principalmente quando a pessoa tem menos desenvoltura para comunicar. Não vou ser hipócrita e dizer que nunca tirei onda com a cara de ninguém, seja por qual motivo for, mas, no fundo, conforme os anos foram passando, entendi que nem sempre esta é a abordagem mais correta a ter para com os outros.Quando sacaneamos alguém essa pessoa pode ficar desconfortável ou entra r na brincadeira. Contudo, se pararmos para pensar um pouco, independentemente da postura da pessoa naquele momento, ela pode ficar pensando nisso e se sentir realmente magoada por ter sido alvo de gozação. São pequenas coisas como essa que podem moldar ou destruir a confiança de alguém.  Felizmente, os professores da LOI English com quem tenho falado dizem que os seus alunos brasileiros são os mais extrovertidos, não têm medo de falar, mesmo que o seu nível de Inglês seja básico.Apesar das boas notícias sobre quem procura ter aulas, a minha experiência pessoal me diz que certos comentários depreciativos podem fazer com que se tenha menos confiança na hora de falar Inglês, o que pode prejudicar, e muito, o desenvolvimento do domínio do idioma. Por isso, se você sabe mais Inglês do que o coleguinha, pense duas vezes antes de tirar onda com a cara dele. Ao invés disso, aproveite a oportunidade para exercitar aquilo que sabe e ensine a escrever ou dizer corretamente . Afinal, a probabilidade de haver alguém que sabe mais Inglês do que você é enorme, será que você gostaria de ser sacaneado se você cometesse um erro? Erick da Costa Lima Não tem muito a ver com o assunto, mas existe gíria em inglês equivalente à nossa gíria mimimi? LOIEnglish Olá @@erickdacostalima:disqus! Acho que vc pode ver uma explicaçoe aqui: https://www.quora.com/What-is-mimimi

Thank you for your time Making your first business call in English

Thank you for your time Making your first business call in English by Muireann PrendergastThe idea of making your first business call in English is not just unsettling, but terrifying for most students of English. However, with some work beforehand and plenty of practice, there are ways to prepare for it. Here are five of them.1. Prepare your introduction and possible introductions from the speakerIt’s a good idea to prepare your opening sentences of introduction before you dial that number.For example:             Good morning/Good afternoon.             This is Pedro Rivas from Google Argentina speaking.             May I speak to Mr. John Daly, please?If the person is expecting your call, it is helpful to say this.             Mr. Daly is expecting my call.It is also useful to prepare yourself for what the speaker might say in return.If the person who has answered the telephone is the person you have asked to speak to he/she will say:             This is she/he             or             SpeakingHowever, if you are calling a big company or mul tinational it is likely that the person’s secretary or personal assistant, PA, might answer the telephone. He/she might say the following:             Can you hold the line please while I transfer you to Mr. Daly’s office or             I’m sorry, Mr. Daly is not available at the moment, may I take a message?or             I’m sorry, Mr. Daly has stepped out of the office, can you call back later?Or, if the lines are busy, you might hear: All of our operators are busy at the moment, can you please call back later.2. Practice saying your number and email and noting down numbers and emails in EnglishFor business calls, you can be sure you will have to leave your own telephone number or the number of your office at some point. For this reason, it is necessary that you be confident in saying your number in English. You should practice saying it beforehand:Remember, it sounds more fluent to say your number two-digits at a time.For example, if your number is 6554389887, you should read it sixty-five, fifty-four, thirty-eight, ninety-eight, eighty-seven.Also, practice saying your email address in English.@ = at.com = dot comAlso, business calls will also require you to hear and note down telephone numbers. It is helpful to practice listening to numbers and writing them down from English-language television and radio news reports.Also, brush upon on your alphabet in English for noting down email addresses. If possible, ask native English speaking friends to call out their email addresses to you and practice writing them down.3. Leaving a message on an answering machineLeaving a message on an answering machine for work purposes in English can be a scary experience. However, once you have clear what you want to say you can practice it beforehand, writing down the information if it helps.Here is an example:Good morning/Good afternoon. This is Paul Garcia from Garcia Associates architects in Madrid. I am calling to confirm my video conference call for 4 pm Tuesda y afternoon next, May 16, with David Lloyd. Should Mr. Lloyd be unable to receive the call, I would appreciate it if he would call me on my direct line at 065 3453432 to reschedule it. Otherwise, I look forward to speaking with Mr. Lloyd on Tuesday. Until then, thank you and goodbye.4. Tips to help you understandIf you feel overwhelmed and cannot understand the speaker, don’t worry. There are ways to get out of difficulty:If you can’t understand what the person is saying say:             I’m sorry, could you repeat that please?If you think the person is speaking to fast:             I’m sorry, would you mind speaking slower, please?If you can’t catch a place name or person mentioned:             I’m sorry, could you repeat that please?If you can’t hear them properly             I’m sorry there is interference on the line, can I call you from different phone?Or I’m sorry there is a bad connection can I call you back later?5. Finishing the callWhen it is time to fini sh the call you can say             Alright then, I think that’s about it for now.or             I’m happy that we have covered all the bases.It’s also a good idea to thank the person for their time.             I appreciate you taking the call and thank you for your time.Establish how you would like to follow up after the telephone call-I look forward to speaking with you again next week.-I will send you an email with the details we discussed attached.-I look forward to speaking to you personally next week.While you think about what you are going to say and how you want to say it let’s listen to the best known pop song in English about stressful telephone calls, Blondie’s Hanging On The Telephone:

6 Ways to Incorporate Fall Colors Into Your Decor

6 Ways to Incorporate Fall Colors Into Your Decor Image via Pexels.com The key is choosing colors that compliment your living room furniture, but here’s the good news:  the fall color palette goes far beyond your basic reds, greens, oranges, and yellows. Anything from beige to deep red wine to navy will have you ready for the season. Don’t be afraid to mix and match cute patterns, such as plaids and stripes. Suede, velvet, wool, and burlap are also great for adding some texture to your furniture. Consider buying a soft fur rug to bring the whole room together  as long as it’s faux fur! 2.  Add big pops of color with small accessories You can incorporate fall into your décor simply by accessorizing. Start with your lighting; a lampshade can make all the difference. Bright colors or hand-painted designs add great mood lighting. If you’re feeling crafty, all you need is a solid-colored shade, some paint, and a small brush to DIY a beautiful fall-inspired lampshade. Lanterns and string lights are just enough to brighten up any corner of your home as well. While metals are sometimes overlooked when considering fall color schemes, they add elegance to any home. Brass, gold, and silver vases filled with bouquets of mums make bold accent pieces. Image via Pexels.com You can’t exactly bring real woodland creatures into your home, but ceramic figurines look just as cute and are perfect for fall. The best part is that they can go anywhere, whether it be on shelves, atop a fireplace, or on end tables. Create your own little forest full of foxes, squirrels, owls, and wolves.  Pier 1 Imports has a wide selection of sculptures, figurines, frames, and more. 3.  Channel your inner outdoorsman with wooden pieces For a rustic look, add some dark woods to your home. If you already have wooden floors, you’re already halfway there! Complete the look with a sheepskin rug (remember the faux). If you don’t have wooden floors, this look can still be achieved with accessories like lamps with a wooden base, picture frames, or DIY plywood signs. In homes equipped with a wood-burning fireplace, there’s no need to hide the logs this season! Display them in an iron firewood rack to make your living room feel like a cozy cabin. Fall can also be the time to incorporate some bigger changes; it’s the perfect excuse to bring the wooden wardrobe into your bedroom that you’ve been eyeing for weeks. 4.  Get cooking with earthy tableware Rather than buying sets of plates, autumn is the time to mix individuals for a folk-inspired look, according to Interior Goods Direct. Image via Pexels.com The colors of fall work well with each other no matter the combination, so don’t be afraid to choose two (such as orange and navy) and create your own custom set from there. Alternatively, you can pick one solid color (navy, for example) as a base for your set and incorporate patterned pieces of the same shade. Table runners and centerpieces are simple options for adding a fall spin to your kitchen. If you don’t mind a basic look, the cheapest table runners can be custom-made by cutting a thick strip of burlap. Add an intricate vase as your centerpiece and the transformation is complete. 5.  Invite autumn inside with pumpkins, hay, and leaves Why not incorporate the items that inspire you with their colors? You can get so creative with natural fall elements. Pumpkins can be carved or painted, big or small, and they can go anywhere in your home. You can turn any pumpkin into anything, from a spooky Halloween look to an elegant piece of art. Image via Pexels.com The same goes for leaves collect some fallen foliage from your backyard and give it new life. Create a framed collage or a string of garland. If you’d rather go down the artificial route, Michaels has a selection of seasonal artificial decorating supplies. Corn stalks and hay bales can decorate your front porch, or become the base of a big wreath for your front door. Add some apples, pumpkins, or even a small scarecrow to the display. Your house will be autumn-ready inside and out! Looking for an easy way to furnish your off-campus apartment? Renting furniture from CORT saves you time and money. See how easy it is to get great looking furniture without breaking the bank.

Last Minute AP Exam Advice From an Anaheim Tutor

Last Minute AP Exam Advice From an Anaheim Tutor Tips From an Anaheim AP Tutor: Last Minute AP Exam Advice Tips From an Anaheim AP Tutor: Last Minute AP Exam Advice The AP Exams are upon us! If you are taking a test or tests this week or next, you might be looking for some final pieces of advice to get a good score its not too late to book a private Anaheim AP tutor. There’s a whole population of students across the United States that are stressing and studying for their big exams who are in desperate need for last minute help. Unfortunately, the internet has been filled with generic, repetitive, and otherwise unhelpful AP exam “tips” that dominate your search results when you’re looking for help. You’ve seen them all before: “make sure you sleep,” “eat a good breakfast,” “take deep breaths,” etc. Everyone has heard these words of wisdom at this point. They have nothing to do with the AP exams and are not useful for students looking for practical advice. If you’ve made it to the end of high school and are taking AP exams, but don’t know that you should try to sleep before a big test, then you might need to reevaluate your priorities. Instead, here are some tips that you might not have heard yet, and will hopefully better help you navigate your preparation for the exams. I Have More Than Two Days Left to Study 1. Take a Practice Test! Please, if you haven’t taken a practice test yet, take one now. Stop reading, find a test (preferably an official one), and take it. Hopefully, your teacher has already had you take at least one practice test, but if not, you should be striving to take multiple before the real thing. There is nothing like taking a full, timed mock AP exam to prepare you for the real thing. Look at what you did wrong on your practice test, then try to improve it on your next practice test. 2. Find Accountability Have someone make sure that you are doing the preparation you need to. It is difficult to self-study and hold yourself to a schedule (especially for many high schoolers), so find someone to help you. Whether it’s a friend or classmate who agrees to take timed practice tests with you, a parent or teacher who supervises your study schedule, or an experienced tutor who guides you through your progress, everyone can benefit from a little accountability. It’s much harder to procrastinate when someone is expecting and waiting for you to show them your work. 3. Get Feedback Taking practice tests and using study guides is great. You can study effectively and efficiently on your own. However, it can be tough to know where you stand in terms of succeeding at the test. Look to a teacher â€" who has likely overseen many students taking the same exam â€" to help you figure out what you need to work on or improve (READ: Irvine AP Tutoring: 5 Ways to Improve Your AP Exam Score). If there are a few areas that you struggle with but are great at the rest, then you might be wasting valuable time by continuing to do full-length tests and reviews. Conversely, if you know your stuff but you are leaving several questions blank on your practice tests because you run out of time, then you may need to focus on pacing and prioritization instead of continuing with your flashcards. Find a teacher, tutor, or someone otherwise experience with your test who can look at your practice tests and help you find what to do next. I Have Two Days or Fewer Left to Study 1. Cram. But Cram Selectively A common piece of advice before any big test is to stop studying, relax, and focus on being in a healthy, well-rested, positive state of mind. Apparently, “studies show” that studying the night before the test does not improve test results when compared to good night sleep. This advice is partly true. Don’t stay up all night, don’t cram full study guides and practice tests the day before your exam, and don’t try to memorize a semester’s worth of material overnight. But that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from cramming. Pick three to five facts â€" whether it’s vocab, formulas, or some history â€" for you to bluntly memorize before your test. Pick things you aren’t already confident in, and cram and memorize them. Only pick a few, but make sure you know those few very well. If they come up on the test, you might get an extra question or two correct that you wouldn’t have if you hadn’t crammed. Do not exhaust yourself memorizing tons of facts right before the test. Do pick the last few things that your short-term memory can hold to help boost your score a tiny bit. 2. Stop Studying Sooner and Optimize We’ll keep this short. A lot of the general and common knowledge regarding big tests is true: stop studying right before the test, get good rest, eat good food, get to a good mental state. Do not read this guide and think that you should wear yourself out cramming and doing practice tests. Practice tests in the days before, small cramming before the exam, but rest and self-help before exam day. 3. Trust Yourself The AP exams are less out to trick you than other standardized tests. They are testing for knowledge. If you’ve kept up with your studying, then you likely do have the knowledge to answer many of the questions. Trust yourself, try not to overthink, and don’t get in your own head when reading the questions. Students change the correct answer to an incorrect one more often than vice-versa on most multiple-choice tests. It’s easier said than done, but this is your last reminder before the tests. Good luck on your AP exams! Michael C. is currently a private math, science, and standardized test tutor with TutorNerds in Irvine and Anaheim. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

Fun Activities that Dont seem like Learning for Kids but are - ALOHA Mind Math

Fun Activities that Don’t seem like Learning for Kids but are Some fun activities for children are just thatfun activities. Other activities you can do with your child can sneak learning in with your child not even knowing it. Cooking is a Great way to get Children to use Math and morewhile having Fun Cooking is something you can do with your children. Yes, it might make a bit of a mess, but it is a great opportunity for your kids to use their brains in a different way. What can children learn while cooking with you? -Math and counting skills while measuring, fractions and volume -Following instructions such as a recipe -Creativity extrapolating from a recipe that you know, and making a few changes to make it more interesting. With some recipes, you can change some things, but not others especially in baking where exact measurements are crucial -Decision-making how to put together a meal, what main dish, sides, and desserts. Or how to get out your tools and ingredients first, then get cooking. -Knowing how to cook simple items can help you child build confidence in their abilitiesbut make sure they stick with simple things, and are not doing too much unsupervised in the kitchen. There are many sites on the internet and books about cooking with children to help you get started. Gardening is another great way to Engage Children in Learning Gardening, especially vegetable gardening is both physical and mental. If you involve your child from the very beginning and walk them through the decisions you have to make, that is a big head start on learning. What skills would your child gain by gardening with you? -Decision-making and problem-solving where to place your garden in your yard, or where to expand your garden, (this can even be done on a small scale in a sunny apartment window). What vegetables to choose based on what the family likes and the sun, soil and moisture you have in your yard. Also, what hardiness zone you are in (what plants will grow in various parts of the country.) -Veggie gardening also helps kids connect with where the food on our table comes from. I remember my young nephew liking French fries, but not believing that baked or mashed potatoes were from the same vegetable. -Gardening is also a lesson in setting and achieving a goal: taking steps along the way, from planting to watering, to harvestingand in managing expectations not everything we grow will make it to the table. Again, there are many sites on the internet and books about gardening to give you tips and ideas. Playing Video Games in Moderation has more Benefits than you Think Many parents have a love-hate relationship with video games, on the computer, with game consoles on the TV, tablets and smartphones. They can entertain your child, but often it is hard to pull them away. Yes, we need balance, but the next time you child wants to play a digital game, ask them to teach you how to play and then take turns. Or find a game that you can play together, or one that has two players so you can play at the same time. Some games are created to be educational as well as entertaining. Of course, make sure that the games are age-appropriate for your child before you jump in. But you’d be surprised at how much the brain has to work at some games even those that are not “educational.” -Have them teach you how to play the game. It can give the self-confidence, and by teaching they have to think through what they do. -Educational games make help them learn or use math or vocabulary words or other school-based skills -Problem solving most games have rules kids have to figure out a strategy how to play and how to make progress in a game. Usually each level adds new twists, and decisions, to the game. -Decision-making and consequences many games have interactions and choices that have an effect on the next steps in a game. Doing something questionable, often has negative consequences. -Imagination kids think about games even when they are not playing. Just like you imagine in a book and what will happen next. -Reading yes reading! Many games incorporate reading to learn the rules of the game at least. But often kids get motivated by games like Minecraft to learn more about how to do or build more things in the game. They may ask you to help them get onto the internet and research game guides. Studies have shown that often these game guides are at a reading level higher than they normally read, but they are motivated to read and look up words and concepts so they can play better. -Cooperation some games are single player, some are cooperative, some are competitive. Each game type can teach kids lessons about these things. But even solo games can help kids make friendsother kids who play the same game. -Even playing board games with your children can help them learn some of the same things. So try involving your children in gardening, cooking and games and let us know the results. What tips do you have for getting your kids involved in these tasks, or when have you seen your children learning, when they didn’t even realize it?