Recently, a government agency calculated that the cost, to middle income parents, to raise a child from birth to age 18 was $160, 140 (and that doesn’t begin to include post-secondary tuition). Here’s an amusing and thought-provoking look (from an anonymous author) at what you get for that money.

What you get:

• naming rights; first, middle and last
• more love than your heart can hold
• butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs
• endless wonder about rocks, ants, clouds and warm cookies
• a hand to hold that’s often covered with jam or chocolate
• someone to blow bubbles and fly kites with
• someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your investments performed that day

What you get to do:

• finger-paint
• play hide and seek
• butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs
• catch lightning bugs
• never stop believing in Santa Claus
• never grow up

You have an excuse to:

• keep reading Winnie the Pooh
• watch Saturday morning cartoons and kids movies
• wish upon a star
• frame rainbows, hearts and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray-painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, clay hand-prints for Mother’s Day and cards with backward letters for Father’s Day

You have the opportunity to be a hero for:

• retrieving a toy from the roof of the house
• taking the training wheels off a bicycle
• removing a splinter
• filling a wading pool
• coaxing a wad of gum from a set of bangs
• coaching a team that never wins but always celebrates with ice cream regardless

You get a front row seat to witness:

• a first step
• a first word
• a first bra
• a first date
• a first time behind the wheel

You have the chance to become immortal, add another branch to your family tree and possibly, add a long list of limbs to your obituary in the form of grandchildren and great grandchildren.

You receive an education in psychology, medicine, criminal justice, communications and human sexuality that isn’t offered at any college or university.

In eyes of your child, you have the power to heal bumps and bruises, scare monsters from under the bed, mend a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground him or her forever and love them without limits. Then, maybe one day, they, like you, with love a child without counting the cost.

Maybe that $160, 140 is a bargain after all.

An article in the April/May issue of Canadian Family discusses the fact that about 10 percent of young Canadians between 20 and 24 years of age don’t have a high school diploma, despite the best efforts of goverments and school boards to keep teens in class. Here are some of the important points made in the article.

Make education important

“If a child is raised in an environment where school is valued and dropping out is just not even part of the household’s vocabulary, then the child really doesn’t think it’s something to consider,” says Philip Oreopoulos, assisant professor of economics at the University of Toronto.

Keep kids active

Most dropouts don’t participate in many extracurricular activities at school or in the community. Help your child discover clubs, sports and activities that spark their interest, and build confidence and self-esteem in something other an academics.

Make reading a priority

“If your youngster isn’t reading at grade level by Grade 3, you better begin to look for some major intervention, such as tutoring,” says Jay Smink, executive director of the National Dropout Prevention Center at Clemson University in South Carolina.

Watch their attitude

“If your child seems to be turned off [about school] in general, that should be a warning signal,” says Frank Peters, an educational policy studies professor at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Most dropouts said, “Nobody cared whether I stayed in school or not.”

Beware of repeat years

A child held back in school once has a 40 percent chance of dropping out. Being held back twice raises those chances to 90 percent. These statistics are consistent in the U.S. and Canada.

Focus on the future

As your child grows older, talk to him/her about career plans and the education he/she will need to achieve the goal. If your child is falling behind, get extra help from a professional tutoring program such as Oxford Learning.

For more strategies to keep your child in school until graduation, please click here.

Researching post-secondary institutions is an important first step to discovering the one that suits your requirements, ideals, and academic goals. You may believe that you already know where you’d prefer to go, but you should research anyway. You may end-up realizing that the perfect school is buried in lists of colleges or a pile of brochures. Check these tips:

Step 1: speak with students and alumni

Currently enrolled students and alumni are the best resources for frank, no-holds-barred opinions of what the college or university is like and how it could meet your needs and goals. Look for former students of your high school who went to the school or friends of your parents who may have graduated from there. Asking them tough questions: How did you like it? What’s it like to live there? Was the school helpful in finding a job? What are the professors and the classes like?

Step 2: surf the web

Nearly every college and university has a web site. Touring them can be an invaluable source of information. Many sites are really online brochures. Some though, allow you to read between the lines to decipher what the school is genuinely like. Look for campus photos, school resources, course catalogs, demographic data, graduation rates, and more.

Step 3: professional guidance

Your guidance counselor can also be an important resource for details about colleges and universities, particularly financial aid and scholarships. Together, you should discuss your academic goals and your transcript. Discuss factors like your grade point average and high school course requirements. Find out how you stack up against the admission requirements of your short-list of schools, then determine how you might be able to increase your probability of getting admitted.

Step 4: commercial sources

There are countless books, magazines, software packages, and commercial web sites that present information and rate post-secondary schools, financial aid, their admissions processes, scholarships, and more. Before spending any money, research the organization and check for reputable brand names that you’re familiar with.

However you choose your school, remember that Oxford Learning’s SAT Plus program prepares you to get your highest SAT score, plus teaches you the advanced learning and study skills that every student needs to succeed in college or university. Click here for more information.

The heat of July and August may seem a long ways away in the middle of March, but it’s really not too early to begin planning your child’s summer vacation.

For many kids, summer means going to camp. Whether your child attends a day camp or an overnight camp, the experience can be valuable and memorable. With many options to choose from, picking a summer camp can be tough. The tips below will help you narrow your search and determine a camp your kids will rave about until next summer.

Start now

Camps can fill up fast, so it’s best to begin your search well before the summer is on the horizon.

Determine your child’s needs.

Do your kids love sports? Art? Computers? Is this camp activity something they enjoy? Or something you want them to develop further? Are they ready for overnight camp or just a local day camp? Do your children require any special medical, behavioural or educational attention? Create a list of camp “must haves” and “nice to haves” to help narrow your choices.

Set a budget.

Camps can be very expensive. Examine your bank account, decide on your financial limit and stick to it. Investigate camps run by non-profit organizations if you’re worried that more costly private options will break the bank.

Ask around.

Talk to relatives, neighbours and friends about camps their children attended. Though your kids’ interests may be different, referrals from other parents can give you a good idea of a camp’s atmosphere and help you weed out unsuitable options.

Look for a fit.

Does the philosophy and style of the camp match your own? Do you believe it offers what your children need? Are the activities offered ones your kids are attracted to? Talk in detail with the camp director to get an understanding of how the camp works.

Create a shortlist.

After you’ve done the investigative work, pare down your options to three or four. Arrange for you and your child to meet the camp director. If this isn’t an option, set up a time for an in-depth telephone interview.

Be prepared.

Create a list of questions that will help you and your child understand the camp, its atmosphere and whether it meets your child’s unique needs and interests. Clear winners should start to emerge and hopefully, you’ll choose a summer camp your kids will enjoy!

Ask about our Summer Brain Camps.

Many Oxford Learning location offer Summer Brain Camps that let kids explore, discover, create and learn. Who knew kids could have so much fun improving their math, reading, writing, study and homework skills or just learning how to learn?

For better grades this fall, make sure you keep their minds active at Oxford Learning’s Summer Brain Camp. Contact us today for complete details!

If you’re not sure how to keep your kids occupied during spring break, check out this top 10 list from Oxford Learning.

1. Head outside

Spring break is the perfect time to go skiing or snowboarding. Or if there’s no snow where you live, work on a special outdoor project with your kids such as constructing a kid-sized garden or a birdhouse. Plan a special treat for everyone’s hard work.

2. Head inside

Check out various community facilities for everything from swimming and bowling, to roller skating or other sports. Or investigate special classes or volunteer opportunities.

3. Experience the world

Spend a day at a museum, gallery, planetarium, aquarium, zoo or hall of fame. Learn about people, science, history, animals, art and more.

4. Plan a crafts day

Plan a crafts day. Drag out the paper, paint, crayons, scissors and glue and get creative. Make picture frames, put together a scrapbook or get an early start on a holiday or greeting card.

5. Take in a flick

Spring break is a great time to head to the local movie theatre and catch an inexpensive matinee for one of the latest releases. Or rent a few videos and have your own film festival at home.

6. Host a games tournament

Allow your kids to invite their friends for a video game tournament, then assign teams, create team names and have a small prize for the winners. Or if video games aren’t your style, choose a board game or card game and have a tournament with them instead.

7. Have a pajama party

Pick a day and decide to spend the day in your PJs! Sleep in late, eat breakfast in bed and have a pillow fight. Stay in your pajamas all day long. Allow your kids to invite a friend for a sleepover.

8. Take a one-tank trip

Consider a short excursion in your region. Short trips are perfect for kids because they (and you!) don’t get too exhausted. You’ll save money on lodging and meals, so you can do other fun things that might seem too expensive.

9. Hire a babysitter

If you can’t take off from work during Spring Break week, hire a teenage babysitter to take care of things while you are at work. Make arrangements so s/he can do something fun with your kids from this list, then, plan a special treat for the family for the weekend.

10. Keep your kid’s mind sharp

By spending some time at Oxford Learning, your kids will keep up their hard-won learning momentum, so they’ll be ready to jump back into the swing of school and do their best from day one when they get back from their break. Many Oxford Learning locations will offer additional teaching hours during the daytime. Contact your nearest Oxford Learning location today for more information.