Category: Blog

STEAM is science, technology, engineering, and mathematics combined with the arts. It is a learning approach that can help young learners develop critical analysis skills, problem-solving, and creativity. Learning this way could prepare the kids for a brighter future while overcoming any challenge that may come their way. That said, you may want to consider letting your kids enjoy STEAM workshops at least once a week to let them experience design-based learning. Some learning facilities that specialize in STEAM learning offer workshops every Friday night, and they span around 1.5 to 3 hours.

 

Make Friday nights less boring

 

Learning does not have to be a boring activity when it follows the STEAM method. Through STEAM workshops, kids are engaged in one hands-on project they must complete and take home for an innovative and unique experience.

 

There are many different STEAM workshops available to kids, where each has unique themes like hydraulics, racing, and drone-building. Rest assured, all are carefully designed, planned, and executed to provide the best STEAM-powered learning experiences.

 

And because we are talking about the STEAM approach, the ‘arts’ aspect is included as well. Arts and cooking workshops come with options like mixed-media design, textiles, holiday baking championships, canvas painting, and much more.

 

Fun and imaginative workshops for young learners

 

STEAM workshops provide a fun and engaging way to experience the concepts of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. They can make Friday nights less stale and encourages creativity in young learners. That way, kids can learn to think outside the box and realize that those concepts are not boring.

 

If you are looking for STEAM workshops for kids, check out IDEA Lab Kids. We even have a Parent’s Night Out workshop, a way for the grownups to enjoy some time by themselves while the kids are enjoying fun-filled hands-on STEAM activities.

 

One of the keys to success is a good education. However, not all young learners will find that enticing, as it is not uncommon for some students to find school boring. In some cases, the school may not even provide the skills they require to become successful in the future. If you are on a mission to change that and offer better learning experiences, investing in a child’s education franchise can be a good idea. It may even be profitable for you, especially if you choose the right franchise with the proper program to address the ongoing learning issues in your area.

 

Meet the growing demand to improve the quality of education for children

 

Education franchises can be profitable when they can meet the needs for kids to succeed academically. These days, many different schools are open for franchising, such as tutorial centers, summer camps, and those offering workshops.

 

It is easy to get started in a child’s education franchise, too, as you do not need to have a background or experience in education to qualify. Franchisors offer extensive training to their franchisees to ensure that their program can be delivered within their standards in all locations. Franchise business models for these schools also require hiring highly qualified educators.

 

However, it may be important that you enjoy what you are doing. That said, an education franchise may be good for you if you have a passion for enriching children’s lives and providing high-quality education to them.

 

Convinced? If you are interested in investing in a child’s education franchise, consider IDEA Lab Kids, an educational STEAM based enrichment franchise that will ensure that your new venture can be profitable in the long run. To learn more about franchising with IDEA Lab Kids, visit

https://www.franchise.idealab kids.com/.

 

 

Learning pods are a hot trend in education right now, and they may be the key to success for some students as schools adapt to new routines.

Because of their size and personalization, learning pods offer unique benefits to young learners both academically and socially.

If you overcome some of the challenges that accompany this opportunity, your child can flourish in their educational journey. Follow some of these steps to take advantage of the benefits of learning pods.

What are learning pods?

Also known as “pandemic pods,” learning pods are small groupings of students (often five or less) that meet to work with a teacher or tutor. These groups usually meet in a private home setting, and students in the pod don’t mingle with students from other pods or groups. Some pods even encourage distancing between students within the same pod.

Learning pods have become increasingly popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. The small size  gives families more confidence in their child’s safety and enables more personalized instruction. Learning pods offer a huge advantage to students struggling to keep up with their academics. They also provide additional supervision and guidance to students whose guardians are currently working.

Advantages of learning pods?

Learning pods decrease overall contact with other students. Therefore, a child’s risk of exposure to COVID-19 also decreases. Pods are often seen as a safer or healthier alternative to traditional daycare services and afterschool programs.

The smaller size also offers an improved student-to-teacher ratio. This enables more one-on-one instruction for students, which can help them keep up with their studies. For students who are currently online-only or have limited attendance at school, this is especially valuable.

Learning pods also improve students’ sense of normalcy compared to online-only learning. Kids can socialize better in-person than in a virtual classroom, and going to a learning pod every day creates a routine that includes a designated time and space for learning. Learning pods also can fill the role of childcare for working parents who previously relied on school, daycare, or afterschool programs.

How to overcome potential challenges of learning pods

Expense. Many families are understandably concerned about the high cost of elite, suburban backyard pods with private educators. To lower the cost of a learning pod experience for your child, consider hiring less-experienced but passionate tutors. College students pursuing education degrees would love a chance to work with children on days when they don’t have class. You can also have a different tutor each day of the week if they have a particular subject focus like math or art.

Exposure. Even in a small group, some families may be concerned about pandemic risk. Keep pods as small as economically feasible, and encourage children to continue distancing practices (including proper mask-wearing and washing hands) while in pods. Learning pods should meet outside when possible to improve recirculation of air. Outdoor learning also helps with children’s energy levels and provides opportunities for physical activity.

Environment. Backyard or spare-room learning simply isn’t an option for many families, especially in urban areas and for those that live in apartments or condos. Accessibility to learning pods can be hindered by distance, transportation, and special needs. If you live in an area with public parks that are safe and easy to access, these can be a great option for learning pods. Otherwise, reach out to your community. Religious institutions, small businesses, and community centers may have available spaces for learning pods to meet. Community-focused groups may be willing to offer these spaces at low or no cost, so call around!

More tips for learning pods

Virtual learning pods. If cost, location, or weather are an obstacle, try virtual learning pods! Although an online pod might not be as hands-on as an in-person one, your child can still benefit from the increased instructor attention and greater opportunity for social interaction in a small group. 

Pods at school. Reach out to your child’s teacher or school administration about the possibility of implementing learning pods in the classroom, both online and in-person. Many schools using remote learning have reduced or altered schedules with large time gaps for independent work. This is often referred to as asynchronous learning. Ask about staggering these schedules among students so that online pods can work with teachers during these asynchronous periods. Similar models might be possible for in-person classrooms, too!

IDEA Lab Plus. Many of our locations now offer a learning pod experience for students in our program IDEA Lab Plus. Children enrolled in IDEA Lab Plus work in learning pods while their IDEA Lab teacher helps them through their online school schedules. Our teachers provide additional assistance by mediating activities when the school hub crashes, filling in learning gaps with IDEA Lab’s STEAM curriculum, and using an SEL (social and emotional learning) model to teach empathy, respect, and responsibility. Call your nearest IDEA Lab Kids location to ask about IDEA Lab Plus and take advantage of learning pods!

 

September is back-to-school season, but this year holds new challenges for students. Schools across the country have adopted a variety of in-person, online, and hybrid class schedules. And while we hope that each school strikes the right balance between safety and learning, many parents are concerned that their children may fall behind. Helping children succeed in remote learning is just the newest challenge among many that families face this year.

Online school is new for many families, and remote learning demands a different level of support from parents. If you’re newly working from home, active parenting has shifted from an evenings-and-weekends job to a 24/7 marathon.

Despite these new challenges, parents can make a huge difference in their child’s confidence and ability to succeed in remote learning. 

You might not remember long division or the fifty state capitals, but you don’t have to revisit these lessons to help your child succeed in remote learning. Instead, focusing on communication and empathy will probably be most impactful for your child.

Here are five tips to help your child succeed with remote learning that don’t involve learning their whole syllabus.

1. Team up with the teacher

If you’re nervous about becoming a homeschool teacher, don’t stress—you’re not expected to suddenly replace your child’s teacher. However, you can help your child significantly by becoming their teacher’s teammate.

Take some time to get in contact with your child’s teacher either via email or your school’s learning interface. Ask them about their expectations for your child and how you can help promote those goals from home. Remote learning support may look different from the support you gave your child for on-campus schooling!

In the physical classroom, the teacher can keep everyone on-task. The online classroom is a totally different story, though. Ultimately, you will be responsible for your child’s behavior and discipline during the workday. That said, resist the urge to become a “helicopter parent!” Try not to interrogate your child about every assignment. You’ll probably have greater success by inviting them to comment on how they feel about schoolwork over dinner.

2. Role-model healthy working behaviors

Let’s face it, Zoom fatigue is real. Sitting in front of the computer all day for work or for school is exhausting. One of the best ways to help your child excel in remote learning is to model healthy engagement with work. Especially if you’re working from home, this is both easy to demonstrate and good for your own productivity.

While working, stay on-task. Don’t downplay the importance of being engaged! Scrolling social media or playing word games on your phone while you’re in a video conference implicitly gives your child permission to do the same. If you both struggle with this, you can set restrictions on certain apps during class periods or working hours.

Break up these focused sessions with intentional breaks, at least ten minutes every hour or so. Set up each break as a mini-vacation for your brain and your body—get out of your chair to refill your water, stretch out your back, and get your eyes away from a screen. If your child emulates this behavior, they’ll have a much easier time staying focused in class. And chances are, you’ll feel better, too.

3. Help your child generate a routine

Having a predictable routine provides stability for both your schedule and your mental health—and your child can reap these benefits, too.

You can help by establishing regular mealtimes and a consistent sleep schedule. Sleeping and eating at the same time every day regulates the body’s internal clock (AKA circadian rhythm), which maximizes energy and focus. Your child can boost this effect with physical activity and natural light. A 20-minute walk in the neighborhood or some stretching next to a bright window can be enough to reap the benefits.

Additionally, if you’re working from home, see if your work schedule can coincide with your child’s class schedule. This also gives you a chance to work on role-modeling and can keep you both accountable. You may even bond over the perks of telecommuting—try sneaking them a snack to share while you work, or make inside jokes with them during meetings (as long as your microphone is muted)!

4. Empathize with your child

This situation is hard for you—but it’s hard for your child, too! Temper your expectations with empathy, now more than ever. Remember that it might be difficult for kids to be vulnerable about learning difficulties or separation from their friends. Younger children especially may not have strong coping skills for the emotions they’re experiencing right now.

Your child may need more emotional support than usual. If they need to vent, make time and space to listen actively. You’ll probably have ideas and solutions that you want to offer, but try not to throw too much at them. Sometimes, kids—like adults—just want someone to listen.

At the same time, respect your child’s boundaries. If your household is all working or schooling from home, you’re probably all in each other’s space more than you’re used to. Try to create time and space for everyone in your home to have their own recovery time. Sometimes your child just needs an hour to cool off by themselves before they want to share their frustrations or seek advice. If you’re unsure, ask! Most kids would LOVE to hear their guardian say, “I’m happy to either chat or give you space. What would help you the most right now?”

5. Supplement your child’s learning

Remember that learning and personal development happens outside the classroom, too! Play some casual tennis or basketball with your child for at-home recess. If the weather is bad or you don’t have a good outdoor space, board games or party games are another great option! Logic, math skills, and reading comprehension can all benefit from play. 

You can even try taking on some learning projects at home. DIY science experiments and art projects offer hands-on learning for your child, which is especially important for remote learners. You can find a variety of these projects online, and our STEAM @ Home newsletter brings a curated selection straight to your email inbox. To register for this free newsletter, sign up on your local IDEA Lab Kids website!

The current health crisis is changing the way we do a lot of things—including ourSTEAM camps. That’s why IDEA Lab Kids is offering private camps this year. They are exactly what they sound like: small-group STEAM camps for your kids and their closest friends. You can choose who to include to ensure that everyone stays healthy and safe while enjoying fun hands-on STEAM experiences.

 

Our private camps can be held in your home or any venue of your choosing. You can expect the same interdisciplinary approach to learning across STEAM disciplines. Our instructors will make learning an exciting and engaging experience, empowering your little campers to be makers—not just academic learners. They will prepare all the tools needed to introduce children in your group to a wide range of STEAM topics—from robotics to animation to 3D printing, and much more!

 

 As usual, all content is presented in accessible and entertaining ways. Our instructors are trained to facilitate a collaborative and stimulating learning environment for all your campers. Your kids will have fun with their friends while learning skills and concepts that they can use throughout their lives. 

 

What’s great about private camps is that we can keep the teacher to camper ratio low, so every child gets the attention they need. Everyone can participate in fun activities—no one will be left out. Our teachers can also provide immediate feedback and support to each child. 

 

 At IDEA Lab Kids, we believe that learning is not just about reading books—it’s about creating, sharing, and collaborating. Our goal is to encourage kids to be curious, innovative, and think of creative solutions and possibilities. Talk to us today if you’re interested in hosting a private camp for your kids and their friends.

 

IDEA Lab Plus is a school learning program for kids redesigned to cover all the aspects of STEAM education that kids love—made even better with support from campus-certified teachers. The latter can help kids do better with their homework and their lessons. It’s a concierge service that can be adapted to each learner’s requirements. The fun and super engaging curricula is formulated to enhance your child’s learning outside of the traditional classroom. 

 

What are the benefits of after school programs for kids?

 

Getting homework help from a great afterschool program can turn aimless hours into productive time. This academic support can be very beneficial, especially for children who think and learn differently or struggle with doing homework at home by themselves. Getting everything done right after school can also make evenings at home much more relaxed. 

 

Joining a school support program like IDEA Lab Plus can also help children improve their social skills. After all, the best programs promote cooperation, respect, and support so that kids feel more confident about social situations—from doing group work to joining a conversation or even a game. 

 

What’s more, IDEA Lab Plus programs make learning so much more fun. There are no tests, and learners are encouraged to work together on fun projects. It’s a great way to teach kids how to work with other kids in subject areas that they truly enjoy. This is very important for kids who struggle with a lack of confidence or those who have challenges socializing. A good afterschool program is much more forgiving than a traditional school setting. The stakes aren’t as high, so learners tend to be more willing to take more positive risks and discover a new interest. All these ultimately build higher self-esteem in children.

 

Finding the right program is key. Explore the IDEA Lab Plus  school support program to see if it’s suitable for your child. 

 

Every child deserves a high-quality education that can help prepare them for a bright and successful future. However, not all schools may be able to cater to specialized interests. While science and mathematics may be part of the regular school curriculum, they do not delve deeper into other areas like robotics and engineering. Moreover, the ‘arts’ factor may be missing or lacking. That said, you may want to consider a child education franchise to fill the gaps. It can be a great investment, especially if you want to do your part in enhancing the knowledge and creativity of children to set them up for success.

Discerning parents and families want only the best education for their children. More kids are also encouraged to learn, explore, and be creative in coming with and pursuing unique ideas. That said, growing demand for a quality child education franchise can address those needs. It has the potential to be fairly recession-proof, too. More financial companies are looking to provide the right solutions to entrepreneurs like yourself. You may want to explore and get started in this type of business.

You do not need to have any background or experience in education to get started, but that can also be a plus. Franchisors provide extensive training to make sure that you can deliver their program well. Owning a child education franchise gives you the chance to address learning issues and the lack of educational opportunities in some schools. A good franchise idea would provide an inquiry-based science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) learning experience that combines the creativity and STEM learning principles to build and encourage critical thinking and problem-solving. With this learning environment, you could provide kids a fun and more exciting and motivating way to learn after school, every weekend, on special occasions (i.e., birthdays), or during vacation or breaks.

IDEA Lab Kids is a great educational enrichment franchise that encompass all the aspects of STEAM into a powerhouse of unique and cutting-edge classes, camps, workshops, and more. Our Research and Development team is constantly working to develop new and exciting learning options. With Stay at Home orders from the authorities to ensure our health and safety, we developed and inovated through iClasses, iCamps, and iParties. This gave IDEA Lab Kids customers multiple options to continue learning through hands on STEAM education, in a way they felt comfortable and safe. It also gave franchise owners flexibility in deciding how they felt best to serve their community during these difficult times.

Science often gets a bad reputation for being boring and challenging. The latter description makes it exciting. It just needs to be taught the right way, especially to young minds. That said, one way to do that is through a science workshop for kids. High-quality and well-designed science workshops are designed to make learning fun while encouraging children to be resourceful, efficient problem-solvers, and capable of setting and achieving goals. They hone intellectual curiosity, too, so kids are encouraged to ask questions, seek answers, and understand themselves and the world well.

In a science workshop for kids, inquiry-based STEAM learning is applied to keep the subject exciting, fun, and stimulating. It is a tried and tested learning method that combines creativity with the principles of STEM to build a child’s critical thinking skills. Workshops are carefully planned to ensure a fun, hands-on experience every time. This way, they are highly engaging to young learners.

A fun science workshop for kids could get them started in building interest in the subject matter and the field itself. That said, it may even shape their future career, especially if you want them to possess the skills essential for a brighter future. Critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and communication are skills they can learn and build up as they go through workshops.

At Idea Lab Kids, we offer an array of science workshops that your child can attend along with other different STEAM options. Depending on the program, the science workshop may only be about 1.5 to three hours or two to three hours long per session. Our workshops provide a hands-on project for an innovative and unique experience with different topics and activities per day. Our mission is to focus on fun and exciting concepts that can stimulate creativity and imagination through project based learning.

Thinking of signing up for a STEAM lab for kids but not sure if it’s the right choice? Here’s everything you need to know to make the right decision.

Makes learning fun and interesting 

A STEAM lab for kids adds ‘Arts’ to the traditional ‘Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math’ program. These creative projects will make learning more fun. Through this creative learning approach, children will develop a love for learning subjects like engineering, coding, robotics, biology, and chemistry.

Combines technical and artistic approaches seamlessly

In robotics class, the goal is not only to learn how to create a robot but also to make one that looks good. That’s why it covers both technical and creative topics—like robotic programming techniques and visual coding. A STEAM lab for kids makes sure that students understand the fundamental academic principles and concepts while exploring various artistic and creative approaches to solving real-world problems. The goal is to encourage kids to be more innovative and add their personal touch to every project.

Encourages independent thinking 

Kids develop teamwork and collaboration skills while learning to practice independent thinking. They can learn at their own pace. Teachers allow various ideas to flow, making more room for critical thinking and fostering curiosity. This also reinforces the idea that committing mistakes and failures can be productive, and that such errors can bring them closer to the best solutions to a problem.

Prepare them for the future

A STEAM lab for kids equips children with future-ready skills—not just technical abilities that they can use at work, but also life skills that can help them navigate through challenging life situations. Some of the essential skills that kids can learn in a STEAM lab are critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication, information literacy, media literacy, technology literacy, leadership, and flexibility.