Tag: education

We learn best through play and experiences. Merka wants your kids to keep on learning, in a fun way, all summer long. It is so easy to do with colorful posters, placemats and flashcards. They have subjects for toddlers through tween.

The colors and illustrations are so engaging and explain the ‘why’ behind learning subjects. In this Periodic Table placemat I got my son, he went straight away and put it on his computer desk as a mat near his keyboard. He just finished 7th grade and will get more Chemistry learning next year and he is better prepared with tools like these educational products.

Even for the toddler, the topics of colors, numbers and letters are fun and are designed visually well. Have them go around the house and find amounts or colored objects to bring back to their placemats. Do some fun review at meal time. Use them as mats they will engage with at an art table. You are unlimited on how to incorporate these products into your daily life.

Posters can be hung in any space. Flashcards will travel well and if you need more, visit their printables page!

Visit Merka store to learn more and you can also visit the Merka Amazon shop.

The links in this post contain affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.

School fees, school uniforms, school bags, sporting gear, school books. stationery, laptops, lunches, and transport. These days, the cost of sending your kids back to school every year can really add up. But with a bit of planning and a little foresight, it is possible to make sure your kids have everything they need for the school year ahead and without breaking the bank in the process.

With that in mind, here are a few simple ideas to help you stay on top of the costs that are normally associated with sending your kids back to school. Here are 6 simple ways you can save on back to school costs.

1. Spread out the costs

One tip is to only buy their things as they need them. For example, only buy those uniform items that your child will need for the first term.

By putting off buying the warmer items they’ll need for the winter months until the season actually changes, you won’t be hit with a big upfront expense and will have time to save for what’s needed further down the track.

Similarly, don’t buy all of the stationery items on their lists at the same time. Find out from the school when they’ll need the various books and supplies and if some aren’t required until later in the year, wait until then to purchase them.

2. Buy second hand

There’s nothing wrong with buying second hand. Used items have often only been worn for one season or used for one term and the difference in price between new and used can be quite substantial. 

Most school uniform suppliers sell second-hand uniforms, as well as new and second-hand bookshops, often have second-hand curriculum-based school books and stationery at greatly reduced prices.

Second-hand laptops and tablets can also be purchased online for much less than new and some schools even have programs where you can purchase new computers through the school at discounted rates. You could also consider getting a low-interest personal loan and paying for your kids’ technology in easy installments.

3. Buy wisely

Rather than buying items when you need them, look out for sales and clearances throughout the year and try to buy the same items at discounted prices. Similarly, if you’re buying stationery supplies, big suppliers like Office Depot will often have rewards programs or coupons to take advantage of. 

And when you buy, look for value, Good quality school wear will last a lot longer than the cheap stuff, so look for sales where quality and value come together.   

4. Label everything

Over the course of the school year, the lost property office usually fills up with a wide range of items that kids have lost or misplaced. And if you struggled to be able to afford these items in the first place, you certainly can’t afford to be paying for them twice.

So label every single thing that belongs to your child, from their uniforms to their sporting gear and laptops. Using one of those permanent markers will help to ensure that if anything of theirs is lost, it will eventually find its way back to its owner.

5. Have a budget

The key to saving is to have a budget and stick to it. Work out at the beginning of the year what your kids are likely to need for school and then use the old envelope system to put a little money aside for each item every week.

Be sure to account for every likely expense and make sure you have a miscellaneous envelope to cover unexpected costs such as excursions or school camps. 

6. Ask for help

If you’re struggling to meet all your kids’ back to school expenses, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There’s lots of assistance available and it’s just a matter of knowing where to look:

• Get help with transport costs: If your child catches the bus or the train to school every day, student concession cards are available in most states.
• Get help from the government: Federal assistance is available through Services Australia for children’s education and health care. Each state government also offers financial assistance to help with education costs.
• Get help from your school: if you’re struggling to meet school costs, talk to the principal, as most schools have financial assistance programs for families.

The cost of public primary school education has been estimated at around $23,000. A survey by the Australian Scholarships Group (ASG) also found that in urban areas you can expect to pay around $4,455 a year for public secondary education and up to $30,000 in a private school. That’s a lot of money for families to come up with, especially if there are several children to be educated.

It’s hard to do much about rising school fees, other than shopping around for the lowest. But it is possible to reduce the burden of back-to-school expenses and putting these 6 tips into practice will hopefully allow you to do just that.

Have you ever forgotten something before? Maybe you misplaced your house keys or forgot someone’s name. Some of us have struggled with recalling information at some points. Of course, the more we age, the more we become forgetful and are in need of memory improvement. 

Also, the biggest reason we forget is that we are not paying attention. Due to the emergence of a digital world, we rely more on external equipment such as a smartphone. It makes us easily distracted and we forget things more.

It is important to know the strategies to improve your memory since forgetfulness is human nature. Knowing these strategies will improve your cognitive abilities. But before we discuss them, let’s briefly explain how the memory works.

How Are Memories Processed?

Our brain is a marvel. It can store data and information worth a zillion terabytes and can recall them accurately. For many years, scientists wondered how the human memory functions but almost to no avail. 

In 2016, a new discovery was made. It showed that a certain protein in our brains ensures the formation and loss of memory. Yet, there is still so much that has not been discovered about how this works. What we know is that information processing can come in three (3) stages: encoding, decoding, and storage.

Encoding

This is the first stage of information processing. This is when information or events that you are experiencing are consciously encoded by your brain. This can be interpreted by sounds, smell, touch, and images. Semantic encoding is when you attach meanings to your sensory interpretation, and it is this encoding that ensures better retention.

Storage

The information encoded is stored in various parts of our brain, which contains nerve cells called neurons. These neurons are like a network that sends signals to themselves. They help memory storage and retrieval. Having a strong neural connection will enhance remembrance. 

Our memories can be long or short-termed. Short-term memories are short-lived. For instance, after a meal, your brain may choose to forget or recall this event. But memories that are long-term store for a long time like riding a bicycle or your first love. 

As we age, our memories weaken. This is because our brain loses some neurons that are important for information storage connections. You may want to click on https://www.helpguide.org/articles/alzheimers-dementia-aging/age-related-memory-loss.htm to learn more about how age can affect our memories.

Recalling

Retrieving a memory is the last stage of information processing. Having been stored, your brain can recall events or knowledge later on. Also, repeatedly remembering information can strengthen your neuron’s connection. It is important to note that the way information is encoded is not exactly how it will be recalled. 

Popular Memory Improvement Strategies That Can Help

Since we now know how memory works, let us look at the most popular memory improvement strategies that have been proven to be effective.

1. Meditation

Meditation improves memories. Our brain stores information in a database called the working memory. New things learned are stored in this database till the brain decides to either do away with or store them. 

Since we use our working memories every day, we need to strengthen them. Meditation can make this possible by improving our concentration, which in turn, helps us recall things faster. It is counterintuitive because when meditating, our brain slows down the processing of information but improves the sharpness of recalling.

2. Eating Habits

“Watch what you eat and drink” is a popular improvement strategy. Research has shown that eating certain foods can enhance our memories. Berries are one of such; they contain flavonoids which are said to strengthen the brain neurons connections. Fish is a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids which improve memory.

Since caffeine makes you alert when ingested, some studies have shown that it can improve your memory performance, but an overdose may be harmful. Also, sugar, in the form of glucose, can boost thinking abilities. Chocolate and nuts have antioxidants in them that improve concentration and enhance focus and recalling of knowledge. 

Overall, a healthy diet with the right vitamins and minerals will boost your health and memory. You may also want to click here to read more about this.

3. Sleeping

A good sleeping routine will improve your memory. It is when we are sleeping that information processing occurs. So, when we lack sleep, we can’t recall anything we have learned. Napping is enough to enhance the recalling of events. 

Sleeping after acquiring knowledge is not only important but also advisable to sleep before acquiring new knowledge. So, get a good night’s rest or nap before and after acquiring new knowledge. This will improve your ability to recall.

4. Exercises

Just as sleeping is important, so is exercise. The brain needs oxygen for proper functionality and blood flow. Therefore, it needs a healthy supply of this oxygen. Through exercise, we improve blood flow in our brain. 

Aerobic exercises like running can do this. When running, we trigger a protein known as Cathepsin B. This protein improves the growth of neurons and strengthens their connections with the hippocampus, which is relevant to information retention. 

Walking for hours after we learn something new can improve our memory. Whatever the case is, regular exercising can improve your cognitive abilities and perception.

5. Share Your Memory

As the saying goes, “the best way to recall something is when you teach it to someone else”. This is referred to as “the protégé effect”.  You will improve your memory retrieval as you prepare to pass the knowledge to others. 

And when you pass this information, you can improve your thinking and cognitive prowess. Also, the repetition of this information can enhance your brain to get familiar with this memory.

Conclusion

As more studies of memories are developing, we learn every day how we can retain the knowledge gained. There are many popular strategies that could help; it could be a good sleeping routine or healthy eating habits. Why don’t you try any of the popular proven memory improvement strategies above if you struggle to recall information?