Learning

Educating employees at a workplace is beneficial for the entire organization. Whether you are educating existing employees or training the new ones, it will be worth it. Since we are a part of the rapidly evolving world, we need to develop with it. Some changes are inevitable, and the sooner we will adopt them, the better we will perform.

Education, when combined with growth and development, solves many real-life problems. Nowadays, organizations need to incorporate learning and development in their daily operations. There should be a separate department where everyone gets educated and trained about its values and practices. Like how education is essential everywhere else, it is also a crucial aspect of the company’s growth.

To succeed and stay competitive, companies will have to focus on their learning and development department. Even in the past, training employees and developing their skills was considered an essential task. Through vigorous training, employees can better understand the company’s objectives. Those businesses that prioritize transforming employees end up changing the entire organization.

Similarly, companies have a lot of factors to acknowledge. There is uncertainty in the business sector, with the inauguration of the knowledge-based economy. It means that businesses have to prepare for the worst while increasing their knowledge. Managers and entrepreneurs have to face many issues and challenges, and to tackle them; they need a vibrant workforce.

Skilled employees are one of the precious assets of an organization. With the help of Pearson Accelerated Pathways, companies can secure their workforce by educating them. There are corporate learning programs available on the site, which can be aligned with the company’s objectives. Skilled employees tend to become exceptional leaders in an organization, benefitting everyone.

So, what are the most crucial learning and development components for any company? By now, it must be evident to everyone that education is the answer. Even professionals need training, and the entire organization needs to grow with them.

If you wish to know how this component can bring a positive change, then hold on. Here are some learning strategies that any company can implement right away.

1- Training and Development phase

As mentioned above, you cannot proceed ahead without implementing some training methods. Training plays a vital role in educating the workforce. It has several advantages for small and large businesses alike. For instance, the realization of hidden talent among the employees and promotion of productive employees. To achieve business growth in the short-term, you will have to improve your training methods. Some of these methods are listed below:

Orientations: Training new employees will be beneficial in many ways. Conduct a one-on-one meeting with them or give them a lecture every week. Orientations will break the ice and give the workforce more room to breathe.

• Case study:

The case study method helps in polishing the problem-solving skills of employees. Practical reports with problem analysis will encourage cognitive thinking in employees. It will make them proactive, with possible solutions to the emerging crisis.

• Computer-based Training:

Making use of computers while training your workforce is known as computer-based training (CBT). Here, training programs are for testing employees and their learning skills. Now, web-based training is also getting popular, where training material is available on the internet.

• Audiovisual Training:

This form of training exposes the workforce to ‘real-world’ situations in a cost-and time-effective manner. The training includes videos and audios, illustrating employees how the business sector operates.

• Internships and Apprenticeships

Internships and apprenticeships are two types of on-the-job training. Here, employees seek guidance from senior employees about the work processes. Both of these training methods use a practical approach to learning.

• Job Rotation:

Through job rotation, employees get to experience a series of jobs to increase their knowledge of job expertise. They move from one position to another, working in full swing, which improves their learning capacity with time.

2- Regulation of Learning Management Technology

If managers desire to accelerate learning and development in an organization, it is essential to work with the learning management technology. Like everything else has gone digital, learning processes and training programs should go digital too. With the use of learning management systems, companies can manage, deliver, and analyze employee training programs. Through this technology, companies can also introduce learning courses for the workforce, grooming them for the future.

3- Monitoring Learning and Development processes

While referring to learning strategies, companies should emphasize monitoring the learning and development department’s effectiveness. Companies cannot manage things that they cannot measure. So try to evaluate your learning strategies right from the start. Please do not underestimate this strategy as it helps in setting the tone of a company. Ask for employee’s feedback when possible, and implement ways to drive continuous progress while educating employees.

Conclusion:

Educating the employees of an organization is more like allowing them to develop themselves. It is imperative to work towards transforming your organization through education. Learning and development go side by side, so practice these terminologies efficiently, inspire others, and motivate them to work in your organization. Through learning and development strategies, allow them to become a better version of themselves.

 

Preschool might look like a lot of fun for the parent but it takes a lot of dedication and creativity from the teachers. In Singapore, most parents work long hours, and this means teachers have to spend more time with these kids. As such, schools need to create the best learning environment where these young minds can develop.

If you’re a parent, you might have noted that your kid does a lot of singing. This is because preschool education in Singapore involves a lot of songs and chants. These play a critical role at this stage of the child’s development.

According to modern education guidelines for international preschools in Singapore, parents should get involved in their children’s learning activities. One way to do this is by learning how teachers get the best out of their young charges every day.

This post explores the role of preschool transitions which are songs and chants that help children move from one activity to another.

Critical Role of Transitions

The best preschools in the country such as Lorna Whiston Preschool integrate songs and chants at the core of learning activities. Transitions are among the main forms of these songs, and they work to move children from one learning activity to the next.

Dealing with kids is tough, and the best teachers incorporate fun activities to ensure learning takes place. If there’s one thing all kids love, it’s moving around in song and dance this is where transitions come in handy. These can be rhythmic chants, songs, or short stories.

For instance, the learning activity was about counting and the teacher wants to move to snack time, a transition helps to make this shift smooth and seamless. If you notice there’s idle time where learning is not taking place, or the kids start getting restless, always use a transition to avoid behaviour problems.

Transitions introduce kids to another form of socialisation which is music. It also practically teaches kids about music, rhythm, and rhyming. Through these repetitive songs and chants, children can remember things better. The predictable and repetitive transitions make learning fun.

With these songs and chants, you can avoid the chaos that always ensures whenever you want to switch from one activity to another. Qualified teachers at the best preschools in Singapore learn as many children songs and chants as they can manage. It makes classroom management easier for them.

Top 10 Transition Songs

Some of the top transitions you should expect to hear in a good pre-nursery school in Singapore include:

Hello Neighbour Table Song

It is a great socialisation song when having morning table activities. Kids like knowing each other and this song helps cheer up the day. Mornings are tough for kids and as a teacher, you can use this song to create a relaxed environment as you also help them make new friends.

“Hello neighbour, what do you say, it’s going to be a happy day

So reach your neighbour and boogie on down, give them a bump and turn around

It’s going to be a very happy day.”

Colour Song

A smart way to teach colours and help kids remember them. The tune comes from a familiar song “if you love it and you know it…” The chant goes like this;

“If your clothes have any red, any red

If your clothes have any red, any red

If your clothes have any red, any red, out your fingers on your head…”

Come to the Carpet

A musical and jazzy transition to get preschool children up and singing. It is short and quick and also easy to remember and you’ll find teachers at the best preschool in Singapore using it.

Come to the carpet, use your walking feet

Come to the carpet, moving to the beat

Wiggle Your Fingers, Stomp Your Feet!

This is a great transition to get children up and excited. It’s easy to remember, and it makes them playful. Wiggle your fingers in the air…” After the chant, it gets easier for kids to focus on the next activity.

Criss Cross Chant

“Criss-cross applesauce, hands on lap gingersnap, back straight chocolate shake…” This is a great chant to bring order back to your class after another activity.

Wash Your Hands Song

At preschool Singapore schools, hygiene is an important lesson and this song is ideal for transitions. “Wash your hands (wash your hands), before you eat (before you eat)” It teaches an important lesson to the children.

Movement Song

This is one of the most common tunes, and kids love it. It changes the moods instantly and brings joy to your class. “If you’re happy and you know it, skip with a smile…”

Finger On Your Lips

If you want to stop noise in the class, this is the best transition song to use. “Put your finger on your lips, on your lips, shh, shh.” The repetitive song is easy to learn and understand.

Tidy Up

After playtime, the Tidy Up song is perfect for bringing order. “Tidy up, tidy up, put the toys away.” The message is easy to understand, and kids will do as the song implores.

This is the Way I Move

“This is the way I touch my nose, touch my nose, touch my nose…” This transition song is perfect for moving kids from a clam activity to exercises and fun sessions.

Final Thoughts

Transitions are crucial in preschool learning. These songs and chants help teachers sustain the interest of children and make learning fun. If you are a teacher or a parent, these are some of the popular transitions you should learn and use.

Every profession requires proficiency in a specific skill to perform better. For example, you can’t expect to execute the duties of a manager without efficient communication and task management skills. Or take on the job of an analyst if you are not good at numbers.

These skills make a significant impact on the financial performance and economic benefits that a company would enjoy. However, some jobs serve a higher purpose, and the lives of people depend on it. They might not be as rewarding in terms of salary, but they are plenty fulfilling. And because you get to see the impact of your work right before your eyes, there’s an underlying sense of satisfaction and peace. That’s getting close to understanding the life of social workers.

Significance Of Being A Social Worker

Most people live with the wrong idea that all it takes to become a social worker is an infinite amount of resources. If you have the time and a lot of money, you can step out and start doing some social work this instant. But that’s an inadequate interpretation of this line of work.

The life of social workers is hard and challenging. They strive to provide the vulnerable and deprived people what they deserve. It often involves abandoning their own needs and beliefs and prioritize their work. In such cases, if they don’t have the necessary skills and unflinching motivations to keep them focused, then they are unlikely to survive in this field. It is their firm sense of morality, justice, and equality that enables them to perform. And honing their skills from a young age through participation helps support their career. But unfortunately, you can’t expect to learn everything along the way.

Like every job, social work also requires an elaborate set of skills, but the most crucial of them all is leadership. It is something that fortifies their values and beliefs while facing professional obstacles. The team uses this resolute attitude of a leader to draw support and inspiration. And the people that they are helping get hope from their dedication. So in a manner of speaking, leadership is what keeps the boat of a social worker sailing.

This extraordinary display of leadership doesn’t come from you overnight, nor can you expect to crack it while living in your shell. You have to work towards cultivating it actively using all the opportunities you get.

Participation and voluntary work aside, signing up for an MSW degree program can help you in this area. It instills the strong social work values and ethics that you might need to exercise in your career and prepare you for the challenges that a social worker might face. Besides equipping you with the necessary leadership traits, it also polishes you holistically for this job. So you can use the added advantage to establish your career as an efficient social worker.

If you are contemplating if a degree might be that helpful in making you an effective leader or not, then here’s what might help you decide.

Following are the five ways that a degree in social work would set you off as an effective leader:

• Promoting Efficient Communication and Empathy

Social work is all about communication and empathizing with people. As it turns out, both of these are crucial for a leader. If someone fails to communicate an idea or provide the necessary support with words. That person has been unable to be a good leader and a mentor.

It is necessary to connect with your employees and understand them through words and practices. That helps get you a more enthusiastic response from them and makes you more efficient with your projects, which is why you should consider it.

• Understanding the Importance of Teamwork

Social work can never serve the masses if it doesn’t possess the numbers to cater to them. That makes the job of a team instead of just a single individual. It means that you will find yourself in a position where you will have to collaborate and produce results from working collectively. That provides you with the relevant know-how of a leader’s role and responsibilities. A degree in social work can help provide this platform and prepare you more effectively for the job.

• Strong Ethical and Moral Code

Every leader needs to exhibit exemplary moral and ethical values while working in a professional environment. The field of social work holds the same obligation towards them. That makes a degree program in social work highly focused around fostering them.

Signing up for it means that you get to practice this character, connect with people using it, and realize the difference that it can make to your career as a leader.

• Understand Organizations

A leader needs to understand the dynamics of companies and organizations where they work. They have to grasp the way that things work and adapt to that flow to avoid causing a disruption.

Serving as a social worker and dealing with authorities and systems, you develop a strong sense of it. And a degree in this area helps guide along the way and light up the path you need to walk.

• Work with a Future Perspective

No leader can ever be successful without a vision for his goals. Someone in the leading position would himself be more lost than the team if that’s the case. That is why leaders always have to have a strong sense of direction towards their objectives besides the courage to pursue them.

In the line of social work, that is not a problem, because your job revolves around the idea of a brighter future. And completing a degree in this area would mean that you get realize its significance and how it matters to people.

Conclusion

With numerous benefits, as mentioned above, it is worth getting an MSW degree. Since it does not only prepare you to be a successful social worker, but it also enables you to be a good leader. These leadership qualities will further benefit you to take on any position you enroll in the organization and perform to the best of your abilities.

 

The interest towards machine learning which is associated with Artificial Intelligence (AI) has always existed but has really picked up in the last decade or so. There is a lot of buzz around this particular field and for anyone looking at entering this field, there is no better time than the present. Once you are in the field then there is the whole rat race of finding a job that you become a part of. However, there are a few skills that you must possess to become a machine learning professional and climb the ladder of success in the industry.

• Probability and Statistics – characterization of probability and the techniques that are derived out of it form the crux of multiple machine learning algorithms. It is closely related to the field of statistics which provides various measures and analysis methods to build and validate models from various data sets. A lot of the machine learning algorithms are actually an extension of statistical modelling procedures.
• Applying Machine Learning Algorithms and Libraries – there are multiple machine learning certification available online for you to learn everything that goes into this skill set and be able to apply it effectively by using a suitable model. Apart from this, it is also important to know how to fit the data and understand how learning is affected by hyperparameters. You must also be well versed with the different advantages and disadvantages associated with different approaches and how to use them effectively. You can look at various machine learning tutorial that is available on the internet to get a better idea.
• Computer Science Fundamentals and Programming – this important skill for machine learning includes algorithms, data structures, computer architecture and computability and complexity. You must be able to know how to apply, implement, address or adapt the above mentioned at the time of programming. There are multiple coding competitions, practice problems and hackathons which will help you practise and improve upon these skills.
• Data Modelling and Evaluation – data modelling teaches you how to estimate the underlying structure of any given dataset and how you can find patters or predict properties of unseen circumstances. It helps you continuously evaluate how good or bad a given model is. Depending on what is the task given at hand you will have to select a relevant error/accuracy measure and then an evaluation strategy. There are some resulting errors which are used to tweak the model and so it becomes important to understand the measures even if it is just for applying standard algorithms.
• Software Engineering and System Design – a machine learning professionals’ ultimate deliverable or output is software. It may be a small component that fits into the larger scheme of services and products but it is a very important part of it. You should be able to understand how these different pieces work holistically, how you must communicate using them and then ultimately build relevant inferences for the component which others will depend upon. The best practises of a software engineer are important for quality, production, collaboration and maintainability. It helps to collate the entire ecosystem.

These are not the only skills that you need however these are some that you must have in order to find success in the industry. Everyday is a new day to learn and you must always be on the lookout to up your skills and add to them so that you become a better performer at the end of the day in your area of expertise and raise the bar higher and higher for the others.

 

If you’ve been looking for a way to make a little bit of money on the side, it may excite you to learn that there are many ways to make money by doing homework. If you’ve always been a top-tier student, this might be the perfect way to earn anything from a bit of money on the side to a full-time salary, when all’s said and done. Here are the top sites that will let you make money just by doing homework.

Best for Highly Qualified People: Tutor.com

People who already have lots of qualifications can absolutely benefit from the way Tutor.com is set up. It’s an online tutoring service, which means that it’s actually much more expansive than just doing homework.

Tutor.com does require that its tutors be highly skilled. To become a tutor, you have to have substantial professional experience with a subject, whether that means having a degree in it or just having teaching experience, then pass a rigorous vetting process. If you’re able to stick with it, however, you can definitely make it a full-time job.

Best for Working With Kids: Growing Stars

Growing Stars mostly deals with kids from grades 3-12, or approximately ages 9-18, helping them to succeed in a variety of target areas. Kids tend to receive around two hours of one-on-one tutoring per week, and you get to determine your own “area of expertise” so you can teach whatever makes you happiest.

Similarly to Tutor.com, you’ll have to pass through a fairly substantial registration process, as it is an online tutoring system. However, you’re more able to claim expertise with Growing Stars, as it’s geared toward younger kids.

Best for Setting Your Own Goals: Upwork

You may never have considered this for doing homework, but freelancing platforms like Upwork are great if you have any sort of skill that you can offer other people. If you want to sell homework completion services, all you have to do is create a job listing on Upwork for those services.

This definitely requires a lot more self-direction. However, if you’re able to advertise yourself well, it makes it easier for you to define yourself. You don’t have to stick exclusively to the homework mold; you can determine what you want to sell.

Best for Making Money Without Much Work: OneClass

If you’re looking at all of these and feeling like it just takes too much work, OneClass could be the answer. With OneClass, you can earn money by contributing with your notes and by helping people understand homework questions.

Official Note Takers, who go through an official vetting process, can earn a flat fee per course. If you don’t feel like going through that process, however, you can still upload notes and other documents for your courses, then earn gift cards for it. If you’re already going to take notes for your classes, why not upload them at OneClass and make some money doing it?

Is It Worth It to Try and Make Money By Doing Homework?

The different jobs available for people with these skills vary widely in difficulty and extensiveness. If you’re a college sophomore, you might not want to spend the time necessary to become a tutor at Tutor.com. However, students of all ages and qualifications can use OneClass to upload documents and get rewards for doing it. It’s all about where you are right now and what qualifications you’re ready to offer.

 

The human brain is amazing. It starts developing in the womb and keeps on growing as the child starts to form more complex thoughts.

 

Intelligence may be inherited, but brain development can be supported, enhanced, and optimized. As parents, we try our best to promote cognitive growth so that children hit their cognitive milestones on time. The good news is, we can do this in different ways.

Tips for Promoting Cognitive Growth

 

Studies say that the first three years of life are critical to brain development. So what can you do to encourage it?

 

Proper nourishment is certainly imperative. However, besides giving them the best brain food, what other efforts can we make as parents, and which other areas can we explore, to support cognitive development during nursery or early years education?

 

1. Music

 

There are many benefits of music education, you can use music to help children learn several things, from letters and numbers to colors and shapes- all the basic concepts and more. From hearing educational songs over and over again, they’ll pick up the tune as well as the words and what they mean. Songs are definitely a great aid in developing memory and language skills.

 

2. Educational Games and Toys

 

You can reinforce the learning by using other tools and activities such as flash cards and puzzles. There are plenty of affordable options, but you can also make them, using materials you already have on hand.

 

You can even just make a game using the items around you as they are. For instance, you can make a habit of counting things that come in multiples, spotting letters and numbers in the room, or touching the color that you call out.

 

3. Sounds

 

This is a fun way for children to learn how to identify objects. By associating the sounds they hear with the corresponding sources, they are able to add to their knowledge. By imitating sounds, they get better command of the muscles in their mouth, which helps in speech development.

 

4. Choices

 

This is important in teaching independence. By letting them choose which snack they will eat or which outfit they will wear, they realize that they have a say in their life. It gives them opportunities for exercising control, building confidence, and understanding consequences.

 

When they’re really young, just offer them two things of your own choosing. Don’t give them free rein in the kitchen or their closet. This way, you can guarantee that their choice is healthy or appropriate.

 

5. Questions

 

Your children will come up with a plethora of questions as they learn about the world. It’s important to pay attention. Reply accordingly when you know the answer, and when you don’t, demonstrate your interest in their learning by helping them figure out the answer. Search engines are a gift, in this sense.

 

Besides receiving questions, pose them as well. Encourage your children to think, work out problems, discover solutions, and form opinions. Just by asking simple questions, you get to stimulate their thoughts and challenge their minds.

 

6. Spaces

 

Let them explore new places. This doesn’t have to be exotic destinations or expensive parks. Children are curious. They’ll be fascinated by the most mundane things. The mall, the market, the local park, the church, the office — the options are endless. These are all avenues that will add to their observations and learning.

 

7. Activities

 

If you can afford baby and toddler classes, that’s good. An early start on skills training does give them an advantage.

 

You can also take them to playgrounds, play with pets, go on playdates, meet different people, watch free shows, and engage in outdoor activities. As long as they keep on having new experiences, you can be certain that they’re enriching their lives with more learning.

 

Understanding Your Influence

 

Whether nature or nurture, parents play a significant role in how children’s cognitive abilities develop. You can’t do much about genetics, but you definitely have a huge say on their environment. Make sure that it is conducive to optimized brain development, especially in the critical years.

Author Bio

Alan Williamson is the Chief Education Officer at Kings’ Education, a premium school brand in Dubai which leads a fantastic group of premium UK curriculum schools, including Child’s Play Nursery. As well as being passionate about teaching and learning, Alan has been actively involved in school leadership related to Special Educational Needs.

There are all sorts of reasons why you may want to go back into education. Whether it’s to gain new skills, network with others, or climb the career ladder, each person’s journey is different. With many of us working long hours in the office, finding the time to commit to a full-time course can be challenging, making online studying more attractive than ever for students across the world. If you’re interested in going back into learning, here are five ways online studying can benefit you.

Royalty Free Photo

Freedom & Flexibility

Many of us don’t have the time to attend lectures and seminars. If you’re serious about going back into education but you have duties that you can’t move around, picking an online course instead can provide you with the freedom and flexibility you crave. Whether you’re holding down a full-time job or looking after the kids, you will be able to find windows of opportunity to get stuck into your learning.

Lower Total Costs

Once you’ve completed a degree, the last thing you want is to be burdened with a mountain of debt. Unlike a traditional college or university where you will not only have to factor in course fees but accommodation and transport too, online courses tend to be much cheaper overall, meaning you can go into employment without worrying about a snowball of debt.

Study at Your Own Pace

Being in a classroom environment can be too much for some people. Being among those in the same boat as you may hinder your learning and make you worry that you aren’t on the same page as everyone else. If you aren’t good with pressure, why not study from home instead? Not only will you be in an environment you know and love, but you can study at your own rate and pace.

Teaches Self-Discipline

With no professors breathing down your neck to complete coursework, it’s up to you to get everything done within the set deadline. In the working world, you may be set all sorts of projects and tasks that need completing within a timeframe, so learning about self-discipline and time management are key traits that you can take with you into the workplace.

Variety of Course Topics

Unlike in the past where the choice of course topics was slim, there are tons of subjects that you can pick from nowadays. Whether you would like to go into business, healthcare, IT, construction or preparing for the SAT test, there are plenty of courses and degrees that you can study that will equip you with the skills, qualifications, and credentials you need to go far. You can visit providers such as Everglades University, where you can read student reviews. Getting an honest account from those who have been there and done it will make you feel more confident when choosing what degree is right for you.

Whether you prefer to work from the comfort of your own home or you like the idea of slotting your studying in around your work and family commitments, these are just a couple of reasons why online studying may benefit you.

 

There is no denying that the nursery years are the most important in terms of development as they set the standard for your child’s future learning and success.

Many parents opt to send their offspring to a nursery because they know that – even at this age – a positive learning environment can make a significant difference to their child’s development. Therefore, as a parent, you want to make sure that you find the right place for your child to blossom. Take the necessary time to choose; after all, this is your child’s future!

From your family’s goals to a well-rounded curriculum, the importance of safety measures to the benefits of outdoor play, read on for the essential considerations when choosing a nursery for your child. These will ensure your child receives the best foundation for their future learning.

1. The Purpose

Before you start looking into potential nurseries for your child, you first want to consider what you are hoping your child will gain from the experience. There is a wide variety of benefits that come from sending your child to a nursery. Also, all parents have their personal reasons; there is no right or wrong answer. However, to ensure you are selecting the right one for your family, you need to reflect on your own purposes.

Some of the benefits of sending your child to nursery include helping them develop their social and emotional skills through play-based teaching methods and giving them opportunities to spend time with other children, as well as developing their language skills. Moreover, sending your child to nursery helps them to prepare for their formal education as they provide a fantastic foundation for later learning. At an early age, children are able to absorb a plethora of information, which is why it is crucial that you open them up to new knowledge as soon as possible and do not forgo early learning for your little one.

2. The Curriculum

While there are various methods for teaching young ones, one of the most revered is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). For children up to age five, this stage refers to the time in which they are first presented with new ideas and styles of thinking. EYFS focuses on seven areas of learning and development:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Communication and Language Development
• Physical Development
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding The World
• Arts and Design

The three prime areas (Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Communication and Language; Physical Development) help prepare children for their future and emerge through the relationships and experiences they have in the nursery. The four specific areas (Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, and Arts and Design) ensure that children are establishing the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in their future education.

Therefore, when looking for a nursery for your child, you want to think long and hard about the style of curriculum that they offer. You can be assured that a nursery that has EYFS at its core is going to be providing your child with a well-rounded education.

3. Safety and Security Measures

While there may be some separation anxiety at first, in reality, attending nursery should be an exciting time for both you and your child. However, if you aren’t comfortable with the safety and security measures at the nursery you choose, then it is going to be challenging for you to get through the days. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you consider health and safety with as much regard as the curriculum.

When looking at potential nurseries, make sure to inquire about the design and materials of the building, as well as the level of comfort for each child. Speak with other parents (or read reviews) about their views on the standard of teachers and caregivers. The educators within the nursery must be appropriately qualified and experienced. Plus, working with young children should be their passion. When visiting potential nurseries, you will be able to tell if that is the case.

You want your chosen nursery to have dependable learning tools (you don’t want to see broken equipment) and a superior standard of cleanliness. Moreover, child-friendly design (such as having gates to protect your child from falling off stairs) and unobstructed fire emergency procedures are also necessities.

Make sure to inquire as much as you want when it comes to safety and security. Don’t settle until you have found a nursery that satisfies your questions and adequately demonstrates that all necessary steps have been taken to minimize potential risks.

4. Outdoor Play

In addition to the classroom offerings, you also want to consider the options for outdoor play that a nursery provides. Just as important as education, outdoor play yields a multitude of benefits for your child.

First and foremost, outdoor play enables your child to engage in physical activities on a regular basis. It is harmful for a young one to spend all their time inside, doing sedentary activities; instead, they need to have time to play outdoors. The exposure to nature (and moderate sun) that they will have during these periods will help with bone growth, better immunity, and an increase in serotonin production.

Furthermore, outdoor play helps to reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) and reduces the risk of developing anxiety. Just as adults need to be physically active for both physical and mental reasons, children also benefit from outdoor activities in the same way.

Last but not least, it is during outdoor playtime that children are more prone to making friends and improving their cognitive, social, and emotional skills. These are all crucial skills for them to develop at a young age.

It is for all these reasons that the best nurseries and early learning centres incorporate outdoor play into their curriculum.

Are you currently looking for a nursery for your child? What aspects are you most concerned about? Are you having a hard time finding a nursery that fulfills your requirements? Alternatively, if you have recently gone through the nursery selection period, do you have any tips for other parents? Let us know your thoughts and any relevant experiences in the comments below.

AUTHOR BIO

Ayesha Hoda is a marketing and communications specialist working at Step By Step Nursery Group in the UAE. She holds an MBA degree from a leading business school in Pakistan and has more than 13 years of experience in corporate communications and journalism. She has worked in both agency and client-side roles, designing communication strategies for multinational clients, nonprofits and small businesses in various industries, such as education and healthcare.

Windows 10 is the latest Operating System released by Microsoft which runs in the personal computers. Windows 10 was released in July 2015. Since then, it has become the most popular Windows OS being used in PCs with share of 33.92%. Although a lot of users are running Windows 10 in their machines, some of them are not familiar with its hidden features. Let’s have a look on its attributes:

1. Hidden Start Menu:Windows 10 provides a Shortcut Menu to some powerful tools which give access to many options to handle some functions. Pressing Right Click on Start Menu Icon or Windows Key + X pops up a menu which has access to many functions such as Power Options, Task Manager, Mobility Center, etc. A user may have an easy-to-do facility with this feature of Windows 10.
2. Minimizing All Windows Except the Active One: 

   As clear from the above title, Windows 10 facilitates with a feature to minimize rest of the windows at once while keeping active window on display. This feature is called as Shaking. To use this, you simply have to Left-click on the title bar of a window and dragging the mouse back and forth while keep pressing the left mouse button. Many a times, this feature is not already set to use. You can turn it on manually by searching Local Group in Search Bar, an option comes with the name Edit Group Policy, open it up, and go to Administrative Templates >> Desktop and double click on Desktop option. Then look for the “Turn off Aero Shake window minimizing mouse gesture”, a new dialogue box appears, click on the Disabled and there you go…

3. Touchpad Gestures:Just like Apple’s OS-X supports touchpad gestures in its laptops, so do the Windows 10 provides trackpad gestures which prevent a user from a typical routine of Clicking the Mouse Buttons. Some of the gestures are as follows:
4. 1-Finger tap: Works as Left Mouse Button and selects an item.
5. 2-Fingers tap: Works as Right Mouse Button and shows Context Menu.
6. 3-Fingers tap: Opens up Cortana.
7. 4-Fingers tap: Opens up Notification Panel.
8. 2-Fingers Swipe works as a Scrolling tool.
9. 3-Fingers Swipe gives facility to switch between any of the tasks being run on the same desktop as same as Alt Key + Tab Key do.
10. 4-Fingers Swipe let you switch between the Virtual Desktops opened in the device.
11. Pinching in or Stretching out two fingers Zooms out or Zoom in respectively.

 

1. Cortana:Cortana

   is actually a virtual assistant being provided by Microsoft in its Windows 10 just like Apple facilitates with Siri and Amazon offers Alexa. Cortana can be enabled manually. It helps in performing many functions as well as it covers many areas from searching a thing offline in computer to perform various Google’s online commands. Cortana can bring weather news for you, can be used as a reminder for events, can play music or radio of your taste, can open any app in the computer on your command and can also be used to do chit chat and to play games. You can set Cortana’s Voice Recognition quality to only to your own self, otherwise it will work for anyone. Select its ‘Respond Best’ to ‘To Me’ and teach Cortana your voice and you are all set…

2. God Mode:
   
   As per the name speaks, the ultimate ‘God Mode’, it gives access to all the settings and managements that can alter the software of a computer. God Mode is also known as Windows Master Control Panel shortcut. When you have to alter any property of a driver related to any hardware, you usually go to Control Panel. Different options have been categorized in different sub-folder in Control Panel. But in this Mode, all of the options are shown in the same page with easy-scrolling from one category to another one unlike the control panel where you have to go to specific sub-folder to gain access to these functions. Enabling God Mode is very easy, all what it demands is a New Folder on the desktop. So, create a New Folder on the Desktop, and name it “GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}”. A new folder is generated with same icon as of Control panel that contains more than 200 settings ordered alphabetically.
3. The Slide Shutdown:
4. Since Windows 10 has the latest UI and advance features like touchpad gestures, Cortana, and many other properties, some people like to set Slide to Shutdown option for their ease though it is not that much worthy. There are two options to set it, first Manually and second Downloading an already built shortcut to shut down. To create it manually, go to the Desktop, and create a Shortcut from Context Menu by clicking Right Mouse Button on any blank space on the desktop. After that, a dialogue box appears which demands a Location of the Item, and write the given code in there: “%windir%\System32\SlideToShutDown.exe” and save it. You can also update its icon from its properties. When you click on it, the Slide comes from the above and requires to drag it down while clicking and holding the left mouse button.
5. Transparent Command Prompt:Command Prompt is basically a Line Interpreter with Command Line Interface that comes pre-installed in most of the computers which runs many commands provided by the user. You can access this from the Start Menu searching the keyword CMD or you can create its shortcut from the Context Menu by giving code conhost.exe and saving it. Here, we are to talk about its feature of Transparency. Command Prompt can be made transparent in two ways; first – from its Properties, second – by Hotkeys. Open the CMD, Right-Click the Top Border and select Properties. Make sure that the Use Legacy Console box is unchecked. Then move to the Color option and adjust the Opacity on a scale from 0 to 100%. On the other hand, one can adjust the opacity using hotkeys. To increase transparency, use CTRL + SHIFT + Plus (+) and to decrease transparency, use CTRL + SHIFT + Minus (-).