My youngest daughter graduated from high school the weekend of May 24. She will be heading off to the University of Alabama soon. As she walked across the stage to receive her diploma, it felt like her entire life flashed before my eyes. How did the bubbly, curly headed toddler turn into this dynamic, confident 18-year-old capable of taking on the world? How did we get here?
Of course, working hard in school with challenging curriculum is an essential piece of the educational puzzle, starting with preschool. Kindergarten readiness now means knowing your ABCs and numbers before you get there. But some of the top skills that kindergarten teachers look for are enthusiasm toward learning, solid oral-language skills, ability to listen, and the desire to be independent, for starters.
I believe the most important factor in propelling children toward success at an early age is experience. Providing your children with opportunities to explore the world around them expands their mind and encourages thinking outside of the box. From a trip to the park to a trip to another country, there are life lessons that a classroom can’t teach.
On the Central Coast, alone, there are endless opportunities for learning through investigation, from the Dunes Center and a walk around Oso Flaco Lake, to a day’s drive up the coast to Hearst Castle or the Monterey Bay Aquarium, to a picnic in Waller Park. Get out of the house, use your cell phone as a GPS, and find new adventures every week. Encourage your children to describe what they see, to think for themselves, and to engage with the people they meet along the way. These are the building blocks of successful young people who have the tools to shape their own dreams.
One place to start is the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum. There is something new to learn every day. Play in our world, live in your imagination, and create your own building blocks for success in school and beyond. My daughter grew up with many visits to the Discovery Museum, which are part of the countless experiences that helped prepare her for school and shape her into the successful person she has become.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Check out our Facebook page at smvdiscoverymuseum for daily tips on fun things to do with your kids.
Chris Slaughter, executive director for the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum, wrote this week’s Discovery Corner, a weekly column in the Sun highlighting events, science activities, and more for the museum at 705 S. McClelland in Santa Maria. Send comments to discoverycorner@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in May 29 – Jun 5, 2014.