Tips for Raising Successful Children with the NNAT

Raising a successful child means more than simply getting into the 99^th percentile from the NNAT test. However, many of the tips to raise successful children can apply to NNAT practice. The NNAT is just one of the ways that your child is preparing to be successful adult. If your child questions why they have to do extra NNAT homework or why they have to take the NNAT test on a Saturday, you can explain to them how this will help them be successful in their future. Here are different ways preparing and taking the NNAT will help your child be successful in the future.

• You are focusing on the future. A lot of children are very present with their thoughts and actions, but preparing months in advance to take the NNAT shows them that they have to think about the future. This will help them learn to plan for the future in a simply and concrete way. Saying “Doing NNAT practice questions for 20 minutes today will help you do better on the NNAT in 1 month” shows them concrete cause and effect of planning on their future.
• Teach them independence. Teaching your child to do NNAT practice questions for 20 minutes a day will teach them how to do activities on their own. Be ready and available to give them help, and remind them that they have 20 minutes of NNAT study, but allow them to complete the task on their own. This will increase their confidence in their own abilities and teach them to be able to rely on themselves.
• Teach your children the importance of education. You are already showing them through your daily NNAT study that education is important. But make sure to extend this to college and beyond. Tell them knowledge and education is something no one can take away from you and will help you succeed in life.

By having your child prepare for and take the NNAT, you are instilling in your children the need to think about the future, the need to study and plan for the future, to try their best and to try and better themselves. When you are done with NNAT study, bring your kids outside to play! Here is a great resource with 30 fun outside activities. Good luck on the NNAT!

Summer and NNAT Study

Summer and NNAT do not go together in children’s minds. However, this can be the perfect time to get a jumpstart on NNAT studying, as they aren’t studying other subjects. They have time to play with their friends and go outside and then do some NNAT practice questions. But many children do not think that way, and think summer is a time for play, not NNAT prep. They can throw tantrums or be obstinate when you try to get them to do NNAT practice. Here are some tips to make studying the NNAT in the summer easier:

• Keep a routine sleeping schedule. Try to keep your children’s bedtimes the same over the summer. It can be tempting to let children stay up later over the summer, but this can lead to cranky children. A consistent sleep schedule will keep them well-rested for that important NNAT prep.
• Take a walk or play outside. The summer is the perfect time to burn off their extra energy outside. While taking a walk around the neighborhood, slip in NNAT prep. Ask them to name everything that is a rectangle or the color green. They won’t know its NNAT prep and it will get everyone out of the house!
• Keep yourself calm. When temperatures soar, it’s easy to get more irritable and not be able to keep a calm attitude towards your children. You still have to work over the summer and it can be frustrating to try and deal with hyper or cranky children, especially to get them to sit down and study the NNAT for 20 minutes. But children can pick up on other’s emotions easily, so make sure you are calm to have calm children.

The summer is a great time for bonding with your children, making fun memories, and also a great time to get a little extra work done, especially NNAT prep. If your children are too hyper, try singing and dancing to their favorite song, like Baby Beluga! Good luck on the NNAT!

Tips to Ease the NNAT2 Prep Process

The NNAT2 test prep process stresses out both parents and children. The NNAT2 needs special preparation in order to be completed successfully. Children often do not understand just how important to their future the NNAT2 is and therefore do not understand the importance of NNAT2 prep. Children do not want to do extra homework or “brain games” as I like to call them to study for the NNAT2. I have collected a series of tips to smooth the NNAT2 prep time.

• Make sure your child is having fun: You want to make sure that you child is having fun during their NNAT2 study prep. If you see your child being overwhelmed by NNAT2 overload, then give them a break.
• Read to your children: Reading to your children builds their language developments, reading comprehension and love of reading. Reading comprehension is a great skill for improving NNAT2 test scores. This will not only help them prepare for the NNAT2 but also for Kindergarten.
• Teach your children color and shapes: This is the basic knowledge that your child will need for the NNAT2 and for Kindergarten. This is something that you can teach your children in daily life. While walking to the park or grocery shopping, go on a color hunt or ask your child what shape a cereal box is.
• Do not overload the NNAT2 test day: Do not schedule any appointments or wake up too early on the NNAT2 test day. Don’t have your children go to their preschool the day of their NNAT2 test.
• Don’t use the word “test” or “test prep”: Children cannot see or be exposed to NNAT2 test questions from actual previous NNAT2 tests before they take their test. Using these words can create more stress in your child than is necessary.

To make this process more fun for your children, you can also use educational sites like Study Island, Brain Pop or Reading Eggs. You can get both memberships to these sites and practice questions for the NNAT2 from here! Good luck on the NNAT2!

Healthy Foods for High NNAT Scores!

Good NNAT scores can be improved even more by simply altering your child’s diet in little ways. Even adults know that people get crabby and cannot properly absorb information if we are hungry or not getting the proper nutrients. NNAT study sessions can get unproductive without food. The NNAT test day itself can be compromised by unhealthy or unsatisfying food. Children are notoriously picky eaters, so here are some tips on healthy food that your NNAT prepping child will enjoy!

• Hummus and Vegetables- This may not seem like the perfect food for picky children studying for the NNAT, but with so many different types, your child is bound to like something. Between basil, pesto, red pepper, artichoke, etc your child will like some kind of hummus. You can pair it with any vegetable or kind of bread product your child likes. This snack has a bonus of minimal preparation! Perfect for a short break from a NNAT study session.
• Edamame- This snack might not be first pick of your NNAT prepping child but it is good to try new things. Edamame is perfect for casual snacking during a NNAT study session as they are low in fat and high in protein and nutrients.
• Mixed Nuts- Perfect because you can either buy pre-made bags or mix the nuts your NNAT child loves most! These are great for the day of the NNAT test itself. Make a little bag with a supportive note inside for the day of the NNAT test.

 

These are just a few snacks you and your child can enjoy while preparing for the NNAT! Here is a good video on how to prepare just a few of those snacks Good luck studying for the NNAT!

How to Avoid Tempter Tantrums during NNAT Summer Studying

Studying for the NNAT over the summer is not high on a child’s priority list. However, the summer slump exists and you need to keep the NNAT prep up over the summer so your child stays at the top of their class. This can cause fights and tantrums in children who do not want to do extra NNAT practice during the summer. Children are still learning impulse control and learning to deal with their emotions, and the stress of the NNAT can heighten those emotions. Adults have had decades to prefect their coping mechanisms, and the sight to know that NNAT studying now will help later. Here are some tips to help avoid these tantrums about NNAT preparation:

• Establish Communication: Good communication is not just listening to your child but also observing their moods and how they react to their situations. Do they have too much energy after sitting still for NNAT practice? Once you determine what triggers their tantrums, you can help your child deal with those situations. Talk to them and say “I see you get antsy after you sit still for NNAT prep, do you want to play a game outside to make you feel better?” This will also help your children know why they get upset.
• Respect your Child’s Emotions: Just because children are not good at naming their emotions or have a lot of them, does not mean you can dismiss them. Talk to your children as often as possible about their emotions. Patience is key when helping your child deal with emotions, especially with NNAT practice involved.
• Don’t overreact: It can be difficult as a parent to respond the right way during a tantrum, to not bargain or respond with anger. A strong, firm response can help calm your child’s tantrum and keep your NNAT study sessions going.

Tantrums often occur during NNAT season, but with these tips you can help calm your child. If not, then try some yoga to help soothe your children: Good luck studying for the NNAT!

7 Abilities to Foster for Improved NNAT Scores

Preparing your child for the NNAT can be a daunting task, and for those parents of new-borns you have the added worry of when you should start the NNAT practice! How early is too early for NNAT study? The good news for those parents of babies who want to begin NNAT preparation right away is that there are 7 abilities that you can foster in your children that will help them with the NNAT test. These 7 abilities are:

• Language- There are two forms of language your should focus on with your children, Receptive Language and Expressive Language. Receptive language is their ability to understand the language they are hearing and eventually reading. Expressive language is their ability to use that language themselves, speaking and eventually writing. This is an important ability to foster for any test, but especially the NNAT
• Knowledge/Comprehension- This is the general knowledge your child should have entering into Kindergarten. For example your child should know colors, shapes, seasons, fruits, farm animals, all the basic knowledge children are exposed through via preschool, books, and life itself. This also includes manners and being able to function with other children.
• Memory- One of the most important abilities for students, and especially for children taking the NNAT exam. Improve their memory by having them sum up stories or their day in their own words.
• Math- The ability to do simple computations and critical thinking with numbers. You can build this ability into daily life by always being exact with your numbers, such as dinner will be ready in 5 minutes, do you want a quarter of a cookie or half a cookie.
• Visual-Spatial Reasoning- This is your child’s ability to work with pictures, images, diagrams, shapes, anything but written language. They will have questions specifically on visual-spatial reasoning on the NNAT, so start working with puzzles and blocks with your child as soon as possible.
• Cognitive skills- Your child’s ability to think and reason through problems. This is an essential ability for success on the NNAT. You can help your children at home by not solving problems for them. If they ask you for advice or help with something, let them know they have the ability to figure out the answer themselves and guide them to different solutions.
• Fine-Motor Skills- Your child’s ability to control his hands and use his fingers. Your child will have to use a pencil to complete the NNAT exam, will have to cut paper in the classroom, and will have to tie their own shoes at some point. Developing this ability early can only help your child.

You can read more about these 7 abilities in Karen Quinn’s book Testing for Kindergarten. You can purchase that book here, and see what other resources for the NNAT Karen has! Good luck on the NNAT test!

 

NNAT Test Questions

NNAT preparation can be a very stressful time in your and your child’s life. One of the biggest struggles with NNAT test preparation is ensuring that your child knows the test that they are going to take. One of the best ways to help prepare your child for the NNAT is by doing practice questions. At first sit down with them and go through all of the different question forms. Then when they are comfortable with the forms the questions will take, have them do practice questions for the NNAT on their own. Here are 5 NNAT questions that you can start with:

• NNAT Question 1: Parent, tell your child this: “Look at this puzzle.” Point to the empty box and say, “Something is missing.” Point to the answer choices and say,  “Which of these answer choices goes here?” Point back to the empty box when you say “here.”

• NNAT Question 2: Parent, tell your child this: “Look at this puzzle.” Point to the empty box and say, “Something is missing.” Point to the answer choices and say,  “Which of these answer choices goes here?” Point back to the empty box when you say “here.”

• NNAT Question 3: Parent, tell your child this: “Look at this puzzle.” Point to the empty box and say, “Something is missing.” Point to the answer choices and say,  “Which of these answer choices goes here?” Point back to the empty box when you say “here.”

• NNAT Question 4: Parent, tell your child this: “Look at this puzzle.” Point to the empty box and say, “Something is missing.” Point to the answer choices and say,  “Which of these answer choices goes here?” Point back to the empty box when you say “here.”

• NNAT Question 5: Parent, tell your child this: “Look at this puzzle.” Point to the empty box and say, “Something is missing.” Point to the answer choices and say,  “Which of these answer choices goes here?” Point back to the empty box when you say “here.”

You can find many more practice questions like the ones above at Testing Mom. Get more practice questions for the NNAT here. Good luck preparing your child for the NNAT!

How to Prepare a Shy Child for the NNAT

Raising a shy child can be a unique challenge, especially when preparing for the NNAT. A shy child will often be close with their parents, and will trust you. However, with your shy child taking the NNAT proctored by a stranger, you will need to work with your child. The NNAT can be difficult enough, without your child working against itself. Here are some ways to help prepare your shy child for the NNAT:

• Eye contact: This may seem like a basic tip, but it can help make people seem less intimidating, which is especially important for the NNAT. This will help them to know how to first talk to someone, and to be more engaged with strangers. Making eye contact can help them be more comfortable with their NNAT proctor.
• Don’t be a shy parent: This may also seem like a basic tip but child often follow their parent’s examples, so introducing and being friendly with the NNAT proctor can help your child. If you are shy or do not like interacting with new people, then your child will see that and do the same. You can show your child that talking to new people isn’t scary. This will help them be comfortable for the NNAT exam.
• Move slowly: Don’t rush your child into social situations that will make them uncomfortable. For the NNAT test, take them to the location that the test will be given. Introduce your child to the NNAT proctor. This will help them feel comfortable and to flourish.

Shy children are a blessing to their parents because they often have deep connections with them. They have very intense and varied interests, one of which can be the NNAT! Try to do yoga together, like in this video , to calm them down and spend time together. Good luck on the NNAT.

Fight the Summer Slump to Prepare for the NNAT

The summer slump is something that can happen to your child, especially if you also take a break from NNAT study. The summer slump is the slump in learning that your child has from not going to school or studying for the NNAT almost every day. It is good to give children breaks, but too long of a break results in the knowledge acquired before to be lost, very dangerous for NNAT kids. The summer slump can be so bad that your child could lose 2 months of schooling and NNAT preparation. For children trying to gain entrance to a Gifted program or private school, those months of learning lost are crucial. However, there are solutions, other than more NNAT practice question sets! There are many websites that offer core skills training that you can use to offset the summer slump, and spice up the NNAT study.

• Study Island: This site is great because it prepares lessons on the core standards for every state. This is a great way to ensure your child doesn’t loose their math or reading or science skills in the months they are out of school. It will nicely supplement their NNAT preparation.
• Reading Eggs: This site is great for Pre-K to 2^nd graders who need some help with reading. The setting is fun and interactive and helping your child’s reading skills will help them when they take the NNAT test.
• Manga High Math: This site focuses solely on different math skills, ranging from Pre-K to 8^th grade. The NNAT will be easier for your child if they also practice on this site.

These various educational sites can be used to offset NNAT practice and your child will have fun playing on the sites. You can get memberships to all of these sites for free with a Top 1% membership from Testing Mom, a NNAT test preparation site. You can purchase a membership from Testing Mom, for a free membership to these educational sites or for NNAT practice questions, here. Good luck studying for the NNAT!

Apps for NNAT Toddlers!

There are so many apps out there that can help your child prepare for the NNAT, you just need to know which ones are good! It can be difficult to navigate through the app store and find which one will really help your child study for the NNAT. I have found several different apps that will help your child improve in core skill areas, which will benefit them on their NNAT exam.

• Montessori Crosswords: This app is designed for the iPad and iPhone and is available for $2.99. While not directly for the NNAT test, this app focuses on the phonetic elements of reading. This app does a great job of teaching the child the sound of the letter, while including mini-games like crossword puzzles. Great reward for your child from NNAT preparation.
• TeachMe Toddler: This app is designed for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad and is only $0.99! This app is great for core knowledge your toddler should know before the NNAT test. Covering letters, numbers, shapes and colors, this app can really help supplement NNAT study for a more fun alternative to practice questions. You can track your child’s progress and there is a simple interface for the child to work with.
•   Monkey Preschool Lunchbox: This app is designed for the iPod and iPad and is only 99 cents! You can practice directly for the NNAT exam with their puzzle feature, working on visual/spatial reasoning while on the road! This app also includes sorting, which is great for the NNAT skill of what belongs and recognizing objects. There is also shape and color recognition, which comes up on the NNAT exam.

There are a lot of good resources for children taking the NNAT. You can also help prepare your child for the NNAT with Testing Mom’s Space Baby Academy. This is the portion of the test prep site where children can work in Study Island, Reading Eggs, Manga High and more to improve their NNAT scores! You can check out the Space Baby Summer Enrichment program here. Good luck on your NNAT study!