Gaining independence

1 Children love to be independent and our aim in bringing up children should be to help them become independent and self-confident individuals.

2 The child who feels confidence in his own ability has poise, and if he has been encouraged from an early age to be independent within the limits of his own capacity he will have the confidence to step out into life with a firm belief in his strength, ability and potential. One of the first ways in which a child shows us his desire for independence is his wish to feed and dress himself.

3 By the time a child is two or two and a half, and has been given enough opportunity, he can do quite a lot for himself. He can put on his shoes, if they are not too tight, but usually puts them on the wrong feet. This is the age for much inner strain and stress. The fact that a child is not able to put on a shoe, can make him angry and distressed.

4 At three to four a child has far more muscular control, better co­ordination and can dress himself quite well with only limited as­sistance. He gets less distressed at his failures. By five he can usually dress, put on and take off his shoes. Small children can be encouraged to clean their own shoes. Cleaning shoes is an easy task which requires few complicated actions, and seeing something that was grey and grubby turn shining is a very enjoyable experience for' them.

A1. Определите, является ли следующее утверждение

Small children should be encouraged to clean their own shoes.

a. ложным;

b. истинным;

c. в тексте нет информации.

A2. Определите, является ли следующее утверждение

One of the first ways in which a child shows us his desire for independence is his wish to feed and dress himself.

a. ложным;

b. истинным;

c. в тексте нет информации.

A3. Определите, является ли следующее утверждение

Children hate to be independent

a. ложным;

b. истинным;

c. в тексте нет информации.

A4. Укажите, какой из абзацев текста содержит следующую информацию

The age of 2 is for much inner strain and stress.

a. 1

b. 2

c. 3

d. 4

A5. Укажите, какой из абзацев текста содержит следующую информацию

Parents should help children become independent and self-confident individuals.

a. 1

b. 2

c. 3

d. 4

Creative work with infants

1 We are all surrounded by sounds all the time. At an early stage a baby learns to attend to the sounds which have meaning for him. Even before he can talk, he is aware of, the sounds which mean food and comfort. Very soon he discovers that he can make a whole variety of sounds himself, not only with his voice, but also by banging one thing against another, by moving things and probably in other ways too.Later on he sorts out the mixture of sounds which is language.

2 Teachers today often express concern about the fact that children now rarely listen without seeing and so find it more difficult than formerly to concentrate on sound alone.

3 There is a need for children to learn the art of listening. The first stage of working with sounds is to make sounds and listen to them.

4 It may be a good idea to get children to close their eyes and listen to any sounds that are going on around them. After some dis­cussion about what different children have heard, everyone can listen again, this time trying to hear something in particular. In a similar way it may be worth listening to a piece of music or to the teacher reading a short passage, with the children listening to some special sound or sounds. It may be the sound of a certain instrument in the music, or a word, or a particular sound in the reading — the point is that the children are learning to listen to something special.

A1. Найдите правильный ответ к следующему утверждению

Before a child can talk, he is aware of the sounds which mean…

a) pleasure

b) food and comfort

c) sleep

А2. Найдите правильный ответ к следующему утверждению

There is a need for children to learn…

a) the art of making sounds

b) the art of working with sounds

c) the art of listening

A3. Найдите правильный ответ к следующему утверждению

A baby learns to attend to the sounds which have meaning for him:

a) at an early stage

b) at the late age

c) both at early and late stages

A4. Укажите, какой из абзацев текста содержит следующую информацию

The first stage of working with sounds is to make sounds and listen to them.

a. 1

b. 2

c. 3

d. 4

A5. Укажите, какой из абзацев текста содержит следующую информацию

It’s more difficult than formerly to concentrate on sound alone.

a. 1

b. 2

c. 3

d. 4

What about Competition? Are Your Kids Ready?

(FROM ENGLISH PRESS)

1 Life is full of competition -- even in childhood. Kids compete for good grades, the attention of their parents and teachers, and even to get picked for 'the right team' in gym class. There's nothing wrong with encouraging healthy competition in your children. It can teach kids to perform at their best while encouraging teamwork and fostering a strong work ethic. Competition can teach valuable lessons about discipline, preparation and sportsmanship. Best of all, it can help to prepare them for other challenges they will face in life.

2 But the key word here is "healthy." We've all witnessed unhealthy competition: the over-involved parents who embarrass their children by shouting from the sidelines during every game, or the parents who are disappointed when their child fails to bring home the first place ribbon, the best grade on the test or the lead in the school play.

3 Sometimes, adults don't accept that our kids won't always win. Unfortunately, when that happens, we can do more than damage their self-image... we may just be teaching them an unhealthy, win at-all-costs attitude. And, as adults, we know that such an attitude doesn't seem to serve anyone well.

4 Winning and losing both have valuable lessons to teach. Parents who remember that can give their kids a competitive advantage.

A1. Определите основную идею текста.

1. Fun and games.

2. Parents don’t let their children win

3. Winning and losing both have valuable lessons to teach

A2. Определите, является ли следующее утверждение

Competition can teach valuable lessons about discipline, preparation and sportsmanship.

a. ложным;

b. истинным;

c. в тексте нет информации.

A3. Найдите правильный ответ к следующему утверждению

Adults don't accept sometime that their kids won't always….

1. loose

2. compete

3. win

A4. Укажите, какой из абзацев содержит следующую информацию

The over-involved parents who embarrass their children by shouting from the sidelines during every game

1. 1

2. 2

3. 3

4. 4

A5. Укажите, какой из абзацев содержит следующую информацию

Healthy competition in your children can teach kids to perform at their best

1. 1

2. 2

3. 3

4. 4