How to Flash Cards

Extracted from some websites, which i find it very clear and useful and they are using Shichida method. Just what im looking for :

How to Flash Cards

What are Flash Cards?

Flash Cards are cards with pictures, words, numbers, concepts or illustrations used for learning. Flash cards are simple, versatile, stimulating and fascinating for most children. The size of the card does matter, especially for earlier years because bigger cards are more attractive. For this reason our cards are “bigger” and come in 2 sizes:
Dot cards (number cards): 30cm x 21 cm
Flashcards (illustration cards): 21cm x 15 cm

How to use Flash Cards?

According to many experts, such as Makoto Shichida, from the Shichida method flashcards should be shown as fast as possible. When speed flashing, the information shown will be unconsciously absorbed by the right hemisphere of the brain, in other words, it’s a training exercise for the right brain. Learning becomes automatic, natural and rapid. This exercise can activate photographic memory.

Presenting information slowly and repetitively exercises the left brain, while flashing information to a child quickly stimulates the right brain. The right and left brain hemispheres function as opposite, complimenting each other.

Another way of showing flashcards is to use the multi-sensory method. This implies, that rather than reading aloud a word card, you can follow the word card with a picture card that represents the meaning of the picture. You can also try a sound, for example, show an elephant and make the sound of the elephant. Try this to add variety or a “fun” break to your flashcard time with your child.

Most of our flashcards are picture cards, and for each one the parent or educator says aloud the word written in the back. By speed flashing cards (showing each card for no more than 1 second) you are helping your child develop his intellectual capacity and teaching him new concepts in a way that’s both educational and fun, it doesn’t get any better!

More importantly, when flashing cards to your child, you should do it in a loving, fun environment. It is true that it only takes three minutes to flash 200 cards, but go further and bond with your child. Use this activity to create a habit of “this is my time with you” and make a routine out of it. Flash when your child is happy, enthusiastic and relaxed. You can practice some breathing and visualization exercises before starting. Do not push your child, remember this is a learning experience, it should be fun for both of you!

How to flash

1) Before showing flashcards to the child practice handling them standing before a mirror, until you become confident and cards are steady, not falling from your hands.

2) Make each presentation a positive experience. Show your love and enjoyment.

3) The child needs to be in a receptive mood. Do not attempt to have a session with a child that is tired or sick.

4) Prepare the environment by eliminating distractions such as TV, radio, stereo and phone.

5) Good lighting is essential.

6) To ensure continuing interest, always stop before the child's interest starts to faint.

7) Enthusiastically announce that it is time for flashcards. Occasionally, let them choose categories.

8) Hold the cards between 40-50 cms away from the child at the child's eye level.

9) Be lively in your presentations.

10) Compliment your child after each session. Make sure they know how wonderful he or she is doing and how much fun you're having.

DOT cards

Dot cards are large cards ( 21cm x 31cm) where numbers are represented by random dots. For example number 5 shows five dots, instead of the number 5. In the back of the card there is always the number.

Small children can perceive quantity without counting, that’s why a child can distinguish between a 54 and a 55 dots card after training with dots cards. If this ability is kept and nourished, children grow to be able to do complex mathematical equations without a calculator. If I ask you to think of number 8? What do you think? 8 or actually 8 things. The second answer is a more appropriate visual answer, as to 8, is a representation of what the number really means.

Our Dots cards are very special and unique in the market, there are no other flash cards like ours, because we allow you to customize!. That is, instead of having red dots you can choose from our menu and have a car, a princess, a sun, fish, turtle, and many others. Replace the red dot to bring variety and fun to your child. You can customize in subsets of ten. So really, when you build your own box, there might not be another one like it! It all depends on what your child likes, and this is the beauty about our cards!

Right Brain capabilities

The right brain controls the abilities to visualize images and the realization of those images physically. One thing that almost all successful people have in common is image visualization. As the left brain develops, that is, as the child grows older, it becomes harder to develop natural abilities of the right brain. If the child's brain is stuffed with knowledge, it becomes very difficult to exercise and develop the right brain. (Note: This is where Shichida has a different opinion from Glenn Doman teaching). The Shichida Method believes in not over-emphasizing on knowledge education, and that the cultivation of the child's ability to learn on his own is of utmost importance.
 Also the right brain is related to emotions, so if parents and educators fail in providing a loving and fun learning environment first, the results will be lost or may even be negative. Again, we will never stop repeating: first love, then fun and learning becomes natural.

The senses of the right brain are the ability to see, hear and sense things through waves translated into images. When these abilities are released, a person becomes capable of seeing images as motion pictures.

Right brain capabilities that every child has and that can be stimulated through exercise are:

The ability to see images in the form of motion pictures.

Photographic memory.

The ability to do complex mental calculations.

The conversion of images to words, numbers, symbols and the reverse

The ability to receive information on an intuitive level, and to use that information accordingly.

The ability to learn and master foreign languages easily.

The ability of photographic speed-reading.

The ablility to develop unique creativity.