Old-fashioned communication between parent and child continues to become increasingly more difficult as the demands of school, sports and other extracurricular activities become more stringent. Not to mention the incessant texting our older kids stay immersed in, provoking zombie-like stares when you call their names. The tables seem to be turning – or trying to, anyway – as many parents are seeking practical ways to reach out to their kids, connect and actually communicate in these days of non-verbal, impersonal communication techniques.

Qwizzy’s World (QW), an online study site designed to take the anxiety out of test taking, has proven to be a perfect vehicle for parents to reconnect with their kids, turn studying into something fun, and reap the rewards of better grades, more confident test taking skills and happier children.

Just this month, QW founder and Forsyth County resident, Julie Wilson, unveiled a whole new look and a bevy of new features, along with age-appropriate ‘study characters’ to further enhance the studying experience. “After watching my kids thrive in school and bring home better grades after using Qwizzy’s World for several months, I knew this might be just what other parents needed to help their own kids achieve great things,” recalled Wilson. “Along the way, I have received fabulous feedback which has motivated me to keep pushing QW to the next level -- to offer more useful features and truly be a valuable resource, as well as a practical tool enabling parents to engage with their children.”

When you visit www.QwizzysWorld.com, you’ll be surprised to see a whole new look and a treasure trove of educational resources, helpful to both student and parent. Visitors will find articles authored by education experts and by students themselves, and all kinds of interesting tips to help make the learning experience an enjoyable journey. “I have seen the disconnect between kids and parents and the time constraints of most families that has contributed to that breakdown, and I wanted to do something to bring families back full circle and actually spend quality time together, while helping the kids make the grade!”

Wilson has found, to her delight, that she is not alone in her quest, and she’s been building relationships with other like-minded companies striving for the same goal: to help kids and parents reconnect and stay informed via a myriad of interesting educational avenues. “I have met some wonderful people through QW and have collaborated with several businesses in an effort to make QW a safe place families can explore that’s healthy, fun and educational.”

Connect with Kids, producers of Emmy-award winning television programs and a respected online resource for parents and educators (www.connectwithkids.com), recently connected with Qwizzy’s World via a link exchange and contributed articles for a page called ‘Family Matters,’ a section chock full of great tips, video, and advice for families with students of all ages. “We are thrilled to be involved with Qwizzy’s World because I believe our mission is very similar, and that is reconnecting parents with their children in order to build healthy relationships, enhance communication, and improve education,” commented Stacey Dewitt, CEO and founder of Connect with Kids. Some of the topics to be addressed by Connect with Kids will include bullying, cheating, internet safety and more.

Today’s Teen (www.todaysteen.com), a hip teen magazine based in Boca Raton, Florida, is providing engaging articles to QW on topics like time management, peer pressure anxiety, and other issues that are on students’ minds. “I interact constantly with teens, and I understand how competitive the education arena is now, particularly when a student is trying to get into college. Confident test taking skills are a must, and good grades are a necessity when you’re looking at colleges,” commented Gwen Cohan, publisher of Today’s Teen. “I am glad to see that Julie had the foresight to develop a brilliant resource that addresses test-taking anxiety and other educational stumbling blocks. And what a fabulous way for parents to spend time with their kids,” she continued.

Qwizzy’s World members can also link to a site called imusiccd.com -- which subscribes to the philosophy that music can indeed stimulate kids to learn better -- and the site provides research to support that theory. “I really like the way imusiccd.com (www.imusiccd.com) is thinking outside of the box to find fun ways for kids to learn and engage in something as enjoyable as music in order to do so,” commented Wilson. She often watches her children immersed in their studies while listening to their favorite iTunes. Her children both play instruments themselves and have been active in music education since the age of two. QW will periodically feature contributed articles from imusiccd.com as well.

Another new Qwizzy’s World affiliation is a venture called The Encouragement Foundation, based in Australia, a not-for-profit initiative, formed to create and support individuals who are committed to making a positive contribution by being more aware of the value of encouragement and who are active encouragers themselves. Wilson was invited to partner with The Encouragement Foundation based on the positive contributions she is making to education and students globally.

Qwizzy’s World has been enjoying a worldwide audience since its summer 2008 debut, drawing membership from not only the U.S., but Canada, Australia, England and other countries as well. “The importance of education is universal, and I’m delighted that our resource is available to kids and parents across the globe,” commented Wilson.

More is in store at Qwizzy’s World, including a reading comprehension feature, to be unveiled this fall. To learn more about Qwizzy’s World or to sign up for a 30-day trial, please visit www.qwizzysworld.com. Julie Wilson is available at Julie@qwizzysworld.com.