Use Music to Get Ready For School
"What does music have to do with getting ready for school?" you may ask. Add music to your children's schedule because it provides a calm atmosphere that helps to reduce stress, provide comfort and improve health and well-being.
Listening to soft, calm music like the classical compositions of Bach for self-discipline and listening skills or Mozart to encourage good brain activity can help prepare your young people for their time in school. (Dr. Eric Jensen)
Listening to music cultivates academic and physical skills as it improves memory, intuition, and perception. Attention to the sounds of music help young people recognize pitch, melody, rhythm and tempo. Music helps to express strong emotions such as joy, sadness and fear.
One man who took up playing a musical instrument as he continued his academic education found it easier for him to concentrate on difficult subjects and helped him to be a better problem solver. It might not be too late for you to encourage your young people to take music lessons or play an instrument.
Playing music also has its benefits. Children learn better concentration, attention to direction, listen more attentively, and work together with their peers to make beautiful sounds if they play in a band or orchestra. Those who want to sing can benefit from participating in chorus learning to read music notes and memorizing their part in harmony. This grows their self-esteem, discipline and patience.
Another benefit to turning off the TV and devices is listening to enjoyable and relaxing music, helping your children be ready for the discipline, self-control and attention that school requires. Your young people's mood and health is enhanced by their listening to music and it might even help you as parent to be more patient and calm.
LEARN WITH YOUR CHILDREN
Learning is the process of acquiring new knowledge and skills. It is not limited to age. Regardless of where your formal education stopped, you can still learn--with your young people.
Whether it is a math concept or use of language, you can have your children explain the process to you. You must have an understanding that you, too, are still learning and that you and your children can learn together. You might have your children explain the math process their teacher is using, or what reading, writing or spelling strategies he/she is teaching. You can have the teacher make a video to explain concepts to you and your children. Many times, teachers are sending home videos that explain concepts in math or science that you and your children can view together. Then, ask each other questions or do the homework or worksheet together. Once, you explain what you are doing to the teacher, she may be eager to help and will admire your effort. It is surely better than making an excuse for your child. "Multiplication was hard for me, too." But it might not be so now with different ways to teach.
You might ask for your PTO/PTA meeting to be a learning opportunity for you, your teens and other parents. A community of people who come together can learn from each other. Why not join them for another shot of learning difficult math or science concepts?
Coding is a skill that you and your children can learn together and perfect over time. Everyone has to start somewhere. There are a variety of languages that are perfect for beginners regardless of the field you are interested in. (https://wikihow.com/Code) Wiki How, You Tube, Stack Exchange are some examples
Are your teens studying nature, the planets, the movement of the earth, the environment, in order to write a report or make decisions about how they will protect the environment in the future? Reading provides ideas for you to think about and discuss, and for your children to write about. The world is fascinating, and discovering it with your children makes it even more important to your children's learning.
Listen as the coach of your young people's team talks to his players so you can use the same language or terms to encourage your children and improve their playing of sports. Even if you were an English major and have never had an interest in sports, you can learn with your children in order to share with them and help them to do better.
You can even attend classes after school hours or on Saturdays to learn more about something you and your children might be interested in--taking effective pictures with your iPhone or camera, or learning to cook different cultural dishes.
Learning is lifelong; enjoy it with all your children.
Foundation Archive
- Kindness as an Aid to Learning
- General Knowledge for Smarter Families
- Math Challenges for Parents and Children
- Growing a Reader
- Fun Building Vocabulary
- Support Enhances Learning
- Directions to Follow
- Play with Your Children
- Effective Beginnings
- Handwriting
- Give Your Children a Sense of Wonder
- Getting Your Children Ready to Learn (Reading)
- Expectations for the Holidays
- Make Your Kids Smarter This Summer
- Mental Exercise Aids Learning
- Attention Wars
- Core Habits Necessary Before Common Core
- Cultivate Your Children's Passion
- Choices Determine Learning
- Order in Your Children's Lives (and yours)
- Growth Mindset
- Develop Creativity
- Habits Aid Learning
- Help Your Young Athletes to Success
- Opportunities Make Good Gifts
FOUNDATION ARCHIVE
Kindness as an Aid to Learning
How can kindness help children learn? What does that have to do with learning? Let me count the ways for you.
Kindness is the practice of being sympathetic, compassionate, considerate, and caring. Kindness is a trait that parents, grandparents, and caregivers can model easily. It can be practiced daily. Being kind to your own children and their friends is a good example. Disciplining patiently and quietly takes great skill this time of year.
Teaching your children to be kind to their friends and school mates requires your conversation with them. Helping them to be considerate of their teachers by focusing and listening, and trying to do their best in spite of the many distractions. Play practices and song rehearsals for the Christmas program require your children to practice kindness and self-control. Waiting quietly for their cues is kindness. Lining up the way the teacher directs is kindness. Not shoving or pushing is kindness.
Helping is kindness. "Helping feels good and is nice for the other person and you" in the words of one 12-year-old. Make helping a family affair. To clean the house, set a timer for working together as a team as each accomplishes their assigned tasks. Make the best of your time together. Be patient so you can turn a teachable moment into an opportunity for your children to grow. If order makes you feel more peaceful and less stressful, have the children put their toys back as soon as they are done playing with them, put their dishes in the sink or dishwasher, and put their own laundry away. Even as Santa watches, you might establish good habits that will go through the new year.
Help your children to be a good neighbor. Show kindness to an elderly neighbor by taking them cookies you help your children make or flowers grown in your yard. Teach them to smile or wave at neighbors as they pass.
Teach children to show kindness by helping in their community. Keep their community clean by not littering. Put candy and gum wrappers in their pockets and carry soft drink cans or water bottles to dispose in a proper container. Help them to recycle cans and bottles.
(More ideas at www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/advice/14-little-ways-to-encourage-kindness/?page=5)
Children want to help and know they can make a difference no matter what their age. You can teach kindness one deed at a time. Give your children love and boundaries to show your kindness.
"Kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see. " Mark Twain
"A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money." John Ruskin
Kindness goes a long way and enriches those who share.
How can kindness help children learn? What does that have to do with learning? Let me count the ways for you.
Kindness is the practice of being sympathetic, compassionate, considerate, and caring. Kindness is a trait that parents, grandparents, and caregivers can model easily. It can be practiced daily. Being kind to your own children and their friends is a good example. Disciplining patiently and quietly takes great skill this time of year.
Teaching your children to be kind to their friends and school mates requires your conversation with them. Helping them to be considerate of their teachers by focusing and listening, and trying to do their best in spite of the many distractions. Play practices and song rehearsals for the Christmas program require your children to practice kindness and self-control. Waiting quietly for their cues is kindness. Lining up the way the teacher directs is kindness. Not shoving or pushing is kindness.
Helping is kindness. "Helping feels good and is nice for the other person and you" in the words of one 12-year-old. Make helping a family affair. To clean the house, set a timer for working together as a team as each accomplishes their assigned tasks. Make the best of your time together. Be patient so you can turn a teachable moment into an opportunity for your children to grow. If order makes you feel more peaceful and less stressful, have the children put their toys back as soon as they are done playing with them, put their dishes in the sink or dishwasher, and put their own laundry away. Even as Santa watches, you might establish good habits that will go through the new year.
Help your children to be a good neighbor. Show kindness to an elderly neighbor by taking them cookies you help your children make or flowers grown in your yard. Teach them to smile or wave at neighbors as they pass.
Teach children to show kindness by helping in their community. Keep their community clean by not littering. Put candy and gum wrappers in their pockets and carry soft drink cans or water bottles to dispose in a proper container. Help them to recycle cans and bottles.
(More ideas at www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/advice/14-little-ways-to-encourage-kindness/?page=5)
Children want to help and know they can make a difference no matter what their age. You can teach kindness one deed at a time. Give your children love and boundaries to show your kindness.
"Kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see. " Mark Twain
"A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money." John Ruskin
Kindness goes a long way and enriches those who share.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE FOR SMARTER FAMILIES
The more knowledge you have, the easier it is to make decisions, to see through propaganda and commercials, to see through media reports, and to understand where information is coming from,
and if it is true.
Consider growing general knowledge -- yours and your children's. "General knowledge" is defined as information on many different subjects which you collect gradually from reading, television, listening, etc. rather than detailed information on subjects that you have studied formally.
Parents, grandparents and caregivers must share knowledge and experiences they have had in life. They need to encourage their children to be curious and interested in more than one area. They need to provide experiences that will help their children know about many different subjects and happenings in our world. Maybe watch a news program on TV once in awhile or read a newspaper together. Find areas discussed on a map.
Children need to know about cultures and where they originate. What is acceptable in our country,
in our culture, may be taboo in another culture. Children need to learn facts and store them in their
brains, not just in their smart devices and laptops. The internet is fabulous for providing us with information when we need it; however, some facts must be stored in our brains. Computers, smart phones and tablets are valuable to us, but what if they crash or we lose them, or lose the satellite signal or electricity that powers them?
Children need to build a core knowledge of their world, an interest in the world around them--the world they do not see if their eyes are always on a screen. When grandfather would visit our home, he took the children for walks. They noticed the ants' path on the sidewalk. They named the different flowers. They talked about where the seeds for plants and trees came from and how they got there.
The Common Core objectives are valuable since they teach children to think deeply, compose meaningful questions, develop different ways to figure things out, but children must have factual knowledge. General knowledge may determine exam results and encourage reading skills. It is up to parents, grandparents and caregivers as well as teachers to make sure children have the basic skills of reading, writing and math in order to profit from strategies Common Core seeks to cultivate. If these tools are not developed in school, it is parents' responsibility to instill them in their children in order to help their children succeed in their future lives and schooling.
Strong readers have a store of background knowledge that helps them make connections and make correct inferences about things they don't know. The more children know, the easier it is for them to understand what they read and to learn new things.
Give your family a the gift of knowledge. It is yours to share.
The more knowledge you have, the easier it is to make decisions, to see through propaganda and commercials, to see through media reports, and to understand where information is coming from,
and if it is true.
Consider growing general knowledge -- yours and your children's. "General knowledge" is defined as information on many different subjects which you collect gradually from reading, television, listening, etc. rather than detailed information on subjects that you have studied formally.
Parents, grandparents and caregivers must share knowledge and experiences they have had in life. They need to encourage their children to be curious and interested in more than one area. They need to provide experiences that will help their children know about many different subjects and happenings in our world. Maybe watch a news program on TV once in awhile or read a newspaper together. Find areas discussed on a map.
Children need to know about cultures and where they originate. What is acceptable in our country,
in our culture, may be taboo in another culture. Children need to learn facts and store them in their
brains, not just in their smart devices and laptops. The internet is fabulous for providing us with information when we need it; however, some facts must be stored in our brains. Computers, smart phones and tablets are valuable to us, but what if they crash or we lose them, or lose the satellite signal or electricity that powers them?
Children need to build a core knowledge of their world, an interest in the world around them--the world they do not see if their eyes are always on a screen. When grandfather would visit our home, he took the children for walks. They noticed the ants' path on the sidewalk. They named the different flowers. They talked about where the seeds for plants and trees came from and how they got there.
The Common Core objectives are valuable since they teach children to think deeply, compose meaningful questions, develop different ways to figure things out, but children must have factual knowledge. General knowledge may determine exam results and encourage reading skills. It is up to parents, grandparents and caregivers as well as teachers to make sure children have the basic skills of reading, writing and math in order to profit from strategies Common Core seeks to cultivate. If these tools are not developed in school, it is parents' responsibility to instill them in their children in order to help their children succeed in their future lives and schooling.
Strong readers have a store of background knowledge that helps them make connections and make correct inferences about things they don't know. The more children know, the easier it is for them to understand what they read and to learn new things.
Give your family a the gift of knowledge. It is yours to share.
MATH CHALLENGES for parents and children
Almost as important as learning to read is helping your children with math. Numbers stand for amounts of time, money, distance, cooking ingredients, measurement, weight. Parents can help their children learn basic principles of math as well as reading. To help your children with math is valuable because we use math basically every day for saving, shopping, budgeting, paying bills, being on time for school and work, finding radio stations or TV channels, finding pages in our textbooks, counting jumps when we jump rope or our distance when we throw a football or kick a soccer ball and many other uses that maybe you can think of.
Counting things is a great way to begin helping young children with math. Count fingers, toes, toys, blocks, books. Counting their Cheerios or Fruit Loops on trays while you prepare meals may be fun, especially if you allow them to eat the cereal as they count or make the cereal disappear. You could even teach them to add and subtract in this way as your children enter school. Counting cars or trucks as you drive is a way to keep your children's attention. Counting things of color helps your children not only to count but to know and remember their colors. Reading counting books is also valuable. These are only idea starters for you. There are still more ideas on websites such as themeasuredmom.com., www.handsonaswegrow.com. and wwwmathgeekmama.com. Young children should have active learning rather than math programs on the internet. The above websites are ideas for you as parent-teacher rather than for your children to use to learn.
Using real or play coins to learn about money is something children can do as they grow older. As a parent, you can do this with your children easily. When you get change after you have paid for your groceries (when you pay with cash), put it into a baggy and let your children count it when you get home. Play games where they can use money (real or fake) to buy snacks--fruit or cookies.
Use every opportunity you can think of for your children to learn about money they can handle. As they grow older, giving an allowance for chores or duties they do. If you pay them in coins, they will learn the value of their money more quickly than when you pay them in dollars. See if you can encourage your children to write a "proposal" for work they might do around the house for which they can get paid. If they come up with this idea, they may be more willing to help you than if you assign them jobs.Negotiate with them on "reasonable" payment. Then, teach them how to save in a piggy bank, jar, or in a bank account that you establish for them.
Almost as important as learning to read is helping your children with math. Numbers stand for amounts of time, money, distance, cooking ingredients, measurement, weight. Parents can help their children learn basic principles of math as well as reading. To help your children with math is valuable because we use math basically every day for saving, shopping, budgeting, paying bills, being on time for school and work, finding radio stations or TV channels, finding pages in our textbooks, counting jumps when we jump rope or our distance when we throw a football or kick a soccer ball and many other uses that maybe you can think of.
Counting things is a great way to begin helping young children with math. Count fingers, toes, toys, blocks, books. Counting their Cheerios or Fruit Loops on trays while you prepare meals may be fun, especially if you allow them to eat the cereal as they count or make the cereal disappear. You could even teach them to add and subtract in this way as your children enter school. Counting cars or trucks as you drive is a way to keep your children's attention. Counting things of color helps your children not only to count but to know and remember their colors. Reading counting books is also valuable. These are only idea starters for you. There are still more ideas on websites such as themeasuredmom.com., www.handsonaswegrow.com. and wwwmathgeekmama.com. Young children should have active learning rather than math programs on the internet. The above websites are ideas for you as parent-teacher rather than for your children to use to learn.
Using real or play coins to learn about money is something children can do as they grow older. As a parent, you can do this with your children easily. When you get change after you have paid for your groceries (when you pay with cash), put it into a baggy and let your children count it when you get home. Play games where they can use money (real or fake) to buy snacks--fruit or cookies.
Use every opportunity you can think of for your children to learn about money they can handle. As they grow older, giving an allowance for chores or duties they do. If you pay them in coins, they will learn the value of their money more quickly than when you pay them in dollars. See if you can encourage your children to write a "proposal" for work they might do around the house for which they can get paid. If they come up with this idea, they may be more willing to help you than if you assign them jobs.Negotiate with them on "reasonable" payment. Then, teach them how to save in a piggy bank, jar, or in a bank account that you establish for them.
GROWING A READER
Reading is a skill, and like all skills, it takes time and practice—doing things over and over until the skills become internalized, automatic. There are steps in the learning-to-read process. If your children miss a step, are not taught that step, or do not fully understand what and why they are learning, you as the parent may have to help them understand. If children have not had the opportunity to practice at each step, they may be missing a necessary ingredient for becoming a good reader.
Words are the builders of our language, and letters are their tools. Children need to recognize letters and become familiar with words used daily.
Interest children in words at an early age by displaying letters in their bedrooms or play rooms. Help them to recognize the letters in their name and names of things they use and see often. Put labels on common things, like door, cup, car, doll. It is better to start with a few words and add labels as your children recognize the word as the name of the object.
Help them to know the names of the letters. Then help them to find the letters in different places. Play games that show which letters come before or after a certain letter. (This is an important skill they will need to use in the future to use alphabetical order efficiently, such as in lists, dictionaries, and research.)
Help them to recognize signs—STOP, DANGER, POISON—names of stores, and their favorite foods and cereals. Help them to spell them using their growing knowledge of letters. Help them know colors and recognize the spelling of the colors.
When your children begin to read, there will be what are called “sight words” for your children to memorize. These are words that cannot be easily sounded out: a, the, there, here. Children must memorize these words. For beginning readers, color and number words may be taught as sight words.
There will be words they can sound out, knowing the sounds of the letters and the most common sounds of the vowels—the letters a, e, i, o, u. A classic book about reading by George and Evelyn Spache Reading in the Elementary School states that if children know 10 basic sounds of the vowels (5 short vowels and 5 long vowels) and their most common location in words, they can pronounce accurately two out of every three new words they try to read. To know the sounds and situations in which these vowels are found is to reading as the basic facts are to mathematics. (How to know them will be in my article next week.)
You, as a parent, grandparent, and caregiver must work with your children’s teachers to see that your children learn to read. Helping them to recognize letters, letter names, common words, and the sounds of the vowels will help them forge ahead in their acquisition of necessary reading skills.
Reading is a skill, and like all skills, it takes time and practice—doing things over and over until the skills become internalized, automatic. There are steps in the learning-to-read process. If your children miss a step, are not taught that step, or do not fully understand what and why they are learning, you as the parent may have to help them understand. If children have not had the opportunity to practice at each step, they may be missing a necessary ingredient for becoming a good reader.
Words are the builders of our language, and letters are their tools. Children need to recognize letters and become familiar with words used daily.
Interest children in words at an early age by displaying letters in their bedrooms or play rooms. Help them to recognize the letters in their name and names of things they use and see often. Put labels on common things, like door, cup, car, doll. It is better to start with a few words and add labels as your children recognize the word as the name of the object.
Help them to know the names of the letters. Then help them to find the letters in different places. Play games that show which letters come before or after a certain letter. (This is an important skill they will need to use in the future to use alphabetical order efficiently, such as in lists, dictionaries, and research.)
Help them to recognize signs—STOP, DANGER, POISON—names of stores, and their favorite foods and cereals. Help them to spell them using their growing knowledge of letters. Help them know colors and recognize the spelling of the colors.
When your children begin to read, there will be what are called “sight words” for your children to memorize. These are words that cannot be easily sounded out: a, the, there, here. Children must memorize these words. For beginning readers, color and number words may be taught as sight words.
There will be words they can sound out, knowing the sounds of the letters and the most common sounds of the vowels—the letters a, e, i, o, u. A classic book about reading by George and Evelyn Spache Reading in the Elementary School states that if children know 10 basic sounds of the vowels (5 short vowels and 5 long vowels) and their most common location in words, they can pronounce accurately two out of every three new words they try to read. To know the sounds and situations in which these vowels are found is to reading as the basic facts are to mathematics. (How to know them will be in my article next week.)
You, as a parent, grandparent, and caregiver must work with your children’s teachers to see that your children learn to read. Helping them to recognize letters, letter names, common words, and the sounds of the vowels will help them forge ahead in their acquisition of necessary reading skills.
FUN BUILDING VOCABULARY
Vocabulary is the body of words that make up a language.
Vocabulary grows as parents communicate with their children. When a parent working on a project says "This is so frustrating!" it doesn't take long before their young child is saying "This is so frustrating!" with no idea of the meaning of the word "frustrating." Engaging your children in conversation grows their vocabulary, especially if you have encouraged them to ask about words they do not yet know or understand.
Reading to your children, no matter what their age, grows vocabulary. They hear words pronounced and used in context (the story you are reading). Although fiction books may be the most entertaining, non-fiction books about real animals and nature teach extended vocabulary as you read and discuss the movement, homes and habits of the creatures. Reading comprehension depends on understanding words
Playing word games requires nothing more than the gift of your time. While you are traveling in the car, pick a word and have your children tell other words for that one. For example, telling them the word "big" would lead to more words like large, huge, giant, gigantic, immense, great, vast, enormous, humongous, massive, deep, lofty, towering. Attempt to discover words that mean "funny"-- humorous, hilarious, amusing, comical, jest, joke, witty. How about "good"? Words such as nice, fine, excellent, agreeable, lovely, delightful, dear, gorgeous, skillful, clever, expert, capable, competent, useful, pleasant, delicious, scrumptious, delectable, tasty, delightful are possibilities.
Fun word games can be done at home also. You or your older children can use words (such as the week's spelling words) printed on index cards or scrap paper cut into rectangles, putting the words on one card and the definition on another. Play "Concentration" placing the cards face down on the table, then turning cards over until finding the word and its definition claims the win. Play "Bingo" with 16 vocabulary or spelling words, writing the words--one in each of the sixteen squares. Write the definitions on cards or papers that each takes turns pulling from a jar or can. If your child matches the word with its definition, they can cover it on their "bingo board." (www.corwin.com/games)
Games can motivate learning and increase working memory. They can help children pay attention and focus. Besides, games are fun!
A valuable use of vocabulary learning is "the only vocabulary game that feeds the hungry" through the World Food Program (http://freerice.com/) You and your children can register as a family, playing together. You are given a word and have four choices to match the right definition. For every correct answer, 10 grains of rice are donated through the WTP to feed the hungry throughout the world.
The importance of vocabulary training can make a difference in your children's success in school. Children with strong vocabulary skills tend to learn faster.
Develop a love for vocabulary learning. In this age of internet, e-mail, and web browsing, vocabulary is constantly changing and growing. English vocabulary becomes exciting!
Vocabulary is the body of words that make up a language.
Vocabulary grows as parents communicate with their children. When a parent working on a project says "This is so frustrating!" it doesn't take long before their young child is saying "This is so frustrating!" with no idea of the meaning of the word "frustrating." Engaging your children in conversation grows their vocabulary, especially if you have encouraged them to ask about words they do not yet know or understand.
Reading to your children, no matter what their age, grows vocabulary. They hear words pronounced and used in context (the story you are reading). Although fiction books may be the most entertaining, non-fiction books about real animals and nature teach extended vocabulary as you read and discuss the movement, homes and habits of the creatures. Reading comprehension depends on understanding words
Playing word games requires nothing more than the gift of your time. While you are traveling in the car, pick a word and have your children tell other words for that one. For example, telling them the word "big" would lead to more words like large, huge, giant, gigantic, immense, great, vast, enormous, humongous, massive, deep, lofty, towering. Attempt to discover words that mean "funny"-- humorous, hilarious, amusing, comical, jest, joke, witty. How about "good"? Words such as nice, fine, excellent, agreeable, lovely, delightful, dear, gorgeous, skillful, clever, expert, capable, competent, useful, pleasant, delicious, scrumptious, delectable, tasty, delightful are possibilities.
Fun word games can be done at home also. You or your older children can use words (such as the week's spelling words) printed on index cards or scrap paper cut into rectangles, putting the words on one card and the definition on another. Play "Concentration" placing the cards face down on the table, then turning cards over until finding the word and its definition claims the win. Play "Bingo" with 16 vocabulary or spelling words, writing the words--one in each of the sixteen squares. Write the definitions on cards or papers that each takes turns pulling from a jar or can. If your child matches the word with its definition, they can cover it on their "bingo board." (www.corwin.com/games)
Games can motivate learning and increase working memory. They can help children pay attention and focus. Besides, games are fun!
A valuable use of vocabulary learning is "the only vocabulary game that feeds the hungry" through the World Food Program (http://freerice.com/) You and your children can register as a family, playing together. You are given a word and have four choices to match the right definition. For every correct answer, 10 grains of rice are donated through the WTP to feed the hungry throughout the world.
The importance of vocabulary training can make a difference in your children's success in school. Children with strong vocabulary skills tend to learn faster.
Develop a love for vocabulary learning. In this age of internet, e-mail, and web browsing, vocabulary is constantly changing and growing. English vocabulary becomes exciting!
SUPPORT ENHANCES LEARNING
As you enable your children's own choices, you must also support what they decide to do. Planning and patience need to be a part of choice. Self-regulation will give them the skill to make better choices. Self-discipline or self-regulation is a skill to be taught from an early age.
A wise parent will use childhood to prepare a child for success as an adult. Self-discipline is one of the most important character qualities a child can develop. www.imom.com/7-ways-to-teach-self-control
Support your children telling them they must practice self-control in order to make good decisions. Whether to spend their time playing games or learning a new skill will be their decision. However, you must take time to help them understand that their decisions will control their lives daily. We choose to play because of the pleasure it gives us, but if we control our "play time," we can strengthen our self-control. Giving children the power to choose grows control over their own actions, behavior and emotions. Through your conversations with your children, you can point out the advantages of good choice and self-control. You can support them in their decision-making by talking about the consequences or results of their decisions and choices BEFORE they make a decision. This is a necessary conversation for you to have with your children.
Children with poor self-control and planning abilities are more likely to have aggressive behavior problems or to experience worry and depression. They are more likely to make poor choices as far as eating, cheating, smoking, and are more likely to be attracted to alcohol and/or drugs.
Brains seek a kind of balance between difficult tasks and easy rewards. By working hard and learning the value of hard work and task completion, even children experience satisfaction. By taking time to play and explore, we increase chances of discovering new opportunities. None of this can be accomplished if our children continually tie themselves and their days (especially during the summer) to the computer, iphone, or tablet.
You encourage decisions good for each of your children by helping them to consider the value of their time. You can encourage decisions and support your children in their choices of activities. You can plan as a family a trip or stay-cation to give them opportunities to grow in their ability to choose wisely--whether to learn and explore or bury themselves in tablets. You can teach them self-control as you visit historical sites for them to learn through viewing exhibits and demonstrations, not destroying them.
You can teach your children how to make good choices, practice self-control and make better decisions about their time and money by setting an example in your own lives. It seems that thinking in order to demonstrate and promote these valuable skills is out of vogue. Reestablish them to support their growth in your family and your lives.
As you enable your children's own choices, you must also support what they decide to do. Planning and patience need to be a part of choice. Self-regulation will give them the skill to make better choices. Self-discipline or self-regulation is a skill to be taught from an early age.
A wise parent will use childhood to prepare a child for success as an adult. Self-discipline is one of the most important character qualities a child can develop. www.imom.com/7-ways-to-teach-self-control
Support your children telling them they must practice self-control in order to make good decisions. Whether to spend their time playing games or learning a new skill will be their decision. However, you must take time to help them understand that their decisions will control their lives daily. We choose to play because of the pleasure it gives us, but if we control our "play time," we can strengthen our self-control. Giving children the power to choose grows control over their own actions, behavior and emotions. Through your conversations with your children, you can point out the advantages of good choice and self-control. You can support them in their decision-making by talking about the consequences or results of their decisions and choices BEFORE they make a decision. This is a necessary conversation for you to have with your children.
Children with poor self-control and planning abilities are more likely to have aggressive behavior problems or to experience worry and depression. They are more likely to make poor choices as far as eating, cheating, smoking, and are more likely to be attracted to alcohol and/or drugs.
Brains seek a kind of balance between difficult tasks and easy rewards. By working hard and learning the value of hard work and task completion, even children experience satisfaction. By taking time to play and explore, we increase chances of discovering new opportunities. None of this can be accomplished if our children continually tie themselves and their days (especially during the summer) to the computer, iphone, or tablet.
You encourage decisions good for each of your children by helping them to consider the value of their time. You can encourage decisions and support your children in their choices of activities. You can plan as a family a trip or stay-cation to give them opportunities to grow in their ability to choose wisely--whether to learn and explore or bury themselves in tablets. You can teach them self-control as you visit historical sites for them to learn through viewing exhibits and demonstrations, not destroying them.
You can teach your children how to make good choices, practice self-control and make better decisions about their time and money by setting an example in your own lives. It seems that thinking in order to demonstrate and promote these valuable skills is out of vogue. Reestablish them to support their growth in your family and your lives.
Directions to Follow
To get your children to listen to you and follow your directions has to be one of the hardest things for parents.
When children do not follow directions, it can be extremely frustrating for parents .Challenging Behaviors
Children often forget or don't follow directions. They ignore you or just don't listen. Perhaps you are giving the directions "not to be followed."
Try these methods:
For children of all ages, the last thing you say will stick in their minds. "We need to go to the store. Please put your shoes on and get in the car." They may get into the car still holding their shoes in their hands.
Things you can practice with your children as you ride in the car or take a walk are using directions, like 'turn left' or 'turn right.' Help them to know directions such as east, west, north, and south. Where does the sun rise? How do you know we are going west?
Sometimes, you may need a signal or a picture for children to follow your directions. The more opportunities children are given to see and hear instructions, the more likely they are to complete the task. Using as many of the senses you can involve with your words to get your children to pay attention and follow your directions, the more they will remember and follow.
"Pick your battles." Avoid major struggles by picking a few directions that must be followed for the smooth running of your household and for your own peace of mind.
More ideas can be found at www.cdc.gov/parents/essentials/directions. www.about parenting.
To get your children to listen to you and follow your directions has to be one of the hardest things for parents.
When children do not follow directions, it can be extremely frustrating for parents .Challenging Behaviors
Children often forget or don't follow directions. They ignore you or just don't listen. Perhaps you are giving the directions "not to be followed."
Try these methods:
- Give directions only when you have time to follow through.
- Reduce distractions. Pause the TV, interrupt the video game, turn off the music.
- Make eye contact, say your child's name, put your hand on his shoulder to get his attention.
- You may need to get close, about 5-7 feet in front of your child, before she notices you.
- Ask your child to repeat the direction back to you. This will give you the opportunity to clear any misunderstanding.
- Make your directions positive commands. Do not ask or give children choice if the task is something that must be done.
- Calmly repeat if not followed. Parents' habit of frequent repetition prompts children to not listen the first time.
- Be positive in your praise or reward for directions followed and tasks completed.
For children of all ages, the last thing you say will stick in their minds. "We need to go to the store. Please put your shoes on and get in the car." They may get into the car still holding their shoes in their hands.
Things you can practice with your children as you ride in the car or take a walk are using directions, like 'turn left' or 'turn right.' Help them to know directions such as east, west, north, and south. Where does the sun rise? How do you know we are going west?
Sometimes, you may need a signal or a picture for children to follow your directions. The more opportunities children are given to see and hear instructions, the more likely they are to complete the task. Using as many of the senses you can involve with your words to get your children to pay attention and follow your directions, the more they will remember and follow.
"Pick your battles." Avoid major struggles by picking a few directions that must be followed for the smooth running of your household and for your own peace of mind.
More ideas can be found at www.cdc.gov/parents/essentials/directions. www.about parenting.
PLAY WITH YOUR CHILDREN
Another gift you can give your children is to play with them daily, or if time is a problem, on the weekends Just giving them your time and attention is a gift.
Make breakfast special by eating together. Maybe make funny pancakes, allowing your children to make their own designs and telling you what they have made. Include raisins, cherries, fruit or chocolate chips to make them even more creative and fun. Take your time eating, just enjoying your time together. Plan the rest of your day. Will it be a walk or a hike? Will it be a trip to a Children’s Museum or any museum? Will it be a game of soccer or football between parents and children? Encourage your children to make the choices and include as many outdoor activities as you have children. Maybe a picnic lunch would combine choices and give everyone a good dose of vitamin D. Playing outdoors is a good change from school and work.
Play fosters physical, mental, and social development. It helps children develop unique perspective and individual style.
Keep your children and yourself young by playing and pretending with them. You must get to know your children well enough that when something is wrong or changed in their behavior, you recognize it and can offer your help.
Take time to do necessary chores, but making them into play can be fun. Wash the car and let your children play in the mud you make. Feeling the mud seep through their fingers is good for children's brain development. Children who play in the mud or dirt develop stronger immune systems, and this kind of play is good for the heart and may even reduce cardiovascular inflammation as an adult. Mud makes kids happy, improving their mood, reducing anxiety and may even facilitate learning.
Prepare dinner together, encouraging your children to help set the table or make the salad. Again, this is a good time to talk with your children, to get to know them better. After you have cleared the table, play board or card games. You can even play a computer game if it is for two or more or show your children how you dance to Wii Just Dance game. Laughter is good for all!
Limit this time so that you have time to read together. Reading to your children never goes out of style and is good for all ages. It allows your whole family to use their imagination and see the action in their minds.
The more variety of experiences children have in their lives, the wider their range of creative expression. Play helps to build the 21st century skills children will need to thrive in the workplace and to navigate their way in the world, and spending time with your children gives them the comfort and security they need to risk and adventure.
Give your children BFF (Breathtaking Family Fun) to put on Facebook along with their
bff memories.
Another gift you can give your children is to play with them daily, or if time is a problem, on the weekends Just giving them your time and attention is a gift.
Make breakfast special by eating together. Maybe make funny pancakes, allowing your children to make their own designs and telling you what they have made. Include raisins, cherries, fruit or chocolate chips to make them even more creative and fun. Take your time eating, just enjoying your time together. Plan the rest of your day. Will it be a walk or a hike? Will it be a trip to a Children’s Museum or any museum? Will it be a game of soccer or football between parents and children? Encourage your children to make the choices and include as many outdoor activities as you have children. Maybe a picnic lunch would combine choices and give everyone a good dose of vitamin D. Playing outdoors is a good change from school and work.
Play fosters physical, mental, and social development. It helps children develop unique perspective and individual style.
Keep your children and yourself young by playing and pretending with them. You must get to know your children well enough that when something is wrong or changed in their behavior, you recognize it and can offer your help.
Take time to do necessary chores, but making them into play can be fun. Wash the car and let your children play in the mud you make. Feeling the mud seep through their fingers is good for children's brain development. Children who play in the mud or dirt develop stronger immune systems, and this kind of play is good for the heart and may even reduce cardiovascular inflammation as an adult. Mud makes kids happy, improving their mood, reducing anxiety and may even facilitate learning.
Prepare dinner together, encouraging your children to help set the table or make the salad. Again, this is a good time to talk with your children, to get to know them better. After you have cleared the table, play board or card games. You can even play a computer game if it is for two or more or show your children how you dance to Wii Just Dance game. Laughter is good for all!
Limit this time so that you have time to read together. Reading to your children never goes out of style and is good for all ages. It allows your whole family to use their imagination and see the action in their minds.
The more variety of experiences children have in their lives, the wider their range of creative expression. Play helps to build the 21st century skills children will need to thrive in the workplace and to navigate their way in the world, and spending time with your children gives them the comfort and security they need to risk and adventure.
Give your children BFF (Breathtaking Family Fun) to put on Facebook along with their
bff memories.
Effective Beginnings
Talking to your children and reading to them enables them to know ords and explore word meanings. To interest your children in books and eventually encourage them to read, have books, magazines, and newspapers in your home as material to read. Feeding children's curiosity about the
things they see and see others doing helps them to want to know more. To answer their questions,
you turn to reading--on the internet and more readily, in books. There are beautiful, colorful books available to you and your children free in the library about almost anything you want to know. Through your conversations with your children, you will get to know what they are most interested in and feed
their interests with books.
Reading is a skill that needs to be learned, beginning with your reading and reading to your children. Recognizing common words like signs (STOP, DANGER, POISON,) names of stores you go to, their favorite foods and cereals helps children to know letters and how letters in words tell us about our favorite things. Names of letters, colors and numbers provide more knowledge for children. Hearing
and finding other objects that have the same letter sound they hear at the beginning of words captures their attention. Words that sound like their name or rhyme with their name are fun to hear. Playing such games with your children helps them to hear their language and want to use it like you do.
When children begin to read, their teacher may give them words to memorize, simple words that they must know. These words are called sight words -- to, the, and, that, is, are. Such words need to be recognized automatically in order to advance the children's progress in reading. You as parents must work diligently to help your children memorize these words, using flash cards or word games (www.the measuredmom.com.)
Other words, children will be able to sound out if they know the sounds of the 21 letters and the 5 vowels--a, e, i, o, u. Vowels are most commonly called long vowels and short vowels. In Reading in the Elementary School, a classic book about reading by George and Evelyn Spache, they claim that if children know the 10 basic sounds of the vowels and their most common location in words, they can figure out two of every three words they read, a giant step in their reading, spelling, and writing. Children will try to sound out words as they write which is called "inventive spelling," but a smart parent or teacher will gently and patiently write the words correctly, explaining to the children that most people spell the words this way. Spelling words correctly helps us to communicate more effectively and if corrected early will help the children to see and memorize words used most often.
Your children not knowing how to read in later years may lead to the question "Where were the parents when their children needed their help to learn to read?" Don't be those parents!
We need to tell kids flat out: reading is not optional. William Dean Myers
Talking to your children and reading to them enables them to know ords and explore word meanings. To interest your children in books and eventually encourage them to read, have books, magazines, and newspapers in your home as material to read. Feeding children's curiosity about the
things they see and see others doing helps them to want to know more. To answer their questions,
you turn to reading--on the internet and more readily, in books. There are beautiful, colorful books available to you and your children free in the library about almost anything you want to know. Through your conversations with your children, you will get to know what they are most interested in and feed
their interests with books.
Reading is a skill that needs to be learned, beginning with your reading and reading to your children. Recognizing common words like signs (STOP, DANGER, POISON,) names of stores you go to, their favorite foods and cereals helps children to know letters and how letters in words tell us about our favorite things. Names of letters, colors and numbers provide more knowledge for children. Hearing
and finding other objects that have the same letter sound they hear at the beginning of words captures their attention. Words that sound like their name or rhyme with their name are fun to hear. Playing such games with your children helps them to hear their language and want to use it like you do.
When children begin to read, their teacher may give them words to memorize, simple words that they must know. These words are called sight words -- to, the, and, that, is, are. Such words need to be recognized automatically in order to advance the children's progress in reading. You as parents must work diligently to help your children memorize these words, using flash cards or word games (www.the measuredmom.com.)
Other words, children will be able to sound out if they know the sounds of the 21 letters and the 5 vowels--a, e, i, o, u. Vowels are most commonly called long vowels and short vowels. In Reading in the Elementary School, a classic book about reading by George and Evelyn Spache, they claim that if children know the 10 basic sounds of the vowels and their most common location in words, they can figure out two of every three words they read, a giant step in their reading, spelling, and writing. Children will try to sound out words as they write which is called "inventive spelling," but a smart parent or teacher will gently and patiently write the words correctly, explaining to the children that most people spell the words this way. Spelling words correctly helps us to communicate more effectively and if corrected early will help the children to see and memorize words used most often.
Your children not knowing how to read in later years may lead to the question "Where were the parents when their children needed their help to learn to read?" Don't be those parents!
We need to tell kids flat out: reading is not optional. William Dean Myers
HANDWRITING
I like the process of pencil and paper... I think the writing is better when it's done in handwriting. Nelson DeMille
Handwriting should be a skill that parents and children can master. Young writers start first by scribbling and interpreting what they write for early teachers and parents. It is important at this time to help children learn to hold a pencil correctly. This as important as teaching children how to use any tools; they must be held correctly to use them most efficiently. You would not hold a hammer by its claw in order to pound a nail, or hold a screwdriver like a pencil to tighten a screw.
Children should be able to write their name by the time they reach kindergarten. Teachers prefer that children begin their names with a capital letter followed by small letters. You may be helping your children write all capital letters thinking that is better for them. Regardless, your job must be to teach them to hold their pencils correctly.
Children should use what is called "the tripod grasp." They should hold their pencil between three fingers--the index or pointer finger, the middle finger and the thumb. The index finger is the guide while the middle finger and the thumb stabilize the pencil. If the pencil rests near the knuckle of the middle finger and if the fleshy or soft bit of the tip of the index finger guides the pencil where children want it to go, they will be set to acquire the correct position for learning to write. When they write, all three of these fingers support children's efforts. Gripping the pencil too tightly can cause strain and pain and tire the hand. If children grasp the pencil in a fist, curl their fingers, or hold their index finger so close to the point of the pencil they cannot see what they are writing, they are not holding their pencils good enough to write without hurting their hand and arm muscles. If your children are holding their pencil too tightly, it has been suggested that they hold a small ball of clay or tissue, a small rubber ball or a penny in the palm of the hand they are using to write.
This helps them to relax the grasp on their pencil.www.rjblain.com/2013/05/on-writing-a-lesson-in-holding-a-pen-or-pencil/ provides clear instructions and photos to show the correct way to hold a writing instrument.
Do your older children have trouble holding their pen or pencil? Does it affect their hand, arm, body or posture when they must do an assignment in handwriting? Are they holding their head down to the side or trying to write while lying on their bed? Are they endangering the movement of their eyes by staring at a screen and not moving their head and eyes, while thinking and/or writing? By observing your older children, you can see bad writing habits forming, but they become harder to break.
As a parent of young writers, PLEASE make the effort to help your children learn to handwrite in the correct way.
I like the process of pencil and paper... I think the writing is better when it's done in handwriting. Nelson DeMille
Handwriting should be a skill that parents and children can master. Young writers start first by scribbling and interpreting what they write for early teachers and parents. It is important at this time to help children learn to hold a pencil correctly. This as important as teaching children how to use any tools; they must be held correctly to use them most efficiently. You would not hold a hammer by its claw in order to pound a nail, or hold a screwdriver like a pencil to tighten a screw.
Children should be able to write their name by the time they reach kindergarten. Teachers prefer that children begin their names with a capital letter followed by small letters. You may be helping your children write all capital letters thinking that is better for them. Regardless, your job must be to teach them to hold their pencils correctly.
Children should use what is called "the tripod grasp." They should hold their pencil between three fingers--the index or pointer finger, the middle finger and the thumb. The index finger is the guide while the middle finger and the thumb stabilize the pencil. If the pencil rests near the knuckle of the middle finger and if the fleshy or soft bit of the tip of the index finger guides the pencil where children want it to go, they will be set to acquire the correct position for learning to write. When they write, all three of these fingers support children's efforts. Gripping the pencil too tightly can cause strain and pain and tire the hand. If children grasp the pencil in a fist, curl their fingers, or hold their index finger so close to the point of the pencil they cannot see what they are writing, they are not holding their pencils good enough to write without hurting their hand and arm muscles. If your children are holding their pencil too tightly, it has been suggested that they hold a small ball of clay or tissue, a small rubber ball or a penny in the palm of the hand they are using to write.
This helps them to relax the grasp on their pencil.www.rjblain.com/2013/05/on-writing-a-lesson-in-holding-a-pen-or-pencil/ provides clear instructions and photos to show the correct way to hold a writing instrument.
Do your older children have trouble holding their pen or pencil? Does it affect their hand, arm, body or posture when they must do an assignment in handwriting? Are they holding their head down to the side or trying to write while lying on their bed? Are they endangering the movement of their eyes by staring at a screen and not moving their head and eyes, while thinking and/or writing? By observing your older children, you can see bad writing habits forming, but they become harder to break.
As a parent of young writers, PLEASE make the effort to help your children learn to handwrite in the correct way.
Give Your Children a Sense of Wonder
Are you and your children missing the magic of life? Do you share the wonder of "you" with your children? Do you make the time to help your children see the wonders of our world?
By being yourself and sharing what you have been given, you are showing the wonder that you are. You and your children are treasure chests of amazing gifts and wonder just waiting to be opened. You are the creator of your own life. (Mary Paleologos)
Summer is such a grand time to discover each other and our place in the world as human beings. We think. We dream. We wonder.
How do we do this? Gregg Levoy in www.psychologytoday.com gives the following ideas to spark your sense of wonder:
A young child's world is full of wonder and excitement at everything new. If a child is to keep his sense of wonder as he grows, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him, the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in (Peter Ernest Haiman, PhD.) Pave the way for a child to want to know so you can help him/her open doors to learning, exploration, and discovery. Dr. Haiman provides an exhaustive list of ideas for parents (and teachers) to create, nourish and sustain wonder for parents and their children on his website.
Joy and wonder are not a luxury for children, but a necessity. Small moments of joy and a feeling of wonder can give children meaning in a sometimes chaotic world, building a sense of "rightness" and resilience from which they can draw in the years to come. www.bright horizons.com.
Wonder is the beginning of wisdom. Socrates
Are you and your children missing the magic of life? Do you share the wonder of "you" with your children? Do you make the time to help your children see the wonders of our world?
By being yourself and sharing what you have been given, you are showing the wonder that you are. You and your children are treasure chests of amazing gifts and wonder just waiting to be opened. You are the creator of your own life. (Mary Paleologos)
Summer is such a grand time to discover each other and our place in the world as human beings. We think. We dream. We wonder.
How do we do this? Gregg Levoy in www.psychologytoday.com gives the following ideas to spark your sense of wonder:
- Look for displays of mastery and genius. How do people use ordinary things to make extraordinary creations?
- Look at yourself through someone else's eyes. Do you ever wonder what your children see in you? Look at them and their actions. Children, especially young children, imitate you.
- Approach things from new angles. When you watch a beautiful sunset, do not just look at the sun and sky. Look at how it changes the land you are standing on, the mountains around you, the horizon.
- Change the context. We take walking for granted, but how different it is to take the moving sidewalk at an airport.
- Slow down. Take a walk, not for health reasons, but just to see what is around you--the grass, the flowers, the pebbles that line your path. Help your children to see those things, too.
- Go away from your desk for awhile, just to change the scenery. Wonder why you haven't noticed the scratches in the door or the color of the wastebasket.
- Change your lenses, literally. Try seeing things through magnifying glasses, binoculars, microscopes, telescopes, amplifiers, even stethoscopes. Together with your children you can find all kinds of things to wonder about using these "new" ways to sense.
A young child's world is full of wonder and excitement at everything new. If a child is to keep his sense of wonder as he grows, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him, the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in (Peter Ernest Haiman, PhD.) Pave the way for a child to want to know so you can help him/her open doors to learning, exploration, and discovery. Dr. Haiman provides an exhaustive list of ideas for parents (and teachers) to create, nourish and sustain wonder for parents and their children on his website.
Joy and wonder are not a luxury for children, but a necessity. Small moments of joy and a feeling of wonder can give children meaning in a sometimes chaotic world, building a sense of "rightness" and resilience from which they can draw in the years to come. www.bright horizons.com.
Wonder is the beginning of wisdom. Socrates
GETTING YOUR CHILDREN READY TO LEARN (Reading)
Several tools are necessary to help your children learn--positive experiences, attention to teacher and tasks, remembering necessary things, growing confidence through encouragement and knowledge, but where will all that knowledge come from? From you as parents, grandparents, and caregivers. Sure, schools and teachers will increase your children's knowledge, but the push to learn all your children can will come from you...through sharing and reading. Reading will become one of the most important skills your children will acquire. Hopefully, their first learning came through you as you read books to your children-- books about colors, sounds, and numbers, books about animals and other children, books about the world in which we live. As you continue to read to your children of all ages, they will learn more and understand more. You might even take turns reading--one paragraph for younger readers, and one or more pages for older readers in your family.
Children will receive knowledge through listening and reading. They will share knowledge through speaking and writing. Your children learn their language through listening and reading. Ina recent article in theReader's Digest, an author was commenting on his score on the SAT in these words: "You never stop reading, particularly in the Internet age...if you read and write every day...you'll stay relatively sharp." Regardless of how the technology changes, using spell check for writing or audio books for listening, reading will continue to be a necessary skill.
At the President's Brain Summit in early 1997, researchers suggested that reading to children in their first few years, when the brain's circuitry is being formed, enhances the children's emotional and social development and lays the groundwork for vocabulary and later educational success. (How to Grow a Young Reader, page 20)
I would like to add to the above quotation. Reading aloud to your children at any age gives them knowledge, expands their attention, allows them to hear new words and may even prompt questions and discussion. My 91-year-old friend told me that her father always read to her and then discussed what they had read. It is one of the fondest memories she has of her father.
Having books in your home is another way to interest children in reading. "To add a library to your house is to give that house a soul." Marcus Tullius Cicero as quoted in a Tweet from Barefoot Books.
Seeing you read, even reading the back of a cereal box, the summaries for DVDs or how to play a game, shows your children the usefulness of reading. Seeing grandma and grandpa reading the newspaper or the label on a medicine bottle shows children the importance of being able to read. Seeing adults read the instructions to make, sew or repair something shows your children you know the importance of what you are asking them to do. Seeing you reading makes them want to read, too. Talking to your children about letters, sounds and meaning of words, books and reading encourages them to try reading as a life skill.
Several tools are necessary to help your children learn--positive experiences, attention to teacher and tasks, remembering necessary things, growing confidence through encouragement and knowledge, but where will all that knowledge come from? From you as parents, grandparents, and caregivers. Sure, schools and teachers will increase your children's knowledge, but the push to learn all your children can will come from you...through sharing and reading. Reading will become one of the most important skills your children will acquire. Hopefully, their first learning came through you as you read books to your children-- books about colors, sounds, and numbers, books about animals and other children, books about the world in which we live. As you continue to read to your children of all ages, they will learn more and understand more. You might even take turns reading--one paragraph for younger readers, and one or more pages for older readers in your family.
Children will receive knowledge through listening and reading. They will share knowledge through speaking and writing. Your children learn their language through listening and reading. Ina recent article in theReader's Digest, an author was commenting on his score on the SAT in these words: "You never stop reading, particularly in the Internet age...if you read and write every day...you'll stay relatively sharp." Regardless of how the technology changes, using spell check for writing or audio books for listening, reading will continue to be a necessary skill.
At the President's Brain Summit in early 1997, researchers suggested that reading to children in their first few years, when the brain's circuitry is being formed, enhances the children's emotional and social development and lays the groundwork for vocabulary and later educational success. (How to Grow a Young Reader, page 20)
I would like to add to the above quotation. Reading aloud to your children at any age gives them knowledge, expands their attention, allows them to hear new words and may even prompt questions and discussion. My 91-year-old friend told me that her father always read to her and then discussed what they had read. It is one of the fondest memories she has of her father.
Having books in your home is another way to interest children in reading. "To add a library to your house is to give that house a soul." Marcus Tullius Cicero as quoted in a Tweet from Barefoot Books.
Seeing you read, even reading the back of a cereal box, the summaries for DVDs or how to play a game, shows your children the usefulness of reading. Seeing grandma and grandpa reading the newspaper or the label on a medicine bottle shows children the importance of being able to read. Seeing adults read the instructions to make, sew or repair something shows your children you know the importance of what you are asking them to do. Seeing you reading makes them want to read, too. Talking to your children about letters, sounds and meaning of words, books and reading encourages them to try reading as a life skill.
EXPECTATIONS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Commercial Christmas has been with us for quite a while--since early October in order for stores to glean all they can from your pocketbook. It is no wonder that your children have long lists for Santa. They want many new toys that they see advertised or an iPhone way out of your budget.
Help your children set realistic gifts and limit the number so that they will not be disappointed. One of my friends worked feverishly to get everything her boys had on their lists. Rather than have your children face disappointment on their favorite gift-receiving day or fail to show gratitude for what they receive, consider some of these ideas.
When you give up yourself, that's when you will feel the true spirit of Christmas...Joel Osteen
Commercial Christmas has been with us for quite a while--since early October in order for stores to glean all they can from your pocketbook. It is no wonder that your children have long lists for Santa. They want many new toys that they see advertised or an iPhone way out of your budget.
Help your children set realistic gifts and limit the number so that they will not be disappointed. One of my friends worked feverishly to get everything her boys had on their lists. Rather than have your children face disappointment on their favorite gift-receiving day or fail to show gratitude for what they receive, consider some of these ideas.
- Have your children rank gifts they would like to have, as the one they really can't live without first and continue to rank their choices. Limit the number of gifts they are to receive for younger children, and the amount of money you can spend for gifts for the older children. Talk to grandparents and extended family to purchase only one gift for each child. Children who receive too much, even throughout the year, fail to realize the specialness of the gifts they receive.
- Talk about the real meaning of the holiday. Why do we celebrate Christmas? What does this day mean to our faith, to our family? Gifts are only a PART of this day. Why do we give and receive gifts?
- Focus on giving. Include in your holiday preparations the joy of giving to others. Encourage your children to make gifts for family and friends. A coupon book can be suggested, with "good for..." gifts, such as "good for" helping to fold the laundry or breakfast in bed. Even parents can give "good for..." coupon books, such as good for taking you to the movies or to breakfast on Saturday morning--only you and I.
- Adopt a family for the holiday. Make gifts for everyone in that family or use their allowance to buy some kind of food or fruit for the family holiday meal. Allow your children to experience the joy of giving to others in order to make this holiday special for another family.
- Have your children write a note, compose a poem, paint or draw a picture, or learn a song that is the favorite of their grandparents. Gifts do not always need to be things, and if the opportunity arises to learn to macramé, crochet or knit (yes, even boys), take the time to teach your children or make time for them to learn from others. These skills are not only great to share; they are emotionally, physically and psychologically satisfying and increase mental ability to remember and carry out patterns.
- Count your blessings as a family. Let children see how fortunate they are by volunteering at a homeless shelter or serving a meal at a soup kitchen.
When you give up yourself, that's when you will feel the true spirit of Christmas...Joel Osteen
STRUCTURE ARCHIVE
MAKE YOUR KIDS SMARTER THIS SUMMER
Do you want to make your kids smarter this summer? Do you want them to remember the chores you gave them to do before you went to work? Do you want them to use their brains, not lose their brain power over the summer by viewing TV and living in their digital devices?
Then get them up in the morning when it is cool and send them racing and chasing each other around the block. You can fully engage your children for super-charged learning by combining their learning with fast exercises--exercises that optimize their brain function as well as strengthen their body.
"Kids have the right idea with their enthusiastic zipping around, and the pleasure they take in feeling fully alive and aware of their own bodies. When kids go out to play, they run, sprint, laugh, chase, zigzag, climb, sweat and get totally exhausted." Phil Campbell, MS
Fast movement or sprinting decreases inflammation in the brain and improves hormone balance. Brain plasticity and blood flow increase with exercise, especially in the hippocampus, which is part of the limbic system known for learning and memory in the brain. Not only memory, but the capacity to engage in critical thinking is strengthened by regular running--FAST.
One school adopted a "Zero Hour PE" regimen in which students ran and exercised before their first period of the day. The teachers noticed a "state of heightened awareness" in their students and they were more prepared to learn.
Speed workouts have four levels: 1) oxygen debit or feeling out of breath; 2) muscle burn 3) an increase in body temperature and 4) adrenal response--feeling out of breath and "slightly in pain." This is how you know when you join your children that you have moved fast enough for your moves to be effective in increasing your "brain power."
On YouTube, Ed Mayhew has a series of movement exercises that he calls "brain sprints" in which he emphasizes using movement to memorize necessary math facts and cross-lateral movements that strengthen the brain hemispheres' connection.
(https: //google.com/mail/#inbox/i54c7f51581cla95)
In his book, SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain
(Little Brown, 2008), Dr. John Rahey shows how exercise becomes "Miracle-Gro for the brain." When one moves as fast as he can, a person sparks the master molecule of the learning process showing a direct biological connection between movement and cognitive function. Exercise, especially sprinting, strengthens the cellular machinery for learning. You and your children's bodies produce more dopamine and serontin (brain neurotransmitters) by working harder.
Dr. Oz recommends that you exhaust your muscles once a week. Your body is supposed to have its engine revved every once in a while just like your car. Even a 30-second burst per day will create new confidence and appreciation for the "spectacular machine" that is our body, he says.
MAKE YOUR KIDS SMARTER THIS SUMMER
Do you want to make your kids smarter this summer? Do you want them to remember the chores you gave them to do before you went to work? Do you want them to use their brains, not lose their brain power over the summer by viewing TV and living in their digital devices?
Then get them up in the morning when it is cool and send them racing and chasing each other around the block. You can fully engage your children for super-charged learning by combining their learning with fast exercises--exercises that optimize their brain function as well as strengthen their body.
"Kids have the right idea with their enthusiastic zipping around, and the pleasure they take in feeling fully alive and aware of their own bodies. When kids go out to play, they run, sprint, laugh, chase, zigzag, climb, sweat and get totally exhausted." Phil Campbell, MS
Fast movement or sprinting decreases inflammation in the brain and improves hormone balance. Brain plasticity and blood flow increase with exercise, especially in the hippocampus, which is part of the limbic system known for learning and memory in the brain. Not only memory, but the capacity to engage in critical thinking is strengthened by regular running--FAST.
One school adopted a "Zero Hour PE" regimen in which students ran and exercised before their first period of the day. The teachers noticed a "state of heightened awareness" in their students and they were more prepared to learn.
Speed workouts have four levels: 1) oxygen debit or feeling out of breath; 2) muscle burn 3) an increase in body temperature and 4) adrenal response--feeling out of breath and "slightly in pain." This is how you know when you join your children that you have moved fast enough for your moves to be effective in increasing your "brain power."
On YouTube, Ed Mayhew has a series of movement exercises that he calls "brain sprints" in which he emphasizes using movement to memorize necessary math facts and cross-lateral movements that strengthen the brain hemispheres' connection.
(https: //google.com/mail/#inbox/i54c7f51581cla95)
In his book, SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain
(Little Brown, 2008), Dr. John Rahey shows how exercise becomes "Miracle-Gro for the brain." When one moves as fast as he can, a person sparks the master molecule of the learning process showing a direct biological connection between movement and cognitive function. Exercise, especially sprinting, strengthens the cellular machinery for learning. You and your children's bodies produce more dopamine and serontin (brain neurotransmitters) by working harder.
Dr. Oz recommends that you exhaust your muscles once a week. Your body is supposed to have its engine revved every once in a while just like your car. Even a 30-second burst per day will create new confidence and appreciation for the "spectacular machine" that is our body, he says.
MENTAL EXERCISE AIDS LEARNING
Mental exercise is as important as physical exercise. Let me review some of the ways you can strengthen your children’s mental abilities.
During children’s formative years, many new things are being learned—good and bad. As parents, caregivers, and grandparents, we want them to remember the good things. We want to strengthen their minds to remember things like wonderful expeditions, great vacations, and memorable gifts. We do this by reminding them through sharing memories and sometimes, pictures.
It is also necessary for them to remember and retain some very basic “memories.” In the days of technology, you may remind me that they do not need to know their multiplication tables because they can use a calculator or how to spell since they can use “spell-check” or how to make change when the cash register tells them how much change to give. What if they did not recognize what different coins look like? What if they dropped their iPad or iPhone over Niagara Falls on your great vacation? What if Verizon or Cox lost their signals?
Remember my statement that their brain “muscle” could deteriorate with UNDERUSE? Therefore, if we are going to raise children to survive, they must know some “survival techniques” and that means using their brain to remember, to know, to find out. Children NEED “mental exercise” as well as physical exercise. All need to memorize. The most valuable employees at Walmart are the ones who have memorized the product locations and can tell you when you inquire.
That is why memorizing the multiplication tables and measurements and spelling rules are necessary to basic learning. Children must store information in their brains for future use. Sometimes, seniors can recite things from memory faster and easier than their grandchildren. Repetition in classroom and home is crucial.
In a classroom, the children who have not yet memorized their multiplication tables are at a distinct disadvantage. They do their math slower, get confused when counting on their fingers, and get behind in their classwork. If your children always have math for homework, dawdle when doing it, cry because you make them do it, the solution may only be that they have not memorized their multiplication tables, units of measurement, or formulas. If spelling is difficult for them, they may not remember the construction of syllables. Missing one piece of information hurts a student’s ability to understand new information related to it, use it in new situations, and could hamper their ability to do future schoolwork at all.
Parents can reinforce these necessary “memories” like all other memories—through recall, review, and practice. Please love your children now, by helping them to remember these basic skills, and they will love you in the future by rewarding you with competent learning.
Mental exercise is as important as physical exercise. Let me review some of the ways you can strengthen your children’s mental abilities.
During children’s formative years, many new things are being learned—good and bad. As parents, caregivers, and grandparents, we want them to remember the good things. We want to strengthen their minds to remember things like wonderful expeditions, great vacations, and memorable gifts. We do this by reminding them through sharing memories and sometimes, pictures.
It is also necessary for them to remember and retain some very basic “memories.” In the days of technology, you may remind me that they do not need to know their multiplication tables because they can use a calculator or how to spell since they can use “spell-check” or how to make change when the cash register tells them how much change to give. What if they did not recognize what different coins look like? What if they dropped their iPad or iPhone over Niagara Falls on your great vacation? What if Verizon or Cox lost their signals?
Remember my statement that their brain “muscle” could deteriorate with UNDERUSE? Therefore, if we are going to raise children to survive, they must know some “survival techniques” and that means using their brain to remember, to know, to find out. Children NEED “mental exercise” as well as physical exercise. All need to memorize. The most valuable employees at Walmart are the ones who have memorized the product locations and can tell you when you inquire.
That is why memorizing the multiplication tables and measurements and spelling rules are necessary to basic learning. Children must store information in their brains for future use. Sometimes, seniors can recite things from memory faster and easier than their grandchildren. Repetition in classroom and home is crucial.
In a classroom, the children who have not yet memorized their multiplication tables are at a distinct disadvantage. They do their math slower, get confused when counting on their fingers, and get behind in their classwork. If your children always have math for homework, dawdle when doing it, cry because you make them do it, the solution may only be that they have not memorized their multiplication tables, units of measurement, or formulas. If spelling is difficult for them, they may not remember the construction of syllables. Missing one piece of information hurts a student’s ability to understand new information related to it, use it in new situations, and could hamper their ability to do future schoolwork at all.
Parents can reinforce these necessary “memories” like all other memories—through recall, review, and practice. Please love your children now, by helping them to remember these basic skills, and they will love you in the future by rewarding you with competent learning.
ATTENTION WARS
Are your children's fights driving you crazy? Are your children being bullied...at home?
Are you constantly "in the middle" when your children have disagreements?
You are certainly not alone. A house full of conflict is stressful for everyone. How a parent reacts in these situations sets the tone and restores the peace in a home. There are websites with valuable advice to help parents know what to do in the above situations. One isCommunity.today.com/parentingteam/post/six-parenting-mistakes-that-fuel-sibling-rivalry which shares the following situations that you may not even be aware of.
1) Children have a need to have their 'attention bucket' filled with individualized time and attention. There is no need to include all the children all the time. You can schedule time on the computer or video game with each child by themselves. Treat children individually, not equally to prepare them for life because life is neither equal nor fair.
2) Children are all different and have different interests and talents. Trying to put every child into the same sport or activity increases competition that may not be healthy or good for either child.
3) Labeling children by siblings or parents is not beneficial or encouraging to children to be their own best selves.
4) "Let's see who can get dressed the fastest?" "Who will be the first to get their room clean?" creates unnecessary competition among children in a family. Look for ways to do things together: "WHEN you pick up your toys, THEN we go to the park. WHEN you get your pj's on, THEN we read a book." Using "when...then" encourages your children to learn together that they can be a cooperative unit rather than a competitive one.
5) It is so easy to turn to the child who does things without a fuss, but again, this spawns jealousy and hard feelings among your children. Think about how you can coax other children to do things for you without griping.
6) Parents should not take sides in a fight. It takes two to make that fight like it does in any partnership. Separate your children until they cool down. By giving them the tools to respond, react, and behave in a way that is kind, caring and meaningful, you as parents are giving your children life skills that they will not get in school. Help resolve relationships in healthy and loving ways. There will be some "bumps in the road," but when you teach skills and mindsets that your children can learn now, they will be able to manage relationships the rest of their lives. By so doing, you teach your children to value another's perspective, how to compromise and negotiate and how to control aggressive impulses.
Parents need to nurture patterns of lifelong friendship among their children by helping them find constructive ways to be sensitive to each other. Help them to live in compatible relationships as children so that they will remain friends when they grow up(www.askdrsears.com)
Sisterhood and brotherhood is a condition people have to work at. Maya Angelou
Are your children's fights driving you crazy? Are your children being bullied...at home?
Are you constantly "in the middle" when your children have disagreements?
You are certainly not alone. A house full of conflict is stressful for everyone. How a parent reacts in these situations sets the tone and restores the peace in a home. There are websites with valuable advice to help parents know what to do in the above situations. One isCommunity.today.com/parentingteam/post/six-parenting-mistakes-that-fuel-sibling-rivalry which shares the following situations that you may not even be aware of.
1) Children have a need to have their 'attention bucket' filled with individualized time and attention. There is no need to include all the children all the time. You can schedule time on the computer or video game with each child by themselves. Treat children individually, not equally to prepare them for life because life is neither equal nor fair.
2) Children are all different and have different interests and talents. Trying to put every child into the same sport or activity increases competition that may not be healthy or good for either child.
3) Labeling children by siblings or parents is not beneficial or encouraging to children to be their own best selves.
4) "Let's see who can get dressed the fastest?" "Who will be the first to get their room clean?" creates unnecessary competition among children in a family. Look for ways to do things together: "WHEN you pick up your toys, THEN we go to the park. WHEN you get your pj's on, THEN we read a book." Using "when...then" encourages your children to learn together that they can be a cooperative unit rather than a competitive one.
5) It is so easy to turn to the child who does things without a fuss, but again, this spawns jealousy and hard feelings among your children. Think about how you can coax other children to do things for you without griping.
6) Parents should not take sides in a fight. It takes two to make that fight like it does in any partnership. Separate your children until they cool down. By giving them the tools to respond, react, and behave in a way that is kind, caring and meaningful, you as parents are giving your children life skills that they will not get in school. Help resolve relationships in healthy and loving ways. There will be some "bumps in the road," but when you teach skills and mindsets that your children can learn now, they will be able to manage relationships the rest of their lives. By so doing, you teach your children to value another's perspective, how to compromise and negotiate and how to control aggressive impulses.
Parents need to nurture patterns of lifelong friendship among their children by helping them find constructive ways to be sensitive to each other. Help them to live in compatible relationships as children so that they will remain friends when they grow up(www.askdrsears.com)
Sisterhood and brotherhood is a condition people have to work at. Maya Angelou
CORE HABITS NECESSARY BEFORE COMMON CORE
One of the definitions of core in the dictionary is the innermost or most important part. Knowing this definition is a key to understanding core habits, such as those parents should teach children. It is necessary for parents to teach children habits that will help them fit into any place in society and to become independent, well-rounded and confident individuals who can merge well into any situation. Teach your children basic table manners, saving money, eating healthy, good hygiene and sharing.
(http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/577633/20141231/parenting-core-habits-child.html)
I was surprised to find this reference in an international business article, and even more surprised to see table manners as the first habit parents should teach their children. Such basic manners as not to pick at their food, not burping, chewing with their mouths closed and eating everything on their plate. It has become common to bring or provide the food that their children will eat rather than eating the food the hostess has prepared for them. Saying grace was also included which I also found interesting. It certainly does not hurt to acknowledge the fact that we have not obtained our sustenance on our own.
Eating healthy is another challenge to parents in our time. Two parents working, busy with their pursuits and children's pursuits hardly leaves time to cook nutritious food. My mother would prepare a very healthy meal on the weekend--meat, potatoes, vegetable, salad and dessert. Most of the rest of the week, we enjoyed creative leftovers served in different formats that still provided the necessary ingredients to maintain good health. Using the crock pot to begin meal preparation before leaving for the day should help families be ready to satisfy hunger soon after entering the door, even if entering at varied times caused by after-school activities. Another suggestion might be to provide healthier meals rather than fast food (Pinterest suggestions) bringing us to the topic of saving money. Money not spent on fast food may be used for family entertainment to be enjoyed by all.
Handling money should be taught to children so they learn the value of money and how to spend it wisely. If children are taught to save their money and even work to make money, they will soon learn that money buys needs, such as food and clothing, and can be saved for wants.
Good hygiene is equally important for your children to be accepted by their peers. If they wear dirty clothes and have an offensive odor, others will not want to associate with them. Help them to brush their teeth and take frequent showers. If children pick out their own clothes when shopping for new clothes, they may be more inclined to be clean and look good. Teaching them to do their own laundry is also a possibility.
"Common core" is an often used and abused term in today's education, but before parents take on 'common core' learning in school, perhaps they should start with core habits at home.
One of the definitions of core in the dictionary is the innermost or most important part. Knowing this definition is a key to understanding core habits, such as those parents should teach children. It is necessary for parents to teach children habits that will help them fit into any place in society and to become independent, well-rounded and confident individuals who can merge well into any situation. Teach your children basic table manners, saving money, eating healthy, good hygiene and sharing.
(http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/577633/20141231/parenting-core-habits-child.html)
I was surprised to find this reference in an international business article, and even more surprised to see table manners as the first habit parents should teach their children. Such basic manners as not to pick at their food, not burping, chewing with their mouths closed and eating everything on their plate. It has become common to bring or provide the food that their children will eat rather than eating the food the hostess has prepared for them. Saying grace was also included which I also found interesting. It certainly does not hurt to acknowledge the fact that we have not obtained our sustenance on our own.
Eating healthy is another challenge to parents in our time. Two parents working, busy with their pursuits and children's pursuits hardly leaves time to cook nutritious food. My mother would prepare a very healthy meal on the weekend--meat, potatoes, vegetable, salad and dessert. Most of the rest of the week, we enjoyed creative leftovers served in different formats that still provided the necessary ingredients to maintain good health. Using the crock pot to begin meal preparation before leaving for the day should help families be ready to satisfy hunger soon after entering the door, even if entering at varied times caused by after-school activities. Another suggestion might be to provide healthier meals rather than fast food (Pinterest suggestions) bringing us to the topic of saving money. Money not spent on fast food may be used for family entertainment to be enjoyed by all.
Handling money should be taught to children so they learn the value of money and how to spend it wisely. If children are taught to save their money and even work to make money, they will soon learn that money buys needs, such as food and clothing, and can be saved for wants.
Good hygiene is equally important for your children to be accepted by their peers. If they wear dirty clothes and have an offensive odor, others will not want to associate with them. Help them to brush their teeth and take frequent showers. If children pick out their own clothes when shopping for new clothes, they may be more inclined to be clean and look good. Teaching them to do their own laundry is also a possibility.
"Common core" is an often used and abused term in today's education, but before parents take on 'common core' learning in school, perhaps they should start with core habits at home.
Cultivate Your Children's Passion
It is important that you keep your children and grandchildren from being bored or buried in video games, and the time to think about what you can do is NOW. You must consider your time and your children's time to be valuable enough to invest in their learning.
Famous people were given their parent's attention for them to become notable. Frederick Douglass had extensive reading opportunities; you have your local library's summer reading program. Thomas Edison was taught at home by an "attentive" mother; you can be "attentive" to each of your children to find what opportunities you should give each of them to explore and grow their interests. Robert Goddard's family gave him telescopes and microscopes to explore the world around him. Have your children become interested in science, technology, engineering, or math as a result of the STEM programs in school this year? When you are attentive to your children's interests, you will help them find books, build knowledge, and attempt new things.
Help your children be inquisitive. Find out what kinds of classes they might take to learn more about their interests. If your children want to attend a science or discovery class, and you don't have money to finance their interest, seek financial help, scholarship opportunities, or some kind of work-study. If your children love animals, you might ask if they can volunteer at a veterinary hospital, a stable, or the Humane Society. If they love little children, your children can help mothers by playing with their little ones or helping young children read books over the summer.
Now is the time to plan a trip or vacation, not to be entertained, but to learn more about their world, to feed your children's curiosity. The more opportunities you give your children to learn, the easier it will be for them to seek direction for their lives.
The more you help them learn and attempt new things, the more confident they become to set goals for themselves and work towards these goals. Make contracts with them to learn more through the internet, through shadowing or helping a professional (friend or family), through reading and writing. Use open-ended questions that require them to research for the answer. "How do you think that happens (in nature, science)? Why are people anxious to come to the United States--legally or illegally?" Ask questions that make them think.
Encourage them to keep a journal--using words or pictures, or just a new word each day.
70% of children who have high ability are underachieving and not realizing their potential. Believe your children have that ability and plan now to grow it this summer. If you as parents challenge them to learn something new each day, perhaps you can help them exceed expectations to never stop learning.
It is important that you keep your children and grandchildren from being bored or buried in video games, and the time to think about what you can do is NOW. You must consider your time and your children's time to be valuable enough to invest in their learning.
Famous people were given their parent's attention for them to become notable. Frederick Douglass had extensive reading opportunities; you have your local library's summer reading program. Thomas Edison was taught at home by an "attentive" mother; you can be "attentive" to each of your children to find what opportunities you should give each of them to explore and grow their interests. Robert Goddard's family gave him telescopes and microscopes to explore the world around him. Have your children become interested in science, technology, engineering, or math as a result of the STEM programs in school this year? When you are attentive to your children's interests, you will help them find books, build knowledge, and attempt new things.
Help your children be inquisitive. Find out what kinds of classes they might take to learn more about their interests. If your children want to attend a science or discovery class, and you don't have money to finance their interest, seek financial help, scholarship opportunities, or some kind of work-study. If your children love animals, you might ask if they can volunteer at a veterinary hospital, a stable, or the Humane Society. If they love little children, your children can help mothers by playing with their little ones or helping young children read books over the summer.
Now is the time to plan a trip or vacation, not to be entertained, but to learn more about their world, to feed your children's curiosity. The more opportunities you give your children to learn, the easier it will be for them to seek direction for their lives.
The more you help them learn and attempt new things, the more confident they become to set goals for themselves and work towards these goals. Make contracts with them to learn more through the internet, through shadowing or helping a professional (friend or family), through reading and writing. Use open-ended questions that require them to research for the answer. "How do you think that happens (in nature, science)? Why are people anxious to come to the United States--legally or illegally?" Ask questions that make them think.
Encourage them to keep a journal--using words or pictures, or just a new word each day.
70% of children who have high ability are underachieving and not realizing their potential. Believe your children have that ability and plan now to grow it this summer. If you as parents challenge them to learn something new each day, perhaps you can help them exceed expectations to never stop learning.
Choices Determine Learning
"I don't want to go to school. I don't want to do that homework. I can't wait until school is out."
After hearing these statements, it is no wonder that parents and grandparents are also ready for school to be out. Soon, the choice to play video games or watch TV is going to be children's daily choice. .. unless parents, grandparents and kid caregivers provide other choices.
It is better to offer one of two choices. Too many choices confuse children of all ages. Have you taken your children to Baskin-Robbins or Dairy Queen? You only go when you have time for your children to make choices. If you want your children to be productive with their summer time, you need to think of work, chores, activities, or projects in which you give them a choice. Children like to have a say in what they do. Young people like to make decisions how they use their time. All would rather play than participate in more worthwhile activities, but you as the adult are in charge, and you provide the choices.
One way to do that would be to schedule time involving your children. "You need to sort the books you no longer want into a box and load the dishwasher. You get to decide when you want to do these things, but they must be done before we eat supper." Let your children figure out the best time for them to do these things. If they choose to sort the books in the morning, and load the dishwasher in the afternoon, there may be no silverware for supper. Their choice may yield pbj sandwiches again for supper just like they had for lunch. Next time, they may choose to load the dishwasher first so they can have macaroni and cheese and hot dogs for dinner.
"Your friends may come over tomorrow, but you must put your clothes in the hamper or into the washer before they come. If you are going to eat, I need to know if you will have pizza to put into the microwave or fix bologna and cheese sandwiches. You need to check to see if there is enough milk or Kool-Aid. I can stop on my way home from work, but neither you nor I will shop tomorrow before your friends come."
Reading through a summer reading program should not be a choice, but what books they read can be those they want to read. They may have the choice to read stories, non-fiction or graphic novels, but they must read something. Reading is a skill lost like other skills without practice.
You as parent, grandparent, or caregiver might choose to read the books your children bring home not only to enjoy them, but to be able to question your children to check their comprehension, another important skill.
Give your children choices, but share your wisdom. Help them to grow through choices good for them and their future, and the future of our society.
"I don't want to go to school. I don't want to do that homework. I can't wait until school is out."
After hearing these statements, it is no wonder that parents and grandparents are also ready for school to be out. Soon, the choice to play video games or watch TV is going to be children's daily choice. .. unless parents, grandparents and kid caregivers provide other choices.
It is better to offer one of two choices. Too many choices confuse children of all ages. Have you taken your children to Baskin-Robbins or Dairy Queen? You only go when you have time for your children to make choices. If you want your children to be productive with their summer time, you need to think of work, chores, activities, or projects in which you give them a choice. Children like to have a say in what they do. Young people like to make decisions how they use their time. All would rather play than participate in more worthwhile activities, but you as the adult are in charge, and you provide the choices.
One way to do that would be to schedule time involving your children. "You need to sort the books you no longer want into a box and load the dishwasher. You get to decide when you want to do these things, but they must be done before we eat supper." Let your children figure out the best time for them to do these things. If they choose to sort the books in the morning, and load the dishwasher in the afternoon, there may be no silverware for supper. Their choice may yield pbj sandwiches again for supper just like they had for lunch. Next time, they may choose to load the dishwasher first so they can have macaroni and cheese and hot dogs for dinner.
"Your friends may come over tomorrow, but you must put your clothes in the hamper or into the washer before they come. If you are going to eat, I need to know if you will have pizza to put into the microwave or fix bologna and cheese sandwiches. You need to check to see if there is enough milk or Kool-Aid. I can stop on my way home from work, but neither you nor I will shop tomorrow before your friends come."
Reading through a summer reading program should not be a choice, but what books they read can be those they want to read. They may have the choice to read stories, non-fiction or graphic novels, but they must read something. Reading is a skill lost like other skills without practice.
You as parent, grandparent, or caregiver might choose to read the books your children bring home not only to enjoy them, but to be able to question your children to check their comprehension, another important skill.
Give your children choices, but share your wisdom. Help them to grow through choices good for them and their future, and the future of our society.
Order in Your Children's Lives (and yours)
Order is a step in the right direction. You want your children to succeed in school; you want your children to be ready for their sports and music practices. What if they can't find the "tools" they need to get to their practices or school on time? You must teach your children to have order. Put things in the same place every time to be able to find them as you exit the house so you can be on time.
Order increases efficiency, saves time, eliminates confusion, and uncertainty, and prevents pressure and loss. Children need to practice order for them to learn it. Putting their dishes in the sink or dishwasher needs to be done consistently. Putting their shoes beside the door when they enter helps them to have them ready to go outdoors or into the car to go with you.
Order needs to be learned one step at a time. Anytime is a good time to begin to practice order. It will surely make a happier and less stressful family time.
Routines are part of this order. Establish morning routines such as checking a "family information center." This can be on a bulletin board on which you write notes to each of your children. Write in a different color for each child to know the chores they must do on that day or the activities and practice they must be ready for at what time. Help them to put the outfits, the materials, etc. they need in a certain place--inside the door of their room, by the door to the garage or beside the entry door.
For your information, there are several websites that give age appropriate chores for all ages: www.thespruce.com/age-appropriate-chore-charts-1900357, www.yourmodernfamily.com/age-appropriate-chores-for-kids/ (chores in a basket for children to choose), www.webmd.com/parenting/feature/chores-for-children#1 (allowances for chores?). When you check out these websites, you will see several others that will help you establish routines with your children.
Other ideas: practice putting things away immediately when you are finished with them; have a set place for everything, and make sure you put things back into those places. Parents should not need to pick up things after your children when you come home after a busy day at work.
See that your children follow through with the directions you give them on your family bulletin board. Set consequences if you must--loss of privileges, screen time, etc. You must be consistent in order for your children to learn order. You must practice it yourselves, as a family.
As part of that order, make time for reading and thinking. Give your children freedom to explore things of interest to them and to share them with you. Give each of your children time to talk to you. Schedule it if that works, but help each child know you value them and their interests. On their list of duties, write sharing time with you.
Chaos was the law of nature; order was the dream of man. Henry Adams
Order is a step in the right direction. You want your children to succeed in school; you want your children to be ready for their sports and music practices. What if they can't find the "tools" they need to get to their practices or school on time? You must teach your children to have order. Put things in the same place every time to be able to find them as you exit the house so you can be on time.
Order increases efficiency, saves time, eliminates confusion, and uncertainty, and prevents pressure and loss. Children need to practice order for them to learn it. Putting their dishes in the sink or dishwasher needs to be done consistently. Putting their shoes beside the door when they enter helps them to have them ready to go outdoors or into the car to go with you.
Order needs to be learned one step at a time. Anytime is a good time to begin to practice order. It will surely make a happier and less stressful family time.
Routines are part of this order. Establish morning routines such as checking a "family information center." This can be on a bulletin board on which you write notes to each of your children. Write in a different color for each child to know the chores they must do on that day or the activities and practice they must be ready for at what time. Help them to put the outfits, the materials, etc. they need in a certain place--inside the door of their room, by the door to the garage or beside the entry door.
For your information, there are several websites that give age appropriate chores for all ages: www.thespruce.com/age-appropriate-chore-charts-1900357, www.yourmodernfamily.com/age-appropriate-chores-for-kids/ (chores in a basket for children to choose), www.webmd.com/parenting/feature/chores-for-children#1 (allowances for chores?). When you check out these websites, you will see several others that will help you establish routines with your children.
Other ideas: practice putting things away immediately when you are finished with them; have a set place for everything, and make sure you put things back into those places. Parents should not need to pick up things after your children when you come home after a busy day at work.
See that your children follow through with the directions you give them on your family bulletin board. Set consequences if you must--loss of privileges, screen time, etc. You must be consistent in order for your children to learn order. You must practice it yourselves, as a family.
As part of that order, make time for reading and thinking. Give your children freedom to explore things of interest to them and to share them with you. Give each of your children time to talk to you. Schedule it if that works, but help each child know you value them and their interests. On their list of duties, write sharing time with you.
Chaos was the law of nature; order was the dream of man. Henry Adams
GROWTH MINDSET
Scientists are learning that people have more capacity for life-long learning and brain development than they ever thought. Do you believe this? Do you as parents believe this? Do you believe that your children "are not stupid"? Do you make excuses for their lack of achievement, like "Johnny is a chip off the old block. My father never liked school either."
Mindset is a mental disposition or attitude that predetermines one's responses to and interpretation of situations (Webster's Dictionary). It is a simple idea that makes all the difference in achievement for you and your children
On the Website mindsetonline.com and in a book Mindset, Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist from Standford University, explains the term mindset as fixed or growth.
In a fixed mindset, people spend time documenting their intelligence and talents instead of developing them. "I have an IQ of 140. I know the answers." You have to prove yourself over and over to convince yourself and others of your superior ability or talent.
In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be enhanced and developed even further through dedication and hard work. This kind of thinking creates a love of learning and resilience that leads to great accomplishment.
Which mindset would you like for yourself and your children to have? As you model learning and curiosity about the world, you instill that in your children. As your children see you working diligently to achieve success in your work, your desire to lose weight, or your cooking in the kitchen, they see themselves working to be better also. If you teach your children to ask themselves questions like "What can I learn from this? How can I do this better the next time? How can I improve?" you will be developing a growth mindset in them that will allow them to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives. They can grow through their experiences not look for excuses for failure.
In a recent commercial on television, Russell Wilson, quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, made the point that it is not talent that earned him the leadership position he is in, but practice, practice, practice (and undoubtedly, a growth mindset).
With passionate practice and continual learning, there is no limit to what your children can accomplish. Having brains or talent is just the beginning. Why spend time proving how great they are when they can become even better? Why choose friends who think they are great just as they are instead of friends who challenge them to grow?
How can you and your children change your mindset? Learn to hear your "fixed mindset voice." Recognize that you have a choice, and talk to yourself with a growth mindset voice. Then, take the growth mindset voice that says not "why?" but "why not?" Practice hearing both voices, but act or practice with a growth mindset voice.
Give your children the growth mindset that there is nothing they cannot achieve.
Scientists are learning that people have more capacity for life-long learning and brain development than they ever thought. Do you believe this? Do you as parents believe this? Do you believe that your children "are not stupid"? Do you make excuses for their lack of achievement, like "Johnny is a chip off the old block. My father never liked school either."
Mindset is a mental disposition or attitude that predetermines one's responses to and interpretation of situations (Webster's Dictionary). It is a simple idea that makes all the difference in achievement for you and your children
On the Website mindsetonline.com and in a book Mindset, Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist from Standford University, explains the term mindset as fixed or growth.
In a fixed mindset, people spend time documenting their intelligence and talents instead of developing them. "I have an IQ of 140. I know the answers." You have to prove yourself over and over to convince yourself and others of your superior ability or talent.
In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be enhanced and developed even further through dedication and hard work. This kind of thinking creates a love of learning and resilience that leads to great accomplishment.
Which mindset would you like for yourself and your children to have? As you model learning and curiosity about the world, you instill that in your children. As your children see you working diligently to achieve success in your work, your desire to lose weight, or your cooking in the kitchen, they see themselves working to be better also. If you teach your children to ask themselves questions like "What can I learn from this? How can I do this better the next time? How can I improve?" you will be developing a growth mindset in them that will allow them to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives. They can grow through their experiences not look for excuses for failure.
In a recent commercial on television, Russell Wilson, quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, made the point that it is not talent that earned him the leadership position he is in, but practice, practice, practice (and undoubtedly, a growth mindset).
With passionate practice and continual learning, there is no limit to what your children can accomplish. Having brains or talent is just the beginning. Why spend time proving how great they are when they can become even better? Why choose friends who think they are great just as they are instead of friends who challenge them to grow?
How can you and your children change your mindset? Learn to hear your "fixed mindset voice." Recognize that you have a choice, and talk to yourself with a growth mindset voice. Then, take the growth mindset voice that says not "why?" but "why not?" Practice hearing both voices, but act or practice with a growth mindset voice.
Give your children the growth mindset that there is nothing they cannot achieve.
DEVELOP CREATIVITY
It is crucial your children have basic facts for growing knowledge. These facts are tools they need for efficient reading and learning. They cannot struggle with math when they have to continually count on their fingers to find the simplest answers. They cannot understand what they are reading when they need to stop and sound out each word. They need to grow their reading skills--letter sounds, short and long vowel rules, grammar consistencies. They need to memorize basic math facts. These are the tools that must stay in their heads to solve problems and comprehend what they are reading. You must practice with them at home. If you need more information about growing these important skills, please email me -- bettemroz@gmail.com.
You must also encourage their imagination and creativity. Imagination is the ability to form new images and sensations in the mind that are not perceived through the senses. Imagination is the beginning of creation. Creativity is the process of producing something original.
We are entering a new age where creativity is becoming increasingly important. Parents and teachers need to plant seeds by providing an environment rich in creative and imaginative activities for children from a very young age. As technology advances, creative problem solving is needed to cope with the challenges this progress initiates.
Get your children interested in "Odyssey of the Mind" and other competitions that test their imagination and creativity. Such organizations foster original thinking and communication skills for groups exchanging ideas to solve problems creatively.
Believe your children can develop new ideas and create new products we have not even dreamed of. Encourage their curiosity, the "what if..." Provide your children with new experiences and teach them to think about how they can use their knowledge to create. Time spent watching TV, playing computer games, and lack of nurturing by adults in their lives is to blame for a decline in creativity. Caring adults will provide opportunities for this next generation to think, imagine and create as future scientists, artists, and technicians in our society.
Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way. Edward de Bono
It is crucial your children have basic facts for growing knowledge. These facts are tools they need for efficient reading and learning. They cannot struggle with math when they have to continually count on their fingers to find the simplest answers. They cannot understand what they are reading when they need to stop and sound out each word. They need to grow their reading skills--letter sounds, short and long vowel rules, grammar consistencies. They need to memorize basic math facts. These are the tools that must stay in their heads to solve problems and comprehend what they are reading. You must practice with them at home. If you need more information about growing these important skills, please email me -- bettemroz@gmail.com.
You must also encourage their imagination and creativity. Imagination is the ability to form new images and sensations in the mind that are not perceived through the senses. Imagination is the beginning of creation. Creativity is the process of producing something original.
We are entering a new age where creativity is becoming increasingly important. Parents and teachers need to plant seeds by providing an environment rich in creative and imaginative activities for children from a very young age. As technology advances, creative problem solving is needed to cope with the challenges this progress initiates.
Get your children interested in "Odyssey of the Mind" and other competitions that test their imagination and creativity. Such organizations foster original thinking and communication skills for groups exchanging ideas to solve problems creatively.
Believe your children can develop new ideas and create new products we have not even dreamed of. Encourage their curiosity, the "what if..." Provide your children with new experiences and teach them to think about how they can use their knowledge to create. Time spent watching TV, playing computer games, and lack of nurturing by adults in their lives is to blame for a decline in creativity. Caring adults will provide opportunities for this next generation to think, imagine and create as future scientists, artists, and technicians in our society.
Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way. Edward de Bono
HABITS AID LEARNING
Establishing good habits will help your children become successful students.
It has been said that the establishment of habits comes in three parts: cue, routine, and reward. For children to do their homework is to set a special time and space for them to work on school work—assigned by teacher or parent. My son was ok with doing homework, but it didn’t take long for him to use some excuse to leave it to sharpen his pencil, retrieve his assignment book, obtain more notebook paper, get a snack, take a walk, etc. Homework was ok, but getting it done presented a problem. Maybe the excuses your children use are different, but the problem remains the same: how to get children to have study become a habit.
If your children prove they can control themselves, they will establish good habits and experience satisfaction and success.
Establishing good habits will help your children become successful students.
It has been said that the establishment of habits comes in three parts: cue, routine, and reward. For children to do their homework is to set a special time and space for them to work on school work—assigned by teacher or parent. My son was ok with doing homework, but it didn’t take long for him to use some excuse to leave it to sharpen his pencil, retrieve his assignment book, obtain more notebook paper, get a snack, take a walk, etc. Homework was ok, but getting it done presented a problem. Maybe the excuses your children use are different, but the problem remains the same: how to get children to have study become a habit.
- CUE: Using excuses becomes the habit to be broken. You may need to help them think about the cue—the reason for the excuse. Do they understand the assignment? Do they know the right tools to use? Is it hard for them to concentrate because they have their earphones on, listening for the words to their gang’s new favorite song? Is it hard for them to connect to their assignment because they are used to having “noise” to help them relax? Once, the cue is discovered, how can they change thataction to increase the value of their study time? Maybe, just trying to make sure they have all the tools and snacks they need on their desk or table will help them to stick to their work. Maybe setting a timer for a specific amount of time they need to work can help them concentrate for a set amount of time before they move. Starting with five minutes and gradually increasing the time may help them to keep their mind on their work. Avoid distractions like TV, or texting. If they are using the computer, make sure it is not for socializing.
- ROUTINE: Doing things at the same time in the same place is necessary for study to become a habit.
- REWARD: What reward can you offer them for sticking to their work until they get it done? Perhaps, you need to spend some time with your children to find a reward THEY want rather than one you choose for them. Maybe allow time to play games or text friends before they go to bed. Maybe they would like to spend time with you before going to bed enjoying a snack or just hanging out. You may need to record your favorite TV show while you spend time with your children, but isn’t spending time “hanging out” with them a reward for both of you?
If your children prove they can control themselves, they will establish good habits and experience satisfaction and success.
Help Your Young Athletes to Success
Your children's success and happiness with their sports may depend on how well they follow their coaches' directions. Your success and happiness may depend on how well you act and react to your children's success in these chosen sports.
Jim Taylor has good advice for parents in his blog "The Power of Prime."
You need to help your children realize their learning in sports is a process like the learning they do in school. By practicing, patience, and persistence, they will get better. Please don't expect perfection from early learners.
If you show strong emotions, like being nervous before their games and disappointed with their efforts after the games, your children will feel your emotion and feel disappointment that they have not met your expectations. This feeling will affect their effort, participation and enjoyment of the sport. Your pressure and expectations will take the fun out of their games.
It will also add to their pleasure if you give your undivided attention to your children's efforts. If your children see you talking on your phone or taking videos of their performance, they may feel their immediate efforts are unrecognized or disappointing. Try to give your children the gift of your time and attention.
Assure your children that you love them no matter how well or poorly they play. They need the love you give them to become more confident and to enjoy the time and friendship they have playing sports. Neither of you can control a game or how it turns out.
Everything you do as your children learn sports should be positive. Your children are learning physical, technical and tactical ways to play better. They will develop a healthy attitude if you help them to have it. They are cultivating positive habits like confidence, determination, focus, and persistence as they practice. Your children are having great experiences and adventures as they travel to other locations and make new friends.
You may think that private coaching or sports camps will make them better, but it is your attitude and understanding that will help them more than anything. They will grow toward the goals they set for themselves on their own. You help them know that obstacles, setbacks and struggles are inevitable and just bumps in the road. Help them know that mistakes and risks are necessary for them to meet the challenges they face in sports as well as life. It is the response (yours and theirs) to mistakes that counts. You are their best coach.
Jim Taylor has a free ebook for you if you need more help and advice about parenting your young athletes called Prime Sport Parenting.
Your children's success and happiness with their sports may depend on how well they follow their coaches' directions. Your success and happiness may depend on how well you act and react to your children's success in these chosen sports.
Jim Taylor has good advice for parents in his blog "The Power of Prime."
You need to help your children realize their learning in sports is a process like the learning they do in school. By practicing, patience, and persistence, they will get better. Please don't expect perfection from early learners.
If you show strong emotions, like being nervous before their games and disappointed with their efforts after the games, your children will feel your emotion and feel disappointment that they have not met your expectations. This feeling will affect their effort, participation and enjoyment of the sport. Your pressure and expectations will take the fun out of their games.
It will also add to their pleasure if you give your undivided attention to your children's efforts. If your children see you talking on your phone or taking videos of their performance, they may feel their immediate efforts are unrecognized or disappointing. Try to give your children the gift of your time and attention.
Assure your children that you love them no matter how well or poorly they play. They need the love you give them to become more confident and to enjoy the time and friendship they have playing sports. Neither of you can control a game or how it turns out.
Everything you do as your children learn sports should be positive. Your children are learning physical, technical and tactical ways to play better. They will develop a healthy attitude if you help them to have it. They are cultivating positive habits like confidence, determination, focus, and persistence as they practice. Your children are having great experiences and adventures as they travel to other locations and make new friends.
You may think that private coaching or sports camps will make them better, but it is your attitude and understanding that will help them more than anything. They will grow toward the goals they set for themselves on their own. You help them know that obstacles, setbacks and struggles are inevitable and just bumps in the road. Help them know that mistakes and risks are necessary for them to meet the challenges they face in sports as well as life. It is the response (yours and theirs) to mistakes that counts. You are their best coach.
Jim Taylor has a free ebook for you if you need more help and advice about parenting your young athletes called Prime Sport Parenting.
OPPORTUNITIES MAKE GOOD GIFTS
Depressed because you don't have enough money for gifts that are definitely over priced? Upset because your children are expecting more than you can deliver? Maybe sit them down and have a little talk about "opportunities."
Opportunities are sets of circumstances that make it possible to do something. Opportunities can be chances, occasions, moments, possibilities.
Opportunities to find deeper powers inside ourselves come when life seems most challenging.
Joseph Campbell
With almost two weeks of "opportunities" ahead of them due to the Holidays, allow your children to pursue any of unlimited possibilities for learning new things.
Maybe you are already planning to see distant relatives for the holidays. Go online to see what free opportunities there are to explore in the areas you visit.
A gift card for lessons for your children to learn something new or increase their skill--horse camp, basketball camp, cooking classes, or needlecraft classes--are a possibility. The development of these skills will last longer than expensive holiday gifts.
You can probably pay a reasonable amount to a teenager who plays an instrument in the high school band to give your children lessons during the holidays. Teenagers are always eager to have spending money and your children may find an interest in music they can continue to pursue. Call the local high school to see if this is a possibility and ask the band director for a recommendation. Visit the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix if your child is undecided about what instrument to play.
You are only as great as the opportunities that are given to you. Charlize Theron
And now I find myself here and it's time... I'm not afraid to fly..."Annie"
Give your children the gift of opportunities that will last longer than any other gift.
Depressed because you don't have enough money for gifts that are definitely over priced? Upset because your children are expecting more than you can deliver? Maybe sit them down and have a little talk about "opportunities."
Opportunities are sets of circumstances that make it possible to do something. Opportunities can be chances, occasions, moments, possibilities.
Opportunities to find deeper powers inside ourselves come when life seems most challenging.
Joseph Campbell
With almost two weeks of "opportunities" ahead of them due to the Holidays, allow your children to pursue any of unlimited possibilities for learning new things.
Maybe you are already planning to see distant relatives for the holidays. Go online to see what free opportunities there are to explore in the areas you visit.
A gift card for lessons for your children to learn something new or increase their skill--horse camp, basketball camp, cooking classes, or needlecraft classes--are a possibility. The development of these skills will last longer than expensive holiday gifts.
You can probably pay a reasonable amount to a teenager who plays an instrument in the high school band to give your children lessons during the holidays. Teenagers are always eager to have spending money and your children may find an interest in music they can continue to pursue. Call the local high school to see if this is a possibility and ask the band director for a recommendation. Visit the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix if your child is undecided about what instrument to play.
You are only as great as the opportunities that are given to you. Charlize Theron
And now I find myself here and it's time... I'm not afraid to fly..."Annie"
Give your children the gift of opportunities that will last longer than any other gift.
REINFORCING ARCHIVE
Even Mistakes Aid Learning
Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent. Billy Graham
Children make mistakes; it is part of their evolving humanity. Parents, grandparents, and caregivers need to use these occasions to teach and guide. Comments such as "You dummy! Why did you do that?" do not help your children grow. Such words tear down a child's self-confidence. The child may feel guilt for the act he/she does wrongly (external) or shame (internal). A mistake is an error in action, not a defect in the child. Give your children the freedom to make mistakes, to try again. Your children will then grow and learn through making mistakes.
Mistakes happen at home and school. If your children goof a project or recipe, encourage them to start again or use another way. Even as a toddler attempts to stack blocks, adults can encourage "starting again." Children must learn mistakes are not all bad. Mistakes were made that became discoveries or inventions: "slinky" or "silly putty" toys; corn flakes, potato chips and popcorn; Penicillin and post-it notes.
Children need to learn how to fail as to succeed. Children must learn that they are not perfect nor are any others around them. Parents must support their children and teach them how to handle mistakes as they teach other life skills by doing the following things:
Let your children do their own thing so they can experience doing independent work.
Supervise, but do not "do" for your children.
Allow your children to problem-solve and think on their own.
Guide your children with questions that provoke their thinking. "What do you think? How can you figure it out? Why do you think it does that? Can you make it better?"
Let them lose a game. They will figure out strategies to win if given the opportunity.
Guide your children in their choice of school classes. Students often make the mistake of taking "easy" classes only to find out they are a lot more work.
Children may make the mistake of wanting their work to be perfect. By doing it over and over again, they may miss the chance to show their best effort and skill, and lose time.
Procrastinating is another mistake children make. They wait too long, and with more time, thought, patience and effort, they could have made their work shine. It is shallow and superficial when they try to complete it at the last minute.
Discourage your children from imitating others or using another's words. They run the risk of plagiarizing (using illegally) and not displaying their own ideas and originality. The work they do requires their thought, their time and their effort.
Help your children set goals. This gives them space to prioritize their time and know their best way to think, create and plan.
Confidence and success do not come from how smart your children are, but how they handle the mistakes they make.
Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent. Billy Graham
Children make mistakes; it is part of their evolving humanity. Parents, grandparents, and caregivers need to use these occasions to teach and guide. Comments such as "You dummy! Why did you do that?" do not help your children grow. Such words tear down a child's self-confidence. The child may feel guilt for the act he/she does wrongly (external) or shame (internal). A mistake is an error in action, not a defect in the child. Give your children the freedom to make mistakes, to try again. Your children will then grow and learn through making mistakes.
Mistakes happen at home and school. If your children goof a project or recipe, encourage them to start again or use another way. Even as a toddler attempts to stack blocks, adults can encourage "starting again." Children must learn mistakes are not all bad. Mistakes were made that became discoveries or inventions: "slinky" or "silly putty" toys; corn flakes, potato chips and popcorn; Penicillin and post-it notes.
Children need to learn how to fail as to succeed. Children must learn that they are not perfect nor are any others around them. Parents must support their children and teach them how to handle mistakes as they teach other life skills by doing the following things:
Let your children do their own thing so they can experience doing independent work.
Supervise, but do not "do" for your children.
Allow your children to problem-solve and think on their own.
Guide your children with questions that provoke their thinking. "What do you think? How can you figure it out? Why do you think it does that? Can you make it better?"
Let them lose a game. They will figure out strategies to win if given the opportunity.
Guide your children in their choice of school classes. Students often make the mistake of taking "easy" classes only to find out they are a lot more work.
Children may make the mistake of wanting their work to be perfect. By doing it over and over again, they may miss the chance to show their best effort and skill, and lose time.
Procrastinating is another mistake children make. They wait too long, and with more time, thought, patience and effort, they could have made their work shine. It is shallow and superficial when they try to complete it at the last minute.
Discourage your children from imitating others or using another's words. They run the risk of plagiarizing (using illegally) and not displaying their own ideas and originality. The work they do requires their thought, their time and their effort.
Help your children set goals. This gives them space to prioritize their time and know their best way to think, create and plan.
Confidence and success do not come from how smart your children are, but how they handle the mistakes they make.
SUMMER RESOLUTIONS
Have you made your summer resolutions yet, parents, grandparents, caregivers? Are you making sure your children have healthy food to grow their brains? Are you asking them questions that make them think and figure things out?
To improve their memory, are they getting plenty of veggies, especially green ones? Are their "sweets" berries and cherries for their snacks? Getting them used to eating fish--salmon and tuna-- because these are essential for good brain health. Omega 3 fatty acids may help improve memory in healthy children and teens. Keeping a dish of walnuts for snacking instead of chips is a healthy habit. If you put different flavoring, such as cinnamon or seasoned salt in a plastic bag and shake to coat the nuts, the children will enjoy walnuts more. You may even think of different flavoring that your children would enjoy and still get the health benefits. Eating healthy food continues to build their brains so that when school starts, they are eager and ready to learn Over time, these foods can support lifelong good health and great learning.
There are other skills you and your children can practice this summer. According to Kathy Hirsh-Pasek in her book Becoming Brilliant: What Science Tells Us About Raising Successful Children, there are five C's you can grow in your children to prepare them for their success in school.
The first one is collaboration--being social, navigating relationships and being a citizen in a community (caring). Talking with your children about how they interact with others--their peers as well as older adults.
Then there is communication: writing, reading, speaking and listening. These are skills I have written about in previous columns--how to get your children to read, write and talk about their ideas.
Content is next. If you and your children do not read or listen to news or read this newspaper, you have nothing to "speak" (talk) about or even write about. You must have material to think so that you can form ideas or solutions in your minds.
Critical thinking is important. Not only is it good to read and fill your minds with ideas, it is important to evaluate their usefulness. Do they add to your knowledge and understanding of things? Or do they just entertain you? It is necessary to talk to each other to determine whether the ideas you get are worth filing in your brain or discarding.
Next is creative innovation, the ability to put your ideas into action. How could you help that homeless person on the corner in this heat? Do you think you could design a portable shelter for him to carry with him?
The final "C" is confidence to not only think of things, but to actually do something, to take the safe risk of actually creating a solution and carrying it through. It could be as simple as a better way to make their bed or walk the dog.
Think in terms of a summer's resolutions, not a year's.
Have you made your summer resolutions yet, parents, grandparents, caregivers? Are you making sure your children have healthy food to grow their brains? Are you asking them questions that make them think and figure things out?
To improve their memory, are they getting plenty of veggies, especially green ones? Are their "sweets" berries and cherries for their snacks? Getting them used to eating fish--salmon and tuna-- because these are essential for good brain health. Omega 3 fatty acids may help improve memory in healthy children and teens. Keeping a dish of walnuts for snacking instead of chips is a healthy habit. If you put different flavoring, such as cinnamon or seasoned salt in a plastic bag and shake to coat the nuts, the children will enjoy walnuts more. You may even think of different flavoring that your children would enjoy and still get the health benefits. Eating healthy food continues to build their brains so that when school starts, they are eager and ready to learn Over time, these foods can support lifelong good health and great learning.
There are other skills you and your children can practice this summer. According to Kathy Hirsh-Pasek in her book Becoming Brilliant: What Science Tells Us About Raising Successful Children, there are five C's you can grow in your children to prepare them for their success in school.
The first one is collaboration--being social, navigating relationships and being a citizen in a community (caring). Talking with your children about how they interact with others--their peers as well as older adults.
Then there is communication: writing, reading, speaking and listening. These are skills I have written about in previous columns--how to get your children to read, write and talk about their ideas.
Content is next. If you and your children do not read or listen to news or read this newspaper, you have nothing to "speak" (talk) about or even write about. You must have material to think so that you can form ideas or solutions in your minds.
Critical thinking is important. Not only is it good to read and fill your minds with ideas, it is important to evaluate their usefulness. Do they add to your knowledge and understanding of things? Or do they just entertain you? It is necessary to talk to each other to determine whether the ideas you get are worth filing in your brain or discarding.
Next is creative innovation, the ability to put your ideas into action. How could you help that homeless person on the corner in this heat? Do you think you could design a portable shelter for him to carry with him?
The final "C" is confidence to not only think of things, but to actually do something, to take the safe risk of actually creating a solution and carrying it through. It could be as simple as a better way to make their bed or walk the dog.
Think in terms of a summer's resolutions, not a year's.
CONFIDENT KIDS
Did you realize as you talked to your children (held conversation with them and taught them how to talk to others), you were giving them self-confidence? As you taught your children to listen and ask questions to help them understand, you were giving them confidence? There are also other ways to make your children more self-confident and several websites to help you as a parent to do so.
Become confident persons yourselves. Work to heal your past. If you felt that you did not have good parents, you can develop confidence that you can be a better parent. You are your children's model. If they sense you are confident in your decisions and daily life, they will pick up on that.
Most of the behavioral problems that I see for counseling come from poor self-worth in parents as well as children...your child looks to you as a mirror of his own feelings. Dr. Sears (www.askdrsears.com)
www.parents.com suggests you allow children to make their own decisions from a young age so that your children will gain confidence in their own judgment. Allow them to learn from their "falls" and mistakes. Help them to know it is ok to make mistakes, to feel sad, anxious, or angry. We all learn to succeed by overcoming obstacles. Evaluate what causes them to feel that way and help them to come up with solutions to the situation if it should occur again. How can they have more success next time? What can they do to help themselves and others to feel better? Help your children to know that everyone learns at their own pace and to have patience with themselves. Praise the specific thing that made the difference. Not "good job" but "I like the way you helped Jenny by making her smile."
Nurture their special interests. Observe your children while you are listening to them. Watch them as they actually play, not how they participate in video games. You can learn about what they like to do and encourage them to try related tasks. (www.care.com) If they like to draw, have them draw themselves doing something they would like to do. Maybe give them the opportunity to take lessons. As they develop experience with one talent, that will give them the confidence to attempt others until they discover "passion" for a specific interest.
Help your children feel they are needed. Give them responsibilities or chores at home. Even a two-year-old can help you dust furniture or set the table. Tell them "I couldn't do this without your help."
A small thing you can do is use your children's names when you talk to them. This helps them feel special and that you recognize their uniqueness by calling them by their name.
You spend the early years with your children developing their self-confidence and the later years, protecting it. You are the expert raising your children. Feel confident yourselves and your children will, too.
Did you realize as you talked to your children (held conversation with them and taught them how to talk to others), you were giving them self-confidence? As you taught your children to listen and ask questions to help them understand, you were giving them confidence? There are also other ways to make your children more self-confident and several websites to help you as a parent to do so.
Become confident persons yourselves. Work to heal your past. If you felt that you did not have good parents, you can develop confidence that you can be a better parent. You are your children's model. If they sense you are confident in your decisions and daily life, they will pick up on that.
Most of the behavioral problems that I see for counseling come from poor self-worth in parents as well as children...your child looks to you as a mirror of his own feelings. Dr. Sears (www.askdrsears.com)
www.parents.com suggests you allow children to make their own decisions from a young age so that your children will gain confidence in their own judgment. Allow them to learn from their "falls" and mistakes. Help them to know it is ok to make mistakes, to feel sad, anxious, or angry. We all learn to succeed by overcoming obstacles. Evaluate what causes them to feel that way and help them to come up with solutions to the situation if it should occur again. How can they have more success next time? What can they do to help themselves and others to feel better? Help your children to know that everyone learns at their own pace and to have patience with themselves. Praise the specific thing that made the difference. Not "good job" but "I like the way you helped Jenny by making her smile."
Nurture their special interests. Observe your children while you are listening to them. Watch them as they actually play, not how they participate in video games. You can learn about what they like to do and encourage them to try related tasks. (www.care.com) If they like to draw, have them draw themselves doing something they would like to do. Maybe give them the opportunity to take lessons. As they develop experience with one talent, that will give them the confidence to attempt others until they discover "passion" for a specific interest.
Help your children feel they are needed. Give them responsibilities or chores at home. Even a two-year-old can help you dust furniture or set the table. Tell them "I couldn't do this without your help."
A small thing you can do is use your children's names when you talk to them. This helps them feel special and that you recognize their uniqueness by calling them by their name.
You spend the early years with your children developing their self-confidence and the later years, protecting it. You are the expert raising your children. Feel confident yourselves and your children will, too.
Happiness for Your Children
"Happiness without meaning characterizes a relatively shallow, self-absorbed., or even selfish life, in which things go well, needs and desire are easily satisfied ... "
Few parents grasp the essential meaning of happiness for their children and fewer still understand how they can help their children to find it. Jim Taylor, Ph.D
Studies consistently link self-esteem with happiness. Parents can help their children be happy when they praise their efforts rather than the result of their children's activities. When parents praise their children for their creativity, persistence that goes into achieving rather than the achievement itself, they give them confidence. Let children do for themselves what they are capable of. Give them repeated practice or attempts to master essential skills, like you did when they were very young--how to walk, how to feed themselves, how to ride a bike.
Parents should foster a "growth mindset," giving children the idea that people achieve through hard work rather than innate talent. Children will do better and enjoy their lives if they do not need to worry about what others think. They need to know that everything they attempt will not turn out perfectly, but that every attempt is practice--a step toward achieving their goal. Their real happiness will be in achieving that goal, whether it is making more baskets in basketball or learning a new skill. Children learning through repeated attempts learn to approach future challenges with optimism and confidence.
If you give your children choices, you will be rewarded with a big smile from a happy child. Children need to know THEY matter and what they decide is something that matters and is valued by you and others. When children are calm and satisfied with their decisions, they experience greater happiness.
Listen to your children. When children feel they are truly listened to, they feel more connected, increasing their self-confidence and overall happiness. Look at your children as they talk to you and be genuinely interested in what they have to say. If they are experiencing hurtful remarks or being left out, help them to find a way to respond through asking how they think they can handle the situation the next time. It takes practice here also to know how to act in social situations. When children know their parents are there for them, they are happy.
Two websites that may be helpful to you if you still need help to give your children lasting happiness are "7 Secrets of Highly Happy Children," a blog by Katie Turley on www.huffingtonpost.com and "Parenting: Raising Happy Children," by Jim Taylor(https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-prime/200910/parenting-raising-happy-children.)
Happy, optimistic children are the product of happy, optimistic homes. Children loved, understood, wanted and acknowledged emerge as the biggest protection against emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, and risky behaviors.
"Happiness without meaning characterizes a relatively shallow, self-absorbed., or even selfish life, in which things go well, needs and desire are easily satisfied ... "
Few parents grasp the essential meaning of happiness for their children and fewer still understand how they can help their children to find it. Jim Taylor, Ph.D
Studies consistently link self-esteem with happiness. Parents can help their children be happy when they praise their efforts rather than the result of their children's activities. When parents praise their children for their creativity, persistence that goes into achieving rather than the achievement itself, they give them confidence. Let children do for themselves what they are capable of. Give them repeated practice or attempts to master essential skills, like you did when they were very young--how to walk, how to feed themselves, how to ride a bike.
Parents should foster a "growth mindset," giving children the idea that people achieve through hard work rather than innate talent. Children will do better and enjoy their lives if they do not need to worry about what others think. They need to know that everything they attempt will not turn out perfectly, but that every attempt is practice--a step toward achieving their goal. Their real happiness will be in achieving that goal, whether it is making more baskets in basketball or learning a new skill. Children learning through repeated attempts learn to approach future challenges with optimism and confidence.
If you give your children choices, you will be rewarded with a big smile from a happy child. Children need to know THEY matter and what they decide is something that matters and is valued by you and others. When children are calm and satisfied with their decisions, they experience greater happiness.
Listen to your children. When children feel they are truly listened to, they feel more connected, increasing their self-confidence and overall happiness. Look at your children as they talk to you and be genuinely interested in what they have to say. If they are experiencing hurtful remarks or being left out, help them to find a way to respond through asking how they think they can handle the situation the next time. It takes practice here also to know how to act in social situations. When children know their parents are there for them, they are happy.
Two websites that may be helpful to you if you still need help to give your children lasting happiness are "7 Secrets of Highly Happy Children," a blog by Katie Turley on www.huffingtonpost.com and "Parenting: Raising Happy Children," by Jim Taylor(https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-prime/200910/parenting-raising-happy-children.)
Happy, optimistic children are the product of happy, optimistic homes. Children loved, understood, wanted and acknowledged emerge as the biggest protection against emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, and risky behaviors.
Vision More Than Seeing
Vision goes beyond eyesight and can best be defined as understanding what is seen. Vision involves the ability to take incoming visual information, to process that information, and obtain meaning from it. Dr. Donald J. Getz, OD, FCOVD, FAAO
On the website www.children-specialneeds.org/vision_therapy/esophoria_reading.html, Dr. Getz clearly explains possible vision problems. Since vision is learned, it is trainable. If there is any interference in visual pathways, a child will not develop to his maximum potential.
Your child's vision is essential to his success in school. Vision problems can affect learning ability, personality, and adjustment in school. Your child's avoidance of activities requiring reading, such as schoolwork or homework may be due to poor vision. Children who exhibit poor handwriting, reverse letters, dislike or have difficulty with reading activities, such as reading required in other subjects, consistently mistakes his left for his right or vice versa, seems intelligent but is not working up to his/her potential may be having vision problems.
The vision tests which schools give early in the school year test a child's acuity, whether he is farsighted or nearsighted. These tests do not detect whether a child's eyes are teaming together, focusing, tracking or visualizing correctly. A child may have blurry or double vision; he may be skipping lines or misreading sections of what he is supposed to be reading. He may seem to have a short attention span or trouble remembering what he reads.
Because children do not know how they should be seeing, they may not know why they are having trouble or what normal vision is. The longer a child has a vision problem, the more her brain will work to make up for it. This can lead to future problems that will be harder to treat.
Your child's eyes may have inadequate convergence problems. Eyes need to work together, to aim inward to the reading task. If they fail to do this, if they have problems refocusing from one line to the next. Your child may be struggling to read, not understanding what he/she is reading, and not learning from reading. Children may only be using one eye to read which further complicates the processes of learning and reading.
Visual therapy is for the eyes and visual system as physical therapy is for treating muscles of the body. The first step of a vision therapy program is a thorough evaluation by a qualified doctor or optometrist trained to detect such problems. Children struggling to learn may increase their visual attention spans and improve their academic performance by reducing the effects of their vision problems using such equipment as prisms, eye patches, filtered lenses, computerized systems as well as a variety of other specialized equipment.
Before you allow your children to be diagnosed incorrectly as ADHD or special education students, have their eyes checked thoroughly.
Vision goes beyond eyesight and can best be defined as understanding what is seen. Vision involves the ability to take incoming visual information, to process that information, and obtain meaning from it. Dr. Donald J. Getz, OD, FCOVD, FAAO
On the website www.children-specialneeds.org/vision_therapy/esophoria_reading.html, Dr. Getz clearly explains possible vision problems. Since vision is learned, it is trainable. If there is any interference in visual pathways, a child will not develop to his maximum potential.
Your child's vision is essential to his success in school. Vision problems can affect learning ability, personality, and adjustment in school. Your child's avoidance of activities requiring reading, such as schoolwork or homework may be due to poor vision. Children who exhibit poor handwriting, reverse letters, dislike or have difficulty with reading activities, such as reading required in other subjects, consistently mistakes his left for his right or vice versa, seems intelligent but is not working up to his/her potential may be having vision problems.
The vision tests which schools give early in the school year test a child's acuity, whether he is farsighted or nearsighted. These tests do not detect whether a child's eyes are teaming together, focusing, tracking or visualizing correctly. A child may have blurry or double vision; he may be skipping lines or misreading sections of what he is supposed to be reading. He may seem to have a short attention span or trouble remembering what he reads.
Because children do not know how they should be seeing, they may not know why they are having trouble or what normal vision is. The longer a child has a vision problem, the more her brain will work to make up for it. This can lead to future problems that will be harder to treat.
Your child's eyes may have inadequate convergence problems. Eyes need to work together, to aim inward to the reading task. If they fail to do this, if they have problems refocusing from one line to the next. Your child may be struggling to read, not understanding what he/she is reading, and not learning from reading. Children may only be using one eye to read which further complicates the processes of learning and reading.
Visual therapy is for the eyes and visual system as physical therapy is for treating muscles of the body. The first step of a vision therapy program is a thorough evaluation by a qualified doctor or optometrist trained to detect such problems. Children struggling to learn may increase their visual attention spans and improve their academic performance by reducing the effects of their vision problems using such equipment as prisms, eye patches, filtered lenses, computerized systems as well as a variety of other specialized equipment.
Before you allow your children to be diagnosed incorrectly as ADHD or special education students, have their eyes checked thoroughly.
Challenges aid Learning
Challenge is something that calls for special effort. Challenge is something that invites competition, even within one's self. Challenge insists upon taking a stand or making a point. Challenge is healthy for us.
Society sets standards to achieve that are a challenge. Learning is a challenge. Challenges take choices. "Should I continue or should I give up?" If your children consider tests, lessons, subjects as challenges, they can use them to grow. Your children have accepted the challenges of state tests and now, they are ready to move on to new challenges.
The website www.highexistence.com supplies several challenges that might combat "spring fever" in your children.
Suggest they study a topic they would like to master, or know more about.
Get them to read a new article on their ipad or computer each day OR go on a "media-fast." If using digital is becoming too bad a habit, stop information overload for 30 days, 7 days, or even one day. Try living simple.
Pick one bad habit (Do your children play too many video games?) and ditch it for a week, then two weeks, then 30 days.
Accept problems as challenges to solve to encourage their working together, brain storming, just plain thinking and creating. Provide them with junk, scraps, cardboard and watch how they meet the challenge. Give them all sizes of paper to use for cutting, pasting, drawing, even newspaper with markers. Help them develop an obstacle course, a scavenger or treasure hunt. Help them have fun as you challenge them.
Perhaps your children could practice a random skill--dance, exercise, cooking, a new craft, a new or creative way to do tiresome chores or homework.
Write daily in a journal or create a new poem, story or article. Wake up early each day.
Read a chapter of a great book each day. Wake up early each day.
The challenge might be to wake up on time each day.
Don't accept lies. If you as parent encourage truthfulness, there will be no need to lie.
Help your children develop self love. This is not being too arrogant or humble. It is accepting yourself as you are. Assist children in developing an emotional skillset to accept parts of themselves which they might not like very much. They should stop fighting their frustrations and start accepting them as an integral part of life itself. Self love and self acceptance are crucial to accepting and loving those around us.
The biggest challenge of life is to be yourself in a world trying to make you like everyone else.
If your children accept the challenge to be themselves and do better and be better, they will grow steadily. Growth starts with the decision to move beyond their present circumstances. If they do not accept challenges, they will not move forward.
Challenges are really just a test to see how much they deserve success.
Help your children accept challenges with encouragement and patience and to feel good when they meet challenges and grow through them.
Challenge is something that calls for special effort. Challenge is something that invites competition, even within one's self. Challenge insists upon taking a stand or making a point. Challenge is healthy for us.
Society sets standards to achieve that are a challenge. Learning is a challenge. Challenges take choices. "Should I continue or should I give up?" If your children consider tests, lessons, subjects as challenges, they can use them to grow. Your children have accepted the challenges of state tests and now, they are ready to move on to new challenges.
The website www.highexistence.com supplies several challenges that might combat "spring fever" in your children.
Suggest they study a topic they would like to master, or know more about.
Get them to read a new article on their ipad or computer each day OR go on a "media-fast." If using digital is becoming too bad a habit, stop information overload for 30 days, 7 days, or even one day. Try living simple.
Pick one bad habit (Do your children play too many video games?) and ditch it for a week, then two weeks, then 30 days.
Accept problems as challenges to solve to encourage their working together, brain storming, just plain thinking and creating. Provide them with junk, scraps, cardboard and watch how they meet the challenge. Give them all sizes of paper to use for cutting, pasting, drawing, even newspaper with markers. Help them develop an obstacle course, a scavenger or treasure hunt. Help them have fun as you challenge them.
Perhaps your children could practice a random skill--dance, exercise, cooking, a new craft, a new or creative way to do tiresome chores or homework.
Write daily in a journal or create a new poem, story or article. Wake up early each day.
Read a chapter of a great book each day. Wake up early each day.
The challenge might be to wake up on time each day.
Don't accept lies. If you as parent encourage truthfulness, there will be no need to lie.
Help your children develop self love. This is not being too arrogant or humble. It is accepting yourself as you are. Assist children in developing an emotional skillset to accept parts of themselves which they might not like very much. They should stop fighting their frustrations and start accepting them as an integral part of life itself. Self love and self acceptance are crucial to accepting and loving those around us.
The biggest challenge of life is to be yourself in a world trying to make you like everyone else.
If your children accept the challenge to be themselves and do better and be better, they will grow steadily. Growth starts with the decision to move beyond their present circumstances. If they do not accept challenges, they will not move forward.
Challenges are really just a test to see how much they deserve success.
Help your children accept challenges with encouragement and patience and to feel good when they meet challenges and grow through them.
BALANCE AIDS LEARNING
Balance use of your children's time between digital and exercise. Even though your children may be fascinated with their new digital devices, you are in charge. Set a time limit on how much they can use their smart phones and tablets. Monitor the apps they use. Then send them outside without their new "toys." Take them for a walk, bike ride or game of soccer. Teach them to "deep breathe" to get the health benefits this offers.
Help them to balance their time between digital entertainment and online learning. There are so many free apps that help them to gain knowledge. Parents and grandparents, learn with your children. You may not know how to operate all the programs on your computer, but you can encourage your children and grandchildren to help you locate information and knowledge using a computer or laptop YOU got for Christmas. Education is not just getting the paper qualification; it is about lifelong learning. Parents and grandparents can learn and help their children learn without breaking the bank.
Balance children's time with people. Family is important, and the time spent with family creates bonding that will carry them through their future lives. Parents need to arrange time with their children such as local "field trips," games and travel to help children learn about others, to see grandparents and to enjoy the company of extended family. "Cousins are connected heart to heart. Distance and time can't keep them apart." Help them to treat their friends as "cousins," but not to neglect their family.
Help them to enjoy other gifts they got for Christmas, not just the digital devices. Playing with their gadgets develops their imagination. Games help children to focus their attention and stimulate cognitive development. Thinking of other ways to use their gadgets and devices contributes to children's personal growth and may interest them in hobbies that could turn into businesses in their forthcoming lives. Building blocks and legos may develop new architectural ideas and drafts. Designing clothes for themselves or doll models may help girls know they can be creative to realize their value as female. After all, children are developing human beings, future innovators and organizers.
Balance their use of the money they received for Christmas between wants and needs. Children may want to spend all of their money on entertainment. Teach them to save, share and then spend. Teach them to delay gratification, not to spend now when they may want or need something far more satisfying later. Your money habits as parents have a strong influence on your children's money habits even when they are very young. Children as young as seven years old can understand "Do you really need that now? Do you really want candy now when you can save for a Light Saber when we go to Disneyland?"
Considering how to balance your children’s daily lives is worth your time.
Balance use of your children's time between digital and exercise. Even though your children may be fascinated with their new digital devices, you are in charge. Set a time limit on how much they can use their smart phones and tablets. Monitor the apps they use. Then send them outside without their new "toys." Take them for a walk, bike ride or game of soccer. Teach them to "deep breathe" to get the health benefits this offers.
Help them to balance their time between digital entertainment and online learning. There are so many free apps that help them to gain knowledge. Parents and grandparents, learn with your children. You may not know how to operate all the programs on your computer, but you can encourage your children and grandchildren to help you locate information and knowledge using a computer or laptop YOU got for Christmas. Education is not just getting the paper qualification; it is about lifelong learning. Parents and grandparents can learn and help their children learn without breaking the bank.
Balance children's time with people. Family is important, and the time spent with family creates bonding that will carry them through their future lives. Parents need to arrange time with their children such as local "field trips," games and travel to help children learn about others, to see grandparents and to enjoy the company of extended family. "Cousins are connected heart to heart. Distance and time can't keep them apart." Help them to treat their friends as "cousins," but not to neglect their family.
Help them to enjoy other gifts they got for Christmas, not just the digital devices. Playing with their gadgets develops their imagination. Games help children to focus their attention and stimulate cognitive development. Thinking of other ways to use their gadgets and devices contributes to children's personal growth and may interest them in hobbies that could turn into businesses in their forthcoming lives. Building blocks and legos may develop new architectural ideas and drafts. Designing clothes for themselves or doll models may help girls know they can be creative to realize their value as female. After all, children are developing human beings, future innovators and organizers.
Balance their use of the money they received for Christmas between wants and needs. Children may want to spend all of their money on entertainment. Teach them to save, share and then spend. Teach them to delay gratification, not to spend now when they may want or need something far more satisfying later. Your money habits as parents have a strong influence on your children's money habits even when they are very young. Children as young as seven years old can understand "Do you really need that now? Do you really want candy now when you can save for a Light Saber when we go to Disneyland?"
Considering how to balance your children’s daily lives is worth your time.
GROWTH MINDSET
Scientists are learning that people have more capacity for life-long learning and brain development than they ever thought. Do you believe this? Do you as parents believe this? Do you believe that your children "are not stupid"? Do you make excuses for their lack of achievement, like "Johnny is a chip off the old block. My father never liked school either."
Mindset is a mental disposition or attitude that predetermines one's responses to and interpretation of situations (Webster's Dictionary). It is a simple idea that makes all the difference in achievement for you and your children
On the Website mindsetonline.com and in a book Mindset, Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist from Standford University, explains the term mindset as fixed or growth.
In a fixed mindset, people spend time documenting their intelligence and talents instead of developing them. "I have an IQ of 140. I know the answers." You have to prove yourself over and over to convince yourself and others of your superior ability or talent.
In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be enhanced and developed even further through dedication and hard work. This kind of thinking creates a love of learning and resilience that leads to great accomplishment.
Which mindset would you like for yourself and your children to have? As you model learning and curiosity about the world, you instill that in your children. As your children see you working diligently to achieve success in your work, your desire to lose weight, or your cooking in the kitchen, they see themselves working to be better also. If you teach your children to ask themselves questions like "What can I learn from this? How can I do this better the next time? How can I improve?" you will be developing a growth mindset in them that will allow them to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives. They can grow through their experiences not look for excuses for failure.
In a recent commercial on television, Russell Wilson, quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, made the point that it is not talent that earned him the leadership position he is in, but practice, practice, practice (and undoubtedly, a growth mindset).
With passionate practice and continual learning, there is no limit to what your children can accomplish. Having brains or talent is just the beginning. Why spend time proving how great they are when they can become even better? Why choose friends who think they are great just as they are instead of friends who challenge them to grow?
How can you and your children change your mindset? Learn to hear your "fixed mindset voice." Recognize that you have a choice, and talk to yourself with a growth mindset voice. Then, take the growth mindset voice that says not "why?" but "why not?" Practice hearing both voices, but act or practice with a growth mindset voice.
Give your children the growth mindset that there is nothing they cannot achieve.
Scientists are learning that people have more capacity for life-long learning and brain development than they ever thought. Do you believe this? Do you as parents believe this? Do you believe that your children "are not stupid"? Do you make excuses for their lack of achievement, like "Johnny is a chip off the old block. My father never liked school either."
Mindset is a mental disposition or attitude that predetermines one's responses to and interpretation of situations (Webster's Dictionary). It is a simple idea that makes all the difference in achievement for you and your children
On the Website mindsetonline.com and in a book Mindset, Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist from Standford University, explains the term mindset as fixed or growth.
In a fixed mindset, people spend time documenting their intelligence and talents instead of developing them. "I have an IQ of 140. I know the answers." You have to prove yourself over and over to convince yourself and others of your superior ability or talent.
In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be enhanced and developed even further through dedication and hard work. This kind of thinking creates a love of learning and resilience that leads to great accomplishment.
Which mindset would you like for yourself and your children to have? As you model learning and curiosity about the world, you instill that in your children. As your children see you working diligently to achieve success in your work, your desire to lose weight, or your cooking in the kitchen, they see themselves working to be better also. If you teach your children to ask themselves questions like "What can I learn from this? How can I do this better the next time? How can I improve?" you will be developing a growth mindset in them that will allow them to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives. They can grow through their experiences not look for excuses for failure.
In a recent commercial on television, Russell Wilson, quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, made the point that it is not talent that earned him the leadership position he is in, but practice, practice, practice (and undoubtedly, a growth mindset).
With passionate practice and continual learning, there is no limit to what your children can accomplish. Having brains or talent is just the beginning. Why spend time proving how great they are when they can become even better? Why choose friends who think they are great just as they are instead of friends who challenge them to grow?
How can you and your children change your mindset? Learn to hear your "fixed mindset voice." Recognize that you have a choice, and talk to yourself with a growth mindset voice. Then, take the growth mindset voice that says not "why?" but "why not?" Practice hearing both voices, but act or practice with a growth mindset voice.
Give your children the growth mindset that there is nothing they cannot achieve.
Children's Integrity: Gift for a Lifetime
What is integrity? Why is it "a gift for a lifetime"?
Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. C.S. Lewis
Integrity is a mindset that parents need to develop in their children, especially now--when so many parents are working during the days when their children are home alone. In some cases, grandparents or extended family will care for younger children. Babysitters may be employed to insure the safety and feeding of children. In many cases, older children will be asked to be responsible for their younger siblings. Older siblings will be asked to represent their parents for the care, learning and safety of their younger brothers and sisters.
Before school resumes, parents need to spend time with their children--helping them to know integrity. Parents teach integrity by what they say, how they say it, what they do, and how they do it. Parents need to walk the talk. They need to develop a mind and heart for integrity. By taking time to talk about doing the right thing "even when no one is watching," parents teach integrity is not only making the right decision at that moment, but every time a decision is to be made.
Parents can invent situations that children could face. What would you do if...if Bobby fell and was bleeding...if Susy started to get sick...if your boy friend wanted to come over while you were helping Bobby with his math...your friend wanted you to go shopping when you were babysitting your little sister......if there was fire or an emergency?
Taking time to chat about values and doing the right thing might be more important than doing chores to your expectations. Help children emphasize with other people. How would you feel...if Susy got hurt when you were watching TV... if Bobby broke one of Mom's best bowls while you were texting your friends? Sure, your friend may be hurt if you can't go shopping with her but it will pass. How would Mom feel if her coveted dish was broken and you lied about it?
Use the example of being a friend. There is trust, truth and respect in a friendship that is real and lasting. Friends admire when their pals do the right thing. Teach all your children to value who they are so they can be trusted with responsibility. To stand up for what is right and to do the right thing is an assurance that parents can expect from children if parents talk about it with their children.
If you take the time to talk to your children about doing the right thing for the right reasons, even when they are not being watched, they will feel your love, earn your trust, and grow into valued adults living integrity in their lives.
Ways to grow your children's integrity and why it is important are given on the website--www.rootsofaction.com/integrity.
What is integrity? Why is it "a gift for a lifetime"?
Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. C.S. Lewis
Integrity is a mindset that parents need to develop in their children, especially now--when so many parents are working during the days when their children are home alone. In some cases, grandparents or extended family will care for younger children. Babysitters may be employed to insure the safety and feeding of children. In many cases, older children will be asked to be responsible for their younger siblings. Older siblings will be asked to represent their parents for the care, learning and safety of their younger brothers and sisters.
Before school resumes, parents need to spend time with their children--helping them to know integrity. Parents teach integrity by what they say, how they say it, what they do, and how they do it. Parents need to walk the talk. They need to develop a mind and heart for integrity. By taking time to talk about doing the right thing "even when no one is watching," parents teach integrity is not only making the right decision at that moment, but every time a decision is to be made.
Parents can invent situations that children could face. What would you do if...if Bobby fell and was bleeding...if Susy started to get sick...if your boy friend wanted to come over while you were helping Bobby with his math...your friend wanted you to go shopping when you were babysitting your little sister......if there was fire or an emergency?
Taking time to chat about values and doing the right thing might be more important than doing chores to your expectations. Help children emphasize with other people. How would you feel...if Susy got hurt when you were watching TV... if Bobby broke one of Mom's best bowls while you were texting your friends? Sure, your friend may be hurt if you can't go shopping with her but it will pass. How would Mom feel if her coveted dish was broken and you lied about it?
Use the example of being a friend. There is trust, truth and respect in a friendship that is real and lasting. Friends admire when their pals do the right thing. Teach all your children to value who they are so they can be trusted with responsibility. To stand up for what is right and to do the right thing is an assurance that parents can expect from children if parents talk about it with their children.
If you take the time to talk to your children about doing the right thing for the right reasons, even when they are not being watched, they will feel your love, earn your trust, and grow into valued adults living integrity in their lives.
Ways to grow your children's integrity and why it is important are given on the website--www.rootsofaction.com/integrity.
LOVE THAT LEARNING!
Perhaps you need to step back and see if you are preparing your children, through their education, for a lifetime of learning. Students in our communities should be able to score higher than "minimally proficient" with the help of their teachers, and especially you, their parents. You must be interested and eager to learn beside your children.
The working system is stacked against those without an education. Beverly D, Flaxington "Loving Learning"-- a blog on Psychology Today
Without a love of learning, your children will never become educated. Schools are changing; educators are realizing that each human being can contribute to learning now as well as becoming a force in the future of their community and life. They are seeking ways to help your children learn to think. Attempt to understand what they are doing and ask at your next parent-teacher conferences what you can do to help. Ask the teacher how he/she and your school are adjusting their instruction to meet your children's needs. In the meantime, be interested in what your children are doing with their time in school. Find out what they are learning and provide opportunities for them to read more and even write to you about the topics they are investigating within their school day.
Test scores and report cards may be indicators of how your children are learning. They will improve through future years if you learn your children's strengths and weaknesses and help them to grow more confident in their ability to learn more and better.
Take walks with your children; encourage them to look all around them, to see people and what they are doing, to hear the sounds, smell the air and flowers, feel the breeze, even count the cars, or cracks in the sidewalk. Take them shopping with you and figure how much things cost or how much each one costs if several are offered for sale. Take your children on trips to places where they can learn more about what they are learning in school. Allow your children to move around instead of sitting to complete their school projects. Moving and even doing exercises wakes up their brain to do better thinking.
Nine tenths of education is encouragement. Feed their curiosity while they are young, so that they will use this incentive to learn more and better as they grow older.
Education is what remains when one has forgotten what one learned in school. Albert Einstein
Perhaps you need to step back and see if you are preparing your children, through their education, for a lifetime of learning. Students in our communities should be able to score higher than "minimally proficient" with the help of their teachers, and especially you, their parents. You must be interested and eager to learn beside your children.
The working system is stacked against those without an education. Beverly D, Flaxington "Loving Learning"-- a blog on Psychology Today
Without a love of learning, your children will never become educated. Schools are changing; educators are realizing that each human being can contribute to learning now as well as becoming a force in the future of their community and life. They are seeking ways to help your children learn to think. Attempt to understand what they are doing and ask at your next parent-teacher conferences what you can do to help. Ask the teacher how he/she and your school are adjusting their instruction to meet your children's needs. In the meantime, be interested in what your children are doing with their time in school. Find out what they are learning and provide opportunities for them to read more and even write to you about the topics they are investigating within their school day.
Test scores and report cards may be indicators of how your children are learning. They will improve through future years if you learn your children's strengths and weaknesses and help them to grow more confident in their ability to learn more and better.
Take walks with your children; encourage them to look all around them, to see people and what they are doing, to hear the sounds, smell the air and flowers, feel the breeze, even count the cars, or cracks in the sidewalk. Take them shopping with you and figure how much things cost or how much each one costs if several are offered for sale. Take your children on trips to places where they can learn more about what they are learning in school. Allow your children to move around instead of sitting to complete their school projects. Moving and even doing exercises wakes up their brain to do better thinking.
Nine tenths of education is encouragement. Feed their curiosity while they are young, so that they will use this incentive to learn more and better as they grow older.
Education is what remains when one has forgotten what one learned in school. Albert Einstein
MANAGE MONEY, MASTER MATH
More than half of parents lack confidence and knowledge of how to manage money and help their children. (www.thisismoney.co.uk)
Children should learn about money at a young age. Tweens have unrealistic ideas of how to handle money. Teenagers are ill-prepared to venture into the world on their own due to their lack of knowing how to manage money.
Parents can teach their young children how to count money, the value of each coin and how to put the coins together to buy something. Together, parents and children can boost math skills using these simple methods.
Older children can be taught how to save for something they really want, rather than "impulse buying" -- purchasing something immediately without thinking of their need or want for that item. They can be taught that "designer labels" on their jeans and clothes are fleeting and unnecessary. Children can learn that thrift store purchases serve their needs as well.
Parents can learn how to handle money alongside their children. Help teens to manage their first wages from baby-sitting, mowing lawns, and other entry level positions such as at McDonald's or Burger King. They can save 10% in a container at home, maybe invest 10% in a bank or credit union savings and investment account, provide for their own needs, such as food or new clothes--30-40%, and lastly, guilt-free spending such as a milkshake, movie, or other treat, 20-35%. Teaching young people to budget not only teaches math skills. They learn patience, responsibility, independence and goal setting. (See Kid Scoop in this issue about Goal Setting.) Get your teens involved in family money matters. Teach them about household bills, such as electricity, phone and credit cards, even sharing your pay statement.
Give all children money-related activities, such as matching what they save each week and how much they can save by looking for the best deals. Do they really save by buying on sale? Parents need to work with their children so that the children understand where money comes from. Children see parents go to a store to pick out groceries or clothes and hand over a plastic card. Sometimes, the parents even get cash to put into their wallets as well as having bags of goods to carry home. Children can understand from age seven that you must have money in order to spend it.
There are online games--Esperian's Values, Money and Me and Dr. Arinola Araba's bMoneywize that all in family can learn together. Set a family savings goal, like a vacation, a new TV or a family-day-out (a movie, trip, or treat) and share progress with children.
Websites that may help are https://www.lovemoney.com (Money Lessons for Kids: How to Teach Your Children Under 11 About Finances; Money Lessons: Teach Your Teenager About Essential Personal Finance); https://moneyskills.uk.barclays/Resources/YoungPeople.
Parents consider that teaching their children about money may be more important than telling them about "the birds and bees" or how to cook.
More than half of parents lack confidence and knowledge of how to manage money and help their children. (www.thisismoney.co.uk)
Children should learn about money at a young age. Tweens have unrealistic ideas of how to handle money. Teenagers are ill-prepared to venture into the world on their own due to their lack of knowing how to manage money.
Parents can teach their young children how to count money, the value of each coin and how to put the coins together to buy something. Together, parents and children can boost math skills using these simple methods.
Older children can be taught how to save for something they really want, rather than "impulse buying" -- purchasing something immediately without thinking of their need or want for that item. They can be taught that "designer labels" on their jeans and clothes are fleeting and unnecessary. Children can learn that thrift store purchases serve their needs as well.
Parents can learn how to handle money alongside their children. Help teens to manage their first wages from baby-sitting, mowing lawns, and other entry level positions such as at McDonald's or Burger King. They can save 10% in a container at home, maybe invest 10% in a bank or credit union savings and investment account, provide for their own needs, such as food or new clothes--30-40%, and lastly, guilt-free spending such as a milkshake, movie, or other treat, 20-35%. Teaching young people to budget not only teaches math skills. They learn patience, responsibility, independence and goal setting. (See Kid Scoop in this issue about Goal Setting.) Get your teens involved in family money matters. Teach them about household bills, such as electricity, phone and credit cards, even sharing your pay statement.
Give all children money-related activities, such as matching what they save each week and how much they can save by looking for the best deals. Do they really save by buying on sale? Parents need to work with their children so that the children understand where money comes from. Children see parents go to a store to pick out groceries or clothes and hand over a plastic card. Sometimes, the parents even get cash to put into their wallets as well as having bags of goods to carry home. Children can understand from age seven that you must have money in order to spend it.
There are online games--Esperian's Values, Money and Me and Dr. Arinola Araba's bMoneywize that all in family can learn together. Set a family savings goal, like a vacation, a new TV or a family-day-out (a movie, trip, or treat) and share progress with children.
Websites that may help are https://www.lovemoney.com (Money Lessons for Kids: How to Teach Your Children Under 11 About Finances; Money Lessons: Teach Your Teenager About Essential Personal Finance); https://moneyskills.uk.barclays/Resources/YoungPeople.
Parents consider that teaching their children about money may be more important than telling them about "the birds and bees" or how to cook.
VIDEO GAMES AS GIFTS
Are you considering video games as gifts? Are you thinking what great gifts they would make for all the in your family, even your extended family? Let me share some thoughts with you.
Video gaming presents an imaginary world detached from reality and provides "escapes" from everyday tasks. In the make-believe world of video games, you and your children can be unrealistic and do impossible unrealistic things. Just remember, it is all imagination.
Another problem might be spending inordinate amounts of time doing absolutely nothing meaningful, engaging in a pastime that has no real goal, no accomplishment and no deeper meaning. The player is being entertained by video games. Although there are some games that are educational, they, too, can become addictive.
A study in Neurology Now, the publication of the American Academy of Neurology, found that nine out of ten children play video games and that excessive gaming before the age of 21 can physically rewire the brain. Like drugs, video games provide instant gratification, a dependency similar to heroin addiction that diminishes dopamine in the brain, a necessary neurotransmitter that controls the brain's reward and pleasure centers. Dopamine also regulates movement and emotional responses. Long term deficiency of dopamine can result in Parkinson's disease (www.psychologytoday.com).
Extreme video gaming allows the imagination to cloud the intellect and weaken the will. Players that are vulnerable to suggestion may see a virtual world as "real." Even in games such as "Angry Bird," impulse and imagination rule. In games such as "Grand Theft Auto," "Call of Duty," and "Gears of War," players do crazy things that would be crimes in "real life." Some players even lose their basic instinct of self-preservation when playing steadily for many hours without stopping for food or drink. "Grand Theft Auto V" is so realistic, it places players on actual California streets. Even in my family, boys give credit for their split decisions and ability to act dangerously and crazily to their ability gained through playing video games.
So, what other gifts can you give?
Video gaming does not satisfy the yearning of the soul for a life of meaning and purpose. Why pretend to be fake heroes when you and your children can grow into real heroes for each other in your lives?
Are you considering video games as gifts? Are you thinking what great gifts they would make for all the in your family, even your extended family? Let me share some thoughts with you.
Video gaming presents an imaginary world detached from reality and provides "escapes" from everyday tasks. In the make-believe world of video games, you and your children can be unrealistic and do impossible unrealistic things. Just remember, it is all imagination.
Another problem might be spending inordinate amounts of time doing absolutely nothing meaningful, engaging in a pastime that has no real goal, no accomplishment and no deeper meaning. The player is being entertained by video games. Although there are some games that are educational, they, too, can become addictive.
A study in Neurology Now, the publication of the American Academy of Neurology, found that nine out of ten children play video games and that excessive gaming before the age of 21 can physically rewire the brain. Like drugs, video games provide instant gratification, a dependency similar to heroin addiction that diminishes dopamine in the brain, a necessary neurotransmitter that controls the brain's reward and pleasure centers. Dopamine also regulates movement and emotional responses. Long term deficiency of dopamine can result in Parkinson's disease (www.psychologytoday.com).
Extreme video gaming allows the imagination to cloud the intellect and weaken the will. Players that are vulnerable to suggestion may see a virtual world as "real." Even in games such as "Angry Bird," impulse and imagination rule. In games such as "Grand Theft Auto," "Call of Duty," and "Gears of War," players do crazy things that would be crimes in "real life." Some players even lose their basic instinct of self-preservation when playing steadily for many hours without stopping for food or drink. "Grand Theft Auto V" is so realistic, it places players on actual California streets. Even in my family, boys give credit for their split decisions and ability to act dangerously and crazily to their ability gained through playing video games.
So, what other gifts can you give?
- Schedule time off the computer and find meaningful activity, not always the "entertainment" of little value that might even lead to harmful consequences.
- Read books that uplift minds, inspire souls and strengthen wills.
- Visit real places with your family and friends--a park, library, museum, beach. Explore new places and learn new things in the real world.
- Find physical activities to fill your children's time--walks, sports, camping, hiking. Build their stamina and health through movement.
- Play board games, card games, charades. Plan family game nights during your children's holiday vacation. Invite friends. Develop hobbies to enjoy with friends and family.
- Have face-to-face conversations instead of those on Facebook. Enjoy facial and emotional expressions that you can see.
Video gaming does not satisfy the yearning of the soul for a life of meaning and purpose. Why pretend to be fake heroes when you and your children can grow into real heroes for each other in your lives?
REMODELING ARCHIVE
Internships and Apprenticeships
Internships or apprenticeships provide the opportunity to learn, develop skills and gain qualifications in a work environment. Because the world has become smaller due to digital technology, young people good in such technology might find opportunities on the internet. Again, parents must be vigilant as to websites to which their children apply. Young people might explore cloud computing resources and skills to help them succeed when they finish high school. Our society is approaching a time when teenagers who are fast-thinking and ambitious might be able to start their own businesses slowly without the help of their parents because they are empowered with the technology, resources and training to do it on their own. Today's teenagers will be relied on to solve tomorrow's security threats, and businesses are looking for the talent to draw from regardless of the computer geek's age.
when the time comes for their young people to apply for a paying job. Helping in an animal shelter, as a volunteer in a mom-and-pop business, in a hospital or summer school might lead to careers in medicine or education. Seeing how radio or television production is done might be worth volunteering in that atmosphere.
www.internships.com provides information about many different kinds of internships, even in the state of Arizona. Although most of these are closed at this time, just looking over this website might give you and your children an idea of what kinds of opportunities are available so they can begin researching and applying early next school year.
Internships-- invitations to know and grow.
Internships or apprenticeships provide the opportunity to learn, develop skills and gain qualifications in a work environment. Because the world has become smaller due to digital technology, young people good in such technology might find opportunities on the internet. Again, parents must be vigilant as to websites to which their children apply. Young people might explore cloud computing resources and skills to help them succeed when they finish high school. Our society is approaching a time when teenagers who are fast-thinking and ambitious might be able to start their own businesses slowly without the help of their parents because they are empowered with the technology, resources and training to do it on their own. Today's teenagers will be relied on to solve tomorrow's security threats, and businesses are looking for the talent to draw from regardless of the computer geek's age.
when the time comes for their young people to apply for a paying job. Helping in an animal shelter, as a volunteer in a mom-and-pop business, in a hospital or summer school might lead to careers in medicine or education. Seeing how radio or television production is done might be worth volunteering in that atmosphere.
www.internships.com provides information about many different kinds of internships, even in the state of Arizona. Although most of these are closed at this time, just looking over this website might give you and your children an idea of what kinds of opportunities are available so they can begin researching and applying early next school year.
Internships-- invitations to know and grow.
PERSISTENCE AIDS LEARNING
Challenge your children to be ingenious in their persistence. Being persistent means to be firm in a course of action in spite of difficulty, opposition, or competition. If your teens will be determined and persistent in pursuing a plan of action, they can be a good student, and even obtain scholarships. It is a natural human tendency to do what is fun and easy over what takes time and brainpower, but this often leads to long term failure later in life. Persistence makes it much more likely to achieve hopes and dreams.
So many times, writing an essay or reason why they want that job or scholarship becomes a challenge. They may need to write and rewrite their words (using correct spelling) with the correction or advice of their counselor, teacher or you. Asking for help and accepting criticism from those who have experience with success in such endeavors may be just the effort and humility that is needed.
Right now, older children must be planning the way they hope to obtain their goals. Too often humans give up just before an opportunity is given to them. What if they have already presented a package for a scholarship and have heard nothing? A phone call or an email might be a reminder to the committee that your child is still interested in going to that school. They may need to ask their counselor what more they can do. He/she must be persistent in going after the financial help they need to go to college or a trade school to pursue their ambitions.
Young people may need to volunteer for a non-profit organization. If they are hard-working and reliable, they should persist in getting a recommendation. They may get a paying job during school breaks as a result of their persistence. Then, they must be persistent in maintaining that job by showing up on time, being conscientious and organized.
A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success. Elbert Hubbard
What if your children are not old enough to be pursuing a job or going to college? They can still be learning persistence that will allow them to accomplish their dreams. Maybe they can work with your neighbor who is a photographer, painter, or writer. Maybe they can learn a second language from their Hispanic or Vietnamese classmate. They can be practicing making baskets or catching a football if they want to be on a sports team in high school or college.
There are many opportunities to become better at what they are interested in or good at, but they must not be shy. It never hurts to ask, and to be persistent in asking. Getting up after being knocked down has created Facebook, Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, Apple -- all the media your children enjoy because their founders were persistent and determined.
Ambition is the path to success; persistence is the vehicle you arrive in. William Eardley IV
Challenge your children to be ingenious in their persistence. Being persistent means to be firm in a course of action in spite of difficulty, opposition, or competition. If your teens will be determined and persistent in pursuing a plan of action, they can be a good student, and even obtain scholarships. It is a natural human tendency to do what is fun and easy over what takes time and brainpower, but this often leads to long term failure later in life. Persistence makes it much more likely to achieve hopes and dreams.
So many times, writing an essay or reason why they want that job or scholarship becomes a challenge. They may need to write and rewrite their words (using correct spelling) with the correction or advice of their counselor, teacher or you. Asking for help and accepting criticism from those who have experience with success in such endeavors may be just the effort and humility that is needed.
Right now, older children must be planning the way they hope to obtain their goals. Too often humans give up just before an opportunity is given to them. What if they have already presented a package for a scholarship and have heard nothing? A phone call or an email might be a reminder to the committee that your child is still interested in going to that school. They may need to ask their counselor what more they can do. He/she must be persistent in going after the financial help they need to go to college or a trade school to pursue their ambitions.
Young people may need to volunteer for a non-profit organization. If they are hard-working and reliable, they should persist in getting a recommendation. They may get a paying job during school breaks as a result of their persistence. Then, they must be persistent in maintaining that job by showing up on time, being conscientious and organized.
A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success. Elbert Hubbard
What if your children are not old enough to be pursuing a job or going to college? They can still be learning persistence that will allow them to accomplish their dreams. Maybe they can work with your neighbor who is a photographer, painter, or writer. Maybe they can learn a second language from their Hispanic or Vietnamese classmate. They can be practicing making baskets or catching a football if they want to be on a sports team in high school or college.
There are many opportunities to become better at what they are interested in or good at, but they must not be shy. It never hurts to ask, and to be persistent in asking. Getting up after being knocked down has created Facebook, Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, Apple -- all the media your children enjoy because their founders were persistent and determined.
Ambition is the path to success; persistence is the vehicle you arrive in. William Eardley IV
TEACHING TRUTH
Have you had a conversation with your young people lately? Are you listening, really listening to your children when they want and need your attention? Then you may be well on your way to having honest children.
Encouraging your young people to share things with you that happens in their daily lives helps them to know YOU can be trusted. You are the model. You must be honest and not lie--even to your children. If they see you value honesty, they will be more likely to tell the truth. No matter how much you talk about honesty, if your children see you being dishonest, it undermines the message.
Children lie to test limits as part of growing up. They like to check what they can get away with. They may lie to impress their friends, even their teachers. They may not tell you the truth about having homework. (Trust, but verify.)You can give them homework or check with their friends. Hopefully, they have made honest friends. Friends who lie give them a bad example and call for a conversation about choosing friends. Children lie to get out of trouble. Sometimes, they lie to protect their siblings or friends. When they are given something they don't like, tell them to find something positive to say instead of lying about liking it. "I like that color, Grandma." If we praise children for being honest, it will build their self-concepts and reinforce positive behavior. (www.imom.com) There must be consequences for their actions, but not enforced with anger. Respectful, fair punishment reinforces the need for honesty and lying as unacceptable.
Some ideas for teaching honesty are
1) Talk about how lying causes loss of trust and can harm relationships. A basic part of teaching honesty to children is to tell them you expect the truth. Teach them how important it is to be able to trust and count on each other.
2) Use the opportunity to show children the primary goal is to teach, not punish, that honesty is valued in your family daily.
3) Recognize and talk about dishonesty with the hope of raising children to be adults who are honest avoiding malicious deception as true con artists.
Teach children about the value and importance of honesty early, teaching them how to resolve situations so they don't need to rely on lying to save face .
There are few things we are more emotionally involved in than our children. We don't want to see their dishonesty because it goes against our view of what we want our kids to be. To be trusted and honorable is an enviable trait.
Children who have an established relationship with their parents, where they feel comfortable talking and disclosing information, are more likely to tell the truth. But also realize that your children are not always going to tell you the truth. Taking a moment to think about why they are lying should help you respond to their lies appropriately. Dr. Veronica Telwar, Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Have you had a conversation with your young people lately? Are you listening, really listening to your children when they want and need your attention? Then you may be well on your way to having honest children.
Encouraging your young people to share things with you that happens in their daily lives helps them to know YOU can be trusted. You are the model. You must be honest and not lie--even to your children. If they see you value honesty, they will be more likely to tell the truth. No matter how much you talk about honesty, if your children see you being dishonest, it undermines the message.
Children lie to test limits as part of growing up. They like to check what they can get away with. They may lie to impress their friends, even their teachers. They may not tell you the truth about having homework. (Trust, but verify.)You can give them homework or check with their friends. Hopefully, they have made honest friends. Friends who lie give them a bad example and call for a conversation about choosing friends. Children lie to get out of trouble. Sometimes, they lie to protect their siblings or friends. When they are given something they don't like, tell them to find something positive to say instead of lying about liking it. "I like that color, Grandma." If we praise children for being honest, it will build their self-concepts and reinforce positive behavior. (www.imom.com) There must be consequences for their actions, but not enforced with anger. Respectful, fair punishment reinforces the need for honesty and lying as unacceptable.
Some ideas for teaching honesty are
1) Talk about how lying causes loss of trust and can harm relationships. A basic part of teaching honesty to children is to tell them you expect the truth. Teach them how important it is to be able to trust and count on each other.
2) Use the opportunity to show children the primary goal is to teach, not punish, that honesty is valued in your family daily.
3) Recognize and talk about dishonesty with the hope of raising children to be adults who are honest avoiding malicious deception as true con artists.
Teach children about the value and importance of honesty early, teaching them how to resolve situations so they don't need to rely on lying to save face .
There are few things we are more emotionally involved in than our children. We don't want to see their dishonesty because it goes against our view of what we want our kids to be. To be trusted and honorable is an enviable trait.
Children who have an established relationship with their parents, where they feel comfortable talking and disclosing information, are more likely to tell the truth. But also realize that your children are not always going to tell you the truth. Taking a moment to think about why they are lying should help you respond to their lies appropriately. Dr. Veronica Telwar, Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
LISTENING TO YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE
Are you having a hard time getting your young people to listen to you? Are they hiding behind their earphones and smartphones as you try to get their attention?
Listening to you has been a challenge all through their lives, but it is especially difficult as they try to break away from you to be with their peers.
Some suggestions might be:
1) Keep calm and consistent, and non-judgmental. Listen to them if you want them to listen to you. Lead by example. Remove distractions for you and for them. REALLY listen to them when they tell you about their day, their friends, their thoughts, feelings, and ideas.
2) Share YOU with them--similar experiences you have had, how you handled them, just sharing, not telling them what to do. Let them know you have made mistakes, that you are human. Own up to your mistakes, understand them, and model moving on. What is past is past. They need to make decisions on their own, guided by you, not your thinking or making their decisions for them.
3) Remember you are the parent, not their friend. They will respect you more if you are the adult--their guide, their coach. They need to know you are there for them.
4) Enjoy fun activities with them and laugh often with them, not AT them.
5) Encourage in a positive way, not reminding them of their bad behavior or mistakes. This is one of the main regrets I have as a parent; I know you can do better.
6) Expect your young people to be responsible for their chores as members of your family and for their behavior and schoolwork. Let them fall, but be there to pick them up. Help them get back on their feet by discussing what they will do next time or how they can make up for what they did or said that they should not have.
7) Model social behavior and conversation skills--so lacking in this tech generation, but skills they need in their future for working with others, interviews, and sharing their ideas.
8) Still tell them you love them often, that you respect them and are proud of their achievements.
There are websites that will help you if you need help. Two might be
www.denvercounselingoptions.com/teenage-whisperer-getting-tttn-listen-respectful and www.educationandbehavior.com/how-to-get-your-kids=to=listen-to-you-and-show-you-respect/.
Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you. Robert Fulghum
Are you having a hard time getting your young people to listen to you? Are they hiding behind their earphones and smartphones as you try to get their attention?
Listening to you has been a challenge all through their lives, but it is especially difficult as they try to break away from you to be with their peers.
Some suggestions might be:
1) Keep calm and consistent, and non-judgmental. Listen to them if you want them to listen to you. Lead by example. Remove distractions for you and for them. REALLY listen to them when they tell you about their day, their friends, their thoughts, feelings, and ideas.
2) Share YOU with them--similar experiences you have had, how you handled them, just sharing, not telling them what to do. Let them know you have made mistakes, that you are human. Own up to your mistakes, understand them, and model moving on. What is past is past. They need to make decisions on their own, guided by you, not your thinking or making their decisions for them.
3) Remember you are the parent, not their friend. They will respect you more if you are the adult--their guide, their coach. They need to know you are there for them.
4) Enjoy fun activities with them and laugh often with them, not AT them.
5) Encourage in a positive way, not reminding them of their bad behavior or mistakes. This is one of the main regrets I have as a parent; I know you can do better.
6) Expect your young people to be responsible for their chores as members of your family and for their behavior and schoolwork. Let them fall, but be there to pick them up. Help them get back on their feet by discussing what they will do next time or how they can make up for what they did or said that they should not have.
7) Model social behavior and conversation skills--so lacking in this tech generation, but skills they need in their future for working with others, interviews, and sharing their ideas.
8) Still tell them you love them often, that you respect them and are proud of their achievements.
There are websites that will help you if you need help. Two might be
www.denvercounselingoptions.com/teenage-whisperer-getting-tttn-listen-respectful and www.educationandbehavior.com/how-to-get-your-kids=to=listen-to-you-and-show-you-respect/.
Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you. Robert Fulghum
INGENUITY AIDS LEARNING
Ingenuity is the ability to solve difficult problems in original, clever and inventive ways. Ingenuity is the process of applying ideas to solve problems and meet challenges.
I like challenges that test your ingenuity. Colin Baker
Ingenuity, to me, is a gift that is not limited to IQ, ability, race, economic status, or your place in the world. It requires brainwork, and anyone who is inclined to figure things out, to see what else can be done to repair something, or to solve a problem in a simple way has that gift.
Ingenuity leads to innovation. As I researched the topic for this column, I came across the word "ingenuity" applied to many "innovative companies" from baby ware to web design. Ingenuity describes resourceful people who lead contributions to knowledge, policy, economy and global human development. By researching this topic and sharing it with you as parents, grandparents, caregivers and teachers, I hope I can help you understand why the direction Common Core is trying to take with older students is one of ingenuity. For example, Steve Jobs used ingenuity to design and market his iPhone and iPad for Apple. Tech innovation has long been the key to America's prosperity.
Parents cannot tolerate a watered-down curriculum. They must challenge their children and schools to think of new and better ways to live daily lives. They cannot allow their children to continually play video games that take little more than visual and manual dexterity.
With great admiration, I have watched my husband and sons use their ingenuity to repair and replace car parts and make temporary household repairs with wire and duct tape. They have not needed computers or advanced degrees for the brainwork they do. Some have not even gone to college, but they were able to figure out a necessary replacement to keep our car, trailer, or household together until a more permanent arrangement could be made.
There are many problems facing our present and future world that need thinking and figuring out. What should be done to save our planet and our human race? What can be done to slow global warming? Learn from the poor farmers in India what crops to plant when and how with limited water. Learn from the Dutch how to control waters that rush into lands and flood vital areas. Learn from each other how to get along and connect things that should not be separated.
The planet has become a design space. The human is becoming a design space. Dr. Brad Allenby, professor of sustainable engineering at Arizona State University.
Empower the poor to realize their value. Empower the average student as well as the brightest student to know his worth. Encourage all students to think and innovate through digital technology and teachers and parents who cooperate to bring out the best in all children.
Parents must be willing to learn and educate themselves to use their own ingenuity, then encourage children to discover new knowledge and apply it to the future. Don't allow your children to be left behind. Ingenuity must flourish in children and adults.
Ingenuity is the ability to solve difficult problems in original, clever and inventive ways. Ingenuity is the process of applying ideas to solve problems and meet challenges.
I like challenges that test your ingenuity. Colin Baker
Ingenuity, to me, is a gift that is not limited to IQ, ability, race, economic status, or your place in the world. It requires brainwork, and anyone who is inclined to figure things out, to see what else can be done to repair something, or to solve a problem in a simple way has that gift.
Ingenuity leads to innovation. As I researched the topic for this column, I came across the word "ingenuity" applied to many "innovative companies" from baby ware to web design. Ingenuity describes resourceful people who lead contributions to knowledge, policy, economy and global human development. By researching this topic and sharing it with you as parents, grandparents, caregivers and teachers, I hope I can help you understand why the direction Common Core is trying to take with older students is one of ingenuity. For example, Steve Jobs used ingenuity to design and market his iPhone and iPad for Apple. Tech innovation has long been the key to America's prosperity.
Parents cannot tolerate a watered-down curriculum. They must challenge their children and schools to think of new and better ways to live daily lives. They cannot allow their children to continually play video games that take little more than visual and manual dexterity.
With great admiration, I have watched my husband and sons use their ingenuity to repair and replace car parts and make temporary household repairs with wire and duct tape. They have not needed computers or advanced degrees for the brainwork they do. Some have not even gone to college, but they were able to figure out a necessary replacement to keep our car, trailer, or household together until a more permanent arrangement could be made.
There are many problems facing our present and future world that need thinking and figuring out. What should be done to save our planet and our human race? What can be done to slow global warming? Learn from the poor farmers in India what crops to plant when and how with limited water. Learn from the Dutch how to control waters that rush into lands and flood vital areas. Learn from each other how to get along and connect things that should not be separated.
The planet has become a design space. The human is becoming a design space. Dr. Brad Allenby, professor of sustainable engineering at Arizona State University.
Empower the poor to realize their value. Empower the average student as well as the brightest student to know his worth. Encourage all students to think and innovate through digital technology and teachers and parents who cooperate to bring out the best in all children.
Parents must be willing to learn and educate themselves to use their own ingenuity, then encourage children to discover new knowledge and apply it to the future. Don't allow your children to be left behind. Ingenuity must flourish in children and adults.
APPETITE FOR LEARNING
Give your children an appetite for learning. Help them to gain knowledge. This is a good time for your young people to find out about the military--the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the Coast Guard, and their academies. They can also explore ROTC, procedures for getting into the military academies, scholarships and talk to veterans and those who have been in any of the above situations. Visit a veteran in retirement homes or in the neighborhood. Find out what courage it took to enter these services and why they did so.
There are others still with us who lived through the war years, especially World War II. They worked in factories that made munitions, clothing, and aircraft. They worked in offices that sent communications concerning the war. There were women and men who drove trucks and vehicles necessary for transporting troops and supplies. They were the people who packed K-rations so the troops would have food. They were scientists who worked on better aircraft and artillery. They were the citizens who used ration books, who sacrificed basic supplies so the military would have what they needed. Rationing was a way to limit scarce resources so that all would have enough. Gasoline was first, then food. At first, only butter, bacon and sugar were rationed. As the war wore on, meat, tea, jam, biscuits, breakfast cereal, eggs, lard, milk and canned and dried fruit. People bartered ration stamps and traded food.
Clothing was also rationed. Shoes, tires, and fuel oil were issued in limited supply so that those fighting the war would have enough.
Recycling was also introduced at this time. Metal, especially aluminum, paper and rubber were to be reused and recycled.
People planted "victory gardens" or drove out into the country (if they were fortunate enough to have a car and enough gasoline) to obtain fresh vegetables and fruit.
Americans were asked to conserve everything. Rationing was a sacrifice for all. Talk to your children about how they would have liked to have one egg a week or one set of clothes in a year.
Talk to people who have lived through years of the wars--World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, Iraq and the present time--who have lost loved ones and what they think about the commitment their veterans made. Talk and write about how a military family feels while their dad, brother, or cousin fights on foreign lands. Ask them to share letters and communications they receive from their loved ones about the places they serve that help us to appreciate the freedom of not only living but of having enough food and clothing.
With an appetite for learning, your children can research any of the above topics to virtually live in those times. This is a valued use of their electronic devices.
It is important for all of us to appreciate where we come from and how that history has really shaped us in ways that we might not understand. Sonia Sotomayer
Give your children an appetite for learning. Help them to gain knowledge. This is a good time for your young people to find out about the military--the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the Coast Guard, and their academies. They can also explore ROTC, procedures for getting into the military academies, scholarships and talk to veterans and those who have been in any of the above situations. Visit a veteran in retirement homes or in the neighborhood. Find out what courage it took to enter these services and why they did so.
There are others still with us who lived through the war years, especially World War II. They worked in factories that made munitions, clothing, and aircraft. They worked in offices that sent communications concerning the war. There were women and men who drove trucks and vehicles necessary for transporting troops and supplies. They were the people who packed K-rations so the troops would have food. They were scientists who worked on better aircraft and artillery. They were the citizens who used ration books, who sacrificed basic supplies so the military would have what they needed. Rationing was a way to limit scarce resources so that all would have enough. Gasoline was first, then food. At first, only butter, bacon and sugar were rationed. As the war wore on, meat, tea, jam, biscuits, breakfast cereal, eggs, lard, milk and canned and dried fruit. People bartered ration stamps and traded food.
Clothing was also rationed. Shoes, tires, and fuel oil were issued in limited supply so that those fighting the war would have enough.
Recycling was also introduced at this time. Metal, especially aluminum, paper and rubber were to be reused and recycled.
People planted "victory gardens" or drove out into the country (if they were fortunate enough to have a car and enough gasoline) to obtain fresh vegetables and fruit.
Americans were asked to conserve everything. Rationing was a sacrifice for all. Talk to your children about how they would have liked to have one egg a week or one set of clothes in a year.
Talk to people who have lived through years of the wars--World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, Iraq and the present time--who have lost loved ones and what they think about the commitment their veterans made. Talk and write about how a military family feels while their dad, brother, or cousin fights on foreign lands. Ask them to share letters and communications they receive from their loved ones about the places they serve that help us to appreciate the freedom of not only living but of having enough food and clothing.
With an appetite for learning, your children can research any of the above topics to virtually live in those times. This is a valued use of their electronic devices.
It is important for all of us to appreciate where we come from and how that history has really shaped us in ways that we might not understand. Sonia Sotomayer
OPPORTUNITIES
Opportunity is defined as a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something...and everything. As parents, you can arrange opportunities for your children to learn, explore, grow curiosity and contribute to their store of knowledge. You can help them recognize opportunities that are right in front of them, helping a neighbor restore a car. They can learn from the neighbor's wife how to knit caps and lap robes for hospitals. Go with your children to political rallies, rodeos, Speech Festivals, debates, math and science museums and competitions. You can help them to know when "opportunity knocks." You can help them to know when circumstances offer them an opportunity to work or volunteer; you can help them to know not to waste or pass up an opportunity.
My granddaughters have been given the opportunity to go on Mission trips with the young people from their churches. They travel the United States, and even to foreign lands to learn about the people there and to help them to know us. Training in a sport or playing in the school band also offers them opportunities to travel and to play an instrument that will bring them peace and satisfaction later in life. Utility companies may offer trips to Washington, D.C. or to national and historic places of interest. Find out where you get applications for such opportunities and help your children write well why they would enjoy the opportunity.
Take trips to colleges in which your children show an interest. Investigate what opportunities they offer for young people. Opportunities to see plays, musicals, operas are offered to students who usher for such events. Meeting sports figures may also be available to those who volunteer or work in sports stadiums. Sometime in the future, one of those famous people will remember meeting the "volunteer" who showed their families to their seats.
When looking back over my life, I don't regret the things I did, just the things I never did. Embrace opportunity. See what doors open for you.
It is time to plant seeds to help your children recognize opportunities in their lives. Once again, you and they must put your smartphones away so that you can take advantage of opportunities, so many of them, free.
Life is the most exciting opportunity we have. Andrew Shue
Opportunity is defined as a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something...and everything. As parents, you can arrange opportunities for your children to learn, explore, grow curiosity and contribute to their store of knowledge. You can help them recognize opportunities that are right in front of them, helping a neighbor restore a car. They can learn from the neighbor's wife how to knit caps and lap robes for hospitals. Go with your children to political rallies, rodeos, Speech Festivals, debates, math and science museums and competitions. You can help them to know when "opportunity knocks." You can help them to know when circumstances offer them an opportunity to work or volunteer; you can help them to know not to waste or pass up an opportunity.
My granddaughters have been given the opportunity to go on Mission trips with the young people from their churches. They travel the United States, and even to foreign lands to learn about the people there and to help them to know us. Training in a sport or playing in the school band also offers them opportunities to travel and to play an instrument that will bring them peace and satisfaction later in life. Utility companies may offer trips to Washington, D.C. or to national and historic places of interest. Find out where you get applications for such opportunities and help your children write well why they would enjoy the opportunity.
Take trips to colleges in which your children show an interest. Investigate what opportunities they offer for young people. Opportunities to see plays, musicals, operas are offered to students who usher for such events. Meeting sports figures may also be available to those who volunteer or work in sports stadiums. Sometime in the future, one of those famous people will remember meeting the "volunteer" who showed their families to their seats.
When looking back over my life, I don't regret the things I did, just the things I never did. Embrace opportunity. See what doors open for you.
It is time to plant seeds to help your children recognize opportunities in their lives. Once again, you and they must put your smartphones away so that you can take advantage of opportunities, so many of them, free.
Life is the most exciting opportunity we have. Andrew Shue
TECH DOESN'T TEACH GRAMMAR
Grammar is the sentence structure and language rules for our English language, and it is not taught through texting or writing on the computer, tablet or iPad. Grammar must be learned in order to communicate effectively and correctly to other human beings. You are not using YOUR words correctly ifYOU'RE making this common mistake.
Correct grammar is a necessity in writing. People judge you on how you write and speak. Using correct grammar and punctuation prompts people to form perceptions of you and judge your level of education. First impressions are made by the way you use words, and in your writing, this is especially important. Job applications have been discarded, and college applications have been overlooked due to poor use of our English language.
If you find yourself WEAK (not week) in the correct usage of words, you may not be able to assist your children as they need to write reports and essays as part of their schooling. Learn grammar rules with your children and memorize the ones that will help you become a better writer and conversationalist. Using language correctly in your online communication influences people you meet through email and Facebook. It is almost more important than "dress for success" to "write for success." It is unacceptable and disrespectful to use "text" language when writing for school or professional assignments. Basic grammar is a necessary condition for academic success.
Grammar is the structure of the language and if words or form are used incorrectly, this confuses your readers and listeners. This is more important in communicating with people from other cultures. By the way, these "foreigners" know our language better than many of us native English speakers. This should not be. We should be proud of our language and must learn to use it in the best way. We must learn to communicate with correct grammar and spelling to show we care about our language. English has replaced Latin as the means of communication within our global community.
Grammar and spelling are communication skills that must be taught early in life to establish the foundation for future communication. Strong language skills are an asset that will promote a lifetime of effective communication. The Importance of Language...Center for Child Well Being).
People who cannot distinguish between good and bad language, or who regard the distinction unimportant, are unlikely to think carefully about anything. B. R. Myers
As a last resort, as you or your children write reports or class assignments on your computer, use grammarly.com/GrammarCheck for free or ask Grammar Girl for help.
Just as early learners need to know letters and their sounds, just as children need to memorize math facts so that they become their learning tools, so older students need to know the correct use of words and conventions in their own language.
Tech doesn't teach grammar!
Grammar is the sentence structure and language rules for our English language, and it is not taught through texting or writing on the computer, tablet or iPad. Grammar must be learned in order to communicate effectively and correctly to other human beings. You are not using YOUR words correctly ifYOU'RE making this common mistake.
Correct grammar is a necessity in writing. People judge you on how you write and speak. Using correct grammar and punctuation prompts people to form perceptions of you and judge your level of education. First impressions are made by the way you use words, and in your writing, this is especially important. Job applications have been discarded, and college applications have been overlooked due to poor use of our English language.
If you find yourself WEAK (not week) in the correct usage of words, you may not be able to assist your children as they need to write reports and essays as part of their schooling. Learn grammar rules with your children and memorize the ones that will help you become a better writer and conversationalist. Using language correctly in your online communication influences people you meet through email and Facebook. It is almost more important than "dress for success" to "write for success." It is unacceptable and disrespectful to use "text" language when writing for school or professional assignments. Basic grammar is a necessary condition for academic success.
Grammar is the structure of the language and if words or form are used incorrectly, this confuses your readers and listeners. This is more important in communicating with people from other cultures. By the way, these "foreigners" know our language better than many of us native English speakers. This should not be. We should be proud of our language and must learn to use it in the best way. We must learn to communicate with correct grammar and spelling to show we care about our language. English has replaced Latin as the means of communication within our global community.
Grammar and spelling are communication skills that must be taught early in life to establish the foundation for future communication. Strong language skills are an asset that will promote a lifetime of effective communication. The Importance of Language...Center for Child Well Being).
People who cannot distinguish between good and bad language, or who regard the distinction unimportant, are unlikely to think carefully about anything. B. R. Myers
As a last resort, as you or your children write reports or class assignments on your computer, use grammarly.com/GrammarCheck for free or ask Grammar Girl for help.
Just as early learners need to know letters and their sounds, just as children need to memorize math facts so that they become their learning tools, so older students need to know the correct use of words and conventions in their own language.
Tech doesn't teach grammar!
TECH PERILS FOR PARENTS
Parents have many concerns about their children using digital devices. They worry about their students' data privacy (Remember, parents must have a password to access information about their children's performance in school.) Parents are concerned about how their children's personal information is used by anyone who can hack their computers or tablets.
"Do my children access inappropriate content, and how do I know?" (Talk with your children to help them know what is right for them. Check with them occasionally to see what websites they are going into.)
"Do advertisers have access to my children, putting ideas into their minds instead of real needs? Do digital devices give my children opportunities for cheating and fraud, stealing their own thinking as they google answers?"
"Do I have the means and opportunities to keep up with the information, digital devices and websites that my children access? Do I recognize the names for websites they access regularly? Do I go on the websites they mention to see what those websites are REALLY about?"
Parents worry about the physical damage that too much attention to digital devices does to their children. "Is there danger to their eyes because they do visual work all the time? How about my children's peripheral vision when they stare ahead all the time, never taking a moment to look sideways? Are my children's bones becoming soft due to lack of physical exercise? Are my children sitting too long because of the same lack? When my children do participate in sports, are their injuries due to poor exercise because they spend so much time on their smart phones? It looks like my daughter/son is slumping? Is that from bending over the computer or laptop?"
"My children do not know how to converse with our relatives. My children do not look at me when I am talking because their attention is on the device in front of them."
Www.edtechroundup.org has advice for parents and teachers that ed tech is not meant to simply keep children busy. Tech should aid, not distract, children so that it hampers their concentration and their creative and critical thinking Tech can never replace reading books, drawing pictures, playing games. Children must learn there are plenty of things they can do without tech-help. Simply to use tech or use many apps is not an achievement. And tech is not for tots! Young children learn best through creative play and interaction with peers and their environment. Parents need to know what to expect in each of their children's developmental ages.
Parents are responsible for their children until their children turn 18. Therefore, parents need to be in control of the use of digital devices, seeing that they are used appropriately. The 24/7 availability of tech need not be a problem if parents are in charge. Teachers, parents, grandparents, and concerned caregivers need to be aware of the wonderful opportunities digital provides, but they must also recognize the pitfalls and dangers of their addictive use.
Parents have many concerns about their children using digital devices. They worry about their students' data privacy (Remember, parents must have a password to access information about their children's performance in school.) Parents are concerned about how their children's personal information is used by anyone who can hack their computers or tablets.
"Do my children access inappropriate content, and how do I know?" (Talk with your children to help them know what is right for them. Check with them occasionally to see what websites they are going into.)
"Do advertisers have access to my children, putting ideas into their minds instead of real needs? Do digital devices give my children opportunities for cheating and fraud, stealing their own thinking as they google answers?"
"Do I have the means and opportunities to keep up with the information, digital devices and websites that my children access? Do I recognize the names for websites they access regularly? Do I go on the websites they mention to see what those websites are REALLY about?"
Parents worry about the physical damage that too much attention to digital devices does to their children. "Is there danger to their eyes because they do visual work all the time? How about my children's peripheral vision when they stare ahead all the time, never taking a moment to look sideways? Are my children's bones becoming soft due to lack of physical exercise? Are my children sitting too long because of the same lack? When my children do participate in sports, are their injuries due to poor exercise because they spend so much time on their smart phones? It looks like my daughter/son is slumping? Is that from bending over the computer or laptop?"
"My children do not know how to converse with our relatives. My children do not look at me when I am talking because their attention is on the device in front of them."
Www.edtechroundup.org has advice for parents and teachers that ed tech is not meant to simply keep children busy. Tech should aid, not distract, children so that it hampers their concentration and their creative and critical thinking Tech can never replace reading books, drawing pictures, playing games. Children must learn there are plenty of things they can do without tech-help. Simply to use tech or use many apps is not an achievement. And tech is not for tots! Young children learn best through creative play and interaction with peers and their environment. Parents need to know what to expect in each of their children's developmental ages.
Parents are responsible for their children until their children turn 18. Therefore, parents need to be in control of the use of digital devices, seeing that they are used appropriately. The 24/7 availability of tech need not be a problem if parents are in charge. Teachers, parents, grandparents, and concerned caregivers need to be aware of the wonderful opportunities digital provides, but they must also recognize the pitfalls and dangers of their addictive use.
GIVE THEM A SECOND CHANCE
If you teach your children to learn from their mistakes, you must give them another chance to do better. Mark Chernoff in his blog says that he is on his "1000th second chance." Do parents and grandparents give each other and their children that many "second chances?"
Taking chances and making mistakes help all to grow. Children rarely get things right the first time. Parents need to learn these ways suggested by Mr. Chernoff in addition to teaching them to their children.
1) Let go of the past. This is especially important for parents to learn in order to be an example and guide for their children.
2) Identify the lesson. What do you and/or your children learn from the mistake? How can you turn the mistake into something learned and hopefully remembered?
3) Lose the negative attitude. Negative thinking creates negative results. Help your children to think positively. Turn "I never get anything right!" into "Next time, I will do better."
4) Accept accountability for what happens. Help your children know they can control outcomes by choosing not to give up. Discuss the circumstances with your children and how best to handle the situation when it happens again.
5) Focus on things that can be changed. Invest energy in things that can be done to make the outcome different, but realize that some forces are out of individual's control.
6) Figure out what your older children really want. If they really want to make baskets in basketball, they must not quit until they have tried many times.
7) Eliminate the non-essential. Help your young people identify the things in school or life that really matter the most to them. Your children can't accomplish anything if they try to do everything. Maybe they want to do better in physics; then, help them take the necessary steps to solve the problem by taking one step at a time.
8) Be very specific. Set goals that can be measured. If your young people aim to do better in coding, they may want to get help from their fellow classmates to whom it comes so easily.
9) Concentrate on "doing" rather than doing nothing. "Do you have two pencils for your writing assignment in school?" In time, your children will do the right thing without even thinking about it. "Yes, Mom. You don't have to remind me."
10) Create a daily routine. If you get school things ready the night before, you will be ready to go in the morning.
11) Develop self-control. If your children want a second chance, they must be willing to give it all they have.
12) Forget about impressing other people. Maybe that is why your children need second chances. They lack the confidence to be their own person.
If you help your children concentrate on the important things in their lives, they will make steady progress toward acquiring lifelong habits. They may not need many "second chances."
Having a second chance makes you want to work even harder. Tia Mowry
If you teach your children to learn from their mistakes, you must give them another chance to do better. Mark Chernoff in his blog says that he is on his "1000th second chance." Do parents and grandparents give each other and their children that many "second chances?"
Taking chances and making mistakes help all to grow. Children rarely get things right the first time. Parents need to learn these ways suggested by Mr. Chernoff in addition to teaching them to their children.
1) Let go of the past. This is especially important for parents to learn in order to be an example and guide for their children.
2) Identify the lesson. What do you and/or your children learn from the mistake? How can you turn the mistake into something learned and hopefully remembered?
3) Lose the negative attitude. Negative thinking creates negative results. Help your children to think positively. Turn "I never get anything right!" into "Next time, I will do better."
4) Accept accountability for what happens. Help your children know they can control outcomes by choosing not to give up. Discuss the circumstances with your children and how best to handle the situation when it happens again.
5) Focus on things that can be changed. Invest energy in things that can be done to make the outcome different, but realize that some forces are out of individual's control.
6) Figure out what your older children really want. If they really want to make baskets in basketball, they must not quit until they have tried many times.
7) Eliminate the non-essential. Help your young people identify the things in school or life that really matter the most to them. Your children can't accomplish anything if they try to do everything. Maybe they want to do better in physics; then, help them take the necessary steps to solve the problem by taking one step at a time.
8) Be very specific. Set goals that can be measured. If your young people aim to do better in coding, they may want to get help from their fellow classmates to whom it comes so easily.
9) Concentrate on "doing" rather than doing nothing. "Do you have two pencils for your writing assignment in school?" In time, your children will do the right thing without even thinking about it. "Yes, Mom. You don't have to remind me."
10) Create a daily routine. If you get school things ready the night before, you will be ready to go in the morning.
11) Develop self-control. If your children want a second chance, they must be willing to give it all they have.
12) Forget about impressing other people. Maybe that is why your children need second chances. They lack the confidence to be their own person.
If you help your children concentrate on the important things in their lives, they will make steady progress toward acquiring lifelong habits. They may not need many "second chances."
Having a second chance makes you want to work even harder. Tia Mowry
MEANINGFUL READING
Reading furnishes our mind with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read our own. John Locke
Reading is more than a skill; it is an avenue to acquire knowledge. It is more than reading words; it is fuel for thinking. Reading is more than an assignment; it is a way to grow.
Too often children say they hate reading, not realizing its value. Parents need to encourage their children to read to learn It takes time, not only to read, but to think about what they have read. Technology is entertaining to young people; their brain does not have to work as hard to post on social media. Social media may teach them new "buzz" or "rad" words, but these words are shallow, lack depth, and varied meaning. The increased use of technology can be harmful because it conditions the brain to seek and receive instant gratification.
Reading gives something which is more than the instant gratification social media provides. Reading gives us insight into how others live, think and solve problems. Stories help children to learn about themselves and the world around them. In a way, young people need to apply the same effort to reading as they do to friendships. If they want to take their reading to another level, it takes time. Studies are showing that reading levels are declining as children grow older. The average high-school senior reads books that are considered to be at the seventh-grade reading level.
Stories help children to understand and remember things better. They may even help children understand themselves. Good books can change minds, hearts, and souls in the same way that another person can, if children connect with the characters in the stories. Children need to read challenging books and stories in order to grow their thinking and values. Children continue to develop their emerging personalities as a result of what they read. As they grow older, they start thinking about who they are and who they want to be, the "permanent things" in their lives. They become more that a consumer of what's trendy as too many of our students are these days.
Just because children have an open book n their hand and are moving their eyes across a page does not mean they are reading effectively. In order to read better, children need to concentrate on what they are reading, not distracted by cell phone or TV. Put cell phones in another room. Avoid reading in bed, if the material they are reading is necessary to learn. If children sit on the edge of their chairs in an erect position and take notes or underline as they read, they are building strong neural pathways in their memory. They can even read while they are standing to avoid dozing off. If they can develop questions about their reading, tell you what they have read, and recite what they read last night on the way to school the next morning, they are developing their reading as meaningful in their present and future lives.
Reading furnishes our mind with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read our own. John Locke
Reading is more than a skill; it is an avenue to acquire knowledge. It is more than reading words; it is fuel for thinking. Reading is more than an assignment; it is a way to grow.
Too often children say they hate reading, not realizing its value. Parents need to encourage their children to read to learn It takes time, not only to read, but to think about what they have read. Technology is entertaining to young people; their brain does not have to work as hard to post on social media. Social media may teach them new "buzz" or "rad" words, but these words are shallow, lack depth, and varied meaning. The increased use of technology can be harmful because it conditions the brain to seek and receive instant gratification.
Reading gives something which is more than the instant gratification social media provides. Reading gives us insight into how others live, think and solve problems. Stories help children to learn about themselves and the world around them. In a way, young people need to apply the same effort to reading as they do to friendships. If they want to take their reading to another level, it takes time. Studies are showing that reading levels are declining as children grow older. The average high-school senior reads books that are considered to be at the seventh-grade reading level.
Stories help children to understand and remember things better. They may even help children understand themselves. Good books can change minds, hearts, and souls in the same way that another person can, if children connect with the characters in the stories. Children need to read challenging books and stories in order to grow their thinking and values. Children continue to develop their emerging personalities as a result of what they read. As they grow older, they start thinking about who they are and who they want to be, the "permanent things" in their lives. They become more that a consumer of what's trendy as too many of our students are these days.
Just because children have an open book n their hand and are moving their eyes across a page does not mean they are reading effectively. In order to read better, children need to concentrate on what they are reading, not distracted by cell phone or TV. Put cell phones in another room. Avoid reading in bed, if the material they are reading is necessary to learn. If children sit on the edge of their chairs in an erect position and take notes or underline as they read, they are building strong neural pathways in their memory. They can even read while they are standing to avoid dozing off. If they can develop questions about their reading, tell you what they have read, and recite what they read last night on the way to school the next morning, they are developing their reading as meaningful in their present and future lives.
ATTITUDE
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. Winston Churchill
Talking to your children's teachers, you may have learned something new about your children and their teachers. Maybe you have shared something new about your children that teachers had not realized. Now, you can put those new ideas to work.
Maybe it is your attitude that could be changed. Maybe, you now realize the importance of your children memorizing letter sounds, syllable rules, vocabulary, steps in math based on the math facts your children need to know. Maybe your attitude could be "I can make a difference. I can help my children by just giving each of them minutes of my time. I can learn with them since I have forgotten what 6 x 9 is. We can practice in the car while we wait for the bus. We can take a walk in the evening and spell their weekly words with each step we take."
Maybe it is your children's' attitudes that need changing. Since attitudes are what a person expresses based on their self-perception, you may help your children see themselves as their teacher tells you he/she sees them--capable of better work and deeper thinking. Maybe you can change their attitude by sharing memories of past successes, laughter, exercise. Since the brain needs basic food like water and fresh air to grow thinking and problem solving, it is up to you to see they get it. It is up to you to change their attitude by taking time away from tech to absorb what they are learning and to think, to let their minds wander (www.skillagents.com). Give your children a positive mindset no matter what their age.
Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude. Zig Ziglar
How do we change attitudes? We need to do three things: Identify the activity, reflect on it, and acknowledge the goal we are planning to meet. If parents need to spend more time with their children, they need to think of ways to do that. You could even take them individually to breakfast Saturday morning. If children need to change their attitude toward math, have them think of ways they can. Practice thinking of possible paths to solve a problem so that when they must figure a math problem in the future, they will be able to think of other ways.
The website www.marcandangel.com gives pointers to help change attitudes. They suggest you still your mind, change your focus and use your body. Your body is the best tool for changing your attitude in an instant. Minds reflect body by responding to tension, stress, rate of breathing, speed of movement and mental focus. The body mirrors thoughts, feelings, mood and responds to your state of mind, words and questions. Stand tall and look smart! You will be.
For success, attitude is equally important as ability. Walter Scott.
Believing you can change your attitude and that of your children may just change your lives--something to work on when you have a long weekend and really make the time to talk about change.
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. Winston Churchill
Talking to your children's teachers, you may have learned something new about your children and their teachers. Maybe you have shared something new about your children that teachers had not realized. Now, you can put those new ideas to work.
Maybe it is your attitude that could be changed. Maybe, you now realize the importance of your children memorizing letter sounds, syllable rules, vocabulary, steps in math based on the math facts your children need to know. Maybe your attitude could be "I can make a difference. I can help my children by just giving each of them minutes of my time. I can learn with them since I have forgotten what 6 x 9 is. We can practice in the car while we wait for the bus. We can take a walk in the evening and spell their weekly words with each step we take."
Maybe it is your children's' attitudes that need changing. Since attitudes are what a person expresses based on their self-perception, you may help your children see themselves as their teacher tells you he/she sees them--capable of better work and deeper thinking. Maybe you can change their attitude by sharing memories of past successes, laughter, exercise. Since the brain needs basic food like water and fresh air to grow thinking and problem solving, it is up to you to see they get it. It is up to you to change their attitude by taking time away from tech to absorb what they are learning and to think, to let their minds wander (www.skillagents.com). Give your children a positive mindset no matter what their age.
Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude. Zig Ziglar
How do we change attitudes? We need to do three things: Identify the activity, reflect on it, and acknowledge the goal we are planning to meet. If parents need to spend more time with their children, they need to think of ways to do that. You could even take them individually to breakfast Saturday morning. If children need to change their attitude toward math, have them think of ways they can. Practice thinking of possible paths to solve a problem so that when they must figure a math problem in the future, they will be able to think of other ways.
The website www.marcandangel.com gives pointers to help change attitudes. They suggest you still your mind, change your focus and use your body. Your body is the best tool for changing your attitude in an instant. Minds reflect body by responding to tension, stress, rate of breathing, speed of movement and mental focus. The body mirrors thoughts, feelings, mood and responds to your state of mind, words and questions. Stand tall and look smart! You will be.
For success, attitude is equally important as ability. Walter Scott.
Believing you can change your attitude and that of your children may just change your lives--something to work on when you have a long weekend and really make the time to talk about change.
GET CREATIVE FOR CHRISTMAS
Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas. Peg Bracken
Creativity is a gift in itself at any time of year, but it is most appreciated when we find ways to do things that are different at Christmas time. Creativity motivates people and gives them great ideas as they think of other ways to do things. Being creative makes life more interesting for the creator and those who share their ideas.
Here are some ways to be creative this time of year:
Decorate doors in the house with wrapping paper or just plain paper on which children can draw, glue glitter or stickers, even pictures from magazines or newspapers. They can draw pictures of gifts they would like to have or give someone else. They can draw a scene from their most memorable Christmas in the past (giving you parents a clue to what might make them the happiest this year.)
Make a video of preparations for Christmas--decorating the Christmas tree (sharing the story behind each ornament), decorating your house inside and out, setting up your nativity (sharing the reason for the season.) Make copies to send to far-away grandparents or extended family and save one for yourselves to show and share next year.
Have children compose poems, stories, or draw pictures to give as gifts. Giving oneself in a creative way gives children self-confidence and pride in their own creativity, teaches them generosity and sharing, and becomes a keepsake for those to whom your children's gifts are sent.
Ask your children two questions this Christmas. First: What do you want to give others this Christmas? Second: what do you want for Christmas? The first fosters generosity of heart and an outward focus. The second can breed selfishness if not tempered by the first. Author Unknown
Plan a scavenger hunt for your children's most desired gifts building their suspense and prolonging their delight in discovering their dream. You can write the notes on different colored paper or index cards for each child. Instead of ripping wrapping paper and providing instant gratification, your family can enjoy opening gifts a while longer using this method. Since Christmas comes just once a year, taking time to enjoy every minute and all your hard work, shopping and wrapping, give your celebration more time for sharing and admiring.
Even a small box of cute thank you notes will remind your children that others have loved them enough to send gifts. Children can make their own thank you notes as well, giving them another opportunity to be creative.
There is a book--Creative Doodling and Beyond by Stephanie Corfee ($12.76 on Amazon) which may be a unique gift to encourage creativity. There is always Pinterest if you think you are not a creative person. Sometimes observing others' creative ideas sparks thoughts of how you, too, can create something different or unusual.
No matter whether you choose good video games, opportunities as gifts, or sharing creativity, enjoy a beautiful time and season as a family.
Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas. Peg Bracken
Creativity is a gift in itself at any time of year, but it is most appreciated when we find ways to do things that are different at Christmas time. Creativity motivates people and gives them great ideas as they think of other ways to do things. Being creative makes life more interesting for the creator and those who share their ideas.
Here are some ways to be creative this time of year:
Decorate doors in the house with wrapping paper or just plain paper on which children can draw, glue glitter or stickers, even pictures from magazines or newspapers. They can draw pictures of gifts they would like to have or give someone else. They can draw a scene from their most memorable Christmas in the past (giving you parents a clue to what might make them the happiest this year.)
Make a video of preparations for Christmas--decorating the Christmas tree (sharing the story behind each ornament), decorating your house inside and out, setting up your nativity (sharing the reason for the season.) Make copies to send to far-away grandparents or extended family and save one for yourselves to show and share next year.
Have children compose poems, stories, or draw pictures to give as gifts. Giving oneself in a creative way gives children self-confidence and pride in their own creativity, teaches them generosity and sharing, and becomes a keepsake for those to whom your children's gifts are sent.
Ask your children two questions this Christmas. First: What do you want to give others this Christmas? Second: what do you want for Christmas? The first fosters generosity of heart and an outward focus. The second can breed selfishness if not tempered by the first. Author Unknown
Plan a scavenger hunt for your children's most desired gifts building their suspense and prolonging their delight in discovering their dream. You can write the notes on different colored paper or index cards for each child. Instead of ripping wrapping paper and providing instant gratification, your family can enjoy opening gifts a while longer using this method. Since Christmas comes just once a year, taking time to enjoy every minute and all your hard work, shopping and wrapping, give your celebration more time for sharing and admiring.
Even a small box of cute thank you notes will remind your children that others have loved them enough to send gifts. Children can make their own thank you notes as well, giving them another opportunity to be creative.
There is a book--Creative Doodling and Beyond by Stephanie Corfee ($12.76 on Amazon) which may be a unique gift to encourage creativity. There is always Pinterest if you think you are not a creative person. Sometimes observing others' creative ideas sparks thoughts of how you, too, can create something different or unusual.
No matter whether you choose good video games, opportunities as gifts, or sharing creativity, enjoy a beautiful time and season as a family.