My Son's Teacher was a Bully- When my son was in sixth grade, he came home with a rip in his new sneakers. He told me the gym teacher did it during a sneaker check. It sounded like a fib, or at best, an accident on the teacher's part, but I needed to clarify things.
Nine Ways to Help Children to Cope With Loss and Grief- The biggest problem children have in coping with their grief is the inattention and lack of awareness adults have in the need to talk about it, express all kinds of feelings around it, and to help children to find a way to compensate for the loss.
Other People's Kids- Do you have a friend, relative or neighbor with kids who drive you crazy
with their misbehavior? I think we all know one family that fits this
description. It puts you into a very uncomfortable position. You know you
can't discipline the kids, but you want to be able to enjoy your time with
their family. What to do?
Overindulgence Hurts Kids- Raising my own children taught me that I owe my parents a debt of gratitude, not only for the things they did for me-but for the things they were wise enough NOT to do. Sometimes, we can do too much for our children and rather than helping them, we can keep them from becoming responsible, resilient and self-reliant.
Parenting the Argumentative Child- As parents, you want your child to grow up safe and healthy. No simple task, even under the best of circumstances. An argumentative child can make parenting seem even more challenging than it already is. He questions your every move and refuses even the simplest request. While this intense brand of scrutiny may serve him well as an adult, it can extremely frustrating in a child.
Parenting with Style: Why You Might Clash with Your Child- Every morning, six-year-old Josh and his mom clash. A daydreamer by nature, Josh moves through life at a slower pace than his task-oriented mom. This is most evident in the morning when meandering Josh and his highly organized mother are trying to get out the door. This daily struggle highlights their obviously different personal styles.
Pitchin' In - Simple Ways to Get Your Family Involved- If you're tired of nagging, begging and even pleading to get your family members to help out around your home, listen up. There's a better way to get the cooperation you want.
Positive Thinking for Kids- During their growth and development, children go through many stages of self-doubt. They are always comparing themselves to others, and they often see themselves as coming up short. As parents, we can offset this natural tendency in our children by giving them the skills to think more positively. It is important that you really listen to your children, and help them overcome their negative thoughts and beliefs. This is, of course, easier to do if you practice positive thinking yourself.
Public Manners- When we're out in public my son seems to forget all
the good manners he routinely uses at home. If we
run into someone I know he won't even say a polite
hello. He forgets to say 'thank you' and 'excuse me'.
The list goes on. How can I get him to remember to
use his manners?
Reclaiming Play: Helping Children Learn and Thrive in School- Child development theorists, researchers, and educators have long known that play is one of children's most valuable resources, vital to their social, emotional, and cognitive growth. Through play children make sense of the world around them and work through new experiences, ideas, and feelings.
Simple Mommy Secrets to Choosing the Right Chores for Kids- Several years ago I learned a Mommy Secret from my girlfriend about kids' chores that I've never forgot. Cindy and I were busy chatting away when she announced to her kids: "Chore time!" As quick as a wink they jumped up from playing and scurried to their kitchen where they proceeded to unload dishes, and put clean ones in the cupboard. And they did so without an ounce of help or uttering one complaint. When finished they turned for their mom's sanction (she nodded approvingly), and then grinned and ran back to play.
So Little Time- "Ring, Ring," it was the phone call that would change my life forever. My mom went over to answer and began to talk. An instant sinking feeling came over me like a ton of bricks sinking to the bottom of the ocean. Her once bright and cheery face turned as cloudy and as foggy as a dark, stormy day. Something was wrong, and it was not the same kind of wrong as when you failed a test. This was different.
Standing Together: A Parenting Success Story- “There he is again, sitting in front of that Nintendo machine. Didn’t I just tell him to go do his homework?” said the mother, her arm on her hip, eyes glaring at the back of the father’s head. The father appeared more involved in the news program on the television but had heard every word.
Stop Picking Your Nose!- Nose picking is often done to relieve anxiety and bring comfort. Because the nose is always at hand (excuse me, I couldn't resist!), it's an addictive habit.
Surviving Little League- "Woo hoo! You can do it!" A clapping parent yells out their
encouragement to the awkward seven-year old standing at
home plate. His stance looks uncomfortable, his arms crooked
and bent, tongue sticking out displaying his complete
concentration. The bat is ready, he swings and hits the ball.
"Go! Go! Go!" come the cheers from a group of enthusiastic
parents.
Talking To Children About Violence- Violence in society is a major issue for families today.
It's everywhere we look, it seems, and as a parent it
disturbs me deeply. Part of the job of parenting is to
protect our children from the ills, if not the evils of the
world, but what do you do when it comes looking for you?
Teacher Student Relationships- Preventing acts of childhood aggression has become a major focus for schools throughout the nation, but their efforts may be lacking a critical ingredient to their success, say Texas A&M University psychologists.
Teaching Good Manners- Good manners are a very important key to your child's social
success, but no child is born with good manners. Teaching them
is a parents responsibility.
Teaching Kids Their Financial ABC's- In this article, I will hopefully be passing on vital information to you about teaching your children good money management skills. In the process, of course, you too will hopefully learn better ways to manage your money. Before we delve into the nitty gritty of how to pass this knowledge on to your kids, let's first look at some of the reasons it is important to do so.
Teaching Your Child the ABC's of Money- Aaaarrrrrgh!!*!!*!! Do you scream every time you hear your kids say in that whiney, all-too familiar tone, "I want it, I need it, all the other kids have it." Do you hate your own financial planning and wonder how you can possibly help your child understand that money doesn't grow on trees?
The Cost of Competition on Kids- The subject of competition is one that provokes some pretty strong feelings in the United States. In fact, even hinting that competition might not be such a great thing can cause one to be labeled un-American.
The Frequent Mover's Card- More and more people and families are relocating to new cities, states, and sometimes countries for their companies. For those folks who do this often, there should be a frequent mover's card!
The Identified Problem Child- Some people call them the "black sheep" of the
family and are content to let them stay that way.
Others try to change them and take them to
psychologists and doctors. A few give up on
them all together.
The Respectful Child- Often I encounter parents who complain about their child's lack of
respect for them, only to hear them turn around and screech at the
same child, "Stop it! What is the matter with you? You're behaving like a
wild animal!"
The Truth About Teen Blogging- Blogging is quickly becoming the "teen" pastime of choice. It has huge appeal because it's fast and easy; if you can write, you can blog. It's a place that allows free self expression and it's interactive; young people post their replies to individual blogs. It's also social; kids can connect and share their ideas with other young people.
What Are Your Children Really Watching?- Saturday mornings. Cold cereal and Scooby Doo. How many parents started out our childhood weekends with this simple ritual? The trick was to wake up early enough to see all of the Saturday morning cartoons because after about 10 am, the children's programming was over until Sunday night's Wonderful World of Disney show came on.
When a Child is Caught Stealing- Money has been disappearing from my wallet, and my daughter is suddenly buying things that she couldn't possibly afford on her own. I suspect that she's been taking the money from me, and it makes me wonder if this is the only incident of her stealing.
When a Child Steals- Many children will steal something at least once in their lives. If parents don't panic and overreact, it can be a time for teaching a valuable lesson. There are different reasons that children steal, and it helps to know your child's motivation so that you can address your child's belief directly. The bottom line, however, is this: stealing is wrong and it's against the law. This is the primary message you want to convey to your child.
When Children Lie- Children lie for a variety of reasons. They lie to keep their
parents happy with them, they lie so they won't get in
trouble, they lie to cover embarrassment or inadequacy, or
they lie because they don't make the clear distinction
between fact and fiction. Teaching your child the value of
telling the truth takes time, teaching and patience.
When Your Child is the Bully: Five Important Issues to Address- I would recommend to any parent if they're told their child is a bully to look for the following: Uncontrolled anger, history of discipline problems, intolerance for differences, violent or aggressive behavior, expression of violence in writings or drawings, cruelty to animals, and destruction of property. These are just a few of numerous telling behaviors.
July 4th is almost here. Celebrate Independence Day this year with crafts, recipes and plenty of other ideas. Here are a few examples to get you started...
Fun Picture Riddles Help with Letter Recognition: Scholastic has done it again, releasing yet another fabulous book in its popular I Spy series. This time Jean Marzollo's witty riddles married with Walter Wick's vibrant photographs make for a fun and engaging read for children of all ages. Through the seemingly magical power of rhyme and repetition, children will obtain several early reading skills without even trying!
Family Matters Radio
FMR is a nationally syndicated radio program developed to help you live your best life, hosted by Caroline & Jacquie. No rants and raves - you get enough of that from your kids. Choose a segment below to begin listening!
The biggest problem children have in coping with their grief is the inattention and lack of awareness adults have in the need to talk about it, express all kinds of feelings around it, and to help children to find a way to compensate for the loss.
Raising my own children taught me that I owe my parents a debt of gratitude, not only for the things they did for me-but for the things they were wise enough NOT to do. Sometimes, we can do too much for our children and rather than helping them, we can keep them from becoming responsible, resilient and self-reliant.
As parents, you want your child to grow up safe and healthy. No simple task, even under the best of circumstances. An argumentative child can make parenting seem even more challenging than it already is. He questions your every move and refuses even the simplest request. While this intense brand of scrutiny may serve him well as an adult, it can extremely frustrating in a child.
Child development theorists, researchers, and educators have long known that play is one of children's most valuable resources, vital to their social, emotional, and cognitive growth. Through play children make sense of the world around them and work through new experiences, ideas, and feelings.
The subject of competition is one that provokes some pretty strong feelings in the United States. In fact, even hinting that competition might not be such a great thing can cause one to be labeled un-American.
More and more people and families are relocating to new cities, states, and sometimes countries for their companies. For those folks who do this often, there should be a frequent mover's card!
Saturday mornings. Cold cereal and Scooby Doo. How many parents started out our childhood weekends with this simple ritual? The trick was to wake up early enough to see all of the Saturday morning cartoons because after about 10 am, the children's programming was over until Sunday night's Wonderful World of Disney show came on.
Many children will steal something at least once in their lives. If parents don't panic and overreact, it can be a time for teaching a valuable lesson. There are different reasons that children steal, and it helps to know your child's motivation so that you can address your child's belief directly. The bottom line, however, is this: stealing is wrong and it's against the law. This is the primary message you want to convey to your child.
I would recommend to any parent if they're told their child is a bully to look for the following: Uncontrolled anger, history of discipline problems, intolerance for differences, violent or aggressive behavior, expression of violence in writings or drawings, cruelty to animals, and destruction of property. These are just a few of numerous telling behaviors.
Fun Picture Riddles Help with Letter Recognition
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Missed the last couple of newsletters? Haven't visited for a while? This section highlights articles and crafts that have recently been added to FC...
