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Parenting
Communicating With Our ChildrenCommunication with our children is one of the most important tools we have in expressing our love and sharing our knowledge. It is vital in teaching them to be successful and productive citizens in society. Here are some ideas I came across that may give you a few tips on improving your communication with your child.
* Make the Time. In today's complex world, it's even more important to make sure you set aside time to talk. That doesn't mean you have to hold a formal meeting. Sometimes the best discussions take place while you're driving the car or puttering around the kitchen.
* Listen to the Little Stuff. Kids will talk to you if they know you're going to listen – whether they discuss heavy issues or everyday things like schoolwork. If your kids know you're listening, they are more likely to trust you enough to talk about everything in their life.
* Listen Between the Lines. Because a lot of kids find it hard to talk to their parents. about things that really matter parents have to pay special attention to what their kids may be trying to say. It helps to pay particular attention to
*Family Time-Many parents schedule soccer, basketball, gymnastics and other activities into their family life. How about scheduling Family Time? A time when all of the family is together to play a board game or watch a movie. Some parents have found that Movie Night can provide an opportunity to connect and talk to their children. You may need to set a rule that no one uses the phone during this time.
* Ask their Opinion. Few things please children (or anybody else) more than being asked their opinion. You don't have to ask about important issues all the time, either.
* Don't Interrupt. In a national survey, more than half the children said that when they talked, their parents often or sometimes didn't give them a chance to explain themselves. It's a good idea to give your children some extra time to explain their opinion or desires, even if you think you know what they're going to say.
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Ten Ways to Help Your Kids Get OrganizedDeveloping good organizational skills is a key ingredient for success in school and in life. Although some people by nature are more organized than others, anyone can put routines and systems in place to help a child "get it together." Here's a list of strategies that you can use to help your child get -- and keep -- his life under control.
1. Use checklists.
Help your child get into the habit of keeping a "to-do" list. Use checklists to post assignments, household chores, and reminders about what materials to bring to class. Your child should keep a small pad or notebook dedicated to listing homework assignments. Crossing completed items off the list will give him a sense of accomplishment.
2. Organize homework assignments.
Before beginning a homework session, encourage your child to number assignments in the order in which they should be done. She should start with one that's not too long or difficult, but avoid saving the longest or hardest assignments for last.
3. Designate a study space.
Your child should study in the same place every night. This doesn't have to be a bedroom, but it should be a quiet place with few distractions. All school supplies and materials should be nearby. If your young child wants to study with you nearby, too, you'll be better able to monitor his progress and encourage good study habits.
4. Set a designated study time.
Your child should know that a certain time every day is reserved for studying and doing homework. The best time is usually not right after school -- most children benefit from time to unwind first. Include your child in making this decision. Even if she doesn't have homework, the reserved time should be used to review the day's lessons, read for pleasure, or work on an upcoming project.
5. Keep organized notebooks.
Help your child keep track of papers by organizing them in a binder or notebook. This will help him review the material for each day's classes and to organize the material later to prepare for tests and quizzes. Use dividers to separate class notes, or color-code notebooks. Separate "to do" and "done" folders help organize worksheets, notices, and items to be signed by parents, as well as provide a central place to store completed assignments.
6. Conduct a weekly clean-up.
Encourage your child to sort through book bags and notebooks on a weekly basis. Old tests and papers should be organized and kept in a separate file at home.
7. Create a household schedule.
Try to establish and stick to a regular dinnertime and a regular bedtime. This will help your child fall into a pattern at home. Children with a regular bedtime go to school well-rested. Try to limit television-watching and computer play to specific periods of time during the day.
8. Keep a master calendar.
Keep a large, wall-sized calendar for the household that lists the family's commitments, schedules for extracurricular activities, days off from school, and major events at home and at school. Note dates when your child has big exams or due dates for projects. This will help family members keep track of each other's activities and avoid scheduling conflicts.
9. Prepare for the day ahead.
Before your child goes to bed, he should pack schoolwork and books in a book bag. The next day's clothes should be laid out with shoes, socks, and accessories. This will cut down on morning confusion and allow your child to prepare quickly for the day ahead.
10. Provide needed support while your child is learning to become more organized.
Help your child develop organizational skills by photocopying checklists and schedules and taping them to the refrigerator. Gently remind her about filling in calendar dates and keeping papers and materials organized. Most important, set a good example.
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Film Maker Gives Fast Food Warning To KidsIn light of all of the talk from our Federal and State governments about Banning Junk food in school, I thought you may like to read portions of an article I found at Educationworld.com. Though I have yet to see the movie, a few parents have recently spoken to me about it and were amazed at some of the information they learned.
When filmmaker Morgan Spurlock decided to eat nothing but McDonald's for 30 days for his movie Super Size Me, his health deteriorated more than anyone expected. Now he is urging schools to help steer kids away from fast food, through more healthful lunch choices.
Eating nothing but McDonald's food for three meals a day sounds like an American kid's dream; a fast-food feeding frenzy, where the next french fry is as close as the next meal. But filmmaker Morgan Spurlock showed in his Academy Award-nominated documentary Super Size Me: A Film of Epic Proportions just how damaging a McDiet could be. The film chronicles the effects on Spurlock of eating McDonald's food for three meals a day for 30 days, with little or no exercise. Long before the month was up, Spurlock's physical and emotional health deteriorated, as his blood pressure and cholesterol levels soared and the fat content in his liver became dangerously high. At the end of 30 days, he'd gained 25 pounds.
The film also examines the broader issue of obesity in America, the growing number of obese children, and includes segments from U.S. school cafeterias where students could choose from among french fries, ice cream, and cookies for lunch and that's all some ate.
In light of this I would like to give special thank you to all of our RESCO parent volunteers who help to provide healthy snacks and hot lunches for our children.
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