Family Life Today - Halloween Family Fun
The traditional Halloween celebrations come round every October 31st, and these days those who enjoy the festivities the most are the children. Halloween is a time to dress up in fancy dress and take to the streets trick or treating. Some families go to a lot of trouble decorating their homes and front yards in a ghostly and eerie Halloween theme.
Halloween is a traditional Celtic festival, and has survived through the ages most strongly in the Celtic communities in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. From there, with emigration, Halloween has spread around the world, most notably to America. In recent years, the spread of popular American culture has introduced a further expansion of interest in Halloween to fresh places, such as Asia and Western Europe.
The original Celtic celebrations were pagan festivities related to the changing seasons as winter approached. Traditionally it was a time when the living could communicate with the dead, and magic was abroad. The early Christian church, as with many pagan festivals, absorbed these celebrations into the Christian calendar. All Saints Day, also known as All Hallows Day, was set down for November 1st. All Hallows Evening, the night of October 31st, became known as Hallow E'en, later just Halloween, and the time for the traditional celebrations.
Halloween celebrations were a community event, and there was usually a bonfire and fun games. The apple harvest was in full swing, and games such as trying to eat an apple on a string or floating in a barrel of water without using your hands, were popular. Children would go from door to door to gather fruit, nuts and other goodies for the festivities, which was the origin of the "treating" visits of today. In most places, especially in Scotland, the children would sing or put on a performance in return for the treats they collected. Today the treats collected are more likely to be candies and sweets, and sometimes money.
Halloween "tricks" were originally secret and often witty pranks played on some adults by children, with the blame being placed on the mischievous spirits that were said to be abroad on Halloween. This practice was especially popular in Ireland. At some stage long in the past, tricks and treating merged into a choice: give a treat or become the victim of a trick. This unfortunate development led to such practices as throwing eggs at houses and soaping windows, and worse. Today these excesses are rare.
Halloween parties are often held with a haunted house theme decoration. To the delight of children, Halloween menu items often include tomato soup renamed as vampire soup, spaghetti dishes renamed with cemetery humor as worms, and the ever-popular breadsticks tipped with sliced almonds and known as witches’ fingers. With so many pumpkins being made into carved jack-o-lanterns, pumpkin dishes such as pumpkin pie are often a feature of Halloween menus.
Over the last few years, the magical themes of the popular Harry Potter books have added fresh fun to costumes and decorations for children's Halloween parties.
Halloween costume parties have also become popular events for adults as well in recent years. They are a great excuse to dress up and have fun. It seems the trend today is for any costume to be acceptable, not necessarily just the traditional witches, vampires and ghosts of Halloween. Costume design inspirations are now drawn from many sources, such as recent movies and television series. Some costumes are just witty, such as the seasonally appropriate theme of a leaf blower, consisting just of a leaf suspended from the brim of a cap where it can be blown.
Learn more about family life today at http://officialfamily.info/
Monday, September 29, 2008
Free Parenting Tips To Prepare For A Spelling Test
Learning to spell words correctly is an important skill that will help students throughout their life. It helps with both reading and writing which are essential skills for success in today's world. This is why the weekly spelling test is such a staple at schools throughout the United States. Knowing it is important is no consolation to those many students who struggle to learn spelling words each week or worse fail those spelling tests. What can parents do to help their children better prepare for those spelling tests? There are three simple strategies to helping children master their weekly spelling words -- read, say, and write.
Most children receive their spelling words on Monday so the work should begin Monday afternoon or evening. Today you will set the foundation for the week's work. Have the child read the list through and study each word. Then have the child say each word and spell it for you from the written list. Finally, have the child write each word three times. Now put the list away for the day.
When children struggle with spelling it often helps for you to show the child the patterns that can be found in the word list and carefully go over the words that break that pattern. Show the child how to sound out a word and give them clues that will help them remember. Demonstrate how acrobat can be broken into ac-ro-bat, for example.
On Tuesday you will likely want to repeat the same activities unless you feel the child is comfortable with the words and then you can skip ahead to the next day's activities. The intent of these first two days is simply to familiarize the child with the words without placing any pressure on her.
Wednesday it is time to see how well the child knows the words. Give the child a written spelling test and then check the words. Have the child write each word that is missed three times. Then give the child an oral spelling test on the words that were missed. If the child stumbles on any of the words then spell the word with the child. Now put the list away for the day.
Thursday can be easy or challenging depending on the words that week and the child's success with them. If the child is still struggling with several words then simply repeat the Wednesday activities. Try to do so as early as possible to give you time to work with the child on a couple words throughout the evening. Remember to emphasize the patterns and clues that you discussed earlier in the week.
Friday is the big day and the moment of truth to see if all your child's hard work has paid off. Try to allow extra time before school to go over the words again. If the child's confidence is low then do not test, simply spell the words out loud with the child. If you drive your child to school this is a great activity for the car.
Find more free parenting tips at http://officialfamily.info
Learning to spell words correctly is an important skill that will help students throughout their life. It helps with both reading and writing which are essential skills for success in today's world. This is why the weekly spelling test is such a staple at schools throughout the United States. Knowing it is important is no consolation to those many students who struggle to learn spelling words each week or worse fail those spelling tests. What can parents do to help their children better prepare for those spelling tests? There are three simple strategies to helping children master their weekly spelling words -- read, say, and write.
Most children receive their spelling words on Monday so the work should begin Monday afternoon or evening. Today you will set the foundation for the week's work. Have the child read the list through and study each word. Then have the child say each word and spell it for you from the written list. Finally, have the child write each word three times. Now put the list away for the day.
When children struggle with spelling it often helps for you to show the child the patterns that can be found in the word list and carefully go over the words that break that pattern. Show the child how to sound out a word and give them clues that will help them remember. Demonstrate how acrobat can be broken into ac-ro-bat, for example.
On Tuesday you will likely want to repeat the same activities unless you feel the child is comfortable with the words and then you can skip ahead to the next day's activities. The intent of these first two days is simply to familiarize the child with the words without placing any pressure on her.
Wednesday it is time to see how well the child knows the words. Give the child a written spelling test and then check the words. Have the child write each word that is missed three times. Then give the child an oral spelling test on the words that were missed. If the child stumbles on any of the words then spell the word with the child. Now put the list away for the day.
Thursday can be easy or challenging depending on the words that week and the child's success with them. If the child is still struggling with several words then simply repeat the Wednesday activities. Try to do so as early as possible to give you time to work with the child on a couple words throughout the evening. Remember to emphasize the patterns and clues that you discussed earlier in the week.
Friday is the big day and the moment of truth to see if all your child's hard work has paid off. Try to allow extra time before school to go over the words again. If the child's confidence is low then do not test, simply spell the words out loud with the child. If you drive your child to school this is a great activity for the car.
Find more free parenting tips at http://officialfamily.info
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Good Parenting Advice - Do Not Put Education On Summer Vacation
The words "Schools Out For Summer" strike joy into the hearts of children and often a sigh of relief for parents who are just as eager to take a break from homework as their progeny. However taking a complete break from the books for the entire summer can be problematic.
Studies have shown that children forget between 1 and 3 months of school during the summer vacation. While reading is the least effected, the most impacted subjects are spelling and math. Obviously it is important for children to have time to play and relax -- to just enjoy being kids during the summer. Children should not be pushed into a high-pressure study schedule over summer vacation. But parents can take steps to slow down that loss of knowledge and erosion of skills.
First and foremost, keep children reading over the summer but try to work in some nonfiction as well as fiction onto the reading list. Take a lesson from many experienced teachers and pick a few spelling words from the books children are reading. Perhaps tie test results into some special summer reward and you will have eagerly awaited spelling bees.
Writing is one skill that often erodes during summer, but you can give children a writing journal and a weekly goal. They can write about whatever you think will interest your child. They can report on their baseball games, make up elaborate games, or simply report on the books they are reading. There are lots of great writing prompts out there for kids if you run dry of ideas. It does not matter so much what your child writes so long as they spend time writing so they can work on handwriting skills as well as keep in the groove of putting words on paper. One easy writing prompt is to have the child describe people, places, objects, pets and other animals, insects, and games. Lists are another easy writing prompt -- favorite things, worst things, etc. Then on another day you can use those descriptions and lists to generate another writing prompt.
Math skills might seem the hardest thing to work on during summer but in fact these can be the easiest. Math does not have to come out of a book and you can easily work a lot of math lessons into those long car rides or plane trips as you go on a family vacation. Try counting car headlights (counting by 2s) as you drive or fingers in a restaurant or plane (counting by 5s). Find various shapes around the house and then trace them to create yet more complex forms. Get the kids involved in cooking and learning about measurements. Give the kids a ruler and notebook and tell them to measure various objects around the house. Empty out your pocket change and have the kids sort it and create word problems with the coins.
There are lots of activities you can do at home without the expense of special tools, workbooks or programs that will actively engage your child in learning and help keep their school skills sharp. They will not even notice they are learning because they will enjoy these projects so much.
Renaissance Woman Deanna Mascle shares more good parenting advice at http://renaissancewomanonline.com/family.php
The words "Schools Out For Summer" strike joy into the hearts of children and often a sigh of relief for parents who are just as eager to take a break from homework as their progeny. However taking a complete break from the books for the entire summer can be problematic.
Studies have shown that children forget between 1 and 3 months of school during the summer vacation. While reading is the least effected, the most impacted subjects are spelling and math. Obviously it is important for children to have time to play and relax -- to just enjoy being kids during the summer. Children should not be pushed into a high-pressure study schedule over summer vacation. But parents can take steps to slow down that loss of knowledge and erosion of skills.
First and foremost, keep children reading over the summer but try to work in some nonfiction as well as fiction onto the reading list. Take a lesson from many experienced teachers and pick a few spelling words from the books children are reading. Perhaps tie test results into some special summer reward and you will have eagerly awaited spelling bees.
Writing is one skill that often erodes during summer, but you can give children a writing journal and a weekly goal. They can write about whatever you think will interest your child. They can report on their baseball games, make up elaborate games, or simply report on the books they are reading. There are lots of great writing prompts out there for kids if you run dry of ideas. It does not matter so much what your child writes so long as they spend time writing so they can work on handwriting skills as well as keep in the groove of putting words on paper. One easy writing prompt is to have the child describe people, places, objects, pets and other animals, insects, and games. Lists are another easy writing prompt -- favorite things, worst things, etc. Then on another day you can use those descriptions and lists to generate another writing prompt.
Math skills might seem the hardest thing to work on during summer but in fact these can be the easiest. Math does not have to come out of a book and you can easily work a lot of math lessons into those long car rides or plane trips as you go on a family vacation. Try counting car headlights (counting by 2s) as you drive or fingers in a restaurant or plane (counting by 5s). Find various shapes around the house and then trace them to create yet more complex forms. Get the kids involved in cooking and learning about measurements. Give the kids a ruler and notebook and tell them to measure various objects around the house. Empty out your pocket change and have the kids sort it and create word problems with the coins.
There are lots of activities you can do at home without the expense of special tools, workbooks or programs that will actively engage your child in learning and help keep their school skills sharp. They will not even notice they are learning because they will enjoy these projects so much.
Renaissance Woman Deanna Mascle shares more good parenting advice at http://renaissancewomanonline.com/family.php
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Parenting Tip - How Do You Learn To Be A Parent?
Parenting is the toughest, most important job most people will ever encounter and yet there is no license required, no training required, and no 24/7 hotline. This is rather short-sighted on the part of society as the cost of bad parenting is immense, but in truth the situation is not as dire as it seems. While no training is required for new parents, it is very easy for parents to learn the ways and means of good parents as well as the traps and pitfalls of bad parents. All it takes for parents to learn more about parenting is to watch, listen, and learn.
Watching is a key element to learning more about parenting. Watch the parents around you and you can learn all sorts of lessons about how to interact with your child, how to discipline your child, and how to teach your child. Almost everywhere you take your child there will be other parents and their children. Watching means observing but also listening. Hear the tone of voice as well as the words those parents use. Some parents use the right words but their tone and physical manner contradicts those words. Watch the children to note their response. Some children respond more readily to their parents. Why? What is different about that parent-child relationship? What can you take away for your own parent-child relationship?
Listen to advice. You don't need to take every piece of advice that is offered to you. After all, there are many people who are free with advice and yet have clearly demonstrated they are in no position to offer it. However, there is often some really good advice shared by people you know and trust as well as good advice offered by passing strangers in the supermarket checkout line or in the stands at a soccer game. Be a sponge. Keep your ears open. You don't have to take that advice but keeping your options open gives you the chance to sort out the jewels and benefit from them.
Be an active learner. Seek out information when you face a parenting challenge. Perhaps your child is acting out in a new way and your old discipline technique isn't working. Search the internet, flip through parenting books, and ask some experts in your circle of friends. Sometimes great advice will come to you but other times you will need to seek it out. The more proactive you are about finding solutions to your parenting problems then the better parent you will become.
Parenting is a challenging job, no question about it, but it also comes with wonderful built-in rewards. Some times parents are forced to take a tough unpopular stand but in the end good parenting comes with its own rewards. Those rewards include a happy, successful child and a warm, loving relationship that will extend long past childhood and span the rest of your life. So who needs special training. If you watch, listen, and learn then you can be the parent you want to be and your child deserves.
You can find good parenting advice at http://answersforyourfamily.com/
Parenting is the toughest, most important job most people will ever encounter and yet there is no license required, no training required, and no 24/7 hotline. This is rather short-sighted on the part of society as the cost of bad parenting is immense, but in truth the situation is not as dire as it seems. While no training is required for new parents, it is very easy for parents to learn the ways and means of good parents as well as the traps and pitfalls of bad parents. All it takes for parents to learn more about parenting is to watch, listen, and learn.
Watching is a key element to learning more about parenting. Watch the parents around you and you can learn all sorts of lessons about how to interact with your child, how to discipline your child, and how to teach your child. Almost everywhere you take your child there will be other parents and their children. Watching means observing but also listening. Hear the tone of voice as well as the words those parents use. Some parents use the right words but their tone and physical manner contradicts those words. Watch the children to note their response. Some children respond more readily to their parents. Why? What is different about that parent-child relationship? What can you take away for your own parent-child relationship?
Listen to advice. You don't need to take every piece of advice that is offered to you. After all, there are many people who are free with advice and yet have clearly demonstrated they are in no position to offer it. However, there is often some really good advice shared by people you know and trust as well as good advice offered by passing strangers in the supermarket checkout line or in the stands at a soccer game. Be a sponge. Keep your ears open. You don't have to take that advice but keeping your options open gives you the chance to sort out the jewels and benefit from them.
Be an active learner. Seek out information when you face a parenting challenge. Perhaps your child is acting out in a new way and your old discipline technique isn't working. Search the internet, flip through parenting books, and ask some experts in your circle of friends. Sometimes great advice will come to you but other times you will need to seek it out. The more proactive you are about finding solutions to your parenting problems then the better parent you will become.
Parenting is a challenging job, no question about it, but it also comes with wonderful built-in rewards. Some times parents are forced to take a tough unpopular stand but in the end good parenting comes with its own rewards. Those rewards include a happy, successful child and a warm, loving relationship that will extend long past childhood and span the rest of your life. So who needs special training. If you watch, listen, and learn then you can be the parent you want to be and your child deserves.
You can find good parenting advice at http://answersforyourfamily.com/
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Parenting Advice - Have Questions About Parenting Classes
There is a huge market for parenting classes in this busy world. Many people find that they do not know how to balance their jobs as parents with their occupational goals, so they attend parenting classes to get some advice and to get some grounding in terms of parenting. These people meet regularly with other parents to share tips, get advice and to gain information in terms of parenting so that they can take what they learn in class home with them to create a better working family.
One of the things people learn about in a parenting class is parenting style. There are virtually thousands of options and many people vary their own parenting style several times during the life of the child. Some maintain a nurturing style throughout and display affection and lavish caring towards the child at all ages. Others maintain a more distant style of parenting, preferring to let words promote the parenting style as opposed to actions. Whatever the parenting style is, parenting classes offer a glimpse into the variations between these notions.
Parenting education is another important aspect of parenting classes. Many people go to parenting classes because of the sharing of information. People find, in talking about their issues, that they are able to learn more about parenting. This sharing of parenting education is prosperous for parents and for the children that benefit from new pieces of shared information about raising a family. With the right education, many parents learn how to treat sickness with their child or how to handle a tough psychological problem with their teen.
There are, of course, options for those parents that are parenting baby. A babies needs tend to be more specific and involve a greater amount of care in terms of parenting needs. A baby needs a great deal of attention, so parenting baby training picks up on that and works with tons of valuable information to create the best possible parenting skill-set. From these types of parenting classes, people are finding more confidence to continue parenting baby.
Regardless of the age group of the children, many parents are finding that attending parenting classes is an incredibly helpful way to go about learning more about the troubles and trials of parenting. It is also a great way to communicate and form a network of other supportive parents. One of the major benefits at most parenting classes tends to be the notion of treating each parent, each member of the relationship, as the same and as equal partners in parenting classes.
There are many options for parenting classes. They are typically offered in community centers or within church groups and run year-round on all of the days of the week to accommodate the busy schedule of the average working parent. Finding parenting classes is typically just a matter of looking in a phone book or contacting local representatives for community information. Parenting classes can make all of the difference in the world, even to the most seasoned parenting veteran.
Find more parenting advice at http://parentslearnmore.com/
There is a huge market for parenting classes in this busy world. Many people find that they do not know how to balance their jobs as parents with their occupational goals, so they attend parenting classes to get some advice and to get some grounding in terms of parenting. These people meet regularly with other parents to share tips, get advice and to gain information in terms of parenting so that they can take what they learn in class home with them to create a better working family.
One of the things people learn about in a parenting class is parenting style. There are virtually thousands of options and many people vary their own parenting style several times during the life of the child. Some maintain a nurturing style throughout and display affection and lavish caring towards the child at all ages. Others maintain a more distant style of parenting, preferring to let words promote the parenting style as opposed to actions. Whatever the parenting style is, parenting classes offer a glimpse into the variations between these notions.
Parenting education is another important aspect of parenting classes. Many people go to parenting classes because of the sharing of information. People find, in talking about their issues, that they are able to learn more about parenting. This sharing of parenting education is prosperous for parents and for the children that benefit from new pieces of shared information about raising a family. With the right education, many parents learn how to treat sickness with their child or how to handle a tough psychological problem with their teen.
There are, of course, options for those parents that are parenting baby. A babies needs tend to be more specific and involve a greater amount of care in terms of parenting needs. A baby needs a great deal of attention, so parenting baby training picks up on that and works with tons of valuable information to create the best possible parenting skill-set. From these types of parenting classes, people are finding more confidence to continue parenting baby.
Regardless of the age group of the children, many parents are finding that attending parenting classes is an incredibly helpful way to go about learning more about the troubles and trials of parenting. It is also a great way to communicate and form a network of other supportive parents. One of the major benefits at most parenting classes tends to be the notion of treating each parent, each member of the relationship, as the same and as equal partners in parenting classes.
There are many options for parenting classes. They are typically offered in community centers or within church groups and run year-round on all of the days of the week to accommodate the busy schedule of the average working parent. Finding parenting classes is typically just a matter of looking in a phone book or contacting local representatives for community information. Parenting classes can make all of the difference in the world, even to the most seasoned parenting veteran.
Find more parenting advice at http://parentslearnmore.com/
Christian Parenting - an Alternative Parenting Style?
There are many different aspects of parenting that qualify as alternative parenting, including Christian parenting, gay parenting and surrogate parenting. All of these are somewhat normative in that they involve loving sets of parents that take care of their children, but many of the details can create a stir in the hearts and minds of detractors. Whether or not the debate surrounding Christian parenting, gay parenting and surrogate parenting is necessary is irrelevant because it exists and we are inundated with it.
As the world changes, so do parenting rights. What once was regarded as being purely for a man and a woman under legal definitions has now been spread to meet the changing needs of our evolving society. Gay families now have equal parenting rights in most North American areas. Marriage rights for homosexuals is another can of worms, however.
While Christian parenting and gay parenting may seem to be polar opposites, they are often greeted by opposition in the public arena because of the controversial viewpoints that exist. While on the one hand, Christian parenting detractors vocalize their opinions on the notion that Christian parenting involves teaching children a "mythology" at a very young age without offering choices, they also advocate that this parenting approach traditionally expresses solid value systems in children.
The same perplexing two-pronged sentiments are expressed towards parents of the homosexual persuasion. One the one hand, many people seem to intrinsically doubt the notion that two homosexual people can be parents. On the other hand, people also think that the only requirement of a marriage and a family relationship is for the two people to be loving and capable of compassion in regards to one another. In that respect, one would assume that the viewpoint in terms of gay parenting seems a little bit contradictory.
Surrogate parenting is another topic that often gets thrown into the mix that affects Christian parenting and gay parenting. Surrogate parenting is the controversial practice of seeking out a vessel to carry a child until childbirth and then passing the child over to another parent. Many people object to this practice because they view it as being "baby farming". This objection typically comes right on the heels of the statement that a surrogate mother is one of the most tenderly giving women in the world because she gives of her own body. This confusing point of view is more evidence as to the perplexing arena of debate surrounding the various types of controversial parenting.
Christian parenting, gay parenting and surrogate parenting all face an enormous amount of criticism from the general public in terms of what is required as ethical parenting. These issues are typically not ethical issues, however, and instead stem from a very basic and primitive paranoia about the raising of children in the Western world. Christian parenting, gay parenting and surrogate parenting are all important aspects of parenting that should be noted for their loving compassion before any social issue gets in the way of good sense.
Find more parenting advice at http://officialfamily.us/
There are many different aspects of parenting that qualify as alternative parenting, including Christian parenting, gay parenting and surrogate parenting. All of these are somewhat normative in that they involve loving sets of parents that take care of their children, but many of the details can create a stir in the hearts and minds of detractors. Whether or not the debate surrounding Christian parenting, gay parenting and surrogate parenting is necessary is irrelevant because it exists and we are inundated with it.
As the world changes, so do parenting rights. What once was regarded as being purely for a man and a woman under legal definitions has now been spread to meet the changing needs of our evolving society. Gay families now have equal parenting rights in most North American areas. Marriage rights for homosexuals is another can of worms, however.
While Christian parenting and gay parenting may seem to be polar opposites, they are often greeted by opposition in the public arena because of the controversial viewpoints that exist. While on the one hand, Christian parenting detractors vocalize their opinions on the notion that Christian parenting involves teaching children a "mythology" at a very young age without offering choices, they also advocate that this parenting approach traditionally expresses solid value systems in children.
The same perplexing two-pronged sentiments are expressed towards parents of the homosexual persuasion. One the one hand, many people seem to intrinsically doubt the notion that two homosexual people can be parents. On the other hand, people also think that the only requirement of a marriage and a family relationship is for the two people to be loving and capable of compassion in regards to one another. In that respect, one would assume that the viewpoint in terms of gay parenting seems a little bit contradictory.
Surrogate parenting is another topic that often gets thrown into the mix that affects Christian parenting and gay parenting. Surrogate parenting is the controversial practice of seeking out a vessel to carry a child until childbirth and then passing the child over to another parent. Many people object to this practice because they view it as being "baby farming". This objection typically comes right on the heels of the statement that a surrogate mother is one of the most tenderly giving women in the world because she gives of her own body. This confusing point of view is more evidence as to the perplexing arena of debate surrounding the various types of controversial parenting.
Christian parenting, gay parenting and surrogate parenting all face an enormous amount of criticism from the general public in terms of what is required as ethical parenting. These issues are typically not ethical issues, however, and instead stem from a very basic and primitive paranoia about the raising of children in the Western world. Christian parenting, gay parenting and surrogate parenting are all important aspects of parenting that should be noted for their loving compassion before any social issue gets in the way of good sense.
Find more parenting advice at http://officialfamily.us/
Good Parenting Tips - Who Really Writes Parenting Books?
The best parenting books tend to be the ones written by those with actual parental experience. It seems that this qualifies them to write and discuss parenting, but it may not always make them the best authors. Still, when it comes to taking the advice of either a parent with a little dirt on his or her fingers or the advice of an "expert" with no children, many parents would select parenting books written by the former.
As parents, it is common to wonder how a person with no child-raising experience is at all qualified to write parenting books. Instead, most parents want a book written by someone with knowledge of parenting and all of the trials involved in the most harmful and dangerous of life's professions.
Many parenting books tend to take a viewpoint that looks at it as parenting from the inside out. This simple philosophy refers to the notion that authors of these books are reflecting on their own personal experience as a parent and are, therefore, offering parenting advice from someone experienced with parenting from the inside out. As someone who has been down many of the same roads before, parenting advice can typically be well-founded when it comes from an experienced parent.
Of course, not everyone that writes a parenting book needs to undergo systematic training for effective parenting. Often in lieu of systematic training for effective parenting, an author of parenting books may have a degree in pediatrics and may be experienced in child psychology. The author can then approach the prospect of writing parenting books from a position of expertise and not necessarily a position of experience. In this matter, the advice and words from an author with such expertise would be well-founded, but the matter of whether or not it would be as broadly accepted as the same advice from an author that was an actual parent is another matter altogether.
Various BBC parenting specials, for example, often utilize the advice of several of Britain's highly trained pediatricians in their construction. These BBC parenting specials ask for advice from several of the UK's top experts on parenting and piece together a feature documentary based around that qualified information. The BBC then also asks the advice of parents. In many of these specials, it is often amusing to examine the differences in advice given from the childless experts in comparison to the seasoned veteran parents. While both pieces of advice are typically genuine and can be considered "right", it seems that the advice from the actual parents in these cases is generally more realistic and based on actual experience as opposed to potential theory.
Parenting books are constructed in the same fashion, but other times a parenting book may be written by a parenting expert based on theories that they are aware of. A parent is more than capable and more than experienced when it comes to knowing about parenting, so trusting their ideas when it comes to parenting books is probably a good idea. Whether you decide on parenting books from so-called experts or from regular parents, both can contain good ideas and great advice for the ultimate task of parenting your children.
Parenting books are often very helpful to parents, especially in terms of getting answers to the load of questions most parents have. Seeking out advice can be difficult, but most of the books on the market contain great advice that is easy and rather pleasant to read. Parenting books can be really helpful in many situations by developing a good understanding of the life-long job of being a parent and tempering it with some good advice.
Find more parenting tips at http://officialfamily.info/
The best parenting books tend to be the ones written by those with actual parental experience. It seems that this qualifies them to write and discuss parenting, but it may not always make them the best authors. Still, when it comes to taking the advice of either a parent with a little dirt on his or her fingers or the advice of an "expert" with no children, many parents would select parenting books written by the former.
As parents, it is common to wonder how a person with no child-raising experience is at all qualified to write parenting books. Instead, most parents want a book written by someone with knowledge of parenting and all of the trials involved in the most harmful and dangerous of life's professions.
Many parenting books tend to take a viewpoint that looks at it as parenting from the inside out. This simple philosophy refers to the notion that authors of these books are reflecting on their own personal experience as a parent and are, therefore, offering parenting advice from someone experienced with parenting from the inside out. As someone who has been down many of the same roads before, parenting advice can typically be well-founded when it comes from an experienced parent.
Of course, not everyone that writes a parenting book needs to undergo systematic training for effective parenting. Often in lieu of systematic training for effective parenting, an author of parenting books may have a degree in pediatrics and may be experienced in child psychology. The author can then approach the prospect of writing parenting books from a position of expertise and not necessarily a position of experience. In this matter, the advice and words from an author with such expertise would be well-founded, but the matter of whether or not it would be as broadly accepted as the same advice from an author that was an actual parent is another matter altogether.
Various BBC parenting specials, for example, often utilize the advice of several of Britain's highly trained pediatricians in their construction. These BBC parenting specials ask for advice from several of the UK's top experts on parenting and piece together a feature documentary based around that qualified information. The BBC then also asks the advice of parents. In many of these specials, it is often amusing to examine the differences in advice given from the childless experts in comparison to the seasoned veteran parents. While both pieces of advice are typically genuine and can be considered "right", it seems that the advice from the actual parents in these cases is generally more realistic and based on actual experience as opposed to potential theory.
Parenting books are constructed in the same fashion, but other times a parenting book may be written by a parenting expert based on theories that they are aware of. A parent is more than capable and more than experienced when it comes to knowing about parenting, so trusting their ideas when it comes to parenting books is probably a good idea. Whether you decide on parenting books from so-called experts or from regular parents, both can contain good ideas and great advice for the ultimate task of parenting your children.
Parenting books are often very helpful to parents, especially in terms of getting answers to the load of questions most parents have. Seeking out advice can be difficult, but most of the books on the market contain great advice that is easy and rather pleasant to read. Parenting books can be really helpful in many situations by developing a good understanding of the life-long job of being a parent and tempering it with some good advice.
Find more parenting tips at http://officialfamily.info/
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Good Parenting Advice - The Gift of Self Knowledge
One of the greatest lifetime gifts that a parent can give to their child is the gift of self knowledge. This gift will keep on giving for their children's entire lifetime. If your children have a solid grip and understanding of their very own unique selves, you will help prepare them to be stronger, more confident, and have greater self esteem.
Each person is born with a unique personality and their own set of personal interests. These characteristics are part of the package that we are all born with, but individual uniqueness is not always recognized or identified and developed in childhood. Some children seem to sense and know from a very early age just what they enjoy and want to do for the rest of their lives, while many others need some help and nudges along the way to find their uniqueness and their very own passion.
Children born to the same family and raised in a similar manner are each unique regardless of their upbringing. For instance, one child may show an avid interest in caring for animals, and this child will probably spend a lot of time with the family pet, and their reading preferences will be about engaging animal stories. Another child in the family may be extremely interested in exploring and finding out how everything works. This child will keep you constantly on your toes with their never ending questions about everything from wanting to know how your hair dryer heats up to how your car goes forward and backward. A third child may seem like a daydreamer at times, but they often surprise you by coming up with different ways of cleaning their room, walking the dog, or writing their name.
Those are the kinds of natural interests and abilities that wise parents will pay attention to. These parents will consciously and deliberately provide opportunities for their children to have experiences in which they can increase their knowledge and understanding in areas of natural interest to their children, and they will guide them in finding ways to express themselves in their special area of uniqueness. Using age appropriate materials and activities, they will encourage their children to further explore these unique interests. Each new experience will be a stepping stone into their self discovery and expand their awareness of what makes them feel good and what does not feel so good. With each unique interest or ability, there are hundreds of paths to step on where a child's inquisitive mind can develop, grow, and experience self discovery. As their self discovery is expanded, they will be able to make more pertinent focused choices.
As the child experiences successes from any of their small or large achievements while participating in an activity that holds a unique interest for them, these important building blocks of self knowledge and self esteem will take root. They will be truly excited from their heart level because this is a passion that resides within them naturally. Honing that passion with your recognition, appreciation, and guidance will serve as a great confidence booster.
As your children continue to learn and experience success in their unique area of interest or ability, they will find within that broad spectrum their very own niche that they will really excel in. Helping your children to not only learn and recognize what their unique interests are, but to enjoy personal successes in their area of uniqueness will go a long way in helping them to later develop a career or hobby that will provide a great deal of satisfaction and enjoyment for their entire life.
Find more good parenting advice at http://officialfamily.info/
One of the greatest lifetime gifts that a parent can give to their child is the gift of self knowledge. This gift will keep on giving for their children's entire lifetime. If your children have a solid grip and understanding of their very own unique selves, you will help prepare them to be stronger, more confident, and have greater self esteem.
Each person is born with a unique personality and their own set of personal interests. These characteristics are part of the package that we are all born with, but individual uniqueness is not always recognized or identified and developed in childhood. Some children seem to sense and know from a very early age just what they enjoy and want to do for the rest of their lives, while many others need some help and nudges along the way to find their uniqueness and their very own passion.
Children born to the same family and raised in a similar manner are each unique regardless of their upbringing. For instance, one child may show an avid interest in caring for animals, and this child will probably spend a lot of time with the family pet, and their reading preferences will be about engaging animal stories. Another child in the family may be extremely interested in exploring and finding out how everything works. This child will keep you constantly on your toes with their never ending questions about everything from wanting to know how your hair dryer heats up to how your car goes forward and backward. A third child may seem like a daydreamer at times, but they often surprise you by coming up with different ways of cleaning their room, walking the dog, or writing their name.
Those are the kinds of natural interests and abilities that wise parents will pay attention to. These parents will consciously and deliberately provide opportunities for their children to have experiences in which they can increase their knowledge and understanding in areas of natural interest to their children, and they will guide them in finding ways to express themselves in their special area of uniqueness. Using age appropriate materials and activities, they will encourage their children to further explore these unique interests. Each new experience will be a stepping stone into their self discovery and expand their awareness of what makes them feel good and what does not feel so good. With each unique interest or ability, there are hundreds of paths to step on where a child's inquisitive mind can develop, grow, and experience self discovery. As their self discovery is expanded, they will be able to make more pertinent focused choices.
As the child experiences successes from any of their small or large achievements while participating in an activity that holds a unique interest for them, these important building blocks of self knowledge and self esteem will take root. They will be truly excited from their heart level because this is a passion that resides within them naturally. Honing that passion with your recognition, appreciation, and guidance will serve as a great confidence booster.
As your children continue to learn and experience success in their unique area of interest or ability, they will find within that broad spectrum their very own niche that they will really excel in. Helping your children to not only learn and recognize what their unique interests are, but to enjoy personal successes in their area of uniqueness will go a long way in helping them to later develop a career or hobby that will provide a great deal of satisfaction and enjoyment for their entire life.
Find more good parenting advice at http://officialfamily.info/
Good Parenting Advice - Why You Should Let Your Children Help in the Kitchen
Cooking with children can be a lot of fun for them and helpful for you! Children cooking learn a lot about the food they eat. They can see the recipe right through from the raw ingredients stage right up to the result. They will also love eating their creations, even if they contain vegetables!
Benefits of Cooking with Children
Cooking might be a chore for us but the kitchen is a fun place for kids. Cookery is educational for kids and a very good bonding experience between you and them. Children can learn new skills without noticing, which include weighing, measuring, understanding fractions and time. Schools do not tend to spend a lot of time teaching cooking skills to children so you might like to try teaching them yourself.
Getting your child involved in cooking will prepare him or her for self-sufficiency and an independent life. It is also a good way to handle fussy eaters because most children will eagerly eat something they have helped to make. The benefits of cooking with children include teaching your child an extremely useful skill.
Some Tips for Cooking with Children
You can involve children as young as four in your cooking. Before starting, you need to consider a few things. Make sure you read the recipe through with your child so you know what to do and what you need. Clear some space and get all the ingredients and utensils ready on a low surface, which your child can see.
Think about which parts of the recipe your child can do. Older children might be able to strain a bowl of boiling noodles or take something hot out of the oven but you have to be more careful with younger kids. Your child should already know not to touch sharp knives but might forget in the excitement of cooking, so keep them out of reach.
In order for your child to learn about cooking, you should explain what you are doing each step of the way. Telling your child to mix a batter does not let them know why they need to mix those particular ingredients or what is going to happen next. Kids are naturally inquisitive and you will probably find that they do not stop asking questions the whole time anyway!
Teach your child to wash their hands before handling any food. If your child is young, tell them what you are doing as you prepare the food. An older child can measure the ingredients by themselves.
Recipes to Make with Children
Children love to knead and roll out dough, mix batters and crack eggs so you could make a cake together or some cookies. Pizza is a fun food and your child can decide on the toppings and arrange them himself. Icing a cake can also be fun for a child. If it is someone's birthday, he can try to pipe a birthday message on the cake or arrange fruit on top. You might not get a particularly professional result but it will be fun for him and certainly appreciated by the recipient.
Whatever recipe you decide to make with your child, the most important thing with children cooking is to have fun. Cooking with children is an excellent bonding experience. Kids love to learn and it is always great to teach them something useful!
Find more good parenting advice at http://parentslearnmore.com/
Cooking with children can be a lot of fun for them and helpful for you! Children cooking learn a lot about the food they eat. They can see the recipe right through from the raw ingredients stage right up to the result. They will also love eating their creations, even if they contain vegetables!
Benefits of Cooking with Children
Cooking might be a chore for us but the kitchen is a fun place for kids. Cookery is educational for kids and a very good bonding experience between you and them. Children can learn new skills without noticing, which include weighing, measuring, understanding fractions and time. Schools do not tend to spend a lot of time teaching cooking skills to children so you might like to try teaching them yourself.
Getting your child involved in cooking will prepare him or her for self-sufficiency and an independent life. It is also a good way to handle fussy eaters because most children will eagerly eat something they have helped to make. The benefits of cooking with children include teaching your child an extremely useful skill.
Some Tips for Cooking with Children
You can involve children as young as four in your cooking. Before starting, you need to consider a few things. Make sure you read the recipe through with your child so you know what to do and what you need. Clear some space and get all the ingredients and utensils ready on a low surface, which your child can see.
Think about which parts of the recipe your child can do. Older children might be able to strain a bowl of boiling noodles or take something hot out of the oven but you have to be more careful with younger kids. Your child should already know not to touch sharp knives but might forget in the excitement of cooking, so keep them out of reach.
In order for your child to learn about cooking, you should explain what you are doing each step of the way. Telling your child to mix a batter does not let them know why they need to mix those particular ingredients or what is going to happen next. Kids are naturally inquisitive and you will probably find that they do not stop asking questions the whole time anyway!
Teach your child to wash their hands before handling any food. If your child is young, tell them what you are doing as you prepare the food. An older child can measure the ingredients by themselves.
Recipes to Make with Children
Children love to knead and roll out dough, mix batters and crack eggs so you could make a cake together or some cookies. Pizza is a fun food and your child can decide on the toppings and arrange them himself. Icing a cake can also be fun for a child. If it is someone's birthday, he can try to pipe a birthday message on the cake or arrange fruit on top. You might not get a particularly professional result but it will be fun for him and certainly appreciated by the recipient.
Whatever recipe you decide to make with your child, the most important thing with children cooking is to have fun. Cooking with children is an excellent bonding experience. Kids love to learn and it is always great to teach them something useful!
Find more good parenting advice at http://parentslearnmore.com/
Good Parenting Advice - What Every Expectant Parent Should Know (But Nobody Tells You)
You are expecting your very first child. Congratulations! You must be very excited and you should be. You’re about to welcome a great gift into this world. But with your excitement there must be plenty of anxiety as well, right? This is totally normal too. Well, just to help you settle your anxiety down a little bit, here is what every parent should know (but nobody tells you).
1. Say Goodbye to Sleep
Okay, so maybe you have been told about this. But until you go through it you won’t understand just how little sleep you’ll get. But to help you through this, remember that it’s only temporary. The months where you’re awakened several times every night are but a brief instant in what will be decades of pleasure you get from you child. Always remember that as you’re forced to roll out of bed at 3 am.
2. You Will Wonder What You’ve Done
Almost every parent has that moment when they wonder why they decided to have a baby in the first place. No, you won’t regret the decision. But you will question if you have what it takes to be a good parent. You will ask yourself if you can give that baby everything he/she needs. Just know that the answer is “yes”. Of course you can give that child everything he/she needs. Because all the baby needs is your love and caring. And the fact that you’re worrying about whether you’re good enough is proof that you have enough love and caring for the child.
3. Puke and Poop Won’t Bother You
Many parents (especially fathers) are always scared about dealing with their kid’s poop and puke. Well, don’t be. Believe it or not, when you have to clean-up puke or change a dirty diaper, it won’t bother you anywhere near as much as you’d think. There’s something in nature that allows a parent to easily handle anything that comes from your baby’s body. While it’s never enjoyable to mop-up throw-up off the floor in the middle of the night, it won’t have you gagging every other second.
4. Babies Are Tough
Newborns look so tiny and fragile, and they are. But they are also a lot tougher than you’d think. So don’t be too afraid of handling your baby and don’t freak out about every little cough or sneeze. Certainly babies need tender, loving, care and they also become dehydrated very easily (when they are throwing-up or have diarrhea) but they are a lot tougher than you’d think. So don’t worry too much.
5. Your Life Will Never be the Same
Once you have a baby, everything in your life will change. Everything. You will no longer be able to go anywhere without it taking you twenty minutes to get ready. You’ll no longer have only yourself to worry about. And you’re alone time will be extremely limited (if it exists at all). But overall, this is a good thing. So embrace it. But don’t expect that things will ever be like they were before the baby.
Find more good parenting advice at http://officialfamily.us/
You are expecting your very first child. Congratulations! You must be very excited and you should be. You’re about to welcome a great gift into this world. But with your excitement there must be plenty of anxiety as well, right? This is totally normal too. Well, just to help you settle your anxiety down a little bit, here is what every parent should know (but nobody tells you).
1. Say Goodbye to Sleep
Okay, so maybe you have been told about this. But until you go through it you won’t understand just how little sleep you’ll get. But to help you through this, remember that it’s only temporary. The months where you’re awakened several times every night are but a brief instant in what will be decades of pleasure you get from you child. Always remember that as you’re forced to roll out of bed at 3 am.
2. You Will Wonder What You’ve Done
Almost every parent has that moment when they wonder why they decided to have a baby in the first place. No, you won’t regret the decision. But you will question if you have what it takes to be a good parent. You will ask yourself if you can give that baby everything he/she needs. Just know that the answer is “yes”. Of course you can give that child everything he/she needs. Because all the baby needs is your love and caring. And the fact that you’re worrying about whether you’re good enough is proof that you have enough love and caring for the child.
3. Puke and Poop Won’t Bother You
Many parents (especially fathers) are always scared about dealing with their kid’s poop and puke. Well, don’t be. Believe it or not, when you have to clean-up puke or change a dirty diaper, it won’t bother you anywhere near as much as you’d think. There’s something in nature that allows a parent to easily handle anything that comes from your baby’s body. While it’s never enjoyable to mop-up throw-up off the floor in the middle of the night, it won’t have you gagging every other second.
4. Babies Are Tough
Newborns look so tiny and fragile, and they are. But they are also a lot tougher than you’d think. So don’t be too afraid of handling your baby and don’t freak out about every little cough or sneeze. Certainly babies need tender, loving, care and they also become dehydrated very easily (when they are throwing-up or have diarrhea) but they are a lot tougher than you’d think. So don’t worry too much.
5. Your Life Will Never be the Same
Once you have a baby, everything in your life will change. Everything. You will no longer be able to go anywhere without it taking you twenty minutes to get ready. You’ll no longer have only yourself to worry about. And you’re alone time will be extremely limited (if it exists at all). But overall, this is a good thing. So embrace it. But don’t expect that things will ever be like they were before the baby.
Find more good parenting advice at http://officialfamily.us/
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Are You Giving Your Child The Edge At School?
Today the pressure to succeed at school begins even earlier than ever. Children in kindergarten and first grade are held to a standard of success that their parents never had to worry about. While in the past those first few years of schooling were pressure free and simply intended to introduce children to formal education, today children are tested on their knowledge and ability within the first weeks of kindergarten and that testing continues throughout the rest of their public school education. This places an enormous pressure on young children and yet many parents are not doing everything they can to give their child the edge and help them succeed at school. Giving your child the edge does not mean hiring a tutor, buying an expensive educational program, or spending hours every day drilling your child. There are several simple steps every parent can take to give their child the edge at school.
First, make sure your child has enough sleep the night before. Many parents do not send their children to bed until they themselves go to bed. Growing children need between 10-12 hours of sleep a night. While there are a few children who seem to require less, the majority of children need at least this much. If your child appears tired, is difficult to wake in the morning, or has circles under her eyes then you should move her bedtime up until you find the magic number that gives her the rest she needs. If she is tired and lacking energy then it is much more difficult for her to learn and pay attention at school.
Second, make sure your child has a good breakfast and is provided with a good lunch and snack. Growing children need to eat frequently. They should never be sent to school on any empty stomach and they should not be expected to succeed at school for an entire day without regular meals and snacks. If you are concerned about your child's weight simply cutting back on the amount of meals and food is not a good choice. Instead, try to provide healthy snacks. That should be your goal even if weight is not a concern. Sugary snacks and empty calories are not much more helpful than no food at all when it comes to helping a child keep focused and energized throughout the day.
Fourth, make sure your child is appropriately dressed for the day and their school environment. When the weather is hot make sure they are dressed in cool clothing, when the weather is cold make sure they are dressed in warm clothing. When the weather or school environment is changeable then provide layers so the child can adjust accordingly. Also make sure the clothing is something the child can manage themselves. Many bathroom accidents occur among young children who have trouble with their clothing and the worry about this can provide a further distraction.
Fifth, project the right attitude toward school and your child's education. If you send the message that school is not important, that the teacher is not worthy of respect, and that your child's learning is not essential then your child will receive that message loud and clear. As early as kindergarten and first grade some children decide to give up on school. Make sure that does not happen to your child by projecting a positive attitude toward school and education.
Sixth, get involved. Know your child's teachers and school administration. Be familiar with their classroom, routine, special events, and assignments. The more you know about your child's school life then the more proactive you can be to head off potential problems and help them succeed in school.
If you make sure your child has adequate sleep, sufficient food, and appropriate clothing while you project the right attitude and get involved in their education then you have done everything you can to give your child an edge on success.
Renaissance Woman Deanna Mascle shares more articles about family life at http://deannamascle.com/
Today the pressure to succeed at school begins even earlier than ever. Children in kindergarten and first grade are held to a standard of success that their parents never had to worry about. While in the past those first few years of schooling were pressure free and simply intended to introduce children to formal education, today children are tested on their knowledge and ability within the first weeks of kindergarten and that testing continues throughout the rest of their public school education. This places an enormous pressure on young children and yet many parents are not doing everything they can to give their child the edge and help them succeed at school. Giving your child the edge does not mean hiring a tutor, buying an expensive educational program, or spending hours every day drilling your child. There are several simple steps every parent can take to give their child the edge at school.
First, make sure your child has enough sleep the night before. Many parents do not send their children to bed until they themselves go to bed. Growing children need between 10-12 hours of sleep a night. While there are a few children who seem to require less, the majority of children need at least this much. If your child appears tired, is difficult to wake in the morning, or has circles under her eyes then you should move her bedtime up until you find the magic number that gives her the rest she needs. If she is tired and lacking energy then it is much more difficult for her to learn and pay attention at school.
Second, make sure your child has a good breakfast and is provided with a good lunch and snack. Growing children need to eat frequently. They should never be sent to school on any empty stomach and they should not be expected to succeed at school for an entire day without regular meals and snacks. If you are concerned about your child's weight simply cutting back on the amount of meals and food is not a good choice. Instead, try to provide healthy snacks. That should be your goal even if weight is not a concern. Sugary snacks and empty calories are not much more helpful than no food at all when it comes to helping a child keep focused and energized throughout the day.
Fourth, make sure your child is appropriately dressed for the day and their school environment. When the weather is hot make sure they are dressed in cool clothing, when the weather is cold make sure they are dressed in warm clothing. When the weather or school environment is changeable then provide layers so the child can adjust accordingly. Also make sure the clothing is something the child can manage themselves. Many bathroom accidents occur among young children who have trouble with their clothing and the worry about this can provide a further distraction.
Fifth, project the right attitude toward school and your child's education. If you send the message that school is not important, that the teacher is not worthy of respect, and that your child's learning is not essential then your child will receive that message loud and clear. As early as kindergarten and first grade some children decide to give up on school. Make sure that does not happen to your child by projecting a positive attitude toward school and education.
Sixth, get involved. Know your child's teachers and school administration. Be familiar with their classroom, routine, special events, and assignments. The more you know about your child's school life then the more proactive you can be to head off potential problems and help them succeed in school.
If you make sure your child has adequate sleep, sufficient food, and appropriate clothing while you project the right attitude and get involved in their education then you have done everything you can to give your child an edge on success.
Renaissance Woman Deanna Mascle shares more articles about family life at http://deannamascle.com/
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Good Parenting Advice - Encourage Imaginative Play
Imaginative play is an important part of childhood. Not only is it fun for children but it is also an essential part of learning and developing. Children learn about themselves, about their world, and lay the groundwork for their future through imaginative play. Yet too many children are not encouraged to use their imagination through play. There are three essential ways you can encourage imaginative play in your child -- by providing the place, the time, and the supplies.
Does your child have a place for imaginative play? Is there somewhere, even the corner of a room, where they can build a block city or shape play dough monsters? Can they assemble all their stuffed animals into a school or all their cars into a parade? While children should be encouraged to pick up after themselves sometimes it takes a while to build the city of their dreams and they want time to play with it again. Try to strike a balance between your need for order and their need for imaginative play. Give them a day or so to create a complex setting for their imaginative play before forcing them to put away their toys.
Does your child have the time for imaginative play? It is amazing how many young children have a very full schedule. While many of these activities are likely required, such as school or day care, and many are also desirable, such as sports or clubs, it is also important that children be given the opportunity for free, unstructured play that allows the opportunity for imaginative play. It is not desirable that every moment of every day be structured and planned. Children who are not given the opportunity to exercise their imagination run the risk of losing the ability to use it at all.
Does your child have the supplies for imaginative play? As we know from our own childhood that imaginative play does not require extensive and elaborate supplies, but children do need access to objects they can use. A complex wardrobe is not necessary but a few items can be helpful. A bath towel might be a king's robe or a super hero's cape or swaddling for a baby. A cardboard tube from wrapping paper might be a sword, the container for a secret map, or a spyglass. A cardboard box might be everything from a treasure chest to a race car. Provide a few basic supplies and try not to be too suggestive in their use. Children will do better if allowed to give their imagination free rein without your interference and control.
Imaginative play can be a wonderful opportunity for your child to not only enjoy their childhood but also to learn and grow as people by trying on different roles such as parents, cooks, police officers, and firefighters but also to experience safe adventures as pirates, explorers and paleontologists. Imaginative play should be encouraged in children by allowing them the place, the time, and the supplies for imaginative play.
Renaissance Woman Deanna Mascle shares more good parenting advice in her blogs at http://deannamascle.com
Imaginative play is an important part of childhood. Not only is it fun for children but it is also an essential part of learning and developing. Children learn about themselves, about their world, and lay the groundwork for their future through imaginative play. Yet too many children are not encouraged to use their imagination through play. There are three essential ways you can encourage imaginative play in your child -- by providing the place, the time, and the supplies.
Does your child have a place for imaginative play? Is there somewhere, even the corner of a room, where they can build a block city or shape play dough monsters? Can they assemble all their stuffed animals into a school or all their cars into a parade? While children should be encouraged to pick up after themselves sometimes it takes a while to build the city of their dreams and they want time to play with it again. Try to strike a balance between your need for order and their need for imaginative play. Give them a day or so to create a complex setting for their imaginative play before forcing them to put away their toys.
Does your child have the time for imaginative play? It is amazing how many young children have a very full schedule. While many of these activities are likely required, such as school or day care, and many are also desirable, such as sports or clubs, it is also important that children be given the opportunity for free, unstructured play that allows the opportunity for imaginative play. It is not desirable that every moment of every day be structured and planned. Children who are not given the opportunity to exercise their imagination run the risk of losing the ability to use it at all.
Does your child have the supplies for imaginative play? As we know from our own childhood that imaginative play does not require extensive and elaborate supplies, but children do need access to objects they can use. A complex wardrobe is not necessary but a few items can be helpful. A bath towel might be a king's robe or a super hero's cape or swaddling for a baby. A cardboard tube from wrapping paper might be a sword, the container for a secret map, or a spyglass. A cardboard box might be everything from a treasure chest to a race car. Provide a few basic supplies and try not to be too suggestive in their use. Children will do better if allowed to give their imagination free rein without your interference and control.
Imaginative play can be a wonderful opportunity for your child to not only enjoy their childhood but also to learn and grow as people by trying on different roles such as parents, cooks, police officers, and firefighters but also to experience safe adventures as pirates, explorers and paleontologists. Imaginative play should be encouraged in children by allowing them the place, the time, and the supplies for imaginative play.
Renaissance Woman Deanna Mascle shares more good parenting advice in her blogs at http://deannamascle.com
Monday, January 14, 2008
Parenting Tips - 3 Gifts We Must Give Our Children
Parenting is the most difficult, the most challenging, and the most important job we will ever have. So many of our children's future successes and problems can stem from our success as parents. Yet fortunately we do not have to go it alone. We can learn from the successful parents around us, if we are fortunate including our own parents, and also learn from those less successful as well. In addition, we can learn many important lessons about parenting from our own children. If we only listen and pay attention they tell us so much about what they want and need from us as parents. While we can so often get caught up in the little details and daily grind of parenting, if we keep sight of three main goals then the rest will take care of itself. All our children really need from us are these three all-important gifts: our love, our care, and our time.
Love is the easiest and yet the most overlooked of the gifts we must give our children. We love our children. It is such an overwhelming emotion for us that we often forget that our children may not realize its depth and breadth. It is true for many of us that we did not realize how much our parents love us until we too became parents. Demonstrate through your actions and choices that you love your children. Show them and tell them how much you care. Do this with little gestures and big ones and do it every day. One certainty our children should possess as they grow and develop is that they are loved as this gives them a foundation and confidence that nothing else can.
Care is something we do all the time, so much so that it is often on autopilot. Folding clothes, picking up toys, packing lunches, and washing dishes. One of the ways to cope with these tasks is to put them in perspective. These boring, repetitive tasks are one of the ways we care for our children and by doing them we are showing our care. But do not neglect the emotional and cognitive care along with the physical care. It is easy while making sure our children are fed, clothed, and washed to overlook the emotional care and cognitive care children also need. Teach your child how to handle emotions like fear and jealousy by talking things through and modeling good emotional behavior. Make sure your child is challenged intellectually through conversation, games and books.
Time is the most precious of all gifts and yet so many parents short their children of their time. Time is spent at work and at various life activities from home maintenance to recreation, but simply giving your child the gift of your time and attention every day can reap tremendous rewards. Giving your child your time and attention is the surest way to demonstrate to your child that he or she is loved. You can multi-task while spending time with your child if the task is something that the child can be involved in or adjacent to -- and the task is something mindless so you can focus on the child. For example, children can help with household chores or can talk or read to you while you fold laundry or wash dishes. Simply making a point of spending time with your child every day where your primary focus is on the child can reap tremendous rewards today and tomorrow.
There are no perfect parents, so striving for perfection is setting yourself up for failure. All you can do is try your best and give your child the gifts of love, care, and time. If you do then you will be a good parent. It really is that simple.
Renaissance Woman Deanna Mascle shares more parenting tips in her blog at http://renaissancewomanonline.com
Parenting is the most difficult, the most challenging, and the most important job we will ever have. So many of our children's future successes and problems can stem from our success as parents. Yet fortunately we do not have to go it alone. We can learn from the successful parents around us, if we are fortunate including our own parents, and also learn from those less successful as well. In addition, we can learn many important lessons about parenting from our own children. If we only listen and pay attention they tell us so much about what they want and need from us as parents. While we can so often get caught up in the little details and daily grind of parenting, if we keep sight of three main goals then the rest will take care of itself. All our children really need from us are these three all-important gifts: our love, our care, and our time.
Love is the easiest and yet the most overlooked of the gifts we must give our children. We love our children. It is such an overwhelming emotion for us that we often forget that our children may not realize its depth and breadth. It is true for many of us that we did not realize how much our parents love us until we too became parents. Demonstrate through your actions and choices that you love your children. Show them and tell them how much you care. Do this with little gestures and big ones and do it every day. One certainty our children should possess as they grow and develop is that they are loved as this gives them a foundation and confidence that nothing else can.
Care is something we do all the time, so much so that it is often on autopilot. Folding clothes, picking up toys, packing lunches, and washing dishes. One of the ways to cope with these tasks is to put them in perspective. These boring, repetitive tasks are one of the ways we care for our children and by doing them we are showing our care. But do not neglect the emotional and cognitive care along with the physical care. It is easy while making sure our children are fed, clothed, and washed to overlook the emotional care and cognitive care children also need. Teach your child how to handle emotions like fear and jealousy by talking things through and modeling good emotional behavior. Make sure your child is challenged intellectually through conversation, games and books.
Time is the most precious of all gifts and yet so many parents short their children of their time. Time is spent at work and at various life activities from home maintenance to recreation, but simply giving your child the gift of your time and attention every day can reap tremendous rewards. Giving your child your time and attention is the surest way to demonstrate to your child that he or she is loved. You can multi-task while spending time with your child if the task is something that the child can be involved in or adjacent to -- and the task is something mindless so you can focus on the child. For example, children can help with household chores or can talk or read to you while you fold laundry or wash dishes. Simply making a point of spending time with your child every day where your primary focus is on the child can reap tremendous rewards today and tomorrow.
There are no perfect parents, so striving for perfection is setting yourself up for failure. All you can do is try your best and give your child the gifts of love, care, and time. If you do then you will be a good parent. It really is that simple.
Renaissance Woman Deanna Mascle shares more parenting tips in her blog at http://renaissancewomanonline.com
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Parenting Advice - What Is Your Job As A Parent?
Parenting is a tough job. All too often we do not come to appreciate just how rough our parents had it until we become parents ourselves. While parenting has always been challenging, it seems that parenting today is even tougher than it was for the generations before ours. I believe that is is more difficult because we are raising our children in a far different world than our parents raised us. For the most part, our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents had a pretty good parenting guide set out for them by watching the other members of their family and the world did not change the greatly from one generation to the next. In addition, previous generations of parents had a strong support system of not only examples but helping hands. Today, our mobile society and high rate of single parenthood (through divorce or from the beginning) have not only destroyed the support system of yesteryear but also created a lot more challenging childhood to parent. In our electronic age we do not lack for parenting advice and parenting tips, but it is so hard to pick and choose from the myriad of "helpful hints" to know just what will work for you and your child. However, just like so many other problems in life we are often our own worst enemies. Whenever the parenting choices get too tough then boil it down in importance by asking yourself one of these three key parenting questions.
First, are you a good role model for your child? You know right from wrong. You know what it means to be an adult. You know what kind of man or woman you hope your child to be when he or she grows up. If you want your child to grow up a certain way then try to give them a role model to follow. Children do as you do, not as you say, my mother always says, and I know this is true from watching my own child as well as my students. If you want your child to be kind then you need to demonstrate kindness. If you want your child to be a good student then model scholarship and demonstrate that you value education. If you want your child to have strong work ethic that show them what it means. You can tell your children you want them to stay in school but if you are a dropout who never pursued a G.E.D. then what message does that send? Our children can learn from our mistakes but too often they simply repeat them unless we show them how to change their life.
Second, are you preparing your child for life and adulthood? Don't get me wrong. I think children should be allowed to be children. They should have fun and play. All too often today's child grows up far too soon. I am not talking about talking about sex with your 6-year-old or forcing your 12-year-old to get a job. I mean simply starting when your child is young to teach responsibility, decision-making, and consequences. Start them small with little jobs and little decisions and then as they grow older you can increase the level. If you do too much for your child then they will not be able to do for themselves when they grow older. Also, if you teach your child that life is all fun and games then they are going to be really upset when they discover it is not. I don't allow my 6-year-old to operate any kitchen equipment without supervision but he can make himself a peanut butter sandwich and pour a glass of milk. He can't unload the entire dishwasher (and I shudder to think about him putting glassware in a cupboard over his head) but he can put the silverware away.
Finally, are you providing a solid emotional, physical and educational foundation for your child? Remember, your child may well be in charge of your life some day or maybe even in charge of all of our lives (hey somebody's kid has to be President, why not mine or yours?). Many people with tremendously flawed beginnings grow up to be good people, but why handicap your child that way? No matter how many challenges you face personally it is your job as a parent to provide security and comfort for your child.
I believe that one of the keys to being a good parent is keeping your eyes on the prize. Focus on one universal rule or measuring stick and everything else will get much easier. What measuring stick should you use? That is up to you as this is your life and your child, but the measuring stick my husband and I use is a simple one. We think about what kind of man we want our son to be and apply that goal to the situation at hand. If you focus on being a good role model, preparing your child for life and adulthood, and providing a solid foundation then you are a good parent. Don't sweat the small stuff if the big stuff is taken care of.
Renaissance Woman Deanna Mascle shares more parenting advice in her blog at http://ezinesbydawggone.info
Parenting is a tough job. All too often we do not come to appreciate just how rough our parents had it until we become parents ourselves. While parenting has always been challenging, it seems that parenting today is even tougher than it was for the generations before ours. I believe that is is more difficult because we are raising our children in a far different world than our parents raised us. For the most part, our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents had a pretty good parenting guide set out for them by watching the other members of their family and the world did not change the greatly from one generation to the next. In addition, previous generations of parents had a strong support system of not only examples but helping hands. Today, our mobile society and high rate of single parenthood (through divorce or from the beginning) have not only destroyed the support system of yesteryear but also created a lot more challenging childhood to parent. In our electronic age we do not lack for parenting advice and parenting tips, but it is so hard to pick and choose from the myriad of "helpful hints" to know just what will work for you and your child. However, just like so many other problems in life we are often our own worst enemies. Whenever the parenting choices get too tough then boil it down in importance by asking yourself one of these three key parenting questions.
First, are you a good role model for your child? You know right from wrong. You know what it means to be an adult. You know what kind of man or woman you hope your child to be when he or she grows up. If you want your child to grow up a certain way then try to give them a role model to follow. Children do as you do, not as you say, my mother always says, and I know this is true from watching my own child as well as my students. If you want your child to be kind then you need to demonstrate kindness. If you want your child to be a good student then model scholarship and demonstrate that you value education. If you want your child to have strong work ethic that show them what it means. You can tell your children you want them to stay in school but if you are a dropout who never pursued a G.E.D. then what message does that send? Our children can learn from our mistakes but too often they simply repeat them unless we show them how to change their life.
Second, are you preparing your child for life and adulthood? Don't get me wrong. I think children should be allowed to be children. They should have fun and play. All too often today's child grows up far too soon. I am not talking about talking about sex with your 6-year-old or forcing your 12-year-old to get a job. I mean simply starting when your child is young to teach responsibility, decision-making, and consequences. Start them small with little jobs and little decisions and then as they grow older you can increase the level. If you do too much for your child then they will not be able to do for themselves when they grow older. Also, if you teach your child that life is all fun and games then they are going to be really upset when they discover it is not. I don't allow my 6-year-old to operate any kitchen equipment without supervision but he can make himself a peanut butter sandwich and pour a glass of milk. He can't unload the entire dishwasher (and I shudder to think about him putting glassware in a cupboard over his head) but he can put the silverware away.
Finally, are you providing a solid emotional, physical and educational foundation for your child? Remember, your child may well be in charge of your life some day or maybe even in charge of all of our lives (hey somebody's kid has to be President, why not mine or yours?). Many people with tremendously flawed beginnings grow up to be good people, but why handicap your child that way? No matter how many challenges you face personally it is your job as a parent to provide security and comfort for your child.
I believe that one of the keys to being a good parent is keeping your eyes on the prize. Focus on one universal rule or measuring stick and everything else will get much easier. What measuring stick should you use? That is up to you as this is your life and your child, but the measuring stick my husband and I use is a simple one. We think about what kind of man we want our son to be and apply that goal to the situation at hand. If you focus on being a good role model, preparing your child for life and adulthood, and providing a solid foundation then you are a good parent. Don't sweat the small stuff if the big stuff is taken care of.
Renaissance Woman Deanna Mascle shares more parenting advice in her blog at http://ezinesbydawggone.info
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