“Mooooommmmm, I don’t want to go to the sitter’s,” seven-year-old Elaina says in a high-pitched, sing-song (as in a fingernails-on-a-chalkboard, not melodic) way. The powerful whine is wielded to get her Mom’s attention. And it works every time. How can you not hear, turn toward, and grimace at that tone? In fact, research confirms what …
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It just started happening seemingly out of the blue. “Why can’t I watch PG-13 rated movies? I know kids in my class who do.” “Why do I always have to go upstairs for bed at 7:00? The neighbors all get to stay up later.” And then what seems like minutes later, I hear “Why do …
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Category: Building a Positive Family Environment, Modeling Social and Emotional Skills, Practicing Social and Emotional Skills Tags: Asking questions of parents, Caring, Child development, Compassion, complex thinking, equality, ethics, Fairness, justice, kids questioning, Moral development, Patience, questioning authority, questioning parents, Reflection, Responsible decision-making, Rules, Self control, Social rules, stages of moral development
Teachers arise from somewhere within me that is beyond me, the way the dark soil that is not the root holds the root and feeds the flower. – Mark Nepo “How old do I have to be to be a grown up?” E has asked a twice over the past few weeks. Sometimes to small people …
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Category: About, Building a Positive Family Environment Tags: "Being Twelve", "Yardsticks", Child development, Children, Development, Developmental milestones, Developmental traits, Eight year olds, Empathy, Great Schools Milestones, Growth, Milestones, NBC Education Nation Parent Toolkit, Patience, Perspective taking, Problem solving, Regression, Seven year olds, Twelve year olds
We are called to be strong companions and clear mirrors to one another, to seek those who reflect with compassion and a keen eye how we are doing, whether we seem centered or off course…we need the nourishing company of others to create the circle needed for growth, freedom and healing. – Wayne Muller After …
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Category: Building a Positive Family Environment, Modeling Social and Emotional Skills Tags: Child development, Common Core Standards, Developmental milestones, Developmental traits, Empathy, Motivation to learn, Patience, Perspective taking skills, Sensitivity, Seven year olds, Six year olds, Social and Emotional Learning, Social and Emotional Learning standards
Every spring is the only spring – a perpetual astonishment. – Ellis Peters The birds chirp outside of my window building nests and resting on the newly budded branches surrounding my office. As spring reveals new growth, we watch our children grow and develop, their transformations at times readily apparent and rapid. At a family …
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Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others. – Brene Brown Boundary lines define the playing field. They outline the perimeter and if you step outside, you are, at least temporarily, out of the game. Emotional boundaries operate in the same way. They are the …
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Category: Practicing Social and Emotional Skills Tags: Child development, Emotional boundaries, Emotional Intelligence, Empathy, Problem solving, Responsible decision-making, Rules, safety, Self awareness, Self-regulation, Social awareness
Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one. – C.S. Lewis Whether your child is starting the year in a brand new school or returning to a school community, there is an opportunity to make connections with new friends. Friendships at …
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