Benefits and Simple Ideas for Summer Enrichment “Mom, come quickly!” E says practically jumping up and down. “There’s a bluejay in our yard!” And this scene has played out over and again but with varying creatures – bunnies, beetles, and butterflies – oh my! If you have a patch of grass outside your door, there’s …
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Category: Building a Positive Family Environment Tags: appreciating nature, Caring, Cooperation, Empathy, Exploring nature with kids, Family connectedness, Motivation to learn, nature and kids, Parenting, Perspective taking, sense of awe and wonder, summer enrichment
Feedback is the breakfast of champions. – Ken Blanchard I walked out of my front door, hot tea in hand and a light jacket, on the first sunny, balmy 55 degree day signaling the beginning of Spring. I took a breath of fresh air as I examined the tulips that were sprouting just a half …
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Extracurricular activities – whether before school or after school or in the community – are implicitly optional. They are, as the word implies – “extra” – in addition to school. As a parent, the choices can be freeing and helpful or confusing and challenging and perhaps, a little of both. And to add to the complexity, our …
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Category: Building a Positive Family Environment Tags: After school programs, Before school programs, children's interests, Children's safety, Choices, Competence, Cooperation, Extracurricular activities, Free time, Music, Quiet Time, Social and Emotional Skills, Sports, Teams
Giving your Children the Chance to Contribute to One of the Busiest Times of the Year Family life is typically busy with school, extracurriculars, parents’ work demands and more. But add a series of holidays to the already busy schedule and the resulting stress can reach a fever pitch. As I compare notes with friends, …
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Category: Building a Positive Family Environment, Modeling Social and Emotional Skills Tags: Cooperation, Emotional needs, Interactive modeling, Kids holiday helpers, Motivation, Open-ended questions, Parents and kids and holiday stress, Postive behaviors, Promoting helping behaviors, Promoting responsibility, Social and Emotional Skills
– noticing others or environmental needs, feeling empathy and desiring a role in contributing to their or its well-being. About being service minded A service-minded person is both self and socially aware. She must know her own strengths and limitations. She sees what contributions she can make and how they relate to other’s unmet needs. …
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Category: Modeling Social and Emotional Skills, Practicing Social and Emotional Skills Tags: Children, Chores, Contribution to home, Cooperation, Family chores, Interactive modeling, Modeling, Problem solving, Responsibility, Self awareness, Service, Service minded, service mindedness, Social and Emotional Skills, Social awareness, Teaching, Trusting connections
Ultimately, the only power to which man should aspire is that which he exercises over himself. – Elie Weisel Our busy lives require that we move quickly from one activity to the next with our children. Get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth, put on coat, grab the backpack, go to school, go through …
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Category: Modeling Social and Emotional Skills Tags: Anger, Children, Cooperation, Family, Kind and firm, Logical consequences, Parent, Preventing power struggles, Reframing, Routines, Self discipline, Thinking about thinking