9 Things to do Instead of Spanking

Research confirms what many parents instinctively feel when they don’t like to spank their child, but they don’t know what else to do. The latest research from Dr. Murray Strauss at the Family Research Laboratory affirms that spanking teaches children to use acts of aggression and violence to solve their problems. It only teaches and perpetuates more violence, the very thing our society is so concerned about. This research further shows that children who have been spanked are more prone to low self-esteem, depression and accept lower paying jobs as adults. So, what do you do instead?
1 - Get Calm
First, if you feel angry and out of control and you want to spank or slap your child, leave the situation if you can. Calm down and get quiet. In that quiet time you will often find an alternative or solution to the problem. Sometimes parents lose it because they are under a lot of stress. Dinner is boiling over, the kids are fighting, the phone is ringing and your child drops the can of peas and you lose it. If you can’t leave the situation, then mentally step back and count to ten.
2 - Take Time for Yourself
Parents are more prone to use spanking when they haven’t had any time to themselves and they feel depleted and hurried. So, it is important for parents to take some time for themselves to exercise, read, take a walk or pray.
3 - Be Kind but Firm
Another frustrating situation where parents tend to spank is when your child hasn’t listened to your repeated requests to behave. Finally, you spank to get your child to act appropriately. Another solution in these situations is to get down on your child’s level, make eye contact, touch him gently and tell him, in a short, kind but firm phrase, what it is you want him to do. For example, “I want you to play quietly.
4 - Give Choices
Giving your child a choice is an effective alternative to spanking. If she is playing with her food at the table ask, Would you like to stop playing with your food or would you like to leave the table?” If the child continues to play with her food, you use kind but firm action by helping her down from the table. Then tell her that she can return to the table when she is ready to eat her food without playing in it.
5 - Use Logical Consequences
Consequences that are logically related to the behavior help teach children responsibility. For example, your child breaks a neighbor’s window and you punish him by spanking him. What does he learn about the situation? He may learn to never do that again, but he also learns that he needs to hide his mistakes, blame it on someone else, lie, or simply not get caught. He may decide that he is bad or feel anger and revenge toward the parent who spanked him. When you spank a child, he may behave because he is afraid to get hit again. However, do you want your child to behave because he is afraid of you or because he respects you?
Compare that situation to a child who breaks a neighbor’s window and his parent says, “I see you’ve broken the window, what will you do to repair it?” using a kind but firm tone of voice. The child decides to mow the neighbor’s lawn and wash his car several times to repay the cost of breaking the window. What does the child learn in this situation? That mistakes are an inevitable part of life and it isn’t so important that he made the mistake but that he takes responsibilty to repair the mistake. The focus is taken off the mistake and put on taking responsibility for repairing it. The child feels no anger or revenge toward his parent. And most importantly the child’s self-esteem is not damaged.
6 - Do Make Ups
When children break agreements, parents tend to want to punish them An alternative is to have your child do a make-up. A make-up is something that people do to put themselves back into integrity with the person they broke the agreement with. For example, several boys were at a sleep-over at Larry’s home. His father requested that they not leave the house after midnight. The boys broke their agreement. The father was angry and punished them by telling them they couldn’t have a sleep-over for two months. Larry and his friends became angry, sullen and uncooperative as a result of the punishment. The father realized what he had done. He apologized for punishing them and told them how betrayed he felt and discussed the importance of keeping their word. He then asked the boys for a make-up. They decided to cut the lumber that the father needed to have cut in their backyard. The boys became excited and enthusiastic about the project and later kept their word on future sleep-overs.
7 - Withdraw from Conflict
Children who sass back at parents may provoke a parent to slap. In this situation, it is best if you withdraw from the situation immediately. Do not leave the room in anger or defeat. Calmly say, “I’ll be in the next room when you want to talk more respectfully.
8 - Use kind but firm action
Instead of smacking an infant’s hand or bottom when she touches something she isn’t supposed to, kindly but firmly pick her up and take her to the next room. Offer her a toy or another item to distract her and say, “You can try again later.” You may have to take her out several times if she is persistent.
9 - Inform Children Ahead of Time
A child’s temper tantrum can easily set a parent off. Children frequently throw tantrums when they feel uninformed or powerless in a situation. Instead of telling your child he has to leave his friend’s house at a moment’s notice, tell him that you will be leaving in five minutes. This allows the child to complete what he was in the process of doing.
Aggression is an obvious form of perpetuating violence in society. A more subtle form of this is spanking because it takes it’s toll on a child’s self-esteem, dampening his enthusiasm and causing him to be rebellious and uncooperative. Consider for a moment the vision of a family that knows how to win cooperation and creatively solve their problems without using force or violence. The alternatives are limitless and the results are calmer parents who feel more supported.


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Ten Keys to Successful Parenting

Ten Keys to Successful Parenting
It is important that we discipline in a way that teaches responsibility by motivating our children internally, to build their self-esteem and make them feel loved. If our children are disciplined in this respect, they will not have a need to turn to gangs, drugs, or sex to feel powerful or belong.
The following ten keys will help parents use methods that have been proven to provide children with a sense of well-being and security.
1 - Use Genuine Encounter Moments (GEMS)
Your child's self-esteem is greatly influenced by the quality of time you spend with him-not the amount of time that you spend. With our busy lives, we are often thinking about the next thing that we have to do, instead of putting 100% focused attention on what our child is saying to us. We often pretend to listen or ignore our child's attempts to communicate with us. If we don't give our child GEMS throughout the day, he will often start to misbehave. Negative attention in a child's mind is better than being ignored.
It is also important to recognize that feelings are neither right nor wrong. They just are. So when your child says to you, "Mommy, you never spend time with me" (even though you just played with her) she is expressing what she feels. It is best at these times just to validate her feelings by saying, "Yeah, I bet it does feel like a long time since we spent time together."
2 - Use Action, Not Words
Statistics say that we give our children over 2000 compliance requests a day! No wonder our children become "parent deaf!" Instead of nagging or yelling, ask yourself, "What action could I take?" For example, if you have nagged your child about unrolling his socks when he takes them off, then only wash socks that are unrolled. Action speaks louder than words.
3 - Give Children Appropriate Ways to Feel Powerful
If you don't, they will find inappropriate ways to feel their power. Ways to help them feel powerful and valuable are to ask their advice, give them choices, let them help you balance your check book, cook all our part of a meal, or help you shop. A two-year-old can wash plastic dishes, wash vegetables, or put silverware away. Often we do the job for them because we can do it with less hassle, but the result is they feel unimportant.
4 - Use Natural Consequences
Ask yourself what would happen if I didn't interfere in this situation? If we interfere when we don't need to, we rob children of the chance to learn from the consequences of their actions. By allowing consequences to do the talking, we avoid disturbing our relationships by nagging or reminding too much. For example, if your child forgets her lunch, you don't bring it to her. Allow her to find a solution and learn the importance of remembering.
5 - Use Logical Consequences
Often the consequences are too far in the future to practically use a natural consequence. When that is the case, logical consequences are effective. A consequence for the child must be logically related to the behavior in order for it to work. For example, if your child forgets to return his video and you ground him for a week, that punishment will only create resentment within your child. However, if you return the video for him and either deduct the amount from his allowance or allow him to work off the money owed, then your child can see the logic to your discipline.
6 - Withdraw from Conflict
If your child is testing you through a temper tantrum, or being angry or speaking disrespectfully to you, it is best if you leave the room or tell the child you will be in the next room if he wants to "Try again." Do not leave in anger or defeat.
7 - Seperate the Deed from the Doer
Never tell a child that he is bad. That tears at his self-esteem. Help your child recognize that it isn't that you don't like him, but it is his behavior that you are unwilling to tolerate. In order for a child to have healthy self-esteem, he must know that he is loved unconditionally no matter what he does. Do not motivate your child by withdrawing your love from him. When in doubt, ask yourself, did my discipline build my child's self-esteem?
8 - Be Kind and Firm at the Same Time
Suppose you have told your five-year-old child that if she isn't dressed by the time the timer goes off, you will pick her up and take her to the car. She has been told she can either get dressed either in the car or at school. Make sure that you are loving when you pick her up, yet firm by picking her up as soon as the timer goes off without any more nagging. If in doubt, ask yourself, did I motivate through love or fear?
9 - Parent with the End in Mind
Most of us parent with the mindset to get the situation under control as soon as possible. We are looking for the expedient solution. This often results in children who feel overpowered. But if we parent in a way that keeps in mind how we want our child to be as an adult, we will be more thoughtful in the way we parent. For example, if we spank our child, he will learn to use acts of aggression to get what he wants when he grows up.
10 - Be Consistent, Follow Through
If you have made an agreement that your child cannot buy candy when she gets to the store, do not give in to her pleas, tears, demands or pouting. Your child will learn to respect you more if you mean what you say.


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High Blood Pressure in Children

The epidemic increase of childhood obesity is in the spotlight; on nighttime news reports, articles in health magazines and in pamphlets handed out at pediatrician offices. The reality of childhood obesity is visible in our day to day lives; however, the dangers associated with obesity are deeper than plain sight. Among other complications, high blood pressure in children has a very real and very scary correlation with obesity. The effects of high blood pressure can lead to serious medical problems in children now and as they progress into adulthood.
High blood pressure or hypertension can be present in all ages, from infancy to adulthood. Five percent of the childhood population has higher than normal blood pressure. This five percent needs to be fully evaluated and monitored closely to avoid potentially life-threatening damage to the body’s vascular system.
There are two types of hypertension: primary or essential hypertension and secondary hypertension. Secondary hypertension means that a specific cause of the high blood pressure can be identified. Children with this type of hypertension may have other serious medical conditions such as kidney disease, heart disease or abnormalities with the nervous or endocrine (hormone) system. The development of essential hypertension is closely associated with one’s diet, exercise habits and family history.
High blood pressure may be associated with symptoms such as:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Visual disturbances

Most often, a child with high blood pressure does not have any overt symptoms. This highlights the importance of bringing your child to your pediatrician for regular health care maintenance examinations. A child’s blood pressure should be checked yearly after three years of age and anytime a child presents signs or symptoms of conditions that are know to be associated with elevations of blood pressure.
In children with secondary hypertension, your pediatrician will work, often in conjunction with a specialist, to control both your child’s blood pressure and the underlying cause of the elevated blood pressure. Children diagnosed with essential hypertension can often decrease their blood pressure by making dietary and other lifestyle changes. Your pediatrician can provide guidance in developing a healthy diet and exercise program. If changes in diet and exercise are not enough to lower your child’s blood pressure, your pediatrician may recommend the use of medicines to treat the hypertension.
Chances are that your child is not among the five percent of children with high blood pressure. However, it is important to follow up regularly with your child’s pediatrician to make sure that if your child does have high blood pressure or any other risk factors, such as obesity and/or lack of exercise, that these concerns are addressed as early as possible to avoid any long term damage to the body.
Parents can help their child develop a healthy lifestyle—reducing the risk of developing hypertension—by teaching him/her to make healthy food choices and how to incorporate exercise into daily life. The development of a healthy lifestyle in childhood will lay the foundation for your child to develop into a healthy adult.
Q&A
When should I seek professional help if my child is overweight?
Children should be seen by their pediatrician for regular health care maintenance visits. During these visits, your child’s height and weight will be measured and his body mass index will be calculated. These values will be plotted on a growth chart and reviewed with you and your child. Children with a body mass index of greater than 85% are at risk for obesity and those with a body mass index great than 95% are considered overweight. If your child falls outside the normal range, your pediatrician will help you develop a diet and exercise treatment plan.
Could my child have a medical condition that causes him to be overweight?
Although rare, some children do have underlying medical conditions that cause them to be overweight. These conditions are diagnosed by a thorough history and physical exam as well as disease specific laboratory testing. If you have concerns regarding your child’s weight, make sure to bring them up to your pediatrician.
If my child is overweight, would exercise elevate his blood pressure to unsafe levels?
If you child has been diagnosed as being overweight or obese, your pediatrician will help you develop an appropriate exercise program. In the majority of cases, exercise is extremely beneficial in maintaining a healthy weight as well as lowering one’s blood pressure. However, any extreme changes in exercise programs should be first cleared by your pediatrician.



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Cyber Bullying Help, Tips and Advice

April:	god it sounds like sam had more fun with you then he ever does with me.
Brittany:	now that isn’t true!!!
April:	he is gonna cheat…so I will have nothing to live for anymore… so im gonna just plan on killin myself sometime soon. I wish you weren’t gonna let him cheat Brittany, its not fair to me…but I guess if you want to let him that’s fine…ill just start planning on how its gonna end for me…i’m not good enuf 4 him
Brittany:	u r good enuf 4 him!
April:	he hates me, you hate me, and im going to kill myself and if you send this convo to him in an email like you did the last one…im going to kill myself right now

Dialogue from an adult daytime drama?  Scene from a teen slasher movie?  No, it’s a real instant messaging (IM) conversation between two teen girls who HAVE NEVER EVEN MET IN PERSON!  This same type of cyber bullying is happening all over the Internet, on email and on personal Web pages, like MySpace, Xanga, Facebook and YouTube.
Wake up, Mom and Dad.  Kids everywhere use the Internet and it’s not just a benign modern distraction.  The Web is being used as a blunt weapon of relational aggression and mass destruction.  Sure, some kids use it to find out about Friday’s math homework or what time everyone’s meeting at the mall.  But youngsters often wield the Internet for much more sinister purposes.  It is tailor made for aggression.  Kids are drawn to its power for spreading gossip quickly, anonymously and to an infinite audience.
The Internet is like the old child’s game “telephone,” only on steroids.  Misunderstandings proliferate.  Words can hurt.  The Internet inflames that harm.
It starts with online anonymity.  You can pretend to be someone else.  You can listen to others’ conversations behind their backs.  You can get caught up in the moment.  Because you aren’t face-to-face and there’s no immediate personal feedback, you might say things you’d never say in person (37% of kids who go online report they’ve done just that!).  This makes it easy to spread untruths and gossip or to talk nasty, because no one sees you.  The Internet is a boundary-less environment.
This talk is worse than a verbal rumor; those eventually die out.  Kids can cut, paste, print or forward the conversations; consequently, a malicious tale can live on forever.  Think of the wound that inflicts on a kid.
Has your child been on the receiving end of mysterious rumors?  Does he or she suddenly have friendship troubles?  Is he or she moodier than usual?  Has he or she stopped hanging out with certain people?  Check to see if the Web is the culprit.
Don’t be naïve.  The Internet is here to stay.  Eighty-seven percent of those between the ages of 12 and 17 are online.
So, parents, this is a heads-up.  Does your child use instant messaging?  Has he or she been the target of, or engaged in, online bullying?  If your kids don’t know how to respond when spiteful chat and rumors start, they may do lifelong damage to someone – or get deeply hurt themselves.



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We got a Wii Fit!

LOVE IT! It is a little harsh, but I can take some criticism! You gotta do what you gotta do to get in shape lol. Of course, my 8 yr old has taken it over. My 5 yr old also seems into it, and the toddler tried to draw on it.

I suggest you all get one! It is a good way to see where you are and where you need to be with weight and health. We got it for a large price from eBay, but hubby's work is paying 70%! 

Well, off to try to get it away from the 5 yr old lol. Need to tone up a bit!



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ADHD Tips and ADHD Help

What is ADHD?
ADHD stands for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder. It is a medical condition of the brain that makes it difficult for children to concentrate and control their behavior. Without ongoing treatment, the behavioral disorder often interferes with the child’s development of a healthy and normal life.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, ADHD is one of the most common chronic medical conditions seen in children, ages 6-12 years, with boys being more likely than girls to be diagnosed.
Signs and Symptoms of ADHD
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests three behavioral signs for ADHD:

• Inattention: Difficulty in paying attention, does not follow-through on tasks, easily distracted, daydreams, makes careless mistakes and loses items.
• Hyperactivity: Seems to be moving all of the time, squirms, jumps and climbs on furniture and talks too much.
• Impulsivity: Acts and speaks without thinking, interrupts others, difficulty waiting for things and calls out answers before question is complete.

Types of ADHD
A child does not need to show all of the symptoms described above to be diagnosed with ADHD. Having one or more symptoms usually determines the type of ADHD.

• Inattentive Only: Not overly active and does not disrupt classroom or other activity. Most common with girls diagnosed with ADHD.

• Hyperactive/Impulsive: Shows both hyperactive and impulsive behavior but can pay attention. Diagnosis is more frequent in younger children.
• Combined Inattentive/Hyperactive/Impulsive: Shows a combination of symptoms in each of the behavioral categories. This is the most common diagnosis of ADHD.

Treatment of ADHD
ADHD must be managed as there is no cure at this time. Once diagnosed, the continuum of treatment is a collaboration of efforts among the child’s parents, educators, physician, additional health care providers and the child. Treatment for ADHD is usually multifaceted and may include:

• Behavioral Therapy: Therapists can help parents and children set realistic goals on behavior and school work. 
• Medication: Your child’s physician may recommend a stimulant to relieve ADHD symptoms.
• Social Skills Training: Training courses can help parents deal with ADHD behaviors in a positive way. Children can learn appropriate behaviors for school, home and various settings.  
• Education: All individuals involved in the child’s treatment need to understand what ADHD is and be fully aware of the child’s symptoms and treatment plan.

If you think your child has ADHD
Every child has moments when they have trouble listening to parents, paying attention or settling down from an excitable activity such as a family birthday party or heading off to a friend’s house to play. Even though these moments are frustrating for parents, it does not necessarily mean your child has a behavioral disorder. Children need to have the symptoms for at least 6 months, in 2 different setting, to meet criteria for the diagnosis.
If you are concerned that your child may have ADHD, ask other caregivers and educators to monitor your child’s behavior. Document your findings and discuss this with your child’s physician. Your child’s doctor may look for other co-existing conditions such as depression, anxiety or a learning disability.
Contact your child’s physician with any questions you have about your child’s health.


Q & A for ADHD (answered by Elizabeth Hastreiter, APRN)
Can my child outgrow ADHD?
A child doesn’t necessarily outgrow ADD or ADHD, but most learn to adapt their learning and working styles to fit into their lifestyles.  There are many successful adults with ADD/ADHD!
What can I do to help?
Keep the home environment simple by eliminating distractions while doing homework.  The tv and music should be turned off, and don’t allow other siblings to distract your child.  Gentle reminders or cues to stay on task are helpful.  Nagging can be counter productive and create unwanted power struggles!
Homeopathic and herbal supplements have not been found to be clinically effective in increasing attention span. Consistent rules, discipline, consequences and a predictable routine are quite helpful in addition to the medications prescribed by your healthcare provider.
 It is also important to find activities at which your child can succeed.  Reward him when he does well in difficult tasks as well as those he masters.



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Toilet and Potty Training Help

Before you begin toilet or potty training, there are some things you should know.  But more importantly, there are some steps you need to follow.  The following tips and guidelines will help you be successful when it comes time for training.
Wait!  Before You Begin Toilet Training

Make sure you and your child are ready for toilet training.  These guidelines will help you determine if everyone is ready and what to do before you begin training.

Starting Toilet Training: The 7 P Plan

Once you have determined that you and your child are ready, this article will walk you through the steps necessary for successful toilet training.
Intensive Toilet Training

If you are fed up with messy pants and diapers, or if your day care insists your child be potty trained, then this may be the trailing plan for you and your child.
Positive Practice For Wetting Accidents

Positive practice involves working with the child in an intensive practice of what he or she should have done – the positive alternative – instead of having an accident.






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Sleepless in Parentville!

Sleep deprivation. It’s something I’m sure you’ve experienced more than once since your baby came home. Losing sleep is part of your job description as a parent. And it doesn’t matter if you have a toddler or a teen.
Feeding a hungry infant in the wee hours of the morning, rocking a sick child to sleep in the middle of the night – these are the moments that keep you awake at night.
According to most sleep specialists, if you try to take a catnap here and there to makeup for sleepless nights, you won’t get the real rest you need. As a result, you may start experiencing memory loss, diminished alertness or illness.
So what is a busy parent to do? Here are a few strategies to help you get that much-needed shuteye:

• If you have a spouse, take turns being the on-call parent at night. While one gets a night of uninterrupted sleep, the other has a bonding experience with baby.
  
• If Mom is breast-feeding baby, she can use a breast pump to prepare extra bottles. Having extra bottles ready means Dad can handle overnight feedings a few times a week.
  
• If you’re a single parent, ask a grandparent, sibling or close friend for some relief. Their help, even one or two nights a week, can give you some rest. If possible, you might consider restructuring your job. Maybe you can work from home part of the week or take advantage of flex time.

Your life has changed, and your schedule will have to revolve around your new priority – your child. That doesn’t mean you have to be sleep-deprived the rest of your life. Manage the changes to your lifestyle. Ask for help. Delegate responsibilities.
You might just find you have the time to get the sleep you need.


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Video Game Guidelines Create Peace

Video gaming is a favorite way for kids to spend their free time. However, as a parent you need to set guidelines with your child.
Decide what your video game guidelines are and then have clear communication with your child. Discuss all the guidelines, scenarios, expectations and consequences so no one feels misled when it comes time to play.
Parenting.org would like to help you set guidelines for video game play. Here are some guidelines for you to think about:

Time of play
For the most part, kids will play video games all day if you let them. But since most kids are in school during the day, this is not an option. Therefore, you need to determine the best time of day for your child to play video games. The options are: before school, after school or before bed. Depending on your daily routine, the best time for your child to play video games might be different than other families?. Again, discuss this before hand so that there are no surprises.
Prior to playing
Regardless of what time you choose for playing video games, it is best to require that your children finish their homework and/or chores before playing. If video gaming is your children?s favorite activity, this can be used as a great motivator to get the important tasks completed. Do not let your child rush through their work. Check over your children?s work to make sure it is done correctly and to the best of their ability before allowing them to play.
If a child?s grades are suffering, eliminate all video game time on school nights. Explain to your child this privilege will be reinstated after the teacher's weekly report confirms all homework was handed in and the overall quality of work and grades are improving. Explain you are doing this to help him or her better structure his or her time.
Length of play
In general, excessive amounts of television viewing can be harmful to a child. It decreases active time that could be spent playing with peers, daydreaming, thinking, participating in sports, music and other activities. Heavy viewing can reduce school performance by interfering with studying and reading.
Video gaming is not all bad for a child, since it requires them to think, memorize, imagine, strategize and be creative. Video games can even help develop some hand and eye coordination.
Still the most important issue is the length of time that your child is in front of the television. Two hours a day is a reasonable limit. Or allow one hour per day on school days and two to three hours on the weekend days. Again, be clear with you expectations.
Video game content that is acceptable in your house
For parents, staying current with appropriate video games and inappropriate video games for kids can be difficult. However, it is up to you to determine which games are good video games for children. Play the games with your son or daughter. It takes time to stay on top of it all, but it is worthwhile.
Once you have your guidelines down, stay informed. Know about the content of games and pay attention to the latest information on video gaming and its effects on kids. The National Institute on Media and the Family puts out an excellent annual Video Game Report Card. Check out what video game ratings mean and search for individual game ratings at the Entertainment Software Rating Board website. To look at video clips and read video game enthusiasts? game reviews, you can go to sites such as GameSpot or IGN. Let your children know that games with excessive violence, bad language or pornography will not be acceptable. Set guidelines and stick to them.
Sharing a video game system
Sharing a video game system can create a great learning opportunity for kids. More than likely, you will need to be involved in teaching kids how to share. This can be accomplished in a number of ways: equal amounts of playing time, equal amount of turns, alternating days of play, taking turns as the first player, taking turns selecting the game and so on. Discovering how to cooperate and getting along with others is imperative throughout life. Use this opportunity to give kids a head start on these skills. By teaching kids how to share, simple prompts and reminders may be all that is necessary for peaceful video gaming.
Playing video games at a friend?s house
Often, kids like to get together and play video games in groups. If your son or daughter is heading to a friend?s house to play video games, call the other parent(s) and ask what games the kids will play. Share your family?s video game guidelines and ask about theirs. Pass on anything new you?ve learned about the vast world of good video games, as well as bad video games.
Setting clear guidelines improves communication and helps you and your child to avoid confusion and arguments later. With good guidance from you, your child will know exactly what is expected in regards to playing video games. Ultimately, it will be up to you to decide if it will be GAME ON or GAME OVER.




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Transitioning Back to School

Can you believe it’s time for your kids to trade in their bathing suits for backpacks? The bell is about to ring on another school year – are you ready?
Some children are eager to return to the classroom. Some miss their friends, others miss the food. But, not every child has found a reason to be excited about school. It can be especially difficult for tweens.
Transitioning from summertime fun and freedom to classroom structure and stress can be a big adjustment. To help your tween handle the change, be positive and supportive. Here are a few suggestions that parents have shared with us that can make a difference in your child’s outlook:

• Be positive about school. Talk to your children about the good things that happen at school. Tell them about your positive experiences.
  
• Set the expectation that education is important and that your children need school. They should be made aware of your expectation as early as possible.
  
• Be understanding when they tell you about their frustrations. Expect your children to feel some stress related to subjects, tests, peers, assignments, and even teachers.
  
• Listen to what your kids tell you about school. Sometimes all they want is for you to hear about what their day was like and what’s going on in their lives. Be supportive and attentive.
  
• Visit the school. See what happens during the school day. Chat with administrators and teachers.
  
• Praise your children’s effort and their accomplishments.

These are just a few of the simple steps you can take to help your children start the new school year off on the right foot.


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Going home!

We are on our way back to NC! The week went too fast. Hopefully we can see everyone again very soon!



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The kids at the bar!

Yup that is right, my kids got to hang out at a bar. Hey mama used to! And then Gramma and Papa came to the cabin.



















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And of course, Chris's grandmother! And their Uncle Jason,

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Tips for Reading Aloud With Babies

Read aloud so babies can:

• Associate reading with warm, pleasant feelings.
• Hear sounds, rhythms, and words.
• Use their senses--listening, seeing, touching.
• Make their own sounds--cooing, gurgling, babbling--which will eventually become talking.
• Point to pictures that you can name.
• Begin to understand that pictures represent objects.
  

Choose books that babies like:

• Very young babies love to hear your voice. You can read anything to them, but they especially like nursery rhymes and other stories with set rhythms.
• Choose board books with simple, bright pictures against solid backgrounds.
• As babies learn to grasp things, pick light, washable cloth and vinyl books.
• When babies are older enough to hold things, provide brightly colored board books featuring only one or two objects per page.
• As babies become interested in what's inside a book, read books with bright pictures of animals, babies, and familiar objects.
• As babies begin to do activities for themselves, read simple stories about routine events -- eating, taking a bath, or going to bed.
• As babies begin to talk, read books that invite them to repeat rhymes, words, and phrases.
• When older babies want to join in, read books with textures, things to touch, flaps to lift, tabs to pull, and holes where they can poke their fingers.
• Babies of any age enjoy homemade books and family photo albums.
  

Try these read-aloud tips:

• Hold the baby in your lap; make sure he or she can see the pictures.
• Play with words, sing, and make up rhymes; include the baby's name.
• Expect babies to touch, grasp, and taste -- that is how they learn.
• Offer the baby a toy to hold and chew while listening to you read.
• Read one or two pages at a time; gradually lengthen the number of pages.
• Let the baby turn the pages if he or she is more interested in the book than listening to you read. He or she will still be learning about books and enjoying your company.
• Point to, name, and talk about things in pictures. Describe what's happening.
• Ask the baby: "Where's the...?" "What's that...?" Wait for a response.
• Encourage a baby to join in -- moo like a cow or finish a repetitive phrase.
• Stay on a page as long as a baby is interested.
• Put the book away and do something else when the baby loses interest.

Proud Mama To

We also had fun with my parents! They love being able to spend time with the kids!

Proud Mama To