While thinking about this article, I wondered if I really knew anything about getting teens to listen. It's never easy, and even when you manage to do it you're usually not sure you've succeeded -- at least not until much later. But after giving a mandatory safe environment talk to a group
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Listening Rules for Tweens with Earbuds or Headphones
by Michele July 15th, 2024 | Behavior, TweensEarbuds. Headphones. They are everywhere. It's not just a tween problem. Take a walk down any city street, and you'll see a multitude of people walking with either one or both ears hosting an earbud. From shoppers to joggers to executives, a good portion of them have their ears focused on something other than the noise that surrounds them.
So, it's no wonder that you're more than likely to find your tween with earbuds engaged at numerous times in the day. It's just what people do, whether
Beat the Heat With Water
by Tania Cowling July 8th, 2024 | Elementary, EntertainmentYour kids can quench the sizzle of summer with water. So, whether you have a swimming pool, wading pool, or just the garden hose, your kids can spend hours of fun and beat the heat this season. These wet and wild activities and games will make your outdoor time a splash hit!
Dry Run Derby
Have the kids line up at the shallow end of the pool, then hand each one a dry sheet of newspaper (or paper towel). On cue, everyone enters
The Hazard of Heat This Summer
by Tania Cowling July 1st, 2024 | Preschool, SafetyThe sun is shining, the temperature is soaring, and you are sweating. This sounds like you have to be indoors in the AC, but not really. With a little common sense and forethought you can be outdoors enjoying your summer and still keep your kids safe from the elements. Here are a few tips for you and your preschoolers.
Dehydration is the number one concern during summer activities. It has no age boundaries and can affect anyone from a newborn to age 100. Preschoolers
How to Get Started Swimming With Your Baby
by Tania Cowling June 24th, 2024 | Infants/Toddlers, SeasonalGetting your baby into a pool is one of the smartest things a parent can do. It's never too early to teach swimming, keeping safety in mind of course. Most of my tips below are about taking your little one into a full-size pool with you, but do keep in mind that placing your baby into a kiddie pool in the yard needs as much supervision as the big one. Children can drown even in a small amount of water, if unattended.
If you
Teens and Praise
by Sam P. June 17th, 2024 | Communication, TeensAs a teen, we often feel that our achievements are overshadowed by our mistakes. All we ever hear are critiques, never praise for our success. Praise is an important part of the growth process for teens to gain self confidence in themselves and what they do. Without it they may never grow to be sure of themselves and their actions, which can hold them back in life. Praise is very important for children throughout their whole lives, but especially teens. Their brains and decisions are easily influenced by what they
Tweens Need to Be Seen and Heard
by Michele June 10th, 2024 | Social, TweensWhen I was a child and through my teen years, I would sometimes hear at the dinner table the old saying, "Children should be seen and not heard." (Now, I'm not of an age that it was a common way of
Learning Over the Summer
by Joe Lawrence June 3rd, 2024 | Elementary, School"No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers' dirty looks" were the Alice Cooper lyrics I sang as I crossed the threshold from my classroom to the freedom that awaited. Then summer was time for us to dump all that we learned throughout the year. I think this is a horrible mindset to have as an adult and would hate to foster thoughts like this in my children. Summer is a break, but we can still encourage our children to develop some skills they have learned.
My
Flying Can Be a Lesson on Vacation Travel
by Tania Cowling May 27th, 2024 | Preschool, SeasonalIf you're planning a vacation by air, it's fun for preschoolers to get up close and personal with airplanes before the trip. Visiting an airport in advance or some home activities that present planes as a theme can do this. Preparing a young child for a new experience is wise - they know what to expect and this makes the vacation travel less stressful. It also prepares them for school units on transportation in the future. Here are some fun projects to do before your kiddos fly
Is It Possible to Teach Toddlers Respect?
by Tania Cowling May 20th, 2024 | Behavior, Infants/ToddlersIt's never too early to teach respectful gestures, but you must understand that toddlers have limited vocabulary and attention spans. As you try to lecture your little one, he may just in turn stick out his tongue, yell "no", and hit you. Now, this behavior will not last forever, but it does frustrate parents. Toddlers have a lot of learning to absorb in their formative years, so teaching good manners and respect for others is something parents need to dish out in small doses throughout the day.
During
Entertaining Fitness for Teens
by Jane Wangersky May 13th, 2024 | Entertainment, TeensTeens -- and adults -- first thoughts on fitness and entertainment may be that the two are mutually exclusive. Unless, maybe, you listen to music while running . . . no, wait, that's not safe. But there are plenty of things you can do to keep yourself entertained while getting your body into better condition. Here are a few.
Choose an activity that leaves your hands free. For example, a minicycle or table bike (a set of pedals only) lets you sit in a chair and read
Respect & Tweens: Reciprocity & Patience
by Michele May 6th, 2024 | Behavior, TweensI cannot stress this enough, the tween years can be hard. For everyone involved. Out of the pre-college parenting years, I think middle school is the hardest. The kids are trying to figure out where they fit, are dealing with hormonal fluctuations, and are having greater responsibilities placed upon them. Their parents are trying to figure out how to deal with them during this time.
Bring Out the Board Games Instead of TV
by Tania Cowling April 29th, 2024 | Elementary, SeasonalEach year a national initiative aims to make turning off the television a rewarding experience. It's a time to help families reconnect and children rediscover the simple joys of activities other than digital entertainment. Screen-free week varies from April to May.
Protect Your Child From Zoonotic Diseases
by Tania Cowling April 22nd, 2024 | Preschool, SafetyDid you know that your pet might cause your child to get sick? Are you aware of zoonotic diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans? These maladies range from bacteria to viruses and internal and external parasites to fungal infections. Since having a pet (dogs and cats are the most popular) are common in households, it's best to know what zoonotic diseases are and speak to your veterinarian to see if your pet is up to all vaccines that are necessary. It's also important to keep
Teaching Toddlers About Sharing and Caring
by Tania Cowling April 15th, 2024 | Infants/Toddlers, SocialToddlers aren't born with the knowledge of sharing and caring about others; it's acquired as they grow. To egocentric toddlers the world revolves around them, and yes, they are in the MINE stage. I think the awareness of sharing and caring begins with the sense of self and the ability to identify and describe feelings. When your little one is aware of how he feels, he may begin to realize that others have the same feelings. For example, if your child has a toy snatched from him by another child, he
Teen’s Perspective on Family Dinners
by Sam P. April 8th, 2024 | Seasonal, TeensI have always considered family dinners a sort of magical thing. It gives the appearance of being the perfect family and has this wonderful feeling when you're there. Something about crowding around the table and asking for people to "pass the mashed potatoes" or "toss me a roll" has this sense of wonder to it, your family almost never feels so close and together. Apparently, there is a reason for this. And that reason has a
Home Alone: A New Experience
by Michele April 1st, 2024 | Safety, TweensSomewhere during the middle school years your child may want to stay home alone. Whether it be while you run a quick trip to the grocery store or for a short period of time between the end of the school day and an adult coming home from work, your tween may ask to stay at home unsupervised. Like everything else in parenting, there are a variety of things to consider.
First, the maturity
How to Foster Effective Communication in Children
by Lori Sciame March 25th, 2024 | Communication, Elementary
Every person has strengths and weaknesses. For example, some people are born communicators, while others struggle to connect with their peers. As a parent, you must assist your child with becoming an effective communicator, even if he or she can be
3 Steps to Changing Your Preschooler’s Behavior
by Joe Lawrence March 18th, 2024 | Behavior, Preschool
When it comes to our preschoolers, there are so many things to discover. They are mingling with like-minded children and really becoming who they will be in terms of behavior. That is why it is so important to help set the right foundation today.
I watch my five year old interact with my 21-month old and am usually very proud. She is the sweetest and most caring big sis. However, there are the times when she decides to push or yell at her
Bubbles Are Entertaining For Young Children
Tania Cowling March 11th, 2024 | Entertainment, Infants/ToddlersRemember the joy of blowing bubbles when you were a child? Now that the weather is getting warmer take this opportunity to share some bubble blowing with your little one. Along with blowing bubbles outdoors I'm going to share some fun bubble activities to do with your toddler that will help her to develop skills along with having some entertaining fun.
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