Elementary Playtime
by Ronald A. Rowe May 10th, 2013 | Elementary
Elementary school children can bring home all sorts of things from school. Sometimes it is something good - an A, a hand made Mother’s Day card, or a diorama depicting Washington crossing the Delaware. Other things that the kids bring home from school, like viruses or new and unsavory vocabulary, can be less enjoyable. And sometimes it isn’t a what but a who. When it is other people’s children that are being introduced into your home -- be it for a birthday party, a ride sharing arrangement, a "play date", or whatever manner -- things start to get a
Behavior: An Automatic Problem?
by Lori Sciame April 29th, 2013 | Elementary
"I'd like to talk to you about your child's behavior." Those words, when uttered by a elementary school principal, automatically elicit a negative reaction from a parent or guardian. Why? Is our society so ready to punish children for "acting up" that we don't look for behaviors that can be deemed as positive in young children? As a parent of three, I have become an advocate for letting children know when they are doing super things! If your child's school has not already adopted a similar policy, they risk being behind the times, as well as being a negative
Overparenting and Socialization
by Ronald A. Rowe April 9th, 2013 | Elementary
I attended an arts and crafts session this week with my first grader and couldn’t help but notice that the rampant overparenting of this generation continues unabated. My son put together the ugliest paper bag puppet in the history of paper bags. It was awful. But he did it. I supervised. I gave suggestions. I helped with the scissors. But he made the butt-ugly thing himself.
As he colored away I watched the young mother next to us make a spectacular bear puppet that could be on the cover of Paper Bag Puppets Monthly. She designed it, cut it, glued
As he colored away I watched the young mother next to us make a spectacular bear puppet that could be on the cover of Paper Bag Puppets Monthly. She designed it, cut it, glued
Begin Summer Fun Planning!
by Lori Sciame April 2nd, 2013 | Elementary
This is the time of year to begin thinking about summer activities for elementary age children. Waiting until the last minute to decide which programs to sign a child up for will lead to one thing -- stress. Take time now to begin sifting through the multiple options available, weighing which ones will be the best fit for your child (and for your pocketbook). Keep a list of costs, registration deadlines, and participation caps. Read on to learn about just a few of the myriad fun things for an elementary age child to do over the summer.
Sports Camps
Children like
Sports Camps
Children like
Do Hard Things
by Ronald A. Rowe March 21st, 2013 | Elementary
It is a challenge that nearly all parents face. Your child signs up for an activity -- sports, music, arts -- and things start off swimmingly. You’re convinced that your child has a natural flair for their chosen endeavor and you encourage it to the best of your ability with dreams of seeing your child in Carnegie Hall or being Super Bowl MVP one day. All is well until -- suddenly it isn’t.
When the going gets tough a child’s normal reaction is to want to quit. Football used to be fun, but after moving up an age group your
When the going gets tough a child’s normal reaction is to want to quit. Football used to be fun, but after moving up an age group your