Sometimes, you try everything you can think of to inspire or educate your child and it still doesn't work. But sometimes -- not so often, but sometimes -- you stumble on something by accident that really gets the job done.
My ten-year-old son is a fearless public speaker. He'll get up in front of a crowd, any crowd, and speak. Or sing. Or play his trumpet. Or pretty much anything you ask him to do. He'll hop up on stage with precious little preparation, without the slightest sign of nerves.
So recently I set out to discover why, be it nature
Elementary
Public Speaking
December 23rd, 2011 Posted by Ronald A. Rowe | Elementary, General Parenting, Learning
“Watch out!” “Be careful.” “Don’t run!”
These directions can literally be lifesavers for elementary age children. For instance, a visit to the Grand Canyon would make any parent extra vigilant where his or her child is concerned. Too close to the edge and the consequences would be devastating. Yet, some parents take safety to an extreme, and end up inhibiting a child’s adventurous spirit.
I knew a boy who had been made fearful of life by his father. It wasn’t that his father didn’t love his child; he just restricted the boy’s movements so much - that in the end, he
These directions can literally be lifesavers for elementary age children. For instance, a visit to the Grand Canyon would make any parent extra vigilant where his or her child is concerned. Too close to the edge and the consequences would be devastating. Yet, some parents take safety to an extreme, and end up inhibiting a child’s adventurous spirit.
I knew a boy who had been made fearful of life by his father. It wasn’t that his father didn’t love his child; he just restricted the boy’s movements so much - that in the end, he
Responsibility and Consequences
December 9th, 2011 Posted by Ronald A. Rowe | Adolescence, Behavior, Elementary
Children learn early on in life that there are consequences to their choices. They also learn, despite our best efforts to the contrary, that they can avoid the consequences if they can deflect the responsibility. In my years of working with children, I’ve heard it all. “The teacher didn’t explain that right.” “Nobody told me.”
One 5th grader recently told me that the reason he failed his math test was that his teacher got the wrong answer. When I worked the problem with him on a calculator to show him his error, he said that the calculator must be wrong!
One 5th grader recently told me that the reason he failed his math test was that his teacher got the wrong answer. When I worked the problem with him on a calculator to show him his error, he said that the calculator must be wrong!
A memory book is a scrapbook for memories. The memories can be in the form of pictures or words, or a combination of the two. When I was in 6th grade, every student in my class was required to create a memory book that would be a record of our elementary school years and a snapshot of where we were in life so far. I remember thinking, why would I ever forget what happened in first or second grade or forget what I was thinking about now? Eight years later, that thought is one of the only ones I
Write Your Child a Story
November 21st, 2011 Posted by Ronald A. Rowe | Elementary, Entertainment, Self-esteem
Have you considered writing a story for your child? It doesn’t matter if you’re an expert writer or not, your child will love to hear a story that you’ve written just for him or her.
I know what you’re thinking – “Ron, it’s easy for you to say. You’re a talented writer with such an amazing gift for the written word.” No? You weren’t thinking anything like that? Well, this is awkward.
Anyway, there are two things that I’ve noticed about children’s books on the market. They’re not very long and, for the most part, they’re not very good. If your
I know what you’re thinking – “Ron, it’s easy for you to say. You’re a talented writer with such an amazing gift for the written word.” No? You weren’t thinking anything like that? Well, this is awkward.
Anyway, there are two things that I’ve noticed about children’s books on the market. They’re not very long and, for the most part, they’re not very good. If your
