These days, all over the TV, music, and movies, there is content inappropriate for most children to see, hear, or watch.  This is true, but there are many parents who go overboard on “protecting” their child.

First off, I am going to give you the basic run down on American movie and TV rating systems.  First off, TV:

• TV-Y (All Children — This program is designed to be appropriate for all children)

• TV-Y7 (Directed to Older Children — This program is designed for children age 7 and above.)

• TV-G (General audiences)

• TV-PG (Parental guidance suggested)

• TV-14 (Recommended for people 14 or older)

• TV-MA (intended for mature audiences)

• G (General Audiences- All ages admitted) (more…)

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At the end of the summer I stumbled across Name Your Tune.  It seemed like an interesting idea, a cd of children’s songs with your child’s (or children’s) names placed into the lyrics.  With my children between the ages of eight and thirteen, it seemed more appropriate to have a cd made for my nephews who are two and four years old.

I spoke with Eric at Name Your Tune, and he informed that he would be able to make one cd for both boys.  Sending along the boys’ names and that it was from their Aunt Michele and Uncle Tom (their favorite aunt and uncle, of course), I waited for the cd to arrive, which took only a week or so. (more…)

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It is natural for parents to want their children to excel, to be the best, to be above other children in almost everything, to grow up into exemplary citizens who achieve so much in life. That’s an open secret that most of us have in our hearts, which is why we do everything to build our children into the super kids that we want them to be. But how do we exactly go about raising super kids? Each of us has a unique formula, but most fall into a common pattern. I see parents who buy musical instruments for their children and spend a fortune on music teachers who they hope turn their little ones into musical geniuses. Some parents want their children to become great athletes and train them in sports early in life. Others focus on the academics and do everything to make their children good harvesters of academic honors. Parents who use this formula of raising super kids often end up being disappointed.

There are parents whose formula of raising super kids tend to work better. This formula involves letting their children find the path to their own dreams,  and when it is found help them follow it.  Every day these parents discover new things with their children, new talents, new learning, little things that when put together can become really great. These parents let their children discover their own strengths and help them work on it.

Every child is a super kid, but it’s up to parents to see where the strength of their children lie. If we start by letting our own dreams for our children overtake our ability to see what they really have in them, we could muffle the super kid in them forever. Remember that our dreams for our children may not be their dream. If we just learn how to see the little wonders that a child learns and does every day, we will see the super kid in every child, and we will be more fulfilled as parents.

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Tonight, I am going to my middle school’s first dance of the year, and I’m so excited.  Earlier, I was talking with my mom, and we were talking about what I would consider the dos and don’ts (mainly don’ts) for parents of middle schoolers going to dances, and I decided that you should know, too. (more…)

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A previously posted article, “The Best Time to Teach Your Child How to Play a Musical Instrument,” addresses when a child should be taught how to play a musical instrument. This article addresses why children/teens should be taught to play musical instruments. While I agree with the crux of the aforementioned article, that the best time to teach a child to play a musical instrument is when they show interest in it, I find it crucial that music be introduced as early as possible for several reasons:

• Focus/Memorization – When children receive training in music, they usually learn to focus attention for long periods of time, they learn musical notation, which is like a complex new language, they learn patterns, and they often learn to memorize passages. All of those skills can be applied to the classroom and perhaps explains why studies have shown that children who have learned how to play a musical instrument perform better in reading, vocabulary, math, and spatial tests.
• Cooperation - Learning how to play music can help develop social skills. In learning music, you not only learn about harmony of notes, but also harmony of people. For example, duets must be played by two musicians who work together. Also, if you play music as a family, you can create a bond unlike any other.
• Self-Esteem/Emotion – Being able to play music is a talent that is easily shared, whether among musicians or not, and it is often admired. Additionally, music can be an outlet for emotions. When I have a rough day, I find that playing piano can be very relaxing, and I always leave the piano bench more focused and in a better mood.
• Entertainment – It’s better than TV, right?

It is beneficial to immerse a child in the world of music as early as possible, whether it be from a few trial music lessons, a music-related game, or listening to soundtracks together as a family. When I was little, my parents dragged me along to classical concerts and forced me to take piano lessons; those are things I thank them for now. Maybe I am a little biased because I now love music. But I say, at least introduce your child to music in his or her earliest years; what’s the worst it could do?

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