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Visiting Day at Your Child’s Summer Camp

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:55:02 +0000

You have probably enjoyed the quiet that comes along with your child being away at camp. You have also been preparing for visiting day. I have a few tips for making the visit a successful one. First, show up, it’s a sad day when a child is alone on this day. For your child it’s an important day for you to see what they have been doing. Bring something for all of the kids that are bunking with your child. This adds a benefit of being a cool parent but also shows that you acknowledge the other children. Keep in mind that your child is following camp rules while they are there and it’s not your place to interfere. You are there to watch and share not to be in charge. Participate in the activities during the visit. Camp is a great place to be a kid again and what a better time than at your child’s camp! Be graceful with your exit, a smart way to do this is if a group of kids are doing an activity while you exit so that your goodbye is not the main event. All of these ideas are sure to make your visit go smoothly and get an idea of how your child is doing away from home.

A Popular New Drug Among Teens

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 01:54:55 +0000

There is a new drug called “K2″ which is popular among teens. It has also been called “genie” or “spice”. It’s legal in most of the United States and is packaged as incense or bath salts. It’s not difficult to find for purchase, it’s sold in head shops, magazines and online. This drug can be more than 15 times more powerful than marijuana and cannot be detected in a drug test. Nationwide there have been more than 500 hundred calls to poison control centers this year about the drug. Side effects can be tremors or full blown seizures and the DEA is currently researching what is in the drug and making a claim of whether or not it can be categorized as a controlled substance. This is something that parents definitely need to keep on their radar and talk to their teens about the dangers of engaging in this drug.

Be Patient With Your Children

admin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:16:04 +0000

Sometimes you want your kids to grow up as much as they do so that they can take on doing things themselves. Every child reaches milestones at their own pace and you as the parent just need to nurture them and be patient with them as they explore their world. you may find that she is very shy and timid when you drop her off at preschool the first time, but after a while she won’t be able to wait to get there and play. Your job is to teach your child to be effective, capable and independent and they may not get there on your time line. Teaching your child to be brave and try new things is great, just be sure to allow them a chance to feel things out and be comfortable with taking the next step.

Summer Safety Tips for Your Children

admin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:50:56 +0000

Summer is a time when kids are outside playing most of the day, older kids go to the mall or hang out at friend’s houses. How can you help keep them safe while they are out and about as well as having a good time during their summer vacation? I have some tips to share. Prepare your child for the possibility of getting lost and what they can do. Pick a meeting place and a time to meet in case they do get lost. have them find other families with children to get help. If they are at an amusement park have them find an employee to get help. They should be aware of strangers and know not to approach a car if they don’t know who is driving. It’s smart for your kids to hang out with at least one other friend when traveling to their destination. If your child is old enough to be home alone, be sure they know the emergency phone numbers. Call to check in periodically to make sure everything is going ok. Your child can have a safe and fun summer vacation while observing these few tips.

Online Learning Sites for Kids

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:28:23 +0000

We are always hearing about how the internet can be detrimental to children if we don’t have some rules and consequences in place. The internet can be a very helpful and useful tool. Kids today are very tech savvy and pretty much “plugged in” to technology these days. With that in mind there are several web sites that offer alternatives to traditional study aids such as flash cards and multiple choice quizzes. Kids can access these tools wherever and whenever they want on their own time and many cost very little or nothing at all. These study aids are for students that range in age from 7 years old to the teenage years. These sites represent a dramatic evolution in online learning by encouraging active participation in activities created by experts. Check out in more detail the new online learning sites for students.

The End of the Toddler Napping

admin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:19:19 +0000

When your child reaches the age of about 3-4 there’s a good chance that naps will begin t be a thing of the past. If you’re a parent like me that works from home, no more naps means I have to get creative. Your child may not have entirely given up the nap but he or she may have days where the nap just doesn’t happen. If you are beginning to see that your child is having a “no nap” day , relax. Have her stay in her room with books to look at. Let her pick out a few toys to bring in her room with her. Put a digital clock in her room and tell her that she has to stay in her room until the clock reads “2:00″. Even if your child doesn’t nap anymore it’s a good idea to create some down time in the middle of the day so there’s less chance of grumpy or whiney encounters.

Knowing a Child’s Temperament

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 22:36:57 +0000

Parenting a toddler can be a challenging task, but knowing your child’s temperament can really help with things don’t seem to be working. I’ve noticed lately that my three year old really needs a routine or he doesn’t pay attention or gets upset if something goes a different way than he thought. In seeing this about his personality I can see how staying with the routine as much as possible is beneficial, but prepare him for changes that might come up. He needs to understand that plans can change, but that things will still turn out ok. He likes to know that he can count on things to go a certain way. Reasoning with toddlers can be tough so being sensitive to their feelings and trying to redirect them to something else like changing the current activity or taking a break can be helpful.

Family Travel on a Budget

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:36:51 +0000

If you’re looking for some family fun here’s a good travel idea; make your own city guide. If you’re on a budget this can work really well and you’ll get to know your home town better. Staying within a 50 mile radius of your home will allow you to save money and help out your local economy. Before summer comes start making a list of attractions you really like to see so when summer is finally here, you have your own travel guide to work from. During your trips take photos, hold on to keepsakes you found, and keep a travelogue. At the end of the summer you can create a book to remember all of the fun times you had and the great places that you all went to.

Stressed Parents Can Mean Stressed Kids

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:40:49 +0000

All parents have had the stage with their child when they seems to be throwing tantrums more frequently and you can’t understand why they are so upset. If you are stressed at home, your child very well maybe be reacting to that stress by acting out, getting upset or having a tantrum. There is a kind of symbiotic state where all of your energy gets wrapped up into each other. It i so very important to take care of your well-being so that in turn you will be taking care of theirs. Try having a relaxing slow-paced day. Allowing for some down time will create more of a stress-free day. “Recognizing Stress in Children” by Dr. Krill talks about what can trigger tantrums, some possible causes and signs.

The Secret to Loving Teenagers

admin — Thu, 27 May 2010 21:40:36 +0000

I recently read about a book called “The 5 love languages of Teenagers” by Gary Chapman who talks about how important parental love is for a teenager’s emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual development. He makes a point that all teenagers are different and they all respond differently to various ways that parents communicate love. In Chapman’s book he explains the five languages of love; words of affirmation, physical touch, quality time, acts of service and gifts. He also offers advice on how to break down destructive patterns and forge constructive paths. parents will learn that even though teens want independence, they need responsibility. This looks a like a great resource for how to better communicate with your teen.