How Children Can Help Heal America

Having worked with children for many years, I can verify that young children do not notice or care about skin color, religion, cultural differences or disabilities. They are naturally humble, curious, and full of love. Young children forgive easily, usually find the good in all, and just want to have fun. Here are some characteristics that children naturally know:

WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM CHILDREN:

* Humans are more alike than different.

* Friends listen and help each other.

* It's easy to forgive and "let it go."

* There is joy in the journey.

* If I am a friend to others, I'll have friends.
   

CHILDREN POSSES THE FOLLOWING ATTRIBUTES:

C - CURIOSITY about the world around them - including different CULTURES. COURAGE brings rewards. CREATIVITY brings happiness.

H - HUMBLENESS. HUGS can HELP. 

I - INNOCENCE. INTEREST in everything. 

L - LOVE. LISTEN, LEARN. LAUGH.

D - DREAM. DO it. 

R - RESPECT others. READ. RIGHT will triumph. 

E - ESCAPE from technology - take a break and play outside. EXPLORE. EXPERIMENT. EXPERIENCE. EXPRESS yourself - kindly. 

N - NATURE - Enjoy the natural beauty in our world. NURTURE your relationships. NEVER give up.

Young children are nonjudgmental. We adults know that attitudes are learned - not inherited. My daughter, who has special needs, and I enjoy many of the same books. I was reading her book, 125 True Stories of Amazing Animals, when I noticed the photo below. If animals can rescue and even raise another species, then can't we have empathy and compassion for our own kind?

We are different but love the same.

I like this quote: "What I am suggesting and asking is that we turn from the negativism that so permeates our society and look for the remarkable good in the land and times in which we live, that we speak of one another's virtues more than we speak of one another's faults, that optimism replace pessimism. Let our faith replace our fears." Gordon B. Hinkley: Cultivate a Attitude of Happiness and a Spirit of Optimism.

Related Topics:

• ARK - Acts of Random Kindness: Free Printables for Kids & Adults
• Stop Bullying - It Starts at Home
• Back to the Basics - Play Outside
  

We can find balance and joy in life.

"If we love, forgive and pray, we can work together." 

Dr. Alveda King (niece of Martin Luther King)

Looking for more ideas on how to teach and raise children? See Kindergarten: Tattle-Tales, Tools, Tactics, Triumphs and Tasty Treats for Teachers and Parents and to prepare your child for kindergarten: The Happy Mommy Handbook: The Ultimate How-to Guide on Keeping Your Toddlers and Preschoolers Busy, Out of Trouble and Motivated to Learn. Both are bestsellers. The ebooks are only $3.99.

The 10 Rs for Your Child's Super Successful Summer

How can your children stay on a routine and retain what they learned in school AND be excited about it? Here are some simple ideas for a Super Successful Summer:

1.  RULES:  KISS (Keep It Simple Silly). Work with your children to decide on rules and have them sign the contract. For example - Every Day:

• 30 minutes of schoolwork
• Finish Chores 
• An hour of physical play
• Be Kind

2.  READ: Every day read - books, ipads, magazines, rules of games. Relevancy leads to reading. Play Scavenger Hunt Games. Take trips to the library. Let your child see your love and enjoyment of reading.

3.  wRITING - the fastest becoming lost "art." Help your child make To Do lists and cross off accomplishments. They can help with grocery lists to see writing has meaning. Help your child make a book - which can become a treasure, keepsake or gift. This helps with creativity and learning to read. You can keep it simple and just staple some pages together or poke holes and bind pages with yarn. They can illustrate it or you can paste their favorite photos. You may need to write their words. You could print the words large enough so that your child can trace over the words. Ownership leads to reading desire and enthusiasm.

4. aRITHIMETIC: Play Games. Make Math Fun and Relevant! Patterns and math concepts are everywhere leading to better reading and thinking skills.

5. RESPECT: Children who learn to respect others will be much happier and more successful in life.

6. RESPONSIBILITY Teach responsibility at an early age to help them (and you) through further years of development. Have a chore binder book or sticker chart. Use symbols beside words if your child isn't reading yet.

7. REWARDS: Children love a marble rewards jar - which teaches math as well as learning to earn something they want. Ask your child what they would like to earn. You may be humbled by their answer. When my daughter was in kindergarten, she told her teacher that her favorite thing to do with her mom was to play with the dollhouse.

8. RANDOM ACTS of KINDNESS: Teach the reward of giving. Helping neighbors, or taking them a plate of homemade cookies, can form lasting relationships and give a child a sense of community and belonging to a neighborhood. See RAK free ideas and printables.

Like Mama - Like Daughter

9. RELEASE STRESS - INCREASE STRENGTH: Children need to play outside. When I grew up, we did not have mobile phones, ipads, computers or even color television. My parents had five children and we were encouraged to play outside most of the time. Through outdoor play, I learned:

• How to communicate, share, socialize, follow game rules, and problem-solve
• Develop fine and large muscles
• Use my imagination to develop new games using whatever we had (rocks, marbles, balls, cans, sticks, chalk)
• Connect with my neighbors experiencing a sense of belonging

10. ROUTINE: Children crave routine and stability. Put PJs on, brush teeth, and then please snuggle and read a book every night possible with your children. Simple Comprehension Questions will help them retain information and will give you a glimpse into their imaginative thinking. Children will remember this special bonding time always - and you will to. They are little only a short time.



 

REMEMBER ~ 

Time is the most important

thing to spend on a child. 

Related Posts: 

ARK - Acts of Random Kindness

• Kindergarten Readiness: Enroll or Wait
• Caught Being Good!
• Top 10 Ways to Keep Kids Creative
• Why Craft? Why Art?
• Acts of Random Kindness - FREE Printables
• How to De-Stress Young Children while Traveling
• Discipline: Combat Duty or Common Sense Tactics
• Screen Time or Sensory Time
• The ABCs of Thrifty Teaching Tools

   
Would you like a glimpse into Kindergarten? See Kindergarten: Tattle-Tales, Tools, Tactics, Triumphs and Tasty Treats for Teachers and Parents. Moms of Preschoolers - let a mom and a teacher help save your sanity, one project at a time, including the child development explanations and age appropriate activities in The Happy Mommy Handbook: The Ultimate How-to Guide on Keeping Your Toddlers and Preschoolers Busy, Out of Trouble and Motivated to Learn. Both are bestsellers and also available on Barnes & Noble and Kobo. The ebooks are only $3.99.

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Stop Spanking! Prevention Solutions

Once again, I witnessed a parent yelling at their child at the store - then their anger escalating to a child being spanked. Believe me, spanking does not work. It may temporarily stop a child's behavior - but it leaves emotional scars, humiliation and anger.

The Pediatrics journal published a study that showed children who are spanked by their parents are at greater risk for later problems in both behavior and vocabulary. The Journal of Family Psychology published findings after 50 years of research was analyzed: "A new study on spanking, considered the most complete analysis to date on the topic, finds the more children are spanked, the more likely they are to defy their parents, exhibit anti-social behaviors and experience mental health and cognitive problems."



When adults spank children to get them to mind, too much has already gone wrong and the discipline has broken down. We know a big person should not hit a smaller person. Adults must set the example for good behavior. Therefore, you do not spit when you want a child to stop spitting, you do not yell when you want a child to stop yelling, and you do not hit when you want a child to stop hitting. Emotional scarring may result when a child is mistreated by an adult, whether verbally or physically.

Why Winning - and Losing - is So Important for Children

 
"Why does that kid have a blue ribbon? Mine's yellow. I want blue!"

"But you got a ribbon! You did great!" I answered.

"What's my ribbon for?"

"It's because you participated in a sport."

"Did I win?"

"No dear. But you participated."

"What's par-siss-y-tate?"

Of course, parents and teachers don't want any child to feel left out. And perhaps it is fine for all preschoolers and even kindergartners to get a ribbon or a trophy for participating. But what can children learn from losing - and from winning?

The Happy Mommy Handbook is Only $.99 for 2 days!

The Happy Mommy Handbook is on sale May 30th & 31st for only $.99! Currently, it is Number 1 in Parenting on Amazon. You can also purchase it from Barnes & Noble and Kobo. The ebook price will be $3.99 after that. Print copies are $9.95 and make wonderful gifts for parents and teachers of preschoolers.

Do you need answers to these questions?

• Why can't my kids just play by themselves occasionally?
• How can I help my children learn in fun ways?
• What can I do to help my child be ready for school?

How to De-Stress Young Children while Traveling

Cooper muttered the words that frustrates every mother, "I'm bored." 

Megan sighed. She and her husband had saved for months for this special trip to unwind and build family bonds. She had packed lots of things for the children to do in the car.

Cooper hit his brother and they both started the high-pitched screaming that made Megan's skin hurt. She rolled her eyes at her husband when he gave her an exasperated look.

Megan wondered what she could do so her children would relax and enjoy their family vacation.

Megan's dilemma is not unusual. Children crave consistency, stability and routine. How can you help your children cope with the hustle and bustle of traveling? Here are some tips:

Simple Comprehension Questions for Early Readers

photo from HANDS ON as We Grow

I was filled with joy as my four-year-old grandson read a book to me. His proud mother said, "It's impressive - but I wonder if he understands what he's reading." We both looked at each other and decided we needed to find out.

I searched on-line for Comprehensive Reading Questions - and was overwhelmed with the amount of questions you can ask a young reader. Reading needs to be a fun bonding experience - so I suggest the KISS approach: