The ultimate goals that parents have for their preschoolers are the immediate goals they have for themselves: self-control and self-sufficiency. It's important to parents to understand that they operate on a timetable that's different from their children's and each child's ability to learn is unique. This understanding helps parents use empthy, trust, and respect as the foundation for healthy family communication..
The number one task facing parents of preschoolers is teaching them appropriate behavior on a level they can understand. When dealing with their children's temper tantrums, for example, parents are not only attempting to restore calm and order to their household, they're also trying to teach their children how to handle frustration and anger in a more appropriate way. Parents must model the kind of behavior they want to teach. They must also communicate their value in ways that make the values as important for their children as they are for themselves.
At the same time, children have their own needs, desires, and feelings, most of which they cannot articulate very well. Throuhout their first five years, they struggle to become independent human beings and rebel against being raised by older people.
This should not be especially surprising. parents and their preschoolers are usually at least twenty years apart in age and light-years apart in experience, reasoning ability, and the capacity of self-control.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Monday, December 21, 2009
Planning a party ( for your kids)
Kid’s birthday parties can be exhausting to organize, especially when you can’t afford a fancy party planner. And even when it’s do it your self, costs can go through the roof. How to hold a party without any hitches or financial meltdown?
I believe party planning is more enjoyable when your kids are involved. Now that daughters know what they want, i let them plan their birthday party the day after their last birthday. i do temper their expectations and tell them right away if a house party with five friends is the only for that year. And as long as they get to choose the guest and theme, I know that party of five be a happy one.
Make a guest list you can live with. In my experience, a guest list has touching any sensitive nerves. All means having a party having party at a big venue with all the relatives and friends, and nothing means having a party in our tiny home with an ultimate maximum capacity of 30 guests, less if we want to play games. What I have learned is kids don’t really distinguish between a big or small party. They are just as happy, so long as there is a celebration. Planning-wise, a small party is much more fun.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Teach children the value of money
It’s never too early, so make sure it’s not too late
Who among us would like to see their children grow up to be financially responsible? Every parent does. We all desire to see our children become financially independent someday in adulthood, able to provide for their own families and secure their future.
“Learning to be financially responsible does not happen overnight. It’s best to start while your children are still young, with something as simple as taking them to a bank to open their own savings account. While math lessons are taught in school, handling money and valuing it well should be taught at home first.
Get started teaching your children the value of money with these tips
* Talk about what money is for. Small kids may think that money grows on trees or come out of the ATM or wallet and is for buying the family’s need, and if there is some more left, for the family’s wants. Tell them that money is earned; parents work so they can earn money. No work,no money. No money,no food and toys.
* Pay for needs first. Since money is hard to earn, families should prioritize paying for their needs first. These include food,clothing,tuition fees, transportation, rent or mortgage, electricity, and the needs may be prioritized and met. As for wants-those that can them,and only buy them if you can afford to.
* Encourage saving.”Children can be taught to save even if they are still young. First, tell them why it is important to save- to have a coin bank where they can put some funds in the future when you need them. Second, give them a coin bank account for them so their savings can grow. For bigger kids,transfer some of their money to higher-yielding investments as savings accounts give only minimal interest.
* Give an allowance. Since people learn more by application than by studying the theory, allow your children to learn money matters the practical way- by giving them an allowance. Kids in the upper preschool years can be given P10 or P20 once a week or so with which they can buy something in school during recess. You can increase the amount in grade school.
The purpose of the allowance is to teach kids that they can use their money in two ways: save or spend. And they will find out that if they save, they will have more money tomorrow. By spending, they will also learn choose items carefully. The more expensive item will use up more of their money, leaving them with less. And if they choose the cheaper item, they will have more money left.
* Model good behavior.” Children look up to you and watch what you do. Practice good money habits yourself by saving, not over spanding, by paying your bills on time, and buying wisely so they can imbibe these habits too. As they grow, they will bring these good money habits with them.
Who among us would like to see their children grow up to be financially responsible? Every parent does. We all desire to see our children become financially independent someday in adulthood, able to provide for their own families and secure their future.
“Learning to be financially responsible does not happen overnight. It’s best to start while your children are still young, with something as simple as taking them to a bank to open their own savings account. While math lessons are taught in school, handling money and valuing it well should be taught at home first.
Get started teaching your children the value of money with these tips
* Talk about what money is for. Small kids may think that money grows on trees or come out of the ATM or wallet and is for buying the family’s need, and if there is some more left, for the family’s wants. Tell them that money is earned; parents work so they can earn money. No work,no money. No money,no food and toys.
* Pay for needs first. Since money is hard to earn, families should prioritize paying for their needs first. These include food,clothing,tuition fees, transportation, rent or mortgage, electricity, and the needs may be prioritized and met. As for wants-those that can them,and only buy them if you can afford to.
* Encourage saving.”Children can be taught to save even if they are still young. First, tell them why it is important to save- to have a coin bank where they can put some funds in the future when you need them. Second, give them a coin bank account for them so their savings can grow. For bigger kids,transfer some of their money to higher-yielding investments as savings accounts give only minimal interest.
* Give an allowance. Since people learn more by application than by studying the theory, allow your children to learn money matters the practical way- by giving them an allowance. Kids in the upper preschool years can be given P10 or P20 once a week or so with which they can buy something in school during recess. You can increase the amount in grade school.
The purpose of the allowance is to teach kids that they can use their money in two ways: save or spend. And they will find out that if they save, they will have more money tomorrow. By spending, they will also learn choose items carefully. The more expensive item will use up more of their money, leaving them with less. And if they choose the cheaper item, they will have more money left.
* Model good behavior.” Children look up to you and watch what you do. Practice good money habits yourself by saving, not over spanding, by paying your bills on time, and buying wisely so they can imbibe these habits too. As they grow, they will bring these good money habits with them.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Learning fun for Kids
Learning can be both frustrating and fulfilling. Understand that a number of different factors create your child’s unique learning style. Helping your child discover how he learns best will set him up for a lifetime success of learning and reduce the frustrations that come through trying to learn .
Recreate your spot
A chair and a desk in a quiet corner can be boring for young child. Try spreading out on the floor, sitting cross-legged on the bed or even in front of the TV, to find the environment where your child’s best learning can take place. Play some music and prepare some healthy snacks and drinks to make your child feel more comfortable.
Develop different learning styles
The way a child perceives and orders information plays a crucial role in his learning. While structuring the information in a logical step-by-step process,progressing in a linear form from beginning to end, may work for most children, your child may process information in a different way. He may need to see pictures, write or read the text himself, hear the information spoken to him to make him remember, or a combination of these ways. Observe your child in normal situation and pick up clues on how he understands the word.
Have fun
Being your child’s own teacher, you also have to enjoy learning. Share anecdotes, trivia and jokes, or give hi surprises to make every activity something he looks forward to. Let him ask questions and express his though. rediscover and explore different wonders together to make your learning sessions a time to bond too.
Recreate your spot
A chair and a desk in a quiet corner can be boring for young child. Try spreading out on the floor, sitting cross-legged on the bed or even in front of the TV, to find the environment where your child’s best learning can take place. Play some music and prepare some healthy snacks and drinks to make your child feel more comfortable.
Develop different learning styles
The way a child perceives and orders information plays a crucial role in his learning. While structuring the information in a logical step-by-step process,progressing in a linear form from beginning to end, may work for most children, your child may process information in a different way. He may need to see pictures, write or read the text himself, hear the information spoken to him to make him remember, or a combination of these ways. Observe your child in normal situation and pick up clues on how he understands the word.
Have fun
Being your child’s own teacher, you also have to enjoy learning. Share anecdotes, trivia and jokes, or give hi surprises to make every activity something he looks forward to. Let him ask questions and express his though. rediscover and explore different wonders together to make your learning sessions a time to bond too.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Feeling Guilty About Spanking
As a kid, I think I was never spanked. Otherwise, I would remember.
Spanking leaves an indelible mark in the mind of child. To many, that mark can fester into adulthood. One of my daughter said, in one of those family get- togethers' free-flowing edectic conversation, i was the only one spanked among my brothers. Although he said it nonchalanty, with a small smile on his face, I could feel the hidden carried in her chest all those years!
"You were spanked?!" i cried, looking at this nice young child who was my pried and joy. I could not remember. "Yes, by you, and also by papa."
I looked at my husband. he shrugged his shoulder, which was a cross between I don't remember or what does it matter, and left it at that.
But I panicked, to put it mildly. Not so much by the spanking, but by the way my daughter grew up with that thought for why would she even mention it many years later? I ached to pusue the issue but afraid of making it worse. Quite comfortably, that spanking done in love will make a child remember important lessons in life.Look at how well you turned out to be. You are loved, you are blessed. As a workoing mom in all of my children's growing up years, guilt weighed me down. i was wary of not playing mt role well. And so when i hear words that point to those years, my guilt is magnified many times over.
Researching on spankiong as a tool for discipline, I have learned that indeed the Good Book espouses it: Proverbs 23:13-14, "Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, you will save his soul from Sheol."
Had I know what I know today, i would have been a better spanker, or non-spanker. here are five tips I culled from my reading:
1. Give advance warning. Explain to your child where he/she did wrong. let him know that the next time he does it, he/she will be spanked. It's like issuing a memo to in the workplace first, second, and third warning before the punishment comes.
2. Don't do it anger. When you see red, escape to a corner and try to calm down before you spank. Otherwise, you will regret it for the rest of your life.
3. Stick to your word. Of you say you will spank the next time your child repeats his misbehavior, do so.
4. Keep to the buttocks. They are fleshy and don't maintain permanent damage.
5. reassure. a few hours after, or when the time seems right, explain to your child why he/she spanked and reassure him/her that it was his misdeed you hate, not him/her.
Easier said than dine? Whoever said motherhood is easy. But trying really hard, always leads to a happy ending; and takes away unwanted guilt.
Spanking leaves an indelible mark in the mind of child. To many, that mark can fester into adulthood. One of my daughter said, in one of those family get- togethers' free-flowing edectic conversation, i was the only one spanked among my brothers. Although he said it nonchalanty, with a small smile on his face, I could feel the hidden carried in her chest all those years!
"You were spanked?!" i cried, looking at this nice young child who was my pried and joy. I could not remember. "Yes, by you, and also by papa."
I looked at my husband. he shrugged his shoulder, which was a cross between I don't remember or what does it matter, and left it at that.
But I panicked, to put it mildly. Not so much by the spanking, but by the way my daughter grew up with that thought for why would she even mention it many years later? I ached to pusue the issue but afraid of making it worse. Quite comfortably, that spanking done in love will make a child remember important lessons in life.Look at how well you turned out to be. You are loved, you are blessed. As a workoing mom in all of my children's growing up years, guilt weighed me down. i was wary of not playing mt role well. And so when i hear words that point to those years, my guilt is magnified many times over.
Researching on spankiong as a tool for discipline, I have learned that indeed the Good Book espouses it: Proverbs 23:13-14, "Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, you will save his soul from Sheol."
Had I know what I know today, i would have been a better spanker, or non-spanker. here are five tips I culled from my reading:
1. Give advance warning. Explain to your child where he/she did wrong. let him know that the next time he does it, he/she will be spanked. It's like issuing a memo to in the workplace first, second, and third warning before the punishment comes.
2. Don't do it anger. When you see red, escape to a corner and try to calm down before you spank. Otherwise, you will regret it for the rest of your life.
3. Stick to your word. Of you say you will spank the next time your child repeats his misbehavior, do so.
4. Keep to the buttocks. They are fleshy and don't maintain permanent damage.
5. reassure. a few hours after, or when the time seems right, explain to your child why he/she spanked and reassure him/her that it was his misdeed you hate, not him/her.
Easier said than dine? Whoever said motherhood is easy. But trying really hard, always leads to a happy ending; and takes away unwanted guilt.
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