Tag: preschool

Whether this is your first or one of your final parent-teacher conferences, you may be feeling a little unsettled about what to discuss. Mainly, you are there to discuss your child with his/her teacher. This will look different depending on the grade level and the teacher, but ultimately, a parent-teacher conference is the opportunity for parents and teachers to communicate about how to help the child succeed inside the classroom.

No matter the reason for the conference, you should plan to enter the conference with the goal of supporting both your child and the teacher. To help you prepare for the meeting, consider asking the following questions:

1. What are your classroom policies?

Every teacher has set classroom policies regarding classroom rules, grading, rubrics, and academic standards. Before you can get to the root of any issues your child may be having in the classroom, you must understand what policies are in place. This question will also help you understand how to reinforce policies on your own time. This question also opens the door for other subsequent questions such as: What is the plan for notifying me of rule-breaking issues, social concerns, or academic struggles?

2. What are some resources we should be using?

Take advantage of the time you are meeting with your child’s teacher to get suggestions for any (and all) resources you and your child should be using. Be sure to ask about school resources, library resources, district resources, and technology resources that are available to students. Parents are often unaware of the volume of educational materials available to their children outside of the classroom.

3. What should we expect our child to know by the end of the academic year?

While this is a broad question, it is helpful for goal setting and staying on track for the academic school year. Some schools have state standards that students are expected to meet by the end of the school year, and many teachers can present you with this information.

4. What suggestions do you have for getting my child to communicate about his/her school day?

If you have a child who does not readily talk about school, it can be helpful to ask the teacher this question. The teacher will be able to let you know what types of things students regularly do in class so that you can ask specific class-related questions.

5. Where does my child need to improve?

Even if you think your child is perfect, you should still be open to hearing which areas the teacher thinks he or she needs improvement. For instance, while your child may excel academically, the teacher may notice your child struggles socially.

6. What accommodations are being made in your class?

For parents with children with special needs and IEPS, this question must be asked. You are your child’s best advocate, so you need to verify the teacher has reviewed the IEP and is making the required accommodations.

7. How can I support you?

Last, but certainly not least, you should conclude your meeting by emphasizing your desire to work alongside the teacher to help your child succeed. By asking how you can support the teacher, you are showing your willingness to partner with him/her.

As you head into the parent-teacher conference, try to remember that you may not have time to discuss everything or go through each of these questions in detail. However, teachers always provide a means to contact them if you need to communicate further.

We all want to give our children every advantage in life, including intelligence. We engage in creative play, read to them, and explore the world daily to develop those little minds. However, what we put into our children’s bodies is just as important as the stimuli to which we expose them.

Proper nutrition is essential for growth of the body and mind. While some days we might find it hard to get young children to cooperate with a healthy diet, we need to try. Here are some foods to boost your kid’s brain power and tricks to making them fun for young children.

Berry Delicious

Including a variety of berries in your families’ diet can help develop those young minds. While berries contain vitamin C and antioxidants for general health, they also provide compounds which have been shown to improve brain function. Additionally, the fiber and micronutrients present in berries have a positive effect on our blood circulation. For growing minds eating berries can help protect them from future harm and build a healthy system.

Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, Goji berries, blackberries and more offer so many benefits to your child’s brain. The sheer variety of berries available means you can incorporate them into any picky eaters diet. Try adding them to ice cream or making berry hand-pies. For busy days, blend frozen berries with yogurt, juice, and bananas for a healthy and delicious smoothie breakfast.

Eggs-cellent Memory

Eggs are another food that can help make your child smarter. Eggs not only provide protein (essential for brain development), they also have Choline in the yolks. Choline is a critical nutrient in memory. If your kid is forgetful, try adding more whole eggs into their diet.

While many children might turn their noses up at eggs on a plate, hiding them can be a practical solution. Consider making breakfast burritos, with eggs, low-fat sausage, sweet potatoes and cheese for a delicious and brain-stimulating meal. You can also indulge in the occasional homemade cheesecake, knowing that all those eggs are helping your kid’s memory! While you’re at it, make a strawberry cheesecake for a double dose of brain power. 

Peanut Butter & Jelly Time

Peanut butter is one food we can usually count on kids eating, and it’s thankfully good for your little genius. It’s full of vitamin E, Thiamin, Folate, and Glucose. The Glucose helps energize your child to focus on learning, Thiamin boosts memory and Folate aids brain development. Folate plays a crucial role in your child’s ability to create new synapses which support learning and memory.

While peanut butter makes a great dip for fruit and veggies, it can also be included in deserts and sandwiches. However, be careful to steer clear of sugar-loaded versions and opt for the natural all-peanut jars.

Oats N’ Honey

The most basic breakfast staple of oatmeal is probably one of the best foods to give your children to promote cognitive function. Oatmeal contains vitamin E, B complex, and Zinc, alongside Fiber. The combination is known to keep kids full and support healthy brain systems. Zinc has been shown to have vital importance to brain functions, making this addition to your family diet an important one.

While we all know oatmeal isn’t fancy but, it can be dressed up with any variety of healthy additions. Adding berries, nuts, and honey is a surefire way to entice kids to try a brain-stimulating oatmeal breakfast. Other options include making oatmeal cookies and breakfast bars.

Try adding these four mind-enhancing ingredients to your child’s diet and watch them flourish! We all know that young minds are continually growing and learning. Encouraging and facilitating that growth with healthy nutrient-rich food is the foundation to raising a smart child.

What recipes have you found to add more brain-boosting nutrients into your kid’s diet? What is your child’s favorite smart food? We want to hear your experiences!

No parent wants to raise a child who acts entitled and bratty, but it happens. If you want to avoid raising an entitled child, the best thing you can do is teach your child to be grateful. In addition to merely being good manners, gratitude also teachers our kids to take the focus off themselves and place it on someone else. Sometimes this seems to be easier said than done. As the parent, you set the tone for your family. If you strive to live a grateful life, your kids will follow your lead.

Express Gratitude Regularly in Your Home

Gratitude begins at home. When you express thankfulness regularly in your home, it will leave a lasting impression on your children. Make a point to say “thank you” often in your home, and do not limit it simply to material gifts. Show your thankfulness for actions as well. Teach your children that it is natural to say, “Thank you,” daily.

Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude

Your children will learn more from your actions than your lectures. Do not think that just telling them to say “thank you” will be effective. They need to see you showing gratitude too. One of the best ways you can teach your kids to be grateful is to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. A grateful attitude means looking for reasons to be grateful even on the worst days. Teach your children to find the blessings amongst the sorrows.

Explain Why Ungratefulness Hurts

Sometimes children need to see and hear examples to understand how gratitude (or ungratefulness) affects others. For instance, tell your child a story about someone whose feelings were hurt when their actions were not acknowledged. Or, consider reading books teaching the importance of valuing others above yourself. The books Have Your Filled Your Bucket Today and The Giving Tree are great to illustrate these concepts.

Stop Giving Them Everything

If you want to raise a grateful child, you need to start saying no. Children who are given more tend to be less appreciative. And, this does not apply just to all the material goods. If you continuously do everything for your child, your child will not learn to appreciate the work. For instance, have your child help with chores, so he or she learns to recognize when someone does these things for him/her. Or, the next time your child wants a toy, have your child save money to buy it.

Give to Others Instead

Make it a point to give to others routinely. Whether you are giving donations, money or time, your children will learn that they have more than they need. Choose organizations that reflect your family’s values, and use these experiences as teachable moments for your kids.

While you may only want to avoid raising an entitled child, teaching your kids to be grateful is beneficial in other ways. Individuals who are more grateful tend to be happier and healthier throughout their lives.

We are a generation of parents addicted to screens. Just look around you, and you will see the vast majority of people surrounding you are looking at a screen rather than a person. And, our kids are taking notes. While most media-conscious parents are aware of screen time guidelines for children, most parents do not consider their own screen time limits. Sadly, even the parents who think they are doing a decent job of modeling healthy screen time limits are failing to put down the screens and connect with their children.

How Much Time Are Adults Spending Looking at Screens?

The American Academy of Pediatrics explicitly defines screen time rules as no screens for children under 18 months old, only one hour of screen time for children two to five years old, with the general rule of limited screen time after age six. But, adults are surpassing the general rule of screen time by massive amounts. According to a study by Common Sense Media, parents spend an average of nine hours on screens each day.

Screen time accounts for any screen you are viewing – television, a tablet, a smartphone, a computer, or any other electronic screen device. When you combine the amount of time you spend looking at these devices, you will be shocked. And, quite a bit of the screen time is for pleasure and not work. Unfortunately, the urge to be continuously connected online is causing a significant disconnect with our children.

The Great Disconnect

When parents are looking at their screens, they are not looking at their children. Many parents fall into the trap of believing they are simply multitasking, but their children view it differently. Psychologist Steiner-Adair explains that “[the] children she works with feel disconnected from their distracted parents, and talk about being mad and sad, or feeling like they are less important or fun than the device that is stealing mom’s attention.”

The most genuine connection comes from looking into someone’s eyes. You cannot do so when your eyes are glued to a screen. If you have ever dismissed your children or not looked into their eyes because you were scrolling through your phone, then your children may already be feeling disconnected from you.

Don’t Be a Hypocrite

Along these same lines, it is common for parents to place screen times rules on their children that parents do not follow themselves. As your children grow, they will notice that their parents apparently do not think it is harmful to spend hours looking at screens. So, it will become harder to enforce screen time rules for your children when you are not modeling healthy screen limits yourself.

If after reading this article, you feel as if you need to reevaluate your screen time usage, you are not alone. Screen time usage is a problem for many parents. Fortunately, there are tools, such as the Family Media Plan and Media Time Calculator, that will help you reconnect with the ones you love.

Science fair projects are a rite of passage – and not just for the kids! Every parent that has had to help their child with a science fair project knows it can be an overwhelming experience. But, it doesn’t have to be! Science fair projects can be fun and easy. If you can help your child find a project that excites him or her, then you are on the right track.

We have put together a list of ten easy science fair projects for kids of all ages. Each of these experiments is designed to be done by kids (and not their parents). All you need to do is help them purchase the supplies and supervise. Leave the rest up to them! And, trust us, this is what your child’s teacher wants to happen.

1. Gummy Bear: Shrink or Grow?

To teach osmosis and solubility, you will just need gummi bears and different liquids and solutions (water, salt water, vinegar, etc.). Children will place a gummi bear in each solution overnight and then measure the results.

2. The Old Egg in a Bottle Trick

this old trick is an impressive experiment for kids to teach about the correlation between temperature and pressure,. Using just eggs, a wide mouth glass bottle, matches, and strips of paper, children will be able to make an egg “magically” fit through the bottle’s opening.

3. Cabbage Acid-Base Indicator

Children will love this hands-on approach to learning how to identify an acid or a base just using purple cabbage and seeing colors change.

4. Carnation Color Wonders

An uncomplicated way to teach the importance of the various parts of the flower, the carnation color experiment shows kids how stems provide nourishment to the whole plant.

5. Polymers & Pampers

If your middle school scientist has a younger sibling at home in diapers, this is a great way to teach how polymers are essential for products like diapers.

6. Make a Battery Using…

Anytime a kid can turn produce into a battery, it is fun! So, why not compare a lemon battery to a potato battery to see which one works better?

7. Helmet Drop Test

The helmet drop test is a practical project to teach kids the importance of safety helmets. Simply gather different types of helmets and a several melons. Strap the helmets to the melons and drop each from the same height and measure the results.

8. How Much Sugar is in that Soda?

Health-conscious parents will love this experiment because it teaches kids how much sugar is in their soft drinks. If you have soft drinks, sugar, and measuring cups, you can do this experiment in your kitchen.

9. Ways to Clean a Penny

To teach children how acid reacts with salt works to remove the dullness of pennies, kids can do a simple experiment using salt and vinegar. They can also test other acids to compare results.

10. Oranges: Float or Sink?

To teach kids about density, all you need are oranges and a bowl of water. You can add to this experiment by testing other fruits with peels.

Children will not only have fun completing these experiments, but they will also learn something new. Encourage them to ask questions and to search for answers. You may even learn something too!

 

In life, bumps in the road are inevitable. This is why it’s so important to raise children who never give up.

When mistakes, challenges, or failures occur, we want our kids to handle them with grace, not be too hard on themselves, and maintain the courage and positivity to try again.

That sounds like a tall order, but there are some simple steps you can take to raise a resilient child who never gives up.

Allow Your Child to Fail

It may sound crazy, but it’s important to let your child make mistakes sometimes.

Rushing to the rescue may feel like good parenting, but it can ultimately cripple your child’s ability to succeed and thrive on his own. If he never experiences failure, he’ll never learn about the consequences of his actions, and he’ll never learn important coping skills.

The more your child learns important lessons and develops the skills needed to bounce back from failure, the more resilient and persistent he’ll become.

Brainstorm Solutions

After you let your child fail, take the time to help him brainstorm some solutions. Don’t simply provide a solution for him, but allow him to talk through the problem-solving process with you. Ask him what went wrong this time, and how he might be able to avoid this in the future.

Talking through your child’s failures will show him that failure isn’t an excuse to give up. It just means that he needs to reassess the situation and develop better strategies or approaches to use next time.

Ultimately, something good can come of failure. The more you fail, the more you learn, grow, and eventually succeed.

Ask Your Child for Advice

Organizational psychologist Adam Grant makes a habit of asking his children for advice when he experiences setbacks.

This is a great strategy for a number of reasons: It shows your child that everyone makes mistakes and failure is a normal part of life. It allows you to model a “never give up” attitude, as you seek solutions instead of simply quitting. And if your child struggles with a similar issue in the future, you can remind him of the excellent advice he gave to you.

Praise Effort

Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck has pioneered research on what is called “growth mindset.” Growth mindset is when kids (or adults) believe that they can learn and achieve through practice and effort.

Kids with growth mindsets embrace challenges and believe that if they keep trying, they’ll eventually succeed.

On the other end of the spectrum, a “fixed mindset” is the belief that traits like intelligence are fixed. You’re either smart, or you’re not.

Kids with fixed mindsets give up at the first sign of difficulty. If something is challenging, they believe they have reached the limit of their intelligence or ability, and they prefer not to try at all.

You can help your child develop a growth mindset instead of a fixed mindset by praising effort, strategies, and the process, instead of only praising traits (like intelligence).

Conclusion

If you want to raise a kid who never gives up, allow him to experience failure, and then work with him to problem-solve. Ask him for advice when you encounter setbacks of your own, and learn to praise his effort in order to foster a growth mindset.

By following these simple steps, you’ll raise a resilient child who can manage any bump in the road with a positive, can-do attitude.