"Parenting Network", what is it? Well, it isn't a Nickelodeon sister site. The parenting network that all parents should know about is called Inspire A Child For Life.
This non-profit organization is an incredible resource for kids, parents, people involved with kids, and all people who want to become something greater. There is no doubt in my mind, Barack Obama will become involved and active in this program.
There has never been anything like this organization. The leaders in this program I have been given the opportunity to meet and know personally. This parenting network includes individuals committed to excellence, who rise above mediocrity, share tools, and offer the support to help everyone achieve their dreams.
Come take a listen on one of our teleconference call, anyone is invited who has a deep desire to help others. Leave a comment below for more info. and learn why this is the best "Parenting Network" out there!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Young Parents Get Ideas
Young parents are never short of ideas. Young parents are innovative and creative with finding great ways to help thier chidren feel important and included at home.
Here are just a few ways parents can get things done at home and "entertain" the little ones too:
1. Ask your child to separate the clean laundry by each person in the family.
2. Task your child to find all the socks, match them up and then count by twos.
3. Assign a "dinner task" to your child. (something they can do to help prepare the meal. Something they can do to help out during the meal (like be in charge if a person needs more napkins) and a job to do after the meal (put all the condaments away).
4. While making dinner, if your child can't help. Tell them you need some encouragement and ask how many jumping jacks they can do in a minute. Then time them.
5. Task your child (ren) to run around the house and find all the loose change.
6. Task your kids to be a reporter and ask all the older adults about how they celebrated their holidays when they were little.
7. Ask your child to go through the holiday cards and count how many stamps/trees/birds/Santas/candles/etc. they can find.
8. Ask you child to plan a way they can help other people. List their ideas and see if you can do them together.
9. Give your kids a green/non-toxic cleaner mixed with water in a squirt bottle and some paper towels and ask them to go around and clean the windows. (My kids LOVE this!!)
10. Use a paper plate and create a clock with movable hands to talk about when you need to do things and when your family needs to be ready to go.
These tips for young parents can help your child feel important (the main motivation for all people) and included. In turn you will have some "help" around the house and minimize power struggles and strife during Christmas and the holiday break from school
Here are just a few ways parents can get things done at home and "entertain" the little ones too:
1. Ask your child to separate the clean laundry by each person in the family.
2. Task your child to find all the socks, match them up and then count by twos.
3. Assign a "dinner task" to your child. (something they can do to help prepare the meal. Something they can do to help out during the meal (like be in charge if a person needs more napkins) and a job to do after the meal (put all the condaments away).
4. While making dinner, if your child can't help. Tell them you need some encouragement and ask how many jumping jacks they can do in a minute. Then time them.
5. Task your child (ren) to run around the house and find all the loose change.
6. Task your kids to be a reporter and ask all the older adults about how they celebrated their holidays when they were little.
7. Ask your child to go through the holiday cards and count how many stamps/trees/birds/Santas/candles/etc. they can find.
8. Ask you child to plan a way they can help other people. List their ideas and see if you can do them together.
9. Give your kids a green/non-toxic cleaner mixed with water in a squirt bottle and some paper towels and ask them to go around and clean the windows. (My kids LOVE this!!)
10. Use a paper plate and create a clock with movable hands to talk about when you need to do things and when your family needs to be ready to go.
These tips for young parents can help your child feel important (the main motivation for all people) and included. In turn you will have some "help" around the house and minimize power struggles and strife during Christmas and the holiday break from school
Friday, December 19, 2008
Concerned Parents Are Keys To Success
Concerned Parents are encouraging their children to do more than just going to school and behaving for 6 hours. Concerned Parents realize public schools, especially, do not offer the depth of appreciation for the arts, music, and all subjects like we all would like.
I believe, public school teachers would love to offer our students more. I believe they are over burdened with "catch all" responsibilities. Responsibilities I think concerned parents would and should help alleviate through active participation in our students classrooms.
If more concerned parents were actively involved, the public school teachers would have more time to concentrate delivering more content rich material. I volunteer weekly in my daughter's classroom as well as my husband.
People may say, "you must not work?" That is so far from the truth. My husband works 45+ hours a week as a supervisor and goes to school part time. I work full time from home on my own business and together we have just started another business.
We are concerned parents who want our children to learn from our example. "If you want something changed... get in there and do it."
Productive, effective and efficient companies know and are built on the foundation that, "two heads are better than one." Some would complain that the current and upcoming educational cut backs are the reason, are to blame, and will be the "scapegoat" for further educational decay in our schools.
I beg to differ. I hope this impending educational crisis will jump start "concerned parents" into more participation in their child's school. The reason for poor school performances, for public school decay is our lack of participation by concerned parents.
If concerned parents stepped up, encouraged and even nudged other parents to participate along side them, we would be able to make our public schools the representations they should be for the "richest nation in the world".
Why do we allow ourselves to fall back and just point a finger. Budget cuts are not the issue with our schools, we, the parents are. Don't you want to take back the responsibility of raising your kids? I want my child's teacher's main concern to teach, not be the social worker, marketer, organizer, advocate, behavior specialist, etc.
I challenge all concerned parents for their News Years Resolution to volunteer and participate in your child's education. Don't allow others to raise your child. help others to teach your child.
I believe, public school teachers would love to offer our students more. I believe they are over burdened with "catch all" responsibilities. Responsibilities I think concerned parents would and should help alleviate through active participation in our students classrooms.
If more concerned parents were actively involved, the public school teachers would have more time to concentrate delivering more content rich material. I volunteer weekly in my daughter's classroom as well as my husband.
People may say, "you must not work?" That is so far from the truth. My husband works 45+ hours a week as a supervisor and goes to school part time. I work full time from home on my own business and together we have just started another business.
We are concerned parents who want our children to learn from our example. "If you want something changed... get in there and do it."
Productive, effective and efficient companies know and are built on the foundation that, "two heads are better than one." Some would complain that the current and upcoming educational cut backs are the reason, are to blame, and will be the "scapegoat" for further educational decay in our schools.
I beg to differ. I hope this impending educational crisis will jump start "concerned parents" into more participation in their child's school. The reason for poor school performances, for public school decay is our lack of participation by concerned parents.
If concerned parents stepped up, encouraged and even nudged other parents to participate along side them, we would be able to make our public schools the representations they should be for the "richest nation in the world".
Why do we allow ourselves to fall back and just point a finger. Budget cuts are not the issue with our schools, we, the parents are. Don't you want to take back the responsibility of raising your kids? I want my child's teacher's main concern to teach, not be the social worker, marketer, organizer, advocate, behavior specialist, etc.
I challenge all concerned parents for their News Years Resolution to volunteer and participate in your child's education. Don't allow others to raise your child. help others to teach your child.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Parenting With Love is a Kids' Key To Success
Parenting with love and patience, especially during this season can be really difficult. Although this season's purpose is to be joyous, my friends in the health field know that this time of year brings more stress, anxiety, negative news stories, and worry like no other. Parenting with chaos is more like it!
Parenting with love and patience can be last thing on a parents mind because we are all strapped for time. With holiday shopping, end of the year meeting and projects that need to be completed, the decorating, the cooking and baking, the school plays, recitals, concerts, etc. who has time to really focus on our families and kids? I know that is why everyone is doing so much, why everyone is trying to fit everything in.
Everyone I speak with has the greatest of intentions (we all are trying to parent with love) but the stress and the pressure we put on ourselves to be perfect and have everything perfect can be too much for some - too much for most.
This past Sunday my daughter was involved with a play at our church called the Grouches
Of Christmas. Our paster has a outstanding way of getting a message across! Our Children's Sunday School director does too! If you have read or seen this play it is a must!
It is like the Part II of How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Suese. I absolutely loved it!!
I am so greatful to my church, especially Minister Pritchard and our Children's Director Dawn Wirth!
Parenting with love and patience can be last thing on a parents mind because we are all strapped for time. With holiday shopping, end of the year meeting and projects that need to be completed, the decorating, the cooking and baking, the school plays, recitals, concerts, etc. who has time to really focus on our families and kids? I know that is why everyone is doing so much, why everyone is trying to fit everything in.
Everyone I speak with has the greatest of intentions (we all are trying to parent with love) but the stress and the pressure we put on ourselves to be perfect and have everything perfect can be too much for some - too much for most.
This past Sunday my daughter was involved with a play at our church called the Grouches
Of Christmas. Our paster has a outstanding way of getting a message across! Our Children's Sunday School director does too! If you have read or seen this play it is a must!
It is like the Part II of How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Suese. I absolutely loved it!!
I am so greatful to my church, especially Minister Pritchard and our Children's Director Dawn Wirth!
I hope everyone truly slows down, has a peaceul, spirit-filled season, and the all the energy to parenting with love and patience!
Check out this video to See our Church's redition of The Groches Of Christmas!Wednesday, December 3, 2008
The Power of Observation Is A Key To Kids' Success
Does the thought of helping your children with their homework at night feel like you are requesting to have your fingernails pulled out?
My mom hated to help me with my homework. I was normally ushered to my room and told between complaints that I hadn't cleaned and done my chores properly, to "Give it another try".
Just the sheer excuse to avoid further critique of my dusting and vacuuming skills was enough for me to run to my room, and not come out for days.
To me homework was a way to escape and avoid confrontation...not the ideal version I want my kids to associate it with.
Thankfully, I have come to regard "homework" as life lessons at a micro level.
I make opportunities for my kids to see me read and enjoy learning new things. If my kids want to "see" what I am doing at the computer or while I am lounged with a book, article, etc in hand I try to remember to welcome them up into my lap to share it with them. Describe to them what I am doing/reading and then asking what they think. Sometimes we make up our own stories from that, sometimes my daughter runs to her work table to assemble a "book" and write herself, or sometimes the result is just sitting for a bit and snuggling (usually the last is my favorite!).
We have had moments of pure joy, affection, and learning moments together. Although my youngest still doesn't know how to read, he loves helping type and hearing about what I am reading about or doing.
Normally for him it doesn't last more than 6 minutes until he is ready to switch gears and run off to play golf, chase, bounce on his ball, or play his ukulele. But the moments we share in that 6 minutes to me are priceless.
We bond and I get to share with him one of my passions. In turn I'll notice him grab some of his books and head for his chair to "read" or pull out one of his activity books to practice.
I have always loved to work with my hands and create special gifts. One of the greatest gifts I have been given is when my kids want to do the same thing. Many people will comment to my daughter... "You are such the artist, just like your mom."
My daughter beams with pride. I know though, it isn't so much genetics as it is she has taken the time and opportunity to watch me do those same things and has mimicked me.
I do my best to allow her to participate when I can. If I am working on a piece for someone and she can't contribute on my work, I will give her something similar to try it out for herself.
I have been asked... "doesn't that get expensive?" The answer is yes if i were just considering the monetary value but a whole heartily "no" considering I am sharing my love with her and we are creating a cherished learning lesson and memory together.
Best wishes to you this holiday season. My hope is you will experience many moments of love, appreciation, joy, and opportunities of "learning life lessons"!
My mom hated to help me with my homework. I was normally ushered to my room and told between complaints that I hadn't cleaned and done my chores properly, to "Give it another try".
Just the sheer excuse to avoid further critique of my dusting and vacuuming skills was enough for me to run to my room, and not come out for days.
To me homework was a way to escape and avoid confrontation...not the ideal version I want my kids to associate it with.
Thankfully, I have come to regard "homework" as life lessons at a micro level.
I make opportunities for my kids to see me read and enjoy learning new things. If my kids want to "see" what I am doing at the computer or while I am lounged with a book, article, etc in hand I try to remember to welcome them up into my lap to share it with them. Describe to them what I am doing/reading and then asking what they think. Sometimes we make up our own stories from that, sometimes my daughter runs to her work table to assemble a "book" and write herself, or sometimes the result is just sitting for a bit and snuggling (usually the last is my favorite!).
We have had moments of pure joy, affection, and learning moments together. Although my youngest still doesn't know how to read, he loves helping type and hearing about what I am reading about or doing.
Normally for him it doesn't last more than 6 minutes until he is ready to switch gears and run off to play golf, chase, bounce on his ball, or play his ukulele. But the moments we share in that 6 minutes to me are priceless.
We bond and I get to share with him one of my passions. In turn I'll notice him grab some of his books and head for his chair to "read" or pull out one of his activity books to practice.
I have always loved to work with my hands and create special gifts. One of the greatest gifts I have been given is when my kids want to do the same thing. Many people will comment to my daughter... "You are such the artist, just like your mom."
My daughter beams with pride. I know though, it isn't so much genetics as it is she has taken the time and opportunity to watch me do those same things and has mimicked me.
I do my best to allow her to participate when I can. If I am working on a piece for someone and she can't contribute on my work, I will give her something similar to try it out for herself.
I have been asked... "doesn't that get expensive?" The answer is yes if i were just considering the monetary value but a whole heartily "no" considering I am sharing my love with her and we are creating a cherished learning lesson and memory together.
Best wishes to you this holiday season. My hope is you will experience many moments of love, appreciation, joy, and opportunities of "learning life lessons"!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
