Whether you want to or not, you do serve as a role model.
--Brooks Robinson, American baseball player
What are your kids learning from you? As parents, we hope they’re picking up good habits and learning how to be caring, principled people. Yet, no parent is perfect. We have our strengths and our weaknesses. The better we know ourselves, the better we’ll parent our kids.
Tips for
• all parents
o Get to know yourself more. What are you good at? What do you struggle with?
o Be intentional about how you parent.
o Notice how you treat the mistakes you make.
Read more . . .
• parents with children ages birth to 5
o Think of your child as a mirror that is reflecting everything you do.
o Pay attention to behaviors your child picks up from other adults.
o Monitor your own stress level.
Read more . . .
• parents with children ages 6 to 9
o Don’t be surprised if your child points out your inconsistencies.
o Model strong work habits.
o Get your family involved with service projects.
Read more . . .
• parents with children ages 10 to 15
o Stand up for yourself without putting down your child.
o Model positive ways to interact with peers.
o Discuss the learning and growing that you experience.
Read more . . .
• parents with children ages 16 to 18
o Begin to discuss the complexities of being human.
o Ask your teenager what makes it difficult to be a teenager.
o Work to be a good role model for your child.
Read more . . .
Friday, May 8, 2009
What Your Kids Are Learning from You
Monday, May 4, 2009
Discussing Current Events with Your Kids
Discussing Current Events with Your Kids
“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”—Nelson Mandela, former South African president
As a parent, you walk a tightrope when it comes to current events. On one hand, you want your child to become more aware of the world. On the other hand, you want to shield your child from horrific news. You actually can do both by considering these ideas.
Tips for
• all parents
o Consider subscribing to a daily newspaper or a weekly newsmagazine.
o Consider adding the Happy News to your daily news intake.
o Talk about which aspects of news you find fascinating.
Read more . . .
• parents with children ages birth to 5
o Shield your children from bad news.
o Consider subscribing to the Sunday newspaper and reading the comics with your children.
o Teach your children about faraway places.
Read more . . .
• parents with children ages 6 to 9
o Ask about the writing curriculum at your local school.
o Find simple chapter books that help your child learn about the world.
o Find online news stories that interest your kids.
Read more . . .
• parents with children ages 10 to 15
o Show kids how to find governmental news through TV, radio, online, and other news sources.
o Build on your child’s interests.
o Maintain a balance between paying attention to the news and living your own lives.
Read more . . .
• parents with children 16 to 18
o Frequently bring up current events to discuss as a family.
o Find out which newscast your teenager likes the most and recommend watching it periodically.
o Consider subscribing to a newsweekly.
Read more . . .
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