Did You Know Cliques Start in Elementary School?

School has started and it’s time to start looking at things with fresh parental eyes as to what would be best for your child.

It’s amazing how heartless and cruel elementary school children can be to one another.   But when the cruel behavior is enforced by a group or clique it is even more devastating. In my 20 years as an elementary school teacher and counselor I have seen so many children whose fragile little egos are crushed and damaged because of things said to them or done to them by classmates.  Calls to parents do not seem to be enough.  Often parents support their child in the hurtful behavior because they don’t like something about the child’s parent, or the teacher/counselor’s advice about  the problem just couldn’t apply to their child.   So the change in behavior has to start with the child him or herself.

This is not easy.

As a start, I have found that everyone involved in the problem sitting down together seems to work.  The behavior change doesn’t happen instantly, but it will happen.  If you give the children involved a project to work on together, such as using lunch time to sit, eat and make something for a local rest home (as an example).  Then let them decide where to take what they have made, when to take them and what to do on that day.  I have taken lots of Saturdays to drive kids to a shelter that allows them to bring in things or do things for the people. 

Several times we all cooked dinner for a group of homeless moms and kids.  We planned the menus, bought the groceries, and studied the recipes.  Once at the shelter we set the table, prepared and served the food.  We even offered a little entertainment by having one or two of our group sing a song or tell a story.

The same day we all ate our meal together somewhere else and “debriefed” about the experience.  Talking things through always seems to help cement broken friendships or strengthen new ones.

The idea is that working together helping others seems to improve relationships.  This kind of positive group support is what makes children see the needs of others and appreciate their differences.

As a parent when your child comes home feeling extremely unhappy over the cliquish behavior of classmates, your first concern is to protect your child’s self-esteem.  Lots of TLC and non-judgmental listening (this is listening without offering your opinion) is very important. Then decide if the cliquish kids are those your child really wants to be friends with.  If not, you’ll need to help find a place where new friendships can be made. 

1. A new after-school program, age-appropriate church group, or enrolling in a new sports program are all good places to start looking for new friends.  Make sure that you offer to help out with the group your child becomes involved in.

2. Having activities at your house or sponsored by you at another place is a good way to encourage regrouping with the old friends as well as with the new.  Plan the activity with your child. You do the calling to invite the guests and parents. Your child can reinforce the invitation when he or she sees the kids again before the event by using written or verbal invitations.

3. Same-sex friendships are important through the all the important developmental years.  Parental involvement is most necessary to make sure these friendships are positive.  Sleep-overs and club activities offer the chance for parental engagement.  If a child sees his or her parents are involved in friend activities they are less likely to go cruising on their own looking for trouble to get into.  When your child does get into trouble it is usually a call for parental attention.  You stepping right in to either support or discipline correctly actually gives your child the security he or she is looking for.

4. Breaking up cliques is not easy.  I do not believe it can be done unless you move your child far away and destroy your phone and computer, never to use them again.  But changing the goal of a clique can be accomplished by becoming involved and encouraging the parents of the other children to follow your lead.  Parents becoming acquainted with each other will lead to positive interactions later on. 

These are all starter plans for helping your child survive the negative aspects of a clique

What Does Inclusion in the Family Mean?

Are you raising a teen ager?  This is no easy job.  Teens are often viewed as disrespectful, moody, loud, defiant, incapable of responsible decisions, undependable and chaotic.

If your teens are all these things, perhaps you need some support in reclaiming some battle ground.

One of the top anthropologist researchers said many years ago that it was wise to include the child in the in all areas of family life at the age of eleven.  This also includes your job.  Keeping them close and working with you is important.  Asking their opinion is even key to them feeling a part of something.  It means parents are interested when children are included.

A busy teen is a productive teen, but not just with after school clubs and sports.  Sometimes those activities are not what they need.

A teen who thinks about going home right after school, is a teen with something to do at home, a job they will be rewarded for; or a project that is home based under the supervision of a parent; or a teen that is running from something at school that has him or her scared to death.  The third reason is a whole issue unto itself.  Let’s just talk about the first two first.

A teacher named Charles Sullivan who worked in the Chicago Union Mission in the late 1800’s, once said that all children should be raised on farms.  He meant the care of and bonding between animal and human is not to be over looked.  Caring for a pet means just that –caring.  The bird needs water, whose bird is it?  The dog needs food, whose dog is it?  Can’t feed the dog or water the bird, give them to people who will care for them, and carry through with that statement.  When another being is dependent upon you, it fosters responsibility.  But it doesn’t foster anything if someone else does the work.

Let’s talk about reincluding a child that’s been “unincluded” for a long time.

Shauna Richards was seventeen and living totally on the street.  She was picked up by the police and sent to a group home by a district court judge.  Upon arrival she was warmly greeted by the house parents and given a list of chores that would be her responsibility.  She immediately refused the work and was told that was ok, but the kitchen would be off limits as well as the activities room (where the tv was located) until the chores were done.  Moreover, when chores were done she could earn merit points which meant outings, an allowance, and time on the telephone, among other things.  Until then she was free to stay in her room, and she could go outside during supervised periods, but that was all.

After three days of not eating, except for crackers she found in the bathroom and candy left in some pocket in her backpack, she awoke to the wonderful of homemade beef and vegetable soup which was a group house specialty.  She crept down the stairs to the office of the house mother and asked for some of the soup.  The house mother asked her what chore on the list would she like to do to earn the soup.  Shauna was taken back by the question and began to refuse the work list again, making some rude remark under her breath, she turned to go back up the stairs.

Apparently, the smell was just too inviting because seconds later she turned around and went back into the office.  She looked over the list and picked out the easiest thing she could find which was making her bed. 
                “Fine,” said the house mother. “Let me know when you are done.  I’ll check it and bring your soup to you.”
 “Can’t I just eat in the kitchen?” she asked.
 “No,” said the house mother, “Remember, the kitchen and activities room are off limits until all the chores are done.”
 Shauna made her bed correctly and ate her soup.  She emptied the trash in her room the next morning as it was her turn and got dinner that evening, in her room.  Next morning she took the list and began checking off things with the house mother.  Before long she had a schedule she followed, a job to do in the family co-op store stocking produce, and began going to GED classes at a local church. 

It was a slow process in the beginning and Shauna had some “black sliding” days; but eventually she got her GED and went to the community college to get a certificate in cosmetology.

Of course, not every teen story is a success like Shauna, but the element of inclusion was present in all the activities group home had her do.  She became part of a family.  She belonged and people were interested in her.

Sadly, many families do not value inclusion of their children in the active family, unless it’s for a group picture, or a reunion where being on their best behavior is more important than the family activities at play. 

Value your children.  Include them.  It is never too late to start.

The Worst Thing to Say to a Child

The flack may be flying over this post, because many parents use this phrase constantly, even without thinking, and believe its fine.  After all, it was said to them when they were growing up.

As an elementary school counselor I heard this two word phrase spoken time and time again by parents as they talked to their children in front of the teacher or the principal; and I’ve have seen the child’s reaction.  It was obvious they felt worthless, degraded and emotionally injured.  And this injury goes deep within their soul, believe me.

Teachers have screamed this at their classes when they themselves were stretched and burned out, and had not one more ounce of classroom control left in them.  As a counselor time would be made to speak to them after class about changing their vocabulary when they felt that way again.

My job gave me opportunities to hear children saying this phrase to each other and watching the same wounded expressions; as if an obese child was called “Blubber” or an overly slim child was called “String Bean.” 

There were chilling child confrontations when they would use these words with an adult, and the adult would seethe at them in return with some even more hurtful comment.  Often it meant some physical response from the parent would occur: a slap on the face, a smack on the head, a jerk of the shirt collar, or some curse word uttered in extreme frustration.

Many child psychologists now think these two words are the root of all “back-talking” problems. 

Have you guessed what they are?

Try, “Shut up!”

Think about it! What do these two words mean?  What do they say to the child? 

When the child is crying, you say them.  What motivates that phrase being spoken?  The need for quiet?  The frustration of not being able to focus on a problem or task at hand?  You have told your child, “Listen, your distress is not important at all to me!”  Of course, your child’s problems are important to you, but you’ve all ready said they were not, and words can never be unspoken; just covered up with other words.  If you say this phrase often enough to your child, they will learn that what they say, do or complain about it not important at all. 

How do you change it?  You can change your vocabulary, change your tone, and think before you speak.  Say, “Hush, Get quiet now, Give me a minute! I’ll be right with you.”  Make your voice softer, tone firm, but loving and gentle.  Things make really start to improve between you and your child.  By the way, it’s never too late to start this practice.

Somethings Parents Should Know

Let’s talk about gender differences. 

Girls are sugar and spice and everything nice. Boys-on the other hand-will be boys. We take it for granted that males and females are different-not just physically, but the ways in which we think. The gender differences in thinking may be all in our heads-our brains, to be more specific.

 

Structurally, the brains of males and females are almost identical. By adulthood, the average human brain weighs in at just under three pounds. The brain of a woman is typically about 10 to 15 percent smaller than a man’s-but that’s probably just because her entire body is smaller.

Believe it or not guys, there are no apparent differences in intelligence between males and females. It’s not the size of your brain that determines how smart you are, anyway. It’s the number of connections between nerve cells, or neurons, and that number appears to be roughly equal in men and women.

The brain is divided into two halves-the left and right hemispheres. The division of labor between these mirror images is so striking that they almost behave like two separate brains.

In general, males tend to rely more heavily on the right side of the brain, the half that specializes in handling visual and spatial problems. As right-brainers, men tend to be skilled at tasks involving spatial reasoning (finding the end of a maze), or mechanical skills (assembling a bicycle).  Although women use both halves of their brains to a greater extent than men, they seem to rely more on the left, the side that governs language. Left-brain dominance may explain why girls typically learn to speak earlier than boys, and why women are usually better at repeating tongue twisters than men.

 

As right brain thinkers, men learn best when they are allowed to visualize. As left-brainers, most women learn better by hearing than by seeing. Hemispheric dominance may be one reason that women tend to be more adept at solving word problems, while men are more likely to excel at spatial problems. It may also help answer the age-old question about why men seem incapable of asking for directions, while women have more trouble using maps.

The right and left hemispheres of the brain are connected by a structure called the corpus callosum a massive bundle of nerves comprised of over 200 million fibers. This sophisticated communication system serves as a living computer cable-it coordinates functions between the two halves of the brain.  This structure tends to be larger in females, facilitating greater communication and sharing of tasks between the two sides of their brains. And there’s good reason for it’s larger size in women.

As children develop, the two hemispheres of the brain become increasingly specialized in their functions, and the connecting corpus callosum gets progressively thinner. At puberty, the thinning stops. Because girls usually reach puberty a couple of years earlier than boys, thinning of the female corpus callosum stops sooner. As a result, females are left with a thicker structure and the potential for greater communication between the two halves of the brain.

 

In boys, the corpus callosum continues to thin until puberty is finally reached, leaving them with a thinner structure and less communication between the two hemispheres. Each half of the male brain pretty much does its own thing, with very little sharing of tasks between them. This increased specialization of hemispheres has important implications for both genders. As youngsters, boys tend to have more developmental problems affecting speech and language, like dyslexia and autism.

And because adult men continue to use their brains in a more specialized manner, they are more vulnerable to brain damage from strokes and trauma. Healthy areas of the male brain are less able to take over functions of injured areas, and as a result, they may recover less completely than women.   

Because women use their brains in a more generalized fashion, tasks that were once the responsibility of damaged tissue are delegated to the remaining healthy areas of the brain, increasing the chances that normal function will be restored after brain injury.

 

On an emotional level, women tend to have a more whole-brained approach to the world. They’re more adept at coordinating logic with emotion, endowing them with the undeniable powers of “women’s intuition.” Men, on the other hand, seem better able to compartmentalize their lives, allowing them to leave work problems at the office and family troubles at home.

 

In the journey of life, there are map-readers and direction-takers. Whichever you are, enjoy the ride!

 

As you get ready for school this year, allow us to

help you with some great educational resources.

Please visit www.ParentsTeachersKids.com .  Also

http://toyourchildssuccess.vpweb.com/default.html

for early learning resources.

 

Where Our Children Learn.

At Home

It’s no surprise to anyone that children need time with their parents. And even though most parents are extremely busy, whether they work outside of the home or not, they do find time to spend with their children. But they want that time to count in helping prepare their children for the world they will find outside the home.

What counts most is what we say and do at home, not how rich or poor we are or how many years of school we have finished. When children can count on getting attention at home, they have a greater sense of security and self-worth. This will help them do better not only in school, but also when they grow up.

If you think about it, school, while very important, does not really take up very much time. In the United States, the school year averages 180 days; in other industrialized nations, the school year can extend up to 240 days, and students are often in school more hours per day. So, the hours and days a child is not in school are important for learning, too.

Communicating. This is probably the most important activity we can do in our home, and it doesn’t cost anything. Ask questions, listen for answers. These are no-cost, high-value things to do.

Think of conversation as being like a tennis game with talk, instead of a ball, bouncing back and forth. Communication can happen any time, any place–in the car, on a bus, at mealtime, at bedtime.

When our children enter and continue school with good habits of communication, they are in a position to succeed–to learn all that has to be learned, and to become confident students.

Starting early. Here are some things you can do when your children are young:

• Let them see you read, and read to them and with them. Visit the library. If they are old enough, make sure they have their own card. Keep books, magazines, and newspapers around the house.
• Keep pencils and paper, crayons, and washable markers handy for notes, grocery lists, and schoolwork. Writing takes practice, and it starts at home.
• Teach children to do things for themselves rather than do the work for them. Patience when children are young pays off later.
• Help children, when needed, to break a job down into small pieces, then do the job one step at a time. This works for everything–getting dressed, a job around the house, or a big homework assignment.
• Develop, with your child, a reasonable, consistent schedule of jobs around the house. List them on a calendar, day by day.
• Every home needs consistent rules children can depend on. Put a plan into action, and follow through.
• Give each child an easy-to-reach place in which to put things away.
• Set limits on TV viewing so that everyone can get work done with less background noise.
• Watch TV with your children and talk about what you see.

Give some though to communicating with your child.  It is never EVER too late to start!

 

Visit www.ParentsTeachersKids.Com

 

Ah, Those Lazy, Crazy, Hazy Days … … …

Ah, yes, summer!

Are you still reeling from school being out and the kids being all over the house and it your face and hair all at once?  I gave you a post a week ago with 101 things to do.  They weren’t for you to do….although you might have benefited with a little therapy in completing some of those tasks.  They were for your kids to pick and choose.

Then we had a discussion about things to do in the back yard.  I realize some people do not have backyards so most outdoor water activities are done on the patio or you get real creative and take the kids to the pool.

So, I came up with a list of Five Things You Can Do With Your Kids that cost little or no money.  So, forget about the theme parks etc.

1. Take your kids to the nice, cool library, get some books in a nice corner and cuddle up in a chair or on a couch (this means going early in order to get one of those nice chairs or couches) and read.  Sometimes you can read aloud, sometimes you can’t.  Sometimes you can just look at the pictures together.  Many  Libraries offer story times during th week when someone else tells a story and your kids listen.  Sometimes you can hook your child up to an audio book, while you indulge in another book you wanted to read.  There are dvd’s to see and private rooms for looking at stuff or coloring pages (bring your own supplies).  Private rooms are for Library Card Holders only, but it’s FREE to get one.  You can only sign up for about an hour, but that’s long enough.  Visiting the Library is a nice change of pace; but REMEMBER, keep your babies in check.  They need to learn respect for the library rules of no or low talking, now running or shouting out, and it is up to you as the parent to train them (not the Librarian Staff).

2. Going to the Discount/Grocery/Drug Store are all fun trips.  Especially when you make a shopping list and ask the kids to help you gather up the items you need.   Some parents feel it is too much trouble to take their kids shopping.  If you train them well as home, they will not disappoint you when you take them out.  They might test you once or twice to see if your rules apply in this situation.  Swiftly and consistently let them know that your rules of good behavior apply here, too.  They will get the idea fast.  If your child is in charge at home, don’t even think about taking him out, unless you want him/her  to embarrassing royally.

3. Going to a Birthday Party.  This is fun because you can start several days before the party in order to make a gift to take with you.  Make a card and maybe some treats to take with you.  Make some decoration from things at home and take them as well.  Do this all with your kids.  They will have a better time if they are invested in the work, as well.

4.  Museum Day!  Every Museum has a day when people can visit for free.  Call around and find out that day and plan a trip.

5. Have a picnic in a nearby park.  Pack peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or something not prone to spoiling in the heat.  Make some cookies or cake for the meal.  Take a couple of toys, but only a few.  Allow the kids to pick out two things to take.  This leads to less fussing over who gets what to play with.  Take a lawn chair, if you have one, or a blanket to spread out and sit on under a shade tree.  Go early in the day or later in the evening when the temperature is a little cooler.

Have a great day!  More later… … …

Christine Hedger

Stone Mountain GA

Popular Backyard Summer Activities for Toddlers & Preschoolers … …

It has been said that the early years of a child’s life are important in developing lifelong learnng skills.  If you are the parent of a toddler of preschoolers, this means that you will want to instill good habits in them early on.

One of those good habits may get them started on a love for the outdoors.  While playing outdoors is fun, it is also a great way to stay healthy and fit, and there are educational  opportunities that will increase their learning awareness.

When it comes to backyard activities, you will findthat you have an unlimited number of options.  The wide range or possibilities is mostly due to their age. Unlike adults or older children, many toddlers and preschoolers are easy to please.  This means that whatever backyard activity you organize for your child, it will likely be something that they enjoy.  And the key word is “organize.”  Structured activities at this age are importnat in developing self discipline later on.

However, it is important to remember that young children are just like everyone else, after a while they tend to get bored with the same activities over and over.  To prevent this you will want to familiarize yourself with a wide range of different “things to do.”

One backyard activity that most toddlers and preschoolers enjoy is playing on a swing set.  Swing sets come in all different sizes and styles.  Most swing sets not only have a swing, but slides, monkey bars, and more.  These provide great opportunities for building gross motor skills.  Educational research points to the importance of gross motor learning activities in younger years.  It helps the brain develop perspective and body awareness.  These skills later transfer to fine motor skills such as writing and reading.

If you do not own a swing set, you may seriously want to think about purchasing one.  However a tire swing attached to a sturdy backyard tree is just as much fun.

Swimming is another popular backyard activity that many toddlers enjoy. What is nice about swimming is that you do not have to have a full size pool.  Kiddie pools are ideal for toddlers and preschoolers because they usually have less than two feet of water in them.

As with in-ground and above-ground pools, there are also pool accessories that are available for kiddie pools. These accessories may include, but should not be limited to, swimg rings, beach balls, and small floating toys.

Remember:  Adults should provide full supervision for all water activities for children.

Another popular backyard activity is playing in the sand.  Sandboxes are not only fun, but they may help you child develop other skills, such as cause and effect.  If you do not have a sandbox, you can easily purchase one.

Or you can designate an area in your back yard using bricks, stones, wood planks or even cheap fencing.  In that area you can dump the sand for playing.  This can be purchased from Wal-Mart, Lowes, Home Depot, or any other home and hardware store or a nursery. It’s very inexpensive and will last all summer.  You can cover it between play times with a plastic tarp, or any plastic sheeting.  But if it does get wet, 24 hours usually dries it out completely.

Like swing sets, sandboxes come in a wide variety of different sizes and styles.  If you are looking for a small sandbox, you should be able to find one at your local department store.  Many plastic sandboxes sell for around $30.00 or much less. Sandbox toys can also be purchased from most retail stores for low prices, as well.

Swimming, swinging, and playing in the sand are all fun backyard activities that you and your toddler and preschooler can enjoy together.  While your toddler may have fun playing with you, you may also want to give your child the opportunity to play with other children.  By contacting the parents of a child the same age of yours you could give your toddler or preschooler a buddy to play with. In addition to being fun, play dates are also a great way to further develop your child’s social skills. These are important when they get to the classroom.

Visit my WebSite: http://www.ParentsTeachersKids.com 

for some really great educational resources. 

One of The Most Interesting Things . . .

Hello, I’m back.

You know one of the most interesting things about kids and the summertime is no matter how much they look forward to it, they still get bored quickly.

So, I fished around and came up with 101 things for kids to do during the summer to fight off boredom.  I thought they might interest you.  They are in no particular order.

But the trick is to let the child choose what they want to do.  You can always say, “You can’t be bored with this all ready.  You picked out what to do.  Go back and finish it up.”  Ah, parent logic!

1. Ride bike, trike, or big wheels.  Make a city out of large cardboard boxes and crates.
2. Roller blade in areas where it is allowed.  Don’t forget to wear a helmet.
3. Do a jigsaw puzzle.  Time yourself.  Have a race with a friend. 
4. Organize a basketball game or a relay race with friends.
5. Play a computer math or reading game.  Try to improve yourself throughout each game.
6. Play board games with friends.  Have a marathon.  Give a prize to the winner of the most games.
7. Get an email account and email all your friends with computers.
8. Make a tent out of blankets in the house.   Put sleeping bag inside and take a nap.
9. Listen to a story or a book on tape.  Write a review about the story.
10. Squirt water with the hose in the yard with your friends.
11. Play school with a teacher and students.  Use friends or stuffed animals as students.
12. Run through the sprinkler in the yard to stay cool.
13. Do brainteasers or crossword puzzles.
14. Jump rope by yourself or with friends.
15. Make some instant pudding and pour into dessert dishes.  Serve to friends.
16. Make a trip to the library and borrow your favorite or new books.
17. Make your own lunch or make Mom’s lunch. 
18. Blow bubbles
19. Make homemade play dough and make ornaments or small animals.
20. Use items from the pantry and play store.  Use handmade items, too.
21. Play resturaunt with menus and wrapped silverware.
22. Learn to press flowers and make craft items with them.
23. Play Scrabble with friends and family.  Have a prize for the winner.
24. Have a tea party in your room or in the yard.
25. Write a letter to a relative, friend, and/or pen pal.
26. Play with toy truck and cars.  Build a city from boxes and blocks to drive them through.
27. Clean your room without having to be asked.
28. Vacuum the livingroom or any other room.
29. Learn to do your own laundry, both washing and drying.
30. Fold your own laundry and put into drawers or hand in closet.
31. Clean the bathroom
32. Play house in your room or outside.
33. Play with dolls and/or actions figures.
34. Make a craft item from an activity you found in a book or on the internet.
35. Learn to chase butterflies and put in jars with tops that have holes in them.
36. Gather some pens and pencils and paper and draw pictures.
37. Use coloring books or colorsheets and crayons to color pictures.
38. Collect bugs in open jars and label them.
39. Put rocks and dirt in containers and plant seeds.  Label your plants.
40. Paint pictures with Tempra paints and brushes.
41. Hunt for four-leaf clovers in the grass.
42. Pull weeds.  It might be wise to wear garden gloves while doing this.
43. Collect seeds.  Tape them to blank index cards and label them.  Use computer to help you.
44. Watch a DVD.  Have popcorn while watching.
45. Write stories about family and friends.  A good mystery story is fun.
46. Look in books and on the Internet to learn to do magic tricks.
47. Put on a magic show with your family or friends.
48. Use binoculars to look at birds and small insects.
49. Write a play.  Put on a show in the backyard.
50. Use a magnifying glass to see what is crawling around in the dirt in your yard.
51. Look under logs and rocks.  Some of the neatest insects live there.
52. Learn to use a microscope and see what’s in a drop of pond water.
53. Sprout been seed in a glass or jar of water.
54. Make sock puppets and put on a puppet show.
55. Learn to crochet or knit.
56. Find some old clothes and cut out quilt squares.
57. Use old clothes to play dress up.
58. Sew on buttons to old shirts in special designs you make.
59. Get an old outfit and sew on buttons or paste on flowers and gems to make new outfit.
60. Use a refrigerator carton and build a space ship.
61. Go bird watching in your ard or down the street.  Can use binoculars.
62. Invent circus acts and put on a show.  Use care when swinging from things.
63. Use pieces of material and make doll/action figure clothes.
64. Learn to play card games with family or friends.
65. Collect small twigs and glue them to some sturdy cardboard to make picture frame.
66. Make a diorama in a shoebox about the beach or the mountains.
67. Make art on the sidewalk using sidewalk chalk.
68. Play catch with friends or family.
69. Have a neighborhood baseball game.  Watch where you throw or hit the ball!
70. Collect rocks and arrange them from the larget to the smallest.
71. Make homemade wrapping paper.  Make sure to colorfully decorate.
72. Make interesting bookmarks.
73. Have relay races with water balloons.
74. Make jewelry for yourself or other people.
75. Collect leaves and attach them to paper.  Color around them.
76. Start a journal or a diary.  Make yourself write in it everyday.  Keep it in a safe place!
77. Make homemade greeting cards and keep them for birthdays and Christmas.
78. Play Frisbee with your friends.
79. Collect the plastic tops from margarine containers and coffee cans to make Frisbees.
80. Color your homemade Frisbees and play with your friends.
81. Start your Christmas List early.  Put in a safe place until it’s time.  See if you need to make changes.
82. Learn to dust the house.
83. Brush and groom your pet correctly.  Of course, if you have a goldfish, this is out of the question.
84. Learn to bake cookies so that sometimes you can do it by yourself.
85. Box cookies in small boxes and take them to homeless shelters or city missions.
86. You can do the same thing with cupcakes.
87. Learn to ice cup cakes to make them unique.
88. Cut pictures out of old magazines and make a collage.
89. Play cowboys and ride broomstick horses around the backyard.
90. Create some musical instruments.  Use books or the Internet to help you.
91. Have a concert with your new musical instruments.
92. Help Mom with the grocery shopping.  Learn to put items away in their places in the pantry or the refrigerator.
93. Build a fort in your room.  Defend it from Space Invaders.
94. Play outside with your pet.  Again, not with the goldfish.
95. Lay quietly in your room and listen to classical music for a change.
96. Play with boats in the bathtub.
97. Make a sundial.  Use books or the Internet to help you.
98. Learn to make your own peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches.  Later try other things like banana slices, cream cheese, pineapple chunks, and strawberry jam to make different sandwhiches.
99. Make a food sculpture.  Use foods like, pretzels, gum drops, cream cheese, raisins, celery and carrot sticks, peanut butter, string licorish, and then EAT IT!
100. Make paper airplanes and have races with friends.  See whose can fly the farthest.
101. Decorate a box to hold your summer treasures.

Also some FREE STUFF from online:

 Printable craft projects with photos, coloring pages and more in a searchable database.   

 

http://www.kideas.com/

Hundreds of free online educational games http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games_menu.htm

 

I’ll be back with more.  Have a good day! 

 

 

 

Time is Flying!

 

Hello.  Christine Hedger, here.  I was in Wal-Mart yesterday and I couldn’t believe my eyes!  Three isles devoted to and holding SCHOOL SUPPLIES!!!

Right.  The Summer just gets started and all ready we are looking at school starting back in one month.  My nine-year-old grandson was with me and he was having a fit, because he hadn’t even been to the beach yet!

I was thinking about how most parents wait until school gets underway to start worrying about their child’s school performance.  Wouldn’t it be great to not have to do so much worrying?

I know my grandson started out with problems in his reading.  It wasn’t easy to find him things that would spark that reading interest.  I was glad to learn that his school was using a phonics approach, because as a former teacher, I believe that listening skills and “sounding out” are important to the reading process.

We hunted on the computer for interesting reading games for him, as well.  He found a couple, but that was it.  We went to the computer store and bought some good looking software, but the games were too easy and he soon lost interest.

Eventually we found a product on the Internet that kept his interest up.

It’s called Robot Reader.  It has reading games and phonics games for practicing needed skills. I introduced it to a friend of mine whose daughter was homeschooling her six-year-old twin girls.  She loved it! 

Ethan, my grandson, loved his Robot Reader, too.  The games were all different types and not just those you play only on the computer.  There are board games, card games, and Bingo games, even domino games you can print out and play.

This is something beneficial you can check out at this link

 http://4stephanie.robot27.hop.clickbank.net/

I be back with more.  I hope you will have a great day!