For those of you new to Planning With Kids, once a month I feature my highlights from the web. Often they are based around a theme, like today’s collection which features resources posts that have either helped me with a particular parenting issue or given me information to extend my thinking on parenting. I hope you enjoy them as well!
1. Middle school multitasking – texting, IMing, iPods and homework
I am actually featuring two videos from Joe Bruzzese, this first one covers the topic of middle schoolers multitasking – texting, IMing, iPods whilst doing their homework. I have been wondering about whether or not it is possible for my 11 year old to do his homework properly with his iPod on. (He doesn’t have a mobile phone and doesn’t IM yet so I haven’t had to worry about those yet!) Joe gives a great explanation as to how used properly the iPod with appropriate music can be helpful to block out other distractions. But as with my own recent realisation, Joe discusses how it is not possible for kids to adequately focus on the homework if they are switching focus so frequently.
2. Developing Preschoolers’ Vocabulary Through Read Alouds
Dawn from Literacy Toolbox has some great and easy to implement tips when reading aloud with your preschooler.
3. 10 Ways to Use Current Events in the Classroom
Although this post from Big Universe refers to the classroom, the tips listed can easily be used by parents. We don’t watch the news when the kids are up, but I am always after ways to ensure the children are still aware of current events in a way that they can understand. There are some great resources in this post that help do this.
4. Sibling Fighting
Another excellent post from Carrie at The Parenting Passageway where she lists her thoughts on what you can do about sibling fighting. I particularly loved point seven:
Respect how your children feel in the moment, but DON’T read too much into it and think their future relationship as adult siblings is going to be permanently marred by this single interaction…
5. Jamie Oliver’s TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food
Jamie’s presentation is so passionate and heart felt and although he talks directly about the American experience, countries like Australia are not far behind in terms of the obesity epidemic. I cook regularly with my kids, but I certainly can do more about teaching them where food comes from and how we should avoid all the extra additives that can come in food we buy.
6. Modeling the Way for Children through Adult Behavior
This post from Creative Play Plus starts with such a fantastic quote:
The philosopher, essayist and poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “What you do speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what you are saying.”
It was a great reminder for me that how I actually behave will have a greater impact on my kids than what I say to them.
7. Teach Children What To Do
This is a beautiful follow on from the above point, Single Brad Dad is working his way through the Positive Discipline Tool Cards. This card has a really simple piece of advice for us parents, tell kids what it is they can do, as opposed to dwelling on the negative and telling them what NOT to do.
8. Teaching Kids Responsibility: Expert Advice on How to Raise Responsible Kids
This post is from Family Anatomy. If you listen to podcasts, I can highly recommend their podcasts as well, very informative and entertaining. The experts that they refer to are Dr. Thomas Gordon who developed a program called Parent Effectiveness Training and Barbara Coloroso, author of “Kids Are Worth It!: Giving Your Child The Gift Of Inner Discipline”. Both experts reject the idea of using rewards, withdrawal of privileges and time outs.
9. Good Night, Sleep Tight: Preschoolers and Sleep
Reading Rockets is such a fantastic source of information on all things literacy related. This article show you how to help your child understand the difference between a body at rest and a body at play, by taking their pulse. Very cool idea.
10. The Two Essential Characteristics For Thriving During The Middle School Years
This is the second of the two videos from Joe Bruzzese. In this one he talks about having people around your child who will:
Teach
Encourage
Advocate
Motivate (=TEAM).
And secondly he gives a succinct explanation as to why we need to let our children experience that real world choices have direct consequences.
If you have any posts on parenting that you think I might like to read, I would love it if you left a link in the comments!