Children Archives - Page 3 of 26

Are You Ready to Start a Family? 4 Things to Consider First!

June 19, 2018 by Mandy

Intuition is a powerful thing. No matter how compelling logical arguments are, there’s something to be said for the pull of an intuitive sense –– a gut feeling. If something doesn’t sit well with you (literally), then there’s probably a serious problem with it. Knowing when to start a family, then, is a process that requires both sound logic and a bit of intuition as well. After all, there’s always going to be some reason why you could hesitate to have kids. Nevertheless, today we’re going to examine four aspects of parental life so that when you make your decision –– you can do so from an informed position:

Location Location Location

It’s no understatement to say that a child changes everything about a person’s life –– and their home is no exception. In addition to making basic accommodations (like baby-proofing your house) you should scrutinize everything about your residence before you decide to have kids. The number of rooms, size of the yard, quality of neighborhood and school district, as well as a myriad of other factors should all help determine if your home is suitable for the arrival of a little one.

Discipline and Motivation

Parents are required to go the extra mile for their children all the time. Sometimes that means waking up at three in the morning to buy cold medicine; other times that could entail driving them to soccer practice after a long day at work. If you truly revere your own personal “me” time, you might want to reconsider the parenteral route for now. There’s nothing wrong with loving a sleep-in on the weekends, but if you want to be the best parent you can be, you’ll have to relinquish hobbies like that.

Stability

Does your job take you out of town regularly? Do you and your current partner struggle to maintain normalcy and quarrel often? Have you experienced financial hardship recently? If you’ve answered “yes” to any of the above questions you may want to rethink the timing of your decision to have kids. Children crave a stable environment, and the fewer upheavals you have in your own personal life, the better suited you’ll be to creating a healthy atmosphere for your child.

Fertility Issues

It may not be the first thing that people want to consider, but if you’re serious about starting a family you should look into your ability to conceive children. Educating yourself on everything from a healthy sperm count to tuboplasty procedure is imperative if you’re going to tackle any potential fertility issues you or your partner might encounter. Furthermore, it’s also wise to explore the intricacies of other options like adoption early on. Of course none of these decisions should be taken lightly, so you’ll want to research as many aspects of parenting as possible.

How To Raise Self Confident Kids

June 12, 2018 by Mandy

Confidence in their abilities is going to help your child learn that anything is possible if they put their mind to it. Raising children is a full-time job, and within the hours, the days, months and years, you need to be instilling a “can do” attitude and encourage their efforts to do better and try harder. Your kids crave and need your support, encouragement, and love, so you need to be on hand to give it freely and without question. When your child doesn’t do so well on a test, for example, you should tell them that you’re proud of them regardless and then help them to work on their skills together. Your kids need to see an improvement in their learning and accuracy if they are to believe in their ability, so help them gain experience of learning topics with resilience and emotional support.

Choose The Right School

Kids feel confident if they’re performing well at school and receiving praise for what they’re doing. A substantial amount of your child’s education will happen at school, which is why it’s especially crucial to select one that nurtures their individualities, as well as strengths and areas that need improvement. Consider visiting St. Margaret’s Prep Schools’ Nursery if encouraging independence and initiative in your child is important to you. When deciding on a school, be sure to ensure that your child spends a taster day there to get a feel for the place, to meet prospective teachers and learning assistants, and to interact with peers.

Praise Them

You need to tell your child that you’re proud of them no matter what. Encouraging your child should become second nature, and telling them that you love them and are proud of them are words you should say every day. Children continually seek your support and validation when they undertake activities, so be sure to let them know they’re doing a good job and that you understand and recognize the hard work and effort they’ve applied to achieve something.

Homework Help

Basic literacy and numeracy skills are essential, and you can aid them to success in these areas as you’ll be far more adept and experienced. When homework is set, be ready to lend a hand and explain numbers and words to help them make sense. Your child’s confidence may suffer a knock if they feel they’re falling behind, so be prepared to recognize problems and report any learning difficulties you might suspect.

Extracurricular Activities

There’s far more to self-confidence than just academic performance; your child needs to have a range of skills and hobbies to make friends and be happy. So, ask your child what sports team they might like to join, as well any clubs and societies that are of interest to them. Try to remember that you’re trying to foster a love for the arts and sciences in them, so that they’re well rounded, intelligent and informed throughout their studies. It’s your responsibility as a parent to nurture any talents they show and to enable them to engage in activities they love, like rugby, soccer, painting, or learning to play a musical instrument, for example.

Fun Sports That Your Kids Will Love To Play

June 6, 2018 by Mandy

Being a busy mom is incredibly rewarding, but it brings lots of challenges too, including how to keep your kids happy and how to keep them fit. Encouraging your children to participate in sports can go a long way towards solving both these problems, but the difficulty can come in deciding which sport is right for your little darlings. You may want to stay away from sports that potentially involve a lot of knocks and physical contact, such as football, but there are plenty of other sporting activities to choose from. The three below can be particularly good choices, as they are great fun and you won’t have to spend too much money on initial equipment.

Soccer

Soccer has long been the world’s most popular team sport, but in recent years it’s been growing rapidly here in America as well. One of the great things about soccer is that it’s popular among both boys and girls, and a typical soccer game involves a lot of running for all participants, as well as helping to improve coordination skills. If your children are interested in soccer, all they’ll need initially is soccer shoes, a t-shirt, and shorts and a soccer ball. A perfect accessory to this is a Nike soccer bag, as kids will love this cool backpack, and it comes with a special pocket to hold a soccer ball.

Swimming

Swimming is, in many ways, the most ideal sport for any child to learn, and that’s because it gives them a skill that could one day, quite literally, be a lifesaver. Swimming can also be great fun, and whilst it provides a workout for the full body, it doesn’t place stress upon ankles and joints, as soccer and other sports that involve running often do. That’s why it’s great for children who have joint pain because of growth spurts or other reasons, and whilst it’s an excellent way to get fit, it can also be strangely relaxing too. Above all else, swimming is an activity that children and parents can participate in together, and what could be better than that?

Quidditch

Yes, I said Quidditch, the sport played by Harry Potter and his friends, and enemies, at Hogwarts. Of course, Quidditch, as imagined by author J.K. Rowling, involved flying through the air, but Potter enthusiasts have now invented a more grounded form of Quidditch that can be enjoyed by children and adults without the need for magic powers. It’s become incredibly popular across the United States and beyond, and there’s even an American national team that competes in the Quidditch world cup. If your children love all things connected to Harry Potter, then it’s worth checking to see if there’s a Quidditch team or league in your area.

Habits learned in childhood often continue into adulthood, which is why helping your children stay fit and healthy, and encouraging a love of sports and exercise, could be one of the best things you ever do for them. Swimming, soccer, and Quidditch are just some of the sports that children love, and there’s no prouder feeling as a parent than seeing your child competing or excelling at the sporting activity they do best.

Bringing Up Our Kids the Montessori Way!

May 22, 2018 by Mandy

The most popular theory of education is the Montessori-method, created by Dr. Maria Montessori. Her framework was based on her observations of children from early childhood unto adulthood. And this framework has worked across all cultures as more and more schools all over the world, like the Montessori school in Singapore named Global Indian International School, adapt to the framework.

But if it such an effective way to teach students, can we use it for parenting as well? It makes sense since holistic education requires that we encourage our child’s natural inquisitiveness and what better way to it than to reinforce the Montessori landscape at home.

So here are ways in which we can use the Montessori Method in holistically raising our kids.

Create a space for them

The Montessori-method is mostly child-led learning because it facilitates independent learning and creativity. Especially during their early childhood years, children can be very imaginative, and there needs to be a private space where they can openly express this creativity. You can set up tables, chairs, study materials, even art supplies.

Keep interference to a minimum, guiding them only when you think something needs correction. But other than that, you can leave them to their own devices in their corner.

Start various gardening projects

Dr. Maria Montessori also teaches students the importance of taking care of the environment, of fostering an appreciation for nature and wildlife. So to keep this lesson going, you can start different gardening projects you can do with your kids.

For instance, you can make a garden bed and plant seasonal fruits or vegetables. You can also schedule visits in the park and tours around wildlife centres.

Communicate with them articulately

We’re all tempted to talk cute when it comes to our younger kids, but it might be detrimental to the development of their vocabulary. Tell them the names of objects clearly, explain lessons to them articulately, and have a regular conversation with them so they can have the opportunity to communicate clearly with you. Remember to be respectful when you communicate with them; do not be patronising.

Allow them to self-correct

They must learn to pinpoint their own mistake and correct it on their own. If you are buying study materials, consider getting Montessori study materials. These usually provide the kids with the opportunity to correct themselves or leaves a margin of error. And if you are tutoring them for the day, remember to practice patience. If they cannot get a concept the first or the second time, let it go and explain it again the next day.

Teach them to clean as they go

Teach them that while they have their own space to move freely, they must keep it clean and organised. This teaches them responsibility and being mindful of what they are doing. Show them where the books and toys go, how to use a rag if they need to wipe something, or to ask for help if they need it.

Holistic education aims to produce students who are socially aware and academically competent leaders of tomorrow. In that case, we have the responsibility to make sure that our kids grow up to know that while reaching their potential is important, it is imperative that they use it for good.

Top 10 Youth Activities to Teach Your Teen Social Skills

May 16, 2018 by Mandy

Are you concerned that your teen isn’t learning the social skills he or she needs? To help remedy the situation, here are 10 great youth activities to help teach your teen social skills.

Every generation thinks they had it toughest when they were teenagers. What most of us remember is feeling socially awkward and unsure of where we fit in.

Then there were those kids who always seemed to be at ease with themselves. They were confident and seemed to glide effortlessly through their teenage years.

Often these kids were the jocks or they somehow stood out from everyone else.

The reason those kids made it look so easy was that they had great social skills. Some people innately know how to socialize with others. For the rest of us, we need to learn those skills.

One way to learn those skills is through youth activities. Here are 10 fun activities that can help turn your teenager into a confident young person.

1. There Are Tons Of Youth Activities At Camp

Camp is a wonderful place for children of all ages to learn better social skills. And there are tons of different types of camps out there.

Some camps are focused on a specific theme like band camp or for soccer. Other camps offer a wide variety of activities from swimming and boating to horseback riding and archery.

But there’s one thing that every camp has in common, it’s a great place to learn how to socialize with different kids.

Usually, kids at camp are from different towns and even states. They’ll learn how to get along with kids from different backgrounds while having fun.

Camp counselors make sure that everyone feels included in all the activities.

2. Have Them Join The Theater

Many people find the mere thought of getting out on stage in front of an audience to be completely terrifying. Yet, learning how to walk on stage and speak to an audience with confidence is a huge social skill that will help them throughout every stage of their lives.

One of the best social skills activities you can choose for your teenager is the theater. They’ll learn how to get in touch with their emotions to use them safely within a role.

Theater teaches kids how to use their words to speak clearly and effectively so their voice captures an audience. Kids learn how to use their body to communicate.

There are plenty of social groups for teenagers to get involved in and drama club is no exception. The friendships formed here can last a lifetime.

3. Get Them To Volunteer

Volunteering isn’t always top of the list of youth activities people tend to think about, but the skills one learns can’t be ignored.

There are tons of opportunities to volunteer. If your child is interested in a specific career, one way for them to learn more about it is to volunteer there.

They will learn all about their potential career, learn the skills necessary to perform that job and create a network of people who can help them find a job when the time comes.

Volunteering teaches you how to work together as a team to achieve a certain result. You learn problem solving, adaptability, and leadership skills.

Teenagers learn social skills, how to plan, and how to prioritize. Even if they volunteer somewhere that doesn’t lead to a career, learning to how to put others above themselves is always a great skill to possess.

4. Try Out Sports Programs

Social games for kids are great ways for them to learn how to work well with others and communicate. Sports are great social games and they’re even good for kids who don’t possess great hand-to-eye coordination skills.

While there are plenty of sports programs like soccer, baseball, football, and lacrosse, there are other sports to think about.

The whole point is for your child to let go of their shyness and to learn how to work and

communicate with others in a team effort.

Not everyone enjoys a high impact type of sport. Activities like swimming, golf, and skiing are also fun, competitive, and social but not as team oriented.

Then there’s the chess club and the mathletes for those who prefer to get a good workout with their minds.

Sports teach kids that while you don’t always win, what’s most important is how you played the game. And they’re getting physically fit while doing it.

5. The Arts Are Perfect For Learning Social Skills

Not all social groups for teenagers need to be activity based.

Drawing, painting, playing an instrument and singing all are excellent ways to get involved with social skills activities.

Kids will learn how to express themselves creatively in a safe environment. They will also interact with fellow students as well as their teacher.

It’s a great environment for kids who are shy or feel socially awkward. A good first step is to enroll your child in an art or craft class to see if they enjoy it.

There are painting classes, sketching, pottery, sculpting, and even costume design which can help teenagers express themselves in a social setting.

6. Game Nights

Try playing social games for teens at least once a week with a group of people. Game nights are a lot of fun and they’ll get your teenager away from electronics and social media at least for a little while.

Try playing games that force teenagers to interact with one another in order to win the game.

Games like charades are good for the imagination and to help them learn how to express themselves clearly to others.

Try heading to an escape room near you so the entire family learns how to communicate and work together effectively.

Even board games are great as learning tools. Kids learn how to take turns, play fairly, and play together in harmony.

Best of all, it’s a great way to bond together while having a lot of fun.

7. Educational Trips

You don’t have to wait until your kid’s school takes them on a field trip. Instead, plan one yourself.

Help teach your kid to get out of their shell and experience life outside of the town you live in.

Visit museums in neighboring towns.

Take them to the bookstore or library to find books on nearby historical subjects. Take them to lectures and seminars on the subject so they can learn more.

Not only will an educational trip help your teen explore their interests further, they will receive tons of opportunities to interact with new people. Encourage your teen to ask questions during a lecture or tour.

8. Attend Live Events

When it comes to social skills activities for teenagers, live events are often the most fun. You can attend an event as a family or allow your teenager to go with friends.

There are tons of live events to choose from. Whether it’s a sporting event, a dance performance, music recital, or an art opening, they are all opportunities for your child to learn social skills.

Being in a crowd can get tough for some kids. There is a lot of energy in one space and some people feel overwhelmed by it. They can’t hear themselves any longer and it’s tougher for them to function.

Learning to be a part of a crowd without feeling lost, overwhelmed or scared can help teenagers learn to become more independent. They’ll also have to interact with others to find their seats or buy a souvenir.

Live events are also wonderful opportunities to show your teenager proper social behavior in a crowded setting.

9. Hire A Coach

Sometimes teenagers just aren’t quite ready to play social games for teens. If a traumatic event has occurred or it’s just that your teenager is ultra shy, sometimes you need extra help.

Before you toss your kid into social groups for teenagers, see if they’re ready for it. Some kids aren’t and it can be traumatic for them if they’re thrust into a social situation before they are ready.

Hiring a coach can help. A coach receives social skills training for teens so they can help you reach through to your child and help them get out of their shell.

The one-on-one help can assist your teenager in learning the proper skills they need to begin thinking about joining in more social skills activities.

10. Model UN

Model UN is a wonderful opportunity for kids to learn great leadership skills. It’s also an opportunity for them to mingle and socialize with kids from other schools and neighborhoods.

Kids vote on real-world-type issues, learn how to solve problems together, and speak in front of an audience.

Even if your child doesn’t love politics, Model UN helps kids learn about today’s problems.

Working together, they realize they have the power to change our world into a better place.

Never Give Up

With some kids, you’ll get lucky and find plenty of youth activities that they love. With other kids, the search might take a little longer until they find their niche.

That’s okay. Some of us get lucky and find our place in life. Others find they need to search a little longer to find where they belong.

And that’s okay, too. Just don’t give up. There are tons of activities out there to try.

And we’re here to help.

To learn more parenting skills and give yourself a little extra boost of support, keep reading this blog.