PARENTING GIFT: SMART SELF-TALK FOR KIDS

POSITIVE SLOGANS ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO DO THEIR BEST AT HOME AND IN SCHOOL. Imagine a way to promote brain power in your kids. Jingles, slogans, and mottoes do just that. They become well-traveled paths in your child's brain when repeated over and over.

Slogans can pop into your child's mind when they're least expected and when they're needed the most. A good slogan can inspire your child to keep trying. It can help expand his intelligence too.

In this parenting gift you will find 19 jingles for your child to choose from. Here are 3 examples:

• Like a strong muscle, my brain likes to hustle.
  
• Son of a gun, problems are fun.
• I'm the guy who likes to try.
   

Can you see how these slogans, when repeated often, could motivate your child to do her best? Children with great attitudes can become great people who accomplish good things. Why not give your kids the gift of mottoes that encourage their positive mindsets?

 

"I'M THE GAL WHO MAKES THINKING MY PAL!"

One more thing, encourage your kids to repeat them out loud, post them where they will see them, or create a bookmark with their favorite slogan.

Click on Parenting Gift Poem and insert the word SLOGAN. Then download the Brain Power Poem with 19 slogans.

http://kidsdiscuss.com/subscriber-gifts.asp

What do you think?

Please let me know if this was helpful by commenting below:

Thank you so much.

With warm wishes, 

Jean Tracy, MSS

******

Sign up for my FREE Parenting News and receive:

• 80 Fun Activities to Share with Your Kids
• 101 Ways to Get Your Children to Cooperate

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

 

ENCOURAGE PERSISTENCE IN YOUR CHILD

Parenting is tough when your impatient child gives up and you're worried about his attitude. How do you turn a losing mindset into patience and determination?

In this brief parenting slideshow you will find 6 mental outlooks to instill in your child. They will help him face life with a love for learning and a strong resolve to keep trying.

5 Parenting Skills for Promoting Brain Power

1. Praise his efforts more than his grades.
2. Praise his strides in keeping focused on his work.
3. Praise the thinking steps he took to solve his problems.
4. Ask questions that help him reflect on how he used his brain.
5. Take the time to listen, smile, and learn how your child really thinks.

When you praise the right attitudes, ask good questions, and show true interest, you'll be boosting your child's brain development.

YOU CAN PROMOTE LEARNING AS A FUN CHALLENGE

Watch this slideshow with it's 14 brief slides. Feel free to copy the short script below the slides. Put it in a binder to use when your child needs a mental boost.

Child Brain Development! 6 Parenting Tips for Motivating Children

Please let me know if this was helpful by commenting below:

Thank you so much.

With warm wishes, 

Jean Tracy, MSS

******

Sign up for my FREE Parenting News and receive:

• 80 Fun Activities to Share with Your Kids
• 101 Ways to Get Your Children to Cooperate

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Sassy Isn't Classy!

Our character building poem for kids includes rude behavior, the problems that mouthy behavior can cause, and how to solve them. Please share this parenting gift with your children.

The poem is about Tyler Tanners, a boy with sarcastic manners. When he put down his dad, there were consequences he didn't like.

Fortunately, a character comes to his rescue. Find out who he is and what he suggests in our poem, "Sassy Isn't Classy."

After you read it with your children, discuss these questions to find out their thoughts about sassy behavior:

1. What's wrong with sarcastic behavior?
2. How can being sassy hurt friendships?
3. What do you think of sassy sarcastic kids?
4. If you were the parent of a child who acted rudely toward you, what would you do?
5. What advice would you give children who sass?

Using these discussion questions helps your children think more clearly and talk more deeply about the problem. When they respond with good solutions be sure to praise their answers. It is hoped they will follow them.

To pick up your gift, "Sassy Isn't Classy," insert the word, SASSY at:

http://kidsdiscuss.com/subscriber-gifts.asp

Was this helpful? Please let me know with a comment below.

Thank you so much.

With warm wishes, 

Jean Tracy, MSS

******

Sign up for my FREE Parenting News and receive:

• 80 Fun Activities to Share with Your Kids
• 101 Ways to Get Your Children to Cooperate

This Boy's Tutoring Is Making a Difference!

STORIES RULE, WHEN KIDS RESOLVE TO DO GOOD DEEDS, they follow the message today's parenting expert and author, Miriam Laundry, shares in her new book, I Can Make a Difference."

This book promotes what children need for a healthy character - a caring heart and a thoughtful mind. 

Your Kids Will Love This Storybook Because:

1. It begins in your child's familiar setting - the classroom.

2. The teacher, Mrs. Ruby, gives each child a positive task.

3. The task makes her students think about how they could make a difference.

4. The story gives the reader more than 7 ideas for doing good deeds.

5. The 3-T Formula at the end of the story is perfect for great discussions.

6. This beautifully illustrated book ends with a special pledge every child can take.

Two Suggestions for Using This Book:

First Idea ~

I suggest parents and teachers read it with their elementary age children and pause to ask them:

1. What do you think Alex's teacher wanted her class to learn?

2. In the beginning of the story did you think Alex was kind of selfish? Why?

3. How did Alex's class help him see his good points?

4. Can you name some ways Alex and his classmates made a difference?

5. What good deeds could you do to make a difference?

Second Idea ~

I encourage parents and teachers to ask their children to create a simple list of what they could do to help others. Post those good deeds on the bulletin board or refrigerator as a reminder. At the end of class time, at dinner time, or at bedtime ask, "How did you make a difference today?" This daily practice could create a healthy mindset in your children.

*******

As I read this book with my grandkids, I asked them the questions and learned special things about each child. They even brainstormed more ideas for making a difference.

Books like Miriam Laundry's will help your children look beyond themselves and show them how to care about others. Because of its terrific message, Miriam's book rules!

Let's THANK Miriam Laundry for making a difference by writing this book. Her story will help your children build a healthy character.

Available at Amazon.com

******

Was this helpful?

Please click on the Comments link below. It will open up for you. I'd love to hear your thoughts or suggestions.

With warm wishes,

Jean Tracy, MSS

Sign up for my FREE Parenting Newsletter and receive:

• 80 Fun Activities to Share with Your Kids
• 101 Ways to Get Your Children to Cooperate

Help Your Baby's Brian with Fun Activities

Promoting early childhood brain development with simple games is the best gift we can give to our children. If you're the parent of a toddler or care for young children, you'll love learning about the work of our parenting skills expert author, Deborah McNelis. She is an early brain development specialist.

Deborah creates card packets for your pocket to use throughout the day. Just pull out the packet, find a fun activity, and use it to enrich your baby's brain development. Today she'll share 3 activities your young toddler (6-9 months) will love.

Interaction with videos, TV, or You? Which Is Best?

Deborah, an early childhood brain specialist, tells us, "Learning happens when playing with real things and interacting with people." She says that TV and videos are not the best ways for your baby's brains to learn.

So, what can you do? Keep reading.

3 Parent/Child Games that Develop Babies Brains

1. Hide the Toy - Have your beginning toddler watch you hide a toy. Encourage your little one to crawl to it. Show your excitement, with facial joy, clapping, and happy words as your baby finds it. Why? Babies love your happy actions and the sound of your voice.

2. Waiting in Line - Let's say your baby is sitting in a shopping cart. You're waiting in a long line. Deborah suggests you take your child's hands, clap them together, and say his name. "Do it over and over again." Why? Your baby will know how special he is. Your touch and hearing his name will prove it.

3. Touching Different Textures - Sit your baby on the floor or in her high chair while you're cooking. Give her different textures to touch and play with. Deborah suggests a rubber spatula, a wooden spoon, a plastic container, and measuring spoons. Why? Examining safe items will give her pleasure and stimulate her brain.

One more thing, Deborah tells us that 85% of brain development happens in the first 3 years. Of course, Deborah always promotes safety in the activities we choose.

******

Jean's Impressions

I like the simplicity of Deborah's creative ideas. I find it reassuring to know that exposing our children to ordinary things, showing our baby our pleasure in what she is learning, and letting her explore things helps her brain develop in wonderful ways. 

******

Let's THANK Deborah McNelis for sharing her work in Early Childhood Development.

     Deborah McNelis

Pick up her BrainInsight Packets which include activities from ages Birth - 5 years.

*******

Please support today's author and share your opinions about this blog post. Click on the Comments link below. It will open up for you. We'd love to hear from you.

 
With warm wishes,

Jean Tracy, MSS

Sign up for my FREE Parenting News  by filling in your email address at the top of this page and receive:

• 80 Fun Activities to Share with Your Kids
• 101 Ways to Get Your Children to Cooperate

****** 

Please “Like" this blog article and click on the icons to share with your social media sites. Thank you so much.

Listening Builds Love and Trust

If you’d like your kids to confide in you, conversations are essential. Our parenting skills expert, Carole Disseldorp, is here to show us how. Carole is a parent educator, counselor, and the author of, Easier Parenting.

Today she’ll share 5 listening tips, the best type of questions to ask, and good times for creating the kind of talks that children trust. Let’s find out her advice.

How to Listen When Your Kids Are Talking:

1. Turn toward them.

2. Look eye-to-eye.

3. Ask questions to help them share more.

4. Reflect back their meaning or feelings to show you understand.

5. Avoid interrupting or arguing.

Carole says, “If we can show interest, resist interrogating, and abstain from being judgmental, our children will be more likely to share their experiences, feelings, and thoughts.”

Open-Ended Questions Move the Conversation Forward:

Open-ended questions can’t be answered with:

• Grunts
• Yes
• No

These questions help kids share their observations, feelings, and thoughts. For example, “What do you think about…?”

Where to Enjoy Great Conversations with Kids:

• Mealtimes
• Driving times (Keep your eyes on the road.)
  
• Screen-free times

Carole warns, “If we criticize our children when they open up to us, they are less likely to confide in us in the future.” (From pages 11-14)

******

Jean’s Impressions:

If we follow Carole’s advice, it will make parenting easier. Her tips for listening and asking questions are crucial. When children trust that we will listen with interest and kindness, they’ll share their deeper thoughts.

Parents who interrupt, criticize, and argue shut down their power to influence. Why? Because these behaviors hurt feelings and break the trusting bond with their kids.

******

Be sure to pick up Easier Parenting: 8 Vital Principles fo Guide Your Children's Behavior Successfully

Available at: Amazon.com

******

Let's THANK Carole for her clear and common sense approach to raising kids. She makes parenting easier for all of us.

   Carole Disseldorp

Please support today's author and share your opinions about this blog post. Click on the Comments link below. It will open up for you. We'd love to hear from you.

 
With warm wishes,

Jean Tracy, MSS

Sign up for my FREE Parenting News and receive:

• 80 Fun Activities to Share with Your Kids
• 101 Ways to Get Your Children to Cooperate

****** 

Please “Like" this blog article and click on the icons to share with your social media sites. Thank you so much.

If you’re looking for discipline advice with a spiritual outlook, you’re in the right place. Our parenting skills expert, Gigi Schweikert, is here to share 5 solid principles suited to any parent’s beliefs. She is the author of There’s a Perfect Little Angel in Every Child.

First, Gigi will share what ‘little angels’ really look like, how to view their misbehavior, and reveal 5 solid discipline practices.

Does Your Perfect Child Look Like This?

Gigi says “Yes” even when their haloes appear a bit crooked.

1. Kids leave the cupboards wide open.

2. They splash in puddles with their green frog-eyed boots.

3. They forget to do their homework.

4. They cover their faces with mommy’s make-up.

5. Their hands are filthy from digging earthworms.

6. They leave cookie crumbs on the kitchen counter.

7. Their coloring marathons leave marks everywhere.

How to Find the Angel in Your Child

Because children are always learning by exploring, experimenting, and testing your limits, Gigi tells us to:

1. Remember your children’s beauty when they’re asleep.

2. See them through the eyes of wonder.

3. Appreciate their limitless energy.

4. Admire their creativity.

5. Smile at their constant testing behavior.

As parents we have the privilege to guide these wonderful children to be the best they can be. That means turning off our super critical eye to their manners, behavior, or odd wardrobe colors and turn on our positive discipline skills.

Why Parents Must Discipline:

• To help children develop good behaviors
• To guide them  in understanding the differences between right and wrong
• To encourage them to make positive choices

If children learn these things when they're young, they’ll more likely choose well  when they’re adults.

Gigi says, “Discipline is not negative; it’s not mean; it’s not punishment. Rather, discipline is everything we do, say, and teach our children in order to grow them up to be wise, caring, and socially responsible adults. Discipline is, quite simply, raising our children.” (From page 9)

5 Solid Discipline Practices

1. Time Out – one minute for each of your child’s years.

2. Use a loud voice like ‘STOP!’ to prevent danger.

3. Pull over and stop the car when they’re fighting.

4. Get your child’s attention by looking at them at eye-level.

5. Stop what you’re doing when they misbehave. Go to them with a serious look and stance.

These are just a few of the multitude of ideas Gigi shares for guiding your child.

******

I believe Gigi helps us see the bigger picture. We want our children to become loving responsible people. If we look at them through the eyes of love, work on our patience, and discipline wisely, we'll be good parents and they'll become the fine adults they were meant to be.

Pick up

There's a Perfect Little Angel in Every Child: How to Discipline Your Child with Love and Patience

Available at

Amazon.com

Gigi Schweikert presents workshops at the local, state, and national levels to parents, teachers and corporations. Let's THANK Gigi for sharing her knowledge with us today as a leader in the early childhood education field.

    Gigi Schweikert

******

Please support today's author and share your opinions about this blog post. Click on the Comments link below. It will open up for you. We'd love to hear from you.

 
With warm wishes,

Jean Tracy, MSS

Sign up for my FREE Parenting News and receive:

• 80 Fun Activities to Share with Your Kids
• 101 Ways to Get Your Children to Cooperate

****** 

Please “Like" this blog article and click on the icons to share with your social media sites. Thank you so much.

When Parents Are Rude to Kids

If you’re a parent who uses sarcasm, rude remarks, or putdowns, you can change. In today's blog you’ll read about a thoughtful teen’s concerns. You'll also hear advice from our parenting skills expert, Annie Fox, M.Ed, who wrote Teaching Kids To Be Good People. I will add my impressions too.

What a Sympathetic 15-Year-Old Boy Writes to Annie

"I'm really a sensitive guy. People have turned away from me since I was 10.” He tells Annie he knows what it feels like to be rejected. Now he sees his parents rejecting his 8-year-old sister with their rude remarks.  He can see in his sister’s eyes her loneliness. “She has no friends,” he says. “I feel her pain.” (from page 135)

Annie’s Expert Advice

First, Annie empathizes with the boy. She lets him know he’s a compassionate and kind-hearted person. She suggests he step in and help his sister. “Tell her she is not alone. That you’re her friend and you’ll watch over her.”

Here’s the hard one. Annie tells him to talk to his parents respectfully. “Tell them what you have observed.” (from page 222)

******

Jean’s Thoughts

We all need someone in our corner, someone who understands our feelings and who is there for us. Annie encouraged the boy to be that person for his sister.

I also like Annie’s approach because she urged him to tell his parents the behaviors he observed. That’s different from calling them “rude.” Observations are easier to accept. Name calling could cause a big defensive fight from his parents.

How could parents know if they’re rude to their children?

Rude Parents Might Say:

1. “You’re a knucklehead!”

2. “Don’t be so stupid.”

3. “What’s wrong with you?”

4. “I’m ashamed of you.”

5. “When are you ever going to learn?”

Perhaps you’ve said similar things to your kids or even worse like, “I wish you were never born.” Maybe you thought your comments would help your kids make positive changes. Or you could have repeated the words your own parents said to you.

If you are rude or critical and want to change, you can.

First, admit it.

Second, realize your remarks are hurting not helping.

Third, make a plan with or without your spouse for changing these behaviors.

Apologize whenever you’re unkind and then follow your plan. If you do, you’ll be helping your child and yourself become the positive character building people you were meant to be.

******

Let's THANK Annie for sharing from her book, Teaching Kids To Be Good People: Progressive Parenting for the 21st Century.

   Annie Fox, M.Ed.

Pick up her book on Amazon.com and read many more letters from worried teenagers. You'll find Annie's wise advice too.

******

Please support today's author and share your opinions about this blog post. Click on the Comments link below. It will open up for you. We'd love to hear from you.

 
With warm wishes,

Jean Tracy, MSS

Sign up for my FREE Parenting Newsletter and receive:

• 80 Fun Activities to Share with Your Kids
• 101 Ways to Get Your Children to Cooperate

****** 

Please “Like" this blog article and click on the icons to share with your social media sites. Thank you so much.

If you're a stressed parent and fear your children are copying your emotional reactions, stop worrying. Our parenting skills expert, Lori Lite, author of Stress Free Kids, is here to help. Today she'll discuss how stress is contagious, ask you 3 important questions, and give you 2 relaxation techniques.

Lori’s Story

In her book Lori shares the overwhelming pressure she felt as a young mother. Raising both a hyperactive child who took hours to get to sleep and a daughter with night terrors exhausted her. Lori decided to make her life’s journey one of learning about stress, how to relieve it, and how to help others.

Is Stress Contagious?

“Yes,” says Lori Lite. When you feel strain, your child learns to copy your reactions. For instance, do you pack your days with too many responsibilities?

Let’s say your neighbor needs to talk, the sink is leaking, and your boss is calling about your overdue report. How do you react? Many parents feel so much pressure that they tense up inside, sleep less, and get sick more often.

The Stress Quiz

Lori provides you with 10 questions that are easy to answer and quite revealing. Here are 3:

1. Are you yelling at your kids more?

2. Do you cram way too much into your day?

3. Are you saying “Yes” to requests when you wish you said "No?"

If you do the above, don’t be surprised if you’re feeling stressed. I like Lori’s quiz because it shows you what you are doing and what needs to change.

2 Sample Techniques You Can Use Today

Both techniques show you and your child how to relax and deal with current stress.

1. Tell your child, “I am feeling too stressed right now. I am just going to take a minute for myself to sit down and do my breathing.”

Invite your child to sit next to you, identify the stress, and take it down a notch by breathing deeply together.

Can you see how this could benefit both you and your child? What a gift!

2. This skill is one you can use whenever you need it. Again you can do it with your child, in the shower, or when driving to an appointment.

Deeply inhale and exhale with a loud “AHA!” Feel free to do it several times in a row.

******

Lori has filled her book with many stress reducing techniques. It’s like a delicious banquet where you can pick the ones that appeal best to you.

I highly recommend Stress Free Kids: A Parent's Guide to Helping Build Self-Esteem, Manage Stress, and Reduce Anxiety in Children for parents, teachers, counselors, and anyone who want to help kids.

Available at: Amazon.com

Please join me in THANKING Lori Lite for sharing her research and wealth of knowledge to help us and our children live healthy relaxed lifestyles.

          Lori Lite  

Please support today's author and share your opinions about this blog post. Click on the Comments link below. It will open up for you. We'd love to hear from you.

With warm wishes,

Jean Tracy, MSS

Sign up for my FREE Parenting Newsletter and receive:

• 80 Fun Activities to Share with Your Kids
• 101 Ways to Get Your Children to Cooperate

****** 

Please “Like" this blog article and click on the icons to share our author's great ideas with your social media sites. Thank you so much.

When Parents Give Their Power Away

If you feel disrespected, listen to our parenting skills expert, Dr. Robin Berman. She’s both a psychiatrist and author of the brand new book, Permission to Parent. Today she’ll share 7 major tips from her chapter, ‘Hate Me Now, Thank Me Later.’ You’ll find out why your kids treat you poorly, what to do about it, and how the 7 tips fit the '3 B Formula.'

Why Parents Aren’t Respected

Dr. Robin believes that many parents are reversing their strict upbringing. Instead of parenting from a balanced middle, they raise their kids from the rear, which means they aren’t leading at all. Here are some examples:

1. Kids throw tantrums and get what they want.

2. Children yell at and/or hit parents without negative consequences.

3. Youngsters argue and get their way.

4. Parents give kids too many choices and ask youngsters to make too many big decisions.

5. Mothers and fathers fail to establish clear rules and act inconsistently.

These behaviors put kids in charge.

Dr. Robin knows young brains are not ready for such power. “Kids’ frontal lobes, where critical thinking resides, are still in the very early stages of development. The frontal lobe will not be fully formed until they are well into their twenties.” (page 22)

She also knows not all parents do poorly. Her focus is in helping parents who are confused and will profit from her clear guidelines.

7 Parenting Tips that Put Parents in Charge

1. Make your long term goal to raise a person of character. Dr. Robin suggests your mantra be, “Hate me now. Thank me later.”

2. Follow through when you say “No.”

3. Make few but clear rules and be consistent.

4. Give consequences for bad behavior.

5. Don’t be the friend. Be the parent.

6. Give choices. Make them few and age-appropriate.

7. Reverse Negotiate. The more your kids argue with you, the less they get. She says, “It works like a charm.” (page 26)

******

Realize these jewels are just from the first chapter. I like Dr. Robbins’ approach because they fit the 3 B Formula, “Be kind. Be firm. Be consistent.” If parents follow this formula when children are young, parenting will be easier when kids are older. They’ll be raising children with good character too.

One more thing, when you’re the parent, your kids will thrive.

******

Pick up Permission to Parent: How to Raise Your Child with Love and Limits.

Available on Amazon.com

Scroll down to see a short interview with Dr. Berman on Amazon.com 

******

Please support today's author and share your opinions about this blog post. Click on the Comments link below. It will open up for you. We'd love to hear from you.

 
With warm wishes,

Jean Tracy, MSS

Sign up for my FREE Parenting Newsletter and receive:

• 80 Fun Activities to Share with Your Kids
• 101 Ways to Get Your Children to Cooperate

****** 

Please “Like" this blog article and click on the icons to share with your social media sites. Thank you so much.