This is a checklist I would go through either mentally or by journaling when my kids were smaller to make things go more smoothly. Some of these concepts are more developed in other articles. Do I set clear and consistent boundaries and follow through with firmness AND kindness? EG When my child…
In addition to helping with later schoolwork, language helps a child express himself which can prevent tantrums and other behavior problems. There is a high correlation between behavior problems and language delays. Children need a variety of books to help with language development. Look for…
It is very important to support creativity in your children and give them an outlet to express themselves. Set up a table with paper and various writing utensils and let your children draw. If you are wondering how your child’s drawing will progress, the outline…
Small children should be given materials to play with that promote both divergent and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking means there is more than one answer to a problem or there is more than one method to do something. For example, there are many different ways…
According to the developmental psychologist Piaget, a child makes meaning of his world by forming patterns with the information he receives. He bundles the data he accumulates into concepts. A concept is an idea formed by mentally combining all its characteristics or particulars. Children form and adjust concepts when they can experience and interact with…
There are many difficulties in growing up. This is one issue you can minimize by turning games/ screen time off altogether or severely limiting it. As a teacher, I see a hug difference in inappropriate behavior, poor social skills and inattention in those who spend…
Always give your child a two-minute warning when you are about to change venues. This gives the child time to bring closure to what he is doing. Imagine that you are at a cocktail party. You can’t find anyone to talk to at first, but…
Help! My child is very emotional and has lots of fits and/or tantrums. I’m tired of the screaming, fits, pouting, and rage. In order to better control himself and to interact with others, a child needs to be aware of what he is feeling and…
The following excerpt from the book Teaching and Learning in the Kindergarten Year by Dominic Gullo describes brain development in the early years. During pre-school and Kindergarten, the brain grows steadily, increasing from seventy percent to ninety percent of its eventual adult weight. In addition to gains…
LEVEL 3 Please see “HOW TO GET YOUR CHILD TO LISTEN-POSITIVE TALK” for levels one and two. Give Information At this stage, you can give your child information so they understand why you want them to cooperate. Examples: “When flowers are stepped on, they die.” “Milk…
When your child does something positive, give him a specific complimentary adjective. This is different from saying “good boy”. Why not say “good boy”? Say you ask your child to clean his room. You walk in and the floor is clean and it seems everything…
Reading means understanding a passage, understanding the vocabulary, making connections with life, and decoding words like c-a-t. Before a child can get to that, though, he needs oral language, alphabet knowledge, book knowledge, phonics, and phonological awareness. Phonics, which you hear everyone talking about, means recognizing symbols and connecting them…