Schoolagers

School Agers



Your child has started school and is becoming his own person, with interests and maybe even a strong personality! Be involved in his school and after school activities, and help him to explore various interests and develop healthy friendships.

Everyday Etiquette

Raising civilized children in an uncivilized world !! :)

Here are 10 starting points:

1. Start with the basics. Kids learn more through imitation than through instruction, so practice what you preach. Use "Please" and "Thank you" when interacting with your child.

2. Look your child in the eye and add a smile to your words. Most of what we say is nonverbal. Simple body language sends your child the message of respect.

3. Practice good hygiene. Wash hands before each meal, and brush teeth in the morning and at bedtime. Respecting one's body is a big part of respecting oneself.

4. Allow young children to use utensils at the table. Don't focus on "the mess" - the idea is to get them comfortable using a fork rather than fingers.

5. Expect your child to stay seated at the table until the end of the meal. Make every effort to focus on conversation with your child at the dinner table. Keeping your children involved keeps them interested in sitting and enjoying the meal and the company of their parents.

6. Have older children take their plates to the sink and push in their chairs when the meal is over. For younger children, pushing in the chair is a good start. Eventually, they can help clear the table and load the dishwasher - learning responsibility and respect.

7. Don't interrupt. Give your child the same respect you would give your boss, your preacher or a client. In turn, expect the same from your child and discuss different scenarios, such as interrupting when you are on the phone.

8. Emphasize the importance of respecting younger siblings. Establish a sense of "family," regardless of how near or far you are from home.

9. Make privacy a family affair. Encouraging children to knock before opening a closed door will help to avoid many embarrassing moments in the future.

10. Go to bed happy. Regardless of what has happened during the day, teach your children the importance of saying "I'm sorry" if they have offended a family member or friend. It will result in a better night's sleep for everyone involved and will start a habit that will serve him or her well into the future.

Compliments for Kids

Offering someone a genuine compliment can be both a reward and a validation. It is a very nice way to make someone feel special. Many of us, however, are not sure what to say or how to act when we receive a compliment.
Parents can help their children learn the important skill of giving and graciously receiving compliments.
When someone offers you a compliment, such as "You look pretty in that dress," the appropriate response would be: "Thank you," as you smile and show appreciation by your facial features.
An inappropriate response would be: "This old thing! I hate it but I couldn't find anything else to wear." Or: "It's not mine. I borrowed it from my neighbor."
Not accepting a compliment shows disrespect to the person who complimented you. Just as bad as not graciously accepting a compliment by saying "Thank you" is accepting a compliment by saying "I know."
For example: "Hey, you played a great game Saturday night."
"I know."
This response is the same as clapping for yourself or drinking a toast to yourself when someone is honoring you for an achievement. Always smile and respond with a genuine "Thank you."

One last note: Be selective when passing out compliments. Make sure that they are sincere, not patronizing. If you give someone a compliment and then proceed to give the next 10 people you meet the same compliment, it lacks sincerity. Remember that a compliment should not be used as a space filler when there is nothing else to talk about.

Bicycle Riding 101

Whoever said that “Once you learn how to ride a bike, you will never forget” obviously didn’t know my family. We all got bicycles once; some bikes had training wheels and others were just two-wheel 10-speeds. We sat together and learned the rules and then hit the road. We did fairly well, but time passed, bikes were replaced with skateboards, ice skates and school work, and our bike routine eventually fell by the wayside.
Before leaving the bicycle station (otherwise known as your driveway) make sure that helmets, knee pads and tennis shoes are strapped, fastened and in good repair. Don't assume everyone will remember the rules. Go over the basics before you get out on the road.

Don’t:
• Ride against traffic (oncoming cars).
• Ride in the middle of the street or on people’s flower beds.
• Hot rod, swaying and swerving, running your mother, the postman or other pedestrians off the road.
• Forget to use your hand signals when turning.
• Cut through parking lots, flying in and out of parked cars, just to save a little time.

Do:
• Follow all of the traffic laws an automobile driver would observe, stopping at red lights, stop signs and yielding to pedestrians.
• Follow the marked directions on the street.
• Wear reflective clothing at dusk and dawn, so that others can see you.
• Be aware, when passing a parked car, that the driver of the vehicle may not see you and open his door, causing potential harm to your bike and your body.
• Ride single file.
• Always wear a helmet.

These simple rules will keep you safe and prepared for a happy, healthy ride.

Shhh! This Is the Library!

Traditionally, a library has been viewed and used as a Hall of Knowledge, a place where one can go to do research, study material in a quiet venue, take the children for a book reading or simply relax and enjoy a book or magazine away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. In other words, libraries, by their very nature, are meant to be tranquil and respectful of the quest for learning and enjoyment.

Fast forward to 2010: iPods, cell phones and kids being dropped off at the door are becoming an increasingly common occurrence. Here are some rules that will make everyone’s experience more enjoyable. It starts with respect in three areas:

• Respect of the building.
• Respect of the inside area, including books, other materials, furniture and computers.
• Respect of self, staff and fellow patrons.
Wow! That sounds so easy. Now let’s put it into action.

1. If your child carries a cell phone, make sure he or she understands that it needs to be turned off or on vibrate in the library. Cell phones have become a major distraction and disruption of library patrons.
2. Be respectful of computer time. Both children and adults should “sign in” and adhere to the allotted use of time on the computer. Librarians are not comfortable having to be “computer police,” but they must enforce the rules when computer time is abused and there are lines of unhappy patrons waiting for their turn use a computer.
3. If your child’s research paper is due tomorrow morning, it’s a good idea to have started it before today. Although the library offers access to a plethora of information, expecting the librarian to wave a magic wand and deliver the material in seconds is not a realistic or a responsible expectation. Research takes time to locate, evaluate, process and then compose (by your child). Librarians are not there to do your child’s work, only to assist and guide him or her in the right direction.
4. If you’re in the main part of the library (as opposed to the children’s room) and you find yourself running after your toddler, repeatedly correcting his or her behavior or attempting to tame tantrums, take your child home and visit at another time, when your little one is well-rested and fed.
5. Discuss with your child that the library is owned and used by the entire community. Be a good steward of the material by not eating, drinking or chewing gum that can potentially damage the books and other material. Point out that this responsibility is similar to taking care of toys and books at home. (This might be a good time to take a look at how your child treats his personal belongings, too.)
6. The library staff is not there to clean up after patrons, baby-sit small children, take your child to the restroom or monitor teen behavior (unless necessary).
7. Set the example for your child by keeping your voice low and visiting with your own friends outside the library door.
8. A trip to the library is not an opportunity for your teen to unload the last few bars of candy he or she is selling as a school fundraiser.
9. If your older children go to the library as a group, make it a point to discuss the reason for the library visit and let them know you will be reviewing their material or work when they arrive home.
10. While today’s technology gives us instant access to information via our home computer, there is merit in teaching your child the value of obtaining and using a library card, being responsible for the timely return of the material borrowed, respecting others while at the library, spending time together, researching a project or simply reading a good book. All of these things give our children a sense of accomplishment that will last them a lifetime.