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How to Support Children When Parents and Family Members Have Different Values

How to Support Children When Parents and Family Members Have Different Values

As an educator and grandma of an elementary school grandson, I find that I have different approaches to watching and educating my grandson. I have reached out to other educators on how to reconcile these differences when helping my grandson with his school work and during our afterschool play sessions. Ten tips for success include the following: [Read more…]

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When Your College Child Comes Home for a Visit

When Your College Child Comes Home for a Visit

After attending summer school at the university, my son was able to come home for a few days to visit us and his friends. I continue to be impressed with the impact that college and living independently has had on my son. Some outcomes include:

  • My son is growing up and learning how to become a member of a larger community.
  • He is very grateful in how we raised him.
  • EJ is learning how to give back to others.
  • His living situation is very healthy and supportive.
  • EJ is living in a school sponsored co-op housing with older students. This provides him with an expanded support system of mentors.
  • Each co-op member must contribute to the upkeep of the house. My son is learning new house management skills.

[Read more…]

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Encouraging Reluctant Readers with a Growth Mindset

Encouraging Reluctant Readers with a Growth Mindset

When my children were toddlers, they used to love story time. We’d pull out their favorite board book, they’d sit on my lap or snuggle on the couch, we’d make all the animal sounds as they pointed to the pictures and we’d retell the story using puppets. It was so much fun! [Read more…]

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How Teens Use Social Media

How Teens Use Social Media

 

Common Sense Media recently published a research article on teen’s use of social media. The study is titled Social Media, Social Life: Teens Reveal Their Experiences . In this revealing national study, over 1,000 teens aged 13 to 17 shared about their use of social media.

 

Key Findings

Here are some key findings from the study.

[Read more…]

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Yikes! My Middle School Child Is Becoming a Teenager!

Yikes! My Middle School Child Is Becoming a Teenager!

 

It’s surprising how fast children grow, isn’t it? Just yesterday, they were a chubby, little baby and today, they are a tall, lanky bean pole! Well, just because kids may be physically grown up, they may still be growing in their mental, emotional, and social capacity. Having taught middle schoolers for a number of years, here are some insights on how to keep the relationship with your soon-to-be teenager smooth during these growing-up years.

Independence and Responsibility

Underneath their cool face or tough façade, teenagers are beginning to come to terms with two really intimidating facts of life – Independence and Responsibility. Teenagers desperately want their independence and they may start exerting some power in this area. They may refuse or decline your ideas so that they can pursue their own ideals. For better or worse, they may even adopt some of their friends’ ideas and habits. They are growing into their own person and it is wise to give them some freedom in this area.

[Read more…]

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