Blog - GenParenting

Oct 17 2017

Finding Help for Academic Needs

For some students, the start of school is an exhilarating feeling – new teacher, new friends, new subjects to learn. For other kids, the start of school brings about dread and despair – for all the same reasons! As a parent, how can you support your kids who are facing academic challenges?

Set up a consistent place and time to do homework

Kids thrive on structure. When they know what to expect, they feel safe. Set up a schedule where they know it is homework time. Have a place for them to complete assignments, whether it be in their room or on the kitchen table while you’re setting up for dinner. If the kids are going to grandma’s home or to an afterschool day care program, make sure everyone knows that getting homework done is a priority. [Read more…]

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Oct 10 2017

How to Reduce School Day Stress

The school year has started and now you feel exhausted. What are 10 quick strategies to improve your outlook on life and get through the long weeks of driving kids to schools, coordinating activities, and helping with homework?

10 Strategies to Reduce Immediate Stress

Get a handle on your life by picking up household clutter each day. Your children can share this activity as one of their responsibilities. Then you can truly relax.
Do something for yourself that you enjoy. This may include hiking, playing tennis, swimming, exercising, window shopping, or reading a book.
Self-Reflect on the beauty and wonders in your life. Reflective activities include meditation, journaling, walking or relaxing in a natural setting, listening to music, or reading reflective thoughts for the day.
Pamper yourself with a massage or by taking the time for a bubble bath or a hot shower.
Get together with friends and share life’s joys, challenges, and brainstorm solutions to daily problems.
Embellish your hobby and take the time to enjoy it. This can include attending seminars, classes, journaling, and writing blogs.
Pursue your dream. If you have not taken the time to complete college, take a course, change jobs, or become active in your community. Start taking baby steps to fulfill your career and self-growth dreams.
Give back to the community. It is very difficult to take care of others all day long. Taking time for a purpose greater than yourself or your family can be very rewarding. Some parents become active in a school committee while others take their children with them to clean the beaches or plant a tree.
Find your spiritual center through nature, religion, or a cause greater than yourself.
Stay humble and always give more than you take from the world.

[Read more…]

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Oct 03 2017

How to Help Your Child Use College and Career Support Services

The new school year has started. As a superintendent of two public middle schools and a comprehensive high school, I have reflected on how I can change some of our school’s procedures and programs to fully support our college and career ready students. Here’s a list of changes that we will implement this year: [Read more…]

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Sep 27 2017

Fall GenParenting Book Signing Events

Date	Location	Venue	Event
Oct 1–9:30 AM	Costa Mesa, CA	Orange County Children's Book Festival - Orange County, CA	The GenParenting.com team will be selling the Yikes! twin book series and our parenting book with FREE resources.
Oct 8,—2:00 PM	San Rafael, CA	Copperfield's Books	Meet the author, Mary Ann Burke, at this Meet and Greet Event! FREE blog resources will be provided.
Oct 14—10:00 AM	Sunnyvale, CA	Bay Area Kids' Book Festival - Silicon Valley	The GenParenting.com blogging team will be selling their Yikes! twin book series and parenting book with FREE resources.
Oct 15—10:00 AM	Lafayette, CA	Bay Area Kids' Festival - Lafayette	The GenParenting.com blogging team will be selling their Yikes! twin book series and parenting book with FREE resources.
Oct 22—11:00 AM	Oakland, CA	Great Good Place for Books	Meet the author, Mary Ann Burke, at this special story time event. She will be selling her newly published Yikes! Brandon Has Twin Sisters book series with FREE blog resources.

For more information about these events and to purchase books, log onto Amazon.com at https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Ann-Burke/e/B001H6IXXW/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0.

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Sep 19 2017

Places to Take Your Preschool Kids

As the summer days draw to a close, you probably have exhausted places to take your preschool kids. Parents have identified the following fun activities to pursue with your children this fall:

Inclusive Parks: Several parks have created Magical Bridge Playground areas that are inclusive for children with varying developmental needs. These areas typically include ramps with climbing structures, swings, and slides. Magical Bridge Playgrounds provide a lifetime of kindness and compassion through truly inclusive play. Details can be found at magicalbridge.org.
Water Activities: Many parks now provide a water play area with water tables and water channels to promote exploration when playing with water and “cooking” with sludge. Children can learn the basic science concepts of sink and float, and observe the velocity of objects floating through the channels. As an added bonus, children must learn how to take turns with the various activities. Typically, children, who bring their own toys, must share as they watch their toys gush through the channels of water. [Read more…]

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