GenParenting

Parenting resources for all who love and care for children

More Empty Nest Adjustment Strategies!

More Empty Nest Adjustment Strategies!

I was talking with my friend today about my summer plans now that my son will only be home for a short visit. It had not occurred to me that I would have more time for myself until we discussed my summer schedule. In the past I always provided my son with extra time for visiting and playing together throughout the summer. Now I would have a completely free summer. When asked what I would do after my work day, I came up with the following 10 activities: [Read more…]

Cultural Awareness Summer Programs

Cultural Awareness Summer Programs

As our children focus on the last days of the school year, parents are anxiously trying to secure adequate childcare and enrichment programs for their children once school is out. Some parents focus on sports camps, wilderness camps, and performing arts camp activities. Other parents use much of the summer for parks and recreational play dates. And other parents will focus on academic learning boot camps. It is important to balance your children’s summer play with a variety of activities to ensure that they have time to regroup and learn many new skills. [Read more…]

What Empathy Teaches Us About Families

What Empathy Teaches Us About Families

I recently met with a group of parents to discuss how we can increase our children’s awareness and empathy for others. Through our sharing, we learned that:

  • Having experienced a disability or learning challenge has helped others better understand what it is like to be in someone else’s shoes with a disability and experience empathy.
  • Empathy can be learned when we overcame adversity or a negative experience. When we are rescued by others, we may not learn to overcome a challenge.
  • When family members provide healthy support and not rescue their children, the children must learn how to resolve a challenge. This reflective process can help children learn compassion, empathy, and how to successfully solve daily challenges with others.

[Read more…]

Overcoming the Winter School Day Blahs

Overcoming the Winter School Day Blahs

School is back in session. The mornings are dark and the evenings are even darker. It is cold, windy, and snowing outside. How do we keep our energy up and our kids focused at school? Here are suggestions shared by parents at a recent workshop:

  1. Have children wake up to an alarm clock playing happy music each morning.
  2. Teach children how to breathe deeply each morning as we engage them in some morning stretching and yoga types of exercise.
  3. Allow enough time for kids to get dressed, make their beds, and eat a nutritious breakfast.
  4. Sing songs as we walk or drive our kids to school.
  5. Help them pack a nutritional lunch and snacks for school.
  6. Plan for outside play each day after school.
  7. Balance the afternoon play with a nutritional snack.
  8. Make time for homework in an organized workspace with limited distractions.
  9. Engage your family in nightly family discussions during dinner.
  10. Schedule quality time with each child and read to them at bedtime each night.

[Read more…]

How Can We Support Families Living Through Disasters?

How Can We Support Families Living Through Disasters?

Happy new year! Each year I reflect on all that is good in the world. I also ponder on what I can improve upon and how I can approach each day with integrity that contributes to improving the lives around me. As an educator, I find that I am most happy when I am helping a child learn a new skill. A child’s look of satisfaction and achievement is all I need as the payoff for teaching and nurturing success.

Coping with Community Disasters

As a community member, I am challenged on how I can best respond to the multitude of disasters surrounding our communities. As a California resident, we have suffered through horrific wild fires. Other parts of our country have struggled with tornadoes, hurricanes, and flooding. Our communities continue to be challenged with poverty, homelessness, and various injustices. [Read more…]