So much of parents’ frustration stems from children not listening or following directions. Like any other social skill, this is something that can be encouraged and taught. Model – When you are in conversation with your children, or when they are asking you questions, it’s helpful to really listen. This may be putting down your … Continue reading Ways to Encourage Listening and Following Directions
There are so many transitions built into a family’s day. For children, this may include the shift to getting dressed, leaving the house, stopping play, finishing projects, cleaning up, coming to the table for meals, going upstairs for bath and settling in bed for sleep. All of these steps can have small transitions within which … Continue reading Transitions Can be Easier
The Department of Education encourages parents to read aloud to their children 20 minutes a day at a minimum. The idea is to read aloud to them for longer stretches and more often as you are able. It’s also suggested that you continue to read aloud to your children long passed the time you thought … Continue reading Ideas for Reading Aloud with Older Children
Parents often focus their language on stopping behaviors. They attempt to direct their children in the negative. Let’s say a child grabs a toy from another. The first thing most parents say is “no grabbing,” “don’t grab,” or “stop grabbing!” When directions are stated in the negative, children have to turn that language around and … Continue reading Give Children Positive Directions
Recently I got an email from a mom with several questions asking how to respond to several of her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter’s behaviors. The start to each of the answers was, “this is common at two…” I am going to write a paragraph about what it is to be two-and-a-half years old, and then answer the … Continue reading Answers to Typical Two-Year-Old Struggles
In class, we encourage people to listen to others, to take turns speaking and to wait until a friend is finished, so they avoid interrupting. It can be helpful to coach children to listen to others and wait for a break in conversation to speak. When children are little, it may work more smoothly to … Continue reading Teaching Patience
It’s an all too familiar scenario… Mom is almost ready to leave, children are still coloring in the kitchen. Mom says, “hey, time to get your shoes on, and could you turn off the tv, please?” Mom keeps moving to put the breakfast dishes in the sink. Children ignore mom’s request and keep coloring. Mom … Continue reading Want Kids to Listen? Stop Repeating Yourself!
Planning and reviewing skills are a piece of building attention span and impulse control. In some of our classes, each week the children have to plan their 15 minute play time. This includes choosing where they will play (only 1 center each day) and planning three activities to occupy their time. Teachers check on their … Continue reading Teach Planning and Reviewing towards Self-Control
There are many ways to build listening skills. There are lots of good children’s books that introduce the idea and importance of listening. A few titles include Listen and Learn by Free Spirit Publishing, The Worst Day of My Life Ever by Julia Cook and the Amelia Bedelia books. Many games practice listening skills including … Continue reading Teach Them to Listen
I just wanted to share a link to a great article from The New York Times titled Building Self-Control, The American Way by Aamodt and Wang. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/opinion/sunday/building-self-control-the-american-way.html?pagewanted=all During the next week, I will post ideas and activities to support developing listening skills, planning, goal setting and follow through skills, sequencing, their attention to detail, attention span and … Continue reading Article on Teaching Self-Control
Parenting by Dr. Rene 