Holy Tantrums Bat Man!

You all know what a tantrum is right?

Well in case you don't know,

Temper tantrums are disruptive or undesirable behaviors or emotional outbursts displayed in response to unmet needs or desires. They may also refer to an inability to control emotions due to frustration or difficulty expressing a particular need or desire.

Read more: http://www.righthealth.com/topic/Tantrums_In_Children#ixzz1TS2R9Cre

ok so I know you are asking, How do I STOP tantrums?

Temper tantrums are ultimately an attention-seeking behavior. One strategy to minimize the length and severity of the tantrum is to ignore the behavior. As long as the child is safe and not being destructive, walking away to another room in the house may shorten the episode because now the drama has no audience. Sometimes the child will follow and continue the tantrum. Do not talk or react until the behavior stops. Then, calmly discuss the issue and offer acceptable alternatives without giving in to their demand.

Read more: http://www.righthealth.com/topic/Tantrums_In_Children#ixzz1TS2nlQLg

I read that most tantrums begin during the second year of life and as children acquire language skills, the tantrums decrease.  

I am not a doctor but knowing this information would make me think that teaching your child about different emotions and having them use their words at ALL possible times will increase the chances of a child TELLING you what is wrong vs tantruming.  

Always the teacher--here are some activities to help teach emotions--

http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200611/BTJFoxSupplementalActivities.pdf

http://simplekids.net/pie-approach-to-emotions/

Make yourself Happy and Proud and get those tantrums under control.

Thanks

Dawn

You BIG BULLY....

I was recently heartbroken when a good friend of mine told me that her sweetheart of a son told her he wanted to kill himself because he was being bullied at school.  I think many people have experienced bullying within their lives.  I was bullied as a child at various points in my life because i had a back brace at one point, braces another, glasses another, and the ever so popular fat kid bullying.
Children seem to start bullying at a VERY young age.  I have seen this when my daughter was only 2 years old and in daycare and children were hitting each other.  I know what you are saying, that's not bullying, that's kids being kids.  Well it starts with something so mild as a push or a hit and once they realize they can gain power that way, it escalates.

WHAT IS BULLYING?

Dan Olweus, creator of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, provides us with this commonly accepted definition for bullying in his book, Bullying at School: What We Know and What We Can Do:
 

"A person is bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons, and he or she has difficulty defending himself or herself."

 

This definition includes three important components:

1. Bullying is aggressive behavior that involves unwanted, negative actions.
2. Bullying involves a pattern of behavior repeated over time.
3. Bullying involves an imbalance of power or strength.


 I was bullied in my neighborhood when I went out to play and on the bus.   What was your experience?

WHAT DOES BULLYING LOOK LIKE?

Bullying can take on many forms. As part of the Olweus Bullying Questionnaire, students are asked if they have been bullied in any of these nine ways:



1. Verbal bullying including derogatory comments and bad names
2. Bullying through social exclusion or isolation
3. Physical bullying such as hitting, kicking, shoving, and spitting
4. Bullying through lies and false rumors
5. Having money or other things taken or damaged by students who bully
6. Being threatened or being forced to do things by students who bully
7. Racial bullying
8. Sexual bullying
9. Cyber bullying (via cell phone or Internet) Learn more


 I was called brace face or fatso or four eyes, and socially excluded by some girls in high school.  What was your experience?


WHY DO PEOPLE BULLY?

1. Students who bully have strong needs for power and (negative) dominance.
2. Students who bully find satisfaction in causing injury and suffering to other
     students.
3. Students who bully are often rewarded in some way for their behavior with
     material or psychological rewards

THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN A BULLY--

• Get into frequent fights
• Steal and vandalize property
• Drink alcohol and smoke
• Report poor grades
• Perceive a negative climate at school
• Carry a weapon

HOW DOES IT EFFECT YOUR CHILD?

• Depression
• Low self-esteem
• Health problems
• Poor grades
• Suicidal thoughts

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP MY CHILD?
http://www.life123.com/parenting/tweens-teens/bullying/school-bullying.shtml

Keep the lines of communication open between you, your child, and the school if applicable.

Some of you may already know that I am a teacher.  I have seen children being bullied and have used the following website to help me intervene.  The webisodes on the website are a good tool for opening discussions.

http://www.stopbullying.gov/


I always start the school year with a bullying lesson and let the children know that I DO NOT tolerate bullying of any kind. We are a family in my classroom and we will treat each other that way.   In doing this blog I also found a school based, researched peace program that I am going to write a grant for. :)

You would think things get better as you get older but I think the form of bullying just changes.  I have been bullied by co workers who did not want my opinions because I was younger and new to the profession.


http://www.baselinemag.com/c/a/Intelligence/Office-Bullies-Make-Work-Hard-372093/?kc=GOOBA051711OBWWHSS&pid=adult%20bully&gclid=CKer79KUmKoCFaZx5QodhQYcyA

This site also includes a ppt about office bullying.  

I hope this helps you understand bullying and how to handle it a little better. 

Communication is key!



Thanks,

Dawn

preschool or daycare.....

My first post discussed HOW to find a preschool but Natasha suggested more information about the difference between a preschool and a daycare.

Dr Hackney gives a really good yet brief description.  There are also follow up videos.

http://www.5min.com/Video/Preschool-VS-Daycare-155908239

Sophia started her life with a private sitter for about 2 yrs.  I realized that she needed more education in her day. She was learning and soaking everything in like a sponge.  I am a single mom so I needed care that was going to extend throughout the workday but I also wanted someplace in which she would be LEARNING.

I researched and went to uncountable places until I found one I thought was suitable. After only 1 yr I realized that Sophia was not being challenged enough.  She was learning to count to 10 and the colors and shapes.  She was far more advanced than this and I didn't want to hold her back so the next summer, I looked for a new school.  I found a school that challenged Sophia's learning, and was flexible for daycare.  The first place was a daycare while the second place was a preschool.

No one knows your child better than you so let your child be your guide as to what they are ready for. Daycare is usually for the younger children while preschool for 3 yrs and up.  I hope this helps.

Good Luck!

Dawn

Summer reading

ok so we are all very busy doing fun stuff during the summer with the kiddos but how much are the kiddos reading this summer?

Did you know that kids often lose a partial reading level from the end of the school year in June to the beginning of school in Sept?

It is fundamental to read EACH day with your child, to your child or them to you.

How is this incentive for reading over the summer?

http://www.scholastic.com/summer/sweepstakes/kidssweepsrules.htm

What books can your child read?

You do not want to give your 3rd grader a Harry Potter book if they can't read it.  Many parents allow their children to "read" any books they choose.  While it is good to explore books like this, books should be able to be read INDEPENDENTLY by your child if you are not reading with him or her.

How can you tell if they can read it independently?

A child should be able to read the first few pages of a book with MINIMAL mistakes reading the words and is not struggling to sound a word out.  They should also be able to tell you what happened on those pages.

How do I know my child really read the story?

ASK QUESTIONS---(having them WRITE their answers is good practice too)

Who are the characters?  (who are the animals/people in the story)
What is the setting?  (Where AND When does the story take place)
What is the plot?  (what are the events happening in the story)
What happened in the beginning, middle and end?
Can you WRITE a NEW ending to the story?
Would you recommend this book to a friend?  Why or why not?  Give 3 supporting details.


What is your child's favorite book of the summer so far?

Sophia's Fav this summer, so far, is Bad Case of the Stripes by David Shannon.

Read EVERYDAY!  Reading is FUNDAMENTAL!


Enjoy a good book today!

Dawn

What do you do?

What do you do to ensure your child is well rounded?

I like to think that I am well rounded but I realize I am  not as rounded as I could be.  I want to make sure that I am giving everything I can to Sophia to ensure that she is more well rounded than myself.  While I think I am doing a good job of that by giving her every opportunity,  her father is concerned I am going above and beyond and that we should not do as many things as we do.

What do you do to ensure a well rounded child?

Here is one mamas opinion....
http://taylasjourneyhome.wordpress.com/2011/06/30/producing-well-rounded-children/

After reading the following--I didn't know it was so simple!


http://www.parents.com/kids/development/social/raise-well-rounded-kids/

Let's get a discussion going!

DAWN

What do the fireworks really mean?

We all get caught up in the fireworks and the barbecues but what does it all mean? 

Make this day a day to learn some history for your little one.  It saddens me that so many children do not know why we have fireworks and bbqs. 

Here is some Kid friendly advice to explain the day.....

Over 200 yrs ago the land that we live on (the United States) had to follow the laws from Great Britain and the people who lived on our land decided that they wanted to be free and have their own laws.  July 4th was the day that many important people signed a paper that said we were our own states and not part of Great Britain anymore.  JULY 4th 1776 is the United States Birthday!


For older kids add:

This paper is called the Declaration of Independence.  The most famous line is:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Enjoy the day and be safe in your travels!

Dawn