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• Try visiting an animal shelter and spending time with the dogs and cats there. This can either be to see how your child interacts with pets or it could be a opportunity to give your child animal time, without actually buying an animal.

 

• If you are not opposed to having a pet, maybe negotiate on a smaller one to start with (maybe hamster size).

 

• Reach out to neighbors with animals and let your child spend time with these animals (you will need to be sure your neighbor is aware of this new implementation and also okay with it). If your neighbor is willing, you could even try having your child help out with the care (like feeding and walking etc.) and see how things go from there.

 

• Have your child first demonstrate that they can handle basic chores. Another idea would be the ‘go-to-plant-plan.’ Give your child a plant and tell them if they can keep the plant healthy for a certain amount of time, then maybe they can handle the responsibility of having an animal.

 

• Whatever you decide, give your child the complete run through of why or why not the decision to get a pet would be a good or bad idea. The worst thing to do is to simply say ‘no, I don’t want a dog etc..’ Explain how a dog needs a consistent feeding schedule, daily exercise and attention, and how maybe your family cannot provide these things for a dog at the moment

Continue reading “Your Child Wants a Pet…What Now?”

It’s a problem that many parents worry about. While we make Minnieland Academy an engaging environment and reach out to each child, sometimes shyness makes them a bit reserved when reaching out to other children. While it’s a difficult topic to navigate, we have a few tips that may just help.

 

• Stay up to date with the adults in your child’s life. Teachers play a key role in the development of your child and know exactly how your child interacts in a public setting for a day. Talking with your child’s teacher can open your eyes to a lot of things you may not realize about your little one. Be sure to not skip those parent-teacher meetings, as they can be the most help in your search for an answer.

 

• If you are still uneasy about your little one’s progress in making friends, try watching behaviors more closely than normal. Sometimes problematic behaviors at home only become bigger when in a less familiar environment.

 

• It’s okay if your child has fewer friends. Your worries may really just have to do with the nature of how your child interacts. Some children thrive on a group of friends, while others prefer to keep one or two close. Being an introvert or an extravert plays a part in this as well – some children rather keep to themselves in general.

 

Keep these things in mind as you figure out where your child stands, and of course – be sure to talk about these things one-on-one with your little one. It can make all the difference.

Continue reading “Is your Child having a Hard Time Making Friends?”

Include the Interests of Both Children

Sometimes there seems to be little remedy for children who want to do two completely different activities. Instead of letting this overwhelm you, think about how the activities might fit together. Let’s say one child wants to run laps in the yard (a dream for some parents) and the other wants to do fun tricks for gymnastic practice. Maybe the two can try a wheelbarrow race with some friends. This way both interests are involved and hopefully a meltdown can be avoided.

Explain Each Other’s Feelings When Upset

Often children will put the blame on each other for taking the other’s toy or being rude about not following the rules of a particular game. Teach your children to share how they feel when something like this happens instead of telling the other child what they’ve done wrong. This can save a lot of time arguing and helps the children to understand the situation from another point of view.

 Let Them Be

While it may seem easier to just tell your kids what to do and when to do it, kids need to learn how to problem solve on their own. Instead of consistently jumping in to help sort out an argument, let it be and your child will figure it out. Unless there is physical violence and unnecessary taunting,  it’s better in the long run to let your children learn things in their own way.

 

Special Area for Special Things

Children can get finicky about what are “theirs” and theirs only. This kind of attitude can often lead to fights about personal belongings and the specifics of these belongings. To avoid this unnecessary drama, designate a ‘special area’ for each child where his or her own items can be placed – less heartache for everyone!

 

Positive Actions, Positive Praises

Don’t forget to praise your children when a play date goes well. Often, play dates that end on a bad note get more attention than the ones that go amazingly. Praises will be remembered by your children and may lead to a better outcome in the future as well!

Continue reading “5 Ways to Get Children to Play Nicely”

It’s never too late to make a fire safety plan for your family. The following is a list of basic things you can do with your family to make sure you are prepared if a fire ever happens in your home.

 

1. Make sure you have a home fire escape plan and if you don’t have one – make one together with your family

 

2. Post the fire escape plan in a regularly visited space in the house

 

3. Practice the home fire escape plan at least once a year so your children know exactly what to do if the situation of a fire arises

 

4. Teach your children to “get low and go” if there is smoke in the room when they are trying to leave

 

5. Make sure your children know to feel the doorknob with the back of their hand to see if there is a fire on the other side. If the doorknob is hot, do not go through the door

 

6. Choose a place to meet outside of the home so that your family can regroup

Worrying is nothing new to parents. Whether you’ve just had your first child, or you’re on your fourth, worrying never seems to go away and probably never will.

People have the misconception that all worrying is useless and not helpful. This is not necessarily the truth, as constructive worrying can often be helpful to parents and their children. If your child is not eating healthy, you will probably start worrying about their diet, and this worry will probably lead to you to make an adjustment in what and how they eat on a regular basis. Constructive worrying can truly make a difference and should not be overlooked.

Then there is the worrying that does no one any good and is more detrimental than anything. This kind of worrying can be defined as ‘excessive worrying.’ It is a kind of obsession with things that no one can control. If your child has just left for a play-date and you are sitting on the couch fretting about the possibility of a hurt knee or elbow, then this will get you and your child nowhere. Instead, it puts you in a position of suffering which benefits no one.

One thing you have to think about while raising your child is whether the object of worry is really worth your time. Is there real risk associated with whatever you child is doing? To some parents, the answer to this is a resounding ‘YES’ to every possible situation, but one has to be realistic with this question.

First things first, get the information on whatever you are worried about. Worried about shark attacks while your child is swimming? Read up on the topic of concern and it will probably lessen your fears. For example, only five people die from shark attacks yearly (National Geographic). Don’t rely on emotions to call the shots.

Talk with other moms and dads, maybe even your own! Often, parents will find where their worries lie on the spectrum of ‘reasonable’ to ‘excessive’ when chatting with other trusted parents.

No matter what, remember that all parents are always wondering if what they are doing is ‘right’ or not, so don’t be afraid to ask others for help! You have a community that is waiting to help you out…so don’t worry about it!