Category: Helpful Hints

• 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!

Mornings set the tone for the whole day.  When you’re balancing your to-do list and getting the kids ready in time for daycare or school, they can be a challenge. What’s the difference between a good and bad morning? It’s simple: having a routine.

The Importance of Routines
Routines are your daily habits – something you do at the same time every day. They provide a sense of consistency and stability in your day because they let you know what you’re supposed to be doing. For kids, the also help them feel secure because they know what’s expected at certain times. Having a routine also fosters cooperation and a sense of independence because it gives them an active role in how their day plays out.

Working with your child to establish a morning routine is important to help them set expectations and follow through with them. Here are some ideas for a smooth morning:

Set a bedtime
Good mornings begin the night before! Making sure everyone has had enough sleep means they’ll be less grumpy when they wake up and more ready to start the day. Even though it’s tempting to let them watch an extra episode of TV or another game, having a consistent bed time will help them know what to start getting ready for bed. Part of that bed time routine can also include getting their backpacks, belongings, and clothing ready for the next day –it’ll be one less thing to do in the morning!

Set a wake-up time
Similar to having a dedicated bed time, making sure to wake up at the same time each day is important in creating routines. Especially if you have multiple family members getting ready in the morning! You can stagger the times so that everyone is able to get ready without fighting over the bathroom.

Create a morning routine chart
This can be a great activity to do together! Talk to your kids about what kinds of tasks and chores need to be done in the morning and get their input on what they want their mornings to look like. Younger kids may need to use pictures so they still know what they need to do before heading off for the day. Some things to include on the morning chart:

• Brushing teeth
• Taking a shower
• Combing hair/ putting on clothes
• Eating breakfast
• Double checking backpack and items

Once you’ve planned a morning routine, go through all of the steps with them talking about each one as you run through your morning (in case you need to change or re-order a step). Encourage your child to take ownership of each task to create a sense of independence! It may be easy sometimes to do it for them, but in the long run it will become a part of their routine.

Use the “We-Then” Approach for Not Fun Tasks
While morning routines make getting ready easier, your kids may not like to do some tasks (or will want to jump right ahead to their favorite one). One technique to use is called the “We-Then” approach, brought to us by Amy McCready of Positive Parenting Solutions.

The When-Then technique helps kids stay motivated to get through the “not fun” tasks in the morning by putting them first. They are an incentive for their favorite activity, like a delicious breakfast, which can only be done after they’ve completed everything else.

Figure out which part of your routine your child loves (picking out clothes, breakfast, etc.) and make it conditional on the other tasks being finished. For example, if your child loves eating cereal for breakfast, you can explain that “WHEN you have made your bed, brushed your teeth, and have been dressed, THEN you can have cereal for breakfast”    . It’s important to stay consistent with the approach so they learn that all the morning tasks need to be done.

With a solid routine, mornings can run smoothly and set the tone for a great day ahead! Work with your children to create their own routine and watch them take ownership of their day.

Did you know why it’s always celebrated on November 11^th?

On the 11^th hour, of the 11^th day, in the 11^th month, the armistice to end World War I (known then as the Great War) was signed in 1918. The next year, President Wilson declared an Armistice Day to honor those who fought in the war. In 1971, President Nixon changed it to Veterans Day to honor the veterans of all wars.

Veterans Day is a great time to give thanks and support to our family, friends, and community members who work to keep our country safe. It’s not just another day off, but a day to show some gratitude during the month of November.  Have your kids join you in thanking them for providing us our freedom and rights. It’s a great way to teach them that you’re never too young to help.

Here are some ways to get your children involved and give thanks to a Veteran:

1. Observe a moment of silence at 11 am: it’s a great time to reflect and silently remember those who served and the sacrifices they have made
2. Make a donation to an armed forced affiliated non-profit: there are a variety of local and national organizations that help veterans and their families. Find one and get involved- whether through volunteering, financial donations, or items they are in need of
3. Many restaurants and businesses offer Veterans Day discount to military family members. If your family is included, enjoy a treat from the community. If you see a veteran in a restaurant, offer to buy their meal for them
4. Thank a veteran: Even a simple “Thank You” can go a long way
5. Visit a local VA/military hospital with your family and draw pictures or write thank you cards. Ask them about their service experience and spend some time listening to their stories. It’s a great way to connect and show appreciation for their sacrifices
6. Educate your children about the meaning of Veterans Day and how it honors all members of military – those who have served, and those who are currently serving.
7. Visit one of Virginia’s many national cemeteries and volunteer to place flags on the headstones. You can also choose a soldier to learn more about their life and pay tribute to them. This is also a great tradition to continue every year.

While Veterans Day is a special day set aside, the best thing you can do is to remember our Veterans all year long and find ways to support them. If you’re a service member who’s reading this, THANK YOU from Minnieland Academy!