Transitioning from summer to school is never easy. Getting all of the kids out of bed, ready for school, and out the door on time can be a challenge. While we’d all like to start the day with a “good” morning, if you have school-aged kids, mornings can often turn into battlegrounds. Of course, no one solution will work for every child or every family, but here are some tools that you may find useful.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Back to School Morning Battles
Transitioning from summer to school is never easy. Getting all of the kids out of bed, ready for school, and out the door on time can be a challenge. While we’d all like to start the day with a “good” morning, if you have school-aged kids, mornings can often turn into battlegrounds. Of course, no one solution will work for every child or every family, but here are some tools that you may find useful.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Kids and Cell Phones -- Taking the Plunge
So you’ve decided to take the plunge and get your child a
cell phone. Studies show the average age for a child to get their first phone
is around 12 but there is a good
amount of variability in that number. Regardless of the age of your child, the
success of this venture depends largely on you, as a parent. You need to set
your child up for success. Here is how:
Establish Rules of Use
The first thing you need to do is define a Rules of Use
Agreement with your child. This Agreement is the set of rules that governs what
your child is and is not allowed to do with their phone. The rules should be specific and actionable. Avoid anything
subjective or open to interpretation. I recommend a written document so that
there is no confusion. A good activity might be to sit down with your child and
come up with the agreement together. Capturing their attention for that long
might seem impossible but if they know that getting a phone is contingent upon
it, you’ll get some of their time and attention. Your agreement should include:
Monday, June 25, 2012
Kids and Cell Phones--Start Talking
If you are the parent of a child over the age of 7, the topic
of cell phones probably causes heart palpitations. The anxiety associated with
getting your child a cell-phone comes from many directions and the decision is
anything but straightforward. The reality is that children aren’t magically
ready to handle a cell phone at a certain age. You have to make your child
ready. As with most major milestones for your child, parents need to prepare
and take the leading role to make it a successful venture. The first step is
talking to your child.
When. Parents
need to talk to their kids about cell phones sooner than you think. “Out of
sight, out of mind” is not a valid option. Just because your child doesn’t have
a cell phone yet doesn’t mean they aren’t using their friends’ phones or their
friends’ older siblings’ phones. Studies show that the average age a child
first borrows a cell phone is 8, so get ready early.
Educate Yourself.
Before you can have a credible conversation with your child about cell phones,
you need to educate yourself on the topic. If you are a “techie”, you can skip
the rest of this paragraph. If you are like the rest of us, keep reading.
Surprise! Cell phones are not simply devices to call someone! Today’s cell
phones can include texting, picture texting (made famous by sexting scandals of
late), email, video chat, cameras,
video recorders, internet access, twitter, facebook, photo and video share
sites, and on and on. Believe me when I tell you that our children are like
cell phone savants.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Kids and Cell Phones -- Why Your Child Needs a Cell Phone
Yes, you read the title correctly. In my opinion, your child
will eventually need a cell phone, and they will need it before the teenage
years hit full throttle. Many parents are shocked to have a doctor tell them
that. I know from talking to many parents that the issue of cell phones can be
stressful, and opinions on cell phones vary greatly. Some of you may be inclined
to get your child a cell phone at a very young age (lets say 8) especially if
there are two working parents who have a harder time keeping tabs on their kids
during after-school activities and events.
Others want to get their child a cell phone but aren’t sure what is the best age.
Still other parents might be thinking “I didn’t have a cell phone when I was
growing up and I did just fine, so my child doesn’t need one either”. I’m sorry
to say that this logic doesn’t apply to cell phones. Your child will eventually
need a cell phone. Allow me to explain.
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