Tuesday June 18, 2013
Many single parents ask "How can I get a break?" If your kids have an established bedtime routine, you might catch a few hours to yourself at night. But how do you create little pockets of time during the day without relying on TV to entertain them?
One solution is encouraging regular, independent play. For example, encourage your kids to build with Legos® (my daughter loves the new Lego Friends series!), draw, or play with action figures.
These kinds of independent activities can give you pockets of free time while your kids are occupied. Plus, putting this strategy this into practice on a regular basis will help your kids develop the ability to entertain themselves and resolve their own boredom: both key life skills.
Read Encouraging Independent Play Time for practical ideas for making your home a creative play zone while giving yourself a small break at the same time.
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Monday June 17, 2013
One of the best ways you can help your kids succeed in school is to read -- and I don't just mean reading with them when they're toddlers. Reading in front of and around your children also has a powerful impact on their own decision to be a reader, whether they're preparing to enter the first grade or the ninth.
If you'd like to encourage your kids to read more, but you just aren't sure how to get started, try offering a Summer Reading Challenge at home.
Here's how it works: Print out a Summer Reading Challenge form for each child. Then take it with you as you head off the library. Let your kids select books for each category and "X" them off as they read each one. You can decide together what the "reward" will be for completing all 16 categories.
You can even do it yourself, which will really encourage your kids to take the challenge seriously. (Not to mention the fact that taking a break just to read for a few minutes might not be a bad way to spend your summer evenings!)
You can even have your young children participate by listening to books you read aloud or audio books, which you can check out from your local library.
Keep in mind that the whole challenge is extremely flexible, too. If you think 16 books over the course of the summer is too much for your kids, turn it into a Bingo game and see who can complete one row first. Your kids might just surprise you!
Summer Reading Resources:
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Sunday June 16, 2013
From figuring out summer child care to worrying about what your kids will be doing with their free time, summer vacation can feel like anything but a break. Some years, it's enough to make you wish for year-round school, especially if your kids are old enough to stay home alone.
Fortunately, there is a solution. If you haven't already, sit down and develop a schedule with your kids for what you want them to accomplish during the day. And be specific, from chores like doing the dishes and making their beds to defining limits up front for how many hours they're allowed to watch TV, play video games, and use the computer. This little bit of structure from day one of summer vacation won't just make your life easier -- it will also help your kids develop responsibility and life skills.
For help getting started, read Create a Summer Schedule for Your Kids.
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Tuesday June 11, 2013
Father's Day isn't limited to dads. It's also a day to acknowledge the uncles, grandparents, siblings, neighbors, and others who play a fathering role in your children's lives -- encouraging them, teaching them, and loving them unconditionally.
How, then, do you express your thanks? Try one of these Father's Day Gifts for Fathers & Father Figures.
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