Family + Parenting

School started about a month ago. I have been busy keeping up and helping with my kid’s homework. For my fourth grader, I review her math homework everyday, making sure she gets the help she needed, and I have to sign her “parent/teacher” communication “organizer” every weekday. For the 6th grader, homework help also involves lot of math and reviewing his daily organizer.

So far both kids are going pretty good at school. They both got all “A”s but one B on their progress reports. I think homework has played an important role in their learning experience, and I am going to share the things you can do to help your child with their homework.

1. Let your child know that homework is important and valuable.

You must have heard your child (or some other kids) saying “I hate homework!” – actually I have heard both of my kids say that! lol! I told them that well sweetie homework is important and if there is not homework, you will likely forget what you learned in class!

2. Set a regular time each day for homework, allowing some time to unwind after school before getting started.

I usually give them 30 minutes after school to rest and relax – having some drink or snack before start doing homework. Don‘t let your child leave homework until just before bedtime.

3. Be sure your child has all essentials, such as papers, book, school notebooks, and pencils.

This seems obvious. I check their supplies, especially pencils and erasers before they come home from school.

4. Help your child get organized by providing folders for papers and a calendar and/or assignment book.

Both of my kids have a folder for themselves, to file their homework, assignments and testes by subject. This helps them review what they learned so far.

5. Have a quiet, clean and well-lit place to study, with a comfortable chair. Keep all schoolwork there.

Again I make sure their desks are clean before they come home from school. They both have table lamps on their desks and enough space.

6. Discourage distractions, including TV, during study time. Allow study breaks at intervals.

No TV while doing homework, otherwise they will never finish and get everything wrong! lol. I do let my kids take a short break if they are having trouble keeping their minds on an assignment.

7. Be available to answer questions or help quiz your child, but keep homework as his or her responsibility to complete.

I am always there to help them with any questions.  but when I help them I give them guidance, not just answers.

8. Spot check homework when it’s completed, but don’t correct assignment unless the teacher has asked you to.

I actually check every question on their homework, which is requested by their teachers. I also ask them to correct the wrong one and check again!

9. Read any comments the teach has made on returned assignments.

Communication with teachers is important! I “talk” with my daughter’s teacher through this “parent/teacher” organizer/calender, and my son’s teacher always reply my email messages promptly!

10. If a homework problem arises, contact the teacher for clarification.

If there are problems both my husband and I can’t help, we make sure the kids ask their teach and follow up on them.

REMEMBER – Praise your child for homework done to the best of his or her ability. Best wish for your child’s success!!

Does this sound familiar? “Yuk! I’m not eating dinner. I don’t like anything here.” If you have a picky eater in your household – and most families do, there are some easy ways to help her get through this stage.

Keep conversation at mealtime light and keep your cool. If your child says she doesn’t like the food, don’t push her to eat more. Instead try to find out what she likes by serving small portions, and encourage her to try a bit of each item. Stay calm and don’t let food become a power struggle between you and your child.

Have your child involved in preparing meals. You can let her help you shop for food, pick out recipes, While she watch you cook or cooking together, you can talk about how to make a healthy meal and give her choice. For example you can ask her if she prefer to have grilled chicken or fish. Having a say lets her feel more important and in control and she’ll be more likely to eat the meal she help prepared.

Don’t give up . Over time, your youngster’s tastes will change. For foods he has turned down before, try offering them in a different way. For instance, make “carrot fries” (toss carrot sticks with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and bake at 425F until tender and browned). You child who “hated” carrots might love this version!

Watch the clock around the meal time. Make sure your child is hungry for meals. Encourage her to be busy with homework or play before dinner or lunch, and it’s important no snacks of any kind an hour before mealtime. This step is very important because she won’t eat much no matter what you server her if she is not hungry!

This is a list of 51 ways to say to your child ‘I love you’. The idea behind the list is to give parent s a wide variety of ways to share some special moments with their children and to use actions instead of words to say “I love you”.

This comes from a handout my son’s teacher gave me a couple years ago, I have kept it for two years and I just want to “publish” it here and share it with other parents.

1. Say “I Love You” to your child every day in many ways.

2. Give yourself a 10-second timeout before dealing with your child when you are angry.

3. Take a walk with your child. Talk about the smells and sights along the way.

4. Look for a rainbow, a pretty leaf, a perfect spider web.

5. Work a puzzle with your child.

6. Listen to your child’s laughter. (Bet you feel a smile coming on!)

7. Visit a library with your child. Pick out some books to read together and some records to listen to together.

8. Make cookies with your child. Then have a party and eat them together.

9. Ask your child to draw a picture that says “Love in the family.”

10. Read the comic section of your Sunday paper together.

11. Be sure to pay attention when your child talks to you.

12. Make a list of positive words. Refer to it often when talking to your child.

13. Make up stories to tell your child.

14. Plan a trip to the zoo. Find pictures of zoo animals and talk about them with your child.

15. Learn a new song with your child. Sing to your child often. Teach your child the songs of your childhood.

16. Involve your child in preparing a special meal.

17. Make bread from scratch on a rainy day.

18. Set a good example for your child by never using words that hurt.

19. Talk to your child about what to do in an emergency.

20. Declare every day a “Hug Day.” Ask for hugs for yourself.

21. Go outdoors to play with your child. Enjoy the fresh air.

22. Help your child help you keep your home clean. Start with easy chores that your child can do.

23. Watch a television program with your child. Pick one that is age appropriate and talk about it afterword.

24. Go to a park. Everyone play.

25. Praise your child every day.

26. Model and teach your child not to use hitting to solve problems.

27. Get together with other parents. Share experiences.

28. Do something nice for yourself. Have a trusted friend watch your child.

29. Find something to laugh about with your child every day. Give yourself permission to be a little silly with your child.

30. Display your child’s “artwork” prominently and proudly.

31. Take a few minutes to sit and rock your child when you both feel like resting.

32. Invite your child’s playmates to your home, then provide a safe place to play.

33. Most children love water. Take a walk in the rain, go swimming, play with bubbles, get out the sprinkler, find sieves, cups, funnels and plastic toys for bathtub fun.

34. Take your child to a museum. Talk about what you see. Answer questions carefully.

35. Pack a picnic lunch together. Cut sandwiches into interesting shapes, make “veggie creatures.”

36. Tell your children special stories about their own beginnings – how they looked, cut things they did as tiny babies – things that make them unique in all the world.

37. Think up your own “field trips.” How about your local fire house, a pumpkin patch, an apple orchard, a farm.

38. Rent a movie that you can enjoy with your child. Make popcorn and have your own “Saturday Night at the Movies.”

39. Help your child look forward to bedtime. Develope a quiet ritual that could include a war bath, warm towels, a bedtime story, some cuddling, a healthy snack.

40. Have confidence in your children so they can develop a sense of self-confidence.

41. Play all kind of music for your child. Sing and dance to the rhythms together.

42. Give your child choices. “Do you want to help clear the table or wiple the dishes?”

43. Remember to say “I’m sorry” to your child.

44. Reinforce positive behavior.

45. Teach your child to solve problems. Ask “what do you think we should do?”

46. Tuck a love note in your child’s lunch box, back pack, coat pocket or under the pillow.

The following are my ideas: 🙂

47. Check your child’s school work and homework.

48. Talk with your child’s teacher about how your child does at school.

49. Visit interesting kids websites with your child.

50. Play fun and educational games with your child.

51. Make crafts with your child together.

Parents, do you have more ideas? Share it leave a comment!

Dangers in the home are the leading cause of accidental injury and death for children ages 6 months to 16 years. Babies will get into everything! Look for dangers and child proof in advance.

Take some time to go through your entire home. Get a kid’s eye view and look at potential dangers through a different perspective. If something stands out as a potential danger – fix it immediately!

Let’s start…

1. Unplug all electrical appliances each time you use them, and never leave cords within baby’s reach. Tape them or coil them up;

2. Keep baby away from all plastic bags, which includes (not limited to) sandwich bags and plastic food wrap;

3. Stick plastic plug protectors in all electrical outlets;

4. Install plastic safety latches in drawers and cabinets;

5. Put plastic corner guards on your tables;

6. Install safety gates at the top and bottom of every stairway, you also might needs gates for rooms that don’t have doors;

7. Put all matches out of child’s reach, remove all ashtrays, cigarettes and cigars;

8. Keep baby away from the fireplace;

9. Make sure all household cleaning products out of child’s reach;

10. Check under your sinks, the broom closet, garage and basement. Read product labels. If you see the word WARNINg, keep it locked up or well out of baby’s reach;

11. Teach your baby to never touch the stove, weather it’s turned on or not – say “HOT”, keep pan handles turned inward and keep hot dishes away from baby;

12. Keep any knives, other sharp objects and hot food beverages and glassware out of baby reach.

13. When your baby is in his carrier, always leave the carrier on the foloor not on a counter or table;

14. The safest place for the safety seat in a car is in the middle of the back seat;

15. Always buckle the safety belt when your baby is in a high chair or carrier;

16. Do not place your baby or child’s safety seat in front of an air bag;

17. Throw out whatever you don’t need anymore in your medicne cabinet. Store what you keep up high, so baby can’t reach it;

18. Babies put everything in their mouths. Always be on the lookout for things that should NOT go in the baby’s mouth;

19. Never leave your baby alone in the kitchen, in the bathtub, by the fireplace, outside, in the car, with a stranger, with pets or young children;

20. Finally, keep these number handy: Poison Control Center, Fire Department, 911 and police department, baby’s health provider.

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I was reading an article “Life’s 25 Toughest Questions ANSWERED!” published on the March 2006 issue of Reader’s Digest. One of the questions is:

What do you do if you see a parent berating a child?

Answer (in RD): “Take a deep breathe. If you truly believe you can help the situation, approach as someone showing sympathy – not as an accuse or member of parent police. Empathize with the overstressed parent. Suggest that he/she take a deep breath. Tell him it worked for you“.

I was curious to know the answer since I really wasn’t sure what I would do in this situation. Well, after reading the answer RD gives, not only I think it’s a good answer, it actually make me think about myself sometimes berating my own child!!

Now I have a answer to another question of myself: What should I do if I am about to berate my child?

Take a deep breath!!

[tags]parenting advice[/tags]

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