Discipline, Socialization, Responsibility and Maturity

Coping with your child's maturity...

feeds@yuku.com (curlyQ) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:43:35 GMT

Abby seems so mature this year as a 5th grader, the top of our school. She's just in her element these days, has lots of friends, great relationships with teachers, and amazing attitude about learning, really everything I've wanted her to have. Yet, I'm feeling SO redundant. It's like she doesn't need ME these days. Aigh! And middle school being only a year away, (and a lot of her friends starting now), is just freaking me right out. Anyone else?

Interacting Meaningfully with Adults

feeds@yuku.com (denpratt) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:40:27 GMT

I had an interesting experience this weekend with several children. I spent the entire week during which I had no meaningful interaction with 10 children. The teens were off on their own talking or singing karaoke or nail polishing. Often they were not up until noon. They would walk by and might stare, but they did not engage with adults. The tweens were big into fighting, whining, candy, playing, etc. Their interaction seemed primarily to center on getting sweets or watching TV. The...

Sibling Rivalry

feeds@yuku.com (Purplecow7) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:02:04 GMT

http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/sibling_rivalry.html#

This summer W ds 10 and C dd 8 are in the same grouping for camp. While this is great for two reason, this grouping does lots and lots of fun activities - thus last year was not "fair" for C who only went on three field trips where W I lost count after 16. The same grouping means I have 1 schedule to follow for...

As your kids have gotten older...

feeds@yuku.com (curlyQ) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:52:00 GMT

do you feel like their negative characteristics have gotten stronger or weaker? What about their positive traits?

Flying Solo...

feeds@yuku.com (curlyQ) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:27:42 GMT

Abby will be taking her first "unaccompanied minor" flight in a couple of week. Any tips? I will stay until the plane takes off and it's an ideal first experience because it's only a one hour flight. She's flown many times in her life so she knows what to expect generally...

Internet Social Networking for Kids (Facebook, Myspace...)

feeds@yuku.com (denpratt) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:04:07 GMT

This topic discusses using Internet tools to connect kids socially together, which options work well, what safeguards to consider, experiences that seem relevant.

This topic was inspired by a question whether Vivian uses email to keep in contact with her HSing friends who are at a distance to her.

Pros/Cons: Hosting a Foreign Exchange Student

feeds@yuku.com (denpratt) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:30:41 GMT

We are considering hosting a foreign exchange student from Czech Republic. She would be 17 and Vivian would be 10. She'd attend a senior year at the local high school and stay with us.

Any experience? Any observations? Any thoughts?

Need help with serious Test Anxiety Issues

feeds@yuku.com (Purplecow7) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:48:12 GMT

My dd has serious test anxiety issues. Does anyone have any suggestion? Right now we are just talking about test taking skills and doing practice tests, but I don't think it is going to be enough. She got physcially ill before CCD (religious class) the reason because they are testing her on her prayers which she knows.

Thanks.

Are video games really isolating activities?

feeds@yuku.com (SgtAmi) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:42:41 GMT

She has asked for the various portable video games and for an IPOD. I am against both of these as they isolate her more at a time I want her to engage more.

I am often boggled by people who feel that video games are an isolating activity. First of all, I don't think it's an isolating activity. While both kids play games alone here, they often play them with each other, with one of us, or with friends and family. They often play with my...

Book: Gordon: Parent Effectiveness Training

feeds@yuku.com (denpratt) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:04:40 GMT

We're listening to Parent Effectiveness Training (PET) by Gordon in the car. Vivian is enjoying it as well. We stop often to talk about mistakes that we make and what we might do better. I also stop to ask her if she feels that way (after some example where a child is upset with the parent) with me ever, what happened, and how I could have done better.

So much...

Conforming to political correctness

feeds@yuku.com (SgtAmi) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:39:19 GMT

Dennis wrote in Vivian's log:

> Monday 11/17
... - Met with girls who are forming KKK -- Kids Kreature Komforts. Yep, you got the acronym right! Girls are serious about launching their service that they devised in my entrepreneurship class.
...

Did you explain the negative connotation of that acronym and how it could severely hamper potential income?

Discipline Tips

feeds@yuku.com (denpratt) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:45:03 GMT

Topic to share discipline tips from a variety of sources...

Teaching Grace

feeds@yuku.com (denpratt) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:23:06 GMT

Well, I stopped all HSing today for an emergency lesson on Grace -- at least that's what I'm calling the characteristic of being loving to those around her even when they (or she ) are wrong or tiresome or irritating. It should not require submission; it allows boundary maintenance, and even justice, but it is conscious to make the other person feel loved.

This is a critical lever characteristic. It can make friends of people who would naturally be enemies. I have...

My discipline issue of the week: Sharing

feeds@yuku.com (SgtAmi) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:16:06 GMT

Today, M got up and made herself mini pancakes. She made the last twelve in the box. 9-12 is a serving. We are out of M's cereal and she won't eat much else. H wanted half of her pancakes and he asked her politely. She said "No, you have cereal and french toast sticks and I don't have anything else." Then the arguing starts. My question is how would you have handled this?

M
Pro
She made them on her own to free me up to do my work
She has no other...

Parenting/Discipline Book Recommendations

feeds@yuku.com (momof2) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:54:20 GMT

I was curious if anyone had that one go to book for parenting/discipline. You know the book you want to recommend to the parent you see in the store with two kids running circles around them and going in different directions and you can tell that person is about completely explode or breakdown, and you say to yourself "I wish I can tell them about this great book, that may help them."

My DS 4.8 is a great...

morning independence and the before school routine...

feeds@yuku.com (curlyQ) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:10:45 GMT

I've always been big on the mornings before school running smoothly and this year I really need to ramp things up because I'll be taking my kids to before school care 2-3 days a week and going to work myself.

What sorts of things do you to do make your morning run more smoothly with your kids?

Charity Choices Page

feeds@yuku.com (denpratt) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:56:28 GMT

A place to provide choices to children to pick and chose where to contribute.

(Creating something for my dd and for friends, but thought the idea might have wider applicability should others want to do something similar. Otherwise, just ignore.)

TV: Baby Borrowers as a discussion of responsibility

feeds@yuku.com (denpratt) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:23:10 GMT

We are enjoying viewing The Baby Borrowers and commenting on maturity, perseverence, responsibility, willingness to learn from failure, working together as a marital unit, statistics on the dismal effect of teen pregnancy, child care, discipline (personal and...

How Do You Handle Defiance?

feeds@yuku.com (SgtAmi) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:48:06 GMT

I have been having issues with the kids defying me. They will do something and I will give them a consequence and they will say "no", refuse to do it, argue, talk back, etc. This is happening everyday and it will escalate and they will not comply until I scream. I then make whatever the disciplinary action even longer/harder, etc. However, they are still defying me so I need a more reasonable approach.

This is nothing new. They have always pushed their defiance to the...

Book review: ScreamFree Parenting by Hal Edward Runkel, LMFT

feeds@yuku.com (bree1970) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:22:12 GMT

I picked this book up at Target this weekend and the title alone is what grabbed my attention. Believe me when I tell you that I need this book. It was sitting on a shelf, front and center at eye level, misfiled (among the skinny b*#$% books I was actually looking for - lol), so I figured it must be a sign and I should acknowledge it. Every now and then I get it right.... I read the first bit in the store and then bought it. I have never bought a book so impusively in my life. Regardless,...