Have Fun!

Have Fun

Unstructured play time is where necessary growth takes place and adequate downtime for play helps build social skills and creativity in children.  

                         

Praise

Power of Praise

Children are likely to repeat behaviors that get their parents’ attention. Praise them when they do something positive and watch their eyes light up!

Summer Safety

Summer Safety Reminders

Children ages two to 12 need to drink four to eight glasses of water every day for proper hydration. Summer heat and exercise increase that need.

Protect children from excessive exposure to sun - especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.

Keep It Simple

Tell your child  what want them to do rather than what not to do. Example: “Please pick up your toys.” Rather than: “Don’t leave your toys on the floor.”

Let's Pretend

Why is it on Christmas day the wrappings and boxes are more interesting to the kids than that actual gifts?

Chalk it up to imagination. Children thrive in an environment that promotes playing, and make believe.
Dramatic play, dress up, building blocks and pretend play.

A good way to encourage pretend play is simply to start doing it yourself—pick up a stuffed animal and begin to “feed it,” saying, “Oh, he loves cereal.”

Some suggestions:

With toddlers. Make “vvrroom vvrrroomm” noises as you move a toy car across the floor. Pretend to be a cat—crawl, “meow,” and rub noses.

With preschoolers. Invite them to continue their stories. Evan said, “The cow falls off the train,” and had nothing more to add, so Dad asked, “Then what does the cow do?”

Invite children to process emotions. Use a stuffed animal or doll to ask your child a question, then wait for the answer. “Mommy, do I have to get a shot today?” “When will you come get me from child care?” “How does Bear feel when Mom is away on a trip?”

Invite children to solve imaginary (and real) problems. “What could we do if our car didn’t work? How would we get some food to eat?”

MARCH IS PARENTING AWARENESS MONTH

Check out the website: http://www.preventionnetwork.org/

Effective parenting includes . . . 1. Showing children love, concern, and respect at all times.
2. Giving children a safe place to live and play.
3. Helping children express all their feelings appropriately and listening to what they say.
4. Giving children appropriate choices whenever possible.
5. Having reasonable rules that are understood by all.
6. Being responsible and teaching children to be responsible.
7. Spending time with children.
8. Setting an example by what we say and do.
9. Working with our schools and communities to make them better for children.
10. Asking for help when we need it. March is Parenting Awareness Month 2011 PAM Organizers’ Packet,
Parenting Awareness Michigan, Prevention Network, 1-800-968-4968 www.preventionnetwork.org