Chuck E Cheese Has the Right Idea

Yesterday I heard a commercial on TV that prompted me to write this post.  It was a Chuck E. Cheese commercial reminding parents that kids grow up way too fast and everyone needs to make time to visit a place where "a kid can be a kid". 

I think Chuck E. Cheese has the right idea.  How often do we expect our children to be something other than a kid?  It's like once our children learn to walk, talk, and feed themselves, we forget they are still kids.  We seem to think that now they can handle the world like an adult and that is exactly what we expect.  We want them to sit quietly at the table and eat their food while using good manners, listen and follow directions, and suck it up when life isn't going their way. 

Often I feel like I am just an "over protective parent" when I look at the activities of the other children I know.  They no longer play with babies, make mud pies, snuggle with their parents to read a good book, or enjoy being playful and silly together.  They seem to think they are too old for that. 

The line has been blurred between being a kid and growing up.  I have had four-year-olds tell me they have watched movies that I won't even watch because of the violence and use of inappropriate language.  Little girls no longer play Barbies and baby dolls, instead they are making music videos, giving makeovers, and playing games on their iPods.  What happened to spending the day building forts and fighting dragons?

 

My daughter, now 10, has always loved babies!  Since she was very young, babies have been her favorite toy.  Over the years her play has developed and become much more complex, but her favorite thing in the whole world is still playing babies.

 

I love listening in on her play as she sets up such complex scenes with her babies and the stories she creates using her imagination.  I know she is working out the complexity of the real world through play.  I hear her describe life while her "husband" is away in Afghanistan serving in the Army.  She does chores, goes on vacations, and even adopts a new child once in a while.  All while doing what she does best...playing and being a KID!

I want to encourage you to think about the children in your home or classroom.  Are they truly "acting their age"?  Have you allowed them to just be a kid?  Reflect on your expectations of your children.  Do you expect them to be seen and not heard?  Would you like them to suck it up and take it like a man?  If you find yourself continually frustrated and see the frustration in your children as well, maybe it's time to take a trip to see ole Chuck E. Cheese where a kid can be a kid!  

Teaching Without Rewards and Punishments

How do you help your children be accountable for the quality of their work without using rewards and punishments?  Are you able to help your children reach goals without using stickers, gold stars, clip charts, and time out?

Since beginning our Conscious Discipline journey, one of the biggest shifts that has happened for me has been learning to use my creative brilliance when disciplining my children instead of relying on rewards, threats, and punishments when my children aren't doing what I want them to do.  Believe me, it hasn't been easy!  I work hard every day to try to bring the best of who I am to each discipline encounter.  Do I mess up?  You bet!  I make lots of mistakes, but I try to reflect and learn from them so I can use these mistakes as opportunities to grow. 

In Proverbs 26:11 it says "As a dog returns to its vomit; so a fools repeat their folly."  This scripture inspired me to help my children and I learn from our mistakes instead of repeating the same things over and over again. 

I came up with a system that helps us give a number to our behavior.  For example, a 1 would be our worst effort.  These are the times when we are tired, stressed out, and just plain ugly!  The 5 would be our optimal performance.  This is when we are in the "zone", connected, and feeling really good! 

These numbers aren't a way of judging, competing, or comparing our behavior, rather a way of reflecting.  This little bit of reflection helps us move into higher centers of the brain where we can access our executive skills and begin to do better.  It helps us define what certain behaviors look like, feel like, and sound like.

The other night my son and I were talking about the quality of his school work lately.  He felt like maybe the work was a little too hard for him and that's why his grades aren't as high as we would like.  As we continued our discussion and we started giving his effort a number he realized that he hasn't been giving his best effort.  His lack of effort, not doing his best, has resulted in missed opportunities and a little bit of disappointment.  This little bit of reflection really helped us get to the root of the problem so we could put some new tools in place and handle the emotions that accompany missed opportunities.

I made a little chart with some criteria on it to help define what each number between 1-5 would look like when doing homework.  I thought this chart might also be helpful in the classroom when students are turning in their work.  They can look at the chart, reflect on their work, give it a number and jot it down on the bottom corner of their assignment.  They could choose to keep the number they have or use the chart as a reminder to check a few more things before handing in their assignment so it will truly reflect their best!   

If you would like to have a copy of the chart you can find it in my brand new Teachers Pay Teachers store.  Just click on the image below and it will take you to the free download.  Make sure you leave some feedback and follow my store while you are there so you don't miss out on any of the new products I post!  I hope you find it helpful!

 

When disciplining our children, do you think it is best to do what we have always done?  If we know better don't you think we should do better?  Isn't that what we expect from our children?  We know so much more about child development and brain development now than we did in years past.  We know that if we want children to learn new information and retain what they are learning we need to create optimal learning environments.  This cannot happen when we use discipline methods that are based on fear. 

 

So, where would your behavior be on a scale of 1-5?  Are you creating an optimal learning experience for children and bringing the best of who you are to each discipline encounter?  If you need more ideas or information on how to create this type of learning environment check out the Conscious Discipline website  and Facebook page to find out how you can learn a better way.

Taming the Homework Giant: Tips for Helping Your Children Do Their Best!

If your house is anything like mine, homework time can be very stressful and overwhelming.  The kids and I have to proceed with caution so we don't lose our minds! 

One thing is very clear in our house.  The work that the children bring home is theirs, not mine.  I am here to support them and give them the tools they need to be successful, but I WILL NOT do their homework!  

Let's be honest, this is not an easy job!  I have to work very hard at keeping my cool when we sit down at the table to go over what needs to be done each evening.  The kids are tired and really just want to play and relax after a long day at school.  So homework can be a challenge for everyone!

I have figured out a few tips that help all of us get through the homework AND keep our sanity!  That's what I want to share with you today.  For heaven's sake...if we just keep focusing on the fact that we hate homework...it won't get us ANYWHERE will it!!!

So, here it goes...

1.  Put some routines in place that work for your family.  Make the after school routine as predictable as possible.  The brain is pattern seeking!  In our family it helps when the kids come home and have a little time for a break before beginning their homework. So we are sure to work that into our routine.  Although they are tired and ready to relax, if we don't tackle the homework right away then the evening gets away from us and before we know it, it's bedtime and the homework still isn't done.  . 

2.  Give them a break.  My children prefer to come home kick off their shoes, have a little snack, and play around for about 30 minutes before we get to work.  This helps because it gives me time to look through their folders and assignment notebooks and see what needs to be done.  It also gives us time to connect and chat about the day and what's going on that evening.  Once they begin working, I allow for little breaks about every 30 minutes so they can move around and then get back to work.

3.  Get them moving!  I try to encourage my kids to take a short bike ride, jump on the trampoline, or kick a ball around before they start their work.  Movement activates the frontal lobes and that is where we access our executive skills.  Homework requires children to use many of these essential skills such as prioritization, organization, attention, impulse control, and time management just to mention a few!

4.  Provide a checklist. For younger children it helps if these include pictures.  We have one hanging near our table that reminds the kids to have all of their materials including their folder, notebook, pencil, and books with them at the table before they begin working so we can avoid too many interruptions.  Checklists also help them remember to check their work and make sure they have done their best, have all the signatures and materials they need, and everything is packed up and ready for the next day before they go to bed at night!  It sure makes the morning much less stressful!

5.  Remember, it's not about you.  I think this is one really tough for most parents.  As a "recovering perfectionist" my natural tendency is to expect perfection out of my children.  I have to work really hard at keeping realistic expectations that are age-appropriate AND child specific.  My two children have very different temperaments and what is "good enough" for one is not "good enough" for the other.  It also took me a really long time to realize that their work is not a reflection of my parenting skills.  I used to imagine that if my children's work was subpar that their teachers would think I was a bad parent.  I would rush in to the rescue and save them from making mistakes and experiencing the consequences of some of the choices they were making.  That belief put a lot of undue pressure on me and my children.

6. Make it fun!  Sometimes we add a little twist to the normal homework routine to help make it a little more fun.  We love to take the homework outside and sit on a blanket in the shade.  We also practice spelling words while jumping on the trampoline.  The kids love singing their response when I ask them to define a vocabulary word.  You could even use shaving cream to practice math facts or spelling words.  Come up with fun cheers or acronyms to help them remember important information.  Get creative and get the kids involved in coming up with ideas to keep them interested!

7. Break it down!  Help teach your child the same skills you use to plan ahead.  If you know they have a big project coming up or a lot of after school activities in the week ahead, plan to adjust the homework load each night so that it doesn't pile up and become so overwhelming.  These skills of prioritizing and planning ahead will really help your child become more independent and successful in the long run.

8. Look at the big picture.  I believe that the real purpose of homework is to practice skills that have been taught at school and occasionally complete a special project.  It is also an opportunity for children to practice responsibility and time management.  Try to focus on the big picture and keep these goals in mind so you are less likely to get hung up on the tiny details.  If you child has trouble completing homework or you are spending hours every night on assignments, you need to meet with the teacher and discuss these issues.  Work with the teacher to come up with a plan that works better for your child so they still have an opportunity to play and relax in the evening.  Without down time, your child may become over stressed and you may begin to see an increase in negative behavior as a result.

9. Create an atmosphere of calm.  In our house it helps my children relax and get their homework done if they do it in separate spaces.  My son works at the kitchen table while my daughter works at her desk in the other room.  Humming and movement helps my son focus and get his work done, so he wiggles around quite a bit in his chair while he works.  Having everything in order and quiet helps my daughter focus and get her work done.  That's why she does most of her work at her desk.  When the two of them sit together at the kitchen table it's like oil and water!  It just doesn't mix!

10.  Give them the opportunity to be helpful!  Sometimes siblings can help one another with homework.  When we have an opportunity to be helpful our brains release a hormone called Serotonin.  This  feel good hormone gives us that feeling of "I did it"!  Cha-ching!!!  We want to give our children as many opportunities as possible to get to experience this kind of success.  You could encourage older children to read to a younger child, practice spelling words with them, or help them research a project on the computer.    

We all want our children to do their best.  It is our responsibility as parents to give them the tools they need to help them be successful.  If homework time erupts into chaos or screaming matches, we are defeating the intended purpose and no learning can occur.  With a little planning ahead and using some of the specific tips listed above, you will make great strides in taming homework giant! 

Composure Cubes

Come on...admit it...when it is time to go back to school we could all use a LOT of help with keeping our Composure.  As much as I love school supplies, the details involved and length of the lists these days can be a bit overwhelming!  When I took my kids shopping for their supplies I needed more than a couple deep breaths to keep everything straight. 

I thought I would share this little game with you so you can help your children (and yourself) keep it together while you make preparations to head back to school this fall!  These could be used at home or in the classroom setting.  Breathing helps us disengage the stress and give much needed oxygen to our brains so we can keep thinking and learning AND keep our cool! 

In my preschool classroom we called this game "Rock and Roll".  It is appropriate for children any age, just modify it to whatever works for you and your kids. 

I found these bouncy foam dice at the Dollar Store a couple of months ago and I knew I would find a fun use for them.  In fact, I am leading a make and take workshop next week and we are all making these fun cubes!  Two for a dollar!  What a great deal!

 

 

Head on over to the Conscious Discipline website and look under the Resources tab to find the printable breathing icons.  You will also find instructions on how to do each breathing technique. 

 

I want to make sure you know that you really need to practice deep belly breathing in order to reap the benefits of the breathing techniques.  Say it with me, "In through the nose, out through the mouth."  Make sure your belly rises, not your chest.

 

In order to cover all 6 sides of the dice I added two more relaxation techniques that are helpful.  I added Stretching and Bunny Breathing.  To learn how to do Bunny Breathing you can watch this video over on the Loving Guidance channel of Youtube.

 

Once you have printed out all the visuals and laminated them to the right size just add some Velcro and you are good to go!

This game can be played in an individual, small group, or large group setting.  It is a great part of a Brain Smart Start or a short brain break during the day to help you practice breathing so that when you hit stress head on, you have some tools ready to go!  You can go conscious and NOT CRAZY!

So gather some kids around, grab the dice, and shake it as everyone says, "Rock and ROLLLLL!".  Throw the dice out on the floor and see what comes up!  Practice doing that breathing technique three times while focusing on belly breathing and then roll again!

Hope you have fun with this cheap and easy way to help your kids (and yourself) disengage stress and keep on shining!  It's like two for one...

Pete the Cat Goes Back to School

It's that time again!  People are rushing around finishing summer "to do" lists, buying school supplies, and trying to get back into a routine so the transition back to school won't be quite so tough.  One of the things on my "to do" list this summer was to learn how to make printables that I can share with my readers for use in the classroom or home.  I hope you enjoy this little Pete the Cat download that I created for you!

 

This post is part of a Back to School Blog Hop with 19 Indiana Bloggers.  I hope you enjoy visiting each of these amazing bloggers who are so passionate about sharing their brilliance with you! Each one of them has a Back to School freebie that you can download.  If you follow the blog hop allllllll the way to the end there is a "Reader's Choice" giveaway for a $75 gift card of your choice!  That would be a nice little back to school bonus!

With the return to school comes lots of different feelings.  My sister and I were joking the other day that you know your a teacher when you get excited about back to school supplies.  There is an odd thrill that comes from walking into Target or Wal-Mart and seeing rows of back to school supplies!  Oh the joy of pointy new crayons and smell fresh Play-doh!  Don't get me started on colorful new folders and crispy clean notebook paper! 

Although there is some excitement about new supplies, new teachers, and seeing friends again after a long summer away there are also many other feelings involved in going back to school.  Some parents may feel sad about seeing their little ones heading off to the big yellow school bus for the first time.  Some children feel disappointed that they didn't get the teacher they wanted or frustrated that all their friends are in another class. 

This summer I have had the pleasure of sharing a book study with 16 other educators on Dr. Becky Bailey's book Managing Emotional Mayhem.  I have become so much more conscious of the way I handle my feelings and help my children handle theirs.  I used to think that if I just ignored their feelings and tried to "happy them up" everything would be fine and those difficult feelings would go away.  This book study has helped me realize that the opposite is true!  When I acknowledge their feelings and help them handle them, they learn new skills and how to manage their feelings.  As a result actually pass more quickly.  By focusing on the phrase let it be I am learning how to stop the temper tantrums (mine, not theirs) and regulate my own emotions through this 5 step self-regulation process.  Now I know a better way!

One reason I love Pete the Cat is because of the way he handles himself when the world doesn't go his way.  He steps in all sorts of "stuff" as he walks along in his brand new shoes.  I know how upset I get when I just step on a piece of bubble gum...I can't imagine how angry I would be if I stepped in a huge pile of strawberries and my brand new shoes were ruined!  Not Pete!  He keeps walking along singing his song and quickly accepts what is.

Here is the printable activity to go along with Pete the Cat.  It helps children practice some of the skills necessary for self-regulation, specifically pausing between the upset and the response.  It usually doesn't come as easily for us as it does for Pete!  This activity could be used at home or school along side your reading of the story or as an extension activity after reading the story.

Click here to download the activity packet for free



Each time Pete steps in something you will Velcro on a new color of shoes.  For example, when he steps in strawberries, you will Velcro on the red shoes.  Now we kick it up a notch by adding a breathing technique (STAR, Balloon, Drain, or Pretzel).  We would say, "Breathe with me Pete, you can handle it."  Then the children practice the breathing technique with Pete.  Next, you might like to discuss with the children how they would feel if they had brand new shoes and they stepped in some strawberries.

By adding the breathing technique when Pete steps in a pile of strawberries we are helping the children see that taking a deep breath can help them keep their head on straight and continue walking along with their brilliance.  When we get triggered and don't take the time to pause, we react to these life events out of our upset and sometimes behave in ways we later regret.  So let's practice with Pete so we can all find more brilliant moments like this Cool Kitty! 

 

Keep the children actively involved with the story by having them help you change Pete's shoes and select the various breathing techniques.  For more information about the breathing techniques visit www.consciousdiscipline.com and click on the resources tab.  There are more pictures there as well as instructions about how to do each of the breathing techniques. 

I put some extra Velcro on the back of the poster so I could easily store all the pieces that go with Pete. 

Hope you continue to enjoy the rest of the posts in the "Indiana Goes Back to School" blog hop!  Make sure you hop all the way to the end so you can sign up for the $75 giveaway!  Wishing you well as you head back to school!  Hope you can breathe and keep walking along and singing your song just like Pete because it's all good.