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How To Keep Your 6-10 yr old Busy During Their Free Time

9/27/2014

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Life with children is infused with change. School-age children have a full schedule with school and various extra-curricular activities but still have plenty of free time on their hands. What constructive activities will you encourage your child/children to do during that time? Watch television? Surf the Internet? Spend a few hours playing Playstation 4? Will you suggest an activity that that involves being creative, thinking critically, and face to face interaction? Here is a game to help your child make the most of their free time while challenging their creativity, imagination, thinking and social skills, and much more!

Shuffleboard

Materials:  4 or 5 flat circular, unbreakable objects (e.g. checkers, milk jug lids)
                     Ruler


Directions:  
1. Player seat themselves at the edge of a table (without a table cloth) with the circular, unbreakable objects (best if all of them are the same)
2. Players take turns (can be predetermined) sliding the objects one at a time toward the opposite end of the table without them going over the edge.
3. Points are awarded as follows:


   1 point: within 6 inches of the edge
   2 points: within 1 inch of the edge
   3 points: touching the edge
   4 points: hanging over the edge

How many points can you win in five attempts? Give it a try against a friend, sibling, parent to see who can accumulate the most points!
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8 Ways To Effectively Manage Conflict Situations

9/23/2014

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Almost everyone dislikes conflict. In fact, most people try to avoid it if possible. However, it is very important that children of all ages (and adults) develop conflict resolution skills. Understanding when they are involved in conflict and how to effectively handle the situation can help improve relationships, increase understanding, and reduce tension between individuals. Below are eight ways to effectively manage a conflict situation.

  1. Stop, breathe, and think - Avoid reacting. Realize the changes in your body (heart rate increases, adrenaline rush. Take a few deep breaths, and tell yourself “I can handle this situation.”

  2. Respond to the person with statements that will not escalate the conflict - Examples:

           “Thanks for letting me know how you feel.”

           “I’m sorry that you are hurt. That was not my intent.”

           “I hear you.”

           “You have a compelling perspective. Let me think about that.”

  1. Remove yourself from the situation - You can say the following: “I will talk to you when I am calm.” or “I will talk to you when you are calm.” Talking when both parties are angry does not help take steps toward a reasonable resolution.

  2. Be aware of your body language and the words you choose to use - Bad body language never whispers, and the wrong choice of words can make the situation much worse.

  3. Use a lower tone of voice - A soft, calm, and confident voice can be very powerful.

  4. Avoid using statements that lay blame - They only make the situation worse, and show that you are not taking responsibility for your actions if you are wrong.

  5. Deal with the issue at hand - Only discuss what is relevant to the situation at hand. Adding unrelated subjects to the conversation will only “add fuel to the fire”.

  6. Reflect - Think about how you will/can effectively handle a similar situation if it were to arise in the future. Use each conflict situation as a learning experience to help further strengthen your conflict resolution skill set.

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Tips for Family Communication

9/11/2014

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Parents be sure to "connect" with your child/children instead of just talking to them. One of the best and easiest places to do this is during mealtime. It is an excellent way to get families together to share their experiences for the day, discuss values, and learn more about each other. Eating together on a regular basis can prove to be one of the most important things a family can do to build healthy communication with each other. Here are some tips on how to accomplish that goal:

1. Be available as often as possible- Everyone has a busy schedule (especially during the school year), but make sure to designate time (even if it is only ten minutes) to talk, without distraction from televisions, phones, etc. Give your full attention to your child.

2. Be a good, active listener- If you are unclear about what your child is saying, ask for clarification. You don't have to agree with what is being said. Provide your ideas and/or opinions then decide the best course of action to come to a resolution.

3. Show empathy- Be mindful of your child's feelings. This lets he/she know that you care and understand them at a deeper level and are not minimizing their feelings.

4. Be a positive role model- This is one of the most influential things you can do. As they say, "Actions speak louder than words." Children learn by what they see and as a parent they see you more often than most other adults in their lives. 

Some additional tips:
  • Be clear when giving directions
  • Set boundaries and enforce them
  • Be truthful
  • Give positive reinforcement whenever you can
  • When your child speaks with you, LISTEN. Don't tell them what to think or feel.
  • Use events in your lives as teaching moments. These will resonate more than reading about similar events they have no connection with.  
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    Randy Sally

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  • About
    • Our Team
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    • Mathematics
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