Search Results for: blog why modeling is good for your child

Setting Appropriate Limits for Your Special Needs Child

Setting limits for our children, especially children with behavioral difficulties, is extremely important. Yet it’s easier said than done. We often reach a point of desperation (“I’ll do ANYTHING to make the irritating behaviors stop”) and so we give in. But this is counter-productive. Setting limits for your son or daughter provides structure, which ultimately makes your child feel safe. Despite what they say with a sniffle and a whine, children crave structure and routine. When there’s chaos in their world, it’s hard to claim any sense of control. And that’s stressful, which creates more chaos. Here are three of … Continue reading →

Tips to Help Your Child re-Handle a Violent Conflict

Nonviolent Conflict Solving is necessary if we choose to instill peaceful values into our children. Given the degree of anger and violence in society, children may need to know, as early as possible, how to handle disagreements with each other without letting their anger get out of control, and without using violence. As they develop physically and cognitively, children can be helped to use the conflict-solving methods that worked for them in their early childhood days to problem solve around the more complicated problems that appear in adolescence. We’re not violent so why should we teach this to our children? … Continue reading →

Don’t Get Frustrated–Take A New Look at Your Child’s Behavior

Sometimes developmentally delayed children will exhibit behaviors which are hard to understand. That’s because the behavior is occurring at an age when we typically wouldn’t see it happening in ordinary kids. For example, if a two-year-old hits another child, as a parent we might say “Let’s not hit,” but we don’t become tremendously concerned. A two-year-old hitting another toddler is normal behavior. But if an eight-year-old hits his peer, it’s more troubling. Most eight-year-olds have learned that hitting someone else is wrong. It’s important to remember that in the special needs child, inappropriate behaviors may have a purpose. The child … Continue reading →

Why YOUR Behavior Matters to Your Child

As you go about your day, your child is constantly observing you. Even the developmentally delayed child is constantly trying to process information and make sense of what she sees. As a parent, you are your child’s primary role model. The way you respond to various situations makes an indelible mark on your child’s psyche. A behaviorally-disordered child is especially in need of a good parental role model. Kids who have trouble controlling themselves crave visual “cues” for how to act. So it’s a good idea to take stock of your own behaviors and make improvements whenever possible. Don’t assume … Continue reading →

Ten Ways to Help Your Child With ADHD Succeed in School

Children with ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) are often extremely frustrated in a classroom setting. They cannot keep focused on their work, and drift into daydreams and wandering thoughts. They have a difficult time sitting still for long periods of time. They tend to be impulsive and reactionary, not taking the time to consider a response before giving it. They might blurt out answers, pester other students, noisily kick their chairs, or sit aimlessly staring off into space. Teachers often get irritated and repeatedly scold these kids. They are painted as the class troublemakers or the “slow learners.” Pursuing Adaptations for … Continue reading →

Teach Your Child to LOVE Reading in One Easy Step

There’s a simple way that you can encourage, promote and improve your child’s reading skills. It’s enjoyable, it’s a little selfish, and it really works. It requires just a bit of skill and some self-indulgence. Huh? What could it be? Simply this: Do it yourself. That’s right, read. Read, and let your child see you reading. And if you’re ready to strangle me, thinking, “Yeah, right…when do I have time?” I’ll make a suggestion: Read while your child does her homework. Children in the public school system are supposed to be reading for certain periods of time each day. My … Continue reading →

Why Modeling is Good for Your Child

Now wait a minute. Were you assuming that I meant modeling clothing? Did you think I was suggesting that your child should strive to strut down a runway in her future? Ahem, no. But perhaps that’s a good way to explain what I really mean. When a designer puts his clothes on someone, he chooses a person with a fabulous figure, tall, slender, who can walk with confidence and grace. He wants to demonstrate the possibilities with his design, and how it’s supposed to look and fit, ideally. And what does his model do? (Excuse the use of pronouns here. … Continue reading →

The End of Freedom?

How often when someone had announced their impending marriage or engagement have you heard comments like: ‘That’s the end of your freedom now?’ Or, ‘another one bites the dust’. Or ‘now you’re hooked. There’s no escape.’ A young married woman recently said to me how sick and tired she was of hearing such comments, not only from friends but also from older people. Why do people feel the need to make these negative comments about marriage? With attitudes like this, no wonder our marriages are in trouble. Instead of making negative comments we need to help young people and older … Continue reading →

Picking up the Slack

Marriage is about working together and being there for each other. While it might be good to set up some guidelines initially about how your marriage will work and who will do what jobs, sometimes these guidelines should be only that – guidelines. At times they many need updating or changing as circumstances change. It may mean for a time one person is left carrying more of the load. This can happen when your spouse is sick or injured, as when I broke my arm, Mick was left to pick up a lot of the slack and take on jobs … Continue reading →