Putting the Affirmations for Your Child Into Practice

BY ARLENE F. HARDER, MA. MFT

Knowing your child needs to learn about structure and skill at this stage of development is the first step in helping her recognize that there are some actions for which she is responsible and there are actions for which other people are responsible, that she can find her own way of doing things if they do not harm others, that she can test rules and discover firm and loving boundaries. The second step is finding a way to support her as she learns to be responsible for herself, to learn about the world, and to grow confidently within school, home and community limits.

The links on this page are designed to help you toward that goal. They complement the information you will find in Strategies for Raising Resourceful, Resilient and Compassionate Children and You Teach Your Children With Everything You Do and Say.

General Information

ParentCenter for Children 5 to 8

This complementary site to BabyCenter has excellent material on a wide variety of topics, such as sibling rivalry, lying behavior problems at play, home and school, discipline strategies, how much exercise your child needs, physical disabilities, secrets of organized families, height predictor, activity planner and parenting circles based on your child's age. One of their best features is

Is Childhood Becoming Oversexed?

Does our sex-saturated culture encourage children to define themselves mainly by how sexy they are, and to see sex as the most important quality in a successful relationship? From the looks of these dolls with their made-up eyes, pouty lips and short skirts, the answer seems to be yes. What do you think? How can you counter the Bratz?

Talking with Kids About Tough Issues

Raising a child is probably the most gratifying job any of us will ever have—and one of the toughest. We live in an increasingly complex world that challenges us every day with a wide range of disturbing issues that are difficult for children to understand and for adults to explain.

Talking with Kids about the News

As adults, we depend on "The News" as our primary source for information about the world in which we live. Whether it's the local newspaper, nightly TV newscasts, cable news networks, news radio, or Web sites, graphic footage and accounts of the latest happenings in the world are being delivered right into our homes 24 hours a day. This constant barrage can be overwhelming for adults, but it can be especially confusing and frightening for young children.

Schools and Learning

How to get more involved in your child’s school and Engaging Parents for Better Schools

This information, and some materials that are available free of charge, show you how you can strengthen the partnership between parents and schools. Being an involved parent is one of the best things you can do for your child's education. If nothing else, getting involved in your child's school will give you access to teachers and administrators and keep you informed about school activities and policies.

The Other Report Card

Report cards available to parents for schools, not just pupils, are now law in the new Federal education act. These report cards call for annual assessments of school academic data. They also include ratings on matters that often don't get enough attention, such as: discipline incidents, attendance and tardiness, class size, strength of parent involvement, experience of the school's educators, grading practices, student aspirations and school support, and test results (which need to be provided in a timely manner).

Early Warning Signs

What are the early warning signs of learning disabilities? Know what you should look for and what you should do.

Encouraging Reading

International Children’s Digital Library

If you have a fast speed connection, this site is your ticket to some really exciting reading experiences. Designed by an intergenerational, interdisciplinary team including researchers from the University of Maryland's Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory, there are 611 books on everything from picture books to mythology and folk tales. Be sure to check it out.

Helping Your Child Become a Reader (PDF)

Put out by the U. S. Department of Education, this offers fun activities parents can use to build children's language skills. Includes a reading checklist, typical language accomplishments for different age groups, book suggestions, and resources for children with reading problems or learning disabilities

Story Dog for Busy Parents and Their Children 7 to 10

This site charges $5 for their library card for one year for whole family, which seems to me to be well worth the price. Starting every Sunday you can dig into another Vinny adventure, play in Game Dog Alley, buy cool SD stuff, check out Vinny's picks and more.

Al Coglia and the Merchant of Baghdad

Rather than give you the home page of Whootie Owl, "where education and inspiration intersect," I wanted to send you to an example of the many creative stories you will find there.

He Hit Me Back First!

Have you ever heard of Psychosynthesis? It is one of the most comprehensive and easiest to apply schools of psychology I have been privileged to study. At the core is the concept of a will. This isn't the tightly-clenched fist of the Victorian will saying, "I will not do such-and-such," but an inner will that comes from the center of one's deepest desire to do what is best for oneself and for others.

There are several books I like on the topic, but there is one that is particularly helpful for parents and teachers. This is He Hit Me Back First!: Development of the Will in Children for Making Choices. (You will note the exclamation point, which is the best way to express this excuse that's familiar to anyone's who's been around children for any length of time.)

The books is by Eva D. Fugitt, whose years in the classroom give her lots of experience with creative excuses for inappropriate behavior. The first edition of this book, which was translated into several languages and is currently being used by over 24,000 teachers, counselors, and parents, helps the reader understand what motivates children and what they can do to direct their will for improved behavior and enhanced academic and social performance. That is why the subtitle is "Development of the Will in Children for Making Choices," a goal of wise parenting as well as wise teaching.

Through the use of creative imagery and potent questions, children can be taught how to contact their innate authority and to consciously choose a behavioral response that will enhance self-fulfillment. Both teachers and parents will find this book an extremely helpful guide to discipline children in a way that raises their self-esteem. Her caring techniques help children release their potential to make good choices and to recognize and correct errors in their behavior.

Is Your Child Interested in Gymnastics?

Born to Fly: Kids, Gymnastics, and the Will to Win

What is the risk to your child of long-term injury from strenuous gymnastics training? According to the Journal of the American Chiropractic Association, gymnastics holds more potential for lasting injuries than sports such as football, rugby, and soccer.

Gymnastics Safety

Hospital emergency departments treat more than 25,000 injured gymnasts under age 15 each year. Many of these injuries can be prevented if these safety measures and equipment are put into place.