Hope, excitement and anxiety all wrapped up in fresh haircuts and new clothes. Pens, pencils and notebooks, the smell of a new box of crayons and a brand new book; it all speaks of such promise.
It's the first week of school and everyone starts with an "A". Children are on their best behavior as they cautiously gauge their new surrounding. But once those first days fade and familiarity takes shape, the playing ground is no longer even. A pecking order becomes evident as cliques form and personalities emerge. And it is this pecking order that can make children unintentionally cruel to each other.
If I could bottle up a time, it would be the first week of school. Every child, for at least those first few days, has a new beginning, a fresh start and is on his or her best behavior. If I could capture the essence that lingers in the air and label it "open when necessary," it would be an invaluable gift.
It is easy to overlook the suffering of others, especially when maturity and compassion have not yet developed. But as an adult, if you knew your child was taunting and teasing another classmate, would you ignore the situation and chalk it up to "kids will be kids," or take the time to correct the situation?
Maybe the little girl in the front row can't concentrate on her schoolwork because her parents are fighting. And the boy in the corner is withdrawn and tired because he spends his nights taking care of an alcoholic parent. Or maybe the overweight girl they laugh at is using food to bury her secrets and sorrows.
Although the harsh realities of social injustice are too heavy for a young child to comprehend, it is never too early to encourage empathy and compassion. If your child is quick to tease or judge, remind him that making fun of others is never cool. Ask him to put himself in the other child's shoes and just try to imagine how it would feel if someone made fun of him.
Remind your child about the first day of school when the slate was clean and everyone started with an "A". And encourage him to reach out and give his classmate another chance as if he held a magical bottle marked "open when necessary" filled with fresh starts and good behavior.
About The Author
Patricia Gatto and John De Angelis are the authors of MILTON'S DILEMMA, the tale of a lonely boy's magical journey to friendship and self-acceptance. As advocates for literacy and children's rights, the authors speak at schools and community events to foster awareness and provide children with a safe and healthy learning environment. For more information, please visit Joyful Productions at http://www.joyfulproductions.com
http://www.joyfulproductions.com
monthly home cleaning Buffalo Grove ..Many years ago, my children were raised on the various... Read More
There has been much attention in the media of late... Read More
In our last issue we posted some of our suggested... Read More
Some people can concentrate on an assignment, to the exclusion... Read More
(Isaiah 11:6 KJV) The wolf also shall dwell with the... Read More
Picture this. Your child comes home with a special assignment... Read More
As the new school year begins, parents play a pivotal... Read More
I know this Mom. She homeschools her 5 children, plus... Read More
Are you a professional?Notice how the questions differs from, "Do... Read More
"What age should my child start school?"This is a common... Read More
It was at that time when our marriage was falling... Read More
My wife and I have been working on a video... Read More
Q. How do I overcome the 16-year-old who does things... Read More
Past experience with federal education programs predicts that the No... Read More
Discipline is a necessary part of parenting yet it makes... Read More
O.K. I've heard it a hundred times from my prison... Read More
In "The Ring Bear," a picture book by Tigard resident... Read More
What one word best sums up summer fun? Water. I... Read More
Few things are more completely enjoyable than becoming a grandparent.... Read More
KIDS AND THE NEWSMore than ever, children witness innumerable, sometimes... Read More
What's hard for teenagersHaving people who don't understand you trying... Read More
Home-schooling removes children from public school. That alone makes home-schooling... Read More
One of the most important aspects of parenting, is ensuring... Read More
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Results of the Spanking Poll on Rexanne.com: Voters - 233Percentage... Read More
There's a new kind of fun and calm out there... Read More
scheduled maid service Mundelein ..Ah, there is nothing like being an expectant mom. Along... Read More
"The best blush to use is laughter: It put roses... Read More
This time, I would like to talk about a subject... Read More
Is it hard to communicate with your teenager about issues... Read More
Everyone loves penguins. And now, everyone has a chance to... Read More
The biggest trick some child predators' are using these days... Read More
Are you a parent concerned about passing values on to... Read More
Teens can freely access the Internet from computers at school,... Read More
If your child has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder then at... Read More
Most people have more training before they receive their driver's... Read More
Q. We just got our daughter's progress report, and it... Read More
This may come as a surprise.But despite all the advances... Read More
We know that you want your little guy or gal... Read More
It's that time of year when mom and dad look... Read More
Q. How do we decide what our teens should be... Read More
My son, Dakota is now 7 yrs old. He is... Read More
Oh Please, Don't Say Maybe!!!!Are you often a participant in... Read More
Children do what feels good to them and follow their... Read More
I really like all natural remedy for Attention Deficit Disorder... Read More
Are you looking for the Ultimate Airplane Themed Party Games... Read More
Sitterphobe "I never have a second to myself," this mother... Read More
Your Virgo Baby..August 23 - September 22Virgo children are honest... Read More
Most people with children want to be good parents. The... Read More
All babies cry, but if yours cries a lot, isn't... Read More
What do you mean average? Not good? Just doing good... Read More
Parenting |