"Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well." -Josh Billings
If parents want to be able to make best use of time with their children, then it is crucial for a parent to start becoming alert to the state that their children are in. Tired? Satisfied? Bored? His shoe hurts him? She has a stomachache from the spaghetti? And so on....This applies particularly during the time that children are playing with toys. They want to be happy. And you want them to be happy too..
Here's one way of looking at it: it's a bit like dealing with a baby. Your baby cries. So you figure, usually and probably it's one of four things. One, the baby is hungry. Two, the baby needs a diaper change.Three, the baby is tired. Or four, the baby wants to be held. You would probably test each of these out to see if the baby will stop crying. What's happening here is a continual process of trying to figure out and be sensitive to the the baby's needs. Right? So we are dealing with a sensitivity to the child, and a willingness to experiment to find out exactly what the baby needs. Once the thing is done (for example, changed a dirty diaper and put on a clean one) and the baby stops crying, and is now smiling and gurgling, you think: "Bingo! I did the right thing there!".
So the checklist is a key to a parent's success, because it provides the parent with the various possibilities of dealing with a baby's (or child's) needs.
As babies turn into toddlers who turn into pre-schoolers who turn into kids (and so on), their needs naturally get more sophisticated. In order to keep up with their kids, parents need to increase their checklist. Not only that, but to change the checklist as the kids grow, as some needs get taken off the list and others get put on. So it helps to start off with this idea of a checklist for each of your children. It can be simply a mental checklist. For those who are more organized, they can write it down.
An example of a checklist for a 6 year old can be:
1)Parents
2)Food
3)Friends
4)Clothes
5)Sleep/Fatigue
6)Homework
7)Entertainment
8)Siblings & Family (relationships)
For each of these items you can ask yourself- is my child happy and fulfilled in these areas? What areas does the child need help in? It would be difficult for them to be having fun playing if they have problems elsewhere.
In dealing with each of these items, here's an example of dealing with a checklist item: Energy Levels/Fatigue: Let's take a closer look at this. Children naturally have routines during the day. Wake-up, get dressed, breakfast, school, after-school activities, suppertime, homework, evening snack, bedtime. Yet you cannot expect children to have the same energy level in the afternoon after a long day of school/play as they would have in the morning when they are fresh from a full night of sleep. Many experienced parents know that when children are tired, especially little children, they just do not function as well in being able to do activities, in listening to their parents, or even at times to behave normally (!!). So this is a good item for the checklist: How tired is your child?
"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see." John Burroughs
For parents, the same can apply for the time spent with their children! Parents who want to get the most out of being able to build relationships with their children should consider (as difficult as it is) to schedule their day around the times that children have high energy levels.
An example of a good time to be with the children is after supper. Often children are well-fed, and the time spent sitting at the dinner table allows them to recharge their batteries. They are refreshed and well-fed and ready for some evening activity.
The time that is well-spent with children is like depositing a lot of value into a bank account of love and trust with your child. And what could be more valuable than that?
"Life is half spent before we know what it is." George Herbert
Joseph Browns (http://www.home-educational-toys.com) wants to share his experiences and expertise in how parents can find valuable opportunities for quality time with children to acquire priceless family memories. A total environment approach is taken, dealing with issues like educational toys, parent-child relationships, environmental + interior design, health, communication skills, and child education.
licensed cleaning services Park Ridge ..The internet is a dangerous place for your children. Don't... Read More
Although it might seem pretty corny to a lot of... Read More
"My son won't go to bed at night without a... Read More
Your daughter tells you that Uncle Charley has touched her... Read More
Many of us have grown up drinking caffeinated diet sodas... Read More
Have you ever sat and watch a child struggle with... Read More
Just two days ago, another 15-year old child was added... Read More
Ok. So you're a dad to be. If you're like... Read More
Child support is defined as that part of your income... Read More
How excited do kids get with the start of school... Read More
When was the last time you and your kids rolled... Read More
Under the "No Child Left Behind Act," public schools whose... Read More
I used to have a really challenging job. It was... Read More
Is your weekly shopping trip with the kids an absolute... Read More
Detox To Conceive.. If you're having trouble conceiving... Read More
For every season, check, check, check, There is a chart,... Read More
IntroductionAs a parent who wants the best for your children,... Read More
We begin forming healthy habits at a young age. With... Read More
Single parenting has seemingly become an acceptable norm which is... Read More
Boredom, limited space and overflowing energy are a source of... Read More
Imagine yourself lying flat on your back, totally strapped down... Read More
Are you being smart about water conservation? Do you consider... Read More
Our children are growing up bilingual in the French part... Read More
We want our children to do the right thing, especially... Read More
In dealing with children with autism spectrum disorders, its all... Read More
on demand house cleaning Arlington Heights ..Ever blown your top to your children, only to regret... Read More
Recently, a much-anticipated game of mini-golf with my children soon... Read More
My neighbours' kid impressed me the other day.I was busy... Read More
Have you heard the song; "I Hope You Dance"? It... Read More
Q: Our son has been in honors classes all through... Read More
Are you being smart about water conservation? Do you consider... Read More
Child Car Seat Safety:We know you love your children, but... Read More
Criticism is punitiveOur children judge themselves on the opinions we... Read More
Non-compliance is the family therapist's big word for your child... Read More
"All that I am or ever hope to be, I... Read More
I have always been aware of my number one weakness:... Read More
AD/HD (attention deficit disorder) is one of the most common... Read More
Ever feel like you're out of the loop when it... Read More
4 traps to avoidTrap 1 - Parents need to realize... Read More
Vacations and trips are great family events, but how do... Read More
Here is an easy, inexpensive and fun kid experiment for... Read More
Why are more people, especially parents not outraged?I call it... Read More
1. You reheated the same cup of coffee three times... Read More
Software for parental control is a useful tool, if applied... Read More
For over fifty years, public-school officials and politicians have tried... Read More
1. They can make mistakes under your guidance2. They will... Read More
Home-schooling provides children with a superior education. Parents can quickly... Read More
MYTH: All teens have to rebel, and the teen years... Read More
I am in pain. I've been in pain all day.... Read More
My kids just can't get enough of playing games with... Read More
Parenting |