Sunday Post: New Year 2013…12 Critical Parenting Goals

Posted on December 30, 2012 by viviankirkfield

As parents, what should our goals be for New Year 2013?

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is NEW YEAR 2013.

Here are 12 critical parenting goals for the New Year.

www.positiveparentalparticipation.com

1. Make sure your children get to go outside to play…fresh air and physical activity are so very important to a child’s good health.

DSCN5029 2. Encourage family time and activities for your child…participating with your child in a simple craft project takes just a few minutes…,but it builds self-esteem, develops stronger literacy skills and creates a life-long parent-child bond.

Here’s a wonderful book that gives 100’s of quick and easy activities for young kids: Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking

3. Help your child gain social skills by encouraging interaction with other kids.

filling muffin cups 4. Promote good eating habits…invite your child to help in the kitchen, provide nutritious foods and set definite times for meals.

Jeremy cleaning house with vacuum 5. Help your child develop a sense of responsibility by assigning chores and expecting your child to carry out age-appropriate tasks.

DSCN3517 jeremy at the zoo 3 6. Encourage your child to interact with the world and its inhabitants…visit zoos, museums, concerts and other places of interest.

free play, outdoor activities for kids 7. Help your child develop independence…but always keep your child safe.

DSCN0999 8. Encourage your child’s love and appreciation of nature and help him develop an awareness of the need to preserve and protect the environment.

viv reading with jake 9. Find time every day to read with your child…studies show that children who are read to on a daily basis are more successful in school…and in life.

Here’s a great resource for the perfect picture book: Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Page

10. Establish traditions that are right for your family…for example, hunting for just the right pumpkin for Halloween…the memory of these traditions will make a positive impact on your child throughout his life.

jeremy in bath 11. Help your child to feel good about his body and to learn good hygiene…for example, washing hands often and proper dental care.

Fishing Jeremy looking up at Grammy 12. Show and tell your child every day that you love him and care about him.

What goals do you have for New Year 2013…for yourself…for your children?

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

Sunday Post: Architecture…Books Create a Strong Foundation (viviankirkfield.wordpress.com)
Sunday Post: Natural Resources…The Children of the World (viviankirkfield.wordpress.com)
Sunday Post: Peaceful…How to Create a Peaceful Home (viviankirkfield.wordpress.com)
Sunday Post: Concept…Are We Teaching Our Children to Gossip? (viviankirkfield.wordpress.com)

Sunday Post: Natural Resources…The Children of the World

Posted on November 25, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is NATURAL RESOURCES.

Have you ever thought about what are our greatest natural resources?

Are they forests of timber?

Are they pristine rivers flowing freely?

Are they the foods that the earth provides?

I believe that our most important natural resources are the children of the world.

Some people devote their entire lives to helping them.

But, although most of us cannot do that, we can help in other ways:

Donate money to a children’s organization.
Collect gently used clothing and books for a local family shelter.
Volunteer to read to children at hospitals, schools or libraries.
A kind word and a smile CAN make a difference.

It’s hard to believe that Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza are only a few weeks away.

Are you done with your holiday shopping?

Please remember that Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking is a super cool book and makes a PERFECT GIFT:

For parent, teacher, grandparent or daycare provider of children ages 2-8!
Provides 100 classic picture book story suggestions!
Gives a summary, age-appropriate craft and simple recipe for each title!
A great resource for fun-filled educational self-esteem building activities!
No fuss or muss…everything is quick and easy!
Buy the book today and help several children’s organizations!
We donate a portion of the proceeds to Reach Out and Read, JDRF, KidsAreHeroes, Books for Africa and BesstheBookBus.
You pay almost 50% less than the cover price!
There is a special PayPal button for Canadian residents!

“A wonderful resource for people who care for their children.” – Norman Bridwell, creator of the Clifford the Big Red Dog series

“What a lovely book! Parents will find inspiration in this delightful guide.” – Katherine Holabird, author of the Angelina Ballerina series

“I wish Show Me How had existed when my children were young.” – Suzanne Williams, author of the Princess Power series and over 20 other books

“Show Me How is an must-have resource for parents and teachers.” – Marilee Gruber, kindergarten teacher and grandmother

“Fun and practical for anyone fostering self-esteem in children.” = Joan Fleischer, co-founder of Creative Arts Therapy Center, New York City

“Invaluable tool for children to become life-long readers and lovers of books.” – Dr. Jodi Harap, clinical psychologist, Chicago, IL

Don’t wait…buy your copy today to make sure you get it in time for the holidays!

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

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Sunday Post: Architecture…Books Create a Strong Foundation

Posted on November 18, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is ARCHITECTURE.

Photo courtesy of http://departmentstoremuseum.blogspot.com/2010/06/abraham-straus-brooklyn-new-york.html

I held my mother’s hand as we approached the impressive façade of the eight-story building, my older sister excitedly chattering about the dress she was going to buy to wear at her junior high school graduation. Located in downtown Brooklyn, Abraham & Strauss was a well-known department store with floors and floors of the finest merchandise.

Taking the elevator to the eighth floor, we entered a paradise for book lovers! Wall-to-wall books…and in between…tables and tables of books. Admonishing me to stay there and find something to read, my mother and sister left for the dress department.

Perhaps you are shocked and horrified that any mother would leave a nine-year old girl alone in a department store in New York City. Looking back on the experience, I’m also surprised that she did…but it was another time…over 50 years ago…and people felt a lot safer, even though perhaps they weren’t.

I wandered around, happy as a clam (are clams happy?), picking up this book and that book and just reveling in the ecstasy of having so many books at my disposal. I finally choose LITTLE WOMEN by Louisa May Alcott, one of my favorites.

I sat down on the floor and proceeded to read the entire book from cover to cover. When I am engrossed in a book, the world outside of the book ceases to exist for me.

Is it that way for you? I had no watch…time stood still for me until I finished the last page, closed the book and crawled out from my quiet little cubbyhole under one of the tables.

“THERE SHE IS!!!!” I saw my mother and sister running towards me. Several policemen, uniformed store security guards and sales clerks were with them. Later, my mother explained that after several hours of shopping for my sister’s dress, they returned to the book department, but couldn’t find me (I am very petite and at age nine, I was even smaller). Store personnel and the police were called in to help search throughout the entire store because they believed I had walked away from the book department.

Walk away from a book department? It’s obvious they didn’t know the real Vivian!

I’m sure my mother never did that again…but at no time during the experience was I frightened or concerned. I didn’t think I was lost in the store…I was lost in the world of the book…and I was very happy to be there.

“Books are like wings…they help children soar!”

Why should we read to young children?

Research shows that young children who are read to on a daily basis have greater school success. Buildings like the old Abraham and Strauss needed a strong foundation…children need a strong foundation as well…and books contribute a very important part of that.

Why should we limit TV and participate with young children in other activities?

Recent studies point to possible future health problems when kids get too much ‘screen time’.

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA

With the holidays just around the corner, are you wondering what to get for friends who have young children, teachers who teach young children, grandparents or daycare providers?

Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem

Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking

A brand-new, signed and inscribed copy is just $19.95 on Amazon (there are several used copies from other book dealers being offered for $50 – $60). The book contains 100 picture book suggestions with a summary, quick craft project and child-friendly recipe for each recommended title. In addition, there is a gentle parenting tip and lined space for writing your own notes on every page.

This is a must-have book…you’ll never wonder what to do with your kids…and they won’t have to turn to the TV for entertainment. Get your copy today!