Apr 2008
Make it Fun and Your Coupon Code
18/Apr/08 16:25 Filed in: Maintaining
Connection
by Rosie Blitchington
Centeno
how's that for cooperation? twice the toothbrushing
No matter what it is, kid's want it to be fun.
One of the little things we do to make toothbrushing more fun is have a variety of brushes, green, blue, pink, electric versions, manual versions, various characters, etc. I only bring two out at a time to keep the choice simple and switch them up every now and again. We even use a wash cloth wrapped around my finger at times.
Some other ways to maintain connection while toothbrushing:
Just in case you are wondering, Ariella definitely isn't this excited every day when it comes to toothbrushing.
I just thought it was a great photo op--one of those hundreds of funny and ironic things kid's do sometimes and rarely do we have the camera ready.
BTW, Your $5 off Coupon Code is KEY for Tomorrow Night's Workshop (Click here for the details)
how's that for cooperation? twice the toothbrushing
No matter what it is, kid's want it to be fun.
One of the little things we do to make toothbrushing more fun is have a variety of brushes, green, blue, pink, electric versions, manual versions, various characters, etc. I only bring two out at a time to keep the choice simple and switch them up every now and again. We even use a wash cloth wrapped around my finger at times.
Some other ways to maintain connection while toothbrushing:
- Explain about food sticking to teeth. We've even made a game of what types of food we need to brush off our teeth from what we've eaten that day.
- Be very precise with your words and let them know exactly what to do with the brush. Children are very literal with language.
- Model, model, model. Make sure child sees you brushing, as children want to be like those they are attached to.
- Avoid power struggles. When a power struggle seem eminent and your child is a heavy sleeper, or during a phase of heavy sleep, you can use a washcloth or one of those rubber finger brushes and swipe around in the child's mouth.
- Remember that resistance is often a phase, if we don't make it an issue.
Just in case you are wondering, Ariella definitely isn't this excited every day when it comes to toothbrushing.
I just thought it was a great photo op--one of those hundreds of funny and ironic things kid's do sometimes and rarely do we have the camera ready.
BTW, Your $5 off Coupon Code is KEY for Tomorrow Night's Workshop (Click here for the details)
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Let's Talk About Your Key to Unlocking the Secret of Cooperation
14/Apr/08 18:01 Filed in: Maintaining
Connection
by Rosie Blitchington
Centeno
"key of life" through james carter's lens: "The key to the door
of the temple at Abu Simbel, Egypt."
Cooperation does seem like a secret at times, doesn't it? An elusive one.
How can we get more cooperation in our relationships, especially with children?
Well, in my New Strengthening Family Connections Workshops (what I call my NYC Parenting and Communication Workshops) I'm going to break it down and show you exactly HOW.
Let me give you a morsel or two, or three so you'll have an idea of what you are in for. here goes...
K is for Knowledge. Knowledge opens soooo many doors in life, so that's where we'll begin. I've planned some hands-on work (work that feels a lot like fun) with my Whole Child Model.™ Guaranteed to increase the knowledge in your head as well as in your heart.
E is for Empathy. Speaking of the heart, this is where we'll really start focusing on it. Absolutely every child (and person) needs someone who is sensitive to what they are going through, no matter what it is. We'll talk about the three most important elements of empathy and what to do when things are heating up and parents are too taxed to give.
Y is for YES! Say "YES" as much as possible, even when it is necessary to say "No." So we've now worked our way down to the topic of control. Here we'll look what to do when we've accepted that parental control is an illusion, as well as counterproductive, and that what children really need is parental connection. Well, what the heck does that look like, you ask? I'll show you next tuesday.
See you then at 6:15 PM or at Metrominis (date and time TBA).
Stay tuned for your discount coupon in the next few days...
"key of life" through james carter's lens: "The key to the door
of the temple at Abu Simbel, Egypt."
Cooperation does seem like a secret at times, doesn't it? An elusive one.
How can we get more cooperation in our relationships, especially with children?
Well, in my New Strengthening Family Connections Workshops (what I call my NYC Parenting and Communication Workshops) I'm going to break it down and show you exactly HOW.
Let me give you a morsel or two, or three so you'll have an idea of what you are in for. here goes...
K is for Knowledge. Knowledge opens soooo many doors in life, so that's where we'll begin. I've planned some hands-on work (work that feels a lot like fun) with my Whole Child Model.™ Guaranteed to increase the knowledge in your head as well as in your heart.
E is for Empathy. Speaking of the heart, this is where we'll really start focusing on it. Absolutely every child (and person) needs someone who is sensitive to what they are going through, no matter what it is. We'll talk about the three most important elements of empathy and what to do when things are heating up and parents are too taxed to give.
Y is for YES! Say "YES" as much as possible, even when it is necessary to say "No." So we've now worked our way down to the topic of control. Here we'll look what to do when we've accepted that parental control is an illusion, as well as counterproductive, and that what children really need is parental connection. Well, what the heck does that look like, you ask? I'll show you next tuesday.
See you then at 6:15 PM or at Metrominis (date and time TBA).
Stay tuned for your discount coupon in the next few days...
Designate a Day for Dawdling
07/Apr/08 22:15 Filed in: Maintaining
Connection
by Rosie Blitchington
Centeno
Today, Monday, was a day for dawdling around here. Sunday may work too, or any other day. Whatever it takes, just dawdle. It does wonders for relationships. No pressure. No frustration. No meltdowns (for me) over the amount of time it takes to put on a sock. Well, actually, to catch the foot for the sock.
Instead lots of time for hugs, kisses, laughs, silliness and just smelling the daffodils.
"learn the language of things" --froebel
Dawdling is a fun-sounding word, isn't it? Heard it at David Elkind's lecture on Saturday at the New York Public Library and haven't been able to get it out of my mind. I figured it must be time to do more of it. Elkind, Professor Emeritus at Tufts University, wrote the acclaimed book The Hurried Child. (See Meta-Dad's interview with Elkind on his latest book: The Power of Play)
Elkind likened children's dawdling to adults going to a far-away country. Can you imagine being mesmerized by all sorts of aromatic smells, fascinating textures and intriguing sights and sounds while someone (like a brusque tourist-intolerant New Yorker) behind you hurries you along, constantly interrupting, criticizing and insinuating that you are wrong by your very nature? Not very easy to have a respectful relationship with that going on.
All of this and most of us haven't even left the house. Dawdling can be a real button pusher whenever we want or need to move on, to get somewhere in adult time.
What to do?
Today, Monday, was a day for dawdling around here. Sunday may work too, or any other day. Whatever it takes, just dawdle. It does wonders for relationships. No pressure. No frustration. No meltdowns (for me) over the amount of time it takes to put on a sock. Well, actually, to catch the foot for the sock.
Instead lots of time for hugs, kisses, laughs, silliness and just smelling the daffodils.
"learn the language of things" --froebel
Dawdling is a fun-sounding word, isn't it? Heard it at David Elkind's lecture on Saturday at the New York Public Library and haven't been able to get it out of my mind. I figured it must be time to do more of it. Elkind, Professor Emeritus at Tufts University, wrote the acclaimed book The Hurried Child. (See Meta-Dad's interview with Elkind on his latest book: The Power of Play)
Elkind likened children's dawdling to adults going to a far-away country. Can you imagine being mesmerized by all sorts of aromatic smells, fascinating textures and intriguing sights and sounds while someone (like a brusque tourist-intolerant New Yorker) behind you hurries you along, constantly interrupting, criticizing and insinuating that you are wrong by your very nature? Not very easy to have a respectful relationship with that going on.
All of this and most of us haven't even left the house. Dawdling can be a real button pusher whenever we want or need to move on, to get somewhere in adult time.
What to do?
- Start out small with an hour or two.
- Give as much as we can by simplifying our lives and making space for dawdling and just being together. Call it an investment, if you will. An investment in our relationships and an investment in our children's education. They need and want it a lot more than the latest toy we think will teach them all about the world.
- Create a relationship that is based on respect for children--for their needs, feelings and thoughts. When we have this, we build trust with the child. Then, when we really need to move more quickly, they'll be more likely to cooperate with that busy New Yorker that is inside most of us.
Favorite David Elkind Quotes from NYCPL
06/Apr/08 15:25
by Rosie Blitchington
Centeno
"Children who watch too much TV have trouble developing needed auditory skills."
"Technology is producing children and adults who think of themselves and their bodies as objects to be modified."
"Magical causality kills curiosity" (Magical Causality comes from many toys that do something when kids push buttons.)
"There are only 3 things children need to learn in the first grade for it to be a success:
1. Listen to an adult and follow instructions
2. How to start and finish a task
3. Work cooperatively with others
Not Letters and Numbers. Those don't matter at that point of development."
"Children who watch too much TV have trouble developing needed auditory skills."
"Technology is producing children and adults who think of themselves and their bodies as objects to be modified."
"Magical causality kills curiosity" (Magical Causality comes from many toys that do something when kids push buttons.)
"There are only 3 things children need to learn in the first grade for it to be a success:
1. Listen to an adult and follow instructions
2. How to start and finish a task
3. Work cooperatively with others
Not Letters and Numbers. Those don't matter at that point of development."