Parents' Tips Archives

November 2009

Telling stories about the history of your family helps teach children important family ideas and values. Learning about their parents’, grandparents’, or great-grandparents’ experiences (the good and the bad) gives them an appreciation for the tradition that makes their family strong.

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October 2009 Tip of the Month

By reading books aloud, providing print materials, and promoting positive attitudes about reading and writing, you can have a powerful impact on your children’s literacy and learning. Reading well is at the heart of all learning. Children who can’t read well, can’t learn. Help make a difference for your child.

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September 2009 Tip of the Month

Here is a good idea when setting goals: select a goal that you can accomplish in weeks or months, not years. For example, if your long-term goal is to become a ballet dancer, set a goal of practicing for an hour a day for a month. Assess your progress after a month and then set the next goal.

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August 2009 Tip of the Month

Now is the time to be paying especially close attention to your child’s course plan. Experts recommend that students take the hardest classes they can manage in high school. Employers say that the same challenging courses that are best for college admissions are also ideal for preparing students for jobs that don’t require a four-year degree.

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July 2009 Tip of the Month

Temper Tantrums: Children whose tantrums are tolerated and reinforced are at risk for emotional problems as adults. Experts say that rewarding children for GOOD behavior rather than focusing on the bad is the way to reduce the incidence of tantrums. So next time your little Tasmanian Devil has a tantrum, try turning your back and ignoring her – then later on, catch her in an act of good behavior and praise her.

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June 2009 Tip of the Month

Research shows we can prevent all kinds of risky behaviors by engaging in one simple activity: building the developmental assets all young people need to succeed. Translation: spend time with your kids. Play with them, read with them. Devote yourself to them. A strong family relationship can even strengthen a child’s self-esteem and improve their performance in school!

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May 2009 Tip of the Month

Day camp fees are eligible child care expenses and can be included toward the child care tax credit when you are filing your federal tax forms. (Be sure to get your camp’s tax ID number while your child is attending).

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