As a primary school teacher I often marveled at how trends and fashion would make their way down through the grades in primary school.
When wearing ankle socks was all the fashion it typically started with the grade 7s. Next the grade 6s would be wearing ankle socks and so on it would go right down to grade 1. To see these little 5 and 6 year olds wearing ankle socks was very cute at first, but once I started to think about it I realised how much the younger children are influenced by the older kids.
When the fashion changed and the high knee socks once again became the fashion, I noticed how quickly the trend took to infiltrate the little ones and surprisingly it was remarkably fast.
It is actually quite frightening to see how quickly the younger kids follow in the footsteps of the older students in the school – and not just in fashion.
It is normal for kids to want to fit in, but have you ever really stopped to think about who is influencing your child and their beliefs?
It is good to be mindful not only of what they are watching on TV and listening to in the lyrics of songs, but who they are hanging around; the kids they think are cool.
It is important that we continually spend time with our kids, talking, messing around, encouraging, praising, being affectionate and generally showing an interest in their daily lives.
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
Sunday, 10 August 2008
Life crisis (continued)
Last week we discussed how children have to deal with stress just like adults. Personally, I believe that one of the biggest stresses that a child may have to deal with is marriage breakdown. When the parents’ relationship is collapsing – the unnoticed recipients are often the kids.
I was a single parent for 11 years and I found that to be the toughest and most challenging role I have ever had to face. The implications and consequences for the children of a collapsed relationship is just too in depth to cover now. But… what you can do if you find yourself in this situation is to get yourself some support from others who know what you are going through.
A Single Parent support group is meeting this Friday 15 August at the Chermside Library at 7pm (bring your kids). It is only just starting up again and this Friday they will be having an open question and answer night, where they will look at issues that single parents want to discuss and need help with. This is a great way to get together with like-minded people and to show your children how adults reach out for help when they need it.
On Wednesday 20 August at the Beenleigh Sports Club, 28A Alamein Street, Beenleigh at 6:45pm there is a CHILD SUPPORT AND FAMILY LAW PROBLEMS night which is FREE. At this meeting they will be discussing legal, financial, problems re-marrieds may be having, access and grand-parent access rights as well.
I was a single parent for 11 years and I found that to be the toughest and most challenging role I have ever had to face. The implications and consequences for the children of a collapsed relationship is just too in depth to cover now. But… what you can do if you find yourself in this situation is to get yourself some support from others who know what you are going through.
A Single Parent support group is meeting this Friday 15 August at the Chermside Library at 7pm (bring your kids). It is only just starting up again and this Friday they will be having an open question and answer night, where they will look at issues that single parents want to discuss and need help with. This is a great way to get together with like-minded people and to show your children how adults reach out for help when they need it.
On Wednesday 20 August at the Beenleigh Sports Club, 28A Alamein Street, Beenleigh at 6:45pm there is a CHILD SUPPORT AND FAMILY LAW PROBLEMS night which is FREE. At this meeting they will be discussing legal, financial, problems re-marrieds may be having, access and grand-parent access rights as well.
Tuesday, 5 August 2008
Life crisis
Like adults, children have to deal with stresses. Adults may think their child’s stresses and issues are not as important as the serious ones that adults regularly face in their day to day lives – but they’re wrong. Children and teenagers experience stress just as adults do, only at their own level.
Having problems with their friends at school is just as stressful for children as it is for adults who are also experiencing conflict with friends or family. In fact, too often kids are have to deal with other adult stresses as well, such as family breakdown, separation of parents, a death of a family member or friend, verbal, physical, psychological and sexual abuse.
So, rhetorically speaking – how do you deal with your stress? Do you
• have a drink after work to relax?
• download and share your day with your spouse or friend?
• exercise, pray and meditate?
So then
• How do your kids deal with their stress?
• What strategies do you as a parent have in place to help them deal with the stresses of each day?
• Are you role modeling the right way?
• Are you taking the time to talk and find out about their day and letting the kids download?
• Are they getting enough exercise, rest, affection and nutrition?
Let’s make sure that as parents we are continually aware that our children experience tough times too. We don’t want our kids to turn into teenagers who turn to drugs and alcohol to deaden their pain. We need to start now teaching our kids appropriate and healthy ways to deal with life.
Having problems with their friends at school is just as stressful for children as it is for adults who are also experiencing conflict with friends or family. In fact, too often kids are have to deal with other adult stresses as well, such as family breakdown, separation of parents, a death of a family member or friend, verbal, physical, psychological and sexual abuse.
So, rhetorically speaking – how do you deal with your stress? Do you
• have a drink after work to relax?
• download and share your day with your spouse or friend?
• exercise, pray and meditate?
So then
• How do your kids deal with their stress?
• What strategies do you as a parent have in place to help them deal with the stresses of each day?
• Are you role modeling the right way?
• Are you taking the time to talk and find out about their day and letting the kids download?
• Are they getting enough exercise, rest, affection and nutrition?
Let’s make sure that as parents we are continually aware that our children experience tough times too. We don’t want our kids to turn into teenagers who turn to drugs and alcohol to deaden their pain. We need to start now teaching our kids appropriate and healthy ways to deal with life.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)