Rebecca Eanes's Blog, page 2
January 9, 2018
Help Your Child Learn to Read in Four Weeks
Learn to Read in 4 Weeks for FREE!
The multi-award winning online reading program for ages 2–13
Reading Eggs makes learning to read easy and fun for kids aged 2–13 — and it really works! Based on solid scientific research and designed by experienced elementary educators, Reading Eggs turns learning to read into a series of fun games and activities that are highly motivating for young children.
Your exclusive free trial will give you access to the entire Reading Eggs learning suite, which includes: Reading Eggs Junior (for ages 2‑4), Reading Eggs (for ages 3‑7), Reading Eggspress (for ages 7‑13) and our online math program Mathseeds (for ages 3‑9). Why try Reading Eggs? • Over 91% of parents report a noticeable improvement in their child's reading skills within weeks. • The program makes learning phonics, sight words and essential reading skills fun. • Includes hundreds of reading lessons, interactive activities, exciting rewards and fun songs, which motivate children to keep learning and improving. • One‑on‑one lessons match your child's ability and progress at a comfortable pace. • Detailed assessment reports let you track your child’s progress. • Based on solid scientific research and designed by expert educators.
Don't miss out! Offer ends February 15, 2018. Your child's reading journey
What parents have to say “WOW! My 5‑year‑old little girl is having so much fun…and learning at the same time. She is actually reading! Thank you so much for an amazing learning experience.”
– Cath “Bailey couldn't read, and before my eyes he starts telling me words and whole sentences. I couldn't believe it. Bailey was so proud of himself.”
– Eliza “There are so many learning products around, but this one is solid gold. From a trial only, my 4‑year‑old basically taught himself to read. It is so easy to use that preschoolers can run with it. He is now a confident, independent 5‑year‑old who loves school. Thank you for making that transition such an easy one!”
– Nikki
Reading Eggs makes learning to read easy and fun for kids aged 2–13 — and it really works! Based on solid scientific research and designed by experienced elementary educators, Reading Eggs turns learning to read into a series of fun games and activities that are highly motivating for young children.
Your exclusive free trial will give you access to the entire Reading Eggs learning suite, which includes: Reading Eggs Junior (for ages 2‑4), Reading Eggs (for ages 3‑7), Reading Eggspress (for ages 7‑13) and our online math program Mathseeds (for ages 3‑9). Why try Reading Eggs? • Over 91% of parents report a noticeable improvement in their child's reading skills within weeks. • The program makes learning phonics, sight words and essential reading skills fun. • Includes hundreds of reading lessons, interactive activities, exciting rewards and fun songs, which motivate children to keep learning and improving. • One‑on‑one lessons match your child's ability and progress at a comfortable pace. • Detailed assessment reports let you track your child’s progress. • Based on solid scientific research and designed by expert educators.
Don't miss out! Offer ends February 15, 2018. Your child's reading journey
What parents have to say “WOW! My 5‑year‑old little girl is having so much fun…and learning at the same time. She is actually reading! Thank you so much for an amazing learning experience.”– Cath “Bailey couldn't read, and before my eyes he starts telling me words and whole sentences. I couldn't believe it. Bailey was so proud of himself.”
– Eliza “There are so many learning products around, but this one is solid gold. From a trial only, my 4‑year‑old basically taught himself to read. It is so easy to use that preschoolers can run with it. He is now a confident, independent 5‑year‑old who loves school. Thank you for making that transition such an easy one!”
– Nikki
December 1, 2017
November 27, 2017
Are you ready to become the parent you've always wanted to be? Don’t miss this unbelievable deal!
Eight years ago, positive parenting changed my relationship with my children. After months of power struggles, tears, time-outs, and disconnection, I decided our story had to change. I set out on a journey to find a peaceful, positive way to raise my young boys. The work of Dr. Laura Markham was a game-changer! She opened my eyes to a whole new perspective.
Since my "aha" moment, I've come to know many incredible positive parenting educators who have enriched my own life and relationships and whose work I have shared frequently on my page, Positive Parenting: Toddlers and Beyond. You're probably familiar with Ariadne Brill of Positive Parenting Connection and Sumitha Bhandarkar from A Fine Parent.
So, I am crazy excited that I get to offer you this never-before-done deal.
12 of the best positive parenting bloggers I know of have gotten together and are offering a bundle of 11 positive parenting courses plus a bonus, worth $1,181 for just $97 as part of a 3-day Cyber Monday sale. That’s 91.8% off!
These are some really high caliber, premium courses that I’ve never seen offered before in a bundle like this!
Here’s the full list of the courses included:Positive Parenting Course by Suzanne Tucker (Generation Mindful) ($189 value)Mission Cooperation Positive Discipline Course by Ariadne Brill (Positive Parenting Connection) ($150 value)Spiritual Kids eCourse by Christina Fletcher (Spiritually Aware Parenting) ($127 value)Artful Parenting 101 Courses by Jean Van't Hul (The Artful Parent) ($125 value)Stop Yelling in 21 Days Coaching Course by Andy Smithson (TRU Parenting) ($99 value)Communication for Imperfect Families by Nicole Schwarz (Imperfect Families) ($79 value)Happily Ever After: Conscious Co-Parenting by Dr. Laura Markham (Aha Parenting) ($59 value)The Emotion Coaching Course by Melissa Benaroya (Childproof Parenting) ($49 value)Create Coping Skills Champions at Home by Janine Halloran (Coping Skills for Kids) ($49 value)Safety with Strangers in a Positive Way: Level 1 by Katy Sindy (Be With Kids) ($49 value)How to Create a Growth Mindset and Change a Fixed Mindset by Tracy Cutchlow (Zero to Five) ($49 value)Bonus: Positive Parenting Conference 2017 Recording Package by Sumitha Bhandarkar (A Fine Parent) ($157 value)
And all that for just $97… less than what most parents pay for one after-school activity for one child each month! (I just paid $200 for a 12 week performing arts course for my kid!!)
If you’ve ever wanted to level up your parenting game, this is the bundle you need. You have one full year to access all the courses in the bundle, so you can make 2018 a year of some amazing transformation for your family!
The sale is only for 3 days though, so be sure to check this out before it’s gone.
Positive Parenting Premium eCourses Bundle
Since my "aha" moment, I've come to know many incredible positive parenting educators who have enriched my own life and relationships and whose work I have shared frequently on my page, Positive Parenting: Toddlers and Beyond. You're probably familiar with Ariadne Brill of Positive Parenting Connection and Sumitha Bhandarkar from A Fine Parent.
So, I am crazy excited that I get to offer you this never-before-done deal.
12 of the best positive parenting bloggers I know of have gotten together and are offering a bundle of 11 positive parenting courses plus a bonus, worth $1,181 for just $97 as part of a 3-day Cyber Monday sale. That’s 91.8% off!
These are some really high caliber, premium courses that I’ve never seen offered before in a bundle like this!
Here’s the full list of the courses included:Positive Parenting Course by Suzanne Tucker (Generation Mindful) ($189 value)Mission Cooperation Positive Discipline Course by Ariadne Brill (Positive Parenting Connection) ($150 value)Spiritual Kids eCourse by Christina Fletcher (Spiritually Aware Parenting) ($127 value)Artful Parenting 101 Courses by Jean Van't Hul (The Artful Parent) ($125 value)Stop Yelling in 21 Days Coaching Course by Andy Smithson (TRU Parenting) ($99 value)Communication for Imperfect Families by Nicole Schwarz (Imperfect Families) ($79 value)Happily Ever After: Conscious Co-Parenting by Dr. Laura Markham (Aha Parenting) ($59 value)The Emotion Coaching Course by Melissa Benaroya (Childproof Parenting) ($49 value)Create Coping Skills Champions at Home by Janine Halloran (Coping Skills for Kids) ($49 value)Safety with Strangers in a Positive Way: Level 1 by Katy Sindy (Be With Kids) ($49 value)How to Create a Growth Mindset and Change a Fixed Mindset by Tracy Cutchlow (Zero to Five) ($49 value)Bonus: Positive Parenting Conference 2017 Recording Package by Sumitha Bhandarkar (A Fine Parent) ($157 value)
And all that for just $97… less than what most parents pay for one after-school activity for one child each month! (I just paid $200 for a 12 week performing arts course for my kid!!)
If you’ve ever wanted to level up your parenting game, this is the bundle you need. You have one full year to access all the courses in the bundle, so you can make 2018 a year of some amazing transformation for your family!
The sale is only for 3 days though, so be sure to check this out before it’s gone.
Positive Parenting Premium eCourses Bundle
August 28, 2017
10 Things Your Strong-Willed Child Wished You Knew
When people meet my daughter, they immediately classify her as a strong-willed child. I mean, if you saw her, you might do the exact same thing. She has fiery red hair, a bursting personality, and she knows exactly what she wants and doesn't want. She isn't going to do anything in life unless she wants to do it. She has intense emotions and she is not afraid to use them. By all definitions of the word, my daughter is definitely strong-willed.
If you have a child like this, you know exactly what I'm talking about. So often children that are labeled as strong-willed are only seen as just that… strong willed. They are seen for their strong personality, their strong emotion, and their strong determination to do things their way. But if that's all we focus on, we are missing so much more about these amazing and unique children.
Depending on who you talk to, the term strong-willed can bring up a lot of emotions. You either love the term or you hate the term.
More often than not, it's because of your experiences you've had with the way the term is used.
When the term strong-willed comes with an eye roll or a gasp of frustration, it doesn't feel like a very positive thing. But when it's said with a head raised, chest out, and an admiration of this powerful personality, it feels pretty positive.
Whichever side of fence you sit on, I can guarantee you that the strong-willed child you have in your life wants you to know that they are so much more than just three little words.
10 Things Your Strong-willed Child Wished You Knew. 1) You are not a bad parent.
I need you to hear this loud and clear. I am not feisty and head-strong because you parented me wrong. This is who I am. In fact, you are the best person for me to have on my side because you are constantly looking for answers, tirelessly trying to help, and deep down, you believe in me.
2) I am not spoiled.
I do not put my foot to the ground and stomp with all my might because you gave me too many toys or because you said yes too often. I do these things because I want to assert my independence. I want you to know that this is what I want and when I want it, but I haven't learned the best way to tell you yet. I am still learning how to communicate, and I need you to help me. With your help, I will be able to use my emotions to change the world.
3) I am not difficult.
I see you in the corner with your hands on your head, slumped against the wall. I know I test you, and try you, and push you to your limits, but please do not describe me as your difficult one. I might just start to believe it.
4) I am not stubborn.
I know I like to do things my way, but most of the time it's because I haven't developed the ability to problem-solve yet. I need you to see me as fierce and as taking a stand for what I believe in. I need you to help me learn how to be flexible.
5) I will thrive on routines.
I like to be in charge of what's happening in my own life. I like the know when things are happening, where they're happening, and what's going to happen after that. When you set up a routine that I can depend on, it takes away one thing that I have to worry about. It gives me the order I'm so desperately seeking.
6) I like making my own decisions.
I bet you already knew that about me, though. This probably means that I put up a fight when you tell me exactly what to wear or you tell me exactly what to eat, but I can let you in on a little secret. If you give me choice, and you set those choices within a boundary, I will put up much less of a fight.
7) I need you to trust me.
I know you've seen more and done more than I have. I know you've had more experiences than I have. You already know the outcome long before I do, but I need you to put a little bit of trust in me so that I can make my own mistakes, so that I can learn to problem-solve, and I can learn to be independent, just like I want to be. 8) I learn through doing.
You can tell me things until you are blue in the face, but it's not going to make a difference until I try it. Give me experiences so that I can test my ideas and theories in a safe place, so that when you tell me a pot is hot, I know without a shadow of a doubt that it is because I've experienced it.
9) I think outside of the box.
Sometimes this box is really tiny and sometimes this box is really big, but the truth is is that I think a little differently than maybe you or your other kids do. I like to go about problems and try things from a different angle. I am creative and I am constantly inventing, and creating, and dreaming of the unknown.
10) I need you.
More than all else, I need you to know that I need you. When I have a behavior that is ugly, and strong, and determined, I need you to see that as a cry for help. When I meltdown in the Target parking lot, I need you to hear me saying, "I need you." When I yell, "No," as loud as can be, I need you to hear that as me saying, "I need you."
I need you to know that I am not picky, anxious, difficult, messy, or strong-willed. Instead, most of the time I am misunderstood.
Changing Your Strong-Willed Child’s Inner Thoughts…
The truth is…
Kids are constantly being told they aren’t good enough, not smart enough, not calm enough, just plain and simple…
not enough.
What would happen if instead of telling kids they are not enough, we changed the way we saw our children and we changed their inner language?
My new book, The Superkids Activity Guide, is aimed to empower ALL kids to speak up, share their superpowers and learn why they do the things they do so they can advocate for themselves!!
The book has a manifesto that I stand behind 100%. I believe all children should believe these things about themselves and often wish I had believed these things to be true as a child myself.
This is a small excerpt:
“Go ahead and say it, so you believe it: “I am a SUPERKID.”
There, didn’t that feel good? Go ahead and say it one more time, just to make sure it sinks in: “I am a SUPERKID.”
Before you start to think of all the reasons you can’t possibly be a superkid, I want to stop you. You see, even the most famous rock stars have doubt and don’t believe in themselves every day. This doesn’t mean they are any less super. And even superheroes have struggles and pitfalls. That doesn’t make them any less super, either. The truth is, despite your struggles, your mistakes, or your bad days…YOU ARE A SUPERKID. The Superkids Manifesto is yours. I want you to own it.
You are unique.
You are adventurous.
You are spirited.
You are creative.
You are fierce.
You are a SUPERKID.
You are going to conquer the world and I am going to help you every step of the way… ”
In order to make this movement touch every corner of the globe, we need YOU!!!
Click Here to Join the Superkids Movement Today!
A NOTE FROM REBECCA EANES: I can’t recommend Dayna Abraham’s new book highly enough! The Superkids Activity Guide to Conquering Every Day has so many great ideas and projects for kids and their adults! However, my favorite thing about this book is that it teaches children to believe in themselves, to love who they are, and to feel empowered with all of the wonderful tools it provides!
What began as a simple book with 75 simple crafts, games and activities to help adults and kids manage the most difficult parts of the day (mornings, wait times, mealtime, playtime, learning, and nighttime), The Superkids Activity Guide, slowly became a movement. The Superkids Movement and Activity Guide is aimed to empower ALL kids to speak up, share their superpowers and learn why they do the things they do so they can advocate for themselves!!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dayna Abraham is the mother to three totally awesome superkids who inspire her every day to be the best grown-up sidekick they could ask for. When she’s not helping her kids conquer the world, she keeps busy by writing at lemonlimeadventures.com, writing books like Sensory Processing 101, STEAM Kids, and Learn and Play with LEGO®, and drinking lots of coffee. She loves getting her hands messy and creating crazy science projects and crafts to keep her super kids at home busy. Before she was a writer, she was a National Board Certified teacher, where she met some of the coolest superkids on earth. As a little girl, she wished grown-ups and other kids saw her as a superkid, so now she’s made it her mission to inspire kids like you to love who they are and embrace their differences.
If you have a child like this, you know exactly what I'm talking about. So often children that are labeled as strong-willed are only seen as just that… strong willed. They are seen for their strong personality, their strong emotion, and their strong determination to do things their way. But if that's all we focus on, we are missing so much more about these amazing and unique children.
Depending on who you talk to, the term strong-willed can bring up a lot of emotions. You either love the term or you hate the term.
More often than not, it's because of your experiences you've had with the way the term is used.
When the term strong-willed comes with an eye roll or a gasp of frustration, it doesn't feel like a very positive thing. But when it's said with a head raised, chest out, and an admiration of this powerful personality, it feels pretty positive.
Whichever side of fence you sit on, I can guarantee you that the strong-willed child you have in your life wants you to know that they are so much more than just three little words.
10 Things Your Strong-willed Child Wished You Knew. 1) You are not a bad parent.
I need you to hear this loud and clear. I am not feisty and head-strong because you parented me wrong. This is who I am. In fact, you are the best person for me to have on my side because you are constantly looking for answers, tirelessly trying to help, and deep down, you believe in me.
2) I am not spoiled.
I do not put my foot to the ground and stomp with all my might because you gave me too many toys or because you said yes too often. I do these things because I want to assert my independence. I want you to know that this is what I want and when I want it, but I haven't learned the best way to tell you yet. I am still learning how to communicate, and I need you to help me. With your help, I will be able to use my emotions to change the world.
3) I am not difficult.
I see you in the corner with your hands on your head, slumped against the wall. I know I test you, and try you, and push you to your limits, but please do not describe me as your difficult one. I might just start to believe it.
4) I am not stubborn.
I know I like to do things my way, but most of the time it's because I haven't developed the ability to problem-solve yet. I need you to see me as fierce and as taking a stand for what I believe in. I need you to help me learn how to be flexible.
5) I will thrive on routines.
I like to be in charge of what's happening in my own life. I like the know when things are happening, where they're happening, and what's going to happen after that. When you set up a routine that I can depend on, it takes away one thing that I have to worry about. It gives me the order I'm so desperately seeking.
6) I like making my own decisions.
I bet you already knew that about me, though. This probably means that I put up a fight when you tell me exactly what to wear or you tell me exactly what to eat, but I can let you in on a little secret. If you give me choice, and you set those choices within a boundary, I will put up much less of a fight.
7) I need you to trust me.
I know you've seen more and done more than I have. I know you've had more experiences than I have. You already know the outcome long before I do, but I need you to put a little bit of trust in me so that I can make my own mistakes, so that I can learn to problem-solve, and I can learn to be independent, just like I want to be. 8) I learn through doing.
You can tell me things until you are blue in the face, but it's not going to make a difference until I try it. Give me experiences so that I can test my ideas and theories in a safe place, so that when you tell me a pot is hot, I know without a shadow of a doubt that it is because I've experienced it.
9) I think outside of the box.
Sometimes this box is really tiny and sometimes this box is really big, but the truth is is that I think a little differently than maybe you or your other kids do. I like to go about problems and try things from a different angle. I am creative and I am constantly inventing, and creating, and dreaming of the unknown.
10) I need you.
More than all else, I need you to know that I need you. When I have a behavior that is ugly, and strong, and determined, I need you to see that as a cry for help. When I meltdown in the Target parking lot, I need you to hear me saying, "I need you." When I yell, "No," as loud as can be, I need you to hear that as me saying, "I need you."
I need you to know that I am not picky, anxious, difficult, messy, or strong-willed. Instead, most of the time I am misunderstood.
Changing Your Strong-Willed Child’s Inner Thoughts…
The truth is…
Kids are constantly being told they aren’t good enough, not smart enough, not calm enough, just plain and simple…
not enough.
What would happen if instead of telling kids they are not enough, we changed the way we saw our children and we changed their inner language?
My new book, The Superkids Activity Guide, is aimed to empower ALL kids to speak up, share their superpowers and learn why they do the things they do so they can advocate for themselves!!
The book has a manifesto that I stand behind 100%. I believe all children should believe these things about themselves and often wish I had believed these things to be true as a child myself.
This is a small excerpt:
“Go ahead and say it, so you believe it: “I am a SUPERKID.”
There, didn’t that feel good? Go ahead and say it one more time, just to make sure it sinks in: “I am a SUPERKID.”
Before you start to think of all the reasons you can’t possibly be a superkid, I want to stop you. You see, even the most famous rock stars have doubt and don’t believe in themselves every day. This doesn’t mean they are any less super. And even superheroes have struggles and pitfalls. That doesn’t make them any less super, either. The truth is, despite your struggles, your mistakes, or your bad days…YOU ARE A SUPERKID. The Superkids Manifesto is yours. I want you to own it.
You are unique.
You are adventurous.
You are spirited.
You are creative.
You are fierce.
You are a SUPERKID.
You are going to conquer the world and I am going to help you every step of the way… ”
In order to make this movement touch every corner of the globe, we need YOU!!!
Click Here to Join the Superkids Movement Today!
A NOTE FROM REBECCA EANES: I can’t recommend Dayna Abraham’s new book highly enough! The Superkids Activity Guide to Conquering Every Day has so many great ideas and projects for kids and their adults! However, my favorite thing about this book is that it teaches children to believe in themselves, to love who they are, and to feel empowered with all of the wonderful tools it provides!What began as a simple book with 75 simple crafts, games and activities to help adults and kids manage the most difficult parts of the day (mornings, wait times, mealtime, playtime, learning, and nighttime), The Superkids Activity Guide, slowly became a movement. The Superkids Movement and Activity Guide is aimed to empower ALL kids to speak up, share their superpowers and learn why they do the things they do so they can advocate for themselves!!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dayna Abraham is the mother to three totally awesome superkids who inspire her every day to be the best grown-up sidekick they could ask for. When she’s not helping her kids conquer the world, she keeps busy by writing at lemonlimeadventures.com, writing books like Sensory Processing 101, STEAM Kids, and Learn and Play with LEGO®, and drinking lots of coffee. She loves getting her hands messy and creating crazy science projects and crafts to keep her super kids at home busy. Before she was a writer, she was a National Board Certified teacher, where she met some of the coolest superkids on earth. As a little girl, she wished grown-ups and other kids saw her as a superkid, so now she’s made it her mission to inspire kids like you to love who they are and embrace their differences.
June 23, 2017
Because Childhood Summers are Limited (50 Bucket List Ideas)
Photo by Steinar Engeland on Unsplash
The hot day stretched out before me. I had absolutely nothing on the agenda. The calendar box was blank as all of them were. I sat on my daybed writing poetry, aspiring to be a writer someday. When I ran out of words, I began to draw. Horses, unicorns, and rainbows filled the sheets. I've never had much artistic talent, but I wasn't aiming for an award. I was filling my days with the things I enjoyed.
Outside, the sun had been beating down. My bike seat was hot, but it didn't deter me. I rode back and forth, basket bouncing and fringes flying from the handlebars. The 80's summers were unhindered by the constant rings and dings of today's always-online world. It felt slower. Longer. More intentional.
I recently wrote a post detailing how I felt about the 9 summers I have left before my children are both adults. I am not claiming to be giving my children an 80's summer. In fact, as I write this, one of my children is playing XBox. The other has been on the iPad watching YouTube earlier today. It seems there is no escaping the draw of the screens entirely, but in our dining room is a poster board bucket list filled with experiences that we intend to make into summer memories. In the spirit of the bucket list, here are 50 slow, intentional experiences you can choose from to add to your summer days and nights.
1. Make a bonfire and tell stories.2. Watch a meteor shower. (The Perseid meteor shower is August 12, 2017)3. Go to an outdoor movie theater.4. Blow bubbles and chase them.5. Pick dandelions and make lots of wishes.6. Play with water balloons!7. Run through a sprinkler.8. Go to an outdoor concert and dance.9. Spend the day fishing or relaxing by the lake. 10. Have a sleepover with friends.11. Stay up late watching a movie marathon. 12. Create art with sidewalk chalk.13. Explore local hiking trails.14. Visit a water park.15. Watch a fireworks show!16. Have a barbecue.17. Make S'mores.18. Listen to an audio book together.19. Explore a museum.20. Make your own slip and slide.21.Watch a sunset.22. Wade in a creek.23. Go berry picking.24. Camp out in your backyard.25. Read under a tree.26. Ride bikes together.27. Make tie dye shirts.28. Catch fireflies,29. Play a game of Chess.30. Take a road trip.31. Make homemade ice cream. 32. Fill out a journal together.33. Stomp in puddles.34. Dance in the rain.35. Watch a sunrise.36. Take a nature walk.37. Start a rock collection.38. Play outdoor water games.39. Pick a wildflower bouquet.40. Run your own lemonade stand.41. Gather up unused and unwanted toys and have a yard sale.42. Visit your local animal shelter and give them some love.43. Eat a snow cone.44. Go to a festival, parade, or carnival.45. Float down a lazy river.46. Go swimming.47. Write poetry.48. Gaze at the clouds.49. Create a summer scrapbook.50. Build a fort.
The hot day stretched out before me. I had absolutely nothing on the agenda. The calendar box was blank as all of them were. I sat on my daybed writing poetry, aspiring to be a writer someday. When I ran out of words, I began to draw. Horses, unicorns, and rainbows filled the sheets. I've never had much artistic talent, but I wasn't aiming for an award. I was filling my days with the things I enjoyed.
Outside, the sun had been beating down. My bike seat was hot, but it didn't deter me. I rode back and forth, basket bouncing and fringes flying from the handlebars. The 80's summers were unhindered by the constant rings and dings of today's always-online world. It felt slower. Longer. More intentional.
I recently wrote a post detailing how I felt about the 9 summers I have left before my children are both adults. I am not claiming to be giving my children an 80's summer. In fact, as I write this, one of my children is playing XBox. The other has been on the iPad watching YouTube earlier today. It seems there is no escaping the draw of the screens entirely, but in our dining room is a poster board bucket list filled with experiences that we intend to make into summer memories. In the spirit of the bucket list, here are 50 slow, intentional experiences you can choose from to add to your summer days and nights.
1. Make a bonfire and tell stories.2. Watch a meteor shower. (The Perseid meteor shower is August 12, 2017)3. Go to an outdoor movie theater.4. Blow bubbles and chase them.5. Pick dandelions and make lots of wishes.6. Play with water balloons!7. Run through a sprinkler.8. Go to an outdoor concert and dance.9. Spend the day fishing or relaxing by the lake. 10. Have a sleepover with friends.11. Stay up late watching a movie marathon. 12. Create art with sidewalk chalk.13. Explore local hiking trails.14. Visit a water park.15. Watch a fireworks show!16. Have a barbecue.17. Make S'mores.18. Listen to an audio book together.19. Explore a museum.20. Make your own slip and slide.21.Watch a sunset.22. Wade in a creek.23. Go berry picking.24. Camp out in your backyard.25. Read under a tree.26. Ride bikes together.27. Make tie dye shirts.28. Catch fireflies,29. Play a game of Chess.30. Take a road trip.31. Make homemade ice cream. 32. Fill out a journal together.33. Stomp in puddles.34. Dance in the rain.35. Watch a sunrise.36. Take a nature walk.37. Start a rock collection.38. Play outdoor water games.39. Pick a wildflower bouquet.40. Run your own lemonade stand.41. Gather up unused and unwanted toys and have a yard sale.42. Visit your local animal shelter and give them some love.43. Eat a snow cone.44. Go to a festival, parade, or carnival.45. Float down a lazy river.46. Go swimming.47. Write poetry.48. Gaze at the clouds.49. Create a summer scrapbook.50. Build a fort.
Great Summer Vacation Ideas
Summer is here, and it is awesome! So far, our family has just taken day trips to our local water park, but I’m excited for the months to come. Unfortunately, though, we haven’t planned any major trips. This won’t be a tropical trip summer, and the ocean isn’t making waves for us anytime soon. However, I have a few tricks up my sleeve for keeping the fun alive and the kiddos entertained.If you’re still not sure what to plan for the next few months, relax…you have time. Some of the best family memories are made during spur-of-the-moment road trips or day ventures. We drove to Florida last summer, and, even though it was last-minute (and, unfortunately, influenced by a family emergency), we still made the trip memorable for our kids.Summer vacation is what you make of it. Sure planned-out family vacations are great, but, sometimes, you just have to live and be a bit carefree. Take life by the seat of your pants! Life is a fun adventure, and, maybe that’s why I love summer so much. The warm weather beckons you to get out and explore.This summer, create family memories with a few unusual travels, trips and explorations. Here are some unique destinations to venture with the kids:Bonneville Salt Flats (Utah)
Salt? Yes, salt! Unusual, but amazing. The Bonneville Salt Flats are next to…Great Salt Lake! You can camp in areas nearby (not on the flats, though). Beware, temps can be desert-like (try 100 degrees in the summer). Kids will enjoy exploring this unique area and seeing the Great Salt Lake. Just make sure you wear sunglasses with UV protection on the flats; the sun can reflect off the crystals seem incredibly bright to the eyes....some refer to this as “salt blindness!” Give your retinas a break, and protect those eyes on the salt, please! Salem, Massachusetts
History lovers or those with a spooktacular sense of vacation can check out Salem, Mass.—the site of the infamous witch hunts! Salem is now a fairly popular little destination, and there are many areas that capitalize on the notoriety of the city’s past. If you’re up for history lessons and a little bit of fright, take a Bewitching tour of the city or a candlight ghost tour. There are also numerous magic shops that sell herbs, candles, spells and other enchanting delights.Hershey, Pennsylvania
A chocolate-lover’s dream! Head to the headquarters of Hershey’s Chocolate! Hershey’s Chocolate World offers tours for kids to watch how chocolate is made. Guests may even taste-test chocolate and make their own chocolate bars. Hershey, Penn. also is home to Hersheypark—a sweet-themed amusement park! The city offers numerous places to stay and lots of sweet diversions for the family!State LandmarksFor families who are looking to stay near home, check out your state’s historic sites. Take kids on a history tour of the state by stopping at important landmarks. Or travel to the state capital to give kids a look at their local branch of government. Families may even choose to include the more off-the-wall roadside attractions of their state. Collinsville, Illinois has the World’s Largest Ketchup Bottle!Throw a Dart ‘Throw a Dart’ isn’t a destination…but it is a surefire way to find one. Ready for an insane method to choose your next travel destinations? Tack a map of the United States (or just your state) and throw a dart at the map. Where it lands is where you’ll go! The dart decides…and there are no second throws. The point of the dart game is to go where you might never venture. Just hope you don’t land in the ocean!Summer is adventure! If you haven’t selected a summer vacation hot spot, find someplace out of the ordinary this year. Kids will enjoy the mystery and excitement of a new destination, and a crazy unusual vacation means that they will have some equally crazy stories to tell their friends!
Amy Williams is a free-lance journalist based in Southern California and mother of two. As a parent, she enjoys spreading the word on positive parenting techniques in the digital age and raising awareness on issues like cyberbullying and online safety.
Salt? Yes, salt! Unusual, but amazing. The Bonneville Salt Flats are next to…Great Salt Lake! You can camp in areas nearby (not on the flats, though). Beware, temps can be desert-like (try 100 degrees in the summer). Kids will enjoy exploring this unique area and seeing the Great Salt Lake. Just make sure you wear sunglasses with UV protection on the flats; the sun can reflect off the crystals seem incredibly bright to the eyes....some refer to this as “salt blindness!” Give your retinas a break, and protect those eyes on the salt, please! Salem, Massachusetts
History lovers or those with a spooktacular sense of vacation can check out Salem, Mass.—the site of the infamous witch hunts! Salem is now a fairly popular little destination, and there are many areas that capitalize on the notoriety of the city’s past. If you’re up for history lessons and a little bit of fright, take a Bewitching tour of the city or a candlight ghost tour. There are also numerous magic shops that sell herbs, candles, spells and other enchanting delights.Hershey, Pennsylvania
A chocolate-lover’s dream! Head to the headquarters of Hershey’s Chocolate! Hershey’s Chocolate World offers tours for kids to watch how chocolate is made. Guests may even taste-test chocolate and make their own chocolate bars. Hershey, Penn. also is home to Hersheypark—a sweet-themed amusement park! The city offers numerous places to stay and lots of sweet diversions for the family!State LandmarksFor families who are looking to stay near home, check out your state’s historic sites. Take kids on a history tour of the state by stopping at important landmarks. Or travel to the state capital to give kids a look at their local branch of government. Families may even choose to include the more off-the-wall roadside attractions of their state. Collinsville, Illinois has the World’s Largest Ketchup Bottle!Throw a Dart ‘Throw a Dart’ isn’t a destination…but it is a surefire way to find one. Ready for an insane method to choose your next travel destinations? Tack a map of the United States (or just your state) and throw a dart at the map. Where it lands is where you’ll go! The dart decides…and there are no second throws. The point of the dart game is to go where you might never venture. Just hope you don’t land in the ocean!Summer is adventure! If you haven’t selected a summer vacation hot spot, find someplace out of the ordinary this year. Kids will enjoy the mystery and excitement of a new destination, and a crazy unusual vacation means that they will have some equally crazy stories to tell their friends!
Amy Williams is a free-lance journalist based in Southern California and mother of two. As a parent, she enjoys spreading the word on positive parenting techniques in the digital age and raising awareness on issues like cyberbullying and online safety. June 13, 2017
Children Need a Safe Place to Feel Bad
I don’t think I’m alone in this – I hate when my children feel bad. I don’t want them to have to feel sadness or loneliness, grief or pain. I wish they were in a permanent bubble of joy, and no bad feelings could touch them. When they come home from school feeling sad because they were rejected or when they feel angry because something didn’t go as they’d hoped or planned, my initial reaction is to make it better. Then come the questions I desperately want to ask. “Why did he not let you play?” “What did you do?” “Why did the teacher say that?” “What did your brother do to you?” I’ve learned to breathe through those initial reactions (most of the time) because in my 11 years of parenting, I’ve learned that they don’t need 20 questions nor do they necessarily need me to fix it. What my kids really need is a safe place to feel bad.
That’s hard, isn’t it? Frankly, it makes me uncomfortable when they feel bad. Their sadness becomes my sadness; their pain is my pain. That’s par for the course in parenting, but allowing them space to feel all their feelings, even the rough, prickly ones, is a tremendous gift. Let’s look at parents’ typical responses to negative feelings:
1. The Dismiss – “Oh, cheer up. It can’t be that bad.” “You’re making a mountain out of a molehill.” “If that’s your biggest problem, you’re pretty lucky.” We just want them to learn some perspective, right? A broken toy isn’t the end of the world. Kid problems seem really small in comparison to our adult problems, but to our kids, kid problems are the only problems they know, and they feel just as big to them as our adult problems feel to us. In fact, how they learn to handle the kid problems now will have a big impact on their overall happiness and success in life. When we dismiss their feelings, they either learn not to trust their own emotions (Why does this bother me so much if it’s not a big deal? What’s wrong with me?) or they may feel like we just don’t truly care about their emotional world or that don’t “get them,” and that harms our relationships.
Try this: Instead of “it can’t be that bad,” try telling your child about a time you experienced something similar and how you felt at the time. Feeling like their parents understand and empathize with them helps them feel closer to us, and connection is important in guarding against depression and addiction.
2. The Fixer. “I’m sorry Zack hurt your feelings. I’ll call his mother and talk to her about it.” “I can’t believe you got a C on this. I can see why you’re mad! You worked so hard. I’m going to see your teacher.” “I know you’re sad that your cat died. We’ll go get you another cat.” It feels like we are doing right by them, stepping up to fix the problem, but it isn’t always the appropriate response. Sometimes we can fix it, but sometimes they need to fix it themselves, or just accept that sometimes, things are bad for a while. That’s life. We’ve all heard the stories of parents still coming to college to intervene, and if we don’t step back and let kids deal with the tough stuff sometimes, that might end up being us! A deeper problem with being “the fixer” is that kids learn that bad feelings are, well bad and need to be avoided at all costs. They become extremely uncomfortable when things don’t go their way and may always be looking for a fix, which could lead to dangerous territory. Kids need to know that bad feelings are normal too. Emotionally intelligent children learn how to feel their anger or sadness and move through it without letting it become destructive.
Try this: “I’m sorry you’re feeling bad. Would you like a hug?” One of the toughest but most mature things we can do as parents is to learn to hold space for our children through tough emotions and not become engulfed in them ourselves. This is especially true with anger as it often evokes our own anger that we have to breathe through. We have to be the steady captain when the waters get choppy so that our children feel safe with us. When we sit with them through their bad feelings instead of rushing to fix everything, they learn that bad feelings are temporary anyway, and that’s a really important lesson.
3. The Isolator. ...Continue reading at Creative Child Magazine
May 25, 2017
Pamper Your Children the Right Way
Guest post by Amy Williams
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Being a parent requires a tough and constant balance between disciplining your children enough and pampering them the way they need in order to feel loved, confident, and secure. It goes without saying that in a world where it’s easy to spoil your children rotten, maintaining that balance is difficult to do. We are here to help decipher the best ways to pamper your children without going overboard. Keep reading to learn more.
Pamper them the right way!
You don’t need to go crazy to make your kids feel loved and adored. Here are some simple, everyday ways to make them feel extra special:
Read with them every night - most times, what our kids crave most is our time and attention. And amidst the hustle and bustle of the day-to-day, it can certainly be difficult to carve out that time. However, creating a nightly routine that includes reading together - whether that be a couple favorite picture books or a chapter each night from a longer story - guarantees some togetherness time where you focus your attention solely on your kiddo. Plus, encouraging your kids to read has a myriad of other benefits, which is a huge plus!
Take them for ‘happy hour’ - this may not be the type of happy hour you’re accustomed to, but it’s kid friendly and bound to show your little one how much you love them! Take them for a milkshake one night and spend the time chatting and catching up. Your child will love the one-on-one attention as well as the delicious drink!
Take trips down memory lane - keep a photo album or scrapbook of special memories throughout your child’s life and them relive them together! They will love hearing stories about themselves and it’s always fun to look through old pictures. This is a great way to make them feel important and very, very loved.
Treat them to something sweet - subscribe to a monthly treat to show your love and affection. This can be something they are permitted to indulge in for dessert a couple times each week or as a reward, and the best part is that it’ll be automatically restocked for you each month. Talk about convenient!
How to make sure you’re not spoiling them
Every parent worries that their kids are becoming spoiled. Here are a few tips to help you maintain a healthy balance:
Give them an allowance - providing your child with a weekly or monthly allowance and holding them accountable to doing their chores to actually earn that pay will teach them the value of a dollar. This is a tough one to keep up with, but is definitely a habit that will deter children from becoming spoiled.
Set limits and don’t give in - be firm in the limits you set with your children, whether they be surrounding monetary limits, time designated for playtime, or anything in between. Showing your children that you are in control and that you are the one to set boundaries is a meaningful way to work against them feeling entitled.
Teach them gratitude- teaching your child to always say “thank you” and to truly be thankful for all that they have is a great way to ensure that they appreciate everything in their life. Keep them humble by instilling manners from an early age.
While it’s a tough line to straddle, pampering children and ensuring they do not become spoiled is indeed feasible. Follow the tips above to ensure that you’re raising grateful, well disciplined, and happy children!
Amy Williams is a free-lance journalist based in Southern California and mother of two. As a parent, she enjoys spreading the word on positive parenting techniques in the digital age and raising awareness on issues like cyberbullying and online safety.
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Being a parent requires a tough and constant balance between disciplining your children enough and pampering them the way they need in order to feel loved, confident, and secure. It goes without saying that in a world where it’s easy to spoil your children rotten, maintaining that balance is difficult to do. We are here to help decipher the best ways to pamper your children without going overboard. Keep reading to learn more.
Pamper them the right way!
You don’t need to go crazy to make your kids feel loved and adored. Here are some simple, everyday ways to make them feel extra special:
Read with them every night - most times, what our kids crave most is our time and attention. And amidst the hustle and bustle of the day-to-day, it can certainly be difficult to carve out that time. However, creating a nightly routine that includes reading together - whether that be a couple favorite picture books or a chapter each night from a longer story - guarantees some togetherness time where you focus your attention solely on your kiddo. Plus, encouraging your kids to read has a myriad of other benefits, which is a huge plus!
Take them for ‘happy hour’ - this may not be the type of happy hour you’re accustomed to, but it’s kid friendly and bound to show your little one how much you love them! Take them for a milkshake one night and spend the time chatting and catching up. Your child will love the one-on-one attention as well as the delicious drink!
Take trips down memory lane - keep a photo album or scrapbook of special memories throughout your child’s life and them relive them together! They will love hearing stories about themselves and it’s always fun to look through old pictures. This is a great way to make them feel important and very, very loved.
Treat them to something sweet - subscribe to a monthly treat to show your love and affection. This can be something they are permitted to indulge in for dessert a couple times each week or as a reward, and the best part is that it’ll be automatically restocked for you each month. Talk about convenient!
How to make sure you’re not spoiling them
Every parent worries that their kids are becoming spoiled. Here are a few tips to help you maintain a healthy balance:
Give them an allowance - providing your child with a weekly or monthly allowance and holding them accountable to doing their chores to actually earn that pay will teach them the value of a dollar. This is a tough one to keep up with, but is definitely a habit that will deter children from becoming spoiled.
Set limits and don’t give in - be firm in the limits you set with your children, whether they be surrounding monetary limits, time designated for playtime, or anything in between. Showing your children that you are in control and that you are the one to set boundaries is a meaningful way to work against them feeling entitled.
Teach them gratitude- teaching your child to always say “thank you” and to truly be thankful for all that they have is a great way to ensure that they appreciate everything in their life. Keep them humble by instilling manners from an early age.
While it’s a tough line to straddle, pampering children and ensuring they do not become spoiled is indeed feasible. Follow the tips above to ensure that you’re raising grateful, well disciplined, and happy children!
Amy Williams is a free-lance journalist based in Southern California and mother of two. As a parent, she enjoys spreading the word on positive parenting techniques in the digital age and raising awareness on issues like cyberbullying and online safety. May 18, 2017
Bedwetting is Not Behavioral: A Doctor Explains
By Steve Hodges, M.D.
When a child develops type 1 diabetes or a urinary tract infection, nobody says the child is “lazy” or has anxiety or is “seeking attention.” Nobody sends the child to a therapist.Yet when a child well past potty-training age has daytime accidents or wets the bed — conditions also outside a child’s control — adults often assume the root cause is psychological.I hear this daily. Parents will tell me, “He’s too lazy to get up in the night” or “I think it’s because he’s being bullied.” A school will issue an ultimatum to one of my patients: See a behavioral therapist or find a new school. A parenting expert will write that accidents are “a reaction to heartache.” A child will quit soccer because his coach thinks his constant toilet trips are an excuse to avoid practicing.Just last week a bedwetting teenager emailed me: “I cannot feel any urine going out, but I wake up wet every day. My mom thinks I'm stubborn and I don't want to wake up at night.”I’d like to set the record straight: Bedwetting and daytime accidents are almost always caused by chronic constipation — not behavioral or psychological issues (and not “deep sleep,” an “underdeveloped bladder,” or “hormonal imbalance,” the other common explanations I debunk in It’s No Accident).When children delay pooping, as they often do, stool piles up in the rectum, forming a large, hard mass. I mean, large! On X-rays I routinely see stool the size of a softball. The mass may stretch the rectum to triple its diameter — I take measurements. The stretched rectum presses on and aggravates the bladder, which in turn hiccups without warning, before the child can wake up or sprint to the toilet.
Eventually, the stretched rectum may also lose tone and sensation, becoming floppy like a stretched-out sock. The child can’t feel the urge to poop, and stool just drops out, sometimes on the floor of the school gym.
No amount of behavioral therapy will change these facts. Medicine has advanced in so many ways over the last half century, but in my specialty — bedwetting and accidents — we’re stuck in the dark ages. The constipation-bedwetting link was first documented back in the 1980s, in a series of studies by pediatric kidney specialist Sean O’Regan, M.D., practicing at Hôpital Sainte-Justine in Montreal.At the time, bedwetting children were blamed by their parents and shrugged off by their doctors. “These kids were told that it was all in their heads, that they were psychologically disturbed,” Dr. O’Regan told me.Dr. O’Regan, searching to explain his own son’s bedwetting, knew that was not the case. Ultimately he tested several hundred children with a procedure called anal manometry, whereby a balloon is inserted into the child’s anus and inflated.A child with normal rectal tone will notice a balloon inflated with just 5 to 10 ml of air, whereas a constipated child might not even detect the balloon until it’s inflated with 40 ml of air. Dr. O'Regan's bedwetting patients could withstand an astonishing 80 to 110 milliliters of air without discomfort.
Dr. O’Regan’s studies also showed that when his patients’ rectums were cleared out with daily enemas, the accidents resolved. My own published research shows the same thing.
And yet, psychological explanations for bedwetting and accidents persist — not just among parents and school administrators but also among many in the medical community.
Many of my patients have been referred to behavioral therapists by their own pediatricians. The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) states, “Enuresis [bedwetting] can be triggered by separation from a parent, the birth of a sibling or family conflict.”
The evidence? The DSM-V cites exactly one study, published in an Indian medical journal, which itself cites no evidence.
A number of studies claim to have found a link between “difficult temperament,” “behaviour problems in early childhood” and bedwetting, but almost none of them considered whether the children were constipated. The omission alone renders these studies useless. And even the rare studies that have considered (and dismissed) constipation as a cause are of no value because their methods of detecting constipation are highly unreliable.
How do they check children for constipation? They have parents fill out a questionnaire asking whether their children a) poop fewer than three times a week and b) strain to poop.
I cannot emphasize how unhelpful these questions are. First of all, pooping frequency is a poor gauge of constipation. MANY chronically constipated children poop every day — even two or three times a day — because they never fully empty. Though these kids appear to be "regular," X-rays prove their rectums are chock full of poop.
Second, how many parents know whether their school-age kids are "straining" to poop? I don't know many moms who hang out in the bathroom while their 5th graders have a bowel movement. I was severely constipated throughout childhood and strained plenty to poop. I never mentioned this to my parents.
Dr. O’Regan conducted anal manometry on his patients because he knew parent reports were unreliable. I X-ray my patients for the same reason. Well over 90% of my bedwetting patients prove to be severely constipated, yet only about 5% of the parents had any idea.
Most of their pediatricians missed the constipation because they did nothing more than ask the parents how often the child poops and feel the child’s belly. But even small, wiry children can harbor massive amounts of poop in their rectum without anyone noticing.
To some extent, I can understand why adults seek psychological explanations for accidents. It’s just hard to believe a perfectly healthy 8-year-old could poop in his pants and not notice. Or that a 10th grader could fail to outgrow bedwetting, like most of his friends, or suddenly start wetting the bed.
But when you perform the right tests and ask the right questions, you can see why.
When I have a patient with "secondary enuresis" (bedwetting that starts after a long period of dryness), I don't assume the bedwetting actually came out of the blue. And I don't simply ask how often the child poops. In addition to doing an X-ray, I ask more relevant questions, such as whether the child has any history of daytime urgency, or frequency or extra-large poops, and whether the child has recently been in an environment, such as school, where he or she won't use the bathroom.
In talking with these families, I usually find the child has shown signs of constipation over the years — signs that went unrecognized — and that some relatively recent event has caused the child to use the bathroom less often.
A typical scenario: A kindergartener suddenly starts wetting the bed or having accidents after being dry since age 2 or 3. The parents attribute the accidents to the “stress” of starting a new school. In reality, the child was too intimidated to use the school bathroom (or was restricted by school rules) and started withholding pee and poop.
Something similar often happens in high school, because students encounter stricter bathroom policies, are grossed out by bathroom conditions, or fear being bullied in the bathroom. Many of my patients never use the restroom between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. In kids with a history of moderate constipation, that change is enough to trigger bedwetting.
Of course, I always rule out medical causes for bedwetting, such as an anatomic or neurological condition or diabetes. On very rare occasions, the cause turns out to be something other than constipation.But virtually all the time, constipation is the culprit, and aggressively treating the rectal clog resolves the accidents. They key is to keep the rectum clear on a daily basis so it has time to shrink back to size and stop bothering the bladder. A one-time clean-out will not do the trick.
While it is clear that stress and behavioral issues do not cause bedwetting, it’s also clear that bedwetting can cause children tremendous stress. These kids get teased by peers and blamed and shamed by adults. They avoid sleepovers and camping trips and feel crummy about themselves. They sit in my office and hang their hands.
But when they get properly treated and their accidents resolve, their entire demeanor changes. They brighten up, become more social, regain their confidence, and start participating in activities they’d avoided for years.
About the Author
Steve Hodges, M.D., is an associate professor of pediatric urology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and co-author, with Suzanne Schlosberg, of Bedwetting and Accidents Aren’t Your Fault, Jane and the Giant Poop, It’s No Accident, and The M.O.P. Book.
May 9, 2017
How to Explain Cyberbullying to Young Kids
Today, it is believed that 87 percent of teens have encountered cyberbullying in some form. This number is up dramatically from just a few years ago, when only 27 percent of our kids acknowledged witnessing these cruel online behaviors. That means that all of our school assemblies, news programs, and campaigns to delete cyberbullying aren’t working and the rates have now tripled!
This is disheartening, because we often hear about cyberbullying and the impact it is having on tweens and teenagers. Victims of cyberbullying often experience depression, loneliness, anxiety, and thoughts of self harm. If those effects aren’t frightening enough, kids who are cyberbullied tend to remove themselves from their friends and favorite activities while their grades often decline.
To make matters worse, cyberbullying happens in a variety of ways and is always changing with new technologies. Regardless of how the cyberbullying takes place, this is a dangerous threat facing all of our sons and daughters as they grow. However, there is hope. Childhood is the perfect time to begin dealing with cyberbullying so we can stop it from occurring or spiraling out of control before it even begins.
Building Empathy Early to Prevent Bullying Later
One of the best ways we can combat cyberbullying is to help our small kids develop empathy. We need to help our sons and daughters understand what other people feel or more importantly, how they would feel if they were in the same situation. Thankfully, empathy is a learned trait that can be taught.
We can teach our boys and girls how to “walk in another person’s shoes” and develop this skill as they grow. This is good news, because research shows that children who are empathetic tend to perform better in school, social groups, and even as adults in the workforce. Small kids learn this skill at different rates, because we all know a 3 year old won’t be able to understand the power of words like a 6 year old.
Trying to describe or explain cyberbullying to small children can be difficult, because typically young kids are very concrete, literal thinkers. As a child ages, they will develop abstract thinking skills so they can comprehend objects, principles, morals, and ideas that aren’t actually present or visible. However, this higher level of comprehension typically doesn’t develop until between the ages of 11 and 16.
Explaining Cyberbullying to Small Children
We can help small children build on their natural empathy to comprehend the true scope of cyberbullying and overcome their lack of abstract thinking by implementing the following suggestions:
● Lead by example by modeling kindness and respect . Avoid name calling, yelling obscenities, and being respectful when you talk about others.● Clearly define bullying and empower them with coping skills in case they encounter these behaviors in real life or online. Let them know they should seek an adult, avoid arguing, and stand up for themselves safely.● Keep the definition simple for young children. They will not comprehend the true scope of cyberbullying until they get older and too much information can confuse them or lead to some very grown up discussions a child isn’t prepared to handle. However, they can understand how someone feels if they are getting picked on or called names. ● Start early when it comes to discussing bullying and gradually build on this basic foundation as a child ages. Make sure to include cyberbullying when a child begins using technology.● Use stories and movies to help children process the topic of bullying and show how words can hurt.● Role play scenarios that involve bullying and teach one or two methods to diffuse the situation. You don’t have to go out of your way, just bring it up while playing dolls or Legos and use playtime to build empathy.● Communicate, communicate, and communicate. It sounds cliche, but we need to keep the dialogue lines open. This process starts when our boys and girls are young. As they grow, we need to encourage them to talk to us about everything and anything so they know we are there to support them or help them solve problems they face.
What tips do you have for explaining cyberbullying or developing empathy when it comes to small children?
Amy Williams is a free-lance journalist based in Southern California and mother of two. As a parent, she enjoys spreading the word on positive parenting techniques in the digital age and raising awareness on issues like cyberbullying and online safety. 
