Living Love and Logic Tip #48

Parenting Through Divorce:
Are You a Rock … or Are You a Leaf?
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

 

The other night we had a ferocious storm. Rain fell in sheets, lightning lit the sky, and the sound of thunder drove our dog under the bed. The trees bent in the wind, and just about everything not tied down took flight.

I watched leaves fluttering around the driveway, driven in circles by the wind. In stark contrast was a huge rock decorating our garden. That chunk of granite did not move!

Do children need leaves blown in the wind

or the security of rock-solid love?

Divorce can uproot even the most secure parents, leaving them unable to provide the type of limits, accountability, and consistency essential for raising respectful, responsible, and happy kids. Oftentimes, people are so overwhelmed by grief, loss, and other stress that they find it incredibly difficult to be the solid leaders their children need. When combined with dramatically different parenting between homes, we have a recipe for failure.

So … what can you do to give your kids the stability they need?

Keep your focus rock solid and simple:

Limits, Accountability, and Love

To learn how to keep a rock solid focus click HERE!

Snapping Beans!

There are lifelong benefits to teaching our children that it is their responsibility to keep their bodies healthy. At HO4K students continually learn about appropriate eating habits and physical activities to promote a healthy lifestyle. 

In the above picture, students are properly preparing their vegetable to be served with lunch. The have learned how to wash the beans and then "snap" off the ends so that it can be cooked in time to eat! What a great lesson! Not only is it yummy and healthy, but they are learning a life skill! Next time you are making dinner, don't be afraid to have your little one help out!

Some of the Nevada State Preschool Standards addressed are:

Science
L.PK.5 Identify the basic need for air, water and food.

Physical Development
1.PK.3 Identify healthy foods.
1.PK.8 Identify the basic need for air, water, and food.

Living Love and Logic Tip #47

Losing your Lunch
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

Christopher lost 3.5 lunchboxes per year.

By third grade, he had come to believe that the price of a nice new lunchbox was listening to a few minutes of frustrated lecture from Mom or Dad. These lectures usually included funny parts about money not growing on trees and parents having to eat dirt for lunch when they were kids.

And then…they'd buy him a new lunchbox complete with a reminder: "You better not lose this one! I mean it!"

Thanks to their Becoming a Love and Logic Parent class, Christopher's parents learned some new ideas for handling this lunchbox problem. It sounded like this:

Christopher: "Mom! Somebody stole my lunchbox again!"

Mom: "Honey, that's awful. You loved that lunchbox. What do you think you're going to do?"

Christopher: "I need a new one."

To see how Christopher's mom handled the rest of the situation click HERE!

Energy Drain!

Often children have a hard time not arguing, talking back and/or listening the first time they are asked to do something. Of course, we struggle with this from time to time, even at HO4K. As teachers noticed this becoming a problem they quickly came up with a plan! Students conferenced with teachers about things they love to do! Playing in the wading pool with bubbles was easily the popular answer. Deciding on something we all love to do was not the difficult part. Next, we came up with ideas to make sure that Ms Mary and Ms JoAnn would have enough energy to plan this activity. Students agreed that they needed to work on listening and obeying the first time, so a goal was set! We were going to all do our best!

It took 2 weeks, but WE DID IT!!!! Wow, we have learned how to be better listeners and got to have a fun day full of bubbly fun!

Living Love and Logic tip #46

Our Kids Should Have Some Junk
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

Our kids should have some junk? Before you click "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the page, consider for a moment the lessons our children can learn from rusty bicycles with loose chains and/or flat tires.

Earlier this week an amazing little bicycle caught my eye: shiny red with multiple gears, hand brakes and gleaming chrome wheels. It screamed, "Buy me! Your kid will love me! He will love you for buying me! I'm so much better than the one he has! If you are a good dad who loves his boy, you will buy me!"

Fortunately, I escaped from the bike shop without the bike being peddled to me!

Something about that wonderful bike reminded me of something even better: Growing up in a home where I was given the privilege of having to make do with things that don't work very well. As a young boy, I could either figure out how to fix my bike or miss out on the fun of riding it. As a teen, I frequently encountered three options: (1) Find a way to fix my car, (2) walk where I wanted to go, or (3) stay at home and pretend that I was mobile.

When everything our children have is brand new and flawless, they miss out on endless opportunities to learn. They fail to learn delayed gratification and patience. They fail to learn humility. They fail to learn the creativity and problem-solving skills that enabled earlier generations to build the United States of America into a world economic powerhouse.  To see other recommendations and how to help develop these character attrbutes in your child, click HERE!

Playing in the RAIN!!

What kid doesn't love playing in the rain? The kids at HO4K's aren't any different and are SO lucky to have teachers who allow them to play, explore and just get wet when its raining! How fun!

 The above student designed his very own umbrella! Yes that is a plunger!

 Don't worry...the plunger is only for children to play with, it's never been used in a Toilet! (and Ms  JoAnn said it never can be!)

Ooooooh....that's what a water spout is for! What a great way for students to better understand things around them, then to be able to explore! We loved watching the water come out of the spout! It tickled our feet as it rushed onto the ground!

Perfectly Pretending!

Let's have a picnic! These two initiated having lunch together complete with a tablecloth, food and drinks! They enjoyed each others company as they sat and talked about their day. They took turns dishing up food, sharing entrees, and finally cleaning up. What great experiences they must have to be able to recreate this dramatic play scene.

 Milkshakes! Milkshakes! Who wants a milkshake? Students created a milkshake stand full of flavorful yummy shakes! Brainstorming together they decided to sell their shakes for $65.00. Apparently it was a little steep for some and sales were low! After a quick meeting, they changed their price to $FREE$ and they became a best selling milkshake store!!! The students used several props and water to recreate the scene of an ice cream store. Working together they took turns being  the store operator, cashier, scooper and customer. What fun they had using their imaginations together. Many wished that they could really go to a milk shake store and buy whatever they want!

As explored in previous posts, dramatic play is crucial in child development. It helps students socially and academically. It allows for open play and for students to have the opportunity to learn to work together, validating each others ideas and actions. Students explore their imagination while recreating situations and relationships either already experienced or created by the child. Below is a list of a few of the Nevada State Preschool Standards addressed in dramatic play! Never underestimate this wonderful play time!

SOCIAL STUDIES/SOCIAL EMOTIONAL STANDARDS

5.PK.1a Play independently.

5.PK.1b Play in pairs and small groups.

5.PK.1c Engage in dramatic play.

5.PK.1d Initiate play, or enter into play with a group of children already playing.

5.PK.2a Participate in cooperative groups to complete a task.

5.PK.2b Take turns with teacher support.

5.PK.2c Share some of the time.



CREATIVE EXPRESSION STANDARDS


1.PK.1 Act out a role observed in his/her life experiences; for instance, mother, baby, doctor.

1.PK.2a Make up new roles from experiences and familiar stories.

1.PK.2b Direct peers and/or follow directions from peers in creating dramatic play scenarios

1.PK.3 Act out roles that involve another child(ren) in related role; for instance, mother and baby, grocer and shopper.

1.PK.6 Use available materials as either realistic or symbolic props as part of dramatic play.

1.PK.7 Use dress-up clothes or costumes and other props in dramatic play.

2.PK.1 Distinguish between persons, animals, and objects by identifying characteristics (e.g., the sounds animals make).

2.PK.2 Imitate roles observed in child’s life experiences.

2.PK.3 Assume the role of a familiar person or thing and talk in the language/tone appropriate for that person or thing.

Living Love and Logic Tip #45

Neutralizing Arguments
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

 

We've all been there: You're talking to a friend or mate and suddenly, almost without warning, you feel it. The twinge. The quickened heartbeat. The feeling of exasperation, defensiveness, and the intense desire to strike out.

Intimacy - or "into me see" is dangerous business, not for the faint of heart. Allowing another person to see the real you takes courage. The risks are having your feelings hurt. The rewards are having someone close to you.

One of the many challenges of relating is the dreaded argument. We've all been there, done that. Can you remember the last time you were having a cordial conversation with a friend, colleague, or mate, and suddenly, almost without warning, tempers flared and harsh words were spoken? You didn't plan it. It just happened!

What if there was a tool you had ready to use in such a situation? Would you use it? I'll bet you would. The next time you're in a situation where you feel attacked and want to lash out, I want you to try this experiment:

1. Stop! Yes, I know this sounds simple, but I want you to practice it. Stop! Rather than say anything, or do anything, I want you to simply stop.
   
2. Look. Take a moment to look around you. Notice where you are and what is happening.

To learn the last 3 steps to this experiment click HERE! Good luck next time you are in this kind of situation!

Happy 4th of July!

We hope you all enjoyed a safe and happy 4th of July! The children have loved getting to know more about our country and the freedoms we enjoy because of the sacrifice of others. It is a great thing to witness when children get excited to display their patriotism! Bless the U.S.A!

Making Colors

Recently we have been learning more about colors. Talking about how to make colors, change the shade of colors, what happens when we mix certain colors together. Students were surveyed and predicted which color when mixed with red would make orange! It was a great peer teachign moment as one student used previous knowledge of primary colors to help students learn that red and yellow make orange!

Of course we had to test it ourselves and conducted our very own experiement of mixing colors. Wow what a fun and messy way to learn about the color wheel!

Some Nevada preschool standards addressed in the above activity include:

SCIENCE

N.PK.3
Use tools safely to observe and explore different objects/environments.

N.PK1.a
Observe their world.

N.PK1.b
Ask questions about their world.

N.PK.3
Use tools safely to observe and explore different objects/environments.

N.PK.5
Students work in small groups and shareideas with others regarding to science related activities.

ART
2.PK.4
Identify color, shape, and texture through art experiences.