Living Love and Logic Tip #51

Don't Confuse the "Uh, Oh, Song" with Time-Out
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

 

Writing about two-year-old twins, one of our followers says, "It seems lately that the tools we have used in the past are just not relating to them anymore. Our version of the 'Uh, Oh, Song' and removing them from a situation (time-out) is not relating to them these past two weeks. With them everything is, 'No.' Any suggestions?"

The solution to this problem is the consistent use of the "Uh, Oh, Song" applied exactly as prescribed instead of a version of the technique.

If you find it not being effective, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I actually singing instead of talking? Singing "Uh, oh," instead of saying it indicates that the problem is the child's problem, not the parent's problem.
   
2. Is the child staying away from the family until perfectly calm, regardless of the amount of time it takes?
   
3. Am I using the egg timer after the child proves to be calm?
   
4. Is the "egg timer time" adequate? In the event that the process doesn't seem to get the desired results, lengthen the amount of "egg timer time." Strong-willed children often need more time.

Many parents confuse the "Uh, Oh, Song" with "time-out." However, the above elements are not included in "time-out" and that is the reason why it has limited effectiveness.

The "Uh, Oh, Song" includes a number of solid psychological concepts. To see why it was developed click HERE!

Fastinating fish

 

Our teachers are so great at finding "teachable" moments and with sharing all their amazing stories that happen outside of school time. Ms. JoAnn must be awesome at fishing! She caught a great big fish and knew that the kids at HO4K's would love it!

First the students used all of their senses to discover and explore more about this great catch! It was slimy, smelly and really quite gross! But, they loved being able to learn more about fish!

 

 

After charting and discussing our observations, the students made fish prints! This was so much fun! The children took turns painting the fish, closely looking at the details of the body. The scales, bones, colors, etc. were all fascinating as they painted over the fish. Students took turns painting the fish, and then creating a print as they pressed their paper firmly to the body. What a cool art project and a great learning experience for the kids at HO4K'S!

 

 

Some of the Nevada preschool standards addressed in this activity:

Science Standards:

 

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.
L.PK.1 Investigate animals and their offspring.
 L.PK.2 Explore and identify a variety of animals and plants.
 L.PK.4 Use the five senses to explore and investigate the natural world.
L.PK.7 Identify and/or sort plants and animals by observable characteristics.

ART Standards
 1.PK.3 Use a variety of media, techniques, and processes in art activities that are of the child’s creation without a model.
 2.PK.4 Identify color, shape, and texture through art experiences.

4.PK.3 Create a work of art that expands on an experience, such as after a field trip or as a part of a
cultural event.

Remember you can always view the Nevada State Preschool Standards HERE! This is a great resource that provides clear direction in your little ones education.

Heart-centered Teaching

This article comes from ExchangeEveryDay and was so wonderful we wanted to share! Please read below:

Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.
-Chinese ProverbIt would be hard to trust gardening advice from someone whose own garden was an overgrown weed patch," observes Nancy Rosenow in the opening of the newest book in the Exchange Store, Heart-Centered Teaching Inspired by Nature. Rosenow continues...

"I suspect it's also hard for children to believe that learning is exciting and worthwhile unless the adults in their lives actually value and enjoy learning themselves. Years ago, studying to be an educator, I had no idea that the most impressive lessons I'd be delivering would come from the way I lived my own life. But that turned out to be the case. Children know authenticity when they see it, and they know pretense. They undoubtedly saw some of both in me.

"Over the years I've come to believe that those of us who work with or for children have a responsibility to nurture themselves as tenderly as we nurture the children in our care. Children deserve to be taught by people who delight in the wonders of the world and are eager to share them. Children deserve to be taught by people who teach through positive example.

"Consider: How can we help children see the world is a place of goodness and unlimited possibilities if we experience it as dreary and stifling? How can children trust us about the benefits of healthy eating and exercise if they don't choose to practice what we preach? How will we help children learn the difficult art of conflict resolution if bitter conflicts in our own relationships remain unresolved? How can we help children discover nature's gifts of joy and wonder if we rarely delight in those gifts ourselves? And perhaps the hardest question of all: How will we help children experience themselves as unconditionally loved and loving beings if we don't feel unconditionally loving toward ourselves?"


So, are you taking the time to nurture yourself? You deserve it, and so do your sweet children!

Living Love and Logic Tip #50

Chores at Home = More Success at School
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

 

Is it difficult to get your kids to help around the house? Do you have to pay them to do the dishes, clean their room, etc? This week, Dr. Charles Fay provides some easy to use techniques to get your kids to do their chores without paying, begging, or bribing them.

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Ask any veteran educator, and they'll agree:

Kids who are used to doing chores at home…without reminders, without pay, and without arguing…are far more respectful and motivated at school.

So…how's a parent actually get stubborn kids to do their fair share without resorting to begging, bribery, or full-scale warfare?

Click HERE some brief tips:

Pinatas! What FUN!

The kids have been having a blast with one of our latest projects! We love to play with gooey and messy things, so of course creating with paper mache was fun! Students learned this art process over 3 days and worked hard at properly layering the many sheets of newspaper over their balloon. This was great for patience as students had to wait each day for it to dry before applying the next layer. We couldn't wait to see what happened when the balloon inside was popped and removed!

Students used their imaginations to brainstorm different things to make out of their paper mache creations. Many decided to make colorful hats and some decided to make bowls! What great ideas they have and what incredible paper mache hats they made!

A very special Thank You to Sharline, a HO4K's mom who spent 3 mornings patiently working with our students on their paper mache projects! She was awesome! We are so lucky to have so many great parents who are always willing to help out.

Gradutaion Update!

Parents,
Don't forget that this Friday, August, 17th is graduation day at HO4K! There will be 6 children graduating this year and we will be celebrating them and all the students at HO4K. Students will have a music and movement performance with Ms Jenny and we will have a graduation ceremony with a video highlighting the graduating students and their time at HO4K. There will be refreshments and time for pictures following the celebration. Please let Mrs. JoAnn know ASAP how many family members will be attending so that we can assure plenty of seating! The ceremony will start at 7 pm and should last about an hour. We cant wait to see you and reflect on another great year with incredible students!

Living Love and Logic Tip #49

The Problem Goes Back to the Rightful Owner
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

 

Nineteen-year-old Blake was in for a surprise. While he was away for his first semester of college, his dad listened to the audio CD, Hormones and Wheels, and was ready to make some changes in his parenting style.

Dumping his bags on the floor, Blake announced, "Dad, like this trooper gave me a ticket and it's not fair. He comes up and gets like all belligerent, telling me he ought to arrest me because I was going 30 miles over the limit. I told him, 'Like lighten up, dude. There's no one else on the road and it's like what's the big deal? I know it's a work zone, but it's after hours, man.' And then he like cops a real attitude on me. So, Dad, will you just take care of the ticket and not make a big deal out of it? How am I supposed to have a good vacation if I have to go to court and mess with this?"

In the past, Dad reacted to these situations with anger, but had always bailed Blake out. No wonder Blake thought this latest brush with the law was just another minor irritation.

What a shock! Dad didn't get mad.

 

Click HERE to read the rest of this story and to see how dad reacted.

 

Friendships At HO4K

Wow! I can see friendships helping in our class:
"Establishing and sustaining friends over a lifetime is essential for individual well-being, and for emotional and social support over the life trajectory," writes Susan Danby from Australia's Queensland University of Technology in the Bernard van Leer Foundation publication, Developing Positive Identities: Diversity and Young Children.
"Friendships are important for children because friends help each other understand the world in which they live. It is known that the quality of children's friendships affects their development of a personal and social identity.... Children with friends, even one friend, have better social skills and fewer adjustment problems. Friends provide social support and can protect against the difficulties of starting school, the birth of a sibling, family conflict and different family settings, behavior troubles, victimization and bullying. Children starting school seem to like school better and adjust better if they have formed friendships."
I have two previous students who became "best friends" in my class and still are having just graduated from high school. Back then, I didn't think much of the "little friendship" but the families felt it and with support it truly did as this article says....help in many ways. Parents must always be their child's best advocate!
(Now that I think back....my dearest friendships began in my 3 year old church class, and many of us are still friends! )
Keep up the great parenting and thanks for sharing your children with me! (I always hope my students stay in touch and families continue to be my friends!)
Truly,
JoAnn