Arizona Mama

Independence!

Q. What can I do to keep my child from clinging to me and to foster her independence?

A. As strange as this may sound, be a detective during each time it happens. Then help your child through each individual situation.

Be a detective. Every time the problem happens, do your best to figure out what is disturbing or unpleasant for your child in the particular situation. If you can, do whatever you can to remove the problem. In most cases, staying with your child until he/she feels comfortable enough to join the group or play on his/her own will make all the difference in the world. Here are some common possible situations.

·        A big family gathering

·        A park or playground

·        A children’s party

Good Green Fun!

Here is a fun green game from Make Your Own Preschool Games that will help build your child’s physical skills.

Moving and Dancing to the Music, p.62

Objective: To teach your child to get exercise and fun from music.

About the Game: Dance music is readily available on the radio.

How to Play: Turn the radio on to music with a good beat. Then have fun dancing. Feel free to copy each other, do different steps, or enjoy each other as dance partners.

Dr. Sally

For parenting insight…

www.drsallyparenting.com

 

July Patriotism

Good Morning!

I just returned from a terrific vacation in Boston. During the last week in June American flags were visible everywhere. Massachusetts in general and Boston in particular are two of the most patriotic places in our nation.

The statehouse in downtown Boston glistened from its gold domed roof. Plymouth Rock stood proudly as a monument of where the pilgrims first landed in the New World.

No matter where you went, you saw flags and other red, white and blue reminders of our great country and how it remains our "land of opportunity."

Back here in AZ the flags and colors flew too. Barbeques and family gatherings dotted the countryside.

Our family enjoyed a traditional cookout with friends. Red, white and blue colors adorned our tables. While we were a group of adults, I couldn't help thinking about the golden opportunity every family was having to instill in their children important American history and pride in our country.

If you taught your child something meaningful over this holiday, please share. I am sure every mom and dad everywhere would like to get some ideas for enriching their child's understanding of colonies, presidents, the Revolutionary War and more.

 

Dr. Sally

For parenting insight...

www.drsallyparenting.com

 

 

Father's Day Reflections

The month of dad is just about over. Do you have any special reflections to share?

Here’s one from a brand new granddad.

For the first time I sent a Father’s Day card to my son who is now a dad. How can my own son be a dad? Better than that, “How can my own son be such a great dad?”

Parenting is work, but the joys, thrills, and rewards make it all worthwhile.

What special experiences have you shared with a son or father this month?

Good Green Fun!

Here is a fun green game from Make Your Own Preschool Games that teaches will enrich your child’s physical skills.

Exercise Stations, p.9

Objective: To teach your child how to do aerobic exercise in a small space.

About the Game: There are several active movements that can be done in place. Here are three popular ones: running, jumping, and jumping jacks. You may think of others like hopping, if that is something he/she particularly likes to do.

How to Play: Take three sheets of copy paper and write with a marker in large clear letters a different movement on each piece of paper. Place each paper in a different corner of the room. Take turns doing what it says on each piece of paper. Count to ten as you and your child do the actions. Then move to a different sheet of paper. Again, count to ten as you and your child each do the actions. Continue play as long as you both keep your interest in the game.

Dr. Sally

For parenting insight…

www.drsallyparenting.com

 

Being A Couple!!

 

Q. Are there any special things to know about being a dad?

A. Yes, Day in And Day out!

Be a Couple. Just as you support each other with your parenting, remember to support each other as a couple. It is the first and most important relationship your child will see, and its impact will last forever.

Good Green Fun!

Here is a fun green game from Make Your Own Preschool Games that will enrich your child’s cognitive skills.

Find the Number, p.9

Objective: To teach your child number sense and number concepts from one to ten.

About the Game: By playing a manipulative game, your child will see that any particular number is always in the same position on the number line. Your child will have many hands-on experiences with these cards and therefore grow in his/her knowledge of number concepts.

How to Play: Use two sets of ten 31/2” x 5” index cards numbered from 1 -10 with large clear numerals on them. Draw or use stick-on dots to place the corresponding number of dots on the back of each card. Place one set of cards in a line on a table, number side up in ascending order. Mix up the second set of cards and place them in a pile, number side up.

            Have your child draw the first card from the pile and say the number on it. Tell him/her to find the match on the number line of cards and to place it on top of the match. Take your turn and continue to play until all the cards from the pile have been correctly matched.

            A more advanced version of the game is to match the dot sides of the cards to the number line of cards. In addition, you can use the number side of the cards to match a dot-side number line. You can also make more of these cards and continue the game with cards up to 20.

            Carrying this game to the highest level, you can place one set of cards out to be a number line and then set up two sets of the dots cards from one to five in a pile. Then take turns with your child picking two dots cards at a time. Count the dots on the two cards together and then place them on the correct number card on the number line.

Dr. Sally

For parenting insight…

www.drsallyparenting.com

 

Dad is a Partner!!

 

Q. Are there any special things to do as a dad?

A. Yes, Day in And Day out!

* Be the best partner you can be. Show respect to Mom for the great job she does. In addition, demonstrate appreciation for her all the time. Acknowledge the effort, and love she gives to your child… in her own special way every day.

* Make time everyday to sit together and hear about the fine work each of you do on behalf of your family unit. Your respect for each other will grow. Decide together about the new responsibilities that come up and about the best ways to handle them. Be sure to say “Thank you” to each other for all the jobs that were well done. Your appreciation for each other will show greatly and make a big difference to you both.

Here is a fun green game from Make Your Own Preschool Games that teaches will enrich your child’s language skills.

Letter Cards

Objective: To teach your child the letters of the alphabet.

About the Game: Having a set of letter cards will provide you with many different ways to teach your child the letters.

How to Play: Make yourself a set of 13 letter cards with the 26 letters placed back-to-back from A to Z. Use 31/2” x 5” index cards as the base and place stick-on capital letters that you can get in a dollar store or an office supply store on the cards. Hole-punch each card in one of the upper corners and tie twelve-inch yarn loops in each of those holes.

                You can use the alphabet cards like toys. Hang them on doorknobs or other places or hide them for play. Trace your finger around each letter the way you would write it and show your child how to do the same. Place them on objects that start with the matching letter like a D on a doorknob, a B on a book, or a T on a table.

Dr. Sally

For parenting insight…

www.drsallyparenting.com

 

Being A Dad...

  

Q. Are there any more particular qualities that go with being a dad?

A. Yes, Day in And Day out!

Be yourself. As your child’s first and most important teacher, be sure to share all you want and all you can with your child. Bring your world to your child as much as you can.

Work

Tell your child as much about your work as you can… at just the right level. Teach any and all skills related to it… at the right level and in a fun and meaningful way. Have your child meet as many work friends as is appropriate and comfortable.

Play

Share your hobbies. Create new ones for you and your child to do together. Use your free time to enjoy shared experiences with your child as much as possible.

 

Here is a fun green game from Make Your Own Preschool Games that teaches respect and appreciation.

The Please Game

Objective: To teach your child to give and receive respect by using the word “please.”

About the Game: You can play this game at home or in any setting where you and your child have time to spend together.

How to Play: Take turns thinking up sentences to say to each other using the word “please” in each sentence. Here are some examples:

·         Please pass the book.

·         Please tie my shoe.

·         Please hold my hand

·         Please read me a story.

Take turns and have fun thinking up different actions you would like each other to do.

Dr. Sally

For parenting insight…

www.drsallyparenting.com

That's My Dad!

 

Q. Are there any particular qualities that go with being a dad?

A. Yes, Day in And Day out!

If you are a dad, here are important guidelines to help you enjoy your role.

·         You are not a substitute mom. You are an equal partner on the parenting team. You provide the masculine part, while mom provides the feminine part. Even if you both share some of the same home jobs and responsibilities, each of you can and should perform those jobs and responsibilities in your own special ways.

·         You are both your child’s first and most important teachers. While one of you may be more feminine and one more masculine, you both provide your own special kind of teaching.

·         You and Mom provide four different kinds of relationships for your child.

o        A mother relationship,

o        A father relationship,

o        A mother-father relationship

o        How mother and father relate to each other.

Exercise and Fun is here!

Play “Warm Up, Cool Down,” the first activity in Make Your Own Preschool Games.

How green is this? You can play it on your favorite green grass area or inside.

1.       Warm Up, Cool Down, p. 60

Objective: To teach your child how to do an aerobic activity.

How to Play: Either outside or inside find a large area where you and your child can move around in an active way. Select an agreed-upon activity from this list—running, jumping, skipping, and galloping. Then take turns. Let your child be active first, and you give the directions. Here is an example: You say something like this, “Run—slow, fast, slow.” Watch your child follow your directions. After your child goes, agree on another selection from the list. Then have your child give you the directions. Here is an example: He/she says something like this, “Jump—10 times.” Repeat this game with the other selections from the activity list. Play as long as you both continue to have fun.

Sally Goldberg, Ph.D.

For parenting insight…

www.drsallyparenting.com

 

Make your own preschool games!

Make Your Own Preschool Games is a parenting book about using simple materials from around the house to play with children.

With Make Your Own Preschool Games as your guide, you can actively promote cognitive, motor, social, and language skills that will make a difference in your child’s readiness for formal, academic learning.

And you can do all that with the three R’s:

·          Reduce the number of toys and games your child needs.

·          Re-use many different items in your house as playthings.

·          Re-cycle different kinds of cards, paper, and plastic containers into toy and game activities.

Check each week for new game ideas that come directly from the book Make Your Own Preschool Games. You will find a different skill area featured each time.

TODAY’S FEATURE

Cognitive Skill Area

Game: Recognizing Shapes, p. 15

Objective: To teach your child to recognize basic shapes.

About the Game: Circles, squares, and rectangles are all around. Triangles, hexagons, and other shapes are there too, but they are harder to find. This detective work will lay the initial groundwork for success in geometry.

How to Play: Start with a simple shape like a circle, square, or rectangle and make the activity into a treasure hunt. Take turns looking for examples of these items in your room. Here are some possible circles to find:

·          Plates

·          Knobs

·          Bottle caps

·          Glasses

·          Tables

Here are some possible squares:

·          Windows

·          CD cases

·          Boxes

·          Tables

Here are some possible rectangles:

·          Doors

·          Windows

·          Books

·          Tables

There are many items in these shapes. Some will be hard to find at first, but as you continue to look, you will continue to find more and more.

Enjoy!

Check back next week for another green game. It will be from the Motor Skill area. Look for the upcoming “Exercise and Fun” activity.

Ancient Chinese Proverb

Good Morning!

While Mother's Day is behind you, I hope your happy moments of appreciation are still within you. Here is a Chinese Proverb that I hope will help you to keep the light in your soul.

Ancient Chinese Proverb:

If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person.

If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house.

If there is harmony in the house, there will will be order in the nation.

If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.

Mother's Day Reflections: I invite you to share with "Arizona Mama" any special moments you experienced. Here is a note I received from one of my friends and got permission to share:

"My grown daughter sent me a magnificent bouquet of flowers. It included six red roses and a beautiful array of other colorful long-stem flowers. I loved looking at all the flowers with the many good wishes they represented, but most of all I liked reading the note of appreciation and its special ending with the simple but powerful words "I love you!"

Dr. Sally

For parenting insight....

www.drsallyparenting.com

Good Morning!

I thought you might like some tried and tested parenting ideas. Each and every way that you interact effectively with your children makes life go more smoothly for everyone.

Parenting Tip - Including Children

Include your child as much as possible in your life’s activities. All positive time works in your favor as a bonding technique.

Example:

You are getting ready to go to the grocery store. First you check your cupboards and your refrigerator. Then you write your list. After that you gather all that you need for your child. As you check the cupboards and refrigerator, write your list, and gather your necessary belongings, you can say things like:

“We seem to be low on cereal. Do you have a favorite kind?”

“What kind of fruit should I buy this week?

“Here is your chalkboard with chalk in case you want to use it in the car.”

Have fun as you share time together. You can talk about the day, sing favorite songs, and make up games as you think of them. All positive time together plays a major role in preventing negative behavior.

Parenting Advice – Use Humor

Use your sense of humor to handle as many situations as possible.

When you ask something like,

“Why did you unravel that whole roll of toilet paper?”

And you get an answer like,

“I wanted to see how the first piece is attached to the roll.”

It is definitely better to laugh than to get mad… better for everyone!

Enjoy this technique of inquiring about the motivation behind an unexpected behavior. It is amazing how childhood thinking often makes sense.

Parenting Insight – Be a person and not a god.

We all make mistakes and have difficulties. As you teach your child, show your understanding and support.

Example:

“It is hard to remember to take to school everything you need for the whole day. I sometimes go back home two or three times before I have each item I need for every meeting. I always do better when I get my work bag ready the night before.”

NOTE: These and other parenting ideas can also be found on www.mommyperks.com/drsally. I invite you to visit that blog for many more practical suggestions.