5 Awesome Books To Read to Your Toddler

Four Children reading Dr. Seuss




1. I SPY by Jean Marzollo

This book has many pictures and riddles. It is great for toddlers learning coordination. Items are displayed in different areas on the page. As you read, your toddler can be encouraged to see where the items are located on that page.

2. The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone

This story is about a red hen that attempted to illicit the help of her friends that lived in the house with her. They did not want to help her clean, do any household chores, or even chores outside. So when she cooked a beautiful cake, everyone in the household could smell it. They all wanted some of it. To their surprise she said since she baked it all by herself, she would eat it by herself down to the last morsel. After that everyone in the household was very helpful around the house. This story has also been presented at the Whiting Auditorium in Flint, Michigan.

3. Scribble by Deborah Freedman

This is a story of a little boy that scribbles over his friend’s picture. He was actually quite mean to her, telling her the princess she drew was not pretty. But then he seemingly enters into a world of scribbling where he actually rescues a princess. After the experience, his attitude changes and he admits to his friend that her picture actually was pretty. He unscrambles her picture.

4. The Bravest Knight by Mercer Mayer

A young boy imagines if he lived a thousand years ago all of the things that he would be able to do. He imagines shining his knights armor, his knight rescuing him, he would guard his knight’s animals, and much more. He truly has a vivid imagination.


5. Marley Goes To School by John Grogan

As a child, I remember my dog following me to the store and waiting patiently outside until I came out. This is a story about a dog named Marley that is determined to go to school and find his master Cassie. He digs a hole under the fenced yard. It depicts the numerous events that he goes through before finding Cassie. Some of the events include going to the cafeteria, going to the gymnasium, chasing the ball, and an episode with the principal of the school.

The library has numerous books that you toddler can choose from. Why not go today? Would you share this article with someone else?

Photocaption: Wikipedia.com

Why Volunteer at Your Preschoolers School

Kindergarten Class in Alanya a city in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey




1. Classroom

Most teachers welcome volunteers in the classroom. By volunteering in the classroom, you get to see first hand what lessons and materials that are introduced to your child. You get to be an active part of this experience. Most children just seem to do better in school when there is more parent involvement. The presence of a parent is a major key role in children learning.

2. Lunch Program

Some parents might want to volunteer to help out during lunch time. Helping to serve the meals to the students, can be a great experience for parent and child. This also helps the school, because many times they may be short staffed.

3. Community

By volunteering you are giving back to your community. Always remember if you are not part of the solution, then maybe you should not complain. Teachers and administrators just cannot do it all by themselves. It does take a community to help children develop. Why not start with the parents volunteering. You cannot just send your children off to school and expect that to be the end of it. You need to be involved. You need to see what your child is doing. You need to see when your child is interacting with others. How well does he/she interact? Is he/she social or shy?

4. Lead By Example

When you volunteer at your child’s school you are leading by example. This is the greatest teaching tool that you could use. Your child will see this and hopefully this will become ingrained in his/her character that this is what responsible adults do. They give back to the community. They give their time freely, not always expecting money or monetary fame in return.

There are many volunteer programs that are available. Volunteers are always needed somewhere.

Are You Raising a Monster?

New King James Bible


1. Temper Tantrums & Training.

Proverbs 22:6- Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. In an attempt to control you and also to show their dissatisfaction, children may throw temper tantrums. Unless they are corrected, they will continue to do so. Children need to know that this is not acceptable behavior and that there are consequences for such behavior. Let them know there are other ways to voice their displeasures or disagreements. Let them know that just because they disagree, it does not always mean they are going to get their way and that their way is the only way. Let them know that there may be possible alternatives. Training is of utmost important. Children are going to “try you.” They are going to test and see “how much they can do” before you restrict them or say something to them regarding their behavior. This is where training comes in. Your actions and how you deal with his/her behavior is a determining factor in the training that your child will receive.

2. Too much Too Soon

1st John 2:16 - The lust of the flesh, eyes, and the pride of life. While training your child keep in mind not to give your child too much too soon. Sometimes when a child is given too many material things, the child will not appreciate it. Just because your child may ask you for it, does not mean that you have to give it to him/her. Sometimes that child might appreciate it more when they have to work for it. Your child might appreciate it more when, he/she has a vested interest in purchasing or getting something that he or she wants. Think about it. Are you raising a monster?

3. Purchases Luke 22:15- One’s life should not consist of the abundance of possessions. Each time you make a visit to the store are you purchasing your child a toy or a game? You need to be mindful of doing that. Sometimes, children will eventually expect that and even get seriously upset if they are not receiving a toy or a game each time you visit. It is a waste for your child to have 20 -30 games or more. It is a waste to have so many games that they never get a chance to play even half of them. It is a waste for your child to have 40 or 50 dolls.

4. Time vs. Material

Ecclesiastes 3:1- There is a time and season for everything. Take the time to give your child quality time as opposed to many material things. This may be the time and season for you to do this. Remember it is not always how much time that you spend with your child, but the quality of that time. The quality can make all the difference in the world. Have you taken time to just listen to your child today? Have you taken time to enjoy your child today?

Resources:

Back to the Bible - Training Children

Teaching Home, Home-School Basics, Child Training

Training Your Child For Success

Are You Training Your Child To Use Time Wisely?

Giant Ant Hill In Africa





1. Small But Wise - Proverbs 30:24-25

Have you ever observed the ants? Although they are small in size, they prepare and store their food in the summer for the winter. They are wise in many ways. We can learn from them. Are you preparing for the future? You cannot plan everything, but you can allow your child to observe you planning ahead. Remember worrying is a waste of time. Worrying does nothing to help you. Ants worker smarter not harder. Ants work as a team and communicate. Do we communicate effectively? Do we use team work with our family? Remember your child is watching you.

2. Time is Limited

Our life is but a vapor. Have you ever recorded what you do in a day? Try it. You might be shocked at what your daily activities consist of. You might want to change your activities after you take a look at it on paper. Remember no one receives more hours in a day than another person does. Does your child know that you plan a schedule or an agenda? Remember your child is looking at you. Whether you realize it or not you are training your child to use time wisely or unwisely. If you do not have an agenda or daily plan, you may find yourself accomplishing nothing.



Time









3. Unproductive Employee Proverbs 18:9

Have you ever observed an employee that lacks initiative and cannot be depended on to follow through on anything ? Are you that type of employee? Depending on the type of culture you work in, an employer might not tolerate such behavior. Remember whether you want to or not, you are training your child to use time wisely or unwisely. Your child is watching you. You can determine the type of employee that your child might become. Ever watch your child play house? Many times you will see them acting just like you, pretending to be you. Hopefully, It is in a positive manner, but many times children pick up the negatives much quicker for some reason.



Unproductive Employee






4. Habitually Late

This is one of my favorite subject and pet peeves. Have you known people that are habitually late for everything, including, work, school, church, or other events? Are you one of those people? Remember your child is watching you. If time is not important to you, it may turn out it is not important to your child. People that are late all the time are only concerned with themselves and their needs or wants. Think about it. That is very selfish. If that were not so, they would be on time. The habitually late person does not understand the value of time. Time is so precious. Once it is gone you cannot get it back. Have you heard the expression, “He would be late for his own funeral?” That is a sad conception.



Businessman running late







Do you know someone that might benefit from reading this articles?

Resources:

http://everydaychristian.com/work/story/90/

http://www.studygs.net/timman.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/time-management/WL00048

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cambridge-United-Kingdom/Keep-Time-For-Children/66346476849

Captions: photo search.com and istock.com

Have You Shared Your Failures With Your Child lately

Money Over The World


1. Wealthy

Possibly you might consider yourself rich or middle class. Were you born into riches? Were you born into money or a wealthy family? Possibly you had to earn your wealth. A young child might not realize this. Does your child know that you worked hard for your money? Does your child know that you have not always had a large house, boat, snowmobile, or RV camper? Have you shared some of the failures and hard times that you went through to get to this point?

A friend once stated that her children told their friends that they were rich. She had to sit her children down and asked them why they thought they were rich. The children said, “We get everything that we want and need?” Right then she explained to them the sacrifices that she made for them to get some of the things that they had. They were things such as putting clothing in the layaway, skimping on grocery items, not going to the beautician, saving for special events, and much more.



Luxury Automobile




2. Welfare

Has there been an occasion when you were on welfare? Have you shared this with your child, now that you have a good job, a nice car, and money in the bank? Why not share that with your child? Your child is possibly looking at you thinking that you have always had a good job and money. I love the fact that the well known T.D. Jakes shared in one of his sermons that he & his wife was once on welfare and his wife stood by him during this time. He shared that he remembered where he came from.

3. Washer and Dryer

Does your child know that you have not always had a washer and dryer, but that you at one time went to the Laundromat and traveled there in a cab because you did not have a car? Share your failure of failing to plan properly. Have you shared that there were times that you could not make it to the Laundromat so you had to hand wash cloth diapers, because you did not have money to buy pampers at the time? You are actually sharing facts about yourself.

4. Automobile and/or bus

Does your child know that you have not always had several vehicles? Does your child know about your first vehicle? Possibly your first vehicle was an old used vehicle, that was useful to get you where you needed to be. Possibly you had to save lunch money to purchase your first vehicle. Your child needs to hear sacrifices that you made to get where you are today. Also, does your child realize that before you acquired your first vehicle you needed to ride the city bus? The bus was your only source of transportation. Has your child even rode on a city or school bus?




City Bus






Note:

Children like to know that you are not perfect. You should show your child this. Children want to know that you have made mistakes too. Children can better understand when you share with them that you have been there and done that.

Would you be willing to share this article with someone else?

How To Identify The Signs of a Good Mother

A Mother Provides Protection







1. Nurturing, Unconditional Love, and Protection

A good mother might have a combination of qualities. One quality that stands out in my mind is nurturing. It takes a special person to be able to nurture another. She does not have to have an educational degree nor talk eloquently to be a nurturer, but she does care and she is not afraid to show it. Also, a child will know and feel this. Children know when mother’s care about them. Children are vulnerable. They need your protection. We must do everything within our power to let no hurt or harm come to our children. This includes spiritual, emotional and physical protection.


2. Physical Contact

Hugging, kissing, and telling your child you love them, hopefully started when your child was a baby. As your child develops into a young lady or man, they still need your love, hugs and kisses. No matter how old they get. A good mother knows this. She also knows that no matter how old her child gets that is still her child. A good mom encourages a mom and daughter relationship. She never gives up on that son or daughter, even though she still holds them accountable for their actions.

3. Adoption

Adoptive parents usually have so much to give, because even though they might not have been able to conceive, they still have an abundance of love, caring, and joy to give to some child. So it does not matter that they are not the biological parent, because they have the need to give and care for that child just as though they had conceived him/her.

4. Letting Go

A good mother knows when to hold on and when to let go of the “apron strings.” She knows when to use tough love. She does so not necessarily because she wants to, but because she has to in order for her child to become a responsible adult. She knows to train that young man to respect women and to train that daughter to not accept the first man that comes along and says “baby I love you.” A good mother explains her expectations to her child.

Do you know a good mother that you can talk about?

Photo caption: Wikipedia.org

How To Recognize If Your Toddler Is A Leader

Two young boys reading.




1. Teaching.

Have you ever observed your toddler playing with others? Does your toddler want to follow instruction or rather take the lead to teach and instruct? This is a sign of effective leadership.

2. Different.

Does your toddler stand out, indicating that he or she wants to be different and make a difference?

3. Take the Lead.

Leaders will usually take the lead without being told. When with a group of children, will your toddler automatically take the lead and not think twice about doing so? Does he or she speak up for the “underdog?” What is in your toddler’s heart will come out. They cannot hold their piece. This type of toddler’s self-esteem is just the opposite of the low self-esteemed child. This toddler is very confident and bold like a lion.


4. Questioning.

Is your toddler curious? Does your toddler not accept everything he or she is told, but rather question certain things? Does your toddler show independence “wanting to do it themselves?” These are all leadership qualities. Believe it or not there are those toddlers that are just as content to set back and let someone else do it.

Below is a video of a study done with several different schools in Ontario, by Denese Belchetz, Coordinating Superintendent, York Region DB. It is titled “All Children Can Achieve Leadership Matters.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw8GbkvJ4QA



Another interesting video below is “The Leader in Me.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC3SuQeQ84o




Please feel free to comment in the area below. Do you have a toddler that shows leadership ability?

How to Be a Good Influence On Your Child

Father and son at the supermarket checkout




1. In the Store.

Have you ever gone to the store and receive too much change back? Did your child witness this? Did you promptly give the cashier the overpayment, or did you keep it and say to yourself, “She should learn how to count.” You knew keeping the money was wrong, but you did it anyway, knowing the cashier’s register would come up short at the end of the day.


Curse Bubble




2. Cursing.

Have you ever cursed to yourself aloud? Have you cursed someone else in front of your child? This is a bad influence on your child. I am guilty of this. I used to have a foul mouth. In fact, it was more like diarrhea of the mouth. One day my adolescent daughter had a confrontation while outside with one of her friends. The words I heard come out of her mouth was an eye opener for me. I wanted to get mad, but realized she was doing what she had heard me do.


3. Lying.

Has your child witnessed you telling a lie to someone? That is a no-no. How can you expect your child not to lie, when you do it? That old saying, “do as I say, not as I do” does not work with children.

4. Fighting.

Has your child witnessed you verbally or physically fighting with your spouse or someone else? This definitely sends the wrong message to your child. I went up to the preschool one day and security ran out the door stating, “Two parents are in the parking lot fighting.” What type of message does this send the preschoolers who are just starting in the school system?


Father and mother fighting as children listen





Think about the above incidents and how they could have been handled. What would you have done differently?

Tips:

Choose your battles carefully

Display the type of behavior that you want your child to emulate.

Know that you have the power to influence your child for the good.

Please feel free to comment in the comment area below. What are your thoughts on this?