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Type In Your Name: Type In Your E-mail: Your Friend's E-mail: Your Comments: Receive copy:  Animal Den Plush Animals Shop Musicians Friend, the World’s Largest Music Gear Company - find the band and school instruments and accessories for your kids! Not Those Hormones! When puberty starts on your child, things can go pretty "whacky" for quite a long time. Your daughter will cry easily, be self-conscious, sensitive, moody, try to fit in, want to dress differently, notice boys, and much more. Your son will start looking at girls differently, will start to grow facial hair, his voice will start to change. And all of this happens without much warning, and without your child understanding what is happening to him or her. Try to engage your child in conversation when she is in the mood. Don't try to reason with a child who is too emotional - they won't "get" what you are saying. When in better mood, let her know that this is quite normal at this age, and hard to know what is happening, but it's also no excuse to be mean or rude or disrespectful. Let your child know you love him and let him know you are there for him, at any time, to support him and to talk to him. He'll react when you tell him he can't go out with his friends - stand your ground and talk to him about the why of it when he is less emotional. The hormones are raging - usually starting in around 5th grade (even in 4th for some) and up. Kids are testing their rights and freedoms. They are fighting for no good reason. They are upset with lifelong best friends. Every little thing sets off a flood of tears and emotions. Your child is starting to grow up, and you have several years to look forward to, of this. Some periods will be calmer, others quite stormy. This is a critical time to watch whom he chooses as friends. he might feel compeled to hang out with other groups (perhaps more popular, or more gloomy, or more opposite-sex crazy, etc.). If she feels like no one likes her, she will find almost any group that tries to pull her in. Many times it can also include cults - religious, or gothic, or some other. They know how to get kids to identify with them and feel accepted. Perhaps you need to help your child get more self-esteem, to be more independently happy with herself. If she is comfortable with whom she is, she won't look to others for the acceptance as easily. Keep tabs on whom your child hangs out with, and find out what other parents know about the kids - to be sure they are acceptable in your eyes. If you go to a church, promote and build up the relationships of the kids of the youth group in your church. For your own sanity, keep a good relationship with your child during these difficult years. Keep your head above water, as well. Talk to friends for moral support. Get involved in the school so that you can see what goes on, see what other kids are like - to know yours is not the only one who is so like an alien to you. You need to prepare yourself for the long haul. Be firm, be understanding, be loving, and keep the communication lines open. And pray - that can help. Pauliina Roe is mom to an athletic daughter who is also competitive. She feeds her daughter well, teaching good habits, and believes in more natural, non toxic alternatives. More can be found at http://www.abetterlife.net Volunteer to Stay in Touch Do you ever feel out of touch with your child? That you don't know who his or her friends are, or what the kids are studying in school? Why not volunteer at the school, or at the youth group, or at your kids' activities? Volunteering is a great way to see what your child does at his or her activities and school. You can meet his friends, and his teachers and coaches. You might find more out about your child and her choice of friends - maybe you'll be proud of how she picks her friends, or maybe you'll see some red flags that need to be addressed. Most kids love when his parent volunteers - especially when begun in elementary school. The child feels that you care, and he can be proud of how you use your skills in front of his friends. Some of the kids may even start to look up to you or bond with you. If you are known as a "cool" parent, all the better when the child gets to higher grades. The schools and organizations need good volunteers - it costs money to run things, and volunteers allow certain programs to continue where they might have to be abandoned otherwise. Volunteers help cut costs by offering free resources. Your expertise in something can be used at the school (perhaps in fixing computer systems, or in teaching a higher level class in math or reading) to offset costs to do this under a budget. Those dollars can then be used for better educational tools. Volunteering helps you make new friends - working with other people in getting a project going can help you bond to others. It can be fun! I worked at my daughter's school last year taking on the high level readers - they came a long way in learning how to read between the lines and get clues, where there would have been no high level class offered without volunteers. I also volunteer with the figure skating club - always helping when I can, and helping put together the ice show every year - and I get so much satisfaction from all the people who appreciate it and acknowledge me. I have made numerous friends, and have even learned new skills. Volunteering is so rewarding - for the organizations and for you. It feels good to give, and may become a lifelong habit. You might enjoy coaching soccer, as my dad did while we were growing up, though we never even played it (not a normal thing to do for girls growing up back then). We got to go to the park and hang out with the boys, and later I ended up in high school with a few of them and they remembered my dad and me - and that was nice as they were now popular! In any case, it's a great thing to volunteer - in so many ways. Volunteering also teaches your child the value of volunteering - and the concept of giving back to the school or community. Recruit your child to help you out - she might just feel a bit important in being able to do something (you might get to bring her behind the scenes while helping, where other kids can't go, or help make signs or posters and then see them hanging up). Yes, volunteering is a great way to interact with your child, and get to know more about his world. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pauliina Roe is a "skate mom" who volunteers in school, at the ice rink, at church, at swim team, and pretty much anywhere that is needed (reserving the right to say "no" when necessary). She's made great friends and has passed on the love of volunteering to her daughter (who gets behind the scenes while helping mom). More kid's and parent's stuff at the Kids' Site. Zonbu Computing – independence for the children and peace of mind for the parents SixFlags - Buy Tickets Online and Save! Six Flags Amusement Parks - Fun For the Whole Family! School Lunch or Send Your Own Lunch? If your child goes to school, chances are that a school lunch is offered - should your child bring his or her own lunch, or buy at school? Granted, school lunches have come a long way from when I was eating them, but they have also gone downhill with the invention of processed foods. There isn't much nutrition left in foods that are processed, and there is way too much sugar and sodium in processed foods. Although it is stated that all food groups are represented, the serving amounts and quality aren't usually there. Also - can you be certain your child will eat the entire meal? A better and more economical approach would be to have your child bring his or her own lunch daily, or even sometimes. If you do this, don't go buy selections of other processed foods. Make the lunches healthy. If your child loves the newest lunch fads, copy them and make your own from more healthy choices. You can easily save money by buying your own lunch ingredients rather than buying the processed food lunch kits. Always put a fresh fruit into the lunch (not canned - the child needs to eat more healthy foods and not get stuck on sugared, processed choices). Send a fresh vegetable too, like carrot sticks. Use whole grain choices for the bread product, and you can send a different type of protein source if not meat (peanut butter, for example). It's easy if you just start to think about it - if you need ideas or sample lunch ideas, see below. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pauliina Roe is a "skate mom" who volunteers in school, at the ice rink, at church, at swim team, and pretty much anywhere that is needed (reserving the right to say "no" when necessary). She's made great friends and has passed on the love of volunteering to her daughter (who gets behind the scenes while helping mom). More kid's and parent's stuff at the Kids' Site. Kid's Lunch Ideas Show your child you care by helping them make their own school lunches - the lunches at school or the lunch kits from the store aren't very good for them anyway - too many calories, sugar, salt, and too little nutitional value. Here are some ideas for kid's school lunches that my daughter loves to eat. Most of her lunches are nutritious but once in awhile she gets a fun meal to break up the week - though it's still not as bad as the other things she could be eating. Make lunches the evening before when you can so not to get rushed in the morning (although for hot foods you will need to heat them up in the morning before putting in the thermos). Send plastic spoons or forks if school doesn't provide it. You can also add a napkin and perhaps write a little love message or "have a nice day" or a riddle on it. Or make a type of "happy meal" with a little "surprise" - a small toy, or a piece of gum if the school allows. We pick something from the following list in each category and change it around to keep it interesting. Get a small thermos to hold certain types of lunches and small containers that seal airtight - affordable at Wal-Mart. Main course Our own "lunchables" - featuring whole wheat Ritz crackers, a slice of turkey lunch meat cut into 4ths, some small slices of Muenster cheese (her favorite cheese). Always put soggy items in a separate ziploc bag or an airtight container - not in the with the bread. Peanut butter & jelly or honey sandwich (some kids like smashed bananas instead of jelly) on whole wheat bread Beany Weenies - baked beans and sliced hot dogs, warmed up in a thermos A bean burrito with cheese in the thermos Taquitos sliced in half in the thermos Split pea soup or other type of soup in the thermos Ramen noodles with flavor and either mixed with hot water, or perhaps there is hot water available at school Some left-overs from a meal the child loves - perhaps spaghetti or a slice of pizza Chicken salad, or ham salad, or tuna salad and whole wheat crackers or on wheat bread with lettuce & tomato for a sandwich Fillers - yogurt, pretzels, rice cakes with peanut butter, carrot sticks, celery sticks, grape tomatoes, cheese stick, "gorp" Fruit - apple or apple slices, a banana, a pear inside of a cylindrical container so it won't get smashed up, a bag of grapes, a sealed container with strawberries or blueberries, or sliced watermelon or canteloupe or mango Dessert - oatmeal cooky, granola bar, other healthy sweet, but no candy Drink - milk in a thermos, box of fruit juice, but never a soda There you have it - come up with your own ideas and try to keep it fun and yummy & healthy. Pauliina Roe is mom to an athletic daughter who is also competitive. She feeds her daughter well, teaching good habits, and believes in more natural, non toxic alternatives. More can be found at http://www.abetterlife.net Things to do With Your Kids to Show You Care Kids need to know you care - not necessarily to know they are # 1 priority in your life (first should be relationship with God, second should be relationship with spouse, then third kids - if the first two are not in place, the child will not get the right message - after all, the world does not revolve around your child). The challenge is juggling the priority list in a world with so many demands on our time. Of course, you have to show your child you care, and you are always available to him or her in need, and at other times when appropriate (not busy with a business call or when bathing a baby, etc.). You need to pay attention to your child (or children) - notice them, before they try to get your attention - tell your child that he or she did a great job on a chore, in getting dressed, in getting a great report card. Try to use more positive reinforcement, as opposed to scolding - children often misbehave for attention - show them they get your attention for being good. A simple smile goes a long way, as well as a hug, and an "I love you." When the child wants attention, acknowledge this - either in giving the attention he or she wants, or in telling the child what time or after what task you are available for him or her. Listen to him - he has something important to say - it's not trivial to him. Acknowledge their friends, their birthdays, their activities, and their problems. If she is crying, ask why and let her tell you, without giving advice or saying it will pass - acknowledge the feelings the child has. You can bring up a "similar" episode you had, so she can know you relate - but don't give advice unless asked. Remember the names of his friends - he'll talk to you about them and you need to keep them straight. Try to relate to their passions - if he is a hockey player, remember things about hockey - they play tournaments, have periods, cross-checking, sudden death in case of ties, etc. Figure skating, on the other hand, has competitions, moves in the field, jumps (Salchow, Axel, loop, etc.), spins (camel, scratch, sit, etc.), and artistry. Swimming has meets, strokes (butterfly, breast, freestyle, and back), different lengths of races, different lengths of pools, etc. Don't mix up the terminologies - the child feels you are not paying attention. Ask him about his sport, or hobby. Pauliina Roe is mom to an athletic daughter who is also competitive. Her daughter is happy, confident, and very healthy - with goals and is purpose driven. Still, kids need interation and play. More fun outlets can be found at http://www.doubleii.com/fun.html Double ii's Services 303-349-7096 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 631746, Highlands Ranch, CO 80163 Email Privacy Policy About Us URL: http://www.doubleii.com/kids.html Sittercity Sitter Search Enter your zipcode to find a babysitter in your area: Zip Code One Letter Left? The word "restarted" - can you remove one letter from it to make a new word, then take another letter off and get yet another word, and so on until there is only one letter left, still making yet a different word? The answer is "restarted" - remove one letter from it to make a new word, then take another letter off and get yet another word, and so on until there is only one letter left, still making yet a different word: restarted, restated, restate, estate, state, sate, sat, at, a Visit here for MORE Mind Twisters! Home  About  Newsletter  Privacy Policy  Contact Us   Quality Links