Parenting | Growing Pains

How To Encourage Your Teenaged Child To Study Harder?

Parents often face trouble with their teenage children because they fail to understand that old methods of communicating with their children will no longer work with their teenaged child. Many gifted students stop studying during their teenaged years because they feel unappreciated by their parents.

When your child is young, he or she may want to excel in studies to make you happy. However, when teenage arrives, the child begins to develop his or her own identity and develops an ego. In such a scenario, the child may not be interested in getting good grades simply to satisfy you. Rather, he or she may focus on self-satisfaction and adopt a more selfish approach.

Many parents make the mistake of taking their children’s obedience for granted. They presume that the child should do well in school because they have done a favor by being a good parent for the child. Well, do you think you would appreciate such a sentiment? Obviously not.

As your child grows, you should set up a quid pro Quo system where you appreciate the child for efforts made and acknowledge that the child is going to benefit a lot in the future from his or her efforts. Instead of demanding good grades as a right, you should express appreciation that the child is considerate enough to work hard for you. That is the right way to motivate your teenaged child to continue being a good student despite the physical and emotional changes in the teen’s life.

Filed Under: Child Development, Education, Parenting Tagged With: Adolescence, Child, Parent

Gifted Children – More or Deeper?

Image via Wikipedia

As more and more attention is focused on keeping students up to par and not leaving any behind, we seem to be leaving some behind where they might be otherwise. Gifted children often slide through only accomplishing a portion of what they are capable of doing.

Recognizing the Gifted

As students start in kindergarten or maybe first grade, they move along learning new things, adapting to the new environment of being in traditional schools and learning how to get along with others their own age. They are often caught up in the newness of the experience that they stay focused on one thing or another. As they progress on to other grades changes occur. Teachers need to be trained to differentiate the gifted bored student from the students who are behind. Some students are out ahead, getting done with the assignments in record time, and doing them correctly. Other students fall behind, not being able to pay attention, not understanding the material etc. Unfortunately, several from both groups become bored and begin causing problems in the classroom.

Faster? More? Deeper?

It is a great thing to see gifted programs being established where hopefully students can give some expression to their gift for academic achievement. Just because a student is a gifted learner doesn’t necessarily mean they have more time or have more patience for more work. To some students it appears like punishment. Gifted students need to be able to explore more deeply, see more applications to what they are learning and be able to receive answers to the more difficult questions they come up with during the learning process.

Filed Under: Education, Parenting Tagged With: Gifted education, Intellectual giftedness, Learning

Activities to Supplement Your Child’s Education

Image via Wikipedia

As a parent, your children often overwhelm your life. This can be compounded by the stress of having a special needs child or the need to encourage a child who is older or gifted. Learning some effective tools to manage your stress can help, as can encouraging a child to live up to their potential. Using rewards, praise, and positive influence can help any parent deal with their children while maintaining their own sanity.

Special needs children, as well as gifted or older children, have their set of needs and respond differently. Utilizing special activities and awards can be helpful. The key is determining the most effective method of encouraging your particular child. Consider, for example, a special needs girl who is struggling with learning to read. Using a book, such as ‘Angelina Ballerina’ in combination with a special gift, such as ballerina doll shoes, can provide the child with a reward while encouraging them to read.

This same concept can be used for any child; the secret is determining what motivates your particular child and finding a suitable activity. Gifted children may respond a museum or library trip. Special needs children may be better suited to educational games. Take the time to find out what your child considers an award.

Remember that job number one of every mommy is learning the fine art of encouraging a child. Learning how to do this will not only help prepare your child for a more successful life, it will help you better manage potentially stressful children. Being a mommy doesn’t have to mean being frustrated.

Filed Under: Education, Parenting Tagged With: Child, Intellectual giftedness, Special needs

Encouragement is Free

While there are so many things that parents today want to give their child, encouragement is one of the most important. As you look around chances are that you are bombarded with all types of products and services that insist that you need them in order to be a better parent. Some of these things may really work but just taking the time to say uplifting words to your child is completely free and priceless all at the same time.

Don’t worry about being eloquent. Kids, no matter what their age, would rather have your sincerity than a long list of words that sound nice but don’t mean anything. Just begin to look for an opportunity to give them a little boost. Your daughter sits at the table working through a complicated math problem and can’t quite seem to figure it out. Take the time to sit down with her, look her in the eye, and tell her that you know she can do it. Help her work through the problem, but when she finds success, encourage it!

If your son is struggling with a decision that he is making about school or an extra curricular activity take the time to listen to each option he is considering. You’ll get insight as to where he is coming from. As a parent, you may want to jump in and tell him just what to do because you see the big picture; you see what is best for him. But give him the chance to work it out himself and encourage him by letting him know that you believe he will make the best decision.

Filed Under: Child Development, Parenting Tagged With: Child, Family, Parent

Keeping Older Children Dressed in Style

There comes a point in time when children begin to come around to the realization that there is a set fashion and style for their age group. Different individuals come to this conclusion at different ages but for the most part it happens when they get older. Typically, certain brands become popular and you may be wondering how much you should give into your kid’s clothing desires. Should you go out and purchase them a brand new wardrobe? What are the other options?

Older children have a desire to fit in with their friends and when everyone else is wearing Coogi pants, they want to as well. In order to save money, consider buying them a few key pieces from the collection in order to give them a start. They can always pair their brand name clothes with other pieces in their closet. This will get them on the right track to keeping up with their peers in style and still make some of their current wardrobe usable.

There are benefits to buying well made, brand name clothes. While they may cost a little more, they do tend to last longer. Older children reach a point when their growth spurts have taken a break and they stay a consistent weight and height for an extended amount of time. At this point, clothes that will last and will hold up well, wash after wash, will be beneficial. In the end, spending a little more on quality clothing items end up saving you money in the long run.

Filed Under: Child Development, Parenting Tagged With: Mommy/Gifted students/Older children/Stress of a having a special child/Encouraging a child

Stages of a Child’s Moral Compass

Children somewhere between the ages of seven and twelve already know about the rules they must follow in school and at home. They are able to use moral judgment when deciding whether to engage in certain activities that breaks the rules. They can reason that although they may enjoy the activity, the punishment if caught, is not worth it. They also know that parents, school officials, and law enforcement officials have power over them, and can enforce the rules if need be.

As children progress from the middle years into the preteen years, they experience the consequences of breaking the rules or going against the moral code set forth by their parents. Additionally, they feel good about themselves when helping others, when doing what others expect of them. They know they gain approval when they follow rules.

Because of the experiences they have already gone through, this preteen stage allows them to understand why adults put rules and morals codes in place. When they get into trouble, they may place the blame on someone or something else. They may even feel guilty during this phase when they break a rule or if they do something that, they believe is wrong.

This is a great time for parents to discuss with their preteen the importance of doing what is right and giving examples of what can happen when they do something wrong. It is significant because by the time children reach the teen years, they gain a full understanding of the moral compass their parents set forth for them, and becomes the perfect time for them to disagree and rebel against the rules. Fortunately, for most parents, this rebellious stage only lasts until the teen reaches adulthood.

Filed Under: Child Development, Parenting Tagged With: Adolescence, Morality, Parent

What Parents can do for Discouraged Teenagers

Changes teenagers go through cause them to experience a roller coaster of high and low periods. Teenagers that spend more time in a low period than a high one cannot always put their finger on what is bothering them. Fortunately, for most teenagers, these feelings fade away over time. There are ways parents can help them until it does.

Parents need to remain consistent in encouraging their teen. Parents can put emphasis on the many areas where their teenager excels, and spend more time helping them work on areas where they may struggle. They can also look for ways to compliment their teen at various times to build up their self-esteem. Parents may ease their teenager’s stress by engaging in activities the teenager enjoys doing with their parents, more often.

Everyone becomes discouraged at some point in his or her life, though for teenagers, it can seem like the end of the world, because they believe they are the only ones who feel that way. All teenagers go through this and it is perfectly normal.

Another good way to relieve a teen’s feelings of inadequacy is to arrange for a get-together with several of the teens’ friends they consider trustworthy. They can make a list of their attributes and their faults, as they see them, and share these with the group. This will initiate conversations between them where they can encourage each other. Additionally, it will help teens to see that they are not alone in their feelings.

Encouraging others when they are down comes easy for adults and teens alike. Making this a regular activity will help your teenager to see that by encouraging others, they can help themselves through the rough patches.

Filed Under: Child Development, Parenting Tagged With: Adolescence, Parent, Teenagers

Staying on Top of Your Taxes

It seems as if every year the IRS rolls out a significant amount of changes to the tax seems like 20 to 30 pages of tax changes. This can be extremely frustrating for many parents as many changes affect what can and cannot be claimed on their taxes. This also means that should you accidentally claim something that the newest tax laws do not allow, it could land you in trouble. No one wants to end up paying penalties for not paying taxes because of a confusion about the current state of the tax law. Even worse is the dreaded tax audit. This is why it is important that parents keep up to date on the latest tax news.

Parents who stay up to date on the latest tax news avoid facing a penalty for not filing and they also can avoid becoming a target for a tax audit. There are two ways to stay on top of the latest tax news and information when it comes to what can and cannot be declared on taxes.

First, parents are encouraged to look for tax information on the IRS website. The IRS website offers all the information and guides that you will need to understand the tax laws, including answers to common questions. The website also offer a section that is completely devoted to tax changes. This is the best and most accurate place to get your information on tax changes that have happened.

Second, there are hundreds of tax blogs on the Internet and many offer advice as well as the latest information on any changes in tax laws. It is important to look for a reliable tax blog such as one offered by a tax preparation service or a tax attorney, in order to make sure you get reliable information.

Filed Under: Financial Planning, Parenting Tagged With: Internal Revenue Service, Tax, TurboTax

Repairing Your Computer’s Registry from a Child’s Curiosity

Computers can be a great tool if you have children. Kids love to interact with computers, as they do with educational toys, but are unaware of the internal workings of them. Even if they are careful, children can inadvertently cause problems with the system, even by harmlessly clicking on things with the mouse. The colors and sounds make for a ball of fun when they are playing on the computer. Even when problems arise, parents might think it is a virus, but changes to the Windows Registry can cause issues that can be just as bad. There is registry cleaning software to take care of this, including PC Tools Registry Software, so you can fix any glitches that might be slowing your computer down.

While viruses can slow down a computer, they are not the only thing that can do so. Every Windows computer has a registry which logs anything from programs and helper programs that can be used by a number of applications, to websites. Registry entries remain in place even if programs are deleted and files are moved, so they might point to data that has been deleted or is now located somewhere else. Whatever you do, don’t try to clean the registry yourself. It is too complex and even messy. You might recognize file names, but other entries might point to it and, if you delete things, the computer might run even slower.

Using programs such as PC Tools Registry Software is the best way to go. These do the work for you automatically, even if a child has been using your computer. Such a program cleans and repairs the registry, fixes security problems, and deletes files saved while using the Internet. It will stop those pesky error pop-ups and computer crashes that have occurred since your child started toying around with the computer.

Filed Under: Child Development, Parenting Tagged With: Microsoft Windows, Operating system, Windows Registry

Moms Should Take Time for Themselves Too

Being a mother is one of the most exciting and scary things to new moms. When you become a mother, you are responsible for someone else’s well being. You get rewards by the smiles and coos from your precious baby. Most often times, women let themselves fall into a rut and do not take care of themselves because they are so focused on their child. While you have to focus on them, you must also remember to take time for yourself.

One area that many fall behind in is women’s fashion. They forget to take time to see what is new. Just because you are a mommy doesn’t mean you have to dress frumpy. It will take some time after having your bundle of joy to get back into your clothes. Don’t let this upset you or get you down. It did not get there over night and the pounds won’t magically disappear. Once you have your baby weight off you can start looking into some great fashions for yourself and loving the way you look as you take on your new role in life.

It is important that you find fashions that not only look great on you but that work with you as well. This is one reason why many women wait a few months or even a year after they have their child to start looking at other fashion styles. Depending on if they bottle feed or not they will have to have clothes that work well with baby.

So the next time you reach in your closet to grab the old faithful jeans and a t-shirt, try thinking about a few additions you can make to your wardrobe. Stop online to see what types of women’s fashions are hot and check out the latest styles. You can be a mom and be fashionable too.

Filed Under: Child Development, Parenting Tagged With: Family, Fashion, Home