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Thank you for being a member of the Kids “R” the Future” Community.
Please forward this newsletter to parents, teachers, family and friends who might
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Focus for February: Boost Self-Esteem Month
==========
IN THIS ISSUE:
==========

1. RCB Course Schedule Winter/ Spring 2010 (see home page)
2. Building Self-Esteem and Self-Reliance
3. Making Social Studies Fun
4. Explore the Mississippi
5. Endless Snack Time
6. For Emergency Use Only
7. 50 New Uses for Everyday Things
8. Sing Along
9. The Many Meanings of “Good”
10. Inspirational Quote of the Week

2. Building Self-Esteem and Self-Reliance

February is National Boost Self-Esteem Month, and Tina Nocera of Parental Wisdom© has suggestions for assisting your child in becoming more self-reliant.
CLICK HERE for More

3. Making Social Studies Fun
The free interactive online games at this site make learning the states, capitals and geography of the regions fun.
CLICK HERE for More

4. Explore the Mississippi

The Nature Conservancy takes you on a thirteen-day exploration of the Mississippi River, from its headwaters in Minnesota to its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico. Following this journey is a fun and educational experience for your family.
CLICK HERE for More

5. Endless Snack Time

Snacks seem to be served at almost every function, particularly those involving children. This author writes that with American children, snacks seem both mandatory and constant. There is fallout from endless snacking, however, and this article will provide food for thought!
CLICK HERE for More

6. For Emergency Use Only
By Wes Hopper

How would your life change if your phone could only be used in an emergency? You had to try everything else first, and only if that failed could you use it? How about your car or your kitchen stove? Would you like to cook over a campfire while your beautiful stove sat there idle? Sounds pretty dumb, right? But that’s what Willis Harman says that a lot of us do. We have a powerful, creative, intuitive mind that can solve difficult problems in one jump, and we only use it when everything else fails.

Why do we do that? The more we use it, the better it gets. It’s not going to wear out, it’s gonna improve! The only limits on it are the ones you put there. I’ve written before about all the research that shows that you can’t see what you don’t believe. So if you don’t believe your creative mind is very smart, you’ll be right. But if you learn to trust it and expect the best, you’ll likely be right about that instead.

So take your questions, big and small, roll them around in your mind and turn them over to the creative center. Then let go and expect an answer. It’ll speak to you in two languages. In your conscious mind, which is verbal, it speaks to you with ideas. In your subconscious mind it speaks to you in feelings.

Ever had a “gut feeling” about something? We all have. We’ve had sudden bright ideas, too. That was our intuitive mind kicking in. It’s always been working for us. But we need to consciously use it to get the most value.

This is not just for spiritual gurus. Harman worked with business executives, science, technology and university people, and he found that most of the successful ones depended on their creative/intuitive mind for their decisions.

Repeat after me: “There is a part of me that always knows the answer.” Keep saying it until you believe it. Expect a solution. Think it, feel it. You’ll be grateful you did!
CLICK HERE for More

7. 50 New Uses for Everyday Things
Real Simple has creative suggestions for alternative uses for everyday items. For example, most digital cameras don’t come with a case. To take it somewhere and protect it, simply use a soap dish as a case. Many tips are terrific for keeping kids organized.
CLICK HERE for More

8. Sing Along

Here is a site that not only gives you the words to favorite children’s songs and nursery rhymes but also provides the music.
CLICK HERE for More

9. The Many Meanings of “Good”

This blogger, who is also an early childhood educator, talks about the many meanings behind “good.” She advises being explicit about behavior with children – right in line with RCB – and finds that it is much more helpful than saying, “Be good.”
CLICK HERE for More

10. Inspirational Quote

“Successful executives and other creative people often say that the more one uses the creative/intuitive mind, the more faith one displays in it, the better it seems to perform. And yet most people, dimly aware of its potentialities, treat it as though it were marked ‘For Emergency Use Only’.” … Willis Harman

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Where is Deborah Speaking in February?

Feb 23 – “Sibling Rivalry”, 8:10 -9:30
Annunciation Orthodox School
Sarah Niermeyer, niermeyer@earthlink.net

***Check out the PBS interview with Deborah on her website www.deborah-fry.com ; great review of RCB principles
********************************************************************

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Thank you for being a member of the Kids “R” the Future Community.
Please forward this newsletter to parents, teachers, family and friends who might
find the tips, links, and information valuable. Consider it community service!
If you wish to unsubscribe, please reply and put “unsubscribe” in the subject line.

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==========
Focus for February: Boost Self-Esteem Month
==========
IN THIS ISSUE:
==========

1. RCB Course Schedule
2. Keys to Building Self-Esteem
3. Valentine’s Day Crafts
4. Pink Brain, Blue Brain
5. Children’s Book Awards
6. Give Up the Chase
7. Free Lesson Plans
8. Printables from Favorite Children’s Books
9. Children and Diets: Nonna Joann Votes “No”
10. Inspirational Quote of the Week

1. Redirecting Children’s Behavior:
The Gentle Art of Parenting

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This six week, fifteen hour course teaches parents how to help children grow in a way that enhances self-esteem,
teaches responsibility and promotes cooperation and self mastery. At the completion, you will be able to:
* Discipline without yelling * Interact to build self-esteem
* Reduce sibling rivalry * Develop a sense of responsibility
* Redirect mistaken goals * Create an encouraging family
***************************************************************************************
Redirecting Children’s Behavior Course Schedule for Winter/Spring 2010: see home page

www.deborah-fry.com
www.incaf.com

The courses listed will be taught by Deborah Fry Ph.D.; C.P.E. For information and registration please call Deborah at 713-840-8663

2. Keys to Building Self-Esteem

Kathryn Kvols, author of Redirecting Children’s Behavior, provides 10 key ingredients to parent successfully while you build your child’s self-esteem.
CLICK HERE for More

3. Valentine’s Day Crafts
Disney Family Fun offers up some terrific crafts for the entire family for Valentine’s Day. There are recipes, printables, cards, games and more.
CLICK HERE for More

4. Pink Brain, Blue Brain

Neuroscientist Lise Eliot writes about what’s nearest and dearest to her heart: her children and their malleable brains. The result is a compelling perspective on parenting, one that challenges conventional notions of sex differences.
CLICK HERE for More

5. Children’s Books Awards

The results are out for 2010! Visit this site to see the recipients of the John Newbery Medal – to the author of the year’s most distinguished contribution to American literature for children – and the Randolph Caldecott Medal – to the artist of the year’s most distinguished American picture book for children. The winners of the annual Michael L. Printz Award (to the author of a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature), the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award (for excellence in books for beginning readers), the Coretta Scott King award (to an African American author and illustrator for the books that inspire, educate, and promote the appreciation of the culture of all peoples) and more.
CLICK HERE for More

6. Give Up the Chase
By Wes Hopper

Wayne Dyer said, “The more you chase after your own goals and self interests, the more these aims will elude you. But when you turn your thoughts and activities to serving others, the things you used to chase after will follow you wherever you go.” You may think that that quote contradicts what I’ve said over and over about following your dream. Didn’t I tell you to figure out what you want and go for it? Isn’t Dyer saying don’t go for it?

No, he isn’t. What Dyer is talking about is your attitude. Are you a taker, or a giver?

If you come to the Universe saying, “gimme, gimmee, gimmee stuff” and everything you do is based on what you get out of it, the important things you want will run away. It’s the same thing that happens if you do that with people. They run away, too. Dyer is suggesting a better approach. Instead of “gimme, gimme” let’s try “how can I help you?” Do you think that might get a more cooperative response? It sure does with people.

Wallace Wattles says the same thing in a different way in Science of Getting Rich. He says, “When the thing you want comes to you, it will be in the hands of another person who will want an equivalent value for it.” In other words, getting what you want in life is not really about getting, it’s about trading!

You have to give to get, and the best way to give is to ask, “How can I help you?” If that’s the attitude you bring to your work, you’ll find the road to what you want to be much easier.

In his book, Endless Referrals Bob Berg suggests that the best way to get referrals is find out what other people need and give them referrals!

Find some way to ask “How can I help you?” every day. It’ll transform your life, and it feels pretty good, too. You’ll be grateful you did!
CLICK HERE for More

7. Free Lesson Plans
Whether you home school or would simply like to explore specific areas of study with your child, this site has free lesson plans written by teachers. It is organized by grade level then topic.
CLICK HERE for More

8. Printables from Favorite Children’s Books

On the Harper Collins Children’s Books website you will find printables from popular children’s books such as Charlotte’s Web, Amelia Bedelia, Goodnight Moon, Harold & the Purple Crayon and the If You Take a Mouse to School series. Printables include mazes, word scrambles, word searches, paper dolls, and connect the dots.
CLICK HERE for More

9. Children and Diets: Nonna Joann Votes “No”

Joann Bruso, author of two books on inspiring children to become healthy eaters, writes about children and dieting in her latest blog. She has three ideas for shifting to healthier eating habits in your family without dieting as well as suggestions for healthy snacks.
CLICK HERE for More

10. Inspirational Quote

“We need very strong ears to hear ourselves judged frankly, and because there are few who can endure frank criticism without being stung by it, those who venture to criticize us perform a remarkable act of friendship, for to undertake to wound or offend a man for his own good is to have a healthy love for him.” … Michel de Montaigne

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Where is Deborah Speaking in February?

Feb 23, 2010 – “Sibling Rivalry”
Annunciation Orthodox School
3600 Yoakum
Houston, TX 77006
713-470-5600
www.aoshouston.org

********************************************************************

*******************************************************************
Thank you for being a member of the Kids “R” the Future Community.
Please forward this newsletter to parents, teachers, family and friends who might
find the tips, links, and information valuable. Consider it community service!
If you wish to unsubscribe, please reply and put “unsubscribe” in the subject line.

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==========
Focus for January: Life in Balance Month
==========
IN THIS ISSUE:
==========

1. RBC Winter/Spring courses 2010 (see home page)
2. Relaxing with Free Books
3. Pretty Printables from American Girl
4. Safer Materials in Children’s Products
5. Parent’s Top Ten List
6. Optimism
7. Charter for Compassion
8. Sprouted Nutrition
9. Becoming a Better Listener
10. Inspirational Quote of the Week

2. Relaxing with Free Books

In the Redirecting Children’s Behavior™ Course, parents learn that children pick up on their stress and that taking care of yourself is foundational to effective, loving parenting. A great way to relax and take care of yourself at the same time is to read. Random House has made it easy to do by offering three novels, available for free while supplies last.
CLICK HERE for More

3. Pretty Printables from American Girl
American Girl’s Scrapbook Printables are terrific for photo albums, greeting cards, book covers and more. From dolls in action to decorative letters, they are pretty and free from American Girl.
CLICK HERE for More

4. Safer Materials in Children’s Products

The Soft Landing is a terrific resource on safer products for children. The site covers eating gear, including sippy cups, straws, food storage containers, reusable bottles for adults and more. Soft Landing has a wealth of information on toxic chemicals as well as lists of safe toys, safer materials, and the free guide Avoiding Toxic Plastics.
CLICK HERE for More

5. Parent’s Top Ten List

Receive your 2010 Parent’s Top Ten List to post on your refridgerator for quick tips on making the New Year cooperative and peaceful for your family.
CLICK HERE for More

6. Optimism
By Wes Hopper

As we start a new year, it’s a good time to take stock of what we think about the future. If we’re optimistic about ourselves then we’re optimistic about the world.

We can’t be pessimistic about the world and optimistic for ourselves. What we anticipate is what we intend, and we can’t intend good things for us and bad things for the world. So join me in 2010 in intending the best for ourselves and the world!

Then let’s do what we can to take action in our own lives to make those things happen. We and the world are intertwined and what we do, even the small stuff, counts. As David Hawkins pointed out in Power versus Force even a little bit of higher consciousness cancels a lot of lower consciousness.

So every day let’s make our lives just a little bit better, and the world will benefit, too.
CLICK HERE for More

7. Charter for Compassion
Both the Inspirational Quote for this week and Wes Hopper’s article about optimism address our view of the world, our view of ourselves and how the two are intertwined. The Charter for Compassion is also connected to this concept, and it calls upon all men and women to restore compassion to the center of our lives. Please read more and join the movement to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world.
CLICK HERE for More

8. Sprouted Nutrition

Remember growing seeds as a kid on a patch of cotton? Grown simply, newly sprouted grains and seeds are nutritious packets of energy and make a great food. Your children will enjoy sprouting seeds and using them in food, and this resource will provide you with the details.
CLICK HERE for More

9. Becoming a Better Listener

When a child feels heard, he feels loved and understood. Dr. Loren Ekroth of Conversation Matters values the skill of listening, and he provides nine articles with tips on becoming a better listener.
CLICK HERE for More

10. Inspirational Quote

“What you think of yourself is what you think of the world.” … Wayne Dyer

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Where is Deborah Speaking in January?

Jan 12 @ 9:15– “Teaching Social and Emotional Intelligence:
How, What, Where, Why and When “
Bethany Christian Church
3223 Westheimer/77098
Vivian – school director; viv1004@aol.com
********************************************************************

Thank you for being a member of the Kids R the Future Community.
Please forward this newsletter to parents, teachers, family and friends who might
find the tips, links, and information valuable. Consider it community service!
If you wish to unsubscribe, please reply and put unsubscribe in the subject line.

Focus for November: National Family Stories Month
==========
IN THIS ISSUE:
==========

1. RCB 2010 Winter/Spring Course Schedule

2. Setting Limits and Making Them Stick

3. Getting Real about Children’s Cereal

4. Bittersweet

5. Handling the Holidays During and After Divorce

6. The Greatest Gift of All

7. Teaching Children Gratitude

8. Avoiding Phthalates

9. Things You Didn’t Know About Me

10. Inspirational Quote of the Week

1. See home page

2. Setting Limits and Making Them Stick

In this free audio book from Kathryn Kvols, author of Redirecting Children’s Behavior, you will hear why it is essential to set clear limits, how to have the courage to “stick to your guns”, and how to prepare for the reactions you may encounter from your family.
CLICK HERE for More

3. Getting Real About Children’s Cereal

Did you know that the average preschooler sees 642 cereal ads per year on television alone and almost all are for cereals with poor nutrition ratings? Read more about the empty health claims on children’s cereals and the “immunity” claims being pulled from some products.
CLICK HERE for More

4. Bittersweet

November is National Adoption Month. In this post, Meredith Resnick writes touchingly about the bittersweet feel of the 2009 celebration now that her two daughters are grown and living independently.
CLICK HERE for More

5. Handling the Holidays During and After Divorce

During and after divorce, the holidays may feel very different. Rosalind Sedacca of Child-Centered Divorce offers tools for making the holidays positive for parents experiencing divorce.
CLICK HERE for More

6. The Greatest Gift of All
By Steve Goodier

Dave Garroway was, for many years, the host of the TODAY show on NBC television. Someone once asked him about his understanding of Christmas. He replied: “I’ve noticed that when people are asked what they want for Christmas, nine times out of ten, they answer with something material. That used to be amusing to me, but it’s not amusing to me any longer. I happen to be one of those people who can afford anything he wants, but I find what I really want, I can’t buy at all. I want peace of mind, peace of soul; the kind of peace you have when you don’t really want anything.”

What do YOU want for Christmas? Or if you don’t celebrate Christmas, what do you want for your life. For your world?

For me, what I want cannot be bought or gift wrapped. What I want most can best be summed up in words like “faith” and “hope” and “love.”

For myself, I want faith. Faith enough to see light in even the bleakest of situations. Faith enough to believe that goodness will prevail in the end.

For my loved ones I want hope. Abundant hope. Hope in tomorrow. A hope that helps them believe that better times lay ahead so they can take that next step.

For my world I want love. And I believe that the solutions to most of our biggest problems will only be found when we decide that we are indeed one family. The problems of war, health care, crime in city streets, immigration and unemployment take on a different hue when I am talking about my brothers and sisters whom I love dearly. Do you also want things you can’t buy? What if we all decided to go after those things this year that truly matter? That could be the greatest gift of all.
CLICK HERE for More

7. Teaching Children Gratitude

As the frenzy over holidays toys begins to heat up, our thoughts may turn to gratitude, and particularly to how to teach gratitude to our children. For guidance on gratitude, tune into this interview with Annie Zirkel, author of You’ll Thank Me Later: A Guide to Nurturing Gratitude in Your Children (and Why it Matters). The podcast may be downloaded or you may listen online.
CLICK HERE for More

8. Avoiding Phthalates

Phthalates are known as “endocrine disrupters” because they mimic hormones, and studies have recently linked baby powder, lotion and shampoo to higher levels of phthalates in babies’ bodies. This article has three steps for avoiding phthalates.
CLICK HERE for More

9. Things You Didn’t Know About Me

Today is Fun always comes up with clever, easy and fun ways to connect with your children. This activity involves a book that is all about your child. Print the book from the website and then ask your child to fill in the blanks and draw a picture. An example of one page is “Just so you know, because you might not, my favorite part of the day is __________.”
CLICK HERE for More

10. Inspirational Quote

“I am a child who is getting on.” … Marc Chagall, in his nineties

2. Help! My Kids are Fighting!

Do your kids fight? Does it drive you crazy? This free teleseminar will tell you why children fight and give you 10 tips that you can immediately implement at home to create more peace in your family. Kathryn Kvols, author of the book and course Redirecting Children’s Behavior, will facilitate the International Network for Children and Families’ First Tuesday Teleseminar on Tuesday, November 3rd at 9:00 p.m. EST. Her son Tyler will be interviewing her!
CLICK HERE to Register

3. All You Want to Know about the Flu

With videos, state-by-state locators and timely news, this government site is a comprehensive resource on the flu, both seasonal and H1N1.
CLICK HERE for More

4. Be Yourself

Mike Robbins, author of Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken, has a new blog and his latest post has three suggestions on how to deepen your relationships by being both a fan and a conscious critic.
CLICK HERE for More

5. Fishful Thinking

How resilient is your child? The Fishful Thinking Quiz will help you answer that question. Each time you answer a question, you receive a tip or suggestion on resiliency.
CLICK HERE for More

6. How Thirsty Are You?
By Steve Goodier

Isn’t it wonderful when we get thirsty – not for water, but thirsty to chase a dream or to so something different? I think it is those people who crave something with an unquenchable thirst who, in the end, are likely to be most satisfied with their lives.

Alan C. Elliott tells in his book A DAILY DOSE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM about a five-year study that was undertaken to discover what made some people extraordinarily successful. The study consisted of detailed research into the lives of 120 of the nation’s top artists, athletes, and scholars.

He reports that the researcher was surprised to find that natural abilities played only a small part in the development of those individuals. As children, these unusually successful adults were often mediocre musicians, athletes or students. But research found that they possessed a powerful thirst to succeed. They practiced the piano for hours every day, rose well before school in the morning to practice swimming or running, or spent huge chunks of time alone (time they could have spent hanging out with friends) working on science projects or painting.

Parental support was also a key factor. Parents of these extraordinarily thirsty young people helped out, exposing their children to great ideas and influential persons. Many sacrificed to ensure that their offspring received good training. But in the end, it was their children’s thirst and single-mindedness that made the difference.

The principle applies to adults, too. If you want to be more successful, the question you might first ask yourself is, “How thirsty am I?” Your success in any field you choose, anything you want to be or anything you want to do will hinge on your answer to that simple question.

How thirsty are you?
CLICK HERE for More

7. Sibling Slam Book

Slam books are spiral notebooks or composition books that are passed around classrooms. Many people, identified by only a number, answer a question posed at the top of the page. The Sibling Slam Book: What It’s Really Like to Have a Brother or Sister with Special Needs contains answers to questions such as “Do you ever feel invisible?” and “What life lessons have you learned from being a sib?” Around eighty teen siblings provide their insights and observations.
CLICK HERE for More

8. Becoming a Vegetarian

Are you thinking of becoming a vegetarian? Do you have a teen interested in dropping meat from his diet? Make the transition an easy one with these tips and meal ideas.
CLICK HERE for More

9. Fifty Essential Kitchen Secrets

From keeping food fresh to cleaning tricks, these tips are time-saving and money-saving. For example, if you need only a few drops of lemon juice, do not cut a lemon in half. It will dry out quickly that way. Instead, puncture the fruit with a metal skewer and squeeze out exactly what you require.
CLICK HERE for More

10. Inspirational Quote

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.” … Melody Beattie

********************************************************************

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Thank you for being a member of the Kids “R” the Future Community.
Please forward this newsletter to parents, teachers, family and friends who might
find the tips, links, and information valuable. Consider it community service!
If you wish to unsubscribe, please reply and put “unsubscribe” in the subject line.

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==========
Focus for October: National Communicate with Your Child Month
==========
IN THIS ISSUE:
==========

1. Redirecting Children’s Behavior Course Winter/Spring 2010 ( see home page)
2. Change One Thing & Improve Your Mood
3. Thirty Days of Gratitude
4. AdaptAbility
5. Internet Addiction: ADHD and Depression in Teens
6. Principles to Live By
7. The Importance of the Parent-Teacher Conference
8. Tips for Flu Prevention
9. New Dimensions Café
10. Inspirational Quote of the Week

2. Change One Thing and Improve Your Mood

Here are four very simple things that you can do to improve your mood. Share them with your family!
CLICK HERE for More

3. Thirty Days of Gratitude

The Thirty Days of Gratitude Project begins November 1st. It is easy and free to participate. Discover the results you obtain when you consciously express gratitude daily for a month. The site guides you to create powerful expressions of gratitude.
CLICK HERE for More

4. AdaptAbility

Our first reaction to change may be to rail against fate. What if we could see past today’s turmoil and spot the opportunities that lie within unasked-for change? That is the promise of AdaptAbility, bestselling author and executive coach M.J. Ryan’s paradigm-shifting new book on not merely surviving but thriving when change is absolutely required.
CLICK HERE for More

5. Scary Good Pumpkin Banana Bread

If you are looking for healthier snacks around Halloween, check out this recipe from Rebecca Scritchfield, Registered Dietitian and blogger on Balanced Health and Nutrition. Her Scary Good Pumpkin Banana Bread may become your family’s new favorite!
CLICK HERE for More

6. Principles to Live By
By Steve Goodier

Principled people are the heart and soul of a society. But who teaches our young people about character? Who teaches them how important it is to be honest and to do what is right?

Even ETHICS classes might not touch on matters of character. They discuss the medical ethics of cloning, stem cell research and genetic engineering. They consider euthanasia, abortion and capital punishment. And they even look at the ethics of governments and multi-national corporations. But one college professor recently made a disturbing discovery: she assumed her students shared her principles of honesty, honor, integrity, and the like. She taught ethics, but assumed that her students shared her personal ethical standards.

Then one day she dropped an armful of final exams on her desk in disgust and complained that over 50% of her students CHEATED on their social justice exam. (Do you think they caught the irony here?) They’d spent months learning about ethical issues most societies face, but they never discussed personal morality. They
could talk convincingly about good and bad behaviors of corporations, governments and societies, but they cheated on their exams. They just didn’t get it: cheating is wrong. And can we expect societies, governments and businesses to do better than the people who run them and live in them?

Principled people are the heart and soul of our lives together. Church leader John Wesley simplifies it for us. In regards to what is right and wrong, he says simply this:

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”

I think those are principles I want to live by.
CLICK HERE for More

7. The Importance of the Parent-Teacher Conference

Dr. Keith Kanner, licensed psychologist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at University of California at San Diego, addresses the importance of the parent-teacher conference and what parents can do to make the most of this partnership dedicated to your child’s success.
CLICK HERE for More

8. Tips for Flu Prevention

Record numbers of flu cases, both H1N1 and traditional flu, have been reported during the month of October. Please read these tips on flu prevention. Contact with the H1N1 virus is not as much of a problem as is its proliferation (growth of the virus in your body).
CLICK HERE for More

9. New Dimensions Café

Described as “the listening place where new ideas emerge from spirited conversation and the world is changed,” New Dimensions Café is a place to listen to and download short programs that inspire and enlighten.
CLICK HERE for More

10. Inspirational Quote

“Stop worrying about what you can lose or how you can win and just follow your joy. Where does your joy say you should go?” … Neale Donald Walsch

********************************************************************

*******************************************************************
Thank you for being a member of the Kids “R” the Future Community.
Please forward this newsletter to parents, teachers, family and friends who might
find the tips, links, and information valuable. Consider it community service!
If you wish to unsubscribe, please reply and put “unsubscribe” in the subject line.

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==========
Focus for October: National Communicate with Your Child Month
==========
IN THIS ISSUE:
==========

1. You Aut to Know
2. Six Books that Address Challenges
3. Tune in to Listening
4. The Conversation of a Lifetime
5. What Greatness is All About
6. Parents Lie to Children Surprisingly Often
7. Are You a Helicopter or an Umbrella?
8. Tips for Homework Success
9. Inspirational Quote of the Week

1. You Aut to Know

Nicole Flamer is the mother of three children on the autism spectrum. Nicole created You Aut to Know, a blog and a radio program, to share information with other parents of children with autism.
CLICK HERE for More

2. Six Books that Address Challenges

Rudolf Dreikurs, author of Children: The Challenge, recognized how challenging children can be for adults. Here are six new books that address the challenges that parents and children face. From children’s learning struggles to issues around motivation and styles of parenting, these six titles are intriguing.
CLICK HERE for More

3. Tune in to Listening

Author of the The Entitlement-Free Child, Karen Deerwester says, “Children live in a media-rich world that’s dominantly visual. Media conditions children to focus on rapid-fire visual images. Tuning into sounds helps children acquire the auditory skills needed for literacy as well as appreciate the environmental soundscape around them.” Learn how to assist your child to tune in to listening in Karen’s article from South Florida Parenting.
CLICK HERE to Listen

4. The Conversation of a Lifetime

StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate one another’s lives through listening. Since 2003, tens of thousands of everyday people have interviewed family and friends through StoryCorps. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to take home and share, and is archived for generations to come at the Library of Congress. Millions listen to their award-winning broadcasts on public radio and the Internet. Learn more about this oral history project and how to record your conversation of a lifetime.
CLICK HERE for More

5. What Greatness is All About
By Steve Goodier

Not all of us can be great at what we do. But what about just being good at WHO WE ARE? Good human beings? Even being GREAT at who we are?

Author James Michener learned something about greatness on a stormy night in the South Pacific. His plane was trying desperately to land on the Tontouta airstrip but could not do so. After several attempts in the dark of night, his knuckles were white with fear. When they finally landed safely, Michener went out and walked the length of the airstrip, looking at the dim outlines of the mountains they had so narrowly missed. He wrote this:

“And as I stood there in the darkness I caught a glimpse of the remaining years of my life and I swore an oath when peace came, if I survived, I would live the rest of my years as if I were a great man. I did not presume to think that I would be a great man. I have never thought in those terms, but I could conduct myself as if I were. I would adhere to my basic principles. I would bear public testimony to what I believed. I would be a better man. I would help others. I would truly believe and act as if all men were my brothers. And I would strive to make whatever world in which I found myself a better place. In the darkness a magnificent peace settled over me, for I saw that I could actually attain each of those objectives, and I never looked back.”

Michener says that the very next day he started to draft the book Tales of the South Pacific. And if it can ever be said that he became a great man, I suspect it was only because he decided to be a better man than he was before.

Greatness may never have been your goal. But you and I can be a little better today than we were yesterday. We can help others a bit more today than yesterday. We can act more deliberately as if all people are our sisters and brothers. We can leave the world a better place tomorrow than we found it today.

And if that is the way to greatness, then we all can head that direction. One step at a time … beginning today.
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6. Parents Lie to Children Surprisingly Often

Parents might say “honesty is the best policy,” but when it comes to interacting with their own kids, mom and dad stretch the truth with the best of them, finds a new study. From claiming the existence of magical creatures to odd consequences of kids’ actions, parents often come up with creative tales to shape a child’s behaviors and emotions
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7. Are You a Helicopter or an Umbrella?

Tina Nocera of ParentalWisdom.com provides a job description for parents: to raise happy, healthy, well-adjusted, independent children that contribute to society. With that in mind, she addresses the impact of parental over-involvement.
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8. Tips for Homework Success

There is a direct relationship between how organized a child is and how well he does in school. Touching on an organized physical environment as well as a focused mental environment, this article offers ideas for homework success.
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9. Inspirational Quote

“So we see that one of the keys to the game of living is to become aware of the ways in which we are demanding that people be different from the way they are.” … Ken Keyes