Early Signs of Reading Trouble

Below is a great article explaining the early signs of reading trouble and what you can do now to help your child become a strong reader.

Early Signs of Reading Trouble | Scholastic.com

How Caffeine effects Kids

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Most parents wouldn't dream of giving their kids a mug of coffee, but might routinely serve soft drinks containing caffeine. Foods and drinks with caffeine are everywhere, but it's wise to keep caffeine consumption to a minimum, especially in younger kids.

The United States hasn't developed guidelines for caffeine intake and kids, but Canadian guidelines recommend that preschoolers get no more than 45 milligrams of caffeine a day. That's equivalent to the average amount of caffeine found in a 12-ounce (355-milliliter) can of soda or four 1.5-ounce (43-gram) milk chocolate bars.

How Caffeine Affects Kids

A stimulant that affects kids and adults similarly, caffeine is a drug that's naturally produced in the leaves and seeds of many plants. Caffeine is also made artificially and added to certain foods. Caffeine is defined as a drug because it stimulates the central nervous system. At lower levels, it can make people feel more alert and energetic.

In both kids and adults, too much caffeine can cause:

• jitteriness and nervousness
• upset stomach
• headaches
• difficulty concentrating
• difficulty sleeping
• increased heart rate
• increased blood pressure

Especially in young kids, it doesn't take a lot of caffeine to produce these effects.

Other reasons to limit kids' caffeine consumption include:

• Kids who consume one or more 12-ounce (355-milliliter) sweetened soft drink per day are 60% more likely to be obese.
• Not only do caffeinated beverages contain empty calories (calories that don't provide any nutrients), but kids who fill up on them don't get the vitamins and minerals they need from healthy sources, putting them at risk for nutritional deficiencies. In particular, kids who drink too much soda (which usually starts between the third and eighth grades) may miss getting the calcium they need from milk to build strong bones and teeth.
• Drinking too many sweetened caffeinated drinks could lead to dental cavities (or caries) from the high sugar content and the erosion of tooth enamel from acidity. Not convinced that sodas can wreak that much havoc on kids' teeth? Consider this: One 12-ounce (355-milliliter) nondiet, carbonated soft drink contains the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar (49 milliliters) and 150 calories.
• Caffeine is a diuretic that causes the body to eliminate water (through urinating), which may contribute to dehydration. Whether the amount of caffeine in beverages is enough to actually cause dehydration is not clear, however. It may depend on whether the person drinking the beverage is used to caffeine and how much caffeine was consumed that day. To be on the safe side, it's wise to avoid excessive caffeine consumption in hot weather, when kids need to replace water lost through perspiration.
• Abruptly stopping caffeine may cause withdrawal symptoms (headaches, muscle aches, temporary depression, and irritability), especially for those who are used to consuming a lot.
• Caffeine can aggravate heart problems or nervous disorders, and some kids may not be aware that they're at risk.

One thing that caffeine doesn't do is stunt growth. Although scientists once worried that caffeine could hinder growth, this isn't supported by research.

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Keeping Kids Safe Watching TV

What do you do in your household to monitor what your kids are watching on tv?

Keeping Kids Safe Watching TV ParentFurther

USDA Dietary Guidelines for Children

New USDA guidelines reveal the health risks in the way most kids eat. Here's how to start fighting the childhood obesity epidemic

http://www.parenting.com/article/usda-dietary-guidelines-children

Free Parenting Webinar

Purposeful Parenting
Wednesday ~ 9/14/11 12:00-1:00

The Red*Yellow*Green Framework is a way for parents to deliver direct and clear messages, establish necessary rituals and routines, and communicate family values, benefits and expectations.
Go to http://www.workingfam.org/events to register or access the recorded version when it is convenient for you.
If you would like to join a live discussion during the event, bring a bag lunch and join a licensed parent educator in Room 135 of the District #318 Administration Building.

The Role of Fathers in Their Child's Literacy Development: K-3

Research shows that fathers, no matter what their income or cultural background, can play a critical role in their children's education. Father involvement leaves a positive, lasting impact with their children in the areas of learning more, performing better in school and coosing healty behaviors. This Reading Rockets links has some great resouces on how dad's can encourage literacy in their children.

Reading Rockets: The Role of Fathers in Their Child's Literacy Development: K-3

HealthyChildren.org - Dealing with Sibling Rivalry

As stressfull as it seems...Rivalry between siblings is not only normal but usually inevitable. On the good side - your children are learning great life skills about behaviors, conflict resolution and feelings. The link below from the National Academy of Pediatrics gives us some guidelines to manage the rivalry of siblings.

HealthyChildren.org - Dealing with Sibling Rivalry

Preparing Kids for School

Calling all parents of kids age 3-5!!! If your child hasn't entered preschool or kindergarten yet - they will be soon. Your child's first experience with school will be better if they are well prepared. Check out the link below for some great strategies, we as parents can use, to help our children become school ready.

Preparing Kids for School ParentFurther

Taking Time to Talk

With the busy demands on parents and children today, it's hard to find the time sit and have a good conversation with your child. A recent study from the Search Institute showed that 70% of kids felt like they had great family support but only 30% felt they had positive family communication. Follow the link below to find suggestions on how to make communicating with your family more effective.

Taking Time to Talk ParentFurther

Creating a School Presence | Parenting.org

Have you ever considered volunteering in your child's classroom?
You can choose to make a monthly, weekly or one-time commitment. Volunteering in your child's classroom is a positive way to spend more time with your son or daughter, and it lets the teacher know that you're interested in what's going on inside the classroom.

The following volunteer opportunities are suggestions from Dr. Kenneth Shore and the parenthoodweb.com web site:
*Serve as a room parent
*Tutor students in the classroom
*Read stories to the students
*Assist at a class party
*Speak to your child's class or school on a topic of student interest
*Start an after-school computer club
*Supervise children in an after-school recreation program
*Prepare school bulletin boards
*Serve as an aide on a school bus
*Photograph students at school activities
*Work as a clerical aide (grade papers, for example)
*Work as an aide in the library, main office, cafeteria or playground
*Develop or work at a homework hotline
*Organize teacher appreciation activities
*Prepare food for an ethnic festival
*Help write a school newsletter
*Help run the book or science fair
*Arrange assembly programs
*Develop and help run a 'guardian angel' program where parents are called if their child has not shown up for school, and they have not notified the school of their absence
*Develop a list of community resources for parents and children
*Recruit other parents as school volunteers
*Help construct a playground
*Donate plants, books, carpeting or other necessities
*Help plant trees"

Thanksgiving Parent Tip

Chopstick Pass-Along Thanksgiving Games & Activities FamilyFun:

This is a fun and inexpensive way to keep little hands busy while you finish the cooking!
What You Need
Chopsticks
Unshelled walnut
Acorn
Cranberry
Pea
Small plate

Instructions
Give each player a set of chopsticks and place an unshelled walnut, an acorn, a cranberry, and a pea on a small plate next to the oldest player. She begins by using the chopsticks to pass each object, from largest to smallest, to the person on her right, who receives it with chopsticks and passes it along to the next player. The object is to try to get all four objects back to the starting plate without dropping any of them. Players unable to manage the chopsticks can use a teaspoon instead."

National Family Literacy Month

November is National Family Literacy Month. Since 1994, National Family Literacy Month has been a month long effort to celebrate and remind families of the importance of reading and learning together. Reading to/with your child is valuable in many ways.

Reading helps you child develop basic thinking and social skills such as:
* teaches children about communication
*introduces concepts such as stories, numbers, letters, colors and shapes in a fun way
*builds listening, memory and vocabulary skills
*gives kids information about the world around them
*teaches the ability to solve problems
*teaches the ability to speak, understand and write properly

Even if your not a reader yourself, you can still impact your child's academic and social success.You just have to send the message that reading is fun and important.

Parent Tip

Take a look at ways to keep your child organized with these great ideas Scolastic has to offer. Teaching kids how to be and stay organized helps kids to build good habits they will use throughout their lives.

Quick Click: 12 Ways to Develop Your Child's Organizational Skills

Cultivating a collection helps your child build sorting, classifying, and arranging skills.

Sponsored Links:

Keep a family calendar. Track everyone's activities on a prominent and accessible calendar, encouraging your child to write her own entries and reference the calendar when making plans. You also might consider checking schedules and updating the calendar as a family over Sunday breakfast.

Introduce checklists. Whether it's as simple as "3 Things To Do Before Bed" or "What To Take On Vacation," creating and referring to lists together will develop your child's ability to strategize tasks and organize his time.

Assign chores that involve sorting or categorizing. Grocery shopping, emptying the dishwasher, sorting photos, cleaning out a closet, and other tasks that involve pre-planning, making lists, or arranging things are great choices.

Get ready the night before. This one's always tough — for both of you — but it does work if you can get in the habit.

Use containers and closet organizers. If there's a place for everything, she'll find it easier to find items, keep neat, and clean up. Build "pick up" time into the daily routine.

Buy your child a planner. Ask him to help you pick it out or choose one that will appeal to him so he'll be excited about using it. Having his own planner will show him you consider his time valuable and encourage him to create a schedule. Be sure to routinely coordinate the information with your family calendar to avoid conflicts.

Organize schoolwork. Make sure your child's keeping notes, homework, handouts, and graded assignments in separate folders in a binder. Try to check her backpack nightly and set an time aside each week to go through her binder and get things sorted.

Establish a homework routine. Help your child make a "study hour" schedule and set up a comfortable workspace -- whether her room or the kitchen table. Encourage her to stick to the schedule even when she doesn't have homework (She can read, review notes, or even do a crossword puzzle.)

Create a homework supply box. Fill a box with office supplies and encourage your child to store pens, paper, measurement tools, and a calculator in it so he'll have what he needs on hand.

Cook together. Cooking teaches measuring, following directions, sorting ingredients, and managing time — all key elements in organization. Involve your child in meal planning too, challenging her to help you put together a shopping list.

Cultivate an interest in collecting. If your child has a particular interest, encourage him to create and organize the collection. It can even be something free — such as rocks or cancelled stamps — that he can sort, classify, and arrange.

Reward and provide support with organizational tasks. Your child may find organizing a challenge, so help her develop her routine and give her a treat for jobs well done!

http://www2.scholastic.com

Friday Fun

Looking for ways to help your family learn and grow while having fun? Check out Wonderopolis at http://wonderopolis.org for some awesome ideas on how to incorporate learning into everyday activities. Check out the "wonder of the day" for great topics to further learning and literacy development in children of all ages!

Parent Tip

Fit Generation: 6 Fun Ways to Sneak in Exercise

By Shaun Dreisbach, Parenting

1. Hit the playground! "It's honestly better -- and far more fun -- than any gym," says Stefko. The monkey bars and mini-rock wall build upper-body muscle. Jumping off the climbing structures boosts bone density and leg strength. Heck, even the swings can be a good core workout. It's like an outside circuit course.


2. Play a game. Kick-ball, tag, jumping rope, wheelbarrow races -- they're classics that absolutely count toward your child's daily activity requirement. For younger kids, try Move Like an Animal (it's a huge hit with the children Stefko works with). Call out the name of a critter and challenge your child to mimic the way it moves: hop like a frog, balance on one leg like a flamingo, stretch like a cat, and so on.


3. Do fun chores, like washing the car (and getting soaked and soapy in the process) or planting the garden -- it all counts toward 60 minutes of activity a day!


4. Check out a class. Take your child to an open gym at the local gymnastics center and let her try out the equipment, or head to the indoor climbing wall or skate park for a lesson. One-offs like this are good because they let your kid try out a bunch of different activities to see what she likes best -- without the time and money commitment of full-on, three-days-a-week lessons (which your child may end up hating).


5. Use people power. Ditch the car and walk or bike when you can. Pedal to the pool, playground, or pizza shop, and trek the mile to school on foot.


6. Inspire her. "Bring your kid to a sporting event -- a Major League Baseball game or a high school volleyball match -- so she can see and be motivated by the athletes," suggests Stefko. Before or after the game, kick around a ball together, shoot baskets, or play a little backyard volleyball.

Parent Tip Monday

Creating a Home Library

By: Reading Rockets (2008)

Starting a home library for your child shows him/her how important books are. Having books of his/her own in a special place boosts the chance that your child will want to read even more. Here are some ideas for creating your own home library.

Finding books

• Become a treasure hunter! Browse book store sales, garage sales, flea markets, used book stores, and sales at your local library
• Organize a children's book swap with friends, community groups, or your school
• Encourage family and friends to give books as gifts for birthdays, holidays, and other celebrations
• Don't forget quality nonfiction and children's magazines!

Building your library

• A cardboard box or small wooden packing crate that you can decorate together might make a good bookcase. Or you might clear one of the family bookshelves.
• Pick a special place for your child's books so that she knows where to look for them - in a cozy corner of your child's bedroom or close to where the rest of the family gathers and reads if your child is very social.
• Help your child to arrange her books in some order - her favorite books, books about animals, or holiday books. Use whatever method will help her most easily find the book she's looking for.
• "This book belongs to…" Bookplates give your child a sense of ownership and can add "newness" to a used book. You can make your own or download and print one of these colorful designs by children's book illustrators.
• If you and your child make your own books together, you can add those to your home library.
• Borrow books from your local library. Go to the children's section and spend time with your child reading and selecting books to take home and put in her special spot. You might even have a box or space just for library books, so that they don't get mixed up with your child's own books.

When collecting and reading books are a part of family life, you send your child a message that books are important, enjoyable, and full of new things to learn!

Parent Tip

The Langauge of Touch

The importance we place on our words sometimes overlooks the importance our physical contact with children can have on their well being. Even before children understand words they learn the language of touch. Communicating our feelings of love and caring by pairing our words with a kiss and a hug expresses the basic feelings of comfort and nurturing. Touching provides sensory information to the child that is a primary part of healthy development. "Have You Hugged Your Child Today?"

Parent Tip

Kids and Choice

Adulthood consists of one choice after another. Making good decisions is linked directly to the development of responsibility. Therefore, a child who is told what to do all the time never has the chance to test her/his ability to make informed choices... Here is one "choice building" idea... Instead of always having to assign chores to kids, make a list of everything that needs to be done, call a family meeting and decide who will be responsible for each task. Involving kids in the process, making them part of the team, creates a sense of personal value and gives them practical experience at problem solving.

Friday Rainy Day Fun!!

A tradition all kids participate in while growing up is making forts out of furniture, blankets, and cushions. The next rainy day that comes around, help your kids construct their own super fort in the family room. They'll stay busy all day long with fun, quiet activities to play inside their new imaginary castle.

Parent Tip

Did You Know...

• Kids who are read to do better in school.
• Reading aloud to a child raises her self-esteem and reading ability.
• Becoming a better reader helps a child do better in social studies and math.
• Keeping a diary helps a child become a better writer and reader.
• Reading the print on cereal boxes is good practice for a child.
• Allowing your child to read in bed is a good habit to start.
• Children will read on their own a book that has been read aloud to them.