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 How to find the right activity for your child Children’s interests and activities are as diverse as children themselves. Just as the right activity can build a child’s self-esteem and provide hours of enjoyment, the wrong one can do just the opposite. So how do you find the right sport, club or music program for your child? • Approach it like career exploration. “Expose your child to different activities and let him observe things like performing arts and sporting events. Then give him a sampling of things to try based on his interests,” says Donna Jeandell, an elementary school guidance counselor • Consider your child’s temperament. Although it is important for kids to have a balance of active and quiet play, some children are more inclined to physical activities, such as sports; others prefer to exercise their minds with music or art. • Consider her personality. Is she more suited to group or individual activities? “I think it’s a good idea for children participate in a little of both,” says Carol Scott, 4-H youth program director. “In groups, kids learn to be cooperative players and are responsible for one another. In an individual setting, they can move at their own pace and feel a sense of personal accomplishment at what they have achieved.” • Find an organization that matches your goals and objectives. Does this organization have the right student-teacher ratios? What is the instructor’s experience and background? How about her teaching philosophy? “And before enrolling your child in an activity, explain the commitment to him so he knows what is expected,” says Scott. “Then if the activity doesn’t work out, talk about what he didn’t like so the mistake isn’t repeated in the future.” • Keep exposing your child to different things. It is especially important for your child to grow up with a storehouse of experiences from which to draw. Denise Yearian is a freelance contributor. Texting takes a toll Text-messaging might be a quick and quiet way to communicate, but it could also be the reason why a recent National Center for Education Statistics study reported that only one out of four high school seniors were proficient writers. “Text messaging is destroying the written word. Kids aren’t learning to spell. They’re learning acronyms and short hand,” says Jacquie Ream, a former teacher and author of the book, K.I.S.S. Keep it Short and Simple. According to Ream, texting has become the “new language” for today’s kids. And while being able to substitute a single letter for an entire word without a second thought may be somewhat impressive, it’s a skill that takes a toll. The quick jargon kids type into cell phones rarely offers the opportunity to express a complete thought, and the results are showing up in homework assignments, high school testing and job interviews. So what can a parent do to help their kids hone their old-fashioned communication skills? Not surprisingly, Ream urges parents to limit their kid’s IM and texting time. “It’s fine for communicating with peers, but it should not be a primary means of communication,” she says. Additionally, Ream encourages plenty of conversation. “Ask questions that require a whole sentence, not cryptic monosyllabic answers,” she says. For example, if you’re talking about a book or a movie, ask open-ended questions like, “Why did you like Harry Potter?” Sitter fun When you and the hubbie have a special date planned, sometimes the kids are left with a babysitter and nothing to do. Turn a hum-drum night into a night of spectacular fun by suggesting these tips to your babysitter: • Make it a camp out! Let the kids sleep outdoors in a tent overnight. Play flashlight tag, get a telescope and gaze at the stars, make tie-dyed t-shirts, or blow bubbles and shine your flashlights on them. • Make "creamy cones." Fill regular cones with whipped cream and let the kids top with chocolate shavings, sprinkles, gummies, etc. • Have fun with strawberries. Buy mini strawberry seeds and little Terra Cotta pots. Have the kids decorate the pots and then plant the seeds. For a strawberry relay race, put strawberries on spoons and have the kids race up and down the relay path. For drinks, freeze strawberries in the ice cubes. • Send them on a treasure hunt. For children under 5, hide gold coins inside or outside, and give them small mesh bags to find their loot! Give older kids a treasure map. Use brown crumpled paper and draw a treasure map that the kids must follow. When they reach the treasure chest, have it filled with a variety of fun treasures. Ideas courtesy of Lisa Kothari, a party planner and author of “Dear Peppers and Pollywogs... What Parents Want to Know About Planning Their Kids' Parties.” pepperspollywogs.com |
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