Smart Kids - New Year's Goals

New Year's is a great time to chat with your child about the year and their many accomplishments. Teach them to look at this time of year as an opportunity to look at all the amazing things they have achieved in the past 12 months. And there are many, I am sure. It is also a perfect time to talk about setting goals for the year. Looking at what they would like to accomplish, where they would like to go and how they want to make it all happen. Why not empower our kids to look at their achievements and point them in the direction of their newest goals?

Happy New Year and remember the value of your every contribution!

Maria

Kind Kids - Holiday Giving

The holidays are a great time to model altruism to your kids. Look for the opportunity to show your kids how to share, not just their stuff, but yours as well. Reach into your pocket to donate, look for volunteering opportunities, teach your children, through your example, what it means to give. This will go farther than a thousand lectures. Try teaching giving by example. Link your behavior to the value of giving, so your kids can understand and see where they take it!

Smart Parent - Traditionally Speaking: Making Holiday Memories

Check out this month's article, Traditionally Speaking: Making Holiday Memories.

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Kind Kids - Kid Contribution

I will tell you what. It is so easy for me to "do" for my kids. Easy to make that bed, tuck away those toys, clean up that bathroom. We all know why. It takes too long and too much work to teach them over and over and over. Ugh! I guess you probably kmow where I am going with this. Yes, we all know we have to do the "hard" thing and stick with it for our kids and keep teaching them. They need to learn, right? That is true, but that's not my point today. When we take the time to teach our kids and expect them to contribute to their world, we do much more than teach them to make their beds.

We begin to teach them that their contribution matters. The clean bathroom, the cleared dishes are all part of their contribution to the world. We teach them not only that they are loved, but that what they bring to the world means something. We start to set into play a value that honors the mindset of contributing to community. What a gift for our children, that they can impact this world, that what they have to offer means something. In the days to come, remember the importance of sticking to teaching our kids the value of contribution. Small steps. Be patient and envelop them in your love and appreciation when they contribute and see what happens!

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Bonding - Fill the Bank

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There are so many things we have to do as families to keep them running. Driving to this event and that. Homework. Doctor's appointments. Discipline. All of those things take effort. Although they pay off in the end, they can wear on us and deplete our resolve.

Our best defence? Fill the bank. Not with money, either. Okay, money is good, but not what I am talking about here. Fill the bank with quality family time. Quality family time is about being together and enjoying each other with intention. It doesn't have to be an all day event. Sometimes a few minutes together can do the trick when you need to fill the bank. Consider all the little moments you can create to fill your family's bank and do it. See how great it feels!

Have a great day. Remember I am available for coaching for parents! Contact me here for more info.