The summer slide is a decline in a child’s academic skills that occurs over the summer vacation when school is not in session. Summer slide goes by a number of names, including the summer learning loss and the summer brain drain, but in essence, they all mean the same thing: over the summer vacation, children are likely to forget a lot of the information and knowledge they have picked up over the past academic year. Summer…
Read More »Children look forward to the summer months when a break from school gives them a chance to enjoy the outdoors, travel, and relax with friends and family. However, it’s important to ensure children’s safety while they’re having fun in the sun. Specialists from Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and Johns Hopkins Children’s Center offer seven recommendations for keeping kids safe this summer season. 1. Keep children away from burn hazards. Fireworks can be extremely dangerous…
Read More »Critical thinking is one of the most crucial life skills to have; it not only builds a strong character, but also creates a savvy and successful adult. Schools can only do so much to nurture critical thinking abilities due to a standardized syllabus, but you as a parent can encourage your children to think critically with some activities you can do at home. Here are some examples of activities to teach children critical thinking. 1.…
Read More »Giving kids too much time with screens is easy to do, but not good for kids. Kids need limits on their screen time to protect much needed and ever-decreasing time for imaginative free play—the kind that leads to creativity, social skills, greater self-control, greater emotional regulation, and more. We can set up our environment to help limit screen time by making bedrooms screen-free and limiting our own time using our devices. Make sure you promote…
Read More »The assignment is due when? Tomorrow? We’ve all been there at some point. Somehow, that assignment due date can slip right up on you without you noticing. That is why using a planner and building organizational skills are so important to school performance. Who wants to get an “F” because they’ve forgotten to put their completed project in their book bag the night before it was due? Here are 8 tips for students on using…
Read More »When you live with kids, your home is bound to get messy, and the more stuff they have, the more time you have to spend organizing it and cleaning it up. That’s why psychotherapist and mom of two Denaye Barahona prefers a less-is-more approach when it comes to buying and keeping kids’ clothes, toys and gear. When you “pare back on the amount of clutter in your life, you can focus on the most important…
Read More »James Clear’s book, “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Ways to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones,” explores the underlying principles of habit formation and destruction and explains in simple steps how to change them. Intended for readers who have an appetite for altering their own habits, the book also provides tools for parents whose children need help adjusting theirs. If 40 to 50 percent of daily behavior is a function of habits, as…
Read More »Experts, advocates, and other parents agree that preparing for the IEP meeting is the key to building a plan that will ensure your child’s success. Knowledge of your child, the school system, and federal and state laws and regulations will empower you to become the advocate your child deserves. An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is the foundation of your child’s education. Many parents feel overwhelmed and anxious about the IEP meeting, but it doesn’t have…
Read More »Experts, advocates, and other parents agree that preparing for IEP meetings is the key to building a plan that will ensure your child’s success. Knowledge of your child, the school system, and federal and state laws and regulations will empower you to become the advocate your child deserves. An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is the foundation of your child’s education. Many parents feel overwhelmed and anxious about IEP meetings, but it doesn’t have to be…
Read More »RESPECTfully is a social norms campaign designed to speak to teens directly with key messages that articulate everyone deserves mutual respect in relationships, and today’s tips were sourced from them. Youth-serving individuals and organizations can encourage parents and caregivers to be aware of the signs of unhealthy behaviors, educate teens on what respect looks like, and have clear conversations about consent. Parents, teachers, coaches, and caregivers can help increase the capacity for teens to experience…
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