My Kindergartener Hates School. What Should We Do? Introducing Dr. Heather
January 30, 2009 by Dr. Heather · 3 Comments
This year, one of our sons is starting kindergarten. Being a second-born, he was “raring to go” to school; he talked about it incessantly over the last few months. When asked if he likes school, he replies, “I don’t LIKE school. I LOVE it!” But the J-Man already knew his teacher before school started; she was his older sister’s teacher two years ago. J-Man also had been going along for school pickups and drop-offs for the past couple of years; he’d had the chance to slowly get used to the school environment. It helped a lot.
But his older sister was more tentative, when she started school. She had to learn the routine from scratch, and didn’t have an older sibling on campus to help make her feel more at home. It took her quite awhile to get into the swing of things. For awhile, we fretted that perhaps we had chosen the wrong school, or she wasn’t in the right classroom, despite the fact that her teacher was a gem.
Are you the best Parent you could be for your child?
January 30, 2009 by Sarah Newton · Leave a Comment
Parent as Leader, Parent Leadership. What does it really mean? Do you think that as a parent you are also a leader and if so, how do you go about that?
I have always found the words Parent and Parenting to be very emotive. For me, they bring up a feeling of exhaustion, frustration and a feeling of being stuck. I’m not sure if this is only me but I have never found these words at all inspiring. Let’s face it, bringing a child into the word and caring for them, ensuring that they grow up to be a fine young adult is so much more than about parenting. I remember saying to someone ages ago that I am not a parent; I am a relationship builder and that felt much more freeing for me. I then went on to replace this with the word Leader; I am a leader for my child. To me that feels more like a task to take, a result to achieve, an inspiring outcome to work towards.
Family Man® “Room to Roam” By Gregory Keer
January 30, 2009 by Gregory Keer · Leave a Comment
A recent study done in England suggests that 21st century kids are losing out on the health benefits of nature and space because they do not get out enough. The report’s author, Dr. William Bird (nice last name for a nature lover), “has compiled evidence that people are healthier and better adjusted if they get out into the countryside, parks or gardens. Stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces, he says. Even filling a home with flowers and plants can improve concentration and lower stress.”
The study is all the more interesting when paired with another bit of new research that shows how much exercise improves the mood of kids (a long-known finding regarding adults). In today’s world of indoor amusements (mostly of the electronic variety), it isn’t easy to get some kids to go outside. We are also dealing with our own fears of letting kids go out to play unsupervised and the annoyance of having to drive them to a park.
Couponing Online: Stop Online Before You Shop At The Store! (by Stefanie Fauquet)
December 2, 2008 by Stefanie · Leave a Comment
Couponing is a great way to save money on your weekly grocery bill, however there are other ways to find valuable coupons other than your Sunday paper.
Stefanie Fauquet walks parents through how to shop smart—including tips for coupons, free samples and sweepstakes!—by stopping online BEFORE shopping at the supermarket.
Just click play on the 2-minute video below to learn all!
Get Involved…It’s a Family Thing!
November 17, 2008 by Christina · Leave a Comment
At Glubble we know one thing for certain: only parents know which Web sites are appropriate for their children. And suitable content differs for each child, and at different ages. Just as parents choose which books to read to their children—and approve which TV shows and movies they’re allowed to watch—the same parental oversight applies to the Internet.
That’s why Glubble lets parents pre-approve the Web sites their children visit, and even approve different sites for children of different ages. And since Glubble is safe, families no longer have to worry and they can now focus on FUN.
Ask Linsey: Question from Beth (Chicago)
November 11, 2008 by Linsey · 2 Comments
Q: I love all the websites suggested to my family in the Glubble library collections, but some aren’t age-appropriate for my youngest children? How can I be sure that they aren’t accessing websites intended for the older siblings? (Beth in Chicago)
Great news! Glubble now allows parents to customize the collection of websites for each user! That means that your children can have a completely different set of websites available to each of them, based on their age and computer-literacy level.
How to add family members to your Glubble Family Page
November 3, 2008 by Alexander · 14 Comments
Glubble for Families is an online activity center for the entire family. By adding new family members to your Family Page you can share family photos, send each other messages, and manage important family events such as birthdays. Grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins. You can add each of them so that the whole family can get together online and have fun! Adding family members is really easy.
In order to add a new family member you need to click on the “Add family member” link on your Family Page.
Click on the "Add Family member" link
You can find the Add family member” link on your Family Page, right below your profile picture on the left side. When you click on that link you will be taken to a page where you can enter new family members.
Step 1: select adult or child
Glubble creates a personal Kids Page for children, in which they can play, learn and discover the web safely. Adults can access the Family Page and participate in all family activities.
Step 2: enter the details for the new family member
After choosing to add an adult or a child to your Family Page, you will see a form in which you can enter profile information about the new family member. If you enter a correct e-mail address for an adult family member he or she is invited automatically to your family page.
Enter the family member profile details
Step 3: Press save and the new profile is created
After pressing the save button the new family member is created. If it is an adult, he is automatically invited to your family page via e-mail. If it is a child, Glubble automatically creates a personal kids page for him.
you can add as many family members as you like. Try adding grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts and see the Family Page come alive!
Press save and the new family member is created and invited automatically
Top 10 Tips for Keeping Your Family Safe (and Happy!) Online
The Internet is now a part of family life. There are thousands of fun games and learning activities for young children and new ways for families to socialize online. The challenge for parents is finding Web sites that promote safe Internet surfing and staying involved with their kids’ online experience.
The 10 tips below will ensure a safe (and happy!) Web experience for your entire family.
My child has no friends at school!
We are social beings. From the moment we are born we make distinction between the people around us, between relatives, friends and strangers, and start to communicate.
The friendships children have with each other are different than those they have with parents and relatives. Of course, learning and social support result from relationships with parents, teachers, and other adults. But they don’t substitute for other relationships and it is among other children that kids learn how to interact with equals.
Why friendships are important
Children need other children to learn valuable social skills. Through interaction with (school) friends they learn how to do things like join groups, make new friends and deal with competition and conflict. Children need friendships to develop their own indivduality by providing them a supportive context in which self-exploration, emotional growth, and moral development can occur.
But what should you do if your child is finding difficulties to make friends at school? Some children are very shy and may, even around kids they know fairly well, hesitate to comment or participate. Highly intelligent children may also have difficulty making friends. Their intelligence, especially in verbal language may make it difficult for other children to understand them. Sometimes children are behind in social development, and merely lack the skills required to make friends. Also causes like removing, problems at home, a new teacher, a new kid at school can the inhability to make friends.
Whatever the reason is, it is very important that you talk to the teacher about this. He or she will most likely be aware of this situation and may be able to give you information about any options available at school. More attention and guidance in the classroom towards both your child and the classmates can make the hughe difference.
What can you do?
Let your child know that you feel friendships are important.
Provide a safe and loving environment for your child, make him or her feels loved and supported.
Encourage your child to invite other kids at your home.
Organize nice things to do for your child and some schoolchildren like the pool or have an adventurous quest in your yard!
Respect your child’s social character; some children do best with a host of friends, and some do best with a few close friends.
Make arrangements for your family to spend time with another family that has a similar-age child.
Encourage your child to develop interest and hobbies that will help to build self confidence.
Encourage your child to seek out kids that are “friendly” in the classroom.
Help your child to meet new friends outside of school.
Do you have good suggestions for parents who are facing this problem or do you want to get your questions answered? Get involved! Join our Family Forum to talk about this issue (or other topics).
