Raising Well Balanced Children

2 06/29/2007 2:30pm eSlide - P WorkLife4You Objectives Growing up fast – why balance is important Understand differences in development Learn how to develop child’s personal potential Discuss independence and responsibility Understand discipline How to encourage healthy body image How to teach healthy habits How to discuss emotions Promote activities that encourage spending time together

3 06/29/2007 2:30pm eSlide - P WorkLife4You Growing up fast Children are being bombarded and have access to an abundance of information through all types of media. Social and academic pressures on children tend to make them mature rapidly in a fast moving world. Stress on dual working parents and single parents make it hard to maintain parental guidance and supervision

4 06/29/2007 2:30pm eSlide - P WorkLife4You Differences in development Boys and girls often have different developmental timelines in some areas including: –Verbal skills –Relationship skills –Physical growth –Fine and gross motor skills –Spatial skills Both nature and nurture influence gender-specific development and behaviors Biology is not destiny

5 06/29/2007 2:30pm eSlide - P WorkLife4You Personal Potential There are many different kinds of boys and girls Dispel gender stereotypes and discourage labels such as “sissy”, “wimp”, “boys don’t cry”, “ladylike” etc. Choose a broad range of gifts, playthings and activities to broaden their skills Talk about what you see in the media and their television programs Allow children to reach their individual potential – help them cultivate passions

6 06/29/2007 2:30pm eSlide - P WorkLife4You Independence and responsibility Age appropriate freedom Learn by doing and failing - testing boundaries Let them own consequences Teach “common sense” behavior – the right thing to do Teach important life skills – cooking, cleaning, home maintenance, budgeting, lawn care, grocery shopping etc. Values – show them

7 06/29/2007 2:30pm eSlide - P WorkLife4You Disciplin e Children like to know the “rules” Will push the limits Permissive parents vs. helicopter parents Discipline does not mean to punish, it means to teach Be authoritative rather than authoritarian Respect is a two way street which starts at HOME

8 06/29/2007 2:30pm eSlide - P WorkLife4You Encourage a healthy body image Help your child develop positive attitudes towards his/her body Be a good example and model self acceptance Give lots of positive reinforcement for strengths and abilities unrelated to physical attributes Discuss unrealistic body types promoted in media images Encourage your child to come to you with questions and concerns

9 06/29/2007 2:30pm eSlide - P WorkLife4You Healthy Habits Teach your children about health, weight and nutrition Share information early about their changing bodies Teach good body hygiene starting at a young age with new information as age appropriate Make sure your child gets enough sleep Learn the behavior signs of “risky behavior”

10 06/29/2007 2:30pm eSlide - P WorkLife4You Emotions All children should be encouraged to express their emotions Listen and acknowledge without criticizing how they express their emotions Help all children learn to articulate their needs with a broad emotional vocabulary Teach children the best ways to process their emotions Provide positive role models – especially if one parent is absent from the home

11 06/29/2007 2:30pm eSlide - P WorkLife4You Spend time together Limit and monitor screen time, texting and messaging – yours too! Play – Have fun! Promote family exercise with outdoor activities you all enjoy Share plenty of physical affection even as they grow older – including boys Sit down for regular family meals

12 06/29/2007 2:30pm eSlide - P WorkLife4You Additional Resources for Further Reading Books Lise Eliot, Pink Brain, Blue Brain JoAnn Deak, Girls Will be Girls Leonard Sax, Why Gender Matters Helpful web resources – –

WorkLife4You Resources Child Care & Parenting Web Service –Parenting Toddlers Library –Parenting Preschoolers Library –Parenting Teens Library –Health Care Issues Library –Social Development Library Audio Tips and Podcasts Positive Parenting Tips: Toddlers, Communicating with Children Series; Healthy Eating for Children; Parents, School Success, and Health; Making Healthy Choices, Internet Safety for Parents HTML Articles Related Web Sites On Demand Webinars Children’s Wellness, Keeping Children Safe in an Uncertain World, Working Parents: How to Achieve Balance, Parenting Your Teen, Communicating and Resolving Conflict with Your Teen, Keeping Our Children Safe, Bullying: How to Protect Your Child, Internet Safety for Parents, Raising Financially Savvy Children WorkLife4You Guides Positive Parenting Strategies for the Toddler Years, Encouraging Healthy Habits in Your Toddler, Typical Toddler Transitions, Positive Parenting Strategies for the Preschool Years, Encouraging Healthy Habits in Your Preschooler, Typical Preschool Transitions, Healthy Eating for Children, Positive Parenting Strategies for the Teenage Years, Teens and At-Risk Behaviors, Encouraging Healthy Habits in Teens, Social Issues and Teens, Keeping Youth Drug Free, Healthy Eating for Children WorkLife4You web site

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