Posts Tagged ‘Discipline’

As our children grow, they need well-rounded stimulation and exposure to various interests in order to become informed and educated adults later. Most children are taught to engage in sports, while their exposure to the arts may not be as intensive. As the daughter of a teacher who has taught the basics of art, dance, music and theater to children; I have an appreciation for what they have to offer. My life has been enhanced greatly by art and music, especially. If you are thinking about enrolling your child in afterschool programs, consider an art, music or dance class to get them started in the fascinating world of the arts. My mother’s students through the 45 years she has taught have appreciated what they learned from her, and have come back at times to tell her so. The arts are meaningful and broaden your child’s world tremendously.

For example, if you child wants to play an instrument, encourage this and find a tutor or enroll them in a class. Let your child choose an instrument then either rent one or buy a second-hand instrument until you know he or she likes it enough to get a new one. Music teaches discipline, and studies by experts claim that it can help with learning mathematics as well. Besides, music is a good outlet for children, and pulls them away from less educational pursuits like video games or chatting online. By stimulating your child’s brain, you are allowing them to gain mastery of a subject. By sticking with lessons and completing them one-by-one, your child will gain in self confidence, too.

If your child loves to dance, there are courses at the arts or recreational centers in your community on ballet, tap or more. Sign up for a course in the topic he or she finds most interesting, and make sure to give encouragement as the courses progress. Dance promotes agility, grace and physical fitness. Install these interests early to set them up for interest in these disciplines as they mature. Go to the dance performance at the end of the course, and your child will be happy to know that you support all their hard work. It means a lot for them to see that you approve of what they are doing.

Art is most near and dear to my heart, as I am a trained illustrator. Let your child try a broad spectrum of different arts and crafts, so he or she can see what is most interesting to pursue further. For example, there are courses in pottery-making, drawing, painting, enamelling, sculpture and much more. I myself have taught children in drawing and painting, and they absorb what is taught to them like sponges when interested in the subject. Make sure to find a teacher who will make learning fun and give them positive encouragement. Many of my students have told me at the beginning, “I can’t do this. I can’t even draw a straight line.” That doesn’t matter, there is no right and wrong in creative art. It’s the artist’s creative license to do whatever he or she wants. My main concern with insecure students is to let them know that it takes time and practise, like in any branch of the arts, to become skilled. It doesn’t happen overnight, no matter how talented you are. Then, I go ahead and teach them, project-by-project, to gain confidence and see that art truly is for them. Some of my students have taken off to create projects on their own, once they realized that perfection isn’t expected of them. The pressure is off, and they can be free to enjoy whatever medium they like the most.

As a kid, my mother and father enrolled me in a wide variety of courses. As a shy child, it scared me at first, but even the courses I wasn’t as interested in were educational to me. I took away from each course a little more knowledge and appreciation for what the pros have to do to become good at their craft. Though I didn’t get into dance, I loved drawing, painting, music and pottery. And, trying different things pulled me out of my shell, making the shyness disappear later on.

I am a professional artist, my preferred style is realistic art, but I appreciate different disciplines unlike mine, such as impressionistic or abstract art. My mother teaches her young students to appreciate the Old Masters (painters like Van Gogh, Monet, Degas, etc.) every year, and they love it. Each child is taught to choose a painting they like, then try to paint it, using basic tempera paint. It is amazing how lovely the paintings can turn out, and every year she gets copies of the work before it goes home with the kids. Unbeknownst to these three to five year old children, classic training in painting includes copying the Old Masters further along in art education. Trying it early is invaluable, and there is no pressure to create a masterpiece, just in having fun and seeing how each child interprets the original painting. The kids love it, and work hard to do a good job, so they can go home and give it to their parents. A very worthwhile project.

Having grown up immersed in the arts myself, I truly encourage you to give your child exposure to them away from what they learn in elementary school. If they enjoy a certain branch of the arts, encourage it, and later as adults they will do this for their children in return. The arts make the world a prettier, more musical and interesting place. No time spent on learning them is wasted. So, go ahead and enroll them in a course after school. You won’t be disappointed, and maybe you will open their eyes to a new passion to pursue. It’s most definitely worth a try.

Carolyn McFann
http://www.articlesbase.com/k-12-education-articles/the-importance-of-exposing-your-child-to-lessons-in-art-music-or-dance-126037.html

Technorati Tags: 45 Years, Afterschool Programs, Agility, Art Dance, Art Music, Ballet, Dance Class, Dance Music, Discipline, Disciplines, Educational Pursuits, Encouragement, Mathematics, New Music, One Music, Physical Fitness, Self Confidence, Tap, Tutor, Video Games

Amy was just putting away the groceries for the day when her daughter, Elizabeth, walked into the kitchen demanding the latest iPhone. Amy patiently told her daughter that she had already received another popular – and equally expensive – phone a few months ago; what exactly was wrong with it? When Elizabeth said that all the “cool kids” had the iPhone, Amy felt at a loss for what to do. How exactly did her child get so spoiled to the point where what she “had to have” a few months ago now was just another worthless and outdated piece of junk?

Like it or not, Amy’s not alone in attempting to cope with a spoiled child. Thanks to a culture of materialism, many children now more than ever expect “basics” like incredible gaming systems, the latest cell phones and even the nicest cars available. This turns into the parents buying what seems like an impossibly high mountain full of clothes, toys, gadgets and other items that will only be abandoned months later in favor of the newest trends to hit the mall. If this scenario sounds familiar to you, then you need to do everything in your power to “unspoil” your child before he or she reaches adulthood – after all, a spoiled adult is generally unsuccessful in both professional and personal pursuits, and will find it hard to maintain a lasting relationship.

Before unspoiling your children, you must first need to acknowledge that your own behavior is a primary cause. Many parents buy loads of stuff for their children because they feel guilty for working long hours, or they feel as though buying things is another way of showing affection and love. Not so, say most child experts. You’ll need to work on your own views of love and feelings of guilt before you can expect to successfully “unlearn” spoiled behavior from your children.

Next, you’ll need to set limits with your children – and stick with them! Consistency is key in any form of discipline, especially when it comes to children. So before you cave in to your child’s demands, think about the behavior that you’re demonstrating to your son or daughter – if you flip-flop, you’ll only teach your children that if they stick with it, they can eventually get what they want from you. Sure, your children will throw temper tantrums when you suddenly refuse to get them what they want, but here’s a little secret that they don’t want you to know: children quickly get over disappointments! If your child ignores you or acts angry, let them do so, but have them understand that under no circumstances will you relent on your limits.

Another great way to unlearn spoiled behavior is to have your children get involved with a local charity or volunteering organization. Often, spoiled children aren’t exposed to those with less means than themselves, and find it hard to realize that not everyone is as fortunate as him or her. Spend your weekends with a worthy charity cause or at a homeless shelter, and your child will soon learn that he or she is blessed to have just food on the table and a roof over his or her own head.

Remember, when it comes to unlearning all kinds of bad behavior, consistency is key. Once you’ve set your limits with your child, don’t relent, no matter how tempted you may be – after all, relenting sends the wrong message to your child and will only make the spoiled behavior worse. Above all, don’t forget to praise your child for showing improvements in his or her behavior!

Gareth Williams
http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/got-a-spoiled-child-heres-how-to-cope-724961.html

Technorati Tags: Adulthood, Cell Phones, Child Experts, Clothes, Consistency, Cool Kids, Daughter Elizabeth, Discipline, Feelings Of Guilt, Gadgets, Gaming Systems, Groceries, Iphone, Materialism, Nicest Cars, Parents, Personal Pursuits, Relationship, Showing Affection, Spoiled Child

It seems to me that in today’s world, parents don’t discipline their kids and that they are free to rule over their parents. I was spanked as a child and it didn’t seem to have a negative impact on my life.

Not only is spanking acceptable it’s VERY productive if used correctly, and at the right moments. I couldn’t agree with you more, I was spanked too, and am grateful for my parents teaching!

Technorati Tags: child behavior, Discipline, Negative Impact, Parents, Spanked, Spanking Child, Unruly Child

Who does not feel frustrated when your child cannot seem to finish his chores even after repeatedly asking him to do so? We all are. And so it is time to design a chore chart. Here is how it works.

List the chores you want your child accomplished. The chores may include getting the dishes done, taking out trash, cleaning the room, putting laundry in proper places, gardening or yard work. To be realistic about it, target finishing each chore once or twice a week. More than that may just invite frustration. When your child accomplishes a task, let him indicate it with check marks on the chore chart. Each week should be an opportunity for measuring his achievements. Parents will notice that a child derives satisfaction from checking off each completed chore. And with it both of you can expect completed chores at the end of each week.

Making the chore chart work will require discussing and jointly designing it with your child. You may also wish agreement on rewards for accomplishing the tasks listed on the chart. Fixing a certain amount for a set of accomplishments is recommended in case you decide on granting monetary rewards. This means the grant must be given on regular basis and deemed appropriate to the child’s age. Fifty cents for each year of age is “industry standard”. Thus a 10-year old child receives $5.00 of extra allowance per week for getting his chores on the list done. He does not get it if otherwise he fails to complete the tasks.

The chore chart and the reward system it offers can also be an opportunity for your child to develop other values aside from having the discipline to finish his assigned tasks. You can teach your child the value not only of earning money with commensurate effort on his part, but also of saving what he earns and even sharing it with less fortunate kids. Introduce to him ideas like dividing the extra allowance he earns into three: 1/3 for his savings, 1/3 for him to spend, and 1/3 for charity. There are many ways by which your child can keep tab of where his money goes. You can encourage him to use money jars or coffee cans, or both of you can devise a “bank book” where movements of each portion of the allowance can be tracked.

Non-monetary incentives can be applied just as well. Again you need to be clear with your child of the rules involved. For example, he can enjoy seeing a movie with mom and dad or have two hours of his favorite video games every weekend when he gets checkmarks on the chore chart. Another option is for your child to write “paper notes” for tasks he accomplished, and store these notes like deposits which he may later on convert to cash based on conditions or parameters you agreed on earlier with your child.

In whatever form the rewards may take, do not forget that the chore chart is your means to develop a sense of discipline in your child.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/how-to-make-your-child-complete-chores-by-using-chore-charts-740329.html

Technorati Tags: Charity, Chart Work, Chore Chart, Chore Charts, Chores, Discipline, Dishes, Earning Money, Fifty Cents, Fortunate Kids, Frustration, Laundry, Monetary Rewards, Opportunity, Parents, Reward System, Satisfaction, Target, Trash

Who does not feel frustrated when your child cannot seem to finish his chores even after repeatedly asking him to do so? We all are. And so it is time to design a chore chart. Here is how it works.

List the chores you want your child accomplished. The chores may include getting the dishes done, taking out trash, cleaning the room, putting laundry in proper places, gardening or yard work. To be realistic about it, target finishing each chore once or twice a week. More than that may just invite frustration. When your child accomplishes a task, let him indicate it with check marks on the chore chart. Each week should be an opportunity for measuring his achievements. Parents will notice that a child derives satisfaction from checking off each completed chore. And with it both of you can expect completed chores at the end of each week.

Making the chore chart work will require discussing and jointly designing it with your child. You may also wish agreement on rewards for accomplishing the tasks listed on the chart. Fixing a certain amount for a set of accomplishments is recommended in case you decide on granting monetary rewards. This means the grant must be given on regular basis and deemed appropriate to the child’s age. Fifty cents for each year of age is “industry standard”. Thus a 10-year old child receives $5.00 of extra allowance per week for getting his chores on the list done. He does not get it if otherwise he fails to complete the tasks.

The chore chart and the reward system it offers can also be an opportunity for your child to develop other values aside from having the discipline to finish his assigned tasks. You can teach your child the value not only of earning money with commensurate effort on his part, but also of saving what he earns and even sharing it with less fortunate kids. Introduce to him ideas like dividing the extra allowance he earns into three: 1/3 for his savings, 1/3 for him to spend, and 1/3 for charity. There are many ways by which your child can keep tab of where his money goes. You can encourage him to use money jars or coffee cans, or both of you can devise a “bank book” where movements of each portion of the allowance can be tracked.

Non-monetary incentives can be applied just as well. Again you need to be clear with your child of the rules involved. For example, he can enjoy seeing a movie with mom and dad or have two hours of his favorite video games every weekend when he gets checkmarks on the chore chart. Another option is for your child to write “paper notes” for tasks he accomplished, and store these notes like deposits which he may later on convert to cash based on conditions or parameters you agreed on earlier with your child.

In whatever form the rewards may take, do not forget that the chore chart is your means to develop a sense of discipline in your child.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/how-to-make-your-child-complete-chores-by-using-chore-charts-740329.html

Technorati Tags: Charity, Chart Work, Chore Chart, Chore Charts, Chores, Discipline, Dishes, Earning Money, Fifty Cents, Fortunate Kids, Frustration, Laundry, Monetary Rewards, Opportunity, Parents, Reward System, Satisfaction, Target, Trash