The Top Best Parenting Books

November 2, 2018September 12, 2018Leave a comment

Lately I have been feeling down about parenting. I feel like I should be better, what should I even be doing?? Before we had Antonio, I read a ton of books. Once I had him I stopped.. now I am starting up reading again some great books to help me cope and become a better parent.

It doesn’t matter what book you decide to read, but it is great to read any book. I know that I need to do more of this and stop reading from my phone.. It’s true! So..

here are the top parenting books

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Three Simple Ways to Cut Down on Homework Meltdowns

October 22, 2018September 9, 20189 Comments

Three Simple Ways to Cut Down on Homework Meltdowns

Tears well in eyes, heads lay on tables, and your family hits their breaking point yet again. Nothing can bring down the mood of an evening quite like a homework meltdown.. I assure you that you aren’t alone in this struggle. Many students and families endure this nightly battle more often than they would like.

I would love to see the homework policies in our country change to make it less of a burden on families and students. I don’t know exactly what this would look like, but I do know that what we’re doing now isn’t really working.

Until homework becomes more flexible for students and families, let’s aim for less meltdowns. Through many years working with kiddos and families on their assignments, I’ve compiled a list of three easy ways you can help your child have less homework stress, while learning more from their after school studies.

Take Frequent Breaks

Studies have found that kids can focus their age plus or minus one minute. So, for example, a six year old will be able to focus for around 5-7 minutes. Making sure your child is taking frequent breaks ensures they’re able to spend more time focusing in that “sweet spot” without burning out and losing attention completely.

In my opinion, the best homework breaks involve movement because they allow your child to get up from their seat while the physical activity refreshes and refocuses their brain. For a kiddo who has been expected to sit still all day in school, this can be so refreshing! During a break, allow your child to run a lap around the house, do jumping jacks, stretch, dance, or move their body in any way they enjoy. Youtube has some great kids “brain breaks” that would be a fun addition to your homework routine if you’re looking for ideas.

Put it into action: Set a timer for 5-15 minutes (depending on your child’s attention span) and let them get to work on their assignments. When the timer goes off, get up and take a 2-5 minute break, then take a couple of breaths and re-focus on the task at hand (and re-set your timer).

Have Supplies on Hand

When doing homework and projects, finding the supplies can be half the battle. You can cut down on the time spent doing homework, and the time you spend getting looking for pencils, by creating a homework supplies basket. Having all supplies available in one place will help your child stay focused without having to get up and search for something every few minutes.

Put it into action: Find a caddy or basket that will look nice in your homework area. Gather all the supplies that your child typically needs for homework and projects (ex. paper, pencils, glue, scissors, crayons etc.) and place them in the container. Explain to your child that before pestering you for scissors they should look in the basket!

Think Outside the Box

Chances are, your child sits still at a desk or table under fluorescent lighting for a majority of the day. This can make sitting still to study and do homework seem super unappealing when they get home. To help cut down on the drudgery and meltdowns, try to step outside the box whenever possible.

Thinking outside the box when it comes to homework can be as simple as an alternate location (such as doing it outside, at a coffee shop, or in a different room of the house). When studying, you can go outside and play a game of HORSE, pass a ball back and forth, or encourage your child to create their own spelling hopscotch game. Stepping outside the ordinary doesn’t have to cost a lot of time or money, and doing something a little different can help your child retain information and have fun while doing it!

Put it into action: Choose one day this week to step out of your normal homework routine to do something a little different.

Bonus: Know When to Quit

Homework shouldn’t be a battle every night, and it shouldn’t reduce your child to tears. If homework is getting tense too often, don’t force it. I encourage you to let your child stop when they are at their capacity. Make sure to reach out to the teacher to discuss options for making sure homework doesn’t push your child over the edge every night.

I hope that these simple hacks help your family have a more pleasant experience with homework this school year. How does your family make homework easier on everyone involved? We would love to hear your tips in the comments!

Bio: Zoie is the founder and lead tutor at Hoffman Tutoring Group, an online tutoring company that serves students in K-8th grade. Her passion for personalized learning stems from her own experience as a struggling elementary school student. She dedicates her time to ensuring students get the education and mindset building they need to meet their academic goals by matching them with qualified tutors who plan sessions specifically for each child’s needs, personality, and learning style.

Website: www.hoffmantutoringgroup.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/hoffmantutoring

Instagram: www.instagram.com/hoffman.tutoring.group/

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How to Prepare a Montessori Bedroom for your Child

August 17, 2018June 26, 2018Leave a comment

The basic idea behind Montessori teaching is that learning should be completely child-centered. This means that, in a Montessori bedroom, everything should be safe and at kid-level to explore. Many parents choose different formats for their rooms, but every room has the same basic ideas. Setting up a Montessori room is relatively inexpensive and easy as long as you know where to start.

Floor Level Bed One of the key components of a Montessori bedroom is a floor level bed. This allows kids to access and leave their bed on their terms to explore their surroundings and set their own sleep schedules. Many parents of babies like to add a mobile above the bed for the baby to focus on. Many parents worry that their baby will roll out of bed, which is a common and valid concern. There are several fixes to this problem, such as putting pool noodles under the fitted sheet, attaching a bed rail under the mattress, and putting something soft, like a rubber mat, next to the bed in case the baby rolls off.
Everything Safely Attached to the Wall The whole idea of a Montessori room is to allow kids to learn skills naturally without any adult intervention. For that to happen, you need to make sure that the furniture in the room is safe for kids to explore by themselves. Try to make all the furniture as close to kid-sized as possible and be sure that all the furniture is safely attached to the wall in case climbing is part of your kids’ natural exploration process.
Clear the Clutter For most parents, clearing the clutter is only a dream, but if you’re serious about wanting a Montessori room, you have to clear the room of everything but the important stuff. Less clutter makes a safer environment for the children and removes distractions. The room has to be screen free, and there should be plenty of room to move around and explore.
Natural Learning Toys A Montessori room is just as much about play as it is about function. The room should not be over-filled, but there should be a fair assortment of learning toys available to suit your child’s mood. Many parents who choose this method of decorating believe that toys should be simple and made of natural materials as much as possible. To remove clutter and keep with the theme, instead of buying a massive toy chest or large bookcase to store the toys, buy a couple of plastic storage bins. Separate the toys into the bins and place the bins together on the floor in the corner of the room.
Bright Pictures at Baby Level One of the defining features of this type of bedroom is bright pictures that are hung at kid level. Even in kid’s rooms adults tend to hang art at an adult level which doesn’t allow kids to appreciate and understand the art. Make sure that the art is hung safely in case your baby’s exploration includes removing them from the wall.
Lots of Books Another feature of Montessori rooms is an abundance of books, and often, a reading nook. These books are usually on a kid-sized bookshelf and are often laid face up on the shelf so toddlers can pick them from the pictures on their covers. Some parents will also place a rug and pillows in the same area so kids can lay and read to their heart’s content.
Clothes in Their Reach One final note that may not be traditional, but which is popular with a lot of parents practicing this method is to put your child’s clothes at their level and allow them to dress themselves.Speaking from experience, this can have some disastrous results, but it makes them happy and teaches them independence. Again, it is incredibly important to make sure that the furniture that the clothes are stored in is securely attached to the wall because you can guarantee that they will be reaching to the back to search for their favorite shirt.

This type of bedroom design may not be for everyone, but it does seem to be growing in popularity. It makes sense that this is a great way for kids to learn about their environment while also gaining independence and confidence is a free but safe environment. Additionally, the minimalist ideas behind the Montessori method will probably save you money when preparing your child’s room!

Guest Blogger: Samara Kamenecka is a VA specializing in SEO and writing, based in Madrid. When she’s not chained to her desk working, she likes to explore the city with her boyfriend, their two kids and their dog. You can find her blogging about everything from parenting gear to pregnancy tips over at http://www.tinyfry.com.

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The autism truth (The Hard Truth about Parenting an Autistic Child)

October 25, 2017September 21, 20172 Comments

You aren’t embarrassed or ashamed of your kid, but you understand people are looking and wondering. It hurts to see them looking at you and him. Trust me I get the feeling. This too shall pass…

I’m out at a place working with my son and repeating things and being quite annoying to them but I know my son is listening and getting a lot of it so let them look. If I can get through to my son that is all that matters.

I can’t tell you how many times I have been out and people just want to look at us. There are times when my kid will just sit down on the floor and not want to finish walking or get up. It just happens like that! But, I have to be patient and let him know that I am boss. I have seen people laughing and pointing at us – but why? As adults, can’t we just carry on, or offer a helping hand?

But then, during that moment when we are counting up to eight and he says eight, I scream! For most moms they are like, “Wow, great!” But for this autistic mama, it’s like a freakin miracle! So I keep going and keep being annoying, ignoring everyone else in the background. It is what I have to do in order to keep my sanity going.

I see the other moms sitting around and playing on their phones. But the truth is my kid learns through playing and interaction so if I look crazy or am being annoying, so be it. My son comes first. I try so hard to not be on my phone as much as I can when I am around my son and we have learning time. It amazes me how many people don’t want to interact with their kid when they are out and about. I am that mom, right now anyway, who is constantly talking and letting her son take in everything.

If we all want to judge and wonder what is “wrong” with my kid because he isn’t playing like the others? Then tough! Let’s just stop this nonsense and let it be.

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The Best Children’s Clothing..

November 23, 2016November 12, 2016Leave a comment

I am a true fan of carters. We seriously love carters and thats all that there is to it! We love their sales that they have plus we even love how adorable and stylish their clothing is. I mean one of the biggest children brand for clothing. I love being able to get great clothes for great prices.

I have had my son wear tons of different clothing brand names, but nothing compares to carters. I am telling y’all! Sometimes 18 months clothes don’t fit over his head but others do… Its crazy how clothing varies from brand name to brand name. I have never had any issues with carters sizing!

Our favorite carters product is their PJS. Oh my gosh they are the comfiest, can I get those in adult sizes please?! I mean seriously. We stock up on those and buy endless pjs for year round. I love Carters so much that I am giving you $15 off your first $50 off!!!! Just click this link and you will be directed there! Happy Shopping!

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