Are you and your child ready for another round of online school?

Well, whatever your circumstance is, it seems that online school is the option nowadays. I’m sure everyone has their own way of preparing for the start of school, but here’s just some things that me and my husband are doing to prepare:

• Get back into a regular routine of sleep! (That’s for kids and parents). I sleep.
• Try your best to answer any questions your kids may have. Honestly, parents probably have more questions than kids right now about how things are going to proceed, so stay up to date with your district
• Make a space for your kids that’s a friendly learning environment. (Fewer distractions, the right type of equipment recommended by staff, organizing school supplies).
• What motivates your kids? Maybe a treasure box with squishy toys, stickers, slap bracelets, or “school bucks.” (At least that’s what keeps my 2 younger boys motivated. Maybe yours is different, but find out!)
• Establish consequences clearly with your child ahead of time if they are not willing to put effort into school. (I still need to do this ).
• Routine. Routine. Routine. Eventually, they should get back into the swing of things, and so will we as caretakers or whoever will be in charge of your child. *Positive affirmation.
• Keep it fun during “fun time” or during recess. Maybe sports options, a hula hoop contest, playing basketball, painting, and so on.

In conclusion, try not to over-stress. Take it one day at a day. We’re all in this together.

No matter how old your child is, you should attempt to let them know that you love them on a regular basis, both verbally (saying “I love you” and “How was your math test?”) and physically (hugging them, a touch on the hand, eye contact). The younger you start the affection, the better.

Things you can do to help your child feel “Loved”:

• Tell them you love them (and mean it! Try to look into their eyes when you say it).
• Hug them (if they feel comfortable).
• Let them know that they’re valued. (Compliment them on their positive contributions with REAL examples, and let them know they are unique and created for a valuable purpose).
• Take the time to listen to them, without being quick to judge (This can be during mealtime, taking a walk, sitting down on the couch, playing a board game, putting the dishes away).
• Spend time with them. We can always tell ourselves that there’s not much time to spare, but just like a doctor’s appointment or work meeting, we can schedule time for our kids also, or find time in between just to check in.
• Of course the saying goes “Actions speak louder than words”, so the real test is during times that are challenging, you know, when you’re at your wits end. It seems like we have those days on a daily basis, doesn’t it?

When someone is pushing you to the edge, do you respond with grace, or our natural human instinct of explosion? This is definitely a hard thing to master, and does take practice. (A lot of it!) Showing self-control and grace is also ways to show your love.

If you do feel like you didn’t handle things the best way, give yourself grace as well because you are also human, and the next best thing is to take a breath and try again.

Sometimes it’s the small things that we miss, so give your child a chance to be able to connect with you in a healthy way. Help them gain the ability to form healthy relationships with others.

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” -Ephesians 4:2-

Do you ever feel like your children are spoiled? In other words, privileged, but not grateful?

I could honestly say that even as parents, sometimes we may be privileged and take it for granted, as well.

Questions to reflect on regarding your child’s gratefulness:

• Do your kids not have a concept on how much things cost, and think it’s okay to buy things because we “have the money?”
• Would they rather have junk food, instead of a delicious and healthy meal that you made for them?
• Are their toys just never enough?
• Does complaining become a regular thing?

If so, here are some tips to overcome that:

• Try to get them to volunteer with kid-friendly activities, such as visiting an assisted living home, have them draw cards for children in hospitals, help drop off foods at the food bank.
• Explain the difference between needs and wants and practice it with them on a regular basis.
• Tell them stories about other parts of the country and the world, where people do not have as much and live differently. It could also help to show them pictures of how others live and survive.
• Talk regularly as a family for what you are thankful for (during dinner time, on the weekends, or right before bed).

This is good for kids, especially at a pre-teenage. Give him/her an “allowance” at the beginning of the week, using fake money that you can find at a dollar store. This includes giving them a set amount each week, in exchange for completing whatever chore they are responsible for the week/day, and to post a price list of things on the refrigerator or any place they can easily see. For example

• $5 for 10 minutes of ipad play time.
• $2 for extra snacks
• $1 for juice and other flavored drinks
• 3 meals a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner) = Free
• Water = Free

This shows them how much things cost, such as food and electricity, and how fast their money can disappear if they are not aware of their spending. Note: Make sure you’re not overly giving them the “fake money”, so that they can learn to budget and spend their money wisely as well.

These are all easier said than done, but it will most likely have a positive influence on them in terms of being more appreciative for the present and the future.

That’s how I can describe my middle child – strong-willed. It seems that no matter how patient I am, how many options I give him, how many times I count to three, or how many threats of taking something away, he will stand his ground. I needed to understand that a part of it may be environmental, but another part of it is how he was created. So what can we do with a strong-willed child? Or better put, what can we do for a strong-willed child?

It begins with examining ourselves. Am I angry because of outside factors, such as fatigue, embarrassment, feeling weak? Am I showing unconditional love even though they are acting in the moment in a very unlovable way? I say “moment” because when my son is in his “normal mood”, which is majority of the time, he is the most smiley, playful, interactional child. Unconditional love is when you love your child during good times and bad times. Show them you love them by trying to communicate at their level, in a calm manner, trying to understand the situation and seeing their perspective, while explaining your own perspective, giving them a hug or hold their hand.

Asking more questions and letting them brainstorm a solution, than constantly giving demands is a good idea. Examples:

Good resources I’ve found:

• Discipline that connects with your child’s heart by Jim and Lynne Jackson
• Pitchin’ a fit by Israel and Brook Wayne