Parenting Articles – for Parents of Children in Elementary School

Most kids have reported being teased in a playful, friendly, and non-threatening way. However, teasing has the potential to become serious when it's hurtful, abrasive, and constant. This type of constant teasing may also be referred to as bullying. As parents, we don't even want to imagine our children becoming the target of a bully, but unfortunately it happens... and a lot more often than you think.

Temper tantrums are no fun, regardless of how old your child is. Tantrums may start when your child is a toddler, but plenty of children continue to have them when they reach the elementary school years. The good news is that there are things you can do to help tame temper tantrums! Not everything you try will work the first time, but be patient and consistent and you - and your child - will get through this phase.

Most parents do their best to keep their child at the same school for the duration of their allotted time. Whether you're moving out of the area or feel a new school has a better academic program, here are some steps you can take to make the process of changing schools easier for your child.

As a parent, you might feel nervous or anxious about allowing your child to try out a new sport or activity. That's completely normal, but it's also important to encourage your child to try new things and engage in extracurricular activities. If your child begins to show a particular interest in a sport, you may want to consider letting him try it out. And, it's perfectly ok to talk to the coach of the team or your child's doctor about the specific sport to make sure you're comfortable with what to expect.

By: Linda Sorkin, LFMT / Soul Empowered Coaching
No longer are the days we only have to be concerned with our kids' safety while crossing the street, walking to school alone, going out with friends unchaperoned, driving, or even dating! In contrast to the past, our parental awareness must be even more vigilant with the mainstream prevalence of modern technology. Our children are spending increasingly more time online despite the presence of technology already being a staple in their lives. They are inundated with several opportunities to explore social media and the massive cyberspace domain. Many times this happens without our consent or even knowledge of what and where our kids are traveling and exposed to on the internet. Given that parents need to be more mindful of online activity, we must acquaint ourselves with strategies to protect and educate children in cyberspace. We can never be too smart when it comes to guarding our kids and giving them opportunities to learn how to navigate and use good judgment online. There are several programs available to help parents with online safety and guidance.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), during the years of 1976-1980, only 6.5 percent of children ages 6-11 were considered obese. Today, that number has risen to nearly 20 percent! Clearly, the obesity epidemic that is plaguing America has reached some of our youngest citizens. The good news is that there are things we can do to help get childhood obesity under control!

Parents are so often frustrated by bad behavior that they forget to encourage good behavior. All kids, regardless of age, need praise and patience in order to grow into the people we'd like them to be. But, encouraging good behavior can be tough, and parents tend to react instead of direct. But, there are parenting strategies that are simple and that work. Setting goals and tracking children's progress are much easier when you use behavior charts or reward charts.

It's said that the only way to have a friend is to be one. Easier said than done when you're in elementary school. Friendship for kids is a fickle and evolving thing. When they're toddlers, a child's friend might best be described as whoever happens to be playing next to them at the moment. As they begin elementary school, their concept of friendship has evolved a bit, but who their friends are can still change from week to week, even day to day.

By: Linda Sorkin, L.M.F.T and teen life coach with Soul Empowered Coaching.
As parents we ultimately want our children to be held accountable for their actions. We want them to take responsibility for what they do right and wrong as well as learn from the choices they make. We want them to grow into self-empowered, self-esteemed and healthy functioning adults in all their affairs! And we know it all starts in childhood, which begins with positive parenting! The Kid Pointz program supports us parents while instilling self-motivated accountability with our children. 5 key parenting tips on how to hold your kids accountable:

While children in elementary school aren’t generally as threatened by the announcement of a family addition, proper preparation can go a long way toward a smooth transition to one larger, happy family. First, remember that children’s reactions will vary, especially after the baby arrives home. It’s not uncommon for even older kids to revert to behaviors you long since thought vanished, such as clinginess and talking baby talk, while some children cope by withdrawing. Be empathetic and keep in mind that all of a sudden your older child feels his place in the family and in your heart has been cast into doubt.

If you are like most adults, you have some sort of routine that you go through before going to bed. It may include such things as doing a little reading to relax, brushing your teeth, and even checking to make sure all the doors are locked. Most adults have a bedtime routine, and it's a really good idea for kids to have them, as well.

The divorce statistics of today are a sign of the times. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were just over 2 million marriages in 2009. That same year there were 840,000 divorces! While nobody marries setting out to get a divorce, for a variety of reasons things happen and it has become quite common. Knowing how to address it with your child can make a huge difference!