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Taming Tantrums 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Temper tantrums range from kicking and screaming to whining and immobility and are equally common in boys and girls. While they generally lessen in frequency and intensity as children grow older, that’s hardly a consolation now! Temper tantrums are almost always the result of a child’s frustration. Understanding and addressing ... Read more:Taming
Language Arts 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Learn How To Say Stubborn in Five Languages!
têtu
[tay too] (French)
obstinado
[ohb stee nah doe] (Spanish)
störrisch
[stugh rish] (German)
testardo
[tess tar doe] (Italian)
stubborn
[stew born] (Portuguese)
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Strong-Willed or Stubborn? 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Some children realize very early on that no one can force you to do anything you absolutely don’t want to do. A strong will can be a sign of a natural leader. It can also be a sign of a future full of stand-offs, stubbornness and sore feelings. Helping your ... Read more:Strong
Stop Sibling Squabbles 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sibling squabbles are usually emphasized by a long, drawn-out, resounding “MOM!”. What happens after the call for parental intervention can go a long way in helping your children learn to, at the very least, co-exist peacefully. To help mediate the situation, it’s important to understand the cause of the conflict.
Siblings ... Read more:Sibling
Blog Carnival 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Our recent article on computer games has been featured in a blog carnival called Carnival
of Family Life. Please check out some of the other links on the list for interesting articles!Share This Read more:Blog Carnival
Wanted: Volunteers! 2007-10-10 07:23:47 There are many ways you can learn about volunteer opportunities, including the following:
Check with Keep America Beautiful or other local organizations for community clean-up days. Your local Parks and Recreation Department is a great resource for outdoor projects.
Check with local nursing homes and hospitals for “toddler days.”
Take on home baking projects for fundraising bake sales or meal delivery services.
Ask your local Chamber of Commerce for information about local organizations that may have volunteer opportunities.
Call non-profit organizations you like and ask what you can do. They may have needs/volunteer opportunities that you haven’t even thought of.
Check for opportunities listed in national volunteer website databases such as VolunteerMatch.org (has a designation for kid-friendly opportunities) or Idealist.org (has designations for teen opportunities and under-age-12 opportunities).
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Language Arts 2007-10-10 07:23:37 Learn How To Say Volunteer in Five Languages!
volontaire
[vall own teh er] (French)
voluntario
[voh lun tar ee oh] (Spanish)
freiwillig erbieten
[fry vill ig air bite en] (German)
volontario
[vall on tar ee o] (Italian)
voluntário
[vole oon tah ree oh] (Portuguese)
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Make A Difference! 2007-10-09 09:25:30 Did you know that Saturday, October 27 is national Make A Difference Day? Started by the USA Weekend publication of USA Today fifteen years ago, Make A Difference Day happens annually on the fourth Saturday of October. Millions of people across the country participate. Some communities sponsor large scale projects to engage large numbers of volunteers, while other participants plan their own projects for small groups or families. Paul Newman and Newman’s Own Foundation honors ten Make A Difference Day projects/volunteers with awards and donates $10,000 to each charitable organization. The honorees are then featured in an edition of USA Weekend coinciding with National Volunteer Week.
Now that you know about Make A Difference Day, aren’t you anxious to get involved? For a listing of projects in your area, you can search the Dayta Bank at http://usaweekend.com/diffday/index.html, the official website of Make A Difference Day. Or, you can register your project and recruit more volunte
Never Too Young… To Volunteer 2007-10-08 08:06:21 Volunteering with children is a great way to help them learn about giving back. Children learn valuable skills while “on the job.” Homeschooled students, who may have more time available for volunteering, could also enjoy the additional socialization opportunities presented through volunteering. Another benefit of volunteering is children learn about the concerns of the organization and what need it fills in the community. Consequently, the children also have an opportunity to remember what they have to be thankful for.
Work Together
It’s important to work side-by-side with your child, since leading by example has been shown to be the most effective form of teaching. Children who see their parents volunteering are much more likely to believe in the value of working to help others. Naturally, working side-by-side with your child will allow you to assist him/her when necessary, ensuring the child’s presence is a help, not a hindrance to the organization’s st Read more:Volunteer
Six Tactics to Ward Off Bullies 2007-10-03 06:39:50 To ward off bullies, children need to have a sense of dignity and control. Sharing the following tips may help your child regain the upper hand in bully-situations – and they’re already in kid friendly language!
Control your anger. It’s natural to get really upset, but that’s the reaction that the bully wants. Getting angry just gives the bully more power. Instead, just leave the situation.
Don’t get physical. Hitting or pushing a bully, even if they do it first, is never a good idea. You can’t be sure how the bully will respond. Instead, tell an adult like a teacher or aide what happened.
Be brave and ignore the bully. Tell the bully something like “Stop it right now, I’m not afraid of you.” and then ignore him or her. Keep your head held high and be confident. If you ignore the bully or don’t respond, the bully will get bored and try to bother someone else.
Be a good friend. If you see the bully bothering another student, tell an adult. If you feel confident, tel
Be a Helper - Not a Hindrance! 2007-10-17 10:22:53 Have you ever taken your child and a few friends on an excursion to the park, a museum, or a ball game? Did you find yourself exhausted by the end of the day? Now just imagine being with 20-30 of your child’s friends Monday-Friday for 7 hours a day. Kids can be a handful and many teachers welcome a little help in the classroom. But an overzealous parent can do more harm than good! Read on to learn what to avoid doing – so you can be a help to your child’s teacher rather than a hindrance!
Don’t pay too much attention to your own child. The teacher is counting on you to work with students that need a little extra help. If you’re distracted and constantly monitoring your child’s work at the expense of others, you’re not fulfilling your obligation. Checking on your child is certainly okay, but make sure to pay attention to the others!
Don’t give out answers. If you tell students the answers, rather than guiding them through the process to find the correct answers, they’r Read more:Helper
Language Arts 2007-10-17 10:22:41 Learn How To Say Parent in Five Languages!
parent
[paw rent] (French)
padre
[paw dray] (Spanish)
elternteil
[el turn tale] (German)
genitore
[jen i tore ay] (Italian)
pai
[pie] (Portuguese)
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10 Questions for Parent-Teacher Conferences 2007-10-16 11:48:03 There are few things worse than freezing up when someone asks “so, do you have any questions?” Instead of scrambling to come up with a question off the top of your head, bring your own list of questions. Not sure what to ask? Take a look at the suggested questions below and adjust the list to apply to your child. Remember, this is your chance to get the information you need to help your child be successful (but keep in mind that there will be a long line of parents waiting to do the same thing – so it’s important that you’re prepared and succinct with your questions!).
Is my child’s development on track for his age and the rest of your class?
Are there activities or games we can do at home to reinforce the skills that you’re working on in the classroom?
What are my child’s academic strengths?
In what areas can my child improve? Can you suggest ways to work on these areas?
What is my child like in class? (good behavior? bad behavior? class clown?)
How does m Read more:Conferences
, Parent
, Teacher
Preparing for Parent Teacher Conferences 2007-10-16 09:07:25 Whether you’ve been to more parent teacher conferences than you care to count or this will be your first one, the most important thing is to BE PREPARED! You have a limited amount of time. And you probably have a lot you’d like to discuss. To make the most of your twenty minutes, arrive with a plan (you’ll be head of the class!).
Choose a convenient time: If you have a partner, try to arrange a time that fits both schedules. This will illustrate, to your child’s teacher, that you’re both involved in your child’s education. It will also give you an opportunity to discuss the meeting and make sure that you both heard the same things – and then you can plan a way forward together.
Check in with your child: Before the conference, talk to your child about how things are going. Check to see if there are any issues or questions your child would like you to address.
Jot down the questions: Write down your questions and/or discussion topics ahead of time. If you have specific con Read more:Conferences
, Parent
, Teacher
The End of an Era 2007-10-19 13:55:52 Join me today as the Brighter Minds blog enters a new age. Marcie, the longtime writer of most of the articles you’ve read here has left us to work for a prominent non-profit agency.
We all wish her the absolute best of luck and will miss her greatly.
Here she is at her going-away party
Brighter Minds will continue to deliver you the same quality articles, tips, and features as before, although there may be a few rough spots during the transitional period. I appreciate your patience during this time.
Also (as a result of these changes), the Brighter Minds Newsletter has been rescheduled. It will now go out on Thursdays instead of Wednesdays.
Thanks to everyone and especially to Marcie.
–Andrew
And what a party it was! Even Batman stopped by.
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Language Arts 2007-10-25 12:23:00 Learn How To Say Dog in Five Languages!
perro
[pay-ro] (Spanish)
chien
[she-awn] (French)
cão
[cow] (Portugese)
cane
[cahn-ay] (Italian)
hund
[hoond] (German)
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Help! My Child is Allergic to the Family Pet! 2007-10-25 09:57:03 Does your dog make your child sneeze? Does your cat make his or her eyes water? If so, you’re not alone—around 15 percent of the population is allergic to dogs or cats. And it’s not the fur that is making you sneeze—its actually tiny flakes of animal skin (dander) that trigger the allergic reactions. Although getting rid of the pet is the best way to alleviate allergic symptoms completely, there are ways to alleviate mild pet allergies without having to get rid of your family’s beloved companion.
Create an “allergy-free” area of the home that is off-limits to pets. A good place to do this is the child’s bedroom. Place a high-efficiency HEPA air purifier in the room. Also avoid cloth curtains, heavy blinds, and carpets in this room, as these are prime areas for dander to accumulate.
Vacuum and dust the rest of the house frequently to remove dust and dander and wash couch covers pillows, curtains, and pet beds often.
Give your pet frequent baths. The Humane Soci Read more:Allergic
, Family
What You Should Know Before Choosing A Family Pet 2007-10-24 08:49:16 So, your family has decided that it is time to introduce a pet into your home. But, it is important to consider which type of pet will best suit your family’s lifestyle and personality. Not all pets are going to be great choices for your family and some pets are not good for children at all. Read on for information about what types of pets are good (and bad!) for your child.
Dogs make excellent companions for children because they are playful, loyal, and affectionate. However, like people, individual dogs have very distinct personalities. The best way to decide which type of dog is best for your family is to take your kids to the local animal shelter and let them spend some time with different dogs. You will quickly get an idea of the personality of each individual dog and what will fit well with your family. Some good breeds to think about are Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Beagles. All three of these breeds are known for being exceptionally smart, loyal, and gent Read more:Family
Seven Easy Ways Your Child Can Help Care for the Family Pet 2007-10-23 09:30:14 If you already have a family pet, you probably know that pets can add a lot of joy to your home, but they can also add a lot of work! Even though you are probably doing most of the care taking for your pet, your kids can help take care of Fluffy—and learn responsibility as well. Here are some ways your child can become more involved in your pet’s care.
Feeding and watering. This is a simple task that will teach your child responsibility as well as teach him or her that pets are dependent on their owners for love and care.
Grooming. Although parents will have to be the ones in charge of trimming your pet’s nails, children can help with the brushing and grooming of your pet. Show your child how to gently run a brush through your pet’s fur and to talk gently and stroke the pet during grooming. This is an excellent way for your child to bond with your pet, as well as keep your pet’s coat healthy and free of tangles and dander.
Playing with your pet. Playtime is crucial Read more:Family
, Seven
An Organic Recipe Your Kids Will Go Bananas For 2007-11-01 14:08:47 Hey everyone,
I know you’ve probably heard all about why you should go organic, but maybe you never thought of it as a great way to provide the healthiest food for your child. Organic
fruits and vegetables are free from pesticides or fertilizers—products that are potentially harmful to our bodies. Organic animal products mean that the animals were raised without antibiotics and growth hormones—chemicals that are unhealthy for both the animal and the consumer. Going organic is healthy for farmers, healthy for plants, healthy for animals, and healthy for your family.
You can start introducing organic foods to your family gradually, and a great snack to start with is the banana push-up.
Banana Push-Up
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 0 minutes
Ingredients:
1- 1/2 large organic bananas (cut up)
1/3-cup organic nonfat dry milk
2/3-cup plain organic yogurt
1/4-lb. organic frozen pineapple juice concentrate
2/3-cup water
8 small paper cups
Directions:
Combine all ing
Language Arts 2007-11-01 14:06:33 Learn How To Say Earth in Five Languages!
Tierra
[Tee-air-ah.] (Spanish)
Terra
[tair-ah] (French)
Aarde
[ar-day] (Dutch)
Terra
[tair-ah] (Italian)
Erde
[air-day] (German)
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Turn an old CD case into a fun picture frame! 2007-11-01 11:17:34 Hello again,
I hope the paper-making went well for you. I have another great idea on how you can use old stuff you have sitting around the house to make new things. Today we will learn how to make a picture frame out of an old CD case.
Here’s what you need:
An old CD case
Glue
Scissors
Buttons, ribbon, glitter, or other decorative elements
Construction paper
A photo
Now here’s what to do:
Start by removing all the labels and inserts from the CD case.
Trace the case onto a piece of construction paper. It will need to be just a little bit smaller than the case so you can slide it in easily. For a downloadable template, click here.
Crop your picture so it fits onto the insert you just made.
Glue down your picture and then decorate with ribbon, glitter, buttons, or any other decorative items you can think of!
Slide the insert back in the case and— voila! —you have a picture frame!
As I was researching this craft, I found another interesting way to use this concept—make
Make Your Own Paper! 2007-11-01 08:48:28 Hey gang,
As part of environmental awareness week here on the blog, I thought it would be fun to learn how to make paper. I made my own paper a couple years ago, and it was a really fun craft, even as an adult. Not only is it good for the environment because you are saving trees, you end up with a unique product that you can use for stationary, cards, or even just note paper.
To make your own paper, you will need:
Blender or egg beater
Mixing bowl
Flat dish or pan (9 x 13 is a good size)
Round jar or rolling pin
Newsprint, scrap paper, wrapping paper (any old paper will do!)
Piece of non-rusting screen (about the size of the piece of paper you want to make)
3 pieces of cloth or felt to use as blotting paper (same size as screen)
10 pieces of newspaper for blotting
2 cups of hot water
2 teaspoons of instant starch
Glitter, dried flowers, leaves, or other decorative elements
Okay, now here’s what to do:
Tear up all your paper into really small bits. Put the bits into your bowl, a
It’s Environment Week! 2007-10-30 12:56:09 Hey Everybody,
It’s Environment
al Awareness Week here on the Brighter Minds Media blog. Why? Because going green is all the rage. People are switching to hybrid cars, organic foods and even solar-powered homes. And why wouldn’t they? Being environmentally conscious is crucial in order to preserve our Earth for future generations. But, if your lives are anything like mine, it’s hard to find time to save the Earth while keeping up with our busy lifestyles. Believe it or not, though, there are many easy ways to go green that won’t interfere with your day-to-day life. Below are some super-easy and super-awesome ideas for going green with your family:
Tote your own grocery bag. Save paper and plastic by bringing your own tote bag along to the grocery store, especially when you are just going for a “quick trip”. If you do tote groceries home in plastic bags, use them again as trashcan liners and for the litter box.
Save bills in the bathroom. Buying water-effi
Language Arts 2007-11-07 08:30:01 Learn How To Say Money in Five Languages!
dinero
[dee-nair-o] (Spanish)
argent
[ar-janht] (French)
dinheiro
[deen-yay-roo] (Portugese)
denaro
[day-nar-o] (Italian)
geld
[gald] (German)
Hey guys– don’t forget to come back for some killer crafts! Tomorrow we will learn how to make a papier mache piggy bank, and then Friday we will make a lunch money necklace. See you tomorrow!
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Raise a Savvy Spender 2007-11-06 20:31:12 Hey everyone,
Last week we talked about going green. And that’s what we are talking about again this week… except in another way. This week we are talking about green as in money. When I was little, my sister Brooke was begging my mom for some trinket in the dollar store. And, as every mom has said, my mom informed her, “Money doesn’t grow on trees.”
“I know,” Brooke said. “It comes out of the machine.”
Although funny, it’s unfortunately true that lots of children fail to realize money is something that must be earned (and saved!) and doesn’t magically appear when we want it. It’s possible to raise a smart spender, though… just follow these tips!
Give your child coins to count and sort.
Make sure she knows better than to put the coins in her mouth though! Teach your child the names and values of the different coins. This will teach early math skills like counting and sorting.
Let your child handle money in the real world.
Have him be the one to ins Read more:Savvy
, Spender
Make a Seriously Cool Lunch Money Locket 2007-11-08 12:31:08 Alright guys,
I’m just keeping the crafts coming this week! So the last one for this week is this awesome lunch money locket made from a mint tin. It’s a super-easy, super-fun craft AND it will keep your child from losing their lunch money again!
Here’s what you need:
A small metal mint tin (It should measure roughly 2 by 2 ½ inches. Make sure it has a hinged lid.)
Acrylic paint
Paintbrush
String or metallic cord (about three feet in length)
Tacky glue
A small plastic animal, fake jewels, stickers, decorations
Now, here’s what to do:
Wash and dry the tin. Let your child paint it any color he or she likes.
Thread the string or metallic cord around and through the tin’s hinges. Pull both ends of the string tight so they fit snugly around the tin and the knot it into a necklace.
Glue plastic animals, jewels, or other ornaments to the tin. Let it dry.
That’s it! I told you it was easy!
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Read more:Lunch
, Money
, Seriously
Make a Papier-Mache Piggy Bank 2007-11-08 12:11:57 Hello again!
Since we are focusing on money this week, and especially on how kids can learn to save money, I thought it would be fun to make a piggy bank. I guarantee your child will love making this papier-mache piggy bank almost as much as they will love using it to keep their money in. Okay, so they probably won’t enjoy putting money in it quite as much as they will enjoy making it… but it’s definitely more fun than a coffee jar with a hole in the top. Give it a try, and let me know how it goes!
Here’s what you need:
One balloon
Lots of old newspaper
A paper egg carton
Masking tape
1 cup of flour
5 cups of water
pink tempera paint
one pink pipe cleaner
a craft knife
plastic googly eyes
markers
Here’s what you do:
First, you need to make the flour-glue paste. Pour 1 cup of flour into a bowl. Then, slowly pour 1 cup of water in the bowl and stir until mixture is thin and runny. Then, in a pot, boil 4 cups of water. Once water is boiling, add in the thin flour-water mixtur Read more:Piggy
Learn Words In Spanish 2007-11-15 14:15:38 Hola,
As part of this week’s focus on kid’s bedrooms, here’s a few Spanish
words you can teach your child. And, you guessed it, they all have to do with the bedroom.
Enjoy.
bedroom
cuarto
[coo-ar-to]
window
ventana
[vain-tah-nah]
pillow
almohada
[all-mo-ha-dah]
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Mystery Phrase for Kids 2007-11-15 14:04:55 Hey moms and dads, print off this page and let your kid figure out the fun mystery phrase… it might make them want to clean their room!
What can you do to clean your room?
Complete the words below with the missing letters. Then, insert the new letters in order at the bottom to spell out the secret phrase!
Ru___ the vacuum.
Dust your bookshel___.
Put aw___y your toys.
Fold your laun___ry.
Secret Phrase
: Do___’t ___orget to m___ke your be___!
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