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Never Say “Good Job” Again!
Never Say “Good Job” Again! 200 300 admin

Too much blanket praise, like “Good Job”, may actually backfire and hinder your child’s growth.  By consistently praising small acts on a consistent basis, you may be sending the message that your child needs your approval all the time.  It can also put your child on a pedestal making them are afraid to take risks and earn your disapproval.

The right amount of praise is a difficult balance, as too little praise often ends up making a child feel that they are not good enough or that you do not care.

So what is the solution?  Praise your child with sincere, genuine comments focused on the effort he is making, not the outcome of the effort.  Children who are praised specifically on effort work harder than those praised on the outcome.

Instead of “good job” when the homework is done, try “I saw how hard you worked to finish those tough math problems.  I am impressed with how you stuck with it!”  It is more work for you, but more meaningful to your child.

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Meet the Teacher
Meet the Teacher 300 200 admin

It can be scary and exciting for both you and your child to meet this year’s new teacher!

With a few moments preparation you can be ready to set you and your child on the path to a good relationship with the teacher for the new school year.

  • Reflect on strengths and struggles of last year.
  • Talk with your child about their concerns and ideas for the upcoming school year.
  • Think about how you can be involved in the classroom.

Now, take a moment to write down the answers to these five questions.

  • My child is great at ….
  • My child needs extra help with …
  • My expectations for my child at school are …
  • So far, my child’s experience with school has been …
  • I can help in your classroom with …

Now you are ready for that first meeting with the teacher, either at the first school conference or just in the school hallway.

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Playtime Before Homework Time
Playtime Before Homework Time 300 199 admin

Ok, school may not be the same as being stuck indoors, but it can feel like that for kids. Kids need to balance brain work with physical play. After a long day at school, many kids need to get their energy out before sitting down to homework.

Several experimental studies show that school kids pay more attention to academics after they’ve had an unstructured break to play freely without adult direction.

Playtime does not need to be hours long, as researchers also found that playtime between 10-30 minutes is optimal between academic tasks.

So, break the mold!  Allow your children some time to play before sitting down to homework.

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Start the Day with Brain Food!
Start the Day with Brain Food! 225 300 admin

Kids who eat breakfast do better in school, are more likely to participate in physical activities, and tend to eat healthier overall. However, mornings can be hectic, especially the first week of school.

A balance of protein and carbs gives kids energy to start the day and energy to last all morning. Try a few of these ideas to make breakfast simple and get your kids off to school on the right foot!

  • Whole wheat english muffin with peanut butter and bananas
  • Oatmeal with fruit and nuts
  • Whole grain bagel with cheese
  • Breakfast taco (whole wheat tortilla with cheese folded in half and microwaved)
  • Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
  • Yogurt, fruit and granola parfait
  • Scrambled egg scramble (Eggs with ham, cheddar and chives)
  • Eggs in a hole (Poke a hole in a piece of toast, put in a non-stick fry pan and crack an egg into the hole.  Cook and flip until egg is cooked through.)
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Playtime Before Homework Time
Playtime Before Homework Time 300 199 admin

Ok, school may not be the same as being stuck indoors, but it can feel like that for kids. Kids need to balance brain work with physical play. After a long day at school, many kids need to get their energy out before sitting down to homework.

Several experimental studies show that school kids pay more attention to academics after they’ve had an unstructured break to play freely without adult direction.

Playtime does not need to be hours long, as researchers also found that playtime between 10-30 minutes is optimal between academic tasks.

So, break the mold!  Allow your children some time to play before sitting down to homework.

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Tips for Parents
Tips for Parents 227 300 admin

Sometimes parents need reading tips too.  Try these simple ideas to help your child become an interested reader.

  • Be a reader yourself. When you spend time reading books or even directions for how to put together the grill this summer, you demonstrate for your child that reading is both fun and useful.
  • Set aside a consistent time each day for reading. Depending on your family’s schedule, reading time might be in the morning, afternoon, or before bed. Whatever time you choose, try to remain consistent.
  • Read aloud to your reader. As school-aged children become better readers, parents often stop reading aloud to them. However, by reading more difficult books aloud to your reader, you help your child learn new vocabulary words, concepts, and ways of telling stories.
  • Connect book choices to summer activities. Read your child books about camping before or after a camping trip. Read about an event that happened where you live or travel to. When you read and discuss books about things your child has experienced, you help your child learn important vocabulary and to make connections to text.
  • Allow your child to choose books for summer reading. Children finish books about topics that interest them, whether it is insects, dinosaurs, or a favorite sports star.
  • Help your child select books at a comfortable level. Have your child raise a finger each time they struggle with a word or a word meaning.  If they have raised all five fingers before the page or long paragraph is complete, the text is likely too difficult.
  • Encourage your child not to limit summer reading to books. Read the sports page to check up on a favorite baseball team or read children’s magazines such as Ranger Rick or National Geographic World.
  • Read a book and watch the movie together. When you finish reading and viewing, discuss the similarities and differences and talk about which version you prefer. See our blog post Don’t Judge a Book by its Movie! for some fun ideas!
  • Take books along on outings. Pack books in your beach bag or picnic basket, and bring a stack on long car rides. You and your child can enjoy books together anywhere you go this summer.
  • Encourage your child to write this summer, too. From writing postcards to friends and relatives to keeping a journal while on a trip, summer presents unique ways for your child to write about their own experiences. Have your child pack a disposable camera on vacations or day trips and help them create a book about his experiences.
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Quotes from Librarians
Quotes from Librarians 300 200 admin

Librarians have ideas to keep your child reading all summer long. Here are just a few ideas from across the country.

Thank you Scholastic for collecting these terrific quotes.

  • Full of Summer Reading Fun
    “Visit your local public library because there is so much going on and the enthusiasm of the librarians is infectious. So many libraries do wonderful summer reading programs for all ages. We actually have a program called ‘Teens & Tots’ where older kids read to younger kids — it’s great to make that connection between kids, and both generations really enjoy it. We also hold a lot of activities at night, like story hours, so parents can come after work with their children — and we encourage parents to volunteer, which really shows the kids that reading is important to adults as well.”
    —Anita LaSpina, Librarian, Rockville Center, New York
  • Show Children That Reading Is Important to You
    “Model, model, model. It cannot be emphasized enough that children who observe their parents reading become readers themselves. Make sure there are plenty of reading materials scattered throughout the house — not just novels, but magazines and newspapers as well.”
    —Jennifer Hubert Swan, Librarian at the Little Red School House/Elisabeth Irwin High School, New York, New York
  • Make Summer Reading a Way to Connect
    “Some children respond better when they know other children are going to read and respond to a book, which is why book discussion groups are great. I also think parents should be required to read what their children read at all ages so they can really connect with their child and be able to answer questions and instigate discussion. This is one of the reasons parent/child book groups are so great.”
    —John Peters, Central Children’s Room, The New York Public Library
  • Set Reading Times and Find the Fun in Books
    “The number-one golden rule is to make time to read over the summer — parents should designate an hour a day just for books, or set aside a time once a week to go to the library. There’s so much going on in the summer, so much temptation to be outside, that it’s important to schedule time just for reading. Have kids keep a reading journal — even if it’s just the book titles. Once the journal gets filled up, there’s a real sense of accomplishment that’s very rewarding.”
    —Dorie Freebury, Librarian, Northville, Michigan
  • Take Reading on the Road
    “When preparing for family road trips, stock up on audio books from your library. Let your children choose some stories to listen to in the car. Have family members share favorite ghost stories and/or adventure stories around the campfire at picnics and on camping trips.”
    —The American Library Association (Reprinted with permission from the ALA)
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We Give Books
We Give Books 140 96 admin

We Give Books is a new digital initiative that enables anyone with access to the Internet to put books in the hands of children who don’t have them, simply by reading online.

We Give Books combines the joy of reading with the power of helping others, providing a new way to inspire children to become lifelong readers and lifelong givers.

ThinkStretch is happy to share our mission to encourage summer reading with We Give Books. Log the books you read in your ThinkStretch summer learning workbook!

Join today, read online, and give books to kids in need at www.wegivebooks.org

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Summer Learning Ideas
Summer Learning Ideas 150 150 admin

Over the years, parents have shared how they’re working to combat summer learning loss at home with us. We’d like to share some of our favorites with you. If you’re looking to spice up your summer learning routine, try these fun, easy summer learning ideas for parents at home!

Bell Work – We continue the concept of “bell work” each morning. Simple activities that kids do while mom makes breakfast.

Create a Code – We created a code by giving numbers to letters. We wrote secret notes to each other and put them in secret spy locations only known to note writers.

Neverending Story – We choose a silly sentence to begin a story, like “On a green planet in the middle of a frozen galaxy…” Then every family member adds a few new sentences to the story. My kids could go on for hours.

Driveway Division – We do this on the driveway with chalk – all level of math drills between my 2nd grader and 5th grader. I ask what is 7×2 or what is 5+10? They have to write out the problem and solve it. We keep track of who wrote it and solved it the fastest. Fun on the driveway and kids love competition.

Quote Book – I wrote down funny things the kids said during the week. Over Sunday dinner I read the quotes and they had to guess who said it. The next week, the kids kept track of the funny things we said – plus their own silly statements!

Chalkboard Quiz – We do math drills on the big chalkboard downstairs. They each have to write the math problem as I say it and then solve it. “What is 7×7?” They like to compete and it is especially fun on a rainy day.

Consider a Summer Program – Camps offered by schools, YMCAs, universities and local groups are an affordable way to explore new opportunities.

Books, books, books – Fill your home with books. You can find a great selection of books at the library, garage sales, and thrift stores. Set up a book swap with your friends and neighbors.

Ask Questions – Encourage your child to investigate the world. Ask how he thinks the barcode works at the grocery store. Ask why she thinks her book ended the way it did. Ask what he plans on doing after lunch. Then listen!

Quiet Time – Set aside time several days a week for quiet reading and study.

Choose Educational Computer Games – The internet can be a safe place to find educational math, science and language arts games.

Keep a Schedule – Daily routines during the summer provide structure and balance.

Practice Math – Measure recipes, guess the total at the grocery store or have a math fact race. Include children in trip planning and time scheduling.

Fireworks over Saint Louis
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Fireworks Safety
Fireworks Safety 425 282 admin

Fireworks are a traditional Fourth of July Activity. Look up fireworks and your city name and you are sure to find a free show nearby.

If you choose to light up your own display, know your local and state ordinances for fireworks.

And ALWAYS enjoy fireworks safely!

  • Know your fireworks; Read the warning labels and performance descriptions before igniting.
  • Have a designated shooter to organize and shoot your family show.
  • Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Save your alcohol for after the show.
  • Parents and caretakers should always closely supervise teens if they are using fireworks.
  • Parents should not allow young children to handle or use fireworks.
  • Fireworks should only be used outdoors.
  • Always have water ready if you are shooting fireworks.
  • Obey local laws. If fireworks are not legal where you live, do not use them.
  • Wear safety glasses whenever using fireworks.
  • Never relight a “dud” firework.  Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
  • Soak spent fireworks with water before placing them in an outdoor garbage can.
  • Never attempt to alter or modify consumer fireworks and use them only in the manner in which they were intended.
  • Report illegal explosives, like M-80s and quarter sticks, to the fire or police department.
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