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Does your child ask the same question over and over again? Does your child keep asking you for something until you give up and give in? Child behavior and parenting coach Traci Gaffney has a different parenting perspective on responding to a child’s questions. Maybe parents should be grateful that children come to the parent with their “asking” voice. Children do go through a developmental phase when they ask more questions. Whether it’s to manipulate or to learn, at least they are asking.

Ask Six Times!

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” W.C. Fields

We have all heard this quote before. Last year I was in a personal growth course where they said… Continue Reading

Home should be a place where children feel truly comfortable about talking freely about their likes and dislikes, their friends and their feelings. Parenting children in an atmosphere with open communication, will help both the parent and child feel more comfortable during life’s ups and downs. This secures both parent and child and creates a safer family environment

If you notice a change in your child’s behavior, have a heart-to-heart talk. Find a comfortable place where you won’t be interrupted and talk with your child in a concerned and nonthreatening way. Ask teachers and school administrators if there’s a problem at school and, if so, ask them for help.

Here are some strategies for promoting good communication with your children and an… Continue Reading

If your child is struggling with test in school, speak with your child’s teachers for study and testing tips strategies. Some school districts offer test-taking classes during the school year and summer. Below are some key testing tip for taking “true-false” test.

Read each test question carefully. Look for familiar key words or facts that you learned about the question. Normally true and false question that include words such as “usually,” “generally” or “sometimes” lead to TRUE answers.

True or false questions that include words like “never” or “always” are usually FALSE.

If any part of the question is false, then the entire question is FALSE.

Usually there are more TRUE answers on a true/false test.

If there is no penalty for guessing… Continue Reading

Test taking is a skill developed over a period of time as a student progresses in school. Remember, your child’s ability to take a test is just one area of your child’s academic life. Below is a list of test taking tips that can be applied to improve multiple choice test questions. It’s important that children practice test taking skills on a regular basis.

Practice the following when taking a multiple choice test:

• Read the question twice before you look at the answers
• After reading the question and before looking for the answer provided on the test, try to come up with the correct answer on your own.
• Read all the possible choices before selecting one.
• Use a process of elimination to discover the correct

Some children are great test takers. Other children do not do as well no matter how hard they study. Below are some test taking tips that may help your child improve scores.

• Have your child get plenty of sleep the night before a test. Your child will be more alert and have a better chance of focusing on the test questions.
• Eat breakfast! Eat Lunch! Don’t take a test when your body is low on fuel. Don’t over eat either. Fresh fruits and vegetables along with foods high in protein are excellent sources of fuel. Avoid high fatty or greasy foods such as French fries.
• Take advantage of practice test. Most text books have questions

When studying for essay tests that provide you with questions in advance:

1. Research and find all the information or facts to thoroughly answer the question.
2. Write the essay in advance. Practice answering the essay by actually writing it before you take the test.
3. Study and memorize. Outline key points in your mind.

While taking an essay test it is important to do the following:

1. Read the directions! Read the directions! Read the directions!
2. Only give your opinion if the question(s) asks for your opinion.
3. Be neat and organized with your thoughts and writing. Neater papers often score higher.
4. If the question is asking for facts, then stick to the fact. Do not provide your opinion unless you are asked for it.
5. Write down and provide

At least one in five children under the age of 18 is overweight. Children who grow up overweight have a tendency to develop a lower self-esteem, avoid improving social skills and often find it difficult to achieve at a higher academic standard. Below are some parenting tips that parents can may want to consider to help a child experiencing weight concerns:

1. Be Supportive

One of the most important things you can do to help overweight children is to let them know that they are okay whatever their weight. Children’s feelings about themselves often are based on their parents’ feelings about them. If you accept your children at any weight, they will be more likely to accept and feel good about themselves… Continue Reading

In the United States at least one child in five is overweight and the number of overweight children continues to grow. Over the last 2 decades, this number has increased by more than 50 percent, and the number of “extremely” overweight children has nearly doubled (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1995: 149: 1085-91). A doctor determines if children are overweight by measuring their height and weight. Although children have fewer weight-related health problems than adults, overweight children are at high risk of becoming overweight adolescents and adults. Overweight adults are at risk for… Continue Reading

Do you continually make comments that send your child on a guilt trip? Parents who strive to make their children feel guilty often succeed. The end result of making comments to make a child feel guilty often leads the child in the direction of low self-esteem, aggressive behavior, inappropriate social skills and other undesirable behaviors.

Some common comments may include:

“I feel embarrassed when you dress that way.”

“I feel bad when you talk to your mom more than me.”

“Other kids can help their parents…why not you?
Instead of making guilt-enhancing comments make to get your child to accomplish a task that you want done, ask or tell your child to complete the task. It’s better to be firm and authoritative then manipulative.
Pick… Continue Reading

As your child is growing and developing physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually, it’s important for parents to recognize what stage of development their child is at. Parents who recognize the differences in the developmental growth stages are often more successful in parenting. Read through the developmental differences listed below. Keep in mind that children grow at different rates with different degrees of success and failure. As always, it’s important for parents to check with their pediatrician while their child is progressing through the developmental stages described in this article.

Physical Development

Steady and slow growth development occurs in children in this age group.
Some body pains, especially in the legs and knees are common. Check with your medical doctor if growth pains persist.

High school… Continue Reading