What's Wrong With the Teenage Mind?
This is a great article from The Wall Street Journal sent to me by one of our parents:
Thanks, Michelle! :)
This is a great article from The Wall Street Journal sent to me by one of our parents:
Thanks, Michelle! :)
Click HERE for a great article about helpful tips for effective media/technology management.
Another great article from Empowering Parents with some good strategies on dealing with difficult adolescent behaviors:
Empowering Parents is a wonderful resource! Click here for an article on strategies to help your child manage their anger.
The following links are for the videos we did not have a chance to watch during our meeting on Tuesday:
Break schoolwork assignments into small segments. The general rule of thumb is that a task is most likely to get done when the child knows that “the end is in sight” at the beginning of the task. For kids with ADD/ADHD, it is easier to do six five-minute chores than to do one 30-minute chore.
Reward your child when he finishes a task. Some parents don’t allow kids to play video games on school nights. But video games can be an incentive to maintain attention if kids know they will be allowed to play for 30 minutes after they finish their homework. If you decide to make this offer, say it like this: “As soon as you finish your homework, you get to play video games for 30 minutes.” Saying, “You can’t play video games until you finish your homework” sets the scene for a power struggle. Giving your child something to look forward to will energize him.
Have your child rate how hard a task is for her (1 is easy and 10 is difficult). Ask her how she could turn an 8-9-10 task into a 2-3-4 task. Can she turn it into a game or break the task into small pieces and do one piece at a time, with built-in breaks?
Ask your child to estimate how long a task will take. Your child may think it will take an hour to do his math homework. If he finds it took him only 15 minutes, he will be pleasantly surprised -- and much less likely to procrastinate the next time he has to tackle it.
Gradually increase attention. Measure how long your child can stick with homework or a chore before needing a break. Once you establish that, set a timer for two to three minutes longer than the baseline measurement, and challenge your child to keep working until the timer rings.
Be there. Children can sustain attention longer when someone is physically with them. Make homework time a family affair -- everybody brings work to the dining room table at the same time every night. Parents work on their paperwork while kids do their homework.
Schedule movement breaks. Particularly for kids with ADD/ADHD as they work more efficiently when they have regular opportunities to get up and move around. Even on nights when they have a lot of homework, they will get it done faster if they have periodic breaks that include some physical activity.
Help him visualize time. Devices that show elapsed time will help him reset his focus when it drifts from the task. Time Timer makes a clock and a wristwatch, as well as software for the computer, that show a time-challenged child how much time he has left (or how much has passed) via a diminishing red disc.
Expand on your child’s partial answers by saying, “Tell me more. I would like to know how you arrived at that answer? It is interesting.” This will keep his attention on the task at hand.
Many times, it is a process (sometimes a long one) but the more children stick to a routine, the more they understand what is expected (and believe it or not, they actually like it!).
Kids are returning to school this year more saturated in media than ever. From the TV to the computer to the cell phone, balancing your kids' media consumption with homework, after school activities, and play dates is no small feat.
How do you set limits? When should you supervise online activities? How do you reward responsible kids (or give consequences for missteps)? The tips below offer practical, do-able, tried-and-true advice you can put into practice right away.
How Parents Make it All Work?
Technology Rules
Say 'nighty night'. At night before bed or at 8:30, have them turn their phones/computers/etc. off and charge them in a certain place that's near your bedroom. They can get them in the morning before school.
Don't believe the hype. They want to know when they can get their own cell phones and iPods ("everyone has them") So have discussions on what's neat and fun to have and what's necessary.
Earning Privileges
Set goals. We all need things to look forward to. Setting short and long term goals can help with motivation. Make a plan for "earning" computer time AFTER homework and other responsibilities are completed. Turning in all homework for the semester may earn that IPod they want.
Social Networking
Stick around. "Socializing" is mostly done through technology now. The days of talking face to face are fading. Be aware, not only of who your kids are talking to but what they are talking about. It is a lot easier to say something to a device than it is to say it to that person's face.
Be a role model. As a parent, your best offense is to 'walk the talk' (lead by example and keep words to a minimum). Any family rule/value must apply to all members of the family. You must set clear boundaries between work tasks/home life/recreation/etc. and abide by those.
Remember the rule: "Do as I do, not as I say"!