Kids have been back in school for weeks. Most have adjusted to new teachers, class work and classmates. But many children aren’t adapting and may be developing school anxiety, which can thwart academic and social development. If your child is already struggling in school it is important to take action quickly to ease the anxiety, and to help him or her thrive in school.
School Anxiety
School anxiety can hit at any age and in any grade. Reasons for school anxiety are varied and include: fears of separating from home and parents, social anxiety, bullying, learning problems, having an anxiety disorder such as panic disorder, and family problems such as divorce.
Here’s what to look for:
1. Your child begs to stay home on most school mornings
2. Complaints of stomachaches and headaches are frequent
3. Changes in mood are common such as irritability, anger, sadness, apprehension
4. Balks at doing homework or studying; does not participate in class
5. Withdraws socially; may have difficultly relating to classmates/teacher
6. Appetite and sleep problems, difficulty concentrating.
Taking Action
It is upsetting to watch your child suffer, and it may leave you feeling worried, helpless, frustrated, and angry. The steps to helping your anxious child include:
1. Stay calm—no matter what is happening you must remain calm. Your child is feeling scared and out of control and needs you to take control of the situation to be a “rock.”
2. Communicate—talk to your child about how they feel about school, what might be happening to make them upset. Listen without judging what your child is saying.
3. Problem-solve and Support—say to your child, “Together we are going to figure out how to make things better for you. I’m here for you.”
4. Contact the School—meet with your child’s teacher and guidance counselor to create a plan of action. Listen to the teacher’s suggestions, but also advocate for your child if you think he needs exemptions until he can adjust.
5. Believe—believe in your child’s ability to overcome adversity, and your parenting skills to help your child succeed.
If symptoms persist see your family physician and mental health clinician. Remember, school anxiety is treatable.
Diane Peters Mayer. MSW, a psychotherapist who specializes in working with children and adults who have anxiety attacks, school anxiety, and panic attacks. She is the author of Overcoming School Anxiety: How to Help Your Child Deal With Separation, Tests, Homework, Bullies, Math Phobia, and Other Worries.
Reference: http://247moms.blogspot.com/2009/09/when-back-to-school-jitters-turn.html
How's the school year going for your kiddos so far? My son has had some setbacks, so he's feeling the anxiety right now. I'm going to use some of these tips to hopefully help him out.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Home Depot's Kid Workshops
Home Depot has FREE "How To Clinics" for Kids at all locations the first Saturday of every month from 9am to Noon. They are designed for kids age 5- 12 . This Saturday's workshop is this great firehouse bank. Fun to make and fun to watch your money grow!
In addition to bringing home the newly constructed project, your child will all receive a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates’ aprons, and an achievement pin.
What a fun way to get your kids crafting this fall, build something the whole family can enjoy, while building their self esteem. And it's FREE! All the while teaching them to save money. Check on upcoming workshops at their website: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentView?catalogId=&langId=-1&pn=Kids_Workshops&storeId=10051
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Today I will Make a Difference
"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start anyone can start and make a brand new end." Author: Carl Bard
Today I Will Make A Difference
I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark.
Today I will make a difference.
I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving.
Today I will make a difference.
I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It's OK to stumble...I will get up. It's OK to fail...I will rise again.
Today I will make a difference.
Max Lucadot (Tyndale Publishing, 1985)
Today I Will Make A Difference
I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark.
Today I will make a difference.
I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving.
Today I will make a difference.
I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It's OK to stumble...I will get up. It's OK to fail...I will rise again.
Today I will make a difference.
Max Lucadot (Tyndale Publishing, 1985)
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Tips for Visiting our National Parks
Great tips from the Sierra Club:
* Visit the parks on Fee-Free Weekends to avoid paying entrance and parking fees
* Many national parks never charge an entrance fee.
* If you are planning to visit multiple parks within a year, look into National Park Passes. Not only do you save money on park entrance fees but, at many of the busiest parks, the pass lets you join a shorter line at the entrance station.
* Travel with senior citizens. Anyone over age 62 can pay a one-time $10 fee to get an America the Beautiful Senior Pass (previously called the Golden Age pass), which gets your entire carload in for free to every park.
* Get into all parks for free for one year by obtaining a Volunteer Pass. The pass is for volunteers acquiring 500 service hours on a cumulative basis.
Transportation
* Save money on gas and parking fees by carpooling to the park.
* If you belong to an organizations such AAA, Better World Club, or AARP, you can get discounts on transportation and accommodation services.
* Look for travel deals and vacation packages on websites like Travel Muse or Budget Travel.
* Conserve fuel and avoid parking hassles by using the free, eco-friendly park shuttles.
* Fill up your gas tank before arriving in the parks, where gas stations are expensive, hard to find, and sometimes completely sold out.
Lodging
* Plan ahead, especially if you're going to one of the popular, big-ticket parks. Campground reservations and wilderness permits for parks like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone can fill up months ahead of time. Reserve here.
* All parks offer first-come, first-served campgrounds, but you still might be disappointed when you arrive, so have a backup plan. Be sure to show up at first-come, first-served campgrounds between 10 am and noon, just as last night's campers are vacating sites. Campgrounds in less-popular areas of the park, especially those accessible only by dirt roads, tend to fill up last and be more peaceful. If all else fails, camping may be allowed on national forest lands outside a few parks.
* Look out for early-bird specials! Frequently, the parks and towns nearby offer discounts to travelers willing to visit in the early months of the year.
Gear
* Bring everything you need. Necessities like batteries, sunscreen, and bug spray are more expensive in and around national parks.
* Look for used-gear sales in the spring and fall, when larger outdoor gear companies sell returned and rental gear.
* Try renting gear, especially if you are new to camping/hiking and aren't sure if you're ready to invest a lot of money in the activity yet.
* Sign up on Freecycle in your area (it's all free!) and watch for folks giving away outdoor gear -- or, post a request for what you need.
Activities
* Get the biggest bang for your buck by going for a hike with a ranger. Campfire programs and nature walks are a great way to learn some history and science about what you're seeing.
* If hiking or camping aren't for you, try having a picnic, painting, or photographing the park, having a scavenger hunt with a guidebook, doing yoga or meditation, or reading a book while enjoying your beautiful surroundings.
Avoiding Crowds
* Visit in the off-season (fall through early spring) or visit on business days rather than weekends.
* Consider visiting second-tier parks that share some of the same natural features as the most popular parks. For example, instead of fighting the crowds in Yosemite Valley, visit nearby Kings Canyon. If you do visit a superstar park, base yourself in a less-popular area -- for example, the north rim of the Grand Canyon instead of the busy south rim.
* Travel against the grain by driving a park's popular scenic loops in reverse. Start your day early or late so that you miss most of the day-tripper crowds, which peak between 10 am and 4 pm. Remember that getting from place to place may take longer than you think, especially with summer road-construction delays.
reference: http://www.sierraclub.org/parks/tips.aspx
* Visit the parks on Fee-Free Weekends to avoid paying entrance and parking fees
* Many national parks never charge an entrance fee.
* If you are planning to visit multiple parks within a year, look into National Park Passes. Not only do you save money on park entrance fees but, at many of the busiest parks, the pass lets you join a shorter line at the entrance station.
* Travel with senior citizens. Anyone over age 62 can pay a one-time $10 fee to get an America the Beautiful Senior Pass (previously called the Golden Age pass), which gets your entire carload in for free to every park.
* Get into all parks for free for one year by obtaining a Volunteer Pass. The pass is for volunteers acquiring 500 service hours on a cumulative basis.
Transportation
* Save money on gas and parking fees by carpooling to the park.
* If you belong to an organizations such AAA, Better World Club, or AARP, you can get discounts on transportation and accommodation services.
* Look for travel deals and vacation packages on websites like Travel Muse or Budget Travel.
* Conserve fuel and avoid parking hassles by using the free, eco-friendly park shuttles.
* Fill up your gas tank before arriving in the parks, where gas stations are expensive, hard to find, and sometimes completely sold out.
Lodging
* Plan ahead, especially if you're going to one of the popular, big-ticket parks. Campground reservations and wilderness permits for parks like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone can fill up months ahead of time. Reserve here.
* All parks offer first-come, first-served campgrounds, but you still might be disappointed when you arrive, so have a backup plan. Be sure to show up at first-come, first-served campgrounds between 10 am and noon, just as last night's campers are vacating sites. Campgrounds in less-popular areas of the park, especially those accessible only by dirt roads, tend to fill up last and be more peaceful. If all else fails, camping may be allowed on national forest lands outside a few parks.
* Look out for early-bird specials! Frequently, the parks and towns nearby offer discounts to travelers willing to visit in the early months of the year.
Gear
* Bring everything you need. Necessities like batteries, sunscreen, and bug spray are more expensive in and around national parks.
* Look for used-gear sales in the spring and fall, when larger outdoor gear companies sell returned and rental gear.
* Try renting gear, especially if you are new to camping/hiking and aren't sure if you're ready to invest a lot of money in the activity yet.
* Sign up on Freecycle in your area (it's all free!) and watch for folks giving away outdoor gear -- or, post a request for what you need.
Activities
* Get the biggest bang for your buck by going for a hike with a ranger. Campfire programs and nature walks are a great way to learn some history and science about what you're seeing.
* If hiking or camping aren't for you, try having a picnic, painting, or photographing the park, having a scavenger hunt with a guidebook, doing yoga or meditation, or reading a book while enjoying your beautiful surroundings.
Avoiding Crowds
* Visit in the off-season (fall through early spring) or visit on business days rather than weekends.
* Consider visiting second-tier parks that share some of the same natural features as the most popular parks. For example, instead of fighting the crowds in Yosemite Valley, visit nearby Kings Canyon. If you do visit a superstar park, base yourself in a less-popular area -- for example, the north rim of the Grand Canyon instead of the busy south rim.
* Travel against the grain by driving a park's popular scenic loops in reverse. Start your day early or late so that you miss most of the day-tripper crowds, which peak between 10 am and 4 pm. Remember that getting from place to place may take longer than you think, especially with summer road-construction delays.
reference: http://www.sierraclub.org/parks/tips.aspx
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Truth About Failure
The truth about failure...
Shared via AddThis
Truth About Failure (from www.berro.com) via Tumblr justbesplendid
* Failure doesn’t mean you are a failure… …it does mean you haven’t succeeded yet.
* Failure doesn’t mean you don’t have it… …it does mean you have to do something in a different way.
* Failure doesn’t mean you are inferior… …it does mean you are not perfect.
* Failure doesn’t mean you’ve wasted your life… …it does mean you’ve a reason to start afresh.
* Failure doesn’t mean you should give up… …it does mean you should try harder.
* Failure doesn’t mean you’ll never make it… …it does mean it will take a little longer.
* Failure doesn’t mean you have been a fool… …it does mean you had a lot of faith.
* Failure doesn’t mean you have been disgraced… …it does mean you were willing to try.
* Failure doesn’t mean you have accomplished nothing… …it does mean you have learned something.
Shared via AddThis
Truth About Failure (from www.berro.com) via Tumblr justbesplendid
* Failure doesn’t mean you are a failure… …it does mean you haven’t succeeded yet.
* Failure doesn’t mean you don’t have it… …it does mean you have to do something in a different way.
* Failure doesn’t mean you are inferior… …it does mean you are not perfect.
* Failure doesn’t mean you’ve wasted your life… …it does mean you’ve a reason to start afresh.
* Failure doesn’t mean you should give up… …it does mean you should try harder.
* Failure doesn’t mean you’ll never make it… …it does mean it will take a little longer.
* Failure doesn’t mean you have been a fool… …it does mean you had a lot of faith.
* Failure doesn’t mean you have been disgraced… …it does mean you were willing to try.
* Failure doesn’t mean you have accomplished nothing… …it does mean you have learned something.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Pumpkin Cupcakes
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted & cooled slightly
1 cup sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
3 large eggs
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 12 muffin tin openings with paper liners. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves,and ginger into a medium bowl & set aside.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on med-low, beat the melted butter, sugar, and pumpkin until smoothly blended. Mix in the eggs. On low speed, mix in the flour mixture until it's incorporated. The batter will be thick.
Fill each paper liner with a generous 1/4 cup of batter, to about 1/2 in. below the top. Bake until toothpick comes clean, about 25 mins. Cool completely before frosting.
These turned out sooo yummy!!
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