‘Tis the season to be jolly. If only our over-demanding children would stop with the demands for this and that, and this again. For a second, try to see the world from your child’s point of view and you might see that some of the following situations help create and reinforce their whiny requests. Too […]
Got an itch you can’t scratch?
Something you want to know? Is there something that is bothering you but you can’t quite put your finger on it? Got an itch you can’t scratch? Answer my one question survey to see if there might be a Kids Talk remedy. Plus your answers help me plan newsletter topics, webinars and more. Thank you! […]
Practicing Freedom
Freedom is a tenuous situation at best. The ability to freely do something interconnects with several attributes that include critical thinking and the courage to act or not act, as the case may be. Gullible folks lend themselves to the idea that there is a sucker born every minute, while a proverb tells say a […]
The Breakfast Pledge
Last year in my For School Leaders newsletters I focused on teaching civility. With this series on teaching civility, I drew heavily from Christine Porath’s book, Mastering Civility: A manifesto for the workplace, as well as other sources. Teaching civility, the grace and courtesy lessons we offer in our Montessori classrooms find renewed importance. Who do I want to […]
When to Ask, When to Tell
Fostering cooperation in our children can be a blood-pressure-altering event. With so many chores that need to be done during the day, we can feel like a drill sergeant, police officer and the Wicked Witch of the West, all rolled into one. To avoid appearing to our children as the triumvirate of meanness and control, […]
Helping Young Children Learn About Money
A few years ago I discovered that the six-year-olds in my class couldn’t differentiate between a nickel, dime or quarter, much less a half-dollar. They did recognize a one-, five- and ten-dollar bill, along with a penny. With parents using debit and credit cards for most purchases, children have few experiences with cash. With further […]
Kids Say the Darnedest Things
There is magnetism with a 2 1/2- to 3-year-old and their ability to blurt out observations in public. These comments can make us understand, that, yes, we are paying for our raising. One teaching principle that I’ve found helpful to alleviate mortifying moments is the idea of indirect preparation. If you know it’s coming, prepare. […]
BOOK REVIEW: The Donnie Learns Series
This spring I was introduced to a series of books that I think are important. The series? The Donnie Learns Series by Terrence Tullgren. Tullgren initially designed these books to be coloring books with a message for children. The black and white pencil illustrations feel retro and, for me, made me think of my own […]
Think
Thomas Watson of IBM fame posted one-word notices around IBM factories and offices. THINK, read the signs. When a book about IBM and Tom Watson appeared, it was no surprise that the title was Think. Think. That seems to be a word that we, too, could post around our homes, schools and office to great […]
Strong Families Create Success
In Betty Smith’s classic, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, she tells the story of a young girl Francie Nolan in the early 1900’s, living with her family in the tenements. There wasn’t enough food. Her father drank up his paycheck, and her school rolled in chaos and neglect. Francie’s family owned two books: The Bible and The […]