Raising "Mini-Me"

Raising children can be the most rewarding, but most challenging responsibility a parent will ever have. Not too long ago, we looked at raising children who have very different personalities than ourselves. Today we will explore raising a child who has that likes the same things and shares many of the same talents. Having a child who mirrors you may seem easier than one who's different, but that's not always the case. According to the June/July issue of Working Mothers, below are some of the common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
1. You assume you know what your child wants. You think, I bet he'd like this shirt; I'll buy it. Or, He'll/She'll want to take this class for sure, so I'll sign him/her up. "Taking for granted that you know what your child want without asking can make him/her feel like they have not say in what they do,: says Tanya Altmann, MD, a clinical professor of pediatrics at UCLA. Share things you both enjoy by watching football, going to museums, playing tennis, whatever. Just ask first.

2. You dream for your child. Your child is a computer whiz, just like you, so you're already imagining their career. Reality check: Don't assume your know what your child wants to be when they grow up. They may turn out to be a composer, not a computer programmer or discover a passion you've never imagined. "Kids need the space to explore what they like," says parenting educator Betsy Brown Braun. "Part of a child's job is to grow, separate and make their own way in the world."

3. You fight a lot. "Often the child who's most like you is the one you spar with," says Brown Braun. "When you argue with a child who's like you, you may be fighting against things you don't like in yourself. Recognize and acknowledge that, then use your experience to help your child. If they see him/her struggling with something you also struggle with, say something like "You and I are a lot alike. This was always hard for me, but this strategy helped me. Maybe it will help you, too."

America's Best Colleges 2010

According to August 30, 2010, Forbes magazine, the best colleges in America isn't in Cambridge or Princeton, West Point or Annapolis. William College, a 217-year old private liberal arts school, tops the third annal ranking of America's Best Colleges, compiled with research by the Center of College Affordability & Productivity. Williams rose to the top spot on the rankings after placing fourth last year and fifth in 2008.

It is never too early to plan and look at colleges and universities that you or your child may some day attend. In this report, Forbes, rank undergraduate institutions based on quality of education they provide, the experience of their students and how much their graduates achieve. You can find the full report of 350 schools at www.forbes.com/colleges. Below, I listed the top 15.

Rank Name State In-State Tuition Typical Grad Debt

1. William CollegeMA $37,640 $9,296

2. Princeton UniversityNJ $34,290 $14,294

3. Amherst CollegeMA $37,640 $12,587

4. United States Military Acad.NY $0 $0

5. Massachusette Institute of TechMA $37,960 $17,923

6. Stanford UniversityCA $36,360 $19,897

7. Swarthmore CollegePA $36,490 $9,812

8. Harvard UniversityMA $36,173 $16,153

9. Claremont McKenna CollegeCA $37,060 $14,026

10. Yale UniversityCT $35,300 $20,382

11. United States Air Force AcadCO $0 $0

12. Wellesley CollegeMA $36,640 $11,419

13. Whitman CollegeWA $35,192 $16,844

14. Pomana CollegeCA $35,625 $18,947

15. Northwestern UniversityIL $37,125 $19,013

6 Ways to Sneak in Exercise With Your Kids

According to an article in Parenting.com May 2010, below you will find 6 ways to sneak in exercise with your kids and have fun at the same time.

1. Hit the playground. Kids enjoy it more than going to the gym. The monkey bars and mini-rock wall build upper-body muscle. Jumping off the climbing structures boosts bone density and leg strength. Even the swings can be good core workout. It's like an outside circuit course.

2. Play a game. Kickball, tag, jumping rope, wheelbarrow races are all classics that absolutely count toward your child's daily activity requirements. For younger children, try Move Like an
Animal. Call out the name of a critter and challenge your child to mimic the way it moves: hop like a frog, balance on one leg like a flamingo, stretch like a cat, and so on.

3. Do fun chores. Have your child help wash the car (and getting soaked and soapy in the process) or planting the garden. It counts toward 60 minutes of activity a day!

4. Check out a class. Take your children to an open gym at the local gymnastic center and let them try out the equipment, or head to the indoor climbing wall or skate park for a lesson. One-offs like this are good because they let your child try out a bunch of different activities to see what they like best, without spending a lot of time or money.

5. Use people power. Ditch the care and walk or bike when you can. Pedal to the pool, playground, or pizza shop, and walk the mile to school.

6. Inspire your child. Bring your children to a sporting event like a Major League Baseball game or high school volleyball match, so they see and be motivated by the athletes. Before or after the game, kick around a ball together, shoot baskets, or play a little backyard volleyball.

3 Biggest Feeding Fables

According to an article in the May 2010 issue of Parenting magazine, With so much conflicting information out there, figuring out what and how to feed your kids these days is confusing. Below, William Sears, M.D., tackles the most confounding kid-food fables.

1. Kids need to eat three square meals. Nope. In fact, eating a few small meals throughout the day is a very healthy way to eat (and that goes for parents too). Plus, it comes naturally to kids, who can't hold as much food in their stomachs at one time as adults. A slow-and-steady schedule of meals and snacks keep their blood-sugar levels, energy, and mood on a more even keel.

2. Sugar is bad. Actually, it really depends on the type. There's a wide spectrum of carbohydrates (the other name for sugar), and those that are complex (veggies, whole grains, legumes) are always recommended. Fruits and dairy products (which contain lactose, another form of sugar) are also good choices. It's the simple sugars like table sugar, and high fructose corn syrup in candy, cookies, soft drinks, and package treats that are responsible for the dreaded crash and burn. These are the ones worth eliminating.

3. Children should eat from each food group every day. The fact is, kid have ever-changing taste preferences. One week they may eat pasta an tomato sauce, while the next they shun it. for peanut-butter crackers. Doesn't matter. As long as their diets balance out over the course of a month, not a day, they'll be on the right track.

Creating Curoius Thinkers

Curiosity is the key to student success now and in the future. Kids are naturally curious. Set them loose in a room full of craft supplies or a muddy sandbox, and you'll see their imaginations come to life. The following ideas are how to nurture curiosity for the beginning according to Todd Kashdan, author of Curious? Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life and clinical psychologist and professor psychology at George Mason University. The following are 6 ideas on how to nurture curiosity in the classroom according to an article in Instructor magazine 1020: Although this article was intended for educators, parents can take the same information for nurturing their own children.
1. Cue into students' interest. To enhance a student's curiosity, you must build activities around his/her interest, preferences, and sense of challenge. Focusing on rules, obedience, and inflexibility interferes with curiosity.

2. Satisfy that feeling of competence. Sparking curiosity take more than pointing out that something or someone is interesting, complex, or mysterious. After something new grabs their attention, students need to feel competent and understand it. That can make all the difference in whether they act on their curiosity or find something else to do.

3. Accept the negative and uncertain. Embrace uncertainty. By acting on their curiosity, students can explore this tension instead of trying to hide their feelings. As a result, they become better problem solvers and show a greater willingness to change, even if it requires a great deal of effort.

4. Knowledge opens kids' eyes. If you want students to be curious, help them accumulate knowledge. The more they know, the more they'll want to know.

5. Find the unfamiliar in the familiar. If you think you are an expert, you ma stop paying attention and curiosity can disappear. When you think you basically understand everything about your students' personalities, you start relying heavily on old scripts and categories.

6. Remember that things change. You learn to be curious when you recognize that there are few absolute answers in life. Flexible thinking leads to flexible people. Move away from black-and-white thinking to a greater appreciation of the beautiful gray area between.

Ten Things That Will Make You a Better Parent

Most parents want to be the best parent they can possibly be. Getting the "Best Education Possible" is a large part of a parent's responsibility. Below are 10 suggestions from my book, A Parent's Handbook: How to Get the Best Education Possible for Your Child K-6 Grades:

1. Ensure your child is at school every day he/she can be there. Arrive on time. When children arrive late they miss important information and the teacher usually has a routine that gets the children ready for the day.

2. Be a good, positive, role model. Speak positively about school and the teacher. Make sure your child understands the importance of doing their best work. Remember your child is always watching you and will follow your lead.

3. Make sure your child gets 8-12 hours of sleep every night. When children are tired, they cannot learn new concepts or do their best work.

4. Make sure your child's clothes and self are neat and clean. Teeth and hair should be brushed daily. Children and teachers notice when a child is not physically managed well. It also helps a child's self-esteem to feel good about their appearance.

5. Turn the TV/Computer/Video Games off during the week and talk to your child. Listen to your child and show interest in what they say. Read together every evening and make it a habit.

6. Try to eat dinner at the same time every evening and discuss the day with your child. Studies show children who sit down and eat meals with family members do better in school.

7. Help your child feel loved with praise, hugs, and kisses. Never expect too much or too little from your child because it will result in frustration for you and your child.

8. Discipline when necessary. Be consistent. Always focus on the behavior not the child. Children are not "bad" they sometimes do "bad things". When you constantly make a child feel like they are "bad", they certainly will live up to your expectations.

9. Stay involved with your child's interest and know your child's friend. Monitor facebook, myspace, and other social networks. Make sure your child is aware of all the dangers and pitfalls that come with these sites.

10. Spend personal time and love and enjoy your child. They grow up so fast. Make sure your child is getting some physical exercise outside of school. Ride bikes, take walks, or play ball and build strong relationships with your child when they are young, and as they get older it will hopefully pay off.

For more tips on "How to Get the Best Education Possible", order my book, "A Parent's Handbook: How to Get the Best Education Possible for Your Child K-6 Grades, from http://www.besteducationpossible.com/ and read my daily blog for more health, parenting, and educational tips.

How to Have a Successful School Year

With summer winding down and school about to start, I decided to repeat a post on "How to Have a Successful School Year". This is from my book, A Parents Handbook: How to Get the Best Education Possible for Your Child K-6.

Below are 5 very important things you can do to make sure your child has a successful school year.

1. Make sure your child reads or is read to at home every day: 10-20 minutes for a younger child and 20-45 minutes for an older child. Research shows that students who read at home in addition to encountering a strong reading curriculum at school perform in the top 10% of the nation in standardize testing.

2. Review your child's homework every evening. Do not hesitate to get tutoring or one-on-one instructions if your child struggles with a lesson or assignment. You do not want your child to go on to the next lesson or grade without mastering the current material. If you can not afford tutoring, look into the Girls and Boys Club, YMCA, church tutoring programs, community outreach, or after school programs. Many times honor students or college students tutor younger students. Ask teachers, principals, or other parents for help.

3. Make sure your child reviews and knows all the skills from the grade he/she is leaving. Teacher spend most of the first couple of weeks/months reviewing materials from the past year. Reviewing skills with your child should be a routine during the summer break.

4. Keep your child ahead in lessons. Get a "Teacher's Manual" for the textbook series being used in reading and math in the school your child attends. Get the manual for the grade they are going into. Over the summer make sure they are getting ahead in lessons for the coming year or review skills they have not mastered the past year.

5. Encourage your child to participate in extra curricular activities that they are interested in or show natural talent in (examples; sports, dance, art, music, gymnastics, etc). Such activities develop a well rounded individual with good self-esteem. Be involved and go to every important event.

To read more about getting the "Best Education Possible, by ordering my book from http://www.besteducationpossible.com/ and become a fan of my daily blog, besteducationpossible. In my blog I write about health tips for the family and educational suggestions and issues.