What if your child could write a positive poem about him/herself easily?  Using the format below, they can! 

My sixth grade daughter shared a poem with me that she had written.  I couldn’t believe how great the poem was!  I asked what gave her the inspiration to write the poem and she told me it was a project in school and there was an outline she followed.  She shared the outline with me and I have posted it below, along with two completed poem examples.

After your child is done, the poem is like a big, positive affirmation that they (or you) can hang somewhere visible. 

           I Am Myself    (Name of poem)  

*I am (use 2 or 3 adjectives)

I wonder__imaginary____________

I hear ________________________

I see__________________________

I want_________________________

*I am (same as first line)

I pretend______________________

I feel__________________________

I worry________________________

I cry__________________________

*I am(same as first line)

I understand____________________

I say___________________________

I dream________________________

I hope_________________________

*I am (same as first line)

             I AM MYSELF   (an example from a younger child)

I am smart, funny, and kind

I wonder what I will look like when I grow up

I hear music in my head

I see friends playing on the playground

I want to be a great person

I am smart, funny and kind

I pretend to know what is going on

I feel loved when somebody says thank you

I worry before tests at school

I cry when I get hurt

I am smart, funny, and kind

I understand when people are sad

I say to always be happy

I dream I will become a writer

I hope my family will live for a long time

I am smart, funny, and kind

               I am Myself  (Example from an 11 year old)

I am friendly, forgiving, and trustworthy

I wonder what everybody thinks at this moment

I hear music in my head

I see everyone having fun in their own way

I want to save up for college so I can become a veterinarian

I am friendly, forgiving, and trustworthy

I pretend I am in a basket full of flowers

I feel loved when I am surrounded by my friends

I worry there will be no peace between continents

I cry when I hear that an animal died

I am friendly, forgiving, and trustworthy

I understand when my friends feel blue

I say that your attitude makes a big difference on your life

I dream someday I will be a veterinarian

I hope my family will live for a long time

I am friendly, forgiving, and trustworthy

I hope you enjoy sharing this activity with your children.  I felt so much joy when I read the poem my daughter created using this format.  Please feel free to share the poems you create with us!

Tags: kids, positive attitude, positive words for kids

Isn’t it amazing how our perspective of life can differ so greatly from our children’s perspective?  I was fortunate enough to have this piece sent to me and I want to share it.

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family..

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son , “How was the trip?”

“It was great , Dad.”

“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.

“Oh yeah, ” said the son.

“So, tell me , what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.

The son answered:

“I saw that we have one dog and they had four.

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.”

The boy’s father was speechless.

Then his son added, “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.”

I am not sure who wrote this so I can’t give anyone the credit but I think it shows the we should be more thankful for the things we do have in life and if we don’t like what we have, maybe we should ask for a child’s perspective!  That would open a whole new world for us.

Tags: a good life, kids, Moms Blog

Does your child need a boost in being positive?  Here are 10 examples of very simple affirmations your child can read and then repeat daily.  If getting your child to read affirmations isn’t realistic, here are some other ideas you can implement. 

1. Print affirmations out individually and tape them to a mirror that your child uses every morning.  Make them look fun, pretty, or tough; whatever will interest your child.
2. Tape the printed affirmations to a piece of paper and put them in a waterproof, ziplock baggie and hang them in the shower at shoulder level. 
3. You can say them in a different tense to your child such as “It is so much fun to get good grades” or “You are such a good friend to____” or “You are so much fun to be around.”   

Examples of simple affirmations for children:

• I enjoy school.
• I am fun to be around.
• I am a great friend.
• I have fun and work hard during school time.
• I do my best on my homework.
• I like doing extra credit.
• I strive to good grades.
• It is fun to get good grades.
• I am kind.
• I help others whenever I can.

Create your own that is specific to your child’s area of need.  The power of affirmations is incredible.  Find a way to put them in your child’s life.

Keep up the great parenting!  It is so much fun to see your children grow!

Links on positive articles in this site:  20 POSITIVE WORDS FOR KIDS AND POSITIVE WORDS FOR SCHOOL

Tags: a good life, creating traditions, good study habits, kids, Moms Blog, ways to say I love you

I have posted a FREE CD that is packed with goal setting information.  It is available at WWW.GOALSMENTOR.COM.  With this goals site, I am helping others achieve their dreams.  

Please go there and let me help you get started.  I want to make a difference in people’s lives and this is where it starts!  What ever your hopes are (to save for your children’s college, to improve your parenting skills, open your own business) goal setting is where it all starts.

Tags: discount books, ebook, money, work from home

For an excellent way to stay connected with your children and teens visit www.conversationjar.com    This is a family friendly game where you get to ask thought provoking questions to each other.    Using the conversation jar makes staying connected with children, family and friends fun and easy.

Tags: a good life, conversation topics, Family game, happiness, kids game, laughing out loud, Moms Blog

The first year in junior high or middle school is a big jump from elementary.   Now your child/teenager has to write their last name and be sure they put it on everything they turn in!  Wow seems easy, but for some kids it’s a new habit they must form.

Getting some students to use a planner or organizer is a far-fetched dream.  If your child/teenager isn’t as self motivated or as organized as you would like, here some ideas you can take to keep your child/teenager on task.

• Look at the student progress report 3 times per week.  This way if an assignment is missing, they know to look in the “no name basket” or talk to the teacher about the assignment before too much time passes.
• If you know about a deadline for a reading assignment or a large project, mark it on your calendar and continuously check to see how far along your child/teenager is to keep them on task.
• No computer or television until homework is completed each night.
• Use weekend downtime to catch up on reading, musical instrument practice, etc.
• If you child’s grade is below what is acceptable to you, talk to your child and/or the teacher about extra credit assignments or about other ways to get the grade up.
• Create a folder or a location where you keep each class syllabus.  Review each syllabus and create a schedule with the student.  Question your child any items on the syllabus that you are unsure about.  If you don’t have the syllabus, email the teacher to obtain one.
• Email teachers with any questions or concerns.  They are usually quick to respond.  Build a relationship with your student’s teachers.
• Incentivize your child for getting good grades.  Incentive ideas: 

1. Money for each A or B
2. Remove a few chores
3. Go on a short trip
4. Have a friends gathering
5. Have a special day out with you
6. Choose an item your child wants and buy it when they receive the grades agreed upon

These ideas are working for me.  If you have some ideas you would like to share with other’s please leave a comment.    

Link to older emomsblog post:  Study Habit Ideas 

Tags: good study habits, organizing tips, students school

We always want to be aware of where our children are to keep them safe.  Sometimes it only takes turning our back for 30 seconds or letting your child go into a restroom alone.   We need to teach our kids what strangers are while teaching them in a manner where they won’t be scared of the world.

There are a lot of good people, who are strangers, who can help them in an emergency situation and we don’t want to remove that option for our children.

Here are some ideas you can go over for Stranger Danger:

• Be sure your child knows their phone number and home address.
• Never accept anything from a stranger including candy and gifts.
• Use the Buddy System whenever possible.  The bigger the group, the better.
• If they feel they are being followed, run for help immediately.  This is where they may have to seek help from a stranger. 
• If someone tries to pull you into their car, Scream, Kick, Bite and Claw.  Call out STRANGER  and/or THIS IS NOT MY DAD (OR MOM).
• Get a description of a car, person, or license plate only if they can without putting their safety at risk.
• Have a code word and review it regularly.   Review the rules of the word which, in our family are:  (1) Don’t tell anyone our password.  (2) If someone says they are a friend’s Dad they must have the password.  (3) If a policeman doesn’t have the code word, he may not be a policeman.  Mom or Dad will give a policeman the password if we sent them for you.

Go over these and/or other methods you employ regularly with your children.  A frequent reminder of stranger danger is important.

Tags: Kids Safety, Moms Blog

Since Halloween is coming soon, I thought I would post some basic safety tips. 

Costume Safety

• Choose a costume that is a safe length so tripping will not occur.
  

  Scary Halloween Costumes

   

• Be sure to have an adequate size of eye opening if your child is wearing a mask.  Non-toxic and hypoallergenic make up is a better choice than a mask.
• If you child’s custom has a hat, be sure it fits properly and does not fall over the eyes.
• Be sure your child is does not carry any sharp or dangerous objects that may be a part of their costume for their own safety and the safety of others.
• Most pumpkins are lit up with a live flame so be sure your child’s costume is flame retardant and just in case there is an emergency, refresh or teach your child the stop, drop, and roll technique.

 

Santa Costumes

 

Trick or Treating Safety

• Always have an adult accompany younger children.
• Have a flashlight for each child so they can watch their footing. 
• Only trick or treat in neighborhoods you know well.
• Remind your children to always look before they cross a street.
• Talk about stranger danger if your child will not be with you and be sure they are with a group.

• Know the route your children are taking before they leave.

• Remind your children not to eat anything until you have checked the treats.

 

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Tags: kids, Moms Blog

Looking for some positive words to use on your children when looking over tests and school assignments for the upcoming year?  I put together a list because I think it’s fun to use different expressions when complementing children on a job done well.   Here they are:

1. A+ student                    
2. Brainy
3. Bravo
4. Bright
5. Capable
6. Clever
7. Creative
8. Efficient
9. Glowing with knowledge
10. Honorable
11. Imaginative
12. Intellectual
13. Intelligent
14. Knowledgeable
15. Noteworthy
16. On the ball
17. On your toes
18. Picture Perfect
19. Quick
20. Resourceful
21. Right On
22. Shining Star
23. Study Bug
24. Top tester
25. Witty

For more positive words go to my older post 20 Positive Words for Kids.

Tags: good study habits, happiness, improve vocabulary, kids, Moms Blog, saying I love you

Would you like a free and easy to read reference guide filled with ideas on how to save money? I have put one together that I hope will be helpful. The ebook is only 19 pages but is packed with listed ideas, not lengthy paragraphs. Here is the table of contents showing what you will find in this ebook:

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Ways to Lower Your Home Monthly Expenses
     Kitchen
     Laundry Room
     Heating your Home
     Cooling your Home
     Bathroom
     Throughout the Home
     Outside
Optional Services
Plan and Save While Shopping
Ways to Save on Transportation
Banking and Insurance
Miscellaneous Personal Savings
Ways to Prepare for Unknown Circumstances
Have a Savings Account
Ways to Save Your Money
Ways to Make Money
Set Life Changing Goals

Enjoy! Click here for Simple Ways to Save Money

Please feel free to pass this free ebook along to friends and family. If you have some great tips, please leave a comment and share your idea other readers.

Tags: Moms Blog, saving money