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

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 

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.

How do you pick out books your children?

For me, it is a challenge.  My son is very particular when it comes to books and if he isn’t reading something he is enjoying, it is a challenge to get him to read 30 minutes per day. When he is enjoying a book, he will read for hours at a time.

I found a service that works great for us. When you search for a book, it will give you recommendations based on what others purchased with similar searches. Just put a book you really enjoy in the search cell and scroll through the recommendations section.

Here is an easy link to check it out. Just click on this box: It will take you to the book section.

I hope you enjoy this service as much as we do.

Reading is something that the average American learns to do as a child. What a privilege it is to be able to read!

I realized how privileged I was in a waiting room and a gentleman sitting next to me mentioned he couldn’t read. He couldn’t read any of the signs hanging in that room! I guess I was a bit naïve until that day about how fortunate we are to be able to read and how hard life would be if we couldn’t.

Reading is rewarding and my children love books. Because we buy a lot of books and dvds, we like to look for a lower price then retail. We found a place where you can buy new and used books at a discounted rate. We have never had a bad experience and always received what we expected. If you are in a hurry, you must upgrade from media mails since your purchase can take up to two weeks to arrive. Click here to search for discounted books

Here’s to great deals!

Here are some very basic ideas that may help improve your child’s study habits.

1. Have a specific place to study, away from distractions such as the television and other family members who are not studying.
2. Study time should be when your child is most conducive to learning, not when they are hurried and excited for another activity and definitely not when they are tired.
3. Try not to let your child procrastinate on assignments or required reading time.
4. Get involved.

I found a great webpage on homework tips and study skills. It is a quick reference, full of ideas, because of the bullet point format. If you scroll down you will see a checklist for the parent regarding homework. www.acrnetwork.org/parents/homeworktips.htm (America’s Career Resource Network)