Swing Sets and Outdoor Play Equipment- 5 Essential Tips Before You Buy

For first time parents choosing a swing set or outdoor play equipment can be a daunting task. There are so many different materials to choose from and prices can vary from around a hundred dollars up to a couple of thousand for a larger solid timber unit. Outdoor swing sets can be as simple as an individual swing right up to a swing, slide, ropes and bars along with sandpit, cubby or fort.

Before you make any firm decisions there are a couple of main considerations…

1. Consult with your Kids-They will ultimately be using the equipment so it is important to purchase something that suits their needs, now and in the future.

2. Your Yard- The size of your backyard may determine the type of playground equipment you choose. As well as the size of the unit itself, your play equipment needs safe a circulation area around it. For toddlers you may prefer a smaller swing set that can moved between indoor and outdoors.

3. Budget- Outdoor play equipment and swing sets are an investment in your kids, they will potentially get many hours of enjoyment and play. There is a vast difference in price and durability for different materials, see below for pros and cons. Larger sets are generally built to last and often require delivery and installation, so you may need to factor this into your budget.

4. Materials and Durability-
Plastic- These sets are generally only suitable for toddlers, they are affordable and can often be swapped between indoors and outdoors.
Cedar and Redwood- the preferred choice for long lasting playground equipment. These two woods are low-maintenance because they naturally resist rot and insects, and don’t require sealing.
Pine- look for 100% chemical free lumber. Pine need to be treated annually to maintain its resistance to the elements.
Metal- if you are going with a simple steel swing set look for heavy duty galvanised steel with a lifetime guarantee against rust. Metal swings are hard wearing but not as visually appealing as their timber counterparts.

5. Hidden Extras-
Delivery and Installation- check if the set is delivered and installed by an installation crew or left at your doorstep for you to set up.
Warranty- does the company offer a lifetime warranty? Some outdoor sets (cedar and redwood) are a once only purchase, whereas others have a much shorter lifespan. If plastic units are left out in the elements they will deteriorate much faster than if they can be stored out of the sun and rain when not in use.
Inspection- you can do plenty of browsing online but may prefer to inspect the set first. By taking your kids to ‘try before you buy’ you will feel much more comfortable with your purchase.

Four Tips For Alleviating Back To School Anxiety

Back to school preparations are in full-swing. Soon, the first bell of the year will ring and the sounds of summer will be replaced by the voices of school-aged children bemoaning the end of their summer and trying to sort out their new school routines: What building am I in? Who’s my teacher this year? Do I really have to take calculus?

For most children, going back to school signifies a move from the lazy, hazy days of summer to a regimented school routine and poses unique challenges that must be overcome. “It’s a school night” becomes part of the parental lexicon for the next ten months and children typically resist the concept. At issue for children and parents alike: change.

Let’s take a peek at Zach:

Zach is 7 yrs old and will be starting the second grade at El Rodeo in a few short weeks. He was a star in the first grade, knowing most of the answers and always assisting Ms. Daisy in classroom activities. He even sang a solo in the spring concert!

Understanding that change can often lead to feelings of anxiety, the faculty at El Rodeo began preparing Zach and his classmates for their transition to Grade 2 in April of their Grade 1 school year. Ms. Davis had a special talk with her class after story time. Zach and his classmates were told about how big they have become and how proud she was of everyone’s progress. Ms. Davis spoke about next year and their new classroom across the hallway. She even invited Ms. Eva, the second grade teacher, to the class to introduce her to the children.

Zach and his classmates soon began regular visits to their new classroom. On Fridays, they joined Ms. Eva’s class for story time and got used to their new surroundings. Despite all the mindful planning for this transition by his teachers, as the start of the new school year approached, Zach began to have difficulty.

He became increasingly irritable at home, and also began to wake during the night. When he started to lose his acquired toilet training abilities, Zach’s parents reached out for support.

With constant communication by teachers and parents, and much love and support, Zach was able to adjust to the change in his school routine and now looks forward to starting school. He spent the last week of school happily sharing his excitement about the beginning of a new school year.

Here are four tips to help alleviate your child’s back-to-school anxiety:

1) Know: Your child and how they handle transition

2) Communicate: Let your child know that you are aware of their anxiety and that you are here to help see them through their difficulty

3) Support: Your child in ways to build upon their strengths and talents

4) Reach out: To teachers and other professionals for assistance should your child continue to experience difficulties

Transitions are never easy, especially for a child who may feel that their world is out of their control. Assist your child to regain that control in a strength-based supportive way and share in their excitement as they head back to school.

Dr. Charles Sophy currently serves as Medical Director for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), which is responsible for the health, safety and welfare of nearly 40,000 foster children. He also has a private psychiatry practice in Beverly Hills, California. Dr. Sophy has lectured extensively and is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California Los Angeles Neuro-Psychiatric Institute. His lectures and teachings are consistently ranked as among the best by those in attendance.

The Recipe For The Making Of A Self-Assured Child: One Part Communication, Two Parts Love

Each child carries a unique picture of the self, shaped in part by the influence of parents. Your child is not born with a self-image or self-assurance. Both traits are learned through experiences beginning from birth.

But who is the self-assured child? Simply put, it is the child who is confident of their self-worth, and their talents and abilities. A confident and outgoing child, who is not afraid to show the world all the unique ways in which he / she shines.

The process of making a self-assured child begins at birth. Children are born with clean slates and do not implicitly know and understand their self-worth. The seeds of self-assurance and self-esteem, therefore, must be carefully sown by the adult figures in a child’s life.

Let’s take a look at 3 ½ year old Jennifer:

Jennifer attends pre-school. As part of the year-end wrap up, Mom and Dad meet with Jen’s pre-school teacher, Mrs. Hamilton.

Mrs. Hamilton tells Jen’s parents that she has noted that Jennifer is always seeking feedback on her accomplishments. “When Jennifer finishes a drawing,” notes Mrs. Hamilton, “she is undoubtedly never sure if it is good, and, therefore, fails to exhibit any happiness. Instead, she asks her teachers for re-assurance that the drawing is beautiful and has made them happy.”

Jennifer’s parents have noted similar behavior at home and during play dates with other children. “Jennifer has tremendous difficulty making selections from colors of crayons to food,” states Jennifer’s mother. “If I ask her what she’d like for dinner, she always asks ‘What are my choices?’ and I begin to narrow the selections for her. Sometimes, I even make the decision for her. No matter what I choose - even if it’s her favorite meal - Jennifer’s never happy and always demands to know why she has to eat that.” Mrs. Hamilton tells Jennifer’s parents that she too has noted that Jennifer will talk back to a teacher or adult in charge, demanding an explanation for having to follow direction. “No matter how many times we try to talk to her,” notes Jennifer’s father, “she doesn’t seem to have an awareness of her behaviors.”

The following suggestions may help you raise self-assured children:

? Praise your child: Applause the effort, not just the outcome. Start early and give genuine compliments freely and honestly.

? Observe your child’s schoolwork and other activities: Offer your child constructive feedback on their work, this will allow your child to have a safe and realistic view of themselves

? Frame social interactions: Give your child the boundaries with which to speak and respond appropriately to others

? Outline choices: Allow your child to choose from a limited amount of choices. Providing too many will overwhelm the child and may cause frustration and confusion

? Lead: Always keep a watchful eye and take charge when necessary

Keep In Mind: The process of building self-esteem needs to begin at birth but it’s never too late to implement positive behaviors.

The recipe for success in raising a self-assured child is simple; connect with your child through positive interactions and communications, and offer unconditional love and support.

You will forever have an impact upon the manner in which your child interacts and feels about themselves. Reach for assistance from a professional if you have any questions.

Dr. Charles Sophy currently serves as Medical Director for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), which is responsible for the health, safety and welfare of nearly 40,000 foster children. He also has a private psychiatry practice in Beverly Hills, California. Dr. Sophy has lectured extensively and is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California Los Angeles Neuro-Psychiatric Institute. His lectures and teachings are consistently ranked as among the best by those in attendance.

Missing The Bus

As a step daughter and step grand daughter, I followed the examples that were set for me years before when I became a step parent. The way my stepson finally came to love and respect me as his step mother, was through all of the “trying” experiences we had. Excuse the pun, but raising kids is a very trying experience!

One of the first times my stepson “tried” or tested my word and consistency was over catching the school bus. Nick was not a morning person and that made getting up in time for school in the morning a problem. Myself having lunches to pack, and two other kids who were already responsible for getting themselves up, Nick knew that I expected him to do his thing in the morning. When he missed the bus the first time, I informed him that I would drive him to school that one time, and one time only!

Just a couple of weeks later on another early school morning, I could tell Nick was going to miss the bus if he didn’t move a lot faster and told him so. I left it at that, went about my business, and sure enough Nick came to me with a sorrowful look on his face saying that he had missed the bus. I said, “You had better get your rollerblades on then or you will be late for the start of school!” Nick was incredulous and asked if I was sure I could not take him to school, and I told him that he got his one and only ride the first time he missed the bus and he better get a move on.

Educational Jigsaw Puzzles, How Educational Are They?

Many companies advertise their products as being educational. How much of this terminology is sales promotion and jargon, and how much is fact?

As an educator for many years, I can say with authority, that there is educational value in all types of jigsaw puzzles. The skills acquired and practiced in completing jigsaw puzzles are a foundational part of successful learning. Doing jigsaw puzzles develops several functions of the brain simultaneously as a child has fun and also learns. Most notably developed in this learning process are the abilities to reason, deduce, analyze, sequence, and develop logical thought and problem solving skills. Physically, eye-hand coordination and spatial awareness are also required to complete a jigsaw puzzle.

Putting these benefits aside, I want to look particularly at the jigsaw puzzles that are labeled “Educational”. These puzzles are designed to teach a specific learning objective. Some examples of these might be a jigsaw puzzle map of the world, or of the solar system. The manufacturers claim that such puzzles will teach a child those specific facts. What educational value in reality do these types of puzzles contain?

Firstly the degree of the educational value of these types of puzzles is dependant on how the puzzles are used in the learning process. For example, let us suppose that the learning objective is to learn about the geography of the United States of America, specifically the position of the individual states. You buy a puzzle picturing all the states and their position in the country, and give it to the child to do. Will the child ace a test on the States? Probably not! I’m sure that some learning will take place, but it will be limited and a few weeks later very little of the learning would be retained. To the child the learning process of doing that puzzle would be similar to any jigsaw puzzle that they do. Their focus on the states and where they fit is limited to the process of completing the puzzle.

In order to maximize the educational value of a jigsaw puzzle, it needs to part of the learning process, but not all of it.

Children have different styles of learning and an advantage of a jigsaw puzzle is that it does involve using more than one type of learning aptitude in the process of completing it. The most obvious learning style for a puzzle is the visual. In doing a puzzle of the USA the child will see the overall shape and also how the various states fit together to complete the whole. Jigsaw puzzles involve both the global (big picture) and analytic (details) aspects of learning. Puzzles are also good for the kinesthetic tendencies of learners. Kinesthetic learners learn best by practical hands on activities. For those with a auditory preference in learning, conversation about the learning and the correlations in the puzzle combined with the overall learning objectives, needs to happen at the same time as the puzzle is being done.

However the greatest educational benefit comes when the jigsaw puzzle is done as part of the overall learning objective. A jigsaw puzzle can be used to introduce a new subject as well as reinforce learning that has already occurred. The educational value increases to the extent that the subject of the puzzle is meaningful to the knowledge the child already has. To the degree that the child can correlate his prior knowledge with the puzzle experience, the more educational value is gained.

The jigsaw puzzle can also create new learning experiences. These experiences can then be developed in many other ways for an overall learning experience. For example, in doing a puzzle on American Geography, famous landmarks located on the puzzle could then be looked up and researched in books or on the Internet. Stories can be read or told about historical events that occurred. The actual size of an American state could be explored by working out how long it would take to travel across by car or train. The learning possibilities are endless.

Some educational puzzles such as ‘Faces and Places’ and ‘The Map of the Solar System’ ,produced by the Great American Puzzle Company come accompanied by a guide book that can be used to get the maximum educational benefit and value from the jigsaw puzzles.

In conclusion, it can be said that all jigsaw puzzles have educational value to some extent. The puzzles that are advertised as ‘educational’ can be of great educational value if introduced, not in isolation, but as part of a specific learning goal that has both relevance and purpose for the child.

Any time spent doing a jigsaw puzzle with your child will make it a more meaningful and memorable experience. Don’t just give your child a present of a jigsaw puzzle-instead give your child an educational experience and a memory that will last a lifetime.

Parenting - Give Your Child The Tools To Build Strong Character And Values

There are many parenting styles. Yours may be very different from your own parents, your siblings, or your neighbors. There is no right or wrong parenting style. If you are teaching your children basic values and good citizenship, you have already won half the battle. There are some basic character traits that are necessary for children to develop into good citizens and role models. Instilling these values in your children will provide them with a strong foundation on which they can base their lives and build their futures.

Trustworthiness is among the most important lessons you can teach your children. Children that are taught to be honest and reliable will not only grow up to be successful adults, they will also become courageous, learn to do the honorable thing even if it is not the easiest way, and will build a good reputation that will follow them through the rest of their lives. Children should also be taught fairness. Taking turns, playing by the rules, learning to listen to others and their opinions with an open mind, and learning to not cast blame will put your child on the path to responsible adulthood and teach the value of friendship. Learning to respect others includes tolerance, judiciousness, and solving problems peacefully.

Teach your children to be compassionate and caring towards others. Gratefulness, forgiveness, and helpfulness will follow your child into adulthood and give them strong leadership skills. Children should learn to be dependable, learn to do their best at whatever challenges are place din their path, and learn to take responsibility for their actions. Respect for authority and a concern for the world in which they live will give your children the skills they require to become successful adults and leaders in their community. No matter what your parenting style, these basic lessons will give your children a sense of values, belonging, and a strong character.

When Kids Hurt Parents

The cruel callous remarks made by our offspring can sometimes wound us deeply, to the very core of our soul. The hurtful words of our children can scar us like no other. They are capable of hurting us with the deepest kind of hurt. When the words “I hate you” spurt forth from the mouth of a five year old in the throes of a temper tantrum we tend to overlook them. When words such as those are hurled at us from the lips of our teenage or adult offspring they cut sharper than any blade forged from steel. The wound can fester leaving us open and vulnerable to future hurt. We forgive them. They’re our children, we love them so how can we not forgive them? Yet the pain of such damaging words still lingers. In the back of a parent’s mind, it is only natural that doubt should remain. Did he really mean what he said or was it just anger talking? Does my child really hate me? Have I failed as a parent?

We’re only human so we’re bound to question ourselves. We automatically assume that our offspring are acting out due to our own inadequacies as a parent. We are left feeling a jumble of mixed emotions. We feel angry with our children for the tone they’ve taken with us; we feel angry with ourselves for not raising them better but most of all we feel hurt. We wonder what we’ve done to deserve such treatment. Times have changed. Children are more outspoken and candid with their parents but a change of times should not warrant disrespect. As a teenager I would have never treated my mother with the type of disrespect that is so common these days. Certainly we had our moments like every parent and child but I would not have deliberately spoken out against her with malice or contempt.

Many parents tend to blame themselves to the point that they will utterly deny any disrespect directed toward them from their own children. This is done more to protect themselves rather than their offspring. To admit disrespect on the part of their children would be to admit failure on their part. Parents shouldn’t always blame themselves for the shortcomings of their daughters and sons. We do the best we can and each child is different as is each parent. It used to be that parents expected too much of their children. Although that still occurs, it seems the roles have reversed to some extent. Now, children expect too much of their parents. This is due in part to the commercialism and competitiveness of the world we live in. Society is one huge commercial venture.

Oftentimes parents are expected to have better jobs, nicer cars and bigger houses. If they can’t provide their offspring with fat allowances and the newest name brand clothes they may be labeled a bad parent. Many teenagers have an issue with respect. They fully expect others to treat them with respect but they certainly don’t know how to treat others, including their own parents, the same way. Teaching kids good old fashioned values may work for some but definitely not all. Sadly, it appears the temptations of today’s world seem to be winning out. Perhaps, divine justice will prevail when our children reap what they sow through their own children.