Tips for Moms of School Kids

A Stress Free Morning Routine
Let's go! Let's go! Come on … you're going to miss the bus! I don't know where your favorite jeans are; it's not my responsibility. What do you mean you still have homework? Did you brush your teeth yet? Let's go! I'm leaving… NOW!
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7 Alternatives to Spanking and Harsh Discipline Practices
Even the most well meaning parents may find themselves yelling or spanking their child in a moment of anger. This often happens because the parent feels out of control, or because the child's misbehavior has gone on far too long. Gentle discipline doesn't mean no discipline at all, nor does it mean permissive or ineffective discipline. If you're endeavoring to parent gently, you need tools and skills to draw from when your kids push the boundaries. Here are some tips that have helped other parents.
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Gentle Discipline for the Older Child
Part of disciplining a child is about setting boundaries and also about contributing to the healthy development of your child’s character and value system. As your child gets older and starts to assert his character, you may need to have some patience in order to adequately address disciplining situations. Remember every word or action you communicate to your son or daughter has a distinct impact on their perception of you and your relationship. Your words and actions also influence the character development of your child. Disciplining without a doubt is a serious and important part of your childrearing responsibilities.
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Energy Boosting Breakfast Ideas for Students
Running late for school yet again? Just give the kids a Pop Tart on the way out the door and they'll be fine. If you're all out of the sugary toaster treat, just swing through Krispy Kreme on the way and your offspring will be good to go. Right? Wrong! Wrong! And Wrong. You might as well give your children a cup of coffee if that's what you consider a good breakfast.
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Money Saving School Lunch Ideas
Hot lunch at school can become quite expensive. Figure on average, hot lunch costs $2.10 per day if you include milk with the meal. If you have three children, $6.30 a day, multiplied by five days, that's $31.50 a week… just for lunch! Is it convenient for parents? You betcha. Can it be expensive? You betcha!
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Getting Kids to Eat Healthier Foods
It can be rather difficult to get kids to eat healthy foods these days. Healthy foods seem to be their least favorite and they would rather eat candy, cookies, ice cream, cakes, and all the other junk than sink their teeth into some good ole broccoli. It is even harder when society teaches them to eat foods not good for them. These societal lessons can be learned via television, commercials, school cafeterias, and even family events. So what can you do?
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Working Moms can Help Out at School Too
"But Mommmmm, why can't you come to the party today? Sierra's Mom ALWAYS comes."
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Get To Know Your Kid's Teachers
By definition, a teacher is one who teaches. Ya .. so? Let's look at what it means to teach. The dictionary defines the verb teach as:
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Easy Afternoon Snacks Kids Love
Remember how June Cleaver always had fresh cookies that just came out of the oven when Wally and Beaver arrived home from school? (If you don't remember that, you might be able to catch some reruns of Leave it to Beaver on Nick at Night or TVLand!)
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The Homework Routine That Works
At the beginning of the school year you set the rule: Homework gets finished as soon as you get home from school. But by October, that rule doesn't seem to be as hard and fast as it was in August.
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Teach Your Student Gadget Etiquette
Mention a Walkman, cassette player or a transistor radio and your children look at you like you're a dinosaur. Whip off terms like iPod, Mp3 player, cell phone, two-way, PSP, Gameboy, Nintendo DS, and Blackberry (no, it's not fruit!), then they'll think they have one dope parent. (dope – that's a good thing!)
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Dads are Cool when they help out at School
"My dad can beat up your dad!" Oh yeah? "Well my dad is cooler than your dad!"
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Friendships at School: A Primer for Parents
"Ashley's not my friend anymore! I hate her!" Whoa, before you go off on a tirade because your six year old used the word hate, take a minute to find out why she is feeling such a strong emotion.
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Bully Proof Your Student
It probably started in preschool when your son was playing with the truck and a big mean four and a half year old just came over and stole that dump truck right out of your sweet innocent little man's precious little hands. How dare he?!
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School Fashion Tips
What to wear? What to wear? Unless your student has a uniform to wear to school, then what your child wears could be a big deal. Sadly, fashion could determine the coolness factor.
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Make This Year Better Than Last Year
Remember that incident from last year? You do? Then it's time to put it behind you. It's history! If last year wasn't such a good school year for your child, you should be even more bound and determined to make this year better than last year!
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When You Don't Like Your Child's Teacher
You're hoping, praying and crossing your fingers that your child gets Mrs. Smith for 2nd grade. You've heard so many wonderful things about her and you just know that is the best teacher for your child.
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Extracurricular Scheduling - Are Your Kids Too Busy?
Does your daughter's schedule look anything like this?
Monday: Band practice, school, dance class
Tuesday: School, tae kwon do
Wednesday: Band practice, school, cheerleading practice
Thursday: School, tae kwon do
Friday: Band practice, school, football game
Saturday: Gymnastics, karate tournaments
Sunday: Church, go to friends
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Evening Chaos: Menu Planning Can Help
How often does one get to come home from school or work and have a relaxing evening filled with nothing else to do except to chill out? Ha! Almost never, right?
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Your Child is Never too Young for Chores
Chores, that's an interesting topic of discussion. Some parents will tell you that it's so much more efficient if they just do the household duties. They can do them so much faster.
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Charts for Bedtime and Morning Routines
"What do you mean you forgot to do that?" I told you last night before you went to bed. Well you better hurry or you're going to miss the bus."
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Choosing the Right Afterschool Activities for your Child
What happens after school is equally as important as what takes place during the school day. It's important that you and your child choose the right after school activities. Obviously as the parent, you'll be the one making the decisions. However if you can include your child in the process, you'll have better buy-in.
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Moms, It’s ok to Say “No”
"I just want my child to have it better than I did." "I want them to have nice things."
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Bedtime Routine to Give your Kids a Chance to Tell you About their School Day
"Ok, it's time to start getting ready for bed. After your bath, brush your teeth and get your pajamas on. It's getting late."
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How Much Sleep does your Child Really Need
Why is it that when we get older we would give anything to go to bed early? Once you become a parent, you can count on always being tired. Yet children never want to sleep. Perhaps they're afraid they'll miss out on something.
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Helping your Teen to Make Good Choices at School
The key to helping your teen make good choices at school is to train him up in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it. The End.
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Motivating your Child to Care about School
Wouldn't we all love to hear an enthusiastic "Great!" when you child is asked how school is going? Instead you might get an apathetic "It's ok" response. Or you may even get "it sucks!" How do you motivate you child to care about school?
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Food Allergies: What to Do when Your Child is the One Who Could Get Sick?
Eight hours later, she woke from her coma. She was in Emergency Room with her parents sitting by her side. She was dazed and confused. Earlier that day she was having an asthma attack, so one of her cabin-mates at camp shared some of her own medication to help her breathe. What no one knew was that the capsule was coated with egg whites. That is common in some medications to help make them more slippery and easy to swallow. The camper was highly allergic to eggs; and consequently went into anaphylactic shock. Camp counselors couldn't revive her, so they called an ambulance. That is a true story.
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