Resilience: Try, Try Again: Helping Your Seven Year Old Develop Grit

Grit involves sticking with something until you succeed. It’s another word for perseverance and resilience, and it gives us the strength to try, try, try again. Grit supports a “growth mindset” – a belief that our intelligence and skills can grow with effort. Kids with a growth mindset thrive on challenges and view failure as part of the learning process. For a seven-year-old, grit might look like sticking with a task at school, even when it seems difficult; identifying skills they want to develop and practicing them; and continuing when they encounter setbacks.

Responsibility: How to Teach Your Six Year Old Responsibility

Responsibility means being dependable, making good choices, and taking accountability for your actions. A responsible citizen looks out for the well-being of others and understands we all have a part to play in making the world a better place. For a six-year-old, responsibility might look like getting themselves ready for school in the morning, helping with specific household chores, and looking for ways to be a helper at school and in the community.

Routines During “The For-Now Normal”

Daily routines have changed for many families because of steps taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Your children are likely staying home instead of going to school or daycare, and it can be easy (and understandable) for everyone to feel overwhelmed. Taking things one day at a time is okay.

Schools Closed ? How to Make a New Home Routine

For most of us, life feels anything but normal right now with the COVID-19 pandemic, schools closed and working from home. But you can create a new normal for your family by having consistent routines.

Seizures

Seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Someone having a seizure might collapse, shake uncontrollably, or have another brief disturbance in brain function, often with a loss of or change in consciousness.

Seizures can be frightening, but most last only a few minutes, stop on their own, and are not life threatening.

Self-Awareness: How to Help Your Five Year Old Understand and Manage Emotions

Emotional self-awareness involves identifying and understanding one's emotions ― including "big feelings" that can sometimes overwhelm us.

Self-Awareness: How to Help Your Seven Year Old Understand and Manage Emotions

Emotional self-awareness involves identifying and understanding one’s emotions – including “big feelings” that can sometimes overwhelm us. Seven-year-olds can begin to identify complex emotions in themselves and others, and they can talk about how feelings can affect a person’s behavior. For example, they can begin to see that feeling jealous of a friend might make you act grouchy toward that friend. They can also understand that people may have more than one feeling at the same time.

Self-Care for Parents

Stress causes wear and tear on a person, inside and out. When you take time for self-care, you are better able to care for your child. Even a few minutes of “you time” can help you recharge so that you can parent at your best. Remember, you are doing a great job by doing the best you can. Keep these tips in mind when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Self-Confidence: Helping Your Eight-Year-Old Develop Independence and Self-Confidence

From taking their first steps to learning how to read, children gain self-confidence as they master new skills. This gives them the courage to continue to explore and expand their abilities.

Self-Control: How to Help Four Year Olds Make Good Choices

Emotions influence behavior. Part of growing up is learning how to manage our emotions and exercise self-control so that we can treat ourselves and others with respect. Four-year-olds can view situations from another’s perspective ― a useful tool in helping them make choices that are respectful to others, like taking turns or resisting their impulse to grab, hit or yell if they become frustrated. They also have a better sense of time and sequencing and can learn to use strategies to wait patiently (e.g., "I can play on the slide while I wait my turn for the swing").

Self-Control: How to Help Your Five Year Old Make Responsible Choices

Emotions influence behavior. Part of growing up is learning how to manage our emotions and exercise self-control so that we can treat ourselves and others with respect. Five-year-olds can articulate the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviors and can often change their behavior with reminders (e.g., "Remember, we keep our hands to ourselves at school."). They can apply strategies they have learned for controlling their impulses but will need continued support from parents — particularly when they feel overwhelmed by emotions.

Setting a Routine for Success at School

We’ve all been there. Sometimes, it’s just not easy to get up and get going in the morning. For young children who are still developing the ability to cope with new situations, preparing to have a successful day at school can feel overwhelming. Yet, there are tactics parents can use to help their kids leave the house feeling healthy, confident, and energized.

Seven Guiding Principles for Parents Teaching From Home

Understanding the “why” behind teaching practices can help parents create meaningful and effective at-home learning opportunities during the pandemic.

Sibling Rivalry

About Sibling Rivalry

While many kids are lucky enough to become the best of friends with their siblings, it's common for brothers and sisters to fight. (It's also common for them to swing back and forth between adoring and detesting one other!)

Often, sibling rivalry starts even before the second child is born, and continues as the kids grow and compete for everything from toys to attention. As kids reach different stages of development, their evolving needs can significantly affect how they relate to one another.

Simple Ways to Motivate Your Child Through Curiosity

Dinner time. New veggie. Here we go! I placed a piece of sautéed bok choy on my 4-year-old son’s plate and said, “Hmm. This is a new veggie called bok choy. I wonder what you’ll think about it.” He closely examined this suspicious veggie while sampling some more well-known items on his plate. He circled back after a few minutes and willingly tried it. On his own time. At his own pace. At his own will. After his brave bite, I followed up, “Was it crunchy? Soft?” to which he replied, “Soft. I like it.”

Six Steps to Help Your Child Develop Self-Control Skills

“I call base!” my son would say frequently after he was introduced to the game of tag. If he wanted to end the tickling or stop the chasing, he would claim a piece of furniture or the staircase banister as his safe haven. No one could touch him there. And he relished in the power and security it afforded him.

Social Problem Solving : Helping Your Two Year Old Work Through Social Conflicts

At age two, social conflict can arise when one child takes a toy from another or makes a startling noise. In other words, conflict emerges as kids physically and emotionally "bump into each other" in confusing ways.

Social Problem Solving: Helping Your Four Year Old Work Through Social Conflicts

At age four, conflicts can emerge as children learn to play together. They are learning how to take turns, share materials and share ideas. They may also experience (or experiment with) verbal conflict such as name-calling or put-downs. Emotions can run high when kids face social challenges both children's emotions and parents' emotions! But there are concrete skills that will help kids learn how to collaborate, cooperate, communicate, negotiate, self-advocate and respect others.

Speaking and Listening Talking to Your Seven Year Old

One of the most powerful ways to develop your child's literacy skills is also the easiest: talk to your kids! At age seven, children begin to use language to explain both their outer world (what they see) and their inner world (what they think, feel and imagine). When they talk to caring adults, they can expand their vocabulary and learn more about the give-and-take of conversations — including taking turns and building on someone else's ideas.

Speaking and Listening: Talking to Your Eight Year Old

One of the most powerful ways to develop your child's literacy skills is also the easiest: talk to your kids! At age eight, children begin to use language to explain both their outer world (what they see) and their inner world (what they think, feel and imagine). When they talk to caring adults, they can expand their vocabulary and learn more about the give-and-take of conversations — including taking turns and building on someone else's ideas.