Teaching Our Children About Christmas Through Music

We’ve all considered or put on our own special Christmas Eve program. There have been baby dolls swaddled in blankets, ?children fighting over who gets to be the angel or who has to use the pink towel for their shepherd’s costume, and we’ve even decided to avoid the drama and merely read the kids the Christmas Story from the Bible while they all drift off to the Land of Nod.

But…What if you did something different – shook things up a little and got the kids really involved?

Adding music is a wonderful way to capture your children’s attention and make sure everyone can be involved – everyone can sing a Christmas carol. Discussing and interpreting the biblical text is also a wonderful way to help them really get something from the tradition.

An example of a Christmas program could be:

-Sing “O Little Town of Bethlehem” when you discuss Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem

-Sing “Away in a Manger” when you read about Jesus being born

-And then sing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” when you talk about how special it is that Christ was born and how important it was that he was born so humbly

-Sing “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” when you talk about the shepherds being told by the angels that Christ was born

-Sing “With Wondering Awe” when you tell your children about the three wise men who came to visit Christ

Finish your special musical Christmas program as follows:

-Sing “O Come All Ye Faithful” and then talk about how we can all come to Christ and still follow the star by following His teachings

-And then sing “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” and talk about the true meaning of Christmas.

-Sing your children’s favorite Christmas hymns – even if you sung them during the story.

If there are other songs you enjoy that help tell of the Christmas story, make sure to include them! A couple favorites that would be wonderful in the story are: “We Three Kings” and “The Friendly Beasts”. Make sure you sing songs your family loves because it will personalize it and help it hit home for your children.

Do your best to make sure you don’t just read the story, but explain it and teach the principles the story holds. It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring a loving spirit to your home on the holiest night of the year.

Have you ever done a Christmas program with your children? What have you done to help tell your children the Christmas story?

Hymns can be viewed here

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Homework Strategies: Helping Children Manage Homework Frustration

With the creation of routines and the development of healthy work habits, children can get homework done in a timely manner and with less frustration.

Homework time can often be very stressful for children and their parents. Children can feel overwhelmed due to the amount of homework assigned, they may have a lack of understanding of the instructions, or they may just not want to interrupt their leisure time to get it done. When children do not comply with their parents' requests to complete their homework, it often becomes a source of conflict between them. Working together to create an environment of support can lessen the angst families feel about the homework experience.

Establishing a Working Relationship with a Child's Teacher
Parents should make every effort to connect with their child's teacher and coordinate ways in which to communicate with each other regarding the child's performance at school. When a parent is aware of their child's class curriculum they are in a better position to help their child. Parents who support the teacher's efforts in the classroom at home ensure continuity in the child's learning. If a child struggles with a homework assignment, the parents can lend understanding to the problem because they will already be familiar with the assignment's objective. When there is dialogue between a parent and a teacher, students who are having difficulty or have missed homework assignments are more readily identified than if a parent and a child's teacher have no contact. Keeping in touch on a regular basis with a child's teacher will help impede a learning problem should one develop. The parent and teacher can agree on ways to best assist the child.

Creating Homework Routines
Parents and children should work together to devise ways to create an atmosphere that is conducive to getting homework done. Start by asking a child where they are most comfortable working; if he prefesr silence or background noise (radio, classical CD, hum of the dishwasher); if he wants a parent nearby or want to be left alone with intermittent checks. Such questions can facilitate an area where the child is able to focus and not be distracted. Working areas can be reassessed as often and as necessary as need be if they do not meet the child's needs. Younger children require less autonomy and as they get older, more and more responsibility for their homework can be shifted to them. Parents and children should also decide on a specific time each day when homework is to be done. When the time of day is consistent, children will expect that it is going to happen. Children work well under structure and routine.

Maximizing a Child's Learning Potential
When helping children with their homework, parents need to identify their child's learning style and work with their child's strengths to deliver content and explanations in a way that will make sense to the child. Parents need to come up with ways to motivate their children and make the experience of doing homework a pleasant one. For example, if a child is overwhelmed with the amount, parents can break it down in to chunks and instruct the child to do a piece at a time with a break in between.

Identifying a Bigger Problem
If a child appears to be persistently struggling with specific subject material or basic fundamentals to learning (reading and writing or math concepts) parents should consider if there is an underlying learning disorder or whether or not the child is experiencing anxiety that may be preventing learning from occurring. When such issues are identified, they can assist children in getting preferred accommodations and modifications implemented within their educational program.

Homework can be a daunting task for all concerned. Developing a relationship with a child's teacher, establishing routines and working with a child's learning strengths can certainly lessen the amount of frustration over homework. If problems continue despite intervention, early identification of a learning disorder will aid in getting children the assistance they need so that they can reach maximum potential in life. When parents take a pro-active approach to teach their children management skills and healthy work habits it will not only facilitate the homework process, but also serve children well in their future professions.

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Homework Strategies: Helping Children Manage Homework Frustration

With the creation of routines and the development of healthy work habits, children can get homework done in a timely manner and with less frustration.

Homework time can often be very stressful for children and their parents. Children can feel overwhelmed due to the amount of homework assigned, they may have a lack of understanding of the instructions, or they may just not want to interrupt their leisure time to get it done. When children do not comply with their parents' requests to complete their homework, it often becomes a source of conflict between them. Working together to create an environment of support can lessen the angst families feel about the homework experience.

Establishing a Working Relationship with a Child's Teacher
Parents should make every effort to connect with their child's teacher and coordinate ways in which to communicate with each other regarding the child's performance at school. When a parent is aware of their child's class curriculum they are in a better position to help their child. Parents who support the teacher's efforts in the classroom at home ensure continuity in the child's learning. If a child struggles with a homework assignment, the parents can lend understanding to the problem because they will already be familiar with the assignment's objective. When there is dialogue between a parent and a teacher, students who are having difficulty or have missed homework assignments are more readily identified than if a parent and a child's teacher have no contact. Keeping in touch on a regular basis with a child's teacher will help impede a learning problem should one develop. The parent and teacher can agree on ways to best assist the child.

Creating Homework Routines
Parents and children should work together to devise ways to create an atmosphere that is conducive to getting homework done. Start by asking a child where they are most comfortable working; if he prefesr silence or background noise (radio, classical CD, hum of the dishwasher); if he wants a parent nearby or want to be left alone with intermittent checks. Such questions can facilitate an area where the child is able to focus and not be distracted. Working areas can be reassessed as often and as necessary as need be if they do not meet the child's needs. Younger children require less autonomy and as they get older, more and more responsibility for their homework can be shifted to them. Parents and children should also decide on a specific time each day when homework is to be done. When the time of day is consistent, children will expect that it is going to happen. Children work well under structure and routine.

Maximizing a Child's Learning Potential
When helping children with their homework, parents need to identify their child's learning style and work with their child's strengths to deliver content and explanations in a way that will make sense to the child. Parents need to come up with ways to motivate their children and make the experience of doing homework a pleasant one. For example, if a child is overwhelmed with the amount, parents can break it down in to chunks and instruct the child to do a piece at a time with a break in between.

Identifying a Bigger Problem
If a child appears to be persistently struggling with specific subject material or basic fundamentals to learning (reading and writing or math concepts) parents should consider if there is an underlying learning disorder or whether or not the child is experiencing anxiety that may be preventing learning from occurring. When such issues are identified, they can assist children in getting preferred accommodations and modifications implemented within their educational program.

Homework can be a daunting task for all concerned. Developing a relationship with a child's teacher, establishing routines and working with a child's learning strengths can certainly lessen the amount of frustration over homework. If problems continue despite intervention, early identification of a learning disorder will aid in getting children the assistance they need so that they can reach maximum potential in life. When parents take a pro-active approach to teach their children management skills and healthy work habits it will not only facilitate the homework process, but also serve children well in their future professions.

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Helping our Children Learn Gratitude

It’s that time of year again! Turkey, gravy, potatoes, and pie… and don’t forget gratitude. Ideally, we recognize all we have and all that people do for us year-round, but this time of year has this as its special focus.

For most adults we can stop and look around and think about all we went through to get where we are. We can appreciate what we have that we didn’t ten, five, or even just one year ago. We can think back to those college days when we lived on mac-and-cheese or walked every where because we couldn’t afford a car. We can think back to when we were newlyweds and slept on the floor or didn’t have a couch. It makes it easy, when we stop and look around, to find things to be grateful for.

How do we help our children to feel gratitude?

So how do we help our children who have lived their whole lives with us doing everything we can to provide a good life for them? How do we help them feel the humility that comes with gratitude when they have been shielded from as much suffering as possible?

There are at least a few ways we can help them -- activities and expectations will vary by age, but you‘ll find that there are a number of things you can do as a family that will help teach your children to be grateful. If you make the act of gratitude your family’s focus, then each member can do something different, but still be participating in the family goal.

Activities can include:

- A Thanksgiving tree. First: cut a tree out of paper or put some branches in a pot or vase. Second: cut leaves out of paper. Third: Have your family members write (or help your children if they are too young) something they are grateful for on a leaf. You can do this daily, weekly, or just once. The act of acknowledging what we are thankful for can go a long way -- and having them on display as a reminder is even better to help keep your children aware of what they have.

- A family service project. Having your children participate in helping a family or other individuals in need is a good way to make them aware of the things they do have and help them realize how trivial the things they don’t have are.

- A family ‘give it up’ week. Have everyone in your family choose something they might take for granted (cell phone, video game, computer time, dessert, etc.) to give up during a week in November. Every night at the dinner table ask how it’s going and do an inventory. Talk about how they are feeling living without whatever it was they chose. At the end of the week, have a fun ceremony where everyone can take an opportunity to talk about why they are grateful for what they gave up, and then they can talk about anything else they are grateful for -- ending with the ‘giving back’ of the item.

- A Family night focused on writing thank you notes. Provide your children with blank thank you notes and envelopes. Encourage everyone to sit down and write at least one thank you note to a family member and one thank you note to a friend, neighbor, or teacher. Help them mail the notes or make sure they get put in the back pack to be delivered. Talk about why it’s so important to appreciate the people in our lives.

What have you done in your home to promote gratitude? How did your children react?

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Helping Your Children Love Books and Love to Read

Benefits of Reading

We all want our children to be proficient in reading, but seeing them enjoying, loving, and choosing to read can become a far off dream for us. I remember my mom making us read and then quizzing us on the books to make sure we actually read them which never failed to stress me out! I also remember having to read books for class and never really enjoying the books -- as it often is with our children when they are forced to do something they often resist.


Why do we want them to enjoy reading? Aside from the obvious desire to avoid fights over assigned reading, we want our children to enjoy reading because every time you open a book you have the opportunity to learn something new. Your child may become interested in something because of all he/she learned about it in a book.

Also, reading is a wonderful way to learn new words. Almost every time I read a book I either learn a new word or remember a word I had forgotten about. There are so many wonderful words out there; so many fresh, new things to be said!

There are so many books on so many topics, with varying characters, set in wonderful worlds and places. Reading books can stretch your child’s view of the world, broaden their understanding of different cultures, and help them learn to accept others merely by being able to understand where someone is coming from. Traveling to help broaden your child’s world view can get expensive, but a trip to the library is free.

Reading can also be a great alternative to video games, television, and movies. Whereas solitary activities that wrap us up in our own bubble can be socially damaging if engaged in too often, we must admit that reading is intellectually stimulating and most likely superior in many ways.

Our Children Can Learn to Love Books

Reading is seen as work, as a school-type activity and is often resisted so we fear it will always be a battle. But our children can learn to love books and love to read (keeping in mind some people just do not enjoy reading). There are so many things we as parents can do to encourage reading.

What Can I do to Encourage Reading?

1. Success and positive praise. We want to do things we are good at and so it is imperative that we help our children learn to read. If they are struggling, their teacher is a great resource for finding ways to help them at home. If they are capable, teaching them to use a dictionary is a wonderful way to help them find success in reading. They can learn they don’t have to be frustrated by not understanding every word! Making sure each time they improve is praised (no matter how small an improvement) will encourage them to keep trying and boost their self-esteem.
2. Setting the mood. If they are reading a book set in a jungle you can buy a CD with jungle sounds that you can put on while they read. Turning the lights down, or turning on a lamp can do this too.
3. Having a cozy reading corner for your child so reading feels fun and special. Maybe even making a snack of popcorn or even just a bottle of water can also make reading time feel special. Reading in a fort is always fun, no matter the age!
4. Reading with your children from a young age can get them in the habit of reading, but can also help???? them associate reading with the special times they share with you.
5. Setting the example. If your children see you reading for fun they will most likely pick up the habit/desire.

Remember to make reading fun and happy and do your best to help your child feel successful when they read so they will feel good about themselves every time they pick up a book -- that alone will motivate them to choose to read.

Do your children enjoy reading? What have you done to encourage reading in your home?

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Helping Your Children Love Books and Love to Read

Benefits of Reading

We all want our children to be proficient in reading, but seeing them enjoying, loving, and choosing to read can become a far off dream for us. I remember my mom making us read and then quizzing us on the books to make sure we actually read them which never failed to stress me out! I also remember having to read books for class and never really enjoying the books -- as it often is with our children when they are forced to do something they often resist.


Why do we want them to enjoy reading? Aside from the obvious desire to avoid fights over assigned reading, we want our children to enjoy reading because every time you open a book you have the opportunity to learn something new. Your child may become interested in something because of all he/she learned about it in a book.

Also, reading is a wonderful way to learn new words. Almost every time I read a book I either learn a new word or remember a word I had forgotten about. There are so many wonderful words out there; so many fresh, new things to be said!

There are so many books on so many topics, with varying characters, set in wonderful worlds and places. Reading books can stretch your child’s view of the world, broaden their understanding of different cultures, and help them learn to accept others merely by being able to understand where someone is coming from. Traveling to help broaden your child’s world view can get expensive, but a trip to the library is free.

Reading can also be a great alternative to video games, television, and movies. Whereas solitary activities that wrap us up in our own bubble can be socially damaging if engaged in too often, we must admit that reading is intellectually stimulating and most likely superior in many ways.

Our Children Can Learn to Love Books

Reading is seen as work, as a school-type activity and is often resisted so we fear it will always be a battle. But our children can learn to love books and love to read (keeping in mind some people just do not enjoy reading). There are so many things we as parents can do to encourage reading.

What Can I do to Encourage Reading?

1. Success and positive praise. We want to do things we are good at and so it is imperative that we help our children learn to read. If they are struggling, their teacher is a great resource for finding ways to help them at home. If they are capable, teaching them to use a dictionary is a wonderful way to help them find success in reading. They can learn they don’t have to be frustrated by not understanding every word! Making sure each time they improve is praised (no matter how small an improvement) will encourage them to keep trying and boost their self-esteem.
2. Setting the mood. If they are reading a book set in a jungle you can buy a CD with jungle sounds that you can put on while they read. Turning the lights down, or turning on a lamp can do this too.
3. Having a cozy reading corner for your child so reading feels fun and special. Maybe even making a snack of popcorn or even just a bottle of water can also make reading time feel special. Reading in a fort is always fun, no matter the age!
4. Reading with your children from a young age can get them in the habit of reading, but can also help???? them associate reading with the special times they share with you.
5. Setting the example. If your children see you reading for fun they will most likely pick up the habit/desire.

Remember to make reading fun and happy and do your best to help your child feel successful when they read so they will feel good about themselves every time they pick up a book -- that alone will motivate them to choose to read.

Do your children enjoy reading? What have you done to encourage reading in your home?

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Helping Your Children Love Books and Love to Read

Benefits of Reading

We all want our children to be proficient in reading, but seeing them enjoying, loving, and choosing to read can become a far off dream for us. I remember my mom making us read and then quizzing us on the books to make sure we actually read them which never failed to stress me out! I also remember having to read books for class and never really enjoying the books -- as it often is with our children when they are forced to do something they often resist.


Why do we want them to enjoy reading? Aside from the obvious desire to avoid fights over assigned reading, we want our children to enjoy reading because every time you open a book you have the opportunity to learn something new. Your child may become interested in something because of all he/she learned about it in a book.

Also, reading is a wonderful way to learn new words. Almost every time I read a book I either learn a new word or remember a word I had forgotten about. There are so many wonderful words out there; so many fresh, new things to be said!

There are so many books on so many topics, with varying characters, set in wonderful worlds and places. Reading books can stretch your child’s view of the world, broaden their understanding of different cultures, and help them learn to accept others merely by being able to understand where someone is coming from. Traveling to help broaden your child’s world view can get expensive, but a trip to the library is free.

Reading can also be a great alternative to video games, television, and movies. Whereas solitary activities that wrap us up in our own bubble can be socially damaging if engaged in too often, we must admit that reading is intellectually stimulating and most likely superior in many ways.

Our Children Can Learn to Love Books

Reading is seen as work, as a school-type activity and is often resisted so we fear it will always be a battle. But our children can learn to love books and love to read (keeping in mind some people just do not enjoy reading). There are so many things we as parents can do to encourage reading.

What Can I do to Encourage Reading?

1. Success and positive praise. We want to do things we are good at and so it is imperative that we help our children learn to read. If they are struggling, their teacher is a great resource for finding ways to help them at home. If they are capable, teaching them to use a dictionary is a wonderful way to help them find success in reading. They can learn they don’t have to be frustrated by not understanding every word! Making sure each time they improve is praised (no matter how small an improvement) will encourage them to keep trying and boost their self-esteem.
2. Setting the mood. If they are reading a book set in a jungle you can buy a CD with jungle sounds that you can put on while they read. Turning the lights down, or turning on a lamp can do this too.
3. Having a cozy reading corner for your child so reading feels fun and special. Maybe even making a snack of popcorn or even just a bottle of water can also make reading time feel special. Reading in a fort is always fun, no matter the age!
4. Reading with your children from a young age can get them in the habit of reading, but can also help???? them associate reading with the special times they share with you.
5. Setting the example. If your children see you reading for fun they will most likely pick up the habit/desire.

Remember to make reading fun and happy and do your best to help your child feel successful when they read so they will feel good about themselves every time they pick up a book -- that alone will motivate them to choose to read.

Do your children enjoy reading? What have you done to encourage reading in your home?

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When parents work on children stay Slim, Study Says

Set a healthy example for your children. Credit: Getty Images

No parent wants to see naked belly flab her child to debut TV on "the biggest Loser."But before head you to the gym for MOM and baby Zumba, consider a new study finds it only parents who need muscle up and prevent hands in the cookie jar.

Despite your best intentions to get your child to the thirst of carrots and perform the installation in happy baby utero, it turns on healthy eating and exercise is taught parents, their children on the same amount of weight shed as if you had transported to exercise classes, also, according to a study published in the journal obesity.

"Our results showed that the single parent group is not less in terms of loss of weight of the child, parent, child physical activity and weight loss" said the author of the study Boutelle Kerri, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, in a press release.

Even though the fat childhood obesity programs camp-esque call for parent/child participation, the researchers found that parents are the biggest influences on children enervated, and it's health moms and dads behaviors that could have the greatest impact to change current data that suggest that 31% of the United States children are obese or.That adds 4 to 5 million children, says the release.

"Parents are the people most important in the environment of the child, which serves as the teachers of the first and most important" Boutelle said in the release. "Because they play an important role in children's weight loss program, we asked if the same results could be achieved by working with parents, simply, without the children coming to the clinic.?

The study involved 80 families in overweight or obese children aged 8-12, according to the libération.La half of families in five months with children in tow, education while others 40 families attended parents seule.Au early classes and at the end of the period of five months and a follow-up in six months later, researchers measured both parents and children as well as children daily caloric intake and physical activity.

Each extent except the caloric intake in group single parent families showed as much improvement as those for education in the mother and the child, according to the release.

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