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Here’s the scoop on the most important social skills for kids plus how to practice them, according to child psychologist Dr. Bethany Cook. 1. Basic Manners (AKA Baseline Respect)
Why It Matters This one doesn’t represent a single social skill, but rather a group of behaviors that range from traditional ‘good manners’ (i.e., please and thank you) to social habits that guide healthy peer interactions, like sharing and taking turns. Parents probably don’t need to be told why these skills are important—we’ve already dubbed some of them as magic words—but just in case: “A child who has these basic skills will be able to successfully interact with others in social settings (as well as virtual interactions) in positive ways, with the end goal of getting their needs met in a socially acceptable manner,” says Dr. Cook. Translation? A polite kid is a win-win for everybody. How to Practice When it comes to imparting polite behavior to your kid, it’s no surprise that Dr. Cook suggests parents pay careful attention to the way they interact with adults and young people alike. “When it comes to teaching our children about turn-taking, sharing and following directions, they learn the most from what they see us do. How do you speak to your spouse, friends and strangers?” In other words, kids are excellent mimics (but you knew that one already, right?). So the next time your child shouts for a second helping at dinnertime, don’t bark back, “OK, give me your bowl!” because although the frustration is fair, said child is likely to start imitating your brusk demeanor. Instead, try something like, “Can you please ask nicely for another portion? Thank you.” 2. Eye Contact Why It Matters The concept is basic but it can be a hard habit to acquire, even for adults. In practice, eye contact is a valuable way of showing respect for others, and it’s also a confidence-builder. Per Dr. Cook, “Looking at someone when speaking not only establishes an element of trust and validity, but it also allows the speaker and the listener to read all the subtle non-verbal facial expressions, which convey much more meaning than words.” Bottom line: When it comes to teaching kids how to form authentic connections with peers, eye contact is key. How to Practice So how do you encourage this important, but oft-neglected behavior? According to Dr. Cook, you should just embrace the initial awkwardness and make it fun. “If you or your child are uncomfortable with sustained eye contact, start out by making it a game by having a staring contest.” This strategy won’t work for every individual though, so if your kid is still a touch too shy to participate in a staring contest, Cook says your best bet is to simply “get down on their level and kindly remind them why it's important.” Hint: The ‘getting down on their level’ part is particularly crucial because it encourages—you guessed it—eye contact. Read More... .1. YOU DON'T MAKE THEM COMPLETE THEIR HOMEWORK
More than just learning trigonometry or the details of the Punic War, the practice of homework helps teens to develop a strong work ethic and instills a habit of self-discipline. Practice saying this: That’s right, teenager, you might not need to use polynomial equations in daily life, but you will need to learn to turn your attention to something boring for a while, and studying polynomials is helping you do this! 2. YOU DON'T MAKE THEM CLEAN UP THEIR ROOM Pickhardt says that the teenage years are stereotypically messy and disorganized, but that a teen who understands their room needs to meet your (reasonably achievable) neatness goals is understanding that they need to abide by the rules of others whom they depend on. 3. THEY DON'T DO CHORES Unpaid chores are your teen’s way of contributing to home maintenance and being part of a family unit. Stipulate a regular requirement of time and energy you expect from your teen. Julie Wright, LCSW, a clinical social worker at West Los Angeles Veteran’s Administration and the mother of two teen boys, says that she makes clear expectations and sees that her son and stepson live up to them. “Once a week, I have cooking night with the kids, and I don’t care if they don’t want to do it,” she says. “Also, I expect them to do their dishes and their laundry. It’s really hard implementing in the beginning, but I just said okay, if you don’t, say, do the dishes, then no takeout burgers and no computer.” Read More..
 Foods to Eat When You're Sick
The 1. Tea 2. Honey 3. Garlic 4. Mushrooms 5. Citrus Fruits 6. Ginger 7. Probiotic-Rich Foods 8. Shellfish 9. Chicken Soup Foods to Avoid When You're Sick 1. Artificial Sweeteners 2. Dairy 3. Caffeine It's time to talk about race. Why? In a piece for CNN, Jennifer Harvey, author of Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America, wrote, "Do our kids know it's not only OK to notice racial differences, but that it's a good and important thing to do? We have to show our kids these are discussions we want to have with them, otherwise white kids learn race talk is taboo."
So, how do you talk to a toddler or young child about this? Begin by filling your bookshelves with non-white voices and imagery, and use the differences—and shared experiences—you see on the page to guide a conversation. Here are some wonderful books to start with. It may be the holy grail of parenthood: Your toddler plays alone on the rug while you work on your laptop, chat with a friend, or just sip coffee. If you have a little one at home, you know what a dream this is (emphasis on the word "dream"). Getting kids to play independently is important for your sanity, and for their development, too. The idea is that once we support kids in developing the skills needed for independent play, they'll be able to access those skills throughout the day. We polled parents, caught up with some of our favorite pediatric blogs, and came away with these seven tried-and-true ways to encourage toddlers to play independently. 1. Don't ask toddlers to play "by themselves."
This is a trap I have fallen into many times, even though I know that it rarely has the desired effect. Kids have a way of sliding into solo play in their own way, and being reminded that it's "by themselves" can backfire. (It's not even entirely accurate, as it's important for safety's sake that parents are nearby when young children are playing "alone.") Set toddlers up for success with the tips below and let the independent play unfold. 2. Can toddlers play alone? Yes, but start small. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither is a toddler's capacity to play by herself. Even though five minutes may seem like no time at all, it's a great place to set your initial expectations. Parent and pediatrician consensus is that toddlers may need to stick to five-minute windows for a while before they need support; older children may be able to extend their quiet time more quickly. "If your child hasn't had much opportunity to play independently, this will be a gradual transition," Laura Markham, Ph.D., explains in a Psychology Today blog post about independent play. "Over time, you'll notice that your child no longer needs you to play deeply, because she's her own play muse." 3. Rotate toddlers' toys every couple weeks. Notice how kids' eyes light up when they enter nursery school or a friend's house and see an array of new playthings? "Strewing" is a trendy term that child psychologists use to describe the art of placing toys in an interesting way about a space to attract children's attention. But it's not all about having the latest and most expensive toys. Put your wallet away and get creative with what you have. First, make sure all your toys aren't all out and available for play. If possible, find a hidden area in your house to box up some of your toys. Every couple weeks or whenever you feel a child's interest is waning, pull some toys out from storage and replace them with the toys that are currently in the play area. Next, set up some suggested areas of open play like wooden blocks, magnetic tiles, a few cardboard boxes, or some small tactile bins with things like marbles, kinetic sand, or dried beans. Throw in some scoopers or small jars and see what happens. If you have any outdoor space, filling some containers with water and some cups and ladles is a surefire way to catch toddlers interest. If possible, embrace the mess! 4. Set and encourage routines for playing alone. Consider where your child's quiet time will happen each day. Ideally, you should pick a spot and stick to it. It can be in the living room, in his bedroom, or wherever there is space for him to spread out and get creative. Also, try to stick to the same time every day and set a timer (for your own reference), starting with five minutes and getting longer over time. The more consistency you can bring to this time, the better. 5. Schedule time when you are playing with them—and stick to it. I find this step to be key! Carve out at least 15 minutes each day that's dedicated to uninterrupted play time with your little one. Put your phone away, get down on the floor, let the child choose the game, and explain that this is your special time together. I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but it can actually be a struggle for me, especially when it comes to any kind of imaginative play. Sometimes it also works to start playing a game with children and then slowly back out to let them continue on their own. 6. Try not to interrupt a great solo play session. As much as we want our kids to play by themselves, it's tempting to rush in to help when a child is frustrated with a toy or to simply offer praise or commentary on her game. Try to resist the impulse! Studies by researchers at the University of Missouri show that children whose moms are prone to interfering with and interrupting their solo play become less engaged when playing alone over time. 7. Be patient when toddlers cling. I know, it's one of those general pieces of advice like "don't get stressed" that can be maddening to read, but there will inevitably be good and bad days along the road to independent play. If your child feels like there is palpable pressure on him to "complete" his quiet time for a set amount of time every day, it may hamper all the effort you've been making to encourage him. Offer positive feedback when he nails it, but when he's struggling, pull the plug on playing alone for that day and start again fresh the next day. "There are times when toddlers still need to cling, some more than others," famed pediatrician Bill Sears, M.D., reminds us in his Ask Dr. Sears blog. "Refuel his connectedness 'tank' with some time together, and he’ll be off on his own again soon."
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