Writer of
the Month -
November 2005
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Getting Kids
Motivated
By
Michelle
Donaghey
Susan Gooch,
a mother of
two
children,
found the
easiest
solution to
have her
children
develop
other
interests
besides
playing
videogames
was a bit
extreme.
“I never
had a system
in the
house. Why
have it? It
doesn’t help
at all,”
says Susan,
an
elementary
school
teacher.
While
her choice
may be
exceptional,
it worked.
Let’s
face it.
After
working all
day, most of
us would
rather just
allow our
kids to
watch
television
or sit with
a controller
in hand
battling
aliens. We
are plain
bushed,
tired and
tuckered
out, and so
are they.
But letting
our children
be addicted
to different
mediums
really isn’t
the best
thing for
them, or for
us and our
relationships
in the
family.
But what
is a parent
to do?
Parents
can start by
“being a
role model”
says the
American
Academy of
Pediatrics.
“Watching TV
can become a
habit for
your child.
Help your
child find
other things
to do with
his or her
time, such
as playing,
reading,
activities
with family,
friends or
neighbors or
learning a
hobby,
sport,
instrument
or an art,”
says the AAP
that notes
that
“limiting
your own TV
viewing and
choosing
programs
carefully
will help
your child
to do the
same.”
While it
sounds easy,
it isn’t.
But by small
steps and
moving on to
bigger ones,
you can help
your child
find
something
else to do
besides
vegging out
in front of
a screen.
Limit!
First of
all, as a
parent you
should be
limiting
your child’s
use of TV,
movies and
video and
computer
games to NO
MORE than
one to two
hours a day,
says the AAP
that says
that you
should
definitely
NOT have the
TV one
during
homework!
The
telephone
should also
be included
in the list
for some
children!
After you
have set
limits, take
all
children’s
televisions
out of their
rooms and
move video
game systems
where they
are not a
constant
reminder of
their
“loss.”
Children who
have TVs in
their rooms
watch more
television
than those
who must
“share” a
set with the
rest of the
family. They
were also
found to be
heavier
according to
a study done
in New York
done by the
Supplemental
Nutrition
Program for
Women,
Infants and
Children.
Don’t expect
your kids to
be able to
resist
playing with
their
videogame
systems,
yacking on
the phone
with their
friends or
watching
mindless
cartoons or
talk shows
on
television
on their
own. As a
parent, you
will have to
do some
legwork.
“Moderation
(in use of
media) is
not enough
in itself,
nor is
talking
about other
activities.
The best way
to keep your
children
active
without
playing
games or
watching TV
is to do
things with
them
whenever you
can, have a
relationship
with your
children,”says
parent,
David Cary
Walker, of
Kurtis, 10,
Rebekah, 6,
Samantha, 4
and Jared, 2
who says he
plays
basketball
regularly
with his son
who enjoys
the sport..
Talk!
The
second step
is to “talk
to your
child about
their
interests.
Plan ahead
so you can
spend
quality time
with them to
talk. If
you’re too
busy or
tired to
spend time
with your
children,
explain the
reason and
arrange
another
time,” says
the National
PTA.
Ask
questions
about school
and observe
what your
child says
and how your
child
reacts. No
matter what
they are
enthusiastic
about
talking
about, take
note of it.
The best way
to keep them
away from
electronic
distractions
and to get
them to
learn and
have fun and
to find
other
interests is
to find out
what their
“attractions”
are!
Ask
questions
about school
and observe
what your
child says
and how your
child
reacts. No
matter what
they are
enthusiastic
about
talking
about, take
note of it.
The best way
to keep them
away from
electronic
distractions
and to get
them to
learn and
have fun is
to find out
what their
“attractions”
are!
Help them
get into...
READING
Just as
watching
television
is a habit,
so is
reading.
“Reading for
a family
should be
fun, should
be a choice
and should
not be a
chore or
something
that a child
dreads,”
says Sandy
Krost, a
Children’s
Librarian.
“Families
need to turn
the TV off
and take
just a half
hour to
read. It all
comes down
to the
parents.
Make the
time
enjoyable
and read to
your child
even if you
have to.
Kids even
from the
grades of
one to three
still enjoy
it when Mom
and Dad
reads to
them,” says
Krost who
says that
books on
tape are a
great
alternative
for those
who do not
want to read
out of a
book.
Make sure
that there
are all
kinds of
materials
for your
child to
read
including
magazines.
“Not all
reading
takes place
between the
covers of a
book. Some
of the most
lively,
informative
and
entertaining
writing can
be found on
the colorful
pages of
magazines,”
says Reading
is
Fundamental.
Have a
family
library
where there
are
different
kinds of
books and
materials
they can
read a
leisure. Try
to get some
books that
are on
subjects
they are
currently
studing at
school.
Krost says
that when
her kids
were small,
she started
by bringing
a variety of
books home
from the
library,
leaving them
on the table
with no
suggestions
or urging
comments
from her
about
looking at
them.
“Eventually
a few weeks
later when
they were
due, I would
have to take
out my list
and ask them
where
particular
titles
were,” notes
Krost
happily
saying it
“worked well
to get them
to read”.
Go to a
bookstore
and when
your budget
allows it,
let your
child pick
out a book
or two. RIF
suggests
that parents
subscribe
children to
special
interest
magazines
that “keep
kids reading
all year
long.”
SPORTS
For some
kids, school
is just
something
they have to
do before
they go to
practice.
For others,
they prefer
bouncing a
tennis ball
on the
driveway or
against the
wall. Either
way, as a
parent you
can help to
nurture
their
interests.
If they
play a
particular
team sport
such as
baseball,
suggest that
they write
letter to
their
favorite
players and
ask for
pictures,
articles or
autographs.
Have them
keep a
journal and
a statistic
book on wins
and losses
which will
not only
help in
their
English
skills, but
will also
help them in
math!
For the
kids that
would rather
bounce a
ball alone
and dream,
that is
great, too!
Encourage
them to
learn more
about tennis
or
basketball
and star
players on
the Internet
or at the
library.
(Supervision
is
encouraged
on the
Internet.)
Be
sure that as
a parent you
show
interest in
their
athletic
hopes and
dreams. If
you see
something
written in
the
newspaper or
in a
magazine,
show them!
Share time
together
watching a
game or
going to a
game- and
then keep
track of all
of the stats
and players!
“Encourage
your
children to
be continue
to be active
or even get
more active
by playing
with them
outside.
Invite them
to go shoot
baskets or
go throw a
ball at the
park.
Children
learn by
example,”
says Tracy
Tredway, a
Elementary
Principal.
HOBBIES,
INSTRUMENTS,
SCIENCE
Does
your child
enjoy
cooking,
playing his
saxophone or
drawing
characters?
If so, work
to encourage
him or her
to develop
hidden
talents!
Chef Monique
Jamet
Hooker, who
travels
around the
country
teaching
student
French
cooking
seminars,
says that
children who
learn about
cooking at
classes and
with their
parents
“learn
teamwork,
learn skills
and learn a
culture.
What you
teach might
not impact
them now,
but it is
like any
other
learning
experience.
You cannot
look at the
reward now.
It may be
years down
the road
when they
decide to
try one of
the recipes
(they have
cooked with
you) then.”
If you
don’t have
time to cook
during the
week with
your child,
plan for the
weekend!
During the
week, he or
she can
plan,
choosing an
appropriate
recipe and
making a
shopping
list. While
shopping,
let your
child
compare
prices and
read labels
which helps
them in
their math
and reading.
The actual
cooking
process will
help your
child learn
to use
measuring
cups and
spoons
correctly
and to learn
fractions.
Budding
musicians
should also
be nurtured
even if what
they are
playing
doesn’t
sound much
like music
to your
ears! If
they don’t
enjoy
practicing
just the
sheet music
from school
band, get
out and
purchase
some sheet
music. Look
for contests
locally if
they would
like to
compete.
Find out if
there are
any churches
or groups
that are
looking for
somewhat
experienced
players.
Have family
concerts,
listening to
the latest
songs your
child or
children
have
learned,
making them
special with
snacks or
desserts
they enjoy.
Wanna-be
artists love
working with
different
materials
and learning
about
different
kinds of
art. Visit a
craft store
and let your
child look
and point
out
something he
or she would
like, not
something
you would
like to try!
If cartoon
characters
are what he
wants to
draw, get
books that
will inspire
him to try
to make his
own!
Remember
that it
doesn’t mean
you have to
break the
bank to do
it either!
Simplicity
is the key-
purchase a
few paints
and see
whether
watercolor
painting is
really
something
your
daughter
wants to do!
Instead of
purchasing
books, check
out art
books from
the library!
Kids are
always
asking
questions,
some more
than others.
They want to
know why the
sky is blue,
how seeds
grow and how
radios work.
Parents
often think
that they
need to have
a degree in
science to
help their
children,
which isn’t
true says
the U.S.
Department
of
Education,
Office of
Educational
Research and
Improvement.
“Everyday
is filled
with
opportunities
to learn
science-
without
expensive
chemistry
sets or
books...Together,
parents and
children
can--
- See how
long it
takes for a
dandelion or
rose to
burst into
full bloom;
or
- Watch the
moon as it
appears to
change over
the course
of a month,
and record
the changes
or
- Guess
why one of
your plants
is drooping.
Scientific
projects
need not be
messy or
time
consuming.
Depending on
your child’s
age and
interest,
you have to
choose by
knowing your
child. Some
children
enjoy
collecting
rocks and
identifying
them while
others could
care less.
Let your
child pick
something
they want to
do, such as
star gazing
or making
crystals.
Allow for
changing
interests!
Always
remember
that as your
child grows
older, so
can his or
her
interests.
Be sure to
accept
changing
interests
expressed by
your
child(ren,
grandchildren).
Just because
your
daughter
loves
playing the
piano now
does not
mean she
will be
continuing
it well into
her high
school
years! She
might just
find out
that track
and field is
more fun as
a teenager!
Opportunities
to learn and
grow come in
many
different
packages!
Michelle
Donaghey
is a
freelance
writer
and
mother
of
two
boys,
Chris
and
Patrick,
who
are
her
inspiration.
She
lives
in
Bremen,
Indiana
just
south
of
South
Bend,
home
of
Notre
Dame.
When
she
isn't
writing,
Michelle
can be
found
in
her
perennial
flower
garden
or
working
on
small
home
improvement
projects.
Michelle
has
written
for
parenting
publications
including
Metro
Kids,
Atlanta
Parent,
Dallas
Child,
Great
Lakes
Family,
Family
Times
and
Space
Coast
Parent
and
websites
including
iparenting.com.
No
part
of
this
article
may be
copied
or
reproduced
in any
form
without
the
express
permission
of
More4Kids
Inc
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