It Can Take Kids 6-10 Seconds to Process the Information You Say

Here is a little activity for you to do.  State a request that you often say to your child. 

“Put on your shoes.”  Count to 10 in your head.

“Pick up your cars.”  Count to 10 in your head.

“Hand me that cup.”  Count to 10 in your head.

“Give the doll to your sister.”  Count to 10 in your head.

“Throw that into the garbage.”  Count to 10 in you head.

Wow!  Did it feel like you were waiting a long time?  Well, that is how long it can take a child to hear the words and then process the information.  Slow down and wait!  Give your child time to hear, think, process, and respond.

 

-Mary Bartusek, Parent Educator

 

 

Tiny Tim

Tiny Tim is a song we have been singing at ECFE the past week. It is a fun song about a turtle who takes a bath and eats all the soap causing a huge bubble in his throat! Here are the words:

I had a little turtle,
His name was Tiny Tim.
I put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water...glug, glug, glug.
He ate up all the soap.....munch, munch, munch.
He woke up in the mornig with a bubble in his throat!
Bubble, bubble, bubble,
Bubble, bubble, bubble,
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble, POP!!

And a video starring Tiny Tim the Turtle. :)

If Nothing Changes, Nothing Changes

Many of us set goals but in order for them to be obtained we must change behavior and do something.  In order for us to make more money we may have to work harder or get another job or learn new skills.  In order for us to lose weight we must eat smaller amounts or change the food we eat or exercise more.  In order for our children to learn to read we must read to them often or have books easily assessable or play word games.  In order for your home to be a happier place you may need to change your attitude or adjust the tone in your voice or focus on positives and praise.  The point is….if nothing changes, nothing changes.  Talking about it is completely different from taking action.  If you don’t like something that is happening in your life in order for it to change YOU must take action and change behavior.

 

Mary Bartusek, Parent Educator

Open, Shut Them

Open, Shut Them with help from a friend! :)

-Britt

Set the Limit Once, Then Follow Through

Parents will complain that their child does not listen to them or does not do the things they are told to do.  Think about this.  You are in the store shopping and your child is whining and begging for an item.  You say “Stop that or we will leave.”  Your child continues and you continue to say “Do you want to leave?  We will leave if you don’t stop it. “The child stops for a little bit and then starts in again and you say it again “We are going to leave.”  You do leave when your shopping trip is complete.  Think about it.  Your child will not listen and do what they are told because you did not do what you said you were going to do.  They don’t have to listen because you don’t follow through on what you said you were going to do.  Children pick this up VERY quickly.  So make sure when you set the limit (rule), you follow through with it. 

Mary Bartusek, Parent Educator

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

Here is a song you can move to! Do the actions with a special teddy bear!

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear turn around.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear touch the ground.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear close your eyes
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear reach for the sky.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear bend your knees.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear sit like me!

Be a Broken Record......

Repeat the Rule, Repeat the Rule, Repeat the Rule

How many times have you been able to learn a new concept or skill by only hearing the instructions one time?  It can be very difficult to remember and get all the information correct by only hearing it once.  Research tells us that the brain will remember information better if it is repeated at least 3 times.  We need to repeat rules over and over for our children.  They need to hear it many times.  There is also a big difference between hearing and doing.  Habits are formed when the same action is completed 30 to 40 times.  So keep that in mind when you have to tell and make sure your child puts the toys away, hangs up their backpack, uses words instead of hitting or any other rule you have in your home.

 

Mary Bartusek, Parent Educator