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

Airplane Flying

Airplane flying through the sky
Zoom, zoom
Airplane flying throught the sky
Zoom, zoom
Flying high, flying low
Flying round the world we go
Airplane flying through the sky
Zoom, zoom!!

If You Say It, You Better Mean It

Many times parents will threaten children hoping that the child will do as the parent requested.  Sometimes we say things that are kind of crazy and don’t make much sense or we may promise our children something or say we will do something and then not do it.  You want your children to know that you are reliable and you mean what you say.  When you say something and then you don’t do it your child learns that your words do not mean anything and that you don’t do what you say.  You are unpredictable and you are not to be trusted.  Is that the message you want your child to hear? 

 

So make sure if you say it, you mean it!

Mary Bartusek, Parent Educator

Slippery Fish!!

This is one of our favorite songs at ECFE. Here is a video with the words, pictures, and actions!

Have a great day!
Britt

Happy Thanksgiving!

From all of us at ECFE, we hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families. Think about what you are thankful for and talk with your children about what it means to be thankful.