During National Gratitude Month, Spend Time with Your Children Developing a Habit of Thankfulness

November was designated as National Gratitude Month in 2015 by National Day Calendar through the driving force of author Stacey Grewal.  Grewal has written a lot about the importance of gratitude in our lives. 

Why should parents teach their children about gratitude from a young age?  There are at least two studies that confirm the connection between happy children and thankful children. A 2008 study in the Journal of School Psychology found that grateful children ages 11 to 13 were happier, more optimistic, and had better social support.  The Journal of Happiness Studies published a study in 2019 titled The Relationship Between Gratitude and Happiness in Young Children that found that children link happiness to gratitude by the age of 5.  By instilling gratitude in them from a young age, children will grow to be happier.  

How can parents teach their children about gratitude so that it becomes a life-long habit? Here are some ways: 

• Teach them to say “thank you”.  It doesn’t matter what is given to them or done for them, or who does it – whether a family member or stranger, your children’s response should be a heartfelt “thank you”.  Explain to them why saying those two words is so important. 

•Talk with them about the feelings of others.  What happens to the recipient of “thank you”? That person feels appreciated and acknowledged, which are important feelings to convey to others.  

•As a bedtime routine, go over a list of gratitude’s for the day. Your children will soon be thinking about happy thoughts that lead to a good night’s sleep. 

•Tell your children how much you are grateful for them and why. Include hugs as you do!  

•Have them start a journal and write down at least one gratitude each day. When the week has ended, go over the journal entries for each day of the week.  Before long, each child will have a journal filled with powerful gratitude to consider and reflect on. 

•Help them to memorize Bible verses that are about thankfulness and happiness. Here are a few to start with: Proverbs 17:22 (a merry heart); 1 Chronicles 16:34 and Psalm 107:1-3 (give thanks to the Lord); Philippians 4:4-7 (rejoice in the Lord); and Psalm 118:24 (this is the day that the Lord has made).  

• Model gratitude for them. Children learn best from what they observe their parents do. 

Parents: Do You Know the History of Halloween? You Should!

Have you ever thought about the history of Halloween?  How did it start and what do the various activities that have become such a celebrated part of Halloween represent?  

I venture to say that most people do not know where it originated and the true history of this unusual observance.  And, yes, it has become a time for dressing up in all sorts of costumes and partying, and of course, for children, trick-or-treating for candy.  Importantly, I believe that parents should know the true history as it is not an innocuous time celebration for children.  

My faith-based children’s book tells the true history of Halloween and I’m sure that you will learn a lot! It’s titled It’s Not About You, Mr. Pumpkin – A Love Letter About the True Meaning of Halloween.  In writing the book, I did quite a bit of research and described how the activities that are the core of Halloween developed and what they represent.  Also available are a coloring book and a teaching kit with a lesson plan filled with educational material to help your children learn in-depth about the country of Ireland, where Halloween originated.  Please visit our website for more information - www.asthestarsofthesky.org.  

How Can Parents Influence Their Children’s Friendships?

When it comes to our children’s friends, I believe that parents should play an active role in monitoring who they are and the influence they have on our children.  As Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) states, “as iron sharpens iron so a friend influences a friend.”  My blog today actually looks at what parents can do at home to help their children learn about friendships and build good relationship skills.   

There is an informative article on Harvard Medical School’s Harvard Health Publishing website titled Helping Children Make Friends: What Parents Can Do.  It recommends the following for parents to do at home: 

• Promote kindness, generosity, and fairness among family members.  Sometimes, children can only think of themselves, but by parents encouraging them to consider the other person’s feelings, children can develop the ability to empathize with others. 

• Promote communication.  Have them put away all their electronic devices at certain times and just talk with each other.  Excellent times to do this are at dinner and while driving together in the car. 

• Teach about forgiveness so that children learn to quickly see their mistakes and then apologize.  Also, when doing this, they can learn to forgive others as well.  

• Intervene and stop sibling rivalry.  Don’t allow it to continue unresolved. 

• Be a good mentor and role model for them.  Parents can talk until they are blue in the face but children learn the most from their own parent’s behaviors and actions.   

The article has much more helpful information, so I encourage you to take some time to read it.  Once your children learn about building relationship skills and what good friendships require, be sure to encourage them to look for others who have those same skills.  

Celebrate National Family Health and Fitness Day on September 30

Did you know there is a day for families to come together and celebrate health and fitness?  It is on September 30 each year.  Regular exercise and a healthy diet are so important to each member of our family. 

The American Heart Association has some ideas to help develop active families.  Research has shown that active, health-conscious parents raise children who are committed to active and healthy lifestyles. 

What are some ideas for your family to become active?  First, make a plan and set a goal.  Allow your children to contribute their suggestions.  How many times a week will the family be active together and for how long? 

Get up and go outside.  Enjoy nature and the great outdoors!  Activities can include riding a bike, going on a hike, and playing a sport together. 

Plan activities so that your children are active and not sedentary.  Although the recommended goal is one hour of moderate exercise each day for a child, you can break that time up in intervals during the day.  Chores are an excellent way to keep children active. 

Remember to stay hydrated. Bring along water and snacks. This September 30 can be the start of a new family tradition of being active and eating healthy. 

Four Tips to Ensure a Good Night’s Sleep for Your Child

I recently read an excellent article titled Sleep Strategies for Kids and wanted to share it with my followers.  There is no doubt that a child’s ability to sleep well is so important to a child’s health and mental well-being.   By making some adjustments and improvements, you will be ensuring that necessary restful sleep.  Here are four impactful tips: 

1. Have a routine for your child.  That includes a regular bedtime with perhaps, reading of a bedtime story and prayer time.  There should be no cell phones, electronics, or screens available to the child once it is bedtime.  I know many parents who physically remove all those items from their child’s bedroom to ensure a good night’s sleep. 

2. Preferably, do not have your child sleep with a pet. I remember my own experience with my youngest son who wanted to sleep with his cat.  Of course, she was very soft and cuddly but without fail, she would squirm around at night and wake him up.  You can develop a routine for your child to say good night to a pet when the pet is sleeping in another room. 

3. Make the child’s bedroom conducive to sleeping.  Avoid as much noise in the room as possible.  Add light-blocking shades or curtains. Have the room at the right temperature.  It is recommended that a thermostat setting of 65 degrees will enhance sleep and avoid stuffiness in the bedroom. 

4. Don’t discuss any topic that may make your child worry.  And, don’t allow your child to watch any scary or violent programs – period!  

Meet 11-Year-Old Harrison Johnson Who Raised $100,000 for Pearl Harbor National Museum

I love to share the accomplishments of children!  I recently read about 11-year-old Harrison Johnson who has raised $100,000 for the Pearl Harbor National Museum to have educational programs to honor our fallen heroes.  This is Harrison’s story. 

For a third-grade history project, Harrison researched the attack on Pearl Harbor, which is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, that occurred on December 7, 1941.  He learned that 2,403 U.S. service people lost their lives, including African Americans and Japanese Americans, and this caused the U.S. to enter World War II.  His mother Cheznee Johnson said: “The moment he started learning about the attack on Pearl Harbor, it took over his every conversation. It was like a fire had been ignited inside him.”  

Harrison spoke with his classmates and was surprised to find out that few knew about Pearl Harbor.  Soon, Harrison had a goal to raise money to support the Pearl Harbor Museum and tell the stories of the heroes who died there.  In 2022, he started Harrison’s Heroes, a fundraising project to raise $100,000 for educational programs.  

Harrison started by knocking on doors and asking for support.  He has received overwhelming support from many businesses and restaurants throughout his community.  The local golf club has even made Harrison’s Heroes the beneficiary of its charity events.  Let’s applaud Harrison and his family for such a generous and important venture! 

To watch an interview on May 27, 2024, with Harrison click here.

5 Family-fun Ideas for the Best Picnics During July - National Picnic Month!

One of my fondest memories as a child was our family picnics.  It was such an enjoyable time with my sisters and parents- relaxing, eating, and then playing games.  And, it did not matter what we had for food as everything tasted delicious on picnics!  When my two sons were growing up, we had lots of picnics too.  There is something very special about them and I encourage you to plan some in your family time.   

Here are 5 fun ideas for your best picnics ever: 

1. Have a picnic basket or other container packed with essentials ready to go.  My late husband and I had a large wicker basket where we kept all the picnic necessities such as reusable plates, forks and spoons, cups, napkins, paper towels, blankets, etc.  Once you have it all packed, it’s easy to simply double-check what you have, add a few items that you may need, and then go have fun. 

2.  Be sure to keep the menu as simple as possible. Remember, food always tastes better at a picnic! When I was a child, my mom usually had a menu consisting of cheese sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies.  Delicious!  With my sons, we kept it super simple too – fresh fruit, simple sandwiches, and brownies.  I must admit that brownies were a staple for our picnics! 

3.  Choose the time and location in advance.  Since people generally plan a picnic during lunchtime, to avoid crowds, consider having it at an odd time, such as breakfast or midafternoon to dinnertime. If you do it later in the late afternoon or evening, adding a string of lights or lanterns makes it even more festive. 

4.  Bring books for your children to read and enjoy.  Sitting or lying down on a blanket and reading can be a very enjoyable activity for children.  

5.  Add games for family and friends to play, especially when children are participating.  Consider such games that do not require a bunch of equipment to carry such as a hula hoop contest; red light green light; hot potato; and a scavenger hunt.  There are many more games on the internet, so you can take some time and do your own research. 

Tips to Help Your Children Handle Being Bored During July “Anti-Boredom” Month

It’s July and already almost the middle of summer!  Have your children told you that they are “BO-O-ORED” yet?  Did you know that boredom can actually be good for them? 

July has been designated as “Anti-Boredom Month”.  In an interesting online article on Child Mind Institute’s website titled The Benefits of Boredom, there are many benefits listed for boredom as well as ways parents can help their children creatively and energetically tackle it. 

Some of the benefits of boredom are: 

• Helps children develop creative skills 

• Helps build tolerance of different experiences in life 

• Helps children develop planning strategies 

• Helps children develop flexibility 

• Helps children develop organizational skills 

How can parents encourage their children to handle boredom?  Here are some ways: 

• Respond to cries of being bored with excitement as to all the possibilities of what they can do.  This includes tackling boredom proactively and as a team.  Don’t drop what you are doing just to give them your immediate attention when they say they are bored. Be prepared with a list of activities.  That’s key! 

• Encourage creativity. Help them plan out steps to a project if they do not know what to do. 

• Observe each of your children during independent playtime and reward them for their accomplishments in playing independently. 

• Be realistic and expect failure.  Talk with your children about what worked and what didn’t work. 

Where are Your Children’s Roots Drawing Nourishment From?

Where our children draw their spiritual nourishment from is very important.  The Bible often uses the tree analogy to describe a man.  Colossians 2:7 states that we are to “let our roots grow down in him and draw our nourishment from him.” (TLB).   

Just like huge redwood trees, our children are grand and awesome, with their potentials being limitless.  They are extremely special to God and to us.  Their roots are their firm foundations from which they derive all the nourishment that they need to grow and flourish.   

Ask yourselves, are my children’s roots getting the spiritual nourishment that they need?  Where are my children drawing or deriving their spiritual nourishment from?  Each parent should be readily able to answer these questions.  

Children will derive spiritual nourishment from having the Bible come alive to them and knowing God personally.  Make sure that they attend church regularly and participate in the children’s ministry at your church.  Many people make the mistake in believing that the children’s ministry is just a babysitting service while parents attend the adult church.   As a former children’s lay minister, I can assure you that it is not!  Your children will learn the Word of God at their age levels.   

Be sure to supplement what they learn at church with material at home and monitor their activities.  Once a week church attendance is just not enough in this very noisy, turbulent world that is trying to steal their attention.   Some of the things you can consider are the following: having a short, daily memory verse from the Bible that your family can read and share; talking with them about what they learned in church; praying with them daily; having books about biblical heroes and Bible topics easily accessible for them to read; and having them watch Christian movies and listen to Christian music.  Be sure to discuss with them relevant topics to get their thoughts and feedback. 

Learning to Budget Should Start at an Early Age

Because of the downturn in the economy, there are news reports of many people going to banks and credit unions seeking loans to help them get through the rough patches and meet their financial obligations.  Some of those people have already defaulted on loan obligations and yet are trying to refinance their debts.  I think it is critical to teach our children about budgeting and not overspending from an early age so that those habits are engrained into adulthood.   

There is an excellent online article written by Anna Baluch titled Budgeting for Kids: How to Teach It and Why It Matters. The article stresses the importance of teaching budgeting skills so that children understand the importance of saving for long-term goals and developing good habits for financial solvency from a young age.   

It is generally understood that our first mentors for handling money are our parents so why not teach our children this important skill?  When should parents start?  The article recommends as early as 8 years old, or even younger, at age 5, if it is just teaching about saving. 

The article lists key takeaways as follows: 

• Parents can learn ways to start discussing the subject. 

• Budgeting teaches critical savings and spending skills that children can use to achieve financial health in adulthood.  

• It helps children learn how to identify financial goals and develop a specific plan for achieving them.  

• You can use real-life examples to teach children about budgeting so they can relate to the lessons.  

The article recommends having a simple budget sheet that is a sheet of paper with 3 columns – goals, savings, and cost.  Discuss it with your children and then keep them on track.  

Helping Your Children To Take Criticism Constructively

Proverbs 15:32 instructs us: “If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.” (NLT) That is easier for most adults to accept and understand than children.   Criticism is too common nowadays.   In this blog post, I would like to discuss ways that parents can help their children to learn to become better receivers of criticisms and take them constructively rather than personally.   

When parents give criticism to children, we should do all we can to deliver it with love, patience, and understanding as this will help them to better understand and accept what is being said.  Our goal is not to be cruel but rather to correct or improve a behavior.  Be honest and straightforward about the unacceptable behavior and do not make it personal to the child.  Ensure that your children understand the reprimand.  Look for ways to praise them for other things that they do as well.  It will go a long way if you phrase your criticism with love. 

When others criticize our children, we are usually not there to help them handle the emotions involved.  But what parents can help their children with at home is to learn not to accept criticism personally, no matter who gives it to them.  In an online article titled Helping Kids Take Criticism Constructively (Even When It Isn’t Constructive), author Jessica Lahey suggests that we help our children to adopt the “growth mindset” which focuses on what a person does rather than who he is.   She writes that “kids with a growth mindset will be able to focus on their own effort and progress rather than the expectations and limitations other people place on them.”  Your children can learn to turn criticism around and rephrase it in their minds so that they do not take the criticism as a personal attack and adversely react. 

Parents can teach the “growth mindset” by doing the following: 

•Offer feedback.  Don’t try to protect your children from criticism or pain but instead help them to listen and understand feedback.  Help them to rephrase it so that it is not personal. 

•Don’t offer constant praise.  

•Empower them for change by helping them to look forward.  Ask questions such as “How do you think you could have done better with this project?” 

•Assist them in forming new goals in moving forward.  Importantly, the goals should be those of your children, not you. 

Inspire Your Children with Stories of 26 Heroic Women from the Bible – Sheroes of the Bible

It is so important for us to inspire our children with the stories of heroes and heroines of the Bible.  One book that I recommend is titled Sheroes of the Bible by Lauren Nelson.  It is filled with stories of 26 heroic women who put their trust in God, overcame their fears, and accomplished much for His Kingdom. 

Lauren was a guest on my podcast Be Convinced – Sharing Life Changing Stories of Hope.  She shared her mantra: “Let God’s love be greater than your fears.”  A mother of two and wife of a pastor, she spoke about her triumphant story of overcoming years of childhood trauma that had brought fear into her life.   She also shared how her life changed when her 7-year-old daughter asked her a profound question about whether God thought boys were more important than girls, as all they learned about in church was about boys.  That led Lauren to write her children’s book telling the stories of these women and their profound faith.  These stories impact girls of all ages as they learn that God can use them to demonstrate His power and love.  And, of course, they impact boys too! 

To listen to my episode with Lauren, please visit this link.

NEW VIDEO SERIES HELPS PARENTS RAISE CHILDREN WHO LOVE TO READ

  Our children are facing some perilous times in their education.  A recent study revealed that 68% of 4th graders in public and charter schools do not read to grade level!  

  Being able to read well is one of the most important foundations for your children’s success in life.  I am excited to announce my new video series to help parents raise children who love to read titled Unlocking Your Child’s Potential Through Literacy.  I know that parents face a multitude of challenges every day.  One of the most common hurdles is getting your children to enjoy reading.   Without the right guidance and resources, this can feel overwhelming and daunting especially since the distractions of digital devices and social media are everywhere. 

   I created my video series to provide parents with the tools, strategies, and support they need to conquer this challenge with confidence. By implementing the tips and techniques I share, your children will blossom into confident, avid readers who eagerly devour books and explore new worlds through the pages of their favorite stories.  

   Remember, you do not have to tackle this journey alone as my comprehensive video series is designed specifically to address the needs and concerns of parents. With step-by-step guidance and practical advice, you will be empowered to unlock your child's full potential and cultivate a deep-seated love for reading. 

   You might be wondering, "Is this series really worth the investment?". Allow me to assure you that the value of fostering a lifelong love for reading in your child is immeasurable and priceless.  My series is a roadmap to unlocking your children's full potential and igniting their passion for learning.   

   To learn more about my series and purchase it, just click on this link.

Childhood Obesity is at Epidemic Proportions – Tips to Help Parents Take Action

Did you know that childhood obesity is at epidemic proportions?  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity is a growing serious problem that puts children at risk for poor health.  Obesity-related conditions include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, breathing problems such as asthma and sleep apnea, and joint problems. 

On my podcast Be Convinced- Sharing Lifechanging Stories of Hope, I interviewed pediatrician and obesity medicine physician Dr. Sheila Carrol, who is an expert in this field.  Dr. Carroll shared her personal story of being an obese child and the inability of her family’s pediatrician to help her.  As an adult, and after many years of struggling, she was eventually able to lose weight and keep it off.  In her medical practice, she focuses on the parents of the obese child. Why? Dr. Carroll states that it is because children do not have the brain development necessary to handle this complicated issue.  Her journey is truly an inspirational story, and her tips will motivate you to develop a healthy lifestyle that will have a tremendous impact on you and your children.  Please click on the link above to hear our interview and learn what you can do to manage your children’s health and activities. 

Activities for the Whole Family to Celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus

The day we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is this Sunday.  I don’t like to refer to it as “Easter” because that word has pagan origins.  Besides attending a morning Sunday service at church, do you have anything planned as part of the celebration?  Here are a few ideas to make the festivities more fun and informative for the entire family.

1. Decorations. Before the event, make streamers or tabletop centerpieces on the theme. Doves and cross-streamers are a lovely touch to an indoor or outdoor space. The same goes for signs with bible verses on them. You can find many other decoration ideas online or come up with them yourself!

2. Crafts Table. Whether you plan to invite friends over or choose to keep it as a family celebration, a crafts table is always a good idea. There could be coloring pages based on the biblical story, stencils to make doves and crosses, and even paint and markers to illustrate a favorite story or memory.  These creative ideas will keep children occupied while the adults greet guests, prepare the spread, or just relax. Don’t let the children have all the fun though, as adults can join in at the crafts table too!

3. The Feast. Speaking of a spread, you can spice things up this year by making a meal reminiscent of the Last Supper. It is not certain how long before His crucifixion the Last Supper took place, but most believe that according to John 17, it was the night before.  

Though the Bible is clear that unleavened bread and wine were served at the Last Supper, the other foods Jesus and his disciples ate are not stated.  What is known is that foods such as dates, bean stew, and even lamb were popular at the time, and you can now find various recipes online. Your children can help you. Older children can prep much of the food or assist with the cooking process itself. Younger children can be put in charge of the food display and be little taste testers too. While everyone is partaking in the meal, discuss the significance of the Last Supper in reference to the resurrection of Christ. What a great way to get the whole family involved!

4. Resurrection. Now that you have shared the significance of the meal relative to His resurrection, discuss the resurrection itself. To make it a little more interactive, prepare certain discussion points with your children ahead of time. If you have guests over, consider playing a game at the end of the story using questions about details from it. Whoever answers the most questions correctly wins the game and gets a prize!

These are a few suggestions that you and your family can consider in celebrating this most eventful time in Christian history, always remembering the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for us.

Please also visit our website and purchase my children’s book It’s Not About You, Mr. Easter Bunny- A Love Letter About the True Meaning of Easter, along with the coloring book and teaching kit. These are all wonderful teaching tools that children will enjoy and learn from, over and over again.

What Should You Do When Your Children Use Bad or Curse Words

Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak]. Ephesians 4:29 (AMP)

Children learn from what they see and hear around them, and while it can often be exciting to observe what they have learned, sometimes it can be frustrating or even embarrassing and anger you.  Having said that, there is, unfortunately, going to be a day in your life as a parent when your child tells you about a “new word” he/she learned - a swear or curse word.  Or you may hear your child use such a word when interacting with friends or siblings.  At first, you may be shocked to hear that word coming out of your child’s mouth (innocent as you think he or she may be).  I strongly recommend that you act quickly to counter this type of unacceptable speech. 

First and foremost, be honest.  Did your child learn that curse word from you or your spouse?  You should not expect your children to do as they are told and totally ignore what you, as a parent, say and do.  Be sure to clean up your mouth before you enforce “no cursing” rules on your children. 

It is critical that both parents agree that these types of words are not acceptable – period.  It will be very confusing for your children if you tell them that swearing is not acceptable speech but then your spouse laughs when they curse and thinks they are cute by saying those types of words.   As with any other issue that involves raising children, parents must have a united front when dealing with cursing and decide together how violations of parental rules will be dealt with.

It is imperative that, instead of getting upset with your children and yelling at them to not do it again, you speak to them about the meaning of the word and why they should not be using it.  The words that we speak matter! Let your children know that words like those are not pleasing to you or to God.  God wants us to use our words to praise Him and uplift others, something we cannot do if our mouths are cluttered with foul language.  Select and review with your children Bible verses such as Ephesians 4:29 that establish exactly what God wants to hear from us and why anything else is displeasing to Him.

It is also important to be willing to answer your children’s questions about curse words.  If your children feel that they can ask you anything without you getting angry and judging them, they will make you the first person they turn to when learning about something new, including words like these. 

Assist your children to learn other words that are not curse words and to select and use these words to best describe how they feel.  This will help them to develop word intelligence and self-control. For example, if your child is upset about what a sibling did, help your child to come up with words to express his feelings, rather than curse words.  As he grows older, whenever he is in the middle of an argument and angry, he will be able to tap into his extensive vocabulary to express himself without resorting to curse words.

5 Reasons Why Children Should Read Biographies

Biographies are very beneficial for children, and I would like to encourage parents to search out those types of books.  Why encourage your children to read biographies?  Here are five critical reasons:

1. They are stories about real people doing real things.  These people often faced, and many of them overcame, great challenges.  This will help children to persevere when they too have obstacles in their paths.

2.  Children find inspiration.  My oldest son enjoyed playing sports and to encourage him to read more, I helped him to select biographies of famous athletes. Playing sports takes a lot of discipline, and by reading about the lives of athletes, he was able to develop that important skill.  He especially loved playing basketball and was eventually selected to play on a Division 1 college team – a dream come true!

3. Children learn about history through important people who actually lived at the time.    In addition to having children learn facts about certain historical periods, biographies bring those historical periods to life and often help children to remember those facts.  

4. Biographies provide important life lessons.  Children can learn from those life lessons without having to go through them themselves.

5. There are a variety of biographies, and your children can select the subject matter of the ones they would like to read.  As I mentioned, my oldest son loved sports and read many biographies about sports figures.  If your child has a musical gift, select biographies of famous musicians and composers.  If your child enjoys art, select biographies about artists. The list is never-ending. 

The Tremendous Impact that Parental Love Has on Children’s Development

            I recently read an online article at the website Parenting for Brain titled How Parental Love Helps a Child Succeed in Life.  That website offers “science-backed advice” empowering parents with “easy-to-understand, evidence-based guidance”.  I love the information in the article and wanted to share it.

            Parental love is shared with children through actions, such as hugs, kisses, and holding hands, and through our words, such as giving compliments and telling them that we love them.  On the other hand, there is parental rejection – just the opposite of showing love and concern. 

            In a Harvard University study of 268 of its graduates over 70 years, researchers found that “happy and successful lives are rooted in a good relationship with parents”.  There is no doubt that parents are key to their children’s development and well-being.

            Here are some of the ways that parental love benefits children:

• Better physical health

•  Higher self-esteem

• Good social relationships

• High academic achievement

• Better mental health and emotional regulation

            Of course, the reverse is also true.  If children do not get the love and positive feedback from their parents, all sorts of problems manifest, from being twice as likely to develop physical illnesses and suffering from depression and other forms of mental illness.

            Decide now to give more hugs and kisses and speak more positive words to your children.   Watch them bloom!  Read the entire article at https://www.parentingforbrain.com/parental-love/

Reading Just 20 Minutes a Day - The Many Benefits for Children

Many parents believe that reading to and with their children requires a major time commitment. It does not. Research has shown the tremendous benefits that reading just 20 minutes each day has on children, especially young ones who are learning to read.

According to an online article on the website k12reader.com, these are some of the benefits as reading is considered vital “brain food” for children

• The reading experience activates many parts of the brain, developing and strengthening them.

• A child’s listening skills improve. When a child is being read to, the child is actively focusing o what is being said and listening.

• Reading of course builds the all-important literacy skills, which are a critical foundation for a child’s ultimate success in life.

• Reading positively affects a child’s future income-earning ability.

• Reading improves parent-child relationships because of the bonding it builds.

I encourage parents to read the entire article available at https://www.k12reader.com/why-read-20-minutes-a-day/. Then, plan how you will incorporate reading time for just 20 minutes a day for 5 days a week.

Let Us Put into Action Dr. King’s Famous Words to Us – Seek to be Used by God

            On the third Monday of each January, we celebrate and honor the great civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Please take the time today to assist your children to learn more about his life and accomplishments.  He was a man of immense faith and always believed his calling was for a greater purpose.  And, it was! 

            In this famous quote that I love, he has a call to action for all of us:

            “Use me, God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself.”   

            Let us strive, especially during this year, to seek, to do, and to be used by God for a greater purpose than just ourselves.  This is my heart’s prayer.