Being a working mom can be extremely stressful especially when you want to provide nothing but the best to your children. I face this dilemma more often than I’d like to and that’s when I realized that involving my 3-year-old in activities concerning her was an easier way to have her agree on things that she wouldn’t quite consider, like eating vegetables or trying different kinds of foods!
It all started one day, when I asked my daughter what she would like to eat, and as expected her reply was ‘pizza’. The immediate thought was ‘no not that junk food again!’ as knowing her she would never want to eat anything but cheese and meat. But I thought for a while and realized that if I involved her in the making process, I could get her to eat the things I want her to. So, with all the ingredients laid out we both started making our own pizzas. I let her put in all that she wanted and then once when I was done with mine, I began to compare my pizza with hers – talking about all the nice colors and the yummy flavors. And guess what! Without any resistance, she started placing the exact stuff that I would have wanted her to, which she would have resisted otherwise.
Apart from the fact that I didn’t have to spend time convincing her, I realized that kids are more likely to try new things if you get them involved. Of course, having patience is the key, but it’s also important that you spend some time teaching them about utensils, techniques and the ingredients themselves. That way, you're not only trying to increase their comfort in the kitchen, but you're also exposing them to new foods. Start off with something that doesn't have a lot of ingredients or steps, or something that's easy to fix. This will not only give them confidence, but also keep them motivated to experiment further.
Love Color... Live Color!
Labels:
children and color,
color therapy
Color therapy is becoming a popular healing art. Colors don't just affect our mood but also have a powerful physical reaction within the body. For instance, blue calms our nerves, red increases the heartbeat, while yellow is said to improve our immune system. In fact, we are immersed in color at every single moment - as soon as color bounces off the retina in the eye, it transforms into nerve energy enabling us to see, while its therapeutic qualities travel instinctively to the part that requires the nourishment of that color. Our bodies are always on the look out for ways to maintain harmony, and hence we are drawn towards certain colors, be it in the form of the clothes we wear or the food we eat.
Have you noticed how receptive children are to color? Encouraging their visual awareness for color can be an effective tool for understanding their mood and also affecting their sense of well being. Apart from having them paint their mind (finger paints are an ideal medium), here's what you can do when you feel that your child appears restless. Introduce him/her to color therapy by creating a deck of color cards (10x15cms). You may want to sit and discuss the different colors and how they make you feel and which ones you're drawn towards and why. Doing so it important as it will help them articulate their feelings. Place the cards randomly and have your child pick the cards that his/her eyes travel to first. Then, have them softly focus on the color until they feel a sense of balance. You can repeat this process with as many different colors as you like and you will be surprised with the effects.
Have you noticed how receptive children are to color? Encouraging their visual awareness for color can be an effective tool for understanding their mood and also affecting their sense of well being. Apart from having them paint their mind (finger paints are an ideal medium), here's what you can do when you feel that your child appears restless. Introduce him/her to color therapy by creating a deck of color cards (10x15cms). You may want to sit and discuss the different colors and how they make you feel and which ones you're drawn towards and why. Doing so it important as it will help them articulate their feelings. Place the cards randomly and have your child pick the cards that his/her eyes travel to first. Then, have them softly focus on the color until they feel a sense of balance. You can repeat this process with as many different colors as you like and you will be surprised with the effects.
Is it safe to put your kids pictures on the web?
Here's an interesting article that attempts to address the on-going dilemma of whether it is safe to publish your kids photos on the web. Although, it seemed a bit open ended without any specific conclusion as to which side of the fence one should be on, it was quite informative.
Why do kids rebel?
Labels:
child development,
children,
discipline,
parenting,
rebel,
rebelion
Past few days I have been questioning myself on what triggers rebellion in children to an extent, where nothing you say or do seems to make any difference. I understand the fact that kids between the age of 3 to 5 are enthralled by their new-found abilities and growing independence. In fact, at every single instance, they would want to affirm that they are equal. And there is no doubt that such behavior must be encouraged... But what happens when you come to a point when everything you say is second-guessed or is looked upon as having an ulterior motive?
Do we as parents really understand them? Do we give them a chance to express themselves and offer not to judge or react? How would you react to a child when he confesses that he does not know why he behaves in a certain way when he knows that what he's doing is not right? There is only one answer, do we trust and love our children unconditionally? 'Cause if we did, we wouldn't be passing on our guilt of disappointment on to them when they do not fulfill our plans. Besides, what we fail to realize is that this feeling of guilt hits them harder than we can imagine. And in the process to alleviate the pain, sometimes a child rebels since he is forced to believe that he can do nothing to please his parents.
By this, I do not mean that you can't be forthright about what is right or not, but it is also important to let the child know that you'll love him/her no matter what, no matter who they are or what they'll do, and I'm sure, that will water the rebellion down. Also, treat your child like an adult. Give him/her what you would like in return: attention, respect, trust, privacy, independence, and you will be surprised at the result.
If you already have a rebellious child, all you can do is love him, give him time, and ensure that you communicate. Be patient and listen. Praise him and let him know you love him completely :)
Do we as parents really understand them? Do we give them a chance to express themselves and offer not to judge or react? How would you react to a child when he confesses that he does not know why he behaves in a certain way when he knows that what he's doing is not right? There is only one answer, do we trust and love our children unconditionally? 'Cause if we did, we wouldn't be passing on our guilt of disappointment on to them when they do not fulfill our plans. Besides, what we fail to realize is that this feeling of guilt hits them harder than we can imagine. And in the process to alleviate the pain, sometimes a child rebels since he is forced to believe that he can do nothing to please his parents.
By this, I do not mean that you can't be forthright about what is right or not, but it is also important to let the child know that you'll love him/her no matter what, no matter who they are or what they'll do, and I'm sure, that will water the rebellion down. Also, treat your child like an adult. Give him/her what you would like in return: attention, respect, trust, privacy, independence, and you will be surprised at the result.
If you already have a rebellious child, all you can do is love him, give him time, and ensure that you communicate. Be patient and listen. Praise him and let him know you love him completely :)
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