Family Meetings

Last week I wrote a post about routines families follow that help children stay organized during the school year.  It led me to think about another routine some families and classrooms follow, the family or classroom meeting.

Jane Nelson, Ed.D. shares her ideas about the benefits of a family meeting in Positive Discipline, her classic guide for families.  “One way to help children and parents learn effective communication is to have regular family meetings where they have an opportunity on a weekly basis to brainstorm for solutions to problems and to choose the solutions that are respectful to everyone.”

When Stacey, my Let’s Choose co-founder, and I worked together in a classroom we included “meeting time” twice a day.  We were working in a self-contained classroom for children with various learning issues but all struggled with aspects of language.  For us meetings were a great time to work on social and behavior skills.  That was where the ideas behind our Choice-A-Quence game originated. 

1.      We wanted to take time to help the students learn the vocabulary of behavior and social skills. 

2.      Another goal was to grow a shared language around social skills and behavior. 

3.      Lastly, we wanted the children to develop an awareness that they are making choices with every action they take; making eye contact, having a sharpened pencil ready at the start of work time or eating an apple.  Every action we do or don’t do is a choice that is followed by a consequence. 

To build that awareness in our meetings we created simple line drawings of 

choices the students might make in our classroom both positive and negative, and consequences that could follow.  Everyday we would       

                       play with the cards -

*A game show making pairs of possible choice and consequence pairs,

*Drawing and writing about choices and their consequences, and

*Role-playing were classroom favorites. 

The children learned the vocabulary and made connections about what could happen in a hypothetical non-threatening way.

Stacey and I were pleased at how consistent we were using the language from our cards to talk about real behaviors that were happening in class.   By October children were learning to play with the cards and use them to talk about real choices.

With my family we have a meeting a few times each year to coordinate our calendars a few times a year.  We make sure to plan what we want to happen and leave free time so we are not too busy.  A family with 3 older boys has a weekly meeting to share books they are reading and ideas of what they might be interested in doing when they grow up.  They have a strong entrepreneurial spirit. 

How would your family use meeting time?  

Back to School

As summer is ending teachers and families are getting ready for school.  At my house we are going through our usual “back to school” shopping; clothes, shoes and supplies. 

I like that schools help children develop their executive functioning skills like planning, prioritizing and organizing.  Most schools use folders and a binder to train children to organize their materials. 

At this time of year it is also good for families to think about what they are doing to teach organization at home as part of the “back to school” ritual.  What are your routines?  Whether your children are just starting school or moving on to the next level this is a great time to plan efficient ways to organize materials and morning and homework routines. 

Involve your children in the planning.  If needed have a schedule with pictures to help children move through their routine. An official routine may help them feel like mom is not just nagging, it is in the schedule.

Morning

·      

      Breakfast – What foods should we have in the house?  What time do we need to start? 

·        

      Getting Dressed – Choosing clothes the night before.

·        

      School lunch – Who will make the lunch?  What foods would be good?  Will we make it the night before or in the morning?  Does the school have a lunch service?  Can you bring a water bottle or snack?

·        

            Back pack – Is everything in the backpack?  Where do you keep it?  Is it in the child’s bedroom, a     mudroom or near the door?

After school

·      

      Backpack – Unpack important things as soon as possible; notes to parents, permission slips, or half eaten lunch items.

·      

      Homework – What is the best homework routine?  Some children like to do work right away, while others have activities first or just need time to unwind and eat a snack.   Plan what works for your child and also think about where the most comfortable and least distracting place to work would be.  Sometimes it might be in the back seat of the car, but on the less busy days is the kitchen table or island good or does a lap desk in a quiet corner work better?

As a teacher and then a parent I have always enjoyed this time of year.  Helping children learn to use routines prepares them for all of the opportunities of the new school year.

Change Your Posture, Change Your Mind

I saw this TED talk and thought it would be good to share.   “Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows how “power posing” — standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident — can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success.”  

http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are

The idea that your body language influences your state of mind gives us all a tool to be more effective.  Dr. Cuddy tested testosterone and cortisol levels, had participants take a power pose or a more submissive or closed pose for 2 minutes and then checked their hormone levels again.   It worked.   People who had used a power pose had higher levels of testosterone and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.  This is an interesting idea that can be used by adults and children. 

Think of all of the times in your own day when you could use some help dealing with stress.  Being more calm and confident might lead to better decisions.   Teachers often take a few minutes to have children use movement to recharge during a school day.  A class of children standing like their favorite super hero could help lead to a super day.

Neighborhood Parents Network

The Neighborhood Parents Network http://www.npnparents.org hosted an event for local business people, who are members, on Wednesday, July 9 at Classic Kids http://www.classickidsphotography.com on Armitage.  We learned that NPN will be celebrating its 35th anniversary next year.  Stacey enjoyed conversations with Amy, head of volunteers at NPN as well as with a family lawyer, a director of a soccer program, and an owner of a spa.

NPN is a great resource for families. From the expectant mother to parents of 4 there are groups to join that make the parenting journey easier.   NPN also keeps you in the know about all of the fun things happening in our city.    

In the past few years, Let’s Choose has participated in NPN school fairs and the developmental differences fair.  Thanks to this event, we learned that other events, which are less educationally focused, might still be a good fit for us.  We will keep you posted when these events happen.

Hope you are enjoying summer!

Centsible Kids and Choice-A-Quence showcased at ASTRA toy show!

We are excited that Best of Best Toys will include our games in their booth at the ASTRA toy show in Phoenix, Arizona June 8^th – 11^th.   ASTRA’s focus is on toy stores looking for, “specialty toys, which generally are designed with a focus on what the child can do, rather than what the toy can do.”  

We are proud to make learning games that fit within the ASTRA focus.   Best of Best Toys is also a company with which we are proud to be associated.  They work with retailers, small brick and mortar toy stores, across the country. 

Two of our games, Centsible Kids and Choice-A-Quence will be showcased in the Best of Best booth. 

If you are one of the lucky people to be playing in Phoenix this weekend, stop by booth 1223!

www.lets-choose.com