Ages & Stages

Teaching responsibility to your pre-teen and teen is a skill. We want to make rules and then enforce them. We may want to force our children to do what we think is best. Controlling our children will result in young adults who cannot make their own decisions. Focusing on long-term parenting rather than short-term. Short-term parenting gets the behavior you want now. Long-term parenting takes time and may seem like it isn't working, but in the long run your children will be independent and responsible. Long-term parenting is characterized by:

• Parents who share feelings with their children.
• Help from children in setting rules and consequences.
• Helping young people learn from mistakes.
• Respectful listening.
• Concern with, "What will my children think about themselves?"

Let young people suggest possible solutions to their problems. You may discover they are able to solve their own problems. Even better, they may realize they can solve their own problems and feel self-pride and independent.

Quality Time, Quality Books

Children learn many lessons in life from their friends. However, parents play an equally important role in teaching their children how to be friends. Read this award-winning book together and help your child learn about friendship and sharing.

Read This Book Together!
The Rainbow Fish (ages 4-6), by Marcus Pfister

Enjoy a Making a Snack Together!
You will need:
1 – 12 ounce bag of oyster crackers
¼ cup vegetable oil
½ teaspoon dill weed
½ of one 1.1-ounce package dry reduced-calorie ranch salad dressing mix
Plastic bag

1. Place crackers in plastic bag.
2. Mix oil, dill weed, and salad dressing mix.
3. Pour the oil mixture over the crackers.
4. Close the bag tightly and shake well.
5. Serve in bowls or cups.

Watching Fish is Fun and Educational!
Enjoy a day at your local aquarium with your child. Whether in a large city or at your local department store, you are sure to find fish swimming around in their aquariums. Point out to your child how amazing it is that all of these different looking fish can live together peacefully just as many different kinds of people live together in your town, state, country and world.. This will help develop your child's awareness about diversity in their community. Just like the fish!