Month: August 2019

Considering Free Range Parenting? Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risks!?

Post author By Mary Sheep
Post date 27/08/2019
No Comments on Considering Free Range Parenting? Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risks!?

Considering Free Range Parenting? Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risks!?

The Parenting Junkie discusses free range parenting. What is free-range parenting? How are free range kids different from kids that grow up with helicopter parents? In this video you’ll learn why choosings to be a free range family is a great choice. When kids are allowed to be free-range kids the freedom and independence they gain allows them to grow into competent adults. In addition, research suggests that free range children grow up to be less anxious and depressed (who doesn’t want that?). In the book, How to Raise an Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims, she writes that she has met parents who would not allow their 17 year old daughter to take the subway. Interested in resources to help you learn the real risks of free range parenting? Checkout Let Grow (letgrow.org) founded by Lenore Senazy with resources such as the laws, groups interested in raising free range children, etc. Also, if you are looking for resources to help teach your children to be safe (ie teach about tricky people instead of stranger danger) checkout safely ever after founded by Pattie Fitzgerald.

What to do to become more trusting and free-range with your children:
#1- Limit fear mongering & sensationalist news [6:31]
#2 – Switch from Stranger Danger to Tricky People [9:22]
#3 – Find Ways to Allow Freedom [12:49]

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RECOMMEND TO WATCH / LISTEN TO NEXT:
► How Can I Get My Kids to do Chores (https://youtu.be/f-agVk8Oyt0)
► Why Kids Need Risky Play (https://youtu.be/smEwpYRPA08)
► Allowance and Chores? (https://youtu.be/36NOM0FAhbc)
► The Danger of Safety (https://youtu.be/-azMKn62nfY)

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO
How to Raise an Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims (https://amzn.to/2KTPUzf)
Free-Range Kids, How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children by Lenore Skenazy (https://amzn.to/2Nw42k7)
Let Grow (https://letgrow.org/)
Super Duper Safety School: Safety Rules for Kids & Grown-Ups by Pattie Fitzgerald (https://amzn.to/2HrPNcd)
Safely Ever After (https://www.safelyeverafter.com/)

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Tags children, danger, darr, free, grow, kids, raise, range

Parenting

All my friends have had babies and I feel marginalised | Dear Mariella

Post author By Mary Sheep
Post date 27/08/2019
No Comments on All my friends have had babies and I feel marginalised | Dear Mariella

It’s hard when you don’t move in unison with your peers. It doesn’t mean abandoning friendships, says Mariella Frostrup, but don’t be afraid to keep a distance when needed

The dilemma I’m 34 and have been in a close friendship group with four other women since university. Our relationship has been a constant comfort, but during the past year I’ve found it incredibly difficult to connect with them as all four have had babies. Suddenly our WhatsApp group looks more like Mumsnet – and I just can’t relate. I don’t know if I want kids or not. My husband puts no pressure on me, but this is bringing out the worst in me. I feel left behind, confused and judgmental as these friends enter motherhood. I feel isolated and incapable of contributing, and when I do I feel disingenuous. I try to widen the conversation, but it always reverts back to babies. I don’t want to lose these people, but I feel marginalised, as if I’m fundamentally missing out on some intensely female purpose. How do I step back without being overly dramatic?

Mariella replies It’s definitely a problem. I am sympathetic. But stick with me first, because I have to draw attention to how emotionally over-sensitised we’ve become as a species. Growing up, friends shacking up before we do, marriages and divorce, babies born and infidelities committed – they’re all part of life’s rich pageant. Some are profoundly upsetting, some manageably so, and others so natural a part of life’s flow that they should barely bother us at all. Some of these emotional traumas are dumped on us, some committed by us and some are not directed at us at all. In the latter case, it’s generally our own unresolved issues that make us vulnerable to being wounded.

Why Kids Need Risky Play (and how to feel safe encouraging it!)

Post author By Mary Sheep
Post date 20/08/2019
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Why Kids Need Risky Play (and how to feel safe encouraging it!)

The Parenting Junkie illustrates the importance of risky play. In this video you’ll learn why you need to let kids take risks and the benefits of risk taking in early childhood. The importance of risky play and adventurous play cannot be understated. Kids need to have risk in play in order to develop properly. This can seem daunting so you’ll also learn how to encourage risky play and still feel safe. In her book Balanced and Barefoot, Angela Hanscom points out the detriments this lack of play causes for our children. Luckily enough research has been done that there are more risky playgrounds being built for children such as the adventure playgrounds you’ll see footage of in this video. In addition to learning the benefits of risky play, you’ll learn the 6 categories of risky play by Peter Gray author of Free to Learn. After watching this you’ll feel much more comfortable allowing your children the unstructured play and risky play they need.

How to Help Your Children Take Meaningful and Reasonable Risks:
#1 – Stop Saying Be Careful [7:34]
#2 – Keep Your Own Feelings in Check [9:38]
#3 – Seek Opportunities for Risky Play [10:29]

6 Categories of Risky Play
1. Great Heights [11:05]
2. Rapid Speeds [11:34]
3. Dangerous Tools [11:56]
4. Dangerous Elements [12:52]
5. Rough and Tumble [13:24]
6. Disappearing/Getting Lost [14:21]

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RECOMMEND TO WATCH / LISTEN TO NEXT:
► The Play Toddlers Need (https://youtu.be/hHzSj0eMbwM)
► The Danger of Safety (https://youtu.be/-azMKn62nfY)
► What to Do When Another Child Hits Yours (https://youtu.be/99wv6wJc_lE)
► Disadvantages of Competitive Sports for Kids (https://youtu.be/ZfSuQ4nyDxI)

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO
Balanced and Barefoot by Angela Hanscom (https://amzn.to/2ZdMsUd)
Free to Learn by Peter Gray (https://amzn.to/2Zcqa5o)
Knives for Kids (https://amzn.to/2ZmAZ9a)
Playful Parenting by Lawrence Cohen (https://amzn.to/2YYoAIQ)

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Tags children, darr, feel, kids, learn, need, play, risky

Parenting

Which tablet to buy for your kid: These are the best right now

Post author By Mary Sheep
Post date 13/08/2019
No Comments on Which tablet to buy for your kid: These are the best right now

Kids are device-hungry nuts these days. Seriously, WTF happened to Sesame Street and a book before bedtime? But we digress.

Technology has changed a lot since you were small. Your kids have probably mastered the features on your iPhone better than you have due to constantly asking to play with it. And when you do eventually get it back, it’s a sticky mess covered in slobber and other unexplainable slimes. But in the age of touch screens and constant connectivity, there’s not really a way to say “no” without feeling like a parent from the dark ages. Even the animals in Zootopia have smartphones. (Seriously.) Read more…

More about Ipad, Tablets, Parenting, Fire Tablet, and Mashable Shopping

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST COMBO OF SPECS AND KIDS' CONTENT

Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition Tablet

Amazon has outdone themselves with an ultra durable version of the Fire HD Tablet that can take whatever kids throw at it.

Resolution: 1280 x 800

Storage: 32 GB

Battery life: 12 hours

$129.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR TEENAGERS

9.7-inch iPad

Apple's most affordable option has computer-like features and will likely last for your kid's whole school career.

Storage: 32 GB, 128 GB

Resolution: 2048 x 1536

Battery life: 10 hours

$249 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

MOST DURABLE

Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet

Energetic kids are no match for the new Fire 7's improved protective case and Amazon's worry-free guarantee.

Resolution: 1024 x 600

Storage: 16 GB

Battery life: 7 hours

$99.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST IPAD FOR FAMILIES TO SHARE

iPad Air

Consider it the diet iPad Pro: The 2019 Air is speedy and packed with power that lasts all day.

Storage: 64 GB, 256 GB

Battery life: 10 hours

Resolution: 1920 x 1080

$499 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST ANDROID TABLET FOR FAMILIES TO SHARE

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1

Kids will love the interactive learning in Kids Mode and parents will love having a totally separate interface.

Storage: 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB

Resolution: 1920 x 1200

Battery life: 10 hours

$229.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR INTERNET SAFETY

Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite Kids Edition

Ideal for parents who want to watch kids' behavior like a hawk, *without* the kids feeling restricted.

Storage: 8 GB

Resolution: 1024 x 600

Battery life: 9 hours

$127.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR PRESCHOOL AGED KIDS

LeapFrog LeapPad Ultimate

Large icons, specially curated-for-kids internet access, and a shatterproof screen makes this great for kids 6 and under.

Storage: 8 GB

Resolution: 1024 x 600

Battery life: 5 hours

$99.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Walmart

BUDGET PICK

Kurio Xtreme Next Tablet

A decent amount of pre-downloaded content and parental controls for balling on a budget.

Storage: 16 GB

Resolution: 1024 x 600

Battery life: 6 hours

$79 from Walmart

What do Reward Systems Really Teach? Do they Actually Work?

Post author By Mary Sheep
Post date 13/08/2019
No Comments on What do Reward Systems Really Teach? Do they Actually Work?

What do Reward Systems Really Teach? Do they Actually Work?

The Parenting Junkie uses summer reading reward systems to illustrate what reward systems teach. You may be wondering how to use reward systems, especially trying to use reward systems for homework or reward systems for toddlers, but according to Alfie Kohn author of Unconditional Parenting, punishment and rewards are two sides of the same coin. So when contemplating using sticker charts as a reward system you need to ask yourself, do reward systems work. Unfortunately, as you’ll learn in this video, reward systems don’t work, at least in truly changing the behavior. So when you are trying to encourage your child to read think of other ways besides reward systems for reading or summer reading rewards. This video will show you what to do instead of using a reward system.

1:40 – Rewards impede values
3:25 – Rewards impeded achievement
5:26 – Set goals together
7:45 – Show appreciation
8:19 – Encouragement and celebration

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RECOMMEND TO WATCH / LISTEN TO NEXT:
► Dr. Shefali Tsabary on Education (https://youtu.be/NF46uJUGEGI)
► Child-Led Learning (https://youtu.be/P0Vn1RrqT8k)
► 10 Parenting Practices to Stop (https://youtu.be/zjdkIeFxdRo)
► Unschooling Daily Routine (https://youtu.be/oyKIIPc6r8c)

RESOURCES SHOWN IN THE VIDEO
Alfie Kohn: Punished by Rewards (https://amzn.to/2yznbsQ)

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Tags darr, kohn, reading, reward, rewards, systems, teach, work

Parenting

Disadvantages of Sports for Kids and How to Bring Back the FUN!!

Post author By Mary Sheep
Post date 13/08/2019
No Comments on Disadvantages of Sports for Kids and How to Bring Back the FUN!!

Disadvantages of Sports for Kids and How to Bring Back the FUN!!

The Parenting Junkie illustrates the disadvantages of sports, specifically the disadvantages of sports for kids. In this video you’ll learn about the harmful effects of competition as well as problems with competition. Instead of focusing on competition and competitive sports you’ll see that there can be fun in sports when we leave it up to our children to decide. The problem with competition is that it focuses on winning and winning only. The flip side is the theory where everybody wins. Neither of which really help teach our children. In order to bring back fun in sports we need to make sports fun by allowing children to create their own pick-up games. In this video you’ll see the problem with organized sports is that they focus on competition for kids, this will show you what to do instead. By the end of this video you’ll understand why competitive sports at a young age is harmful and how to make sports fun again.

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RECOMMEND TO WATCH / LISTEN TO NEXT:
► How Can I Get My Kid to do Chores (https://youtu.be/f-agVk8Oyt0)
► Child-Led Learning (https://youtu.be/P0Vn1RrqT8k)
► 10 Parenting Practices to Stop (https://youtu.be/zjdkIeFxdRo)

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Tags back, children, darr, kids, sports, video

Parenting

Another Kid Hit My Kid! // Dr. Laura Markham & Peaceful Parenting in Action!

Post author By Mary Sheep
Post date 13/08/2019
No Comments on Another Kid Hit My Kid! // Dr. Laura Markham & Peaceful Parenting in Action!

Dr. Laura Markham Shows Us How to Help Kids Resolve Conflict // Peaceful Parenting in Action!

The Parenting Junkie and Dr. Laura Markham from aha parenting and author of Peaceful Parent Happy Kids and Peaceful Parent Happy Siblings, team up in this series to show you peaceful parenting in action! In this video you’ll learn how to peacefully handle a situation when another child hits your child. When another child hits my child it can be difficult to know how to help the children resolve the conflict peacefully. In this scenario of another child hurt my child, you’ll see the children arguing in the sandbox and some toy taking. You’ll then see Dr. Laura put peaceful parenting into action to help kids resolve conflict. Through this role play you’ll learn how to help kids resolve conflict.

0:39 – Role Play Scenario: Kids arguing over toy in sand box ends in another child hitting your child
6:24 – Breakdown of Scenario
6:28 – Don’t focus on the hitting
6:39 – Focus on the hurt child
6:51 – Look for something to trade
7:11 – How to handle it if the other parent intervenes as well
7:47 – Sometimes we need to set social limits
8:09 – How to help your child give a turn
9:52 – Peaceful Parenting when you have an audience
10:34 – Your obligation is to your child and your values
12:52 – Kindness toward the child that hit

Free Cheat Sheet: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/freebie

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RECOMMEND TO WATCH / LISTEN TO NEXT:
► For all the Dr. Laura Role Play Videos Checkout the Playlist: (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLw9LEJWki6BpDI2_UX93jCkxmra9lRqAZ)
► How to Set Limits so Your Child Can Hear Them (https://youtu.be/895QrSynXLM)
► What to do When Your Child Hits You? (How to Handle It!) (https://youtu.be/OYwIG3nmYGQ)
► Forget Time Out, Try Time In – Here’s How (https://youtu.be/R4-3oNMJmP8)

RESOURCES SHOWN IN THE VIDEO
https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/freebie

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Tags another, child, darr, help, kids, laura, peaceful, your

Parenting

Dr. Laura Markham on Peaceful Parenting

Post author By Mary Sheep
Post date 12/08/2019
No Comments on Dr. Laura Markham on Peaceful Parenting

Dr. Laura Markham on Peaceful Parenting

1:00 – What are you brining to the situation?
1:24 – Connection
2:25 – Coaching

Free Cheat Sheet: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/freebie

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RECOMMEND TO WATCH / LISTEN TO NEXT:
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Tags darr, facebook, laura, markham, parent, peaceful

Parenting

Yes, children are great, but they can leave you skint | Sarah Ditum

Post author By Mary Sheep
Post date 12/08/2019
No Comments on Yes, children are great, but they can leave you skint | Sarah Ditum

No wonder Britain’s birth rate is at a record low – being a working parent is so tricky

There is a point in parenting where you ask yourself whether it’s all worth it. In crude financial terms, the answer is probably no. The most well-paid of women aside, it’s routine for couples to find that a mother’s return to work costs almost as much in nursery fees as her wages are worth (and sometimes more). Childcare becomes a patchwork thing: as many sessions in the creche as you can stretch to, hasty parental handovers between shifts, a willing grandparent to pick up the slack if you’re lucky. Always, the low hum of panic that this is the day it all falls to pieces.

When this was my choice to make, my partner and I stretched and strained to make it work, because hanging on until school started would have put a five-year hole in a career that I hadn’t even begun. But there was another option – or there would have been, if I’d weighed this all up pre-pregnancy. Like many of my friends, I could have just not. No babies. No payslip turning to dust in your hand. No begging your childminder for lates when your office needs you just a bit longer. No joy of parenting either, but how can you miss people who haven’t been born?

I avoid giving parenting advice – except on infant vaccines | Séamas O’Reilly

Post author By Mary Sheep
Post date 12/08/2019
No Comments on I avoid giving parenting advice – except on infant vaccines | Séamas O’Reilly

Ever since Rocky IV I’ve loved injections… which may be weird but I’ll fight any anti-vaccine parent

This week my son had his MMR vaccine, stressing us all. No one likes injections. Except me. I’ve always enjoyed them. I think it’s from watching Ivan Drago in Rocky IV when I was small, which made me think of them as power-ups. Each childhood needle-sting thrilled me a little. It was like I felt some ominous Soviet liquid coursing through my veins, allowing me to dish out, and eventually receive, a beating so hard it ended communism. I thought everyone felt this way at first but quickly learned that of the millions of people who watched that movie, I alone took home a feelgood message about needles, and how sweet it must feel to receive a Cold War dose of performance-enhancing drugs.

Even if you don’t share my fondness for the actual injections, I hope I can spread my enthusiasm for vaccines. I’ve been writing this column for a year, and have never proscribed any practice. There are a million other organs willing to make you feel bad about your parenting choices. But vaccines aren’t one of those choices, and I refuse to be anything but strident.