My Style

The school year goes by fast and now it’s the down side of May. The kids are almost out of school. Have you made your summer plans for the kids?

Take time out of your busy schedule and be sure you have the summer planned for the kids. If you need to interview the sitters and take a lot of time talking over the options for your kids, then do so. The kids are very important to just leave with anyone.

When you interview your new sitter, take time for both you and your spouse to do the interview. If you are a single parent take along someone, be it a friend or a parent. Remember this is for the good of your child you want them in the best hands.

Some questions you may want to ask are, do they know CPR? This is very important especially for young kids as some are always sticking things in their mouths. Another good question and one that you should always do and follow up on is references. If they are legitimate, then they will provide these for you. BUT you need to call. You need to talk and ask question of your new proposed sitter. Grill the old client. Tell them your situation and that you need for them to be honest with you.

One thing you should understand when you higher a new sitter, is that sometimes kids at first may not like the new sitter. Be patient. Ask questions of your kids. Ask them to let you know how their day was. Don’t interject any negative words or ideas into your questions. Just ask how their day was or if they played games, or did they meet new friends.

By taking your time as a parent, and really check out the new sitter, you will find you are not only happy but your child is also.

Raise your hand if your mealtimes look a little something like this: Just as everyone sits down, it starts. Your kindergartner wants to tell you all about a new game he played after Show and Tell, your second grader is bursting to tell you about how she won the class Spelling Bee, and your husband would like to get a word in edgewise about his day. And where does that leave you? Without even a 15 second slot to tell anyone about what you got accomplished, or any accolades you got at work.

Whew! Scenarios like this are not uncommon in today’s busy households. With everyone doing so much during the day, sharing these experiences during dinner is a great way to swap news and bond.

Structuring the conversation, especially with children at the table, can be a bit tricky sometimes, and that’s where the idea of the Round-Robin Mealtime comes in. Prepare to be amazed at the simplicity of it all.

Instead of everyone clamoring to be heard, introduce the concept of ‘the baton’. The baton could be anything – a salt-shaker, a wooden spoon or, if you’re feeling especially whimsical, a magic wand. The rule is that whoever is in possession of the baton has the floor. Equally important is the idea that while someone is speaking everyone else has to listen. No exceptions.

Imagine your 5-year old’s glee at getting his turn with the baton. He can enthrall everyone about his day constructing Play-Doh dinosaurs and learning his numbers. He’ll be telling the entire family about his day and feel that inner glow that everyone is listening to what he has to say.

There’s just one more rule, and that is to set a time limit for holding the baton. Pass the baton to your 13-year old daughter and you’ll be sitting at the table all night as she regales the family with every detail of her best friend Tanya’s new boyfriend’s leather jacket.

Yikes! Conversely, your 6-year old, who is as shy as a bunny when all eyes are on him, might be hard pressed to make it 30 seconds before passing the baton off to someone else. Encourage him to speak up! By setting limits, no one talks too long, or too little. Five minutes should be enough to get all the important stuff in, and a few trivial things too.

You can also try setting a topic for discussion. Asking everyone where the family should go on the next vacation is guaranteed to get a conversation started. Using the Round-Robin technique is a great way to discuss important issues and get everyone’s opinion weighed in. You could also talk about what is on the planner for this weekend, or do something fun like playing ‘Getting To Know You’. This is a great game for dinnertime, and works well with the Round-Robin format.

It’s not hard to figure out. Someone picks a question, such as “What is your favorite movie, and why?”, and everyone goes around answering the question. You can also spice things up by asking about embarrassing moments, what their biggest challenge has been, etc. It’s a great way to get everyone talking and laughing during dinner, and using the Round-Robin format will ensure everyone gets to participate.

Round-Robin Mealtimes give everyone a chance to talk and be important, and also teaches the importance of active listening. It’s a great way for everyone to be involved in the dinnertime conversation!

Copyright (c) 2007 Pat Brill

There is plenty of scientific research that proves that a Child’s environment directly affects their intelligence. I began teaching music and movement to young children and their families almost a decade ago before I had any children of my own. I became a certified teacher and began building a family studio. The concept of early childhood music classes for me was interesting and fun, but it wasn’t until I saw the effects my own children received from being involved in those classes that I become a passionate advocate for immersing children in a world of music as soon as humanly possible.

Children are naturally drawn to music. It makes perfect sense that a child’s first language is actually music. They have been listening to the rhythm and melody of their mother’s voice since the fourth month after conception. There are four essential things that music education does for your child’s overall intelligence.

Music awakens and stimulates neural pathways in the brain that are associated with higher forms of intelligence, such as abstract thinking, empathy, mathematics and science.

Music’s melodic and rhythmic patterns provide exercise for the brain and help develop memory. Remember singing the ABC song to learn your ABC’s? Studying music helps children establish good listening habits, which are essential for achievement in school.

Overall, music activities are perfect for child development. Music immerses the child in language, evokes movement, stimulates the brain and fosters physical coordination – all in a group setting that builds community – a holistic experience.

There are many options for you when thinking about adding music into your child’s routine. Play good quality music at home during their play time. Not top 40 music but good classical music that has pitch and rhythm. Give them a pair of rhythm sticks to spontaneously play along to the beat. Many local libraries have free music and story hours that you can add into your weekly routine. Seek out a certified instructor and find out about classes in your local area. I have found that if you are going to spend money on any extra special things for your kids, this is a fabulous place to start. Be proactive in developing a cultural rich environment for your children with great music and books. You will find that your effort will pay off as your children develop into well rounded young adults.