3 Things You Must Do Now To Get Your Child Ready For School
Posted: May 17, 2019
By Master Christopher Rappold
Can you believe it? We are already talking about the school year? Didn’t we just start summer? Well, like every year, the time comes faster than expected, but that doesn’t mean it has to be bad. As all the retail stores start running their enticing back to school commercials, as parents we should be planning our children’s smooth return back to school. Smooth for them and, yes,… smooth for us.
So what are those three things we should do with a month to go that will make this transition the best it can be?
Martial arts in Mansfield - 10 Scientific Tips for Raising Happy Kids
Posted: May 17, 2019
By Master Christopher Rappold
Being a person who has devoted my adult life to bringing out the best in others, I was immediately drawn to an article on “Scientific Tips” for raising happy kids. And while everyone has theories, I want to tip my hat and give full attention to people who invest the time to prove their theories with science. The following list of 10 tips was gathered by Stephanie Pappas, A LiveScience.com contributor. Take a look and see if any of the ten may help your understanding or reinforce your approach with your children.
#1. LOL! Joking Helps
The Encouragement Trap and How to Avoid It
Posted: May 17, 2019
By Master Christopher Rappold
Encouragement is a wonderful thing. Hey, we all need a little from time to time. Especially when you are hitting a challenge or feeling like the world is temporality stacked against you. The little pat on the back you need may be the spark that can get you firing again on all cylinders.
But can encouragement be taken to an extreme and be done to the detriment of your child’s growth and desire to excel. According to Stanford University Law Professor Carol Dweck, Ph.D., the answer is yes. She says, “Doling out generic praise based on superficial attributes such as intelligence, athletic ability and good looks can establish a fixed mindset in children. This will limit their motivation for growth to a certain point. “
An Important Conversation To Have With Your Child
Posted: May 17, 2019
By Master Christopher Rappold
I hope the school year is off to a great start for you and your children. No matter how good it is going, it is likely there will come a point when you are going to need to coach your child through a tough decision. As many parents know, children and teens often times use the word “tattling” or “snitching to describe anyone telling an authority figure about any type of situation that occurred. Many times, instead of going to an adult, they simply keep what has happened a secret because they fear being made fun of or looked down on. The challenge is, without an interruption in the pattern of the bullying and the intervention from someone in a position of power, more than likely, it will continue.
To encourage children and teens to report bullying behavior when it happens, it is important to help them see clearly the difference between the two words.
The Gossip Test
Posted: May 17, 2019
As a facilitator of Anti Bully education in 29 public and private schools covering grades Pre –K through 12th grade, I am frequently asked about gossip. It seems that it is everywhere and in all walks of life. The examples change based on age, but it always comes back to speaking of others not present in an unflattering way. One of the stories I have shared many times over the years to help others understand the destructive power of rumors and gossip is the following. Keep this philosophy in mind the next time you hear or find yourself ready to repeat a something told to you.
In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom. One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance, who ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"
"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me, I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Test of Three."