Why do only half of parents do this? Facebook connections are a wonderful way to share what is happening in your child’s life with relatives that don’t live down the street. Post the solo they did, post the ribbons they’ve won..and see what your child is liking and and viewing.

Being your child’s friend also lets you see what time of day your child is on the app (Is it too late at night? Is it during school hours?)

If you allow your child to be active on social media…make sure you are their friend!

Children read in the company of dogs at Berkeley Library | Berkeleyside.

This is a brilliant program that every teacher would want to implement but can’t. The class pet is a dying breed, but this library is taking over in one area. They allow Children to come in and read to a therapy dog which anxiously listens to a child practice fluency skills by reading aloud to the animals.

If you are a teacher, or your child is allergic to dogs, you can also have a teddy bear tea day and have your child(ren) read to Teddy bears.

Like you, lots of parents are beginning to realize that with rare exception, the advice dispensed by so-called parenting experts over the past 50 years has been useless, counterproductive and even harmful. During that time, parenting has mutated from something people went about casually and confidently into a highly stressful endeavor (especially for women), and the mental health of America’s kids has plummeted. To top it off, today’s kids are misbehaving in ways that would have been unimaginable to a parent who raised children in the 1950s and before.

Seriously? First off, since this psychologist lists himself as a parenting expert on his own website, I guess he must be the “rare exception” to which he is referring.

Second, I agree with him that for many, parenting is stressful..but Mr. psychologist guy…this isn’t the 50′s! Woman are doing more today than they were in the 50′s. They are contributing, sometimes the only income source of the family, acting as taxi driver because schools don’t bus kids to activities anymore and trying to figure out what kind of food offered at the grocery store is going to be the least harmful to their kids. To make matters worse, PEOPLE LIKE YOU judge them and tell them they are doing things all wrong. I’m really angry here, can you tell? I think I’m actually going to use the “s” word here.

Yes, Mr.Psychologist guy. Stop making matters worse. Let parents trust their guts. Stop judging them and Shut Up!

Our children look to us for comfort and safety, but how can you be “the rock” when you feel unglued yourself?

HelpGuide.org has a great list of steps you can take to help yourself and your child throught this tramatic event.  Remember it is ok for your child to know that you are human and that you have emotions.

• Some schools actually called home asking that parents do not speak to their children about this tragedy.

•  Don’t underestimate your child no matter how young. Be highly alert of thier questions and let them talk about whatever feelings they may have.
• Don’t wait for your older child to ask you questions.  Ask them their comments about all angles of any story you may see on television, the radio, or their friends. If you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t be afraid to admit it. You might jeopardize your child’s trust in you by making something up.

The traumatic event or disaster may trigger or bring up unrelated fears and issues for you or your kids. Acknowledge and validate these concerns, even if they don’t seem relevant to you. When your child says they are afraid, acknowledge the fear and move on, don’t be tempted to tell them there is nothing to be afraid of and don’t ask them to elaborate on the fear.

Monitor television watching. Limit you and child’s exposure to graphic images and videos but realise that watching news reports of the tragedy with your children will give you a good opportunity to talk and answer questions.

Watch for physical signs of stress in both you and your child. The symptoms of traumatic stress may appear as physical complaints such as headaches, stomach pains, or sleep disturbances.

Sometimes bad things happen and they are completely out of our control. If you are an action taker, find a a group of other concerned parents and take action against this type of tragedy.  Your older child might be compelled to do the same at her school.

While thousands of prayers are said for the families of those directly connected to this tragedy, I pray for every parent who fears for their child while trying to make them feel safe.

First, the D.A. Adriana Briggs, explains the reason encouraging your children to fight is not the answer to bullying: “You’re teaching those children that violence is OK and it is the way to solve a situation,” 

Second, the mother reported that she had her no complaints about her child’s behavior at school.  The lesson here, is don’t wait for a report.  Make every effort to stay in touch with your child’s teacher and work as a partner in your child’s education. You may find that when you or your child have a problem, a friendly relationship with the teacher will be helpful,

I previously wrote about how bed-time is not the best place for reading.  TV can suck the life out of you and your child.  The various lights to the brain, can actually mess with the dendryte building in your child’s brain.  Please read to your child in the living room and engage in the story of a book rather than the story a producer creates for you.  It really is the better choice.

Bed time stories have traditionally been the time for a parent to sit with their child and enjoy a time in the fantastic world of fantasy together.  This article about bedtime stories describes a study which found parents who prefer to watch television at the end of the night, but that is not what I am advocating here either.

Story time is exciting and stimulating and a wonderful way to spend time with your child.  Saving it as the cue that the evening is over and it is time to regenerate our bodies by resting is really a shame.  Instead, I argue, story time should be the desert just after dinner or the first part of the day.

Stories are full of adventure and they are read in character. They keep our attention, scare us a little and fill our minds with wonder. When one adventure is over, we can’t wait to start another..and another and our little ones often beg to hear “one more.”  Bed time is rest time, a time to be still.

Instead of reading a book before bed, start a routine of three things for ex.  brush the teeth, put on the jammies and say a good night prayer.  What ever the task of three things, they should be routine and unstimulating.  Keep story time away from bed time.

Tainted treats shouldnt be parents biggest safety fear on Halloween | Dallas-Fort Worth Health News – News for Dallas, Texas – The Dallas Morning News.

Don’ forget to wear reflective tape and hold hands while crossing the street. More injuries happen from car accidents on Halloween than people harmed with tainted candy.

If your child is going to a special party without you make sure you have a Halloween password to make sure your child can say safe. Sometimes a child’s inner radar can go off alerting them to danger and they don’t quite know how to explain that to you.

Understand that your toddler doesn’t understand the difference between pretend and real.  Even if you tell them something isn’t real, bloody, dead, or evil, they may not be able to believe you.

Don’t over do it. As adults, we want to cram as much fun into a night as we can.  Toddler bodies can react poorly to being kept out at night and fed a bunch of sugar.  Toddlers don’t have a concept of time, so when the night is over after just an hour, they don’t know if they have been cheated out of more Halloween fun.

The main character Janie is so engulfed in the idea of getting a new puppy at home, that she finds herself acting like one at school…and that doesn’t go over well with the teacher and her friends. This children’s book is illustrated with turn of the century photos which a recent kindergarten class overwhelmingly approved.

You can read Class Pet on most smart phones and computers if you don’t own a Kindle.