#kid tips

DIY guide to Decorating your Magic Band

Magic Band 2.0 is here!   I don’t know about you guys, but I really enjoy personalizing my magic band.  There are so many different ways, that people much more creative than I have put into practice.  I wanted to share a few of those with you all. Personally, my favorite way is with skins from Magic Your Band.  Right now, my kids and I are obsessed with Star Wars, and Magic Your Band has come out…

Best Rides for Toddlers at Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is, in my opinion, the second best park for youngsters at Walt Disney World.  There is seriously SO much to see and do here!  Shows, rides and meet and greets abound in this park and with the addition of nighttime experiences and later park hours, it has opened up so many new possibilities.  Because there is so much here, I’m going to try to break it down by type of attraction.…

Can’t Miss Character Meet and Greets at Walt Disney World

As an adult, I love meeting characters in Walt Disney World.  As an adult with young children, it’s even more fun!  Today, I thought I’d share a couple of my favorite character meet and greets. And, yes, this post is partly an excuse to show off my adorable kids.  :) Ariel (Cinderella’s Royal Table) This was our first experience with Cinderella’s Royal Table, or any Princess meal for that…

One of the most common American traditions of the new year is making a resolution. You decide on something that you want to improve in your life or that you want to change about yourself and then make the decision to do it. While we all tend to make a lot of jokes about New Year’s Resolutions (mainly about how quickly they are usually broken), there is a good idea here that our children can benefit from.

Childhood is one big learning experience, and the start of a new year is a great time for your child to take stock of what he or she would like to learn or get better at over the next twelve months. Here are several tips on helping your child make a New Year’s Resolution that works:

1. Don’t take on anything too big

In order to keep a New Year’s Resolution fun (and useful), it’s important for your child not to take on a resolution that’s too big. Deciding to become a master musician or to read 100 books in a year would probably just lead to disappointment. On the other hand, choosing a smaller, reasonable resolution could provide your child with a fun game to play in the new year.

2. Work out targets for the resolution

One your child has decided on a resolution for the new year (such as doing homework before video games every night), the next step is to actually work out targets for how the resolution can be achieved. Asking anyone to change their habits immediately can be difficult. Instead, break it down into manageable chunks as the resolution is used to get better at a good habit. Maybe the first day of the resolution will entail only twenty minutes of homework before allowing free time. Whatever targets you decide on, write them down and make them easy to get started.

3. Play a game with rewards

Even with targets set, your child might not always see a good reason to keep “fighting the good fight” to improve his or her habits. This is why it’s best to have a game in place with a fun rewards. If there’s a set amount of time in place for achieving the goal fo the resolution and your child knows what waits at the end of it, he or she will go after it with a lot more enthusiasm. Whatever long-term habits you’re trying to change or skills you’re trying to put in place, it helps to have some short-term rewards to look forward to as well.

Elementary school is an exciting time in every child’s life, but that doesn’t always mean it’s easy. There are particular challenges in elementary school that don’t appear as often for older students. Here are five ways your elementary schooler can get ahead with some simple tips:

Use online study tools While your teacher has a math program for your student to follow, there’s no reason you can’t supplement it with a fun online math learning tool. One of the best of these is Khan Academy. It turns learning math into a game your children can use to learn the subject as fast as they want to. With the opportunity to earn “badges” and “level up,” it’s a great way to change math into a game instead of a chore. Give it a try to the next time your child wants to spend some time on the computer.

Find ways to reward your child for her progress One of the lessons your child will eventually learn in life is that studying will help bring her the things she wants in life. In the long term, this means studying can help her achieve the skills she needs for a fulfilling career and life. In the short term, you can give your child a boost by providing rewards for her accomplishments. For example, find out what kind of reward she would like for completing an academic level and set it as the prize for completing that level on time. Whether it’s a trip to the toy store or a new outfit, having a reward in place can create fantastic results.

Encourage your child’s strengths in every subject she studies There will always be some subjects your child excels in and others she has more trouble at mastering. You can help her conquer every subject by using her strengths to help her in her problem areas. For example, if your child is a budding artist, examine how this strength can be used throughout the rest of her subjects. Math could be made easier by learning how proportions help with paint mixing. The science of light is a lot more interesting when it can be used for taking great photographs.

Make reading a daily family activity Reading is one academic subject that’s used in every other part of school, but it will never be mastered by your child unless it’s used outside of school. Make reading a daily family activity after school, or possibly right before bed. Show your kids how much you enjoy it, or try reading some unconventional choices like comic books. By making reading a fun and low-stress activity, your kids won’t even realize they’re learning at home.

Have parent-teach conferences that include your child Parent-teacher conferences are one of the best ways of keeping your family and the school on the same page. With constant communication, everyone knows the challenges and successes your child is experiencing and you can plan for any changes that need to be made. What you might not consider, however, is having your child present at these meetings. While it’s expected that a teacher and a child’s parents will often meet alone together, you should consider having additional conferences where your child is present, as well. This is an opportunity for your child to be included in the conversation and to fully understand how both his parents and teacher feel he’s doing. It’s also a great opportunity for him to tell you how he thinks he’s doing!