Avoiding Comparisons Between Children

SIBLING STRATEGIES
AVOIDING COMPARISONS BETWEEN CHILDREN

• It’s natural for your children to compete for your attention. Sibling rivalry becomes even more intense when the children are the same gender and within three years of age.

• Don’t compare siblings, hoping to challenge or motivate your straggler to perform as well as your higher achiever. Comparisons among siblings only serve to make one child feel bad or less loved, and to intensify an already inherently competitive relationship. Trying to win your approval or outshine a sibling can soon eclipse the activity itself.

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Balancing Activities With Homework

BALANCING ACTIVITIES WITH TIME FOR HOMEWORK

• Schools give homework more than ever before and children 6 to 8 years old have three times as much homework as they did in 1980.

• In organized sports, a large number of volunteer coaches are working parents who hold weekday practices late in the afternoon or early evening hours. Suddenly, homework has to get done right after school when your child wants to shut down her brain after seven long hours in class. Otherwise, homework takes place after an evening practice when your child is starting to become cranky, easily discouraged, and frustrated when trying to memorize spelling words, write sentences, or solve math problems.

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Limiting TV

By Stacy DeBroff

Limiting TV and electronics is essential to nurturing creativity.

• Our children live in the age of the digital playground, with electronic devices luring our children into hours of solitary, sedentary entertainment. Kids often bury themselves in electronic games for solitude and freedom from adult micromanaging.
  
  
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The Need For Downtime

NEED FOR DOWNTIME

THE VALUE OF DOING NOTHING

• Wanting to provide your child with the most opportunities to further her growth and development does not have to mean intensive daily exposure to as much as possible. Being on the run all the time isn’t great for anyone, especially a child, so it’s important to remember to choose carefully and slow down a bit.

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Helping Your Child Become Involved

WHO DOES THE CHOOSING?

• Who should take the initiative in deciding what activities to pursue, lessons to sign up for, or teams to join? It’s best if the desire comes from your child.

• You have a tremendous influence over your child’s activities, even when just suggesting a particular hobby or sport to your child.

• Sort out your child’s skills and talents from her passions and interests.

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Deciding On Which Activity Would Be Best For Your Child

DECIDING AMONG ALL THE TANTALIZING POSSIBILITIES

• Between sports teams, gymnastics, karate, dance classes, art lessons, and exposure to a second language, the enticing smorgasbord of possibilities seems endless. Should your child take swimming lessons, join a soccer team, learn to play the piano or flute, sign up for T-Ball, or join a Spanish language or chess club?

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