In this busy world, it is easy to lose balance in our lives. It is no different with children except that they need help to maintain balance between home, school, and extra activities. As parents, you can help to guide your children to balance these three important areas in their lives. What do you do when activities increase and time to do them decreases? Actually there is a solution: Know which activities benefit your child. The following strategies can help:

· Always make time for home. In today’s busy world, this often gets shifted to the last priority. It should be first! Your children may protest, but they need time with you—sharing a meal, taking a walk or just talking. Children also need down time at home - time to play outside, listen to music, and develop their individual interests.

· Make time for homework. It is a must. But it should not take up your children’s entire afternoon and evening. If homework is taking the entire evening, contact the teacher or school counselor for advice.

· Make time for extracurricular activities. As your children get older, opportunities multiply. Your children may want to do more than they can handle. Many families set guidelines such as two activities per semester or one sport per season.

We hope you find the information in this newsletter helpful. It is our pleasure to work with your children.

Mrs. Roxie Benbow Ms. Gina La Capra

rbenbow@roxbury.org glacapra@roxbury.org

Reprinted with permission from the January 2008 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2008 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Peter L. Benson, Judy Galbraith and Pamela Espeland, What Teens Need to Succeed: Proven, Practical Ways to Shape Your Own Future, ISBN: 1-57542-027-9 (Free Spirit Publishing, 1-800-735-7323, www.freespirit.com

Help Your Children Learn to Set Priorities

As children get older they must learn to meet new and increased demands. The good news is that not every demand is equally pressing and not everything is due at the same time. The bad news is that if your children do not learn to distinguish between what they must do now, and what is less important, they will struggle through these years and beyond. Here are some ways to help them:

1. Make lists. Your children should list everything they have to do and would like to do this week.

2. Assign dates. Now, have them go through the list and write down when each thing will happen, or when it is due. Have your children use their agenda books so they have a visual of their week’s responsibilities and commitments.

3. Make a new list, this time with priorities. The top of the list shows things that are due immediately, or that they absolutely must attend. Example: Social Studies paper due tomorrow! Chorus tryouts after school tomorrow! As they continue down the list, they should write things that are due or take place at later dates.

4. Check the list for length. Is everything on it really necessary? Have your children cross out some things if possible, or move them to next week’s list.

5. Continue making a weekly list until they can organize their priorities without it.

Reprinted with permission from the October 2007 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2007 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Lawrence J. Greene, The Resistant Learner, ISBN: 0-312-31919-3 (St. Martin’s Press, 1-888-330-8477, www.stmartins.com).

Parent Quiz: Does Your Child Know the Harm in Being a Bystander?

A bystander who looks on but does nothing allows bullying to happen. Take this quiz to see if you are helping your children avoid being bystanders. Answer yes to something you do often. Answer no to something you rarely do.

__1. I encourage my children to think of how the victim feels.

__2. I explain the difference between being a tattle tale (someone who only wants to get someone else in trouble) and being a responsive reporter of harm (someone who is alerting an authority in an attempt to help).

__3. I make it clear that bullying never makes the victim a stronger or tougher person.

__4. I let my children know that a person who hurts others should not be befriended or admired.

__5. I suggest other ways my children could help a victim, such as surrounding the victim with friendly people.

How did you do?

Mostly yes answers means you are emphasizing how harmful standing by is. Mostly no? Check the quiz for some suggestions as to how to keep your child from falling into this role.

Attendance Matters: Good Attendance Starts with Good Home Routines

When it comes to your children heading out the door each morning, a little foot-dragging is normal. After all, who wants to leave a cozy bed for a day of classes? However, it is critical that you not let them stall. Good attendance is vital to their education. It is your job to make sure your children are in class every day.

To make your children’s attendance record sparkle:

· Enforce a sensible bedtime. Children need sleep to function, so be sure they get enough. Occasionally staying up late to finish a project is not a crisis, but it should not be a habit.

· Stick to a morning routine. Have your children wake up at the same time each day. Once they are up, offer a healthy breakfast (or set one out before you leave for work).

· Prep the night before. Do not leave for tomorrow what you can finish tonight! That means their backpacks are loaded and waiting at the door. Their clothes are laid out. Their lunches are packed. The less scrambling they have to do, the less likely they will be to miss the bus.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.

-Dr. Haim Ginott

Last Updated: February 20, 2008