Articles from September 2010

Hi,

As creator of “Can Do” Street I want to tell you about some of the new features we are planning for this blog for parents and teachers.

In late October we will be adding the following sections to the blog:

• Teacher Stories – a place where teachers of children  3-7 years of age can share how they get positive results from using character/values curriculum or their own lesson plans to guide their students in making good choices about school behavior, manners, sharing, personal hygiene, personal safety, eating habits, playing fair, being a friend and disability sensitivity. This section is open to teachers from graded classes in public, private and parochial schools and teachers of special needs children in ungraded classes.

• Parent Exchange – An opportunity for parents to exchange information on what works for them in helping their young children make good choices about managing anger, doing chores, interacting with siblings, demonstrating caring behavior, getting up and going to bed on time, dressing, personal hygiene, telling the truth, pet care, speaking respectfully, and table manners

• Resource Center – links to programs, articles, camps and web sites for parents of children 3-7 years.

• Home School – Parents who home school can share what curriculum and activities they use to help their children practice making good choices

• After School – a forum for after school instructors, recreation staff, coaches, and camp counselors to share what is successful in helping young children make good choices when in their care.

• Grandparents Know – grandparents share how to help grands make good choices

Thanks for visiting!  Please become a regular on “Can Do” Street by writing and sharing. Just send your stories, comments and resources to jeanc@candostreet.com.

By for now,

Jean

Recently I was asked why I coach — why I spend so much time doing what I do even though I don’t have to do it.  After all, a teacher is not required to coach and stay late after school.

My initial reaction was one of puzzlement.  Why wouldn’t I want to coach?  Yes, there are some frustrating moments, but it is a great experience and worth every minute of my efforts.  Plus, over the long term, I can see development in young student-athletes years after I have stopped coaching them.

My greatest moments are not solely those of victory and championships.  They are memories of having been there when a student achieves something that he or she has worked long and hard for:  that “I got it — I did it!” moment.  This success puffs up their chests and gets them to hold their heads just a little bit higher.  That is growth.  That is an important life lesson learned: work hard, don’t give up, and you can make it happen.

The best thing you can do for your child is to get them up, out, and “doing something.”  Get them to move, work with peers, and put themselves in challenging situations.  Let them join a league, attend practices, and become part of a team, something larger than themselves.  Their emotional and physical development will be worth the effort and give them the self-esteem and confidence they will need later on in life.

Now, if you can also give of your time to support your child’s athletic pursuits, that is fantastic.  Not only will you be present for those great moments in your child’ development, but you will also let them know that you support their efforts.

Try and take advantage of these athletic opportunities for New York City kids:

Police Athletic League Sports and Recreation

http://www.palnyc.org/800-PAL-4KIDS/Program.aspx?id=18

Be Fit NYC parks and Recreation

http://www.nycgovparks.org/befitnyc

YMCA of NYC Youth Athletics

http://www.ymcanyc.org/ymca-of-greater-new-york/youth/sports/

Beat the Streets Youth Programs

http://www.beat-the-streets.org/page/Wrestlers/bts-kids-program

A big brother away at college, a grandma who lives in another state, a relative serving in the armed forces overseas are all people who look forward to hearing from a child and are disappointed when they don’t hear. Teaching a child to demonstrate caring behaviors to loved ones far away is a lot easier today than it was years ago.

• Skype enables a  child to see and speak to a loved one via the computer when both parties have a webcam and this software program.
• E-mail enables a young child to send brief messages. When special holidays come around, a child can send a free card using programs such as Hallmark or Blue Mountain
• Telephone calls, when possible, are also a good way to keep in touch
• There is always the tried and true…send a hand made drawing or card in the mail

A fun activity to foster caring for those far away is to make a “Caring Calendar” and hang it in the kitchen. At the beginning of each a month, a child can circle dates for hello calls and holidays, birthdays or special events for each person that he or she wants wants to remember in a special way.

In keeping with the theme of helping young children develop caring behaviors, the kid’s blog, published on 9/9,  introduces the idea of caring for oneself . It  does so by asking questions about what a child can do to take care of him/ her self and how that makes a child more   grown up and independent.  A web site that offers practical ways of helping a young child develop these skills is www.extension.org/pages/Ways_to_Encourage_Self-Help Skills in children.

Today’s kids’ post is about helping “Can Do” Kid Willie decide if he is ready to take care of a dog. He is lonely because his mom is in the  Army, stationed overseas, and he lives with his grandparents. His grandparents see the value of him having a pet, but know that they are not up to caring for a dog. A tough decision.

Sites that can help with decision making if you are considering getting your child a dog are:

• www.activityvillage.co.uk/is_your_child_ready_for_a_dog.htm
• www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=1452

A young child (3ish)will ask, “Do you want a hug”? It is as if he or she knows that hugging you will make you feel better.  Some children cry when they see another child cry. Others spontaneously grab and kiss a brother or sister.  All these activities point to a young child demonstrating caring.

Adults know that children learn caring behaviors through being cared for and by being taught by example.  There are so many caring behaviors that adults want to develop in children. Some of these behaviors include a child caring for his or her self, for family and friends,   for personnel property and the property of others, for pets, and for people far away.

One of the first caring behaviors a child needs to learn is how to care for his or her self. Yet, with all that parents have to do, it is an ongoing challenge to find the time and the energy to convince a resistant child that taking care of his/herself by going to the bathroom unassisted  or bathing or dressing independently is a good thing when it is so much easier and attention-getting to insist that mommy help.

Parents, grandparents, teachers and other adults responsible for helping a child develop caring behaviors please write and share what has worked for you!