Educational Resources

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CONTRIBUTED BY JASON KENNER of On-Par Parent

 Photo by  Anastasia  Shuraeva: https://www.pexels.com/photo/top-view-shot-of-kids-sitting-on-the-floor-while-smiling-at-the-camera-6964693/ 

As a parent, you can’t constantly hover over your children’s shoulders to make sure they are making the right choices. Not only is this detrimental to their development, but it’s unrealistic. Instead, you should focus on teaching them how to make good decisions for themselves. So here are some tips from Education Exchange to help you do just that.

Got a Goal? Go After It!

Our kids are constantly watching us, and often, our example will be more meaningful to their growth than anything we try to 'teach' them. For example, perhaps you have a dream that you have put on hold for any number of reasons. Now that you have kids, you fear taking a risk and losing time with them. While going back to school or switching careers might take more of your free time, the upside is that your child will see you doing what you love. And they will see the rewards of your efforts. You can also talk to them about the importance of this goal, and come up with a plan to fit in quality time as a family, too. Then, when your children are older and faced with settling versus pursuing their dreams, they may just follow in your footsteps.

Ease Them Into Decision Making

Mastering the skill of making choices is vital to growing into a successful adult. Start allowing your children to make decisions while they are young. This doesn’t mean giving them free rein over the toy section. Instead, give them opportunities to make decisions about what they eat, watch, wear, and read. Young children are often overwhelmed by too many options. Provide them with one to three choices and let them decide, expanding the number of options as they get older.

When your child has trouble making up their mind, encourage them to talk through the pros and cons of each decision. Kids are notorious flip-floppers, so don’t be afraid to give them a deadline on decision-making time. However, remember that whatever options you present to them, you will need to follow through. Also, decision-making is easier when you’re focused and free of stress, so create a healthier home by decluttering, bringing in more natural light, and adding plant life.

Children will find the ability to make decisions for themselves empowering, but at first, almost all decisions will have the same weight. As they mature into teenagers, children can be shown that certain things have a different level of importance. Use this time as an opportunity to teach your child to prioritize by giving them several tasks at once. Try to coach them through the process and avoid making decisions for them.

Share Positive Values

Your child doesn’t have to love something just because you do, but parents do have a lot of influence over what values their children will internalize over their lifetimes. Faith can be an important example for some people. It builds routine and gives children a sense of wrong and right that can guide them through challenging situations throughout their lives.

You can also instill other values, like being an advocate for underrepresented and marginalized groups, or making choices that support the planet. Model these values through your actions. Perhaps you will donate to a cause that is important to you, or volunteer at a rally or fundraising event. Or you could get solar panels installed on your home as a way to reduce your carbon footprint. If you feel like solar is outside of your budget, look into different prices: single solar panel vs. multi-panel install. Like many other things, you only need to buy what you will use. And modeling staying within budget is also an important lesson. Look through your options and even talk through those choices as a family to get everyone’s buy in as you make eco-friendly decisions together.

Build Healthy Habits From the Beginning

It is never too early to start teaching your child to engage in healthy eating habits. According to Abbott, a balanced diet is essential to your child’s growth and development. A proper diet has a positive impact on brain development, emotions, behavior, and physical development.

The problem is, many kids are picky eaters or will automatically reach for junk food. A great way to ensure your child is eating right is to limit their options. Don’t become a short-order cook. You can’t force them to eat everything on their plate, but you can control what is on it. Be sure to stock your house with plenty of healthy snacks. When introducing them to new foods, remember that it often takes several exposures before they might decide they like it.

Another great opportunity to teach your child about healthy eating is to enlist their help in the kitchen. Take them shopping at the farmers’ market with you or let them be your sous chef. Not only is this a great learning opportunity for them, but it will teach them to be comfortable cooking!

Keep Them Active

Young children are naturally athletic and can spend hours on the playground. But as they get older, many will start to prefer to spend time in front of the TV, tablet, or computer. Keep them invested in staying active by choosing age-appropriate activities. A 10-year-old may not be interested in lifting weights or going for a mile-long jog, but a teenager might.

Also, do what you can to make it fun. Let them go for a hike with friends or join a soccer team. By working exercise into their routine and schedules, you’re helping your child build a habit early on that they will maintain into adulthood. Most importantly, this alleviates nature-deficit disorder and offers them the full health benefits of the great outdoors.

Dealing With Difficult Decisions

Inevitably, as your child grows older, they will find themselves in tough situations or feel peer pressure where they are forced to make difficult decisions, such as dealing with the temptations of drugs and alcohol. It is important for you to be there for your child as the need arises. Positive Parenting Solutions encourages you to treat your child with respect and have an open discussion with them. Keeping open communication will help them feel supported and will lead to fewer acts of rebellion.

Building trust and healthy communication practices can help in many aspects of your child’s life. We often interpret “difficult decisions” as issues about sex, drugs, or safety. But a tough choice for your child may be seeking tutoring for a challenging subject in school. Kids often feel peer pressure to be smart enough not to need help, or to be cool and not seek support. Help your child talk through whether they would benefit from tutoring from Education Exchange.

Decision Time

Like so many aspects of raising a child, teaching them to make good decisions is a lifelong process. Be patient and start young. Teaching them early will help them make smarter choices later.

Education Exchange offers a variety of tutoring services on a variety of subjects. If your child is struggling, talk to them about getting support. School doesn’t get easier, so it’s best to help your child get the foundational skills they’ll need to succeed in future classes. And Education Exchange offers on site and online tutoring to meet you - and your child’s - comfort and needs.

CONTRIBUTED BY LAURA PEARSON of  http://edutude.net/ 

 Photo by Ketut Subiyanto: https://www.pexels.com/photo/young-ethnic-woman-trying-to-work-at-home-with-active-children-4474040/ 

As the number of remote workers continues to grow, balancing work and home life can be a challenge, especially when there are children in the mix. With so many distractions, developing a system for effective time management is key for any successful remote worker with kids at home. In this article, Education Exchange will look at some tips that will help you make the most of your day, ensuring that everything gets done without sacrificing quality family time. 

A Supportive Workspace 

Setting up a distraction-free workspace is essential for any remote worker. Make sure to remove toys, books, and any other items that could potentially distract you from work. Consider setting up your workspace in another room to minimize distractions. Also, ensure that your workspace is comfortable enough so that you stay productive. 

Independent Activities 

Make sure your kids are entertained while you're busy with work by planning activities that don't require supervision. This could include anything from coloring books and puzzles to arts and crafts projects or online educational games. Choose among the resources offered at Education Exchange. The key is to find activities that will keep them engaged without needing too much help from you so you can focus on getting your work done. 

Nap Time 

Nap time is one of the most precious periods in any parent's day, and it can pay off to use this opportunity to get some quality work done. Remote workers can make the most out of their children's naps by planning ahead and preparing tasks they need to complete while they have a period of uninterrupted focus. Taking this opportunity to do some “deep work’ will help remote workers stay on top of crucial tasks, get creative with long-term projects or simply catch up on email. 

Quality Time 

If you’re a parent of multiple children, it can be difficult to juggle their needs while also managing a full-time job. Having an established plan will make sure they get quality time with you while also helping to ease the pressure. This could involve being around for bedtime every night, having them help with some simple tasks while you're working in the kitchen, and planning fun new experiences together that everyone can look forward to. 

Professional Assistance 

Don't be afraid to seek help if you need it. Having the support of family members or friends who understand the balance between parenting and remote work can make things much easier during times of stress or overwhelm. Asking for assistance isn’t a sign of weakness, so don't hesitate to hire help if necessary. 

Self-Care 

It’s important for parents who work from home with small children not to forget about their own self-care needs as well. Be sure to take breaks throughout the day and make time for yourself — whether it’s going for a walk or reading a book — so that you don’t get too overwhelmed with responsibilities related to home and work. 

Continuing Education 

If your current role is no longer fulfilling, or if there aren’t enough opportunities in your industry, consider looking into earning an online degree to help level up your career or even change direction. Many reputable online universities offer accredited programs in various fields, such as business administration, healthcare management, teaching, etc., which could open doors for potential career advancements down the line. 

A New Role 

For remote workers looking to take their careers to the next level, a stellar CV is essential. Fortunately, there is a range of CV builders available that can help create a professional and attractive CV quickly and easily. Building your template for a CV allows you to make customizations in sections that outline your skills, work experience, and education in an easily digestible manner — perfect for a modern job application.  

Mastering the art of balancing parenting and a full-time job is no simple feat, though there are means of coming out on top. Such solutions can involve organizing supervised activities, making use of naptime for work purposes, changing employment, as well as looking for support from family and friends. All these methods are great options for overcoming this complicated period.