So sad that I haven't been updating this regularly - this class is so full of great discussions that I really should be spending the time to update this weekly. I'd probably have a lot more to say if I had been doing this weekly.
Anyway.
With the way that children mimic everything that they see their role models do, it's pretty obvious that the people around them can mold children almost however they want. Children are highly observant and attentive. This can both be good and bad.
Children care about what others think and feel, they just are not aware of it on their own because of their state of development. If a child is screaming loudly during play, you can explain that the screaming hurts your ears and, in most cases, this should make the child stop screaming and they will continue playing happily. In the same instance though, it maybe easy to somehow impress upon your child that you don't love them when they scream like that - don't do this. You should love your child unconditionally, and make sure that your child understands that too.
One of the discussions that we have had over the last three weeks has been about punishments and rewards. These can be used as methods of control over the child. To be honest, this turned into a fairly heated discussion in the classroom, and this is my opinion on the matter: punishments should be done with care an consideration, within reason. Always try and communicate with the child first, make sure they understand why the behavior is wrong, and then if it still continues take away a punishment, do time out, and then only if absolutely necessary use a spank. All the while, make sure that the child knows that you love them unconditionally. For rewards, only use them within reason. They have their time and place (like potty training) but when they are over used they can have damaging effects, like causing your child to feel like you are trying to buy their love.
The first half of this week was focused on the influences of technology on children. We were all under the agreement that technology needs to be limited - whether it's the computer, television, or cellphone, at certain times limits need to be placed, and this is determined by your own personal preference and the personality and temperament of the child.
The second half of this week has been more focused on the idea of control, and how much of it we should have over our children. We all had varying ideas on control in application, but the principle we agreed on: over time we need to give our children more control over their own lives. As we give our children more control, we should expect mistakes to be made, for boundaries to be tested. If it is clear that the child cannot handle the new found responsibility, restrict it and try again later - don't just take it away forever. It is much better for your child to make mistakes while in the home than while they are out on their own and don't know of what else to do. Parents should act like a guide, always monitoring what the child does, while maintaining the balance of being involved and still providing privacy. It is a hard line to follow, like most things in parenting, but it is possible with thoughtful consideration towards the child that you are parenting.
Anyway.
With the way that children mimic everything that they see their role models do, it's pretty obvious that the people around them can mold children almost however they want. Children are highly observant and attentive. This can both be good and bad.
Children care about what others think and feel, they just are not aware of it on their own because of their state of development. If a child is screaming loudly during play, you can explain that the screaming hurts your ears and, in most cases, this should make the child stop screaming and they will continue playing happily. In the same instance though, it maybe easy to somehow impress upon your child that you don't love them when they scream like that - don't do this. You should love your child unconditionally, and make sure that your child understands that too.
One of the discussions that we have had over the last three weeks has been about punishments and rewards. These can be used as methods of control over the child. To be honest, this turned into a fairly heated discussion in the classroom, and this is my opinion on the matter: punishments should be done with care an consideration, within reason. Always try and communicate with the child first, make sure they understand why the behavior is wrong, and then if it still continues take away a punishment, do time out, and then only if absolutely necessary use a spank. All the while, make sure that the child knows that you love them unconditionally. For rewards, only use them within reason. They have their time and place (like potty training) but when they are over used they can have damaging effects, like causing your child to feel like you are trying to buy their love.
The first half of this week was focused on the influences of technology on children. We were all under the agreement that technology needs to be limited - whether it's the computer, television, or cellphone, at certain times limits need to be placed, and this is determined by your own personal preference and the personality and temperament of the child.
The second half of this week has been more focused on the idea of control, and how much of it we should have over our children. We all had varying ideas on control in application, but the principle we agreed on: over time we need to give our children more control over their own lives. As we give our children more control, we should expect mistakes to be made, for boundaries to be tested. If it is clear that the child cannot handle the new found responsibility, restrict it and try again later - don't just take it away forever. It is much better for your child to make mistakes while in the home than while they are out on their own and don't know of what else to do. Parents should act like a guide, always monitoring what the child does, while maintaining the balance of being involved and still providing privacy. It is a hard line to follow, like most things in parenting, but it is possible with thoughtful consideration towards the child that you are parenting.