Positive Language with Kids
Using positive language can help reinforce your child’s ability to understand their actions and develop their social-emotional skills.
Your child is in a time of transition with unique developmental skills associated with their particular age group. As your child learns skills that enable them to internally and respond to the world around them, they simultaneously learn to take cues and direction from the people closest to them.
There may be times when the word “no” needs to be used, but when a child is doing something undesirable, limiting the language to the word “no” won’t necessarily equip children with understanding or empower them to make a better choice. Focus on the action (Ex: Hands are not for hitting) and give your child opportunities to learn (Ex: Let’s try gentle touch).
When you use positive language, you ensure that your child is learning the skills needed to navigate through childhood!
Rainy Day Activities:
With all the rain in our forecast comes an increase in need for indoor activities. Here are some ideas to keep your child entertained inside while it's raining outside:
Indoor obstacle course -- build a "laser" maze with string or yarn to foster creativity and movement.
Play store -- a classic game that helps with math, imagination, interpersonal skills, and communication skills!
Dance parties -- fun ways to get your child moving, perhaps even performing later for the whole family.
Hide-and-seek -- another classic game to keep your child occupied. Just make sure to avoid unsafe spaces like the kitchen and places where you store cleaning supplies.
Scrapbooking -- Rainy days are always a great time to break out the family clippings, artwork, and photos. It's fun for children to review their past.
Reading -- whether you favor digital readers or traditional books, there's no better way to stimulate your child's mind than through reading. For the younger children, you can pull out the usual favorites. For the older ones, let them choose!
Kristina Stone is the onsite owner of The Goddard School located in Frisco, Texas. Kristina's experience with The Goddard School started as a parent while her children were enrolled. Her children began building a love for learning and striving academically in the process. It is her passion to share what The Goddard School has to offer that lead her to become a franchise owner. "I want every family that walks into the school to discover the fun learning environment that we provide. Each child's experience in The Goddard School will establish educational foundations to prepare them for life."
Thank you Kristina for this awesome contribution! We are so excited to have you on the Work.Mom.Repeat leadership team!