'Moana' is SPECTACULAR!
Take a look at our 'Parents' Guide.'
Therapists, teachers and parents are very concerned about what has been coined the "Trump Effect." What is this rhetoric doing to our kids? How can parents teach their boys that misogyny is unacceptable?
Here's our FOX 11 discussion.
Parent Tips:
-Be a positive model
-Correct popular impressions
-Hold son accountable
-Cultivate friendships with girls
-Teach son to avoid pornography, the objectification of women
Here's a new way to think about detention. At Baltimore's Robert W. Coleman Elementary, detention has been tossed out and replaced with meditation.
Teachers now send kids to the Mindful Moment Room.
"The practice of mindful awareness can guide students to improve relationships, create relaxation and calmness soothe the self, increase memory, enhance focus, reduce stress, manage reactions and emotions, increase self-acceptance, and feel more at ease with test taking." ~UCLA's Mindful Awareness Research Center~
More Info on UCLA's website: Classes for tweens
Tips for Mindfulness at Home:
-Meditate and Pray
-Take a break
-Practice mindful awareness
-Meditate with your kids
Source: Parents.com
Storks deliver babies, right? Wrong. Well, there's a little confusion about the storks' mission, but that gets cleared up by the end of the movie. I promise.
"Storks" is a great family film with lots of reminders for parents. I got the messages loud and clear.
Check out our Parents' Guide on The Insider.
A Sherman Oaks teen takes on bullying with a new app, "Sit With Us."
One out of every four students report being bullied during the school year. That's according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.
And October is National Bullying Prevention month.
16 year old Natalie Hampton was severely bullied when she was in 7th and 8th grades. Now in high school, she is combating bullying during lunchtime.
'Sit With Us' App
-Don't eat lunch alone
-Private via the app- students won't be publicly rejected
-Be an ambassador- invites other students to combat bullying
Sobering Statistics:
-More youth violence occurs on school grounds as opposed to on the way to school
-8% of students stay home on any given day because they're afraid of being bullied
-43% of students fear harassment in the bathroom at school
(National Center for Educational Statistics, 2015)
"Brangelina" once looked like the picture perfect family. But this week, with the announcement of Angelina Jolie filing for divorce, the family of eight is now headed toward a new family reality.
Many families find themselves in this same situation, but how can you get through it without unnecessary angst and turmoil?
When parents choose to co-parent amicably, children can have stability and close relationships with both parents—but it's rarely easy.
According to Laura Wasser, Angelina Jolie's divorce attorney, parents know their kids best. Parents should try to figure out the new family plan outside of court. It's the first step toward finding happiness as a family again.
"We are at the mercy of the courts, be the master of your own destiny, it doesn't have to be that way, figure out a way to make it better for you and your family and move on to the next stage," Laura Wasser said, divorce attorney for Angelina Jolie.
Co-Parenting Tips:
-Parent roles vs. non- parent roles. Keep it simple and don't confuse the two roles.
-No negative comments about your ex-spouse.
-What are we teaching our kids? Remember the children are watching.
-Keep family traditions, vacations.
It's a question every parent must grapple with at one point or another. When is it okay to let your child call it quits, whether it be a sport, a musical instrument or any extra curricular activity?
In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, parents give their two cents.
Statistics show 70 percent of kids quit organized sports or playing an instrument by age 13. The reason? Culturally we are teaching our kids if they aren't competitive in a sport or any other extracurricular activity, it is not worthwhile.
Also, during the teen years kids are more likely to want to be with their friends and do things that their friends are doing. Kids also start getting cell phones at this age, adding in more technology into their lives.
Here's our Fox 11 discussion.
A few extras:
-Quitting vs. Changing Course- young children should be allowed to try all types of different activities to find out what they like best. "Quitting" is associated with a negative connotation. It's okay for your child to "Change Course" as he is just trying to figure out where he fits best in the world. What makes him happy? What brings him joy?
-No stopping in the middle of the season- most parents believe sticking it out for an entire season is the right thing to do. Experts agree. We need our children to learn how to keep commitments and not let down "the team."
-Child decides vs. parent decides- this gives kids the ability to really figure out what they like, not what their parent thinks they should like.
The homework debate has been ongoing for decades. But now a letter to parents from a second grade teacher, in Texas, informing parents of her "no homework" policy has sparked a new discussion.
I spoke to Stanford education expert Denise Pope. Here's our Fox 11 discussion.
-Kindergarten through 4th grade: Homework does not correlate to academic success
-Middle to High School: Homework is useful when used appropriately. There is a correlation to academic performance/success.
-Meaningful Homework (Example: Teacher assigns reading one chapter in "To Kill a Mockingbird" for preparation for the next day's class)
-No more than an hour and a half (middle-high school). Beyond 90 minutes there is no correlation to achievement.
-Individualized homework plans can help bridge the gap.
Recommendations for Parents:
§ Parents should act as cheerleaders and supporters, not homework police. Ideally, the child should be able to do the homework alone, without help from parents. Instead of checking, editing, or doing the work for the student, parents should provide necessary supplies and show an active interest in the content the student is learning, while allowing the teachers to intervene if/when the student fails to do the homework correctly or regularly.
§ When scheduling after school activities, keep in mind your child’s homework load. Students who are over scheduled or exhausted will start homework later at night and will be less efficient. Work with your child to determine a healthy schedule of activities that will allow time to complete homework, work on projects, and study for tests – while still getting adequate sleep and time for play.
§ Recognize that children learn in different ways and have different work styles. Some students can sit and do homework “all at once,” while others need to take frequent breaks. Some kids prefer to sit in quiet spaces, and some may do better with music playing in the background. Discuss with your child the working conditions that will lead to the best homework outcomes.
§ Advocate for healthier homework policies at your school. Encourage educators to work with parents and students together to create effective homework policies. Start by communicating with your own child’s teacher about issues or homework challenges your child is facing.
§ Let children make mistakes and experience “successful failures.” Recognize that a missed or poorly done homework assignment every now and then is not going to hurt your child in the long run. Parents can help students organize their time or prioritize assignments, but when parents regularly deliver forgotten assignments to school or step in to rescue a child at the last minute, they may be denying the child the opportunity to develop resilience and fortitude.
Source: Stanford Graduate School of Education/Challenge Success
As kids everywhere are heading back-to-school, it's easy to fall into "schedule overload." Homework, sports, music lessons and everything in between can get to be too much.
We all want our kids to have as many opportunities as possible, but we also have to remember how important downtime really is.
By age 13, statistics show three of every four children who participated for several years in organized activities call it quits.
Over scheduled?
-Is the fun gone? Too much time in the car?
-Are you producing your child's life?
-Too much structure can strip creativity
-Say 'no' to keeping up with the Joneses
Here's our Fox 11 discussion.
Many experts claim Melania Trump's RNC speech was plagiarized.
And according to R. Scott Rasnic, in an essay for 'Inside Higher Ed,' "the speech would easily have been flagged for plagiarism in any college-level speech or writing class."
It's unclear if plagiarism is on the rise. Some studies suggest it is on the rise due to the Internet. Others say plagiarism-checking websites have curbed the dishonesty. But according to college professors, it continues to be a widespread problem.
We thought this might be a good time, as kids begin to head back to school, to help parents help their kids understand what plagiarism is and its potential consequences.
Here's our Fox 11 discussion concerning this very teachable moment.
Tips from "Inside Higher Ed":
-Educate your child
-Understand kids might be in over their heads, fear of assignments can lead to bad decisions
-Own up to the mistake
-Teach honesty in everything, don't cut corners
Summer is winding down and back-to-school is only a few weeks away. L.A.U.S.D. starts on August 16. Yikes!
Heading back-to-school can be a tough transition. Gone are the lazy days of summer and back to the grind and routine. But with still a few weeks out, it is possible to ease into the new school year.
I gathered lots of great information from teachers, parents and doctors to help set-up your kids for success!
Here's our Fox 11 discussion.
Back to school tips:
-Keep 'Teacher Talk' Positive: parent, teacher and student = TEAM
-Homework Spot- ask your child to organize their own space. Organization is a life skill.
-Connect with School Friends: help your child re-connect to feel excited and energized to begin school. Happy kids perform better at school.
-Avoid Last Minute Cramming
-20/20/20 Rule for eye health (computer): every 20 minutes look away from the computer, 20 feet ahead, for 20 seconds.
-Get back on a sleep routine (doctors recommend 10-11 hours of sleep for school aged kids)
-Ease anxiety: Talk to your kids about anything of concern as they begin the new school year
Mompreneurs -- you know what they are. Moms who are entrepreneurs.
Nearly 2 million women-owned businesses have annual revenue greater than $1 million, according to the National Association of Women Business Owners.
A new book out in early August titled "Movers, Shakers, Mommies, and Makers." highlights stories from 11 mother entrepreneurs whose side-projects turned into nationally recognized brands.
Here's our Fox 11 discussion.
It's the 'Pets' Parents' Guide on The Insider!
This is a fun summer movie for the family. If you've got a pet, you'll get a kick out of seeing what our pets might be doing while we're away.
Might it be a bit scary for some little kids? Here's our Parents' Guide discussion.
Summertime means play time! And playtime is seriously meaningful. According to research, parents who play with their children enhance family bonds.
Play is extremely important for children's brain development. It serves as a brain booster for problem solving and social interaction.
And play between parent and child is also extremely important. Research indicates that this allows our children to show us who they are. We get to see our child's world up close and personal. It builds that bond, that connection.
Here's are Fox 11 discussion. We also talked about what's going on in our world and how to teach our children how to deal with a potential arrest.
So for the sake of play we put this list together for you!
-Skyspace- downtown Los Angeles
-Super Cells- California Science Center
-Speed: Science in Motion- Discovery Cube LA
-The Beatles Exhibit- The Grammy Museum
There are many more ideas on LAparent.com. Check it out.
We're in the midst of the lazy days of summer. And so routines can sometimes go out the window. Poor eating habits can creep up on us as we enjoy all that summer has to offer.
I talked to nutritionists to get some answers.
Here's our Fox 11 discussion:
Quick Tips:
-Limit added sugar- 12-16 grams per day (children)
-Mindful eating- teach kids to make healthy choices
-Take a vacation from fast food
-Drinks- toss out sodas and sports drinks
-Sleep and Exercise
MUST SEE, MUST SEE, MUST SEE!
I absolutely loved this film. What struck me most, as a former teacher, is that Dory is celebrated for her uniqueness. Her short term memory loss shows us all, parents and kids alike, that we can overcome what might seem like a difficulty, or learning challenge and thrive!
Dory shows us all how to swim!
Here's our Parents' Guide on The Insider!
As the layers of the horrific Orlando massacre continue to be revealed, we wanted to take a look at how parents can teach their children how to be respectful of all people. Our Fox 11 Parenting Contributor, Donna Tetreault gathered some information from the Los Angeles LGBT center
This all starts in the home. The LGBT of Los Angeles wants people to understand that what they teach their kids matters. Lorri Jean, CEO of the LGBT of Los Angeles had this to say:
"We will not allow this hateful, murderous incident to silence us. We will never stop fighting for our rightful place in our society. We will continue to express our grief and anger, just as we will continue to celebrate in defiance of fear and hatred and violence. We stand for freedom. We stand for peace and love. We stand for Orlando." LGBT Los Angeles CEO Lorri L. Jean, as spoken at Monday’s vigil.
Here's our Fox 11 discussion and tips to help promote accepting all people.
-Teach compassion, not just tolerance
-Be a role model
-Cultivate a circle of friends that celebrate all people
-Help your child develop responses to hateful speech
-Children need to know discrimination/hate is unacceptable
Public outrage in the Stanford rape case continues to surround the judge, the 6 month jail sentence and the father of Brock Turner who wrote a letter to the judge asking for a probation-only sentence.
In an LA Times Op-Ed the question is asked, 'How is the son supposed to accept responsibility for his actions when the father cannot?"
Here's our Fox 11 discussion.
The Cincinnati Zoo gorilla incident is highlighting parent judging and shaming.
And the blame game is vicious.
But why are we so ready to blame the parents? What parent hasn't lost sight of their child at least once?
Here's our Fox 11 discussion.
Do you post photos of your children on Facebook, Instagram and other social media sites?
A parent, on average, will post almost 1,000 photos of a child online before they turn 5, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Here's our Fox 11 discussion.
