Partnering with Your Child’s Teacher

Posted on | by KD Novelties

Many parents first learn of their child’s new classroom teacher when the school supply list is first sent out, if not at the tail end of the previous school year. Regardless of which grade your child is in, there are different reasons as to why you should reach out to their new teachers and develop a rapport. First, it can help to get to know the teacher and see what they are like for yourselves. Second, you may need to explain some of your child’s needs or behaviors beforehand. And lastly, you can gather some information regarding your child’s new teacher and their expectations early on so that you as well as your child understand what is needed from the upcoming school year.

Working with your child’s teacher can help you and your child. Some teachers openly invite parents early on in the year, whether during the first couple weeks of school or the weeks just prior to the first day, to come in and learn more about the environment in which their children will be learning for the next several months. It is highly encouraged that parents take teachers up on this preliminary meeting for a variety of reasons. It can be troublesome to have to talk to a teacher for the first time because a negative event precedes and demands it, so in the event that this should happen to you for any reason, having that initial meeting with the teacher first can help make meetings like that much easier to swallow. Additionally, working with your child’s teacher can give you a better understanding of the “big picture” at school and in your child’s current grade. It will help you to know what the educational objectives are in your child’s classroom, as well getting a better idea of what the teacher is like in terms of personality and temperament.

Specific needs. Whether your child has a learning disability or simply has behavioral quirks that could use some coaxing and understanding, explaining this to your child’s new teacher early on can also help to alleviate, if not prevent, future issues or disputes. If your child’s teacher goes into the school year with a marginal understanding of your child, they then have the tools with which to better judge their behavior and needs in the classroom, avoiding misunderstandings and other problems. It can also help to tell your child’s new teacher whether they have any particular difficulties with certain subjects, concepts or classroom activities, making it easier on the teacher as well as your child in the future.

The more a teacher knows about a student, the better he/she can teach them. They could suggest ways to approach a writing assignment that involves your child’s interests in which they would have not known about without your partnership.

Knowing what to expect. Making sure that you, your child, and their teacher are all at least a bit acquainted with one another can do a lot to make the rest of the school year much easier than you expect. Making sure to meet with your child’s teacher can make future appointments and meetings much easier to make and it can also make them more productive and informative.

For more parenting resources and tips be sure to check out the KD Novelties blog and to get your kids to read more and love it visit our website at KDNovelties.com.

Choosing a Family Pet

Posted on | by KD Novelties

Having a family pet can be great fun and it can help reinforce positive behaviors as well as incite feelings of unconditional love. Pets can very much be a part of the family, and many families may already have a pet of some kind when a child is born.

When buying or adopting a pet, there are so many details to be worked out which is why this decision cannot be done on a whim.   For example knowing how it will be taken care of and whose responsibility that will be, not to mention whether you can afford food, accommodations and medical care for them as well. Here are some questions that you will want to consider before going ahead and choosing a family pet.

Who will be taking care of the pet?
Make sure that you have the time and resources to take care of a pet.  Pets need attention and care as much as a child and will need much of your time. Keep in mind that even If the responsibility falls on the children, parents will wind up doing a whole lot more depending on the age of the children.

What is the appropriate age for my child to get a pet?
It’s important to consider the age of your child before getting a pet.  If you are getting a pet for your child specifically, it is important that they are old enough to take on the responsibilities of doing so, and it is generally recommended that kids be of middle school age (around 12-14). Grade school kids may be able to help out, but it will most likely be more of a joint family effort.

Getting pets when your child, or children, are younger can be tricky, but it can be done. If you are new to pet ownership, it may be best to wait until your children are older. When children are small, you need to be aware of the potential dangers that are present – from the pet as well as your child. Certain pets may react towards children differently than others it all depends on personality.  Nevertheless, it is important that children and pets are always supervised, especially since they have the power to harm the other, even inadvertently.

What kind of pet should I get?
Some parents already have a pet in mind, in which case you should still do some research and find out if there are any breeds you should consider over others or if there are any potential risks that you may not be aware of. Additionally, it helps to look into scheduling or arranging meetings at shelters or wherever you are looking to get your pet from so that your child, as well as the whole family, can become acquainted first and see if you’ll all get along. Aside from that, there are many pets to choose from, of course, and making a decision can be quite daunting.

● Dog. Dogs seem like the quintessential pet for the All American family. Dogs can help children develop strong bonds, especially since the animal-human relationship can be pretty intense when it comes to canines.

● Cat.  Cats are great for cuddling, but they may not always be as social as dogs, so cats might make better pets for children who may not mind their occasional aloofness. Cats can often differ in personality, some acting very quiet and independent whereas others may have personalities that are just as outgoing and energetic as a dog’s.

● Fish. Fish are a great way to introduce the idea of pet-ownership to children who have never had pets before. It is also a good way to help teach responsibility to younger children, before getting a dog or another pet that requires more hands-on care.

● Hamsters or gerbils. These pets are smaller and often confined to cages, but they still require more maintenance than many parents may anticipate. They are also smaller and require a gentle hand, so you will need to consider whether your child is ready to handle a pet of this kind and size. It is also important to keep in mind that these pets do not often live very long, not much more than a few years.

Depending on your child’s interests, you might also consider pets such as birds, ferrets, lizards and so on, but again these pets generally require a very specific kind of care and attention.

No matter what, make sure that you know exactly what goes into caring for your pet, whether you or your child are going to be the one taking care of it, or if it is meant to be a collaborative family effort. Once you learn all you need to know and are aware of what it takes to own and care for a pet, you can benefit from all of the advantages of having one. Children can learn valuable lessons about friendship, family, and even about life. Although it is a tricky subject, death can often factor into the lives of pets depending on their lifespan and other issues that could develop and affect their health, and this can have a dramatic effect on children as well. This should not be a deterrent, however, and no matter how long pets are around for, they can become important parts of your family that yo
ur children will love and cherish forever, even long after they’re gone.

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How To Get Your Kids to Really Love Reading

Posted on | by KD Novelties

The best way to forge a positive relationship with reading for your child is to help encourage a love for reading. A love of reading is a love of learning, and it is not only linked to better academic success and performance, but it can also lead to a more fulfilling life, overall.

Make reading a part of your lives. Making something a habit is one thing, and it can certainly help. If you schedule in some nightly story time every day, you can certainly make reading a part of your child’s life. It can help reading feel like a normal part of the day instead of an extraneous activity that they may or may not feel like doing. Setting aside time to read can differ from family to family depending on their schedule and their preferences, so find a time that works for you and make it stick!

Let them see you read, too. Reading with your child is one thing, but it helps if they see you read on your own, too. Children learn a lot by seeing, therefore, you’ll notice that they will take after you by repeating certain mannerisms, using certain words, and wanting to do all of the things that you do. Making reading a part of your life can help you build your own positive habits but it can help send a positive message to your kids, as well.

Books, books, books! Populating your home with books and other sorts of reading material is also a good way to encourage reading. Having a variety of books, magazines, coffee table books, comics, etc. can help further drive the notion that reading is a part of life and it is more likely to become a part of your child’s life, too. Even if they simply peruse catalogs or look through classics, having books around can work wonders. In addition to books around the house, also try to give your child a little library of their own.

Personalize their books. Make them the star. When populating your child’s own personal library, consider getting personalized books as well. Personalized books include your child’s name, and sometimes other attributes, in order to create a unique story where they are at the center of all the action. Personalized books, like those we publish, can help make your child’s library feel more like their own, and  they can help make books and reading more of a personal experience, too. Personalized books are great for kids who may be reluctant readers, but once they hear that they are the hero, they will be much more inclined to want to find out more!

Personalized Books

Get graphic. Graphic novels and comics have come a long way, and nowadays there are plenty of critically acclaimed works that adults are scrambling to get their hands on. Comics and graphic novels can be a great gateway to reading for kids who may be reluctant to read, kids who may have issues with reading because of a reading disability like dyslexia, or even children who have difficulties imagining abstract concepts because of another learning disability. Images and dynamic scenes play out across the pages and can help instill interest in kids of all kinds.

Let them get the pick of the week. Kids may not always like what they’re reading in school, especially if it is for a project or an assignment. There may be a number of different reasons as to why this is, but many children might feel turned off because of the link to school and homework specifically. Remember to let your kids pick out what they want to read every once in awhile.  Give them some space and freedom to broaden their horizons and pique their own sense of curiosity whether they are looking for a book to read for fun or a book to share with you at story time.

Consider tablets and other formats. With apps and games becoming increasingly popular, as well as general mobile-device usage, kids may also have fun playing around with ebooks. Ebooks can sometimes be interactive as well, including game-like aspects and illustrations that can further help interest them in the story they’re reading.

Give them incentives. You might feel like bribing them, but after a while kids may begin to continue reading on their own without any idea of a reward. Let them stay up later to read, offer to buy them books or take them to parks and other places that are near the library, etc. You can try rewarding them for reading books, however, making it seem like more of an accomplishment when they do can help to instill a feeling of satisfaction on their own that can drive their interest and keep it going the more they read.

Make reading a special treat, too. Making reading an everyday thing is important, but it can be special, too. Try making a dedicated reading nook in your home or in your child’s room to help encourage them to use the space. You can also make family outings of going to the bookstore or to the library to get new books a special gift.

Let them work at their own pace. Whether your child wants to eat up books or take them in slowly, make sure that you still respect their wishes. Instilling an interest in books and encouraging them to do so is important, and it can work – as long as you don’t push them too hard and allow them to soak stories in at their own pace.