Is Your Child Ready To Be Left Home Alone and Should You Leave Them?

Posted on | by KD Novelties

There will come a time when parents are faced with the decision to leave their children at home on their own. Whether an emergency calls for the circumstance or your child asks to be trusted with the responsibility, a parent will be faced with this situation at some point. There are plenty of things that you need to consider.

Legal Factors
Is your child old enough to be left alone on their own?

Compliments of Kids Health.org

There are only three states in the US that require a child be of a certain age before being left at home alone. In Illinois, children need to be 14 years old in order to be left alone, in Maryland 8 and in Oregon 10. Just because the other states do not have any official age restriction does not mean that there aren’t other things that you need to consider. There are other child protection laws in place that you need to be aware of and you can look to these laws when it comes to determining when it may be appropriate for you to leave your children at home alone.

Taking on Responsibility
Are they mature enough?
If your state does not identify a certain age as being appropriate to leave a child at home, you will need to use your own discretion. Some children mature quicker than others, but as a parent you will need to use your judgement as well as your own knowledge and familiarity with your children to know whether or not they can handle being alone on their own. Children should be relatively self-sufficient, well-behaved and they should also know what to do in an emergency.

Being Prepared
Do they know what to do in the event of an emergency?
In the event that something should happen, it is important that you trust your children to take care of themselves and do the right thing. Do they know who to call in the event of an emergency? Do they know what numbers to call and what to say? Do they know what to do about strangers, people coming to the door, or answering the phone if it rings? These things are all good to know, and even though no one wants to think that anything will happen while they are away, it is always important that kids are prepared regardless.

Setting Ground Rules
What can or can’t they do?
You should also make sure that your kids know what is and isn’t allowed. Depending on their age and skill level, are they allowed to cook? Can they have friends over? Can they use the computer? And if they are watching younger siblings, make sure that they are aware of what the younger kids can and cannot do as well, and make sure that they know how to be authoritative and responsible in an appropriate way with younger siblings, as well.

There are many things that you need to keep in mind as a parent, and sometimes you will learn new things like rules and exceptions once you begin to experience letting your child stay at home alone. But remember, the most important thing is to trust and know your child before making any big decisions when it comes to giving them such a responsibility.

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Tips for Reading to Children with Speech and Language Problems

Posted on | by KD Novelties

Communication may be difficult for children with speech and language problems, and this can be a frustrating process. For children, speech and language issues can manifest in a variety of different ways, affecting the way that children express themselves and understand others. It is important to have concerns like these addressed as soon as possible so that your child can get the proper care, which will provide them with the tools they need in order to cope with these issues and overcome them. It also helps for parents to pitch in as well, and one of the best ways you can help is to read to and with your child regularly.

Speech and language is more than just talking. It is about the way in which we express ourselves, understand one another, and how we relate to others. Speech and language also employ skills pertaining to listening, storytelling and our ability to understand abstract concepts. Reading with your child can help to engage these other aspects of language while also helping you build memorable moments with your child as well.

Build a Relationship with Books
Developing a love for books and reading can help open up doors. It leads to a healthy relationship with learning, curiosity and creativity. One of the best ways to help foster this sort of relationship is to have books available, whether they be for kids, for adults, magazines, or anything else, and it also helps to read to and with your child as well. Doing so can help you spend time together, bond, and have fun. These moments will help paint reading in a positive light, even if children have difficulty interacting with books on their own. With the right encouragement and determination, kids can still associate books with something good and continue to benefit from them regardless of their problems with speech and language.

Reading in a Whole New Way
For parents with children who have speech and language disabilities or other problems, you may feel as if your child may not be getting the most out of reading due to these particular issues. This may be true for some children, but there are ways in which you can make reading a more personalized experience. Children with speech and language problems may benefit from unique tips and tricks that can help them learn how to listen attentively, pick up on words and phrases, and overcome whatever problems they have. Try repeating stories – sometimes kids need a little extra time to listen to learn. Also, try singing, rhyming or acting out stories, too. Reading does not have to be a singular experience, and since people learn in different ways, it helps to remember that reading with a different approach can have a positive impact on your child and may help them learn more about language and communication while also improving their skills.

Revisit Stories and Ask Them Questions
In order to help encourage your children to interact and think critically, you can ask them questions about the story. This doesn’t have to be like homework – after certain pages or chapters, ask your child what they think will happen next. Ask them who their favorite character is and why. It also helps when it comes to building their language skills. Thinking and answering questions can help them communicate, but make sure to help them sound out words, read along with you and even play sound games to help their speaking skills.

There are plenty of things that you can do to help your child if they happen to have speech and language problems, but it is also important that children develop a healthy relationship with books and learning, in order to benefit their academic and intelligent lives. Kids with issues that deal with speech, language, and communication, and even children with learning disabilities like dyslexia, may not begin to interact with books until they are in school or otherwise because they (and their parents) might feel that it is something that should wait until after they get treatment or that it is something that will come in time. It is never too early to have fun reading, whether kids are being read to or reading on their own, and it can help kids develop essential skills, learn to love stories, and develop a sense of self confidence in their ability to learn as well.

How To Effectively Discipline Children

Posted on | by KD Novelties

One of the most difficult things that parents will need to navigate to their children is dispensing discipline. Discipline is not just a means of punishment or a system that perpetuates action and consequence. It is important that children learn to understand how to behave and why certain behaviors are deemed unacceptable or unsafe. Disciplining your child is not about punishing them but it is about teaching them how to act in society in a way that is safe as well as respectful of others.

So, how does a parent go about effectively disciplining their child?

There are several things that you should remember, but one of the most important things you should keep in mind is to be clear about the rules and be consistent with them.

First off, it is important that children understand what sort of behavior is unacceptable. In some cases, children will learn this by example whether it is through their own behavior or by watching other children, and in some cases other people in general. It is vital that you have a discussion with your child as to why something is unacceptable, whether it is throwing a tantrum, stealing, being rude, or anything else along those lines. If they understand why something is bad or unacceptable, they are more likely to listen. It is important that children have some sense of personal understanding beyond the idea that something is “bad” or undesirable. Not only is it better for them in the long run, but it can help to better ensure that the idea sticks. It also helps you create a strong sense of communication and respect with your child.

Disciplining Your Child

Once your child understands what the rules are, or what behaviors are acceptable and unacceptable, it helps that you remain as consistent as possible. Sometimes, contradictions will arise as new situations and exceptions present themselves, but overall it is important that you remain as consistent as you can in order for children to retain a sense of understanding. If you’re inconsistent, then your children will not have a reasonable idea of what to expect from you or how they should ideally behave.

As a parent, it is also important that you lead by example. Children are visual learners and they often learn how to behave by mimicking the way that their parents do. If you often contradict the rules that you set for your children, not only will they not understand what the rules are but they will disregard anything you try to tell them about their behavior because of it. The way that you act around your children and others will have more of a lasting effect on them over what you say, so if you support your advice and your rules with your own behavior, children are more likely to take note and to listen.

Raising disciplined children is not going to be easy. There will be good days and bad days, and some kids will be more difficult than others. It is important that you remember the advice above, but it is also essential that you employ tactics that work best for you and your children as individuals. Setting boundaries, being clear, and remaining consistent is vital, but the ways in which you discipline your child should be appropriate to them as a person involving the situation at hand.

~ KD Novelties is a publisher of personalized children’s books and are advocates for promoting literacy in children. They share parenting resources and reading tips here on their blog.