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This column contains sponsored ads from Amazon.com and other sources
SAFE EYES
 Effective program endorsed by the AYCNP. Comes with 14 day free trial period.
Free ebook
from the Campaign
for a Commercial Free Childhood
 on-site
Sharing Nature With Children
by Joseph Bharat Cornell
Children benefit from time spent enjoying nature. This book is recommended by American Camping Association and the National Audubon Society, as well as other organizations. Sharing Nature With Children is "..an effective tool for creating a greater awareness and enthusiasm for the beauty of nature." -- Today's Librarian
Freeing Your Child from Negative Thinking: Powerful, Practical Strategies to Build a Lifetime of Resilience, Flexibility, and Happiness by Tamar E. Chansky
This is written by a leading clinical expert in child cognitive behavior therapy and anxiety disorders. Dr. Tamar Chansky provides guidance for parents and caregivers in changing negative thinking into positive, especially as it relates to raising children.
Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings
by Kenneth R. Ginsburg MD MSEd FAAP
There are sometimes overwhelming stresses on children today. A child who develops resilience is more likely to bounce back from highly stressful situations or life's problems, present and future. This book helps children and teens to build resilience and learn coping strategies for life.
Setting Limits with Your Strong-Willed Child : Eliminating Conflict by Establishing Clear, Firm, and Respectful Boundaries, by Robert J. MacKenzie Ed.D.
One of the cries of teachers and some school psychologists is that parents need to set firm boundaries for their children on many different fronts. This book helps parents to discern how they can set firm but loving boundaries for their children.
Parenting With Love and Logic, by Foster Cline, Jim Fay, Eugene H. Peterson
"Love and Logic" parents teach their children responsibility and the logic of life by solving their own problems, providing skills for coping in the real world. After laying out the principles of "Love and Logic," the authors provide "parenting pearls," which are strategies for applying the method to actual situations such as back-seat battles in the car, homework, and keeping bedrooms clean. The book is clear, energetic, upbeat and sensible.
Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture by journalist Peggy Orenstein
From an author featured in New York Times Magazine, someone who has an issue with Cinderella syndrome for her daughter. Comical, passionate writer who went to great lengths to get to the heart of today's pop-culture for tweens.
365 TV Free Activities, by Steven J. Bennett and Ruth Bennett
First saw this book in a first grade classroom. Great ideas for parents and kids. Great concept!
So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids, by Diane E. Levin Ph.D., Jean Kilbourne Ed.D.
The media accentuates and hastens the sexuality of young girls. Dianne Levin, Ph.D., notes how everything from the Disney Channel, Barbie, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, and Bratz, is affecting children.
Overcoming ADHD Without Medication: A Guidebook for Parents and Teachers, by the AYCNP
This 128 page book gives practical ideas on how parents and educators can help children to overcome symptoms associated with ADHD, without a prescription. Proven methods, many references, footnotes, bibliography, index, recommended reading and agencies.
Please Don't Label My Child: Break the Doctor-Diagnosis-Drug Cycle and Discover Safe, Effective Choices for Your Child's Emotional Health, by noted child psychiatrist Scott Shannon, MD
A wonderfully insightful book on child psychology/psychiatry. This book should be in every parent's library.
Your Child's Health, by Barton Schmidt
A complete medical reference for parents and well read book by medical doctor Barton Schmidt. He describes, also, the effects that violent movies can have on a child and cautions parents.
Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs by Ellen Galinsky (Six Stages of Parenthood; Ask the Children)
What works and what doesn't, hints and tips, and over a hundred suggestions (games and family activities) for involving kids in the pursuit of learning.
Mommy I'm Scared
by Joanne Cantor, PhD
A wonderful book for parents, teachers and principals, to help them to realize the tremendous impact "scary" TV and movies can have on a child's emotions and psychological profile. R-rated movies and G-rated movies, as well as everything in between, can leave a deep emotional footprint on a child. What should parents do? Dr. Cantor discusses these thoughts simply and insightfully.
What to Do When You're Scared and Worried - for children by James J. Crist
"An easy-to-follow and well organized self-help tool that will be invaluable for kids who struggle with fears or worries."—School Library Journal
Soothing and beautiful music for babies and prenatal
Sampled / tested and recommended by the AYCNP
Teach a child to play the piano! This helps them learn to enjoy beautiful music, to have self respect, and to have wholesome recreation.
Electric
Photo credits:
Photo of family Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Boy Reading - Image: Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Concert and wrestling photos public domain images under Creative Commons license.
Child artist - Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Child Health Online
Non-sponsored link for good info on children's safety, health.
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| Page updated April 19, 2013
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Parenting Advice and Tips
24 Steps in Positive Parenting
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Child psychology and children's mental health is made simple on this page. Topics considered are, Parenting, setting reasonable limits for children, controlling the media in the home, including, protecting children from media violence, providing wholesome activities for children, and giving children your love, time and attention.
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All green links on this page are off-site links from sponsors and funds are used to support the non-profit activities of the AYCNP
Free ebook - Children's media issues: Facing the Screen Dilemma Young Children, Technology and Early Education, by the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood
Free ebook courtesy of the CCFC (on-site)
1. Balanced attention to diet and nutrition: low sugar, low carbohydrate, no soda, within reason. Light on the fruit juice. No sugared fruit juices. Junk food snacking only on special occasions.
Media:
2. Cut down on
TV,
movie and
video game activity as much as is possible.
3. Take video games and television out of the bedrooms. Children and teens who have television in their bedrooms often stay up to the early hours of the morning watching television, music videos or playing video games. In school, they may be too tired to concentrate in class. Parents are wise to keep the television and other electronics out of the bedrooms of their children and teenagers.
One pre-teen child in a special education class had been falling asleep at 1:00 AM, due to watching television at night. After his mother took the TV out of his bedroom, he fell asleep at 10:00 PM, with positive results in his ability to concentrate throughout the day in school. Statistics indicate that up to 67% of children and teens have open access to television (usually cable or satellite) in their bedroom.
TRUCE has a great site on children, parenting and the media. Good, balanced guidelines on TV, media, violence, sex. (off-site link)
See also Positive Parenting (on-site link)
4. Keep the computer in a public place in the house. and keep an eye on how much computer time is being spent and what sites. Talk to your children about it.
Parenting Tips:
Parental internet control software, while not necessarily 100% fullproof, can protect children from unwholesome or hurtful websites, and parents can monitor what sites their children have gone on, and control the time on the Internet.
Professional Help and Education
5. Pursue tutoring,
coaching, mentoring in school. Personal assistants also can be of help. Inquire about it.
6. Pursue any other one on one programs in the public schools or public library such as reading tutoring that are available.
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Reading ability is higher for children who spend less time watching television and movies. Less TV and movie time is directly proportional to better reading ability. Studies have demonstrated that children who watch R-Rated movies consistently have poorer grades than children who do not.
7. Communicate with your
children's teachers regularly-visit often and attend meetings.
Children's Mental Health Checklist for Parents and Educators.
Wholesome Recreation,
Music and
Art
8. Provide wholesome recreation for you children during the week and weekends.
9. Consider enrolling your child in
art lessons.
Ideas to help a child develop interest in art
This is a nice link for printouts on drawing flowers for children and teens Drawing Flowers Off-site link
10. Buy how to books and supplies for your children on art. and decorate your home likewise.
11. Try to weed out any comic books or games that have
occult or spiritistic overtones, or that are violent. This is true also of music. Encourage lighter, mellower
music rather than heavy alternative music, gothic, heavy metal, grunge, hard core, or hard rock with spiritistic influences. Keep tabs on how much time is spent.
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Disney Princesses are a popular fantasy for girls, but also can contain strong imagery of violence, stereotyping, and can promote unrealistic expectations in romance.
See Blogging Archetypes and Stereotypes Project (Julia Shin & Jung Eun Chung): Modern Princess for some interesting observations on Disney and Barbie Princesses. (off-site link).
Disney movies have been described in terms of "horror movies for children," made with the "highest illustrative art". Disney Princess movies, while projecting an image of delightful fantasy for children, also contain scenes of violence and terror. Because characters are well developed, as well as containing deeply emotionally bonding characters, children can become emotionally attached to these fantasy characters. For some sensitive children, especially girls, overindulgence in Disney and similar fantasies can be a contributing factor in some mental health disorders, especially when it is combined with other powerful media influences, or when real emotional attachments are lacking in the life of a child. (Neubauer, P.)
Also, stereotypes of extremes, totally evil characters, versus, portraits of light and heroism, can contribute to a child's developing an "all or nothing" way of thinking with regards to their evaluations of people. Some researchers have expressed concerns over the portrayal of the mentally ill in a stereotypical negative fashion, "nuts, crazy, evil, etc.," in the majority of Disney films. This can lead to a prejudiced and stereotypical view of the mentally ill, a fear of the mentally ill, or to a negative self image if the child, later in life, develops some form of mental illness, which nearly 50% of Americans will at some time in their lives.
Overindulgence in
movies as a child, can contribute, for some preteens and teens who are genetically pre-disposed, towards
depression or
ADHD.
Parenting Tips: Don't indulge your children in Princess products and culture.
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Gregory Fouts (Off-site link) - An excellent reference for studies on media's effects on the psychology of adults, teens and children, as well as information on some Disney studies, and eating disorders.
Gregory Fouts, Ph.D, Department of Psychology, University of Calgary.
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12. Enroll your child in piano or violin lessons. Help them to widen out in their
musical taste. Introduce them to a diversity of music.
Many children enjoy learning to play a musical instrument. Learning to play the piano, or in some inner city schools, the violin, is a wonderful skill for a child to master. Some children who learn to play the violin in school play beautiful little pieces in as few as four months.
Discipline and Support
13. Provide loving but firm discipline for your children. Be consistent. Positive parenting means never disciplining in anger. Children, especially as they get older, need to be reasoned with. Explain why a course is good or harmful, rather than just laying down rules. This will help a child and teen to see that you really care about them, and are working for their happiness.
14. Make sure your children have good companionship with suitable friends.
15. Keep up on your child's activities when they visit other children. Communicate with their friend's parents about your child's special needs.
16. Plan day trips to art museums, aquariums, zoos or places of historical interest.
Provide Wholesome Recreation - Outdoor Activities
17. Exercise, walk, camp, hike, visit local parks or lakes for recreation.
18. Get a pet or fishtank. (It teaches responsibility and giving, it's a nice hobby with nice lessons to be learned.)
Chidlren Need a Good Night's Sleep
19. Make sure your child is getting to sleep at a regular and reasonable bed time and don't resort to medicine to help him to sleep. (it can create a vicious cycle.)
Parenting Tips: Keep the TV and other electronics out of the bedroom. Make sure that the child is calm an hour or two before bedtime. Video games and movies before bed will ensure that the child cannot sleep. Parental controls on the television, with shut off times, and controls on ratings can be effectively used by parents.
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Infants who watch too much television showed marked increases in social regression and decrease in language development.
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Positive Parenting: Time and Love
20. Spend quality and quantity time with your child. Show lots of love and approval regularly. Be patient with your child's progress. Try not to be a perfectionist.
21. Take personal responsibility for your decisions and actions.
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Music and concerts can effect a child's mental health.
Some children spend 24/7 on the ipod, music videos, Internet videos and concerts. For some, the long hours of stimulation is more than their minds can handle and it can contribute to chemical changes in the mind that overwhelming. Balance and moderation is needed.
See: Major depression teens and music time
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Reading strengthens the mind while commercial television defragmants the mind and can contribute to depression in children.
22. Keep well-informed and well read on everything involved with your child's situation. Parents magazine often has good articles, as does Awake! magazine (non-commercial), in addition to many books that have been written. Be selective in which books you read on the subject of parenting.
23. Care for your family's
spiritual needs. Read the
Bible, Bible stories and pray with your child. Teach him to pray. Pray for your child. Build a value system in your child. Don't let
TV teach life's
lessons to your child. The Bible has many good guidelines for parents in being successful in raising children.
24. Keep hope alive and don't give up. Your positive attitude will reflect in your decisions and your dealings with your child.
Additional Information
Avoid Exposing your Child to Violence in the Media
Violence in the media comes in many common forms for children. From Transformers movies to many Superhero films to Pro-wrestling on cable TV. Violent video games influence a child's perception of what is right and wrong. Make conscious choices about what your child is exposed to in the media, and guide him or her positively. Know what your child is watching and playing at home, after school and with his or her friends. In a highly visual world, art is a great way for kids to satisfy their need for visual stimulation in a way that builds self-esteem and contributes to mental and emotional resilience.
Pro-Wrestling and Violent Movies
Watching
Violence on television does affect the psychological profile of children.
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Violence in the media such as regularly viewing pro-wrestling, effects a child's perception of life. Sadistic scenes, although most children realize that it is staged, leaves on pre-teen children, a deep emotional scar and callousness towards harming others.
Parenting Advice - Art for Children is a Positive, Mind-Strengthening Activity and a Protection from Media Violence
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Children need to have positive visual images reinforced in a highly visual world which is filled with sexual and violent images.
Art helps children build a reservoir of positive visual images. Parents should direct children to art. It can help children to learn self-control, help them to develop focus and fill their minds with positive images. Art can help many children to overcome symptoms of ADHD. See Daniella Barroqueira's article on ADHD and art.
Free coloring book site pages worth printing for children |
This page Tigers Off-site link
101 Absolutely Free Kids' Activities
About.com newsletter (off-site link)
Children and Parenting Advice References:
1. Corliss, R., Poniewozik, J. February 13, 2005. 5 DVDs Worth Your Time. Time Magazine.
2. Fouts, G., Callan, M., Piasentin, K., Lawson, A. (June 8, 2006).
Demonizing in
Children's Television Cartoons and Disney Animated Films. Child Psychiatry and Human Development. Vol. 37, No. 1. pp. 15-23.
3. Gostin, N., (March 2005). Tears for a Deer. Newsweek.
It's got an adorable hare, a gangly fawn and one of the most disturbing death scenes in the history of animation. We're referring, of course, to the 1942 classic "Bambi," in which the hero loses his mom to the sharp crack of a hunting rifle. With the film out on DVD this week, parents will be wondering how to cope with the inevitable question: "Mom, are you going to die?"
4. Hallett, V. (October 31, 2004). The Pain Behind Peter Pan. US News & World Report.
5. Lawson, A., & Fouts, G. (2004).
Mental illness in Disney animated films. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. 49 (5), 165-169.
7. Levin, Dianne, Ph.D. Fantasy and Reality. Professor of Education, Wheelock College, Boston, MA.
7. Ornstein, P. (December 24, 2006). What's Wrong With
Cinderella New York Times Magazine.
One mothers concerns with Disney and Princess Culture for little girls.
8. Nigg, J. (2006). What Causes ADHD? New York: Guilford.
9. Olfman, S. (2009). The Sexualization of Childhood.
10. Parmer, N. (Sep/Oct 2004). Lunatic Toons.
Disney Films may Teach Children to Fear the Mentally Ill, (by portraying characters as "crazy" and "nuts"). Psychology Today.
11. Schmidt, Barton, M.D., F.A.A.P. (1991). Your Child's Health. New York: Bantam
Child Safety On Info Highway
Off site link
NetSmartz. Internet education for parents and children
Off-site link
K9 - Free parental internet filtering - blocking software (on-site - K9 is not a sponsor but a free program for parents.)
Doesn't have all the bells and whistles of some of the subscription based internet monitoring / filtering software, but it works well and is suitable for most households.
bSecure - Highly Rated Parental Internet Monitoring, Filtering Software
sponsor
Psychiatry and children - Off-site
The Ethics and Science of Medicating Children, Jacqueline A. Sparks, The University of Rhode Island; Duncan, B., (Spring, 2004). Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry, Volume 6, Number 1.
Pages Related to Parenting and Raising Children (on-site)
Parenting Advice and Tips - 24 Steps in Positive Parenting
24 Positive Steps for Effective Parenting -Children's Mental Health
Autism in Children
Children & Television
Walt Disney Biography
Children & Movies
Best Children's Books
page with 100s of positive books for children and teens
Sponsored ads
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