@WalmartGreeter I’m so glad you brought up this topic. Yes- I read it and yes, we are gonna wait till 16 for smart phones. Our son is 11 and only has a fit bit smart watch for calling and texting adults. So far so good. here is an interview I did with one of the experts pushing for phone-free schools in our city (and she shares lots of stats and facts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sustainable-parenting/id1682538739?i=1000698883819
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Smartphones & Technology -
Leaving fun activity meltdownsHi @pinkpurse [To help transitions I think of these 4 steps:
A) connection first (come alongside and noticing what they have been playing with, or name it: "Boy! You have been having so much fun playing in this sand and building that castle. Look at it!",
B) Direct them to their "Last thing" when you have 2-5 min. left- like they say in Daniel Tiger's episode. This gives more empowerment and makes the child feel like they ended on the note THEY choose.: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6ve0cp,
C) Use tools that give choice/playfulness to encourage cooperation (from the "Empowering statements" handout: https://drive.google.com/file/d/114xMIG_i5SZv-OzZct_XclD11u9LUM4J/view?usp=sharing). This is CRITICAL. Instead of just saying "we have to go", put their brain on choices like, "should we skip or hop to the car?" "Do you want a squeezy or granola bar when we get to the car?" "Do you wanna go right side up or upside down?"
D) "2 roads" if needed. If they continue to not be motivated by all that - give a happy choice that has a happy result, vs. sad choice and sad result. Like: "well, you can go hopping or skipping, or I will hold your hand and help your body move to the car. You choose." (and if they don't start moving, then they have chosen for you to help them. The "sad road" could also be a privilege lost, or not being able to come to the park the next day, etc. I love the "What should Danny do" books to reinforce this idea in a way kids really like. https://www.amazon.com/dp/069284838X/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_undefined?linkCode=ml1&tag=sustainablepa-20![alt text]](link url)
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Masturbation in poolHi! Therapist here- I love that you are asking this question because I bet there are other moms out there with similar questions. This topic can be uncomfortable to talk about but here are some tips:
- developmentally, this is VERY normal
- at this age, kids are just doing these behaviors because it feels “good” or “weird” (they aren’t sexualizing it- it’s just pleasure and curiosity)
- maybe next time she is doing it in the privacy of your hot tub at home, you can have a casual non-shaming conversation with her
- Ex: “Our bodies are really cool and they feel lots of different sensations! It can be fun to explore and be curious about the different parts of our bodies and what they do. Sometimes when we touch our private parts (or you can use the actual private part name) it feels good and that’s totally normal! But it’s something we do in private and not in front of other people. Just like when we go to the bathroom, change clothes, shower, bathe, etc...
- and make sure to let her know she can always come to you and ask anything on this topic in the future
You got this!
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Your go to evening healthy-ish sweet treatFruit smoothies with less water/milk can whip up and feel like ice cream. It’s one of my favorites.
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4yr old son recent Autism Diagnosis..next steps?@Love-Speaks I second all of your remarks and recommendations.
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Sleep away camps & maturity?!Our kids are 9 and 11. They both started sleep-away camp between 8-9 years old.
I grew up going to summer camp, starting in 1st grade and went all through school, until college- when I worked as a counselor all 5 summers. I think camp is HUGE for fostering independence. So I would say - find out what kind of background checks and supervision is done of the counselors and just make sure u find one u feel comfortable with. The unfortunate truth is that our kids could have a situation of possible abuse anywhere. So it’s important to have some hard but clear conversations with the kids on sexual abuse prevention steps (like knowing that no one should ask to see their private or want to show theirs, etc). There are some great books out there to help with the conversation if it’s uncomfortable for you.
I hope you find a great place (like our family did).
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4yr old son recent Autism Diagnosis..next steps?@WhatsOnYourMB.
Thank you for reaching out and sharing where you're at. It's completely normal to feel overwhelmed after a diagnosis — even when it brings clarity, it can also bring a lot of questions. Please know you're not alone, and your son is still the same wonderful child you’ve always known.
As you consider next steps, here are a few places to start:- Early intervention services (if not already in place)
- Speech and occupational therapy
- Developmental or behavioral support like ABA, if it feels like a good fit
- Support for you — parent groups or professionals who can walk with you
Please feel free to reach out to discuss further resources! We are here to help however we can — whether that’s connecting you with services, answering questions, or just listening.
Warmly,
Jennie @Love Speaks Speech and Language Services, PLLC -
Screen Time Strategy for SummerWe use a grid that has 6 spots of 1/2 hour squares, and the page is inside a sheet protector. The kids cross off when they use a half hour and manage it on their own (with some supervision). So we do that for a total of 3 hours during the week. And then 2 hours on each sat and Sunday.
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Bullying at schoolGreat question. I actually think there is a great middle option - which is to see this as “peer conflict” instead of bullying. Peer conflict is very normal AND something important to address with our kids. You can equip them with tools on how to respond when a child is saying or doing throngs that feel mean. It’s a good teachable moment for your child. If things aren’t changing with those tools - talking to a teacher to help them be aware and problem solve with them, can also help it improve most often with young kids.
I can walk u though some tangible ways to do that if u’d like help ; https://calendly.com/susparenting
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Where do you get ozempic?https://www.resultswellnessandweightloss.com/ This woman prescribes through telehealth and does a great job!! She is a nurse Practitioner and has 15 years of experience in the health field.