TRANSITION TO SCHOOL
It won't be long before our children will be expected to follow the time-honored procedures and
routines of school. As parents, what can we do to
up the odds that our children will easily transition from the relatively unstructured days of
summer to the more demanding experience of school
life?
• Avoid over-entertaining your kids during the late summer months. It's good to have
plenty of fun, but your children shouldn't be so addicted to
excitement that they go into shock when they have to sit quietly in a classroom.
• Maintain routines such as set family meal times and chores.
• Limit television, video games, and other highly stimulating electronic entertainment.
• Expect them to spend at least thirty minutes learning each day, by reading, writing
stories, creating science projects, etc.
• Expect your older children and teens to do odd jobs around the neighborhood, get
appropriate employment, or volunteer to help others in need.
• Establish the same expectations for behavior at home as they will face at school.
Contributed by: Love and Logic Institute
Dr. Charles Fay
HEALTHY FAMILY COMMUNICATIONS
The dysfunctional family makes great TV sitcom material…probably because we recognize many of
the themes from our own childhoods…and
probably because these shows leave us thinking, "What a relief. At least our family isn't as big
a mess as that one!"
Dysfunctional families may be entertaining to watch on TV, but they're horribly sad to belong
to. Fortunately, mental health experts have learned
a great deal about how to help families operate in healthy, happy ways. One of the most helpful
discoveries involves who family members talk to
when a problem arises.
• In healthy families, Mom talks to Dad when she is upset with Dad.
• In unhealthy families, Mom talks to the kids when she is upset with Dad.
• In healthy families, Dad talks to Mom when he's upset with Mom.
• In unhealthy families, Dad talks to his friends when he is upset with Mom.
• In healthy families, Junior talks to Dad when he wants something from Dad.
• In unhealthy families, Junior talks to Mom when he wants something from Dad.
• In healthy families, Junior talks to his teacher when he doesn't understand an
assignment.
• In unhealthy families, Mom and Dad talk to Junior's teacher when Junior doesn't
understand an assignment.
I bet you see the pattern here! In the healthiest families, family members share their concerns
directly with the person involved with the
concern…rather than dragging a third party into the mix.
Love and logic Institute
Dr. Charles Fay
THINKING ABOUT GROWING UP
15-year-old Jason was feeling independent. He and his friends all agreed that their parents
were "clueless" and had no right to be asking them
to be slaves around the house this summer. They had already had a stressful time just making it
through another year of school. That was
enough. Now was the time to chill out and hang out.
The only problem was that Jason's friends had parents who were providing plenty of ready cash.
In Jason's eyes, his parents should do the
same, but they had taken a Love and Logic course and were expecting him to do his share of the
work around the house and were outrageous
enough to suggest that he earn some of his own spending money.
Being turned down for a "loan" to buy the latest gadget, Jason sarcastically retorted, "Yeah, I
know. It's time I started to grow up get a job and earn
what I get!" With this he stomped off.
Dad was so proud of himself. He didn't even respond. But later, when all had settled down, he
did bring it up. "Jason, a while ago you mentioned
that it might be time for you to grow up, get a job, and start earning what you want. I've
thought about it and think that you might really be on to
something there."
Needless to say, Jason stomped off again. But he left with plenty to think about.
Hone your skills with teenagers. Listen to "Hormones and Wheels" each day on your way home from
work.
Love and Logic Institute
Jim Fay
Tune into the The Love and Logic® Show with Dr. Charles Fay, Sundays at 1pm on 630KHOW. Topics
include different parenting challenges
along with tried and true techniques for taking the exhaustion out of raising respectful and
responsible kids. If you are not in the Denver area,
Visit this page to download this week's show.