One of the most important things we can do for our children is to spend regular, scheduled special time with them. We can spend long days together, yet our attention may be divided and our children’s frustration builds as they realize we are not fully present. Most children will let us know in their own “creative” ways if they feel that we are not giving them the attention that they need. Some will withdraw while others will act out.

Spending scheduled quality time with our children is extremely important for their development and happiness but carving the time isn't always easy. Below are some tips and ideas: 

Plan: Brainstorm with your child a list of things that you would like to do together during your special time. Take turns choosing an activity (activities do not need to cost any money or be fancy). 

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We all agree that healthy limits and boundaries are important, and we are usually pretty good at coming up with rules and consequences. The difficulty comes when we have to enforce what we say. Here is a common example: “If you don’t pick up the toys, they are going in the garbage,”. Toys remain scattered across the floor and parents just can't make themselves put the toys in the garbage.
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Talking about limits but not actually keeping them is just not helpful to children. Not following through leads to uncertainty, disconnection and even anxiety for both parents and children. Children usually know when parents mean what they say and when they don’t. But, why is it so hard for parents to follow through with consequences? 

Some parents believe that giving children what they want will show them that they are loved. 

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​Schools in many parts of the United States are increasingly offering dual language programs. The most common type of dual language programs is the two-way approach, also known as “TWBI” (two-way bilingual immersion). In TWBI programs some of the children are native speakers (in the target language), some are bilingual, and some come from English-only homes. Some programs teach in English for half the day and the other half in the target language (this is called the 50/50 model). Other programs are almost entirely in the target language in kindergarten and first grade (this is called the 90/10 model). The goal is to have all children test at grade level in both languages by fourth grade.
 
Although there are many language combinations, the English/Spanish pair is currently the most popular in our area. You can click here to see a list of Spanish TWBI elementary schools in the South Bay.

​Social stories are short stories that depict a social situation that children may encounter. They are used to teach children through the use of specific and sequential information about everyday events that children may find difficult or confusing, thus preventing further anxiety on the part of your child.

​Social stories have a wide variety of applications from understanding others’ actions and emotions, developing self-care skills, and general safety techniques to specific events or changes in routine. Check out our social story about staying healthy at Pasitos during Covid-19.