Search Results for: blog teaching responsibility one step at a time

Teaching Responsibility Through Chores

We didn’t have a lot of chores growing up. Every Saturday we had to help clean the bathrooms, but that was about it. We helped a little here and there, but in the end, we didn’t do a whole lot to help around the house when we were kids. My mother tried, but after battling grumpy children for a couple years she finally gave up. In very little time, she had six spoiled teenagers who didn’t know how to cook or clean for themselves. I was the only one who had a consistent job through high school, and the others … Continue reading →

Teaching Responsibility One Step at a Time

Today Logan and I embarked on a great adventure. While this adventure was more for fun, it is definitely one of those teaching moments you never want to pass up. This afternoon I made the crazy decision to take my son to the pet store. Like any four year old, Logan wanted to bring the entire store home with us—the cats, the dogs, the birds, the guinea pigs, the mice, the fish, the turtles, the frogs, the snakes, he wanted them all. Seeing as for the time being we are still living with Grandma anything with fur was out of … Continue reading →

Children And Money

When your teenager gets a job it’s a huge step for them towards being an adult. When Hailey was younger I didn’t really teach her about money management because we didn’t have any left over for her to manage. I tried to set a good example. As a single mother many times I lived hand to mouth but I let her know the importance of paying your bills first, taking care of anything that is a true need, saving some for a rainy day, and then, if there is anything left, getting something you want. When Hailey got her first … Continue reading →

Celebrating a Second Anniversary as a Pets Blogger

Two years ago today I officially started on with Families.com as one of their newest Pets Bloggers. Ironically enough, two years later on my anniversary date, here I’ve turned in my two weeks notice. (I just realized as I started writing this that I did that on my start date anniversary.) It’s been a good ride, a very fun ride, and an amazingly informative one. I’ll still be around for the next couple of weeks, but I wanted to take a moment and reflect on some of my favorite blogs from the past couple of years. A Few of My … Continue reading →

Primary Time: Praising Children

As parents it is critical that we take the time to praise our children. Children in Primary are especially responsive to this type of praise. Children will begin to behave so that they can receive praise and hugs for their good behavior. A great deal of children’s behavior is focused on bringing attention to themselves. Children who misbehave constantly want the attention that this brings to them. By giving positive attention and praise you can help to limit negative behavior. Have you ever had a day where you step back and look at the things you have said to your … Continue reading →

What Are We Teaching Our Kids About Adulthood?

My children have accused me, at times, of making adulthood look pretty un-fun. Well, sometimes adulthood is pretty un-fun–at least compared to the irresponsibility and amped up social life of a teenager. But, I do have some consciousness that I am not only raising my kids now–but that I am a representation to them of what adulthood can look like. I don’t want to make it look un-fun–but I also don’t want them to think it’s an excuse for one big party either. As an eldest child and long time single parent, responsibility is something I do extremely well–sometimes TOO … Continue reading →

Teaching Teens to Save Money

It is important to teach your children to save money. This step can be easy to do, especially if you start at an early age. Saving money will teach your children discipline. It will also help them to see that as they save their money they will have more power to do the things that they want to do. Here are five tips for teaching teens to save money. 1) Have your teenagers save towards a goal. It may be a car. It may be a high school trip. If you discuss the goal with your child, and make a … Continue reading →

Balancing Family Time

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When you’re raising a child with special needs, it’s easy for things to get off-balance. The child and his medical and special education issues can overwhelm your time and attention. Often families are torn apart because of these inequities. Spouses can feel forgotten, and siblings feel neglected and jealous. If the focus on your special needs child is so all-consuming that your family fades in the background, you’re doing your child a disservice. His or her greatest chance for happiness and success depends in many ways upon the strength and stability of the family environment at home. Here are some … Continue reading →

Teaching Teenagers to Live Moral Lives

Over the last 40 years society’s morals have been decreasing. Drug and alcohol abuse, violence, and sexual promiscuity have been increasing. There are three key family characteristics that contribute to a teen’s choice to live a moral life: family connectedness, parental regulation, and freedom to express opinions. Family Connectedness Delinquent teens are less likely to come from families where parents show love and appreciation. Where the teenagers feel a connection and a belonging with the family unit. So how can parents foster family connectedness? · Spend one on one time. Go to an athletic event, get ice cream, or take … Continue reading →

The Difference Between Saving and Investing: An Important Distinction for Kids to Learn

You can save or you can invest. It is a distinction that many adults struggle with as a concept. How then can kids understand the difference, and why is it so important? Most kids who are introduced to the concepts of money tend to be conservative. They like to hoard as much of their money as they can and save up for things. That is a great phase that can be utilized by parents, caregivers and teachers to teach the value and the responsibility of money. Unfortunately, most kids do not get any instruction past those initial lessons. Many experts … Continue reading →