Christmas Tic-Tac-Toe

    One of the things that I have noticed as an educator is that children and young people are completely addicted to technology. They don't take time out to speak to one another fact to face anymore and they definitely don't play the kinds of games that we used to play when we were kids. The games I'm talking about were Jacks, Tic-Tac-Toe, Hopscotch, etc.     Lately, my husband and I have been trying to limit technology in our home. Since we now have a teen and a pre-teen, they would rather spend most of their time playing video games when we are home. While we do reward them with time to play these games, we've also been going back to basics by making them turn off their gadgets in lieu of playing some good old-fashioned games as a family.     When I was younger, one of my favorite games was Tic-Tac-Toe because it was so easy to play and because you could basically use any surface as a game board and many items can be used as game pieces. That … [Read more...]

Help Your Teenager Deal With Peer Pressure

    Teenagers seem to be faced with so much more today, then I ever faced as a kid. It’s a tough world out there. Unfortunately, there are teenagers out there who won’t do the right thing. Since they refuse to do the right thing, they will drag other teens down with them. Here is how to help your teenager deal with peer pressure. Communicate with your teenager Your life will always go a lot more smoothly whenever you communicate with your teenager. Not only do you want to communicate with them, you want to have an open-door policy for them. It’s much better to have your teen come talk to you than give into peer pressure. Trust your teen to make the right choice Every adult on this planet has made a bad choice and a lot of those choices were made as teenagers. AS a parent, you have vowed to never let your teenager make the same mistakes you did. GREAT! Now that you have talked to your teen, trust them to make the right choice. If they will be in a situation where you think there will … [Read more...]

Is Your Teen Ready For A Debit Card?

    One of the hardest jobs in the world is being a parent. You want to raise your kids to be healthy, responsible, productive, independent and happy adults. In a world where everyone is looking out for themselves, it is important to teach your kids integrity and independent thinking that isn't easily swayed by peer pressure.     When it comes to giving your teen responsibilities, there are some key factors that can help you know when they are ready. Here are some things to help you know if your teen is ready for a debit card. #1. Are they working for their own money? If your teen is in high school and able to work a job, they may be ready for a debit card. When a teen works for their own money, it helps them to know the value of a dollar. The problem with a debit card is that it makes it really easy to spend money. The other problem is you have to keep a close watch on your account balance, so you don't go below your balance. #2. Are they trustworthy? If your teen is not … [Read more...]