No Name-Calling Week- January 23-27, 2012

We often find ourselves saying to children “use your words” in place of using physical responses to situations.  But the flip side is that words can hurt.

This week, January 23-27, 2012, many schools and after-school programs are taking part in the “No Name-Calling Week Project.” The idea was spawned from the James Howe young-adult novel “The Misfits”, in which five 7^th grade students develop a “No Name-Calling Day” at their school. The thrust of the project is to “focus national attention on the problem on name calling in schools, and to provide students and educators with the tools and inspiration to launch on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate name-calling in their communities.” No-Name Calling Week has now developed into a coalition that includes partners, sponsors, supporters and allies, including some of the largest corporations in the nation.

Is your school participating in No Name-Calling Week? According to children’s reports of bullying and name calling in the school, should they be? Bullying and name calling continue to be a large problem affecting our youth, even as education about the effects continues to grow. Click here for more information, including free lesson plans designed for elementary school, middle school, high school and art classes.  Maybe nannies and parents can find ideas to use in the course of your daily time with children.

Changing Kids’ Mentality about Cheating in School

Studies show that 80 to 85 percent of kids will have cheated in school by the time they are high school graduates. According to researchers, much of this cheating can be attributed to over-packed schedules, too much pressure and in improper understanding of the concept “cheating is wrong.” So what can parents and caregivers do to make sure the children in their care don’t end up among this 85%?

1. make sure they understand exactly what cheating is AND why it is wrong 
2. remove some of the pressure—remember, the grade does not always reflect how much a child has learned 
3. lead by example—follow the rules, even if they make some things more difficult or less convenient 
4. develop honor codes with the kids so not cheating becomes a matter of ethics rather than consequences 
5. stop “over” helping with homework and projects—making it okay for kids to pass the buck on their work

For more information on this study, visit CNN.

Top 5 in 2011 Kid Lit

As is the case when any new year begins, we are bombarded with lists attempting to clench on to the glory and excitement that came along with some of the most (and least) impressive occurrences, achievements and products of the year past. And each year, many of these lists are focused around art, music and literature. Most of the lists are predictable, many of the lists are repetitive and some of the lists are pointless. However, this year we have stumbled upon a unique list released by NPR that we have found to be both interesting and of value. The adorably titled “Top 5 Books For Backseat Readers (Ages 9 and Up)” list focuses in on kid lit written for middle schoolers and recommends the top five must-reads that were released in 2011. The list includes:

•   Heart And Soul by Kadir Nelson
•  The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
•  The Secret History Of Balls by Josh Chetwynd and Emily Stackhouse
•   Drawing From Memory by Allen Say
•  Saint Louis Armstrong Beach by Brenda Woods

Visit NPR’s site for the synopsis of each book, as well as other year-end lists that might be of interest to mom, dad or caregiver.

Kids are Exercising Their Way to Good Grades

A recent study has once again confirmed that the more physically active a child is, the more success they will have in the classroom. The findings, that are from one high quality intervention study and one high quality observational study, are being published in the January 2012 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. It is noted in the article that “increases in the blood and oxygen flow to the brain that accompanies exercise may play a role in improving classroom performance.” Simply, this physical reaction reduces stress and greatly improves mood which results in better grades in school.

So, we call on all parents and caregivers to get kids active! Encourage them to play and exercise more, and join in on the fun yourselves. The White House even launched a program in 2010, Let’s Move, to raise a healthier generation of kids. Visit the program’s website for tips on getting active. The results will leave the kids happy, healthy and more successful!