How to Teach Your Son to Be a Servant Leader
I have the blessing of raising two girls and two boys. They each come with their own personality, strengths, and weaknesses. While I feel confident in raising my girls, most likely because I am one, it’s my boys that my heart aches for and where I feel ill-equipped. I perceive there is so much pressure on boys to fit a certain mold of masculinity, intelligence, and leadership. So how can I raise my boys to be themselves, while equipping them to fight against the pressures of who culture tells them to be? Teach them to be servant leaders! Servant Leadership I learned this concept in college, and presently work within a community-based, not-for-profit healthcare system that practices it. Here’s how Robert Greenleaf defined this leadership concept: A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong…The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. In teaching our sons to become servant leaders, we are encouraging them to explore their natural giftings, to discover their role in their communities (friends, family, society), and ultimately establish security in their identity! Here are some suggestions on teaching our boys to become servant leaders.
40 Developmental Assets for School Age Children
Are you helping your child become a successful adult? According to the Search Institute, there are 40 key developmental assets which you can provide to your school-aged child that will help her transition through childhood and adulthood. As you begin providing these assets to your child, keep in mind the following six guidelines provided by […]
The Secret Ingredient to School Success
Have you ever worked hard cooking a meal only to taste it and be disappointed? It’s amazing how missing one ingredient while cooking can be the difference between a delicious meal and a dud. The same is true of raising kids, especially when it comes to their education. Research shows that parent involvement in schools has multiple positive impacts: student success increases, along with teacher morale and overall school quality.
How to Make a Difference in Your Child’s School
Teachers and school administrators the world over agree: parental involvement is a major factor in a child’s educational success, and plays a significant role in the overall health and quality of a school community. For super-busy parents, this may sound daunting. How in the world can you fit in one more thing? These tips can […]
5 Ways to Make this School Year the Best Yet
Even when my children are completely calm about starting a new school year, I can be a little nervous. Will they connect with their teachers? Will they have a friend in their class? Will they be able to keep up with their schoolwork? The start of a new school year is filled with anticipation, excitement, […]
Why Baby Media Does Not Advance Learning
In past blogs I’ve warned parents, “Baby Einstein or Brainy Baby may turn your baby into anything but,” and “Don’t Count on DVDs to Improve Your Child’s Vocabulary.” Now, as science catches up to the marketing of these DVDs, more doubts are being raised about their so-called value and effectiveness. Passive Babies Parents who want […]
Good Nutrition Is Crucial to Your Child’s Education
Did you know that good nutrition not only helps your children stay healthy, but also helps them learn at school? Nutrition expert Kelly Hammer and education expert Vicki Caruana explain that vital nutrients in healthy foods contribute to keeping our children’s brains functioning at peak performance. These nutrients include water, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and […]
Getting Your Child Ready for School
Are you ready to send your child to school? Is your child ready to go to school? Here are some things to think about as you try to answer those questions: Getting Your Child Emotionally Ready: Be sure to reassure him that you will miss him and understand that he will miss you too. You […]
6 Homework Questions Moms Need to Answer
Is homework hurting your relationship with your children? Do you have to nag, scream and threaten to get them started? There is a better way for getting that homework done! Getting our kids to do their homework can be frustrating. The key, of course, is using a system to establish a routine and stop the […]
Parental School Involvement
In their book, Getting the Best out of Public Schools, authors Dr. Steven and Virelle Kidder share an article written by Linda S. Page on how parents can become involved in their children’s schools. According to Page, “The type of parental involvement that makes a positive difference in student achievement is more than ‘volunteering.’ While supporting […]
Homework Without Hassles…Almost!
One fall, a dad named Ron made it a point to ask each of his children’s teachers, “What’s the single best thing I could do that would make your job easier?” For at least the next four years he continued that habit, and every single teacher gave essentially the same answer: take an active role […]
10 Ways to Help Your Kids With Their Homework
My children’s homework personalities were as different as they were. One of them needed no prodding at all. A couple of others needed a bit more mom involvement. And two of mine were pretty much allergic to all things homework. Well, no matter where your child falls in the mix, there are tips for how […]
