When my son’s second grade teacher told me that he often appeared to ‘check out’ during the school day, I was concerned. But I wasn’t entirely surprised that my imaginative child would drift off to his dream world, an infinitely more colorful place than a math facts worksheet. Nonetheless, his daydreaming needed to be addressed. While many dreamers are creative and bright children, they may have trouble getting work done during the school day, struggle with paying attention to the teacher and forget to turn in homework. Worse, they can easily get pegged as slackers.
Parents, do you ever wonder if you may be taking the whole over-scheduling taboo too seriously? Personally, I find most parents are intelligent, conscientious and trying to find a healthy middle ground for everyone in the family. Most parents want their kids to have just the right amount of after-school activities. The vast majority seem committed to helping their kids become happier, healthier, well-rounded citizens without pushing them into activity overload.
The Red Cross estimates that over 90 per cent of families spend at least some time in the water during the summer months, so it makes sense that summer is the prime season for children’s swim lessons. But don’t be so quick to pull your kids out of the water just because the temperature has fallen outside.
Getting kids to bed for a full night’s sleep is a tough task for parents. There are many distractions and demands that can get in the way. New research shows that poor night time sleep can have a harmful impact on child health. Children may even lose touch with their circadian clock, which controls sleep habits.
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