Mi Choza De Nipa

Image by Terry McCombs via Flickr By Dr James Dobson There's a fancy word for kids who don't do well in school. We call these kids underachievers. I would make three recommendations that can reach some kids: 1. Since most underachievers are terribly disorganised, help him establish a system for studying. Turn off the television set and make sure the proper investment in homework is made. 2. Stay in close contact with his teachers and know what's going on in school. I promise you that your son or daughter will not keep you so informed. 3. Seek tuition to provide the one-on-one help that may make the difference. There are some hardcore underachievers who seem determined to fail in school. For them no amount of pushing will get them motivated. In those cases I recommend that you go with the flow and accept the child just as he is. Not every youngster can be squeezed into the same mould, and it's a wise parent who knows when to race the engine and when to let it idle. F...

Image via Wikipedia By Dr Bill Maier Some kids are natural born leaders, but most kids tend to be followers. That's not a bad thing, as long as they're following the right people. All kids struggle with peer pressure , but those who are followers seem to be more easily swayed. And when children group together, a definite pecking order starts to develop. The leaders will soon be calling the shots, and most will likely follow them. But smart kids know when to tag along and when to quietly slip away. Teach your kids how to recognize when someone is a bad influence. Ask them specific questions about their friends, like: "What kind of language does Johnny use?" or "Doesn't Cindy get into a lot of trouble at school?" Find out who they're playing with and why, and help them think through their choices of playmates. Most kids want to stay away from trouble; sometimes they just need a little help recognising the warning signs along the way. From TODAY, Voi...

Image by Army.mil via Flickr By Dr Bill Maier One of the hardest parts about setting limits with your kids is figuring out what those limits should be. And it's important that you and your spouse agree. The worst thing you can do is to show a divided front when it comes to discipline. Be sure you've worked out a clear plan of action with your spouse before laying down the rules to your children. Sometimes it helps to write it out, so that there's no confusion later. Never argue about your rules in front of the kids. It undermines the very thing you're trying to achieve — letting them know that your rules have no wiggle room. Most importantly, don't let yourself be ambushed by kids who try to play one parent against the other. Once the rules have been set, make sure they're enforced by both you and your spouse. From TODAY, Voices – Monday, 24-Aug-2009 Related articles by Zemanta Christian couples share an e-mail address to resist temptation (timesunion.com) ...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife By Dr Bill Maier It's a wonder kids ever get their homework done with all the distractions life throws at them. They've got sports , choir, drama class and dozens of other activities they could sign up for. A lot of them have chores to do at home, as well. Most adults cannot even keep up with their kids' schedules! When kids have trouble getting their homework done, it's often because they're simply too busy. Parents need to step in and help whenever possible. Begin by setting clear boundaries on their time. Kids often feel pressured to sign up for every event that comes along — especially if they're overachievers. It also helps to teach them how to break down large projects into bite-sized chunks. Kids who are busy will often put off big homework assignments until the last minute, putting even greater pressure on themselves. Finally, insist that they establish healthy eating and sleeping habits. From TODAY, VOICES – Monday...

By Dr Bill Maier Feeling overwhelmed by an "out-of-control" schedule? Maybe it's time you learned to say "No". If other people see you as a person who will agree to anything, you will constantly end up being the first one they ask when they need a volunteer. There's always some new project at school or work that needs doing and it's easy to feel obligated to step in and help, particularly when you don't think anybody else is doing it. The trouble is, most people who do all the work are the ones who have the least free time to help. And that's not healthy for anyone. We shouldn't ignore our own well-being in order to please others. Sometimes, the only way to unclutter a schedule is to learn that magical little word, "No". Then stick to it, even if they try to make you feel guilty. As one wise friend used to say: "If they have the nerve to ask, I have the nerve to say no." From TODAY, Voices – Tuesday, 14-Jul-2009

By Dr Bill Maier “Just five more minutes, Mum, please?” How many times have you heard that from one of your “sleepyhead” school-aged kids? Mornings have become the new battle zone in a lot of houses. But here’s one surefire way to put an end to the “getting-ready-for-school” battle. Are you ready? Let your kids get up on their own! I know, I know, you’re thinking: “But they’ll be late for school and it’ll affect their grades.” But my friend Dr Kevin Leman says it won’t take long for them to get the message! The problem with forcing kids to get up is that it removes responsibility, and kids need to be held accountable for their actions. Tell them you’re only waking them up once, and then stick to it. The first time they oversleep, you might even call their teacher and explain your plan, and suggest an extra measure of discipline. The first step in raising responsible kids is to let them feel the consequences of their actions. Like my friend the Marine drill sergeant says, “ No pain, ...