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Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?

Saturday, April 10th, 2010

Kindergarten can be an exciting time for you and your child because it sets the stage for his entire school career. You will look on in wonder as he grows into a more capable, confident, and enthusiastic learner.

But sending your child off to kindergarten can be rough. As the day approaches, you will probably experience a mix of feelings ranging from relief to fear. And your anxiety will be rooted in some specific questions that nag you.

Here are some answers to the most commonly asked questions.

How Can I Tell if My Kindergartner’s Body Is Ready?

Five-year-olds come in all shapes and sizes. Some students are “off the chart” for size and physical dexterity. Others face severe challenges. There are, however, certain traits you may see in a typical five-year-old:

  • He manages his own bathroom needs.
  • He has increased poise, coordination, and stamina.
  • He can hop, skip, and jump.
  • He favors one hand over the other.
  • He begins to lose baby teeth and get secondary teeth.
  • He is learning to tie his shoes, button his buttons, and zip his zipper.
  • He climbs stairs using alternating feet.
  • He can throw and may be able to catch a ball.

What Kind of Physical Activities or Sports Are Best for Five-Year-Olds?

Most children love to try different sports and activities at this age. The secret is to help your child view them as fun. Any five-year-old who jumps, plays outdoors, and does other things that help develop large muscles is getting the exercise he needs.

All learning starts with play. You can best prepare your child for kindergarten by providing play experiences that challenge him and that he enjoys. Also, set a good example — remember to play yourself!

Should My Child Have a Physical Before He Starts School?

Entry into kindergarten usually requires a checkup. Be sure to tell your child’s doctor:

  • about his physical and learning accomplishments
  • whether he is healthy year-round or (like many children his age) gets a lot of colds, sore throats, stomachaches, and ear infections.

At a well-child checkup, the doctor most likely will:

  • examine your child’s eyes, ears, and other sensory organs
  • check urine, blood, and blood pressure
  • watch your child walk and bend to check for motor or skeletal problems
  • measure height and weight so he can assess your child’s growth in comparison to his peers

A yearly dental checkup is also in order, both to teach good home care and to detect early dental problems. You may want to find a children’s dentist, who has had extra training in child behavior and dental health.

Remember: If your child has ever had a medical problem, or has one now, it is important that you contact the school. A child who is on medication may exhibit unusual behavior in the classroom that the teacher needs to understand.

How Much Sleep Does a Kindergartner Need?

After a busy day in kindergarten, your five-year-old may find it easier to fall asleep at night than he has in the past. However, getting up in the morning may be more difficult. Night waking is rare among five-year-olds, perhaps because children this age do not typically take naps. If you establish a routine and stick to it — bath followed by a story, for example — bedtime usually goes well. In fact, it may be his favorite time of day.

Begin to adjust your child’s bedtime and nap schedule several weeks before school starts. That way, he will not have too many changes in routine to contend with at the same time.

Article Credit: focusonthefamily.com

Is Naomi ready for kindergarten…let see…

  • He manages his own bathroom needs. - she is ok when pee time but still need me after she poops
  • He has increased poise, coordination, and stamina. - her stamina is unbelievable good
  • He can hop, skip, and jump. - not only that she can climb well
  • He favors one hand over the other. - she is using her right hand
  • He begins to lose baby teeth and get secondary teeth. - she is still having her first set of teeth
  • He is learning to tie his shoes, button his buttons, and zip his zipper. - she can button well, wear her own shoe and socks, she can zip up too and also make her own choice of clothing
  • He climbs stairs using alternating feet. -she is doing it well
  • He can throw and may be able to catch a ball. -she loves to throw and catch

We are thinking of sending her to the kindy when she turn 4 years old. :)



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Does Spanking Work for All Kids?

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Article Credit: www.focusonthefamily.com

I have spanked my children for their disobedience, and it didn’t seem to help. Does this approach fail with some children?

Children are so tremendously variable that it is sometimes hard to believe that they are all members of the same human family. Some kids can be crushed with nothing more than a stern look; others seem to require strong and even painful disciplinary measures to make a vivid impression. This difference usually results from the degree to which a child needs adult approval and acceptance. The primary parental task is to see things as the child perceives them, thereby tailoring the discipline to his or her unique needs. Accordingly, a boy or girl should never be so likely to be punished as when he or she knows it is deserved.

In a direct answer to your question, disciplinary measures usually fail because of fundamental errors in their application. It is possible for twice the amount of punishment to yield half the results. I have made a study of situations in which parents have told me that their children disregard the threat of punishment and continue to misbehave. There are four basic reasons for this lack of success:

  1. The most common error is whimsical discipline. When the rules change every day and when punishment for misbehavior is capricious and inconsistent, the effort to change behavior is undermined. There is no inevitable consequence to be anticipated. This entices children to see if they can beat the system. In society at large, it also encourages criminal behavior among those who believe they will not face the bar of justice.
  2. Sometimes a child is more strong-willed than his parent — and they both know it. He just might be tough enough to realize that a confrontation with his mom or dad is really a struggle of wills. If he can withstand the pressure and not buckle during a major battle, he can eliminate that form of punishment as a tool in the parent’s repertoire. Does he think through this process on a conscious level? Usually not, but he understands it intuitively. He realizes that a spanking must not be allowed to succeed. Thus, he stiffens his little neck and guts it out. He may even refuse to cry and may say, “That didn’t hurt.” The parent concludes in exasperation, “Spanking doesn’t work for my child.”
  3. The spanking may be too gentle. If it doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t motivate a child to avoid the consequence next time. A slap with the hand on the bottom of a multidiapered thirty-month-old is not a deterrent to anything. Be sure the child gets the message — while being careful not to go too far.
  4. For a few children, spankings are simply not effective. The child who has attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), for example, may be even more wild and unmanageable after corporal punishment. Also, the child who has been abused may identify loving discipline with the hatred of the past. Finally, the very sensitive child might need a different approach. Let me emphasize once more that children are unique. The only way to raise them correctly is to understand each boy or girl as an individual and design parenting techniques to fit the needs and characteristics of that particular child.
Stephanie’s note:  When ever Naomi is not obeying and starts throwing things to show her temper, I will spank her buttock using the cane.  It works for me by using cane, she is afraid when I starts to grab the cane.  She will then pick up all the things that she threw on the floor.
Although spanking her hurts my heart but I will not spare the rod to discipline her.
After everything is done and the situation got better, I will then hug her and tell her what she did. Sometimes she will say sorry.
At night before sleep I will talk to her again and I will rewind what happened.  She will look me in the eyes and nodded showing that she understands what I am saying. I will tell her I love her and hug her tightly then tell her she must learn to OBEY.

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