In the last six months to a year, I have watched my little boy grow up just little in maturity and whole lot in centimetres. Yet, slip backwards when it comes to completing simple tasks! It is a continuous rollercoaster ride of emotions as I try and sense out when he needs me and when he doesn't (before he shouts at me!). I knew that as he entered year 6, I was going to have to brace myself for more pushes than pulls, and he hasn't disappointed. From what I have read, my son is text book for his age. However, that doesn't help when on a daily basis I am continually reminding my son to complete the simplest of tasks that just a year previously, he would have done out of habit. These little tasks, such a making his bed when he gets up, putting his laundry in the basket, etc are now becoming constant reminders that my son is on the cusp of becoming a teen. That together with the odour that seeps out of from his room! So what can I use to motivate him? Sticker charts would be met with disbelief and satisfying his need for tech, would bankrupt us! So, I have taken to youtube. There is a distinct lack of motivational videos targeted at our tweens! So I thought I would start a drop feed technique of videos showing gratitude, and young children that have done well or overcome huge obstacles. The idea behind my thinking is that they would motivate the kids to do the little things as they were easily accomplished ... The latest video I showed my kids was that of Jake Bailey. His story is one of courage and strength but also one of perception and gratitude. Here's hoping a little of his message rubbed off on my tweens.
Do you have know of any motivational videos that are targeted at tweens? I would love to hear from you. Please let me know what your thoughts are on this subject. Remember, it takes a village to raise a child.
This is one of my little soap box subjects. Why do we have age ratings on films and games? My understanding is that, it is to protect children and guide parents. So why is it, that so many ignore it? Have you heard of the game Fortnite? Well, it seems as though it is taking our primary school by storm and I know children as young as 8, who play it. Officially, this game has a 12 age rating but Common Sense Media gives it a 13+ . As you know my son is in year 6, and is now a very big fish in a little pond (primary school). As you can imagine, my son feels he should be allowed to play it and because of the age rating, we don't allow it. We hear frequently how he is feeling left out at school, due to being the ONLY child that doesn't play it. My hubby and I are not gamers and have never been particulary keen/interested in gaming. However, I understand that there are advantages to kids gaming, especially for their cognitive development....
We were sitting having dinner with friends and the topic of manners came up. It took an interesting turn, when my friend said that if Alexa or Siri wouldn't follow through with a request unless a please or a thank you were included, it would certainly help with society's lack of manners. It got me thinking, as this is not the first time the lack of manners in our local community has come up recently and it is another of my soapbox issues. If manners don't cost anything, why do so few people feel the need to use them? My understanding is that it's a combination of things. As you know, I grew up in Zimbabwe where manners were very important and instilled in us at home and at school. I remember all the way through my schooling, we were expected to stand if a teacher/adult walked into the room, stand if a teacher/adult walked by us at lunchtime, always allow an adult/teacher through the door first, acknowledge teachers/adults on the school premises either...
Comments
Post a Comment