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Grateful people are happy people according to research, but how can we teach gratitude to our children?.”No one is born grateful,” says life coach Mary Jane Ryan, author of Attitudes of Gratitude. It needs to be taught.

Here are five ways to teach them and five great crafts to instill this vital quality in your children

1. Be grateful yourself–talk to your kids every day about the little daily things you enjoy-dinner, a warm house, friends, trees, your job, a warm blanket a pet.
2. Create a daily dinnertime or bedtime tradition-let each one share one or two good things that happened that day.
3. Good manners and gratitude go together, so be sure to use the words “please” and “thank you” with children and insist that they use them too.
4. Insist that they help with household chores. A two year old can put away his plastic dishes and ‘silverware’ in a lower cupboard from the dishwasher, put her dirty clothes in the hamper. When they experience the effort, they’ll be more aware of all the work you do.
5. Insist on thank you notes. Even a preschooler can scribble on a card and you can add your own words or dictate a thank you note.
PICK ONE OR TWO OF THESE FUN IDEAS FROM TONI SCHUTTA, PARENT COACH, M.A., L.P. FOR INSTILLING  GRATITUDE!

1. A thankfulness tablecloth. To make: Purchase a light-colored tablecloth and fabric markers. Wash the tablecloth and iron it before using. Invite your kids and every guest to write several things that they’re thankful for. Let the kids decorate the tablecloth with others creative ideas they have.
2. A Thankfulness turkey. This is a darling idea if you have a little time to create a turkey out of paper plates, construction paper and a toilet paper roll. Kids write something that they’re grateful for on each of the turkey’s feathers. http://mommypoppins.com/thanksgiving-crafts-fun-projects-that-help-kids-give-thanks
3. Thankfulness place cards. This idea comes from the Family Education Network: Have your kids create place cards for each guest. Fold a small piece of tag board in half. Have yourchild write on each place card: “We’re thankful for you because…” Place a Thanksgivingsticker on each place card along with the name of the guest.
4. A blessing, prayer or poem. Either have your kids write a poem, blessing or prayer or if you’re comfortable, let them search the internet to find one that speaks to them and have them recite it at the start of the Thanksgiving meal.
5. Placemats: Using oversize construction paper in fall colors have your kids decorate each paper with words of thankfulness and drawings. Cover each sheet with clear contact paper to they can be used as Thanksgiving placemats year-to-year.

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As parents and children are getting bombarded with TV adds and making their holiday toy lists, let’s give thought to what make a good toy. Which toys can actually make our kids smarter? Should we just let kids be kids and not focus too much too soon on education?

Electronic toys limit creativity and disconnect children from others.
Picture a family on a road trip. The kids are each playing their own their own Game boys, watching a movie or listening to their ipod. Dad has the radio on and Mom is checking her email. Everyone’s disconnected. No one’s talking or interacting. It’s deceptive because there’s no arguing, the kids are quiet, but car time is probably your most vaulable bonding time.

When our family drove from Tucson to the farm in Iowa, we played the alphabet game, sang songs, practiced our jokes, or read.  You have a captive audience and it’s an opportunity to ask questions, listen and transmit your values.

Will that toy you’re considering stretch your child mentally, making them think and be more creative? Can it be used in different wys? Will it engender cooperation, empathy, a desire to learn more?

Or does the toy do too much? Does it simply entertain? Is there only one way to use it? Is it just something to get? Did your kids ever really play with Ferbie? Is it tactile, does this toy cause children to grow up too fast? Does it agree with your values about what’s important?

A good toy makes sure that the child does the playing that requires them to use their imaginations and interact with others.

Research shows that when children are involved in creative play their play lasts longer, is more focused, involves more children, and they cooperate more. They become more socially competent. Creative play develops focused attention, memory, logical reasoning skills, language and literacy, the ability to reflect on one’s own thinking and to take another’s perspective.

What’s so wrong with electronic toys?

They don’t engender creative play, they’re highly addictive and make life too simple. Is your child  frustrated or bored? Just push this button.
Remember tick tack toe, jacks, pick up sticks? The classic toys. Blocks, Connect 4, weaving looms? The big toy companies can’t make money on these simple toys.
A good toy:

* Expands the child

* Engages the child

* Is age appropriate

What’s really the one best toy you can give a child? A toy that is guaranteed to make him smarter? It’s you, you interacting, talking to her, asking him questions, laughing and playing with him. By spending quality time with your child,  listening attentively, playing and modeling and encouraging positive behavior. Warm, interactive parents who were on top of their children’ activities, are spending time playing and interacting, talking and listening and modeling and encouraging positive behavior and avoiding harsh discipline are most likely to have intelligent and socially favored children no matter their race, income level, or marital status.  (Infants and Children, Laura E. Berk, Fifth Edition, p.492)

It’s helpful to get toy advice from an expert. We recommend our friend Sari at The Doll House and Toy Store for age-approriate, creative, long lasting toys.

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Get a free book and help a great cause


I have exciting news to share. I’m featured in a new parenting book that my friend and colleague Toni Schutta has published called 20 Great Ways to Raise Great Kids that’s available free to parents at http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/myfreebook . You’ll gain over 200 practical tips that you can use immediately to help raise a loving, kind, responsible, confident and successful child.
No other parenting book contains interviews with 27 top experts in the field and 10 wise parents who all give you their very best strategies all in one book.  I’m one of the experts featured in a chapter called, “Mealtime Dilemmas Solved.”
20 Great Ways to Raise Great Kids helps you find practical solutions for nagging problems like getting your kids to listen; reducing back talk, bedtime struggles, mealtime hassles, and overuse of electronics; and getting chores and homework done without a lot of hassle.
You’ll discover tools to help you evaluate whether you’re overindulging, overscheduling, or over-nurturing your kids so you can ensure their success rather than harm them in unexpected ways.
You’ll also gain a road map for reducing stress and creating a balanced life where your own needs are consciously integrated into family life for greater happiness.
20 Great Ways to Raise Great Kids Will Help You:
  • Pry your kids away from electronics so you can connect in more meaningful ways.
  • Reduce your stress so you enjoy your kids more.
  • Create a balanced life so you have time to connect with your spouse and pursue passions of your own.
  • Get your kids to bed on time so you gain back valuable time for yourself.
  • Find solutions to the top 10 parenting challenges so you handle misbehavior with confidence and ease.
  • And much more!
You can get a free copy here: http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/myfreebook. All profits made from the sale of the E-book and print versions will be donated to help prevent child abuse. The goal is to raise $25,000 for the Family Enhancement Center, a non-profit devoted to preventing child abuse.
Best Wishes,  Beth
P.S.  Don’t just take my word for it, here’s what one mom shared: “Toni’s book is the ESSENTIAL handbook for raising a happy & successful child for us parents struggling to keep our heads above water.  Toni has assembled a mastermind group of experts who compassionately and generously provide relevant, simple tips on everyday challenges we face, including how to manage “screen time”, get respect from our kids, and be the consistent and strong role models we want to be. I will give this book to every parent in our network!” Erin Owen, mother of two.
Get your free book 20 Great Ways to Raise Great Kids now: http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/myfreebook.

Beth Weise

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Every year Caring Nannies searches for a charity during the Christmas Season that reaches out to children and families, and we want to join Uncle Si at Duck Dynasty with one of our favorite projects: filling a shoebox with essential items for a child overseas. Soap, toothbrush, pencils, a notepad, and a small gift.

Last year, we were able to buy a goat and two chickens for a family in a third world country. Here are some details to help you fill and send out your own shoebox. You can choose the age and sex of the child who receives your gift box, use the suggested list, and locate the closest drop-off point with the information below.

We have long felt, and research backs confirms, that volunteering is the best way to build character not only in children, but in us adults! Join us in this worthy effort!

As Si Robertson might say, “Take a sip o’ tea, mow a little grass” andget ready to pack shoeboxes! The beloved uncle of the family that makes the famousDuck Commander duck calls has teamed up with Operation Christmas Child to help children in poor countries through a shoebox gift.

National Collection Week is coming November 18-25. Along with Si,you can be a part of sending love and joy to children around the world.

Watch this brand new video to find out what Si wanted to pack in hisshoebox—and what actually made the final cut. You’ll also findexclusive behind-the-scenes footage from Si’s video shoot, and some
great ideas for packing your own shoeboxes.

Uncle Si pack a shoebox

FOLLOW YOUR BOX

Discover the destination of your shoebox by making your $7 per boxshipping donation online. Samaritan’s Purse will send an emailtelling you the destination of your gift, along with information about Operation Christmas Child in that country.

Donate and Follow Your Box

DROP-OFF LOCATIONS

Remember to drop off your shoeboxes November 18-25.It’s easy to find the nearest collection site with our online locator. You canalso build a shoebox online with our fun, interactive website.

Find Your Closest Site

© 2013 Samaritan’s Purse PO Box 3000 | Boone NC 28607 | 828-262-1980 |

SamaritansPurse.orgfacebook.com/OCCshoeboxes

twitter.com/OCC_shoeboxes

instagram.com/operationchristmaschild

Beth Weise

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