Ever Thought About Home Schooling? Here’s 4 Reasons To Consider It More

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NOYE: WOULD RATHER FIND SOMETHING ON BLACK HOME SCHOOLING

Home schooling is popular among parents and children alike. Unlike traditional schooling, home schooling allows for a more personal curriculum to be formed which suits the exact needs of the pupil. Further more, it also allows for a pupil to gain more time with their teacher than would ever be possible in larger classes, which are the only economically viable solution, within schools.

Here are 4 strong reasons to give it serious thought:

Focus on a Childs Competencies

When a child shows a particular ability or passion towards a certain subject area, it can be beneficial to teach them beyond the level that would normally be necessary. Not only does this equip them for further education or employment, it also allows them to enjoy their education more.

Within schools it is not always possible to notice, let alone allow a child’s passion for a certain area to be capitalized on. It is also the case that teachers are pressured into sticking to a particular curriculum that suits the needs of the broader demographic of the class. This means that the teacher has to meet a middle ground in terms of helping those that are challenged, and allowing more gifted pupils to take their learning further.

The Attention They Deserve

With larger class sizes it is impossible for a teacher to be able to give children the attention that they deserve. The pupils that are particularly capable are not pushed far enough by their teachers, and those that are having problems at school are not able to be given the attention they deserve. For those that are not given the attention they deserve when they need it most, they may not have the foundations in place which are needed in order to understand later parts of their courses.

Flexibility

Home school learning is increasing in popularity year on year, and the added flexibility that it provides cannot be ignored as a potential bonus of this for some people. For those that live far away from a state or private school, home schooling can be the only practical alternative to long journeys every day. Many parents also need to travel for a variety of reasons; with home schooling you can take the class room with you.

A Parents Motivation

Nobody wants a child to succeed more than their parents. With home schooling the parent is the teacher, and therefore they truly have the child’s best interests at heart. A parent is also able to take a far more insightful perspective on any problems their child may be having, as well as what it takes to get more out of them.

Bonding

Home schooling provides an opportunity for a parent to bond with their child and spend more time with them. Evidence suggests that a parent who helps their child with school work is more likely to have a better relationship with their child in later life. If you help your child with their school work, you also have a more open relationship with them through the very essence of knowing how their education is going.

Rebecca Walker writes articles for childfont.com. She also gives valuable information about child development, home schooling & reading, child development & learning to read.

It’s Important To Take Time To Teach Your Child

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By Rebecca Walker

The development of your child is something that you play an integral role in. For centuries scientists have debated whether intelligence stems from nature or nurture, however regardless of the role nature plays, the role of nurture cannot be disputed as one of the most critical elements in molding who your child will grow up to be. Your child’s development of reading, writing and arithmetic skills will be best aided through ensuring that you give them the attention they deserve to ensure they get a head start in life.

Many parents worry about when they should start to teach their child how to read and write. Much of this worry stems from them being scared that their child will be slower at picking things up than other children their age, and on the flip-side other parents fear that they may be putting their child through unnecessary stress through trying to teach them before they are ready. The truth is that if your child is not yet at school then they have plenty of time to start learning, but there really is never too young an age to get them started. Most research suggests that children around the age of 4 should be ready to start learning; however it will usually be around the age of 6 that children can read and write somewhat coherently.

Many parents find the thought of teaching a child to read or write from scratch very daunting, however it does not have to be. You should firstly start by teaching them to pronounce the lower case alphabet and then from there you will be able to ask them to combine letters to form syllables and then words. When teaching your child how to read, it is vital that you manage to portray it as a fun experience. You should also take advantage of teaching your child as a way to bond with them and promote reading as something that you and your child do together. You should choose reading material that is fun and that can provoke some form of conversation or even emotion from the child – in later years discussing literature that you and your child have both read is a great way of showing moral values and creating a mutual interest.

In order to ensure that reading remains fun throughout your child’s development it is best that you refrain from pushing them too hard when they make a grammatical mistake or have problems pronouncing a word. If they ask or they stall for a certain length of time then you can offer your help if they do not mind, however being too condescending, or too blatant in your attempts to teach, will just lead to ruining the enjoyable experience that reading should be.

Playing a role in your child’s development will allow you to ultimately have a stronger relationship with your child all the way through their life. Show them that you care for them and that you are able to help them whenever they need you.

Rebecca Walker writes articles for childfont.com. He also gives valuable information about child development, home schooling & reading, child development & learning to read, active white board are accessible on the internet.

Postpartum Depression And The Myth Of The Natural Mother

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By Mrs. Kathy Morelli

Are you at risk for postpartum depression? Read on for information!

We live with the myth of the natural mother. The truth is that many social behaviors, including mothering, are learned behaviors. It might be easier to discuss communication and relationship skills within a marriage as a learned behavior than mothering.

If you grow up in an abusive or just non-communicative home, it is likely that when you marry, you will discover that you need some help in the how-tos of a relationship. It is the same type of thing when becoming a mother. You might need some some help about the how-to of parenting a newborn and developing your identity as a mother.

Remember, social learning comes from watching other people in our personal lives and from the larger culture, and we integrate this into our personality. Give yourself the gift of qualified education and assistance.

Breastfeeding and helping a baby to sleep is a learned behavior. There are many ways to be a good mother and no one size fits all.

CLICK HERE for more.

Mrs. Kathy Morelli, LPC Marriage and Family Counseling Specializing in the Emotions of Pregnancy and Birth kathy@kathymorelli.com / www.kathymorelli.com

Technology & Our Children. What’s Going On?

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The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a statement encouraging parents to ban direct screen time (television, movies, and any portable screen device) for children under two years of age. The Academy explained, “This updated policy statement provides further evidence that media — both foreground and background — have potentially negative effects and no known positive effects for children younger than 2 years. Thus, the AAP reaffirms its recommendation to discourage media use in this age group.”

A recent survey conducted by Common Sense Media indicates that many parents are ignoring the Academy’s advice. In the survey, found here, thirty seven percent of the households surveyed reported that over forty percent of their children under age two watch either TV or DVDs at least once a day. In a typical day, babies and toddlers spend an average of fifty four minutes watching TV or DVDs, compared to an average of twenty three minutes a day being read to. Twenty nine percent of 6 to 23 month olds in this study have a television in their bedroom (Emphasis and loud gasp ours). The Academy’s statement has been debated in cyberspace (where else) and has received pushback from parents who suggest that it is unreasonable and unrealistic to ban all screen use, and prefer instead to allow their toddlers to watch “Sesame Street” or play a game on the Ipad in moderation.

The Common Sense Media survey also found that about forty percent of 2- to 4-year-olds and more than half of 5- to 8-year-olds use smart phones, video iPods, iPads or similar devices. Common Sense has determined that in addition to the substantial digital divide (which exists because the majority of children from lower income and less well educated families do not have a computer at home), there is now an “app gap” between higher and lower income children, in terms of their access to and use of newer mobile devices and the programming available especially for these devices.

Read the full story HERE.

Kids Need Chores. It’s Way More Important Than You Think.

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By Aiyana Ma’at

If you’re anything like me you understand the importance of giving children chores and allowing/requiring them to contribute to the smooth running of your household. It’s important for a whole host of reasons. Assigning household chores to our kids teaches personal and social responsibility. It allows children to experience both a sense of contribution to their family and a sense of accomplishment-and pride in that accomplishment. All of this will transfer to who they become as adults for sure.

I get all of that. But, raise your hand if you get me when I say It’s so much easier to just do it yourself!

I have to admit  that my hubby and I have been guilty of being inconsistent with making sure our children have clearly defined chores that we actually make sure they do. It’s more difficult with young children-our kids are 4, 5, 7, and 10. It’s at this age where the chore is more about instilling the discipline in them and allowing them to feel good about their contribution than it is about the task itself. In other words, when my girls ask to wipe the table, clean the mirrors, or wipe down the refrigerator (I don’t know why they like wiping stuff so much…smile); I don’t really expect for them to get that clean.

On the other hand, my newly turned 10 year old son is at the age where he can actually make a dent in some things and I’m loving it. The other day there was a little odor coming from my sink where my dishes were piling up. As I cleaned other areas around my house I kept thinking “I’ve GOT to get to those dishes!” So, my oldest comes in the kitchen and says “Mom, when are you going to clean those dishes? I’m tired of that smell”. On the inside I was like “Say what? Oh, no he didn’t.” But, what I said in my sweet as syrup Mommy voice was: “You are so right Asante. Thanks for reminding me that you have two hands. Roll your sleeves up and get to it.” You should have seen his face. Priceless! He actually looked as if I said I need you to clean our dishes and all of our neighbors dishes every day for the next two weeks. He tried his best to get out of it and it was at that point that I realized we have to be consistent with giving our children chores and making sure they do them.

Chores not only instill discipline and the beginnings of a strong work ethic but they also create a sense of self-sufficiency and self-respect. When you can do for yourself and others (beginning with your family)  you are automatically empowered and begin to think (without even realizing it) “What else can I do?” So, let’s not sleep on the many benefits of having our children, even as young as age 2, do their chores. It’s a bigger deal than a lot of us realize.

So, now what? Stumped like I was about what exactly are the best chores to assign based on your child’s age? Check out this list that wife and homeschooling mom of four, Mandi Ehman created and give your kids some chores! 🙂

Here are some age-appropriate chores for kids of all ages:

Chores for 2 and 3 year olds

Two- and three-year-olds are especially eager to help with household chores, especially when you’re by their side. Rather than asking them to pick up toys and then walking away, make clean up fun by turning it into a game. Invite them to dust the lower shelves and furniture while you’re dusting the higher places. And praise them for pitching in with a happy heart!

Pick up toys

Put dirty clothes in hamper

Dust furniture

Chores for 4 and 5 year olds

Four- and five-year-olds are capable of a lot more than we often give them credit for.

Make bed

Put clean laundry away

Wipe window sills

Empty small trash cans

Chores for 6 and 7 year olds

Many mothers of older children say that everything gets easier when kids turn six or seven years old because they are suddenly able to really help in a way that makes a difference.

Make lunch

Help fold clothes

Vacuum

Wipe bathroom sink*

*Vinegar is an amazing natural cleaner and safer than traditional chemicals for children (and adults too!) to use.

Chores for 8 year olds and older

While eight year olds are certainly still kids and need plenty of time to play and just run free, they’re also able to help out around the house at an age appropriate level. Now is a great time to start teaching them to do laundry, wash dishes,  cook simple dishes, take out the trash and more!

Do laundry

Help cook

Take out the trash

Clean the shower or tub

BLAM Fam: How do you do chores in your household?

Aiyana Ma’at is the wife of Ayize Ma’at, mom of 4, and co-founder and owner of this website, BlackLoveAndMarriage.com, as well as PurposePusher.com. Aiyana is a Seeker, Motivator, Risk Taker, Explorer, & Overcomer. She is a self-described PurposePusher and does her best to live her life with self-awareness and intention. Some of her official titles include licensed psycho-therapist, certified marriage educator & relationship coach and speaker. She is clear that a part of the call on her life is to help bring insight and awareness to others so that they can “get out of their own way” and create the lives they want to have.

Strong Family 101: Do You ‘Give Thanks’ WITH Your Family Consistently?

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By Aiyana Ma’at

A few years ago the Creator placed on my heart the need for my husband, Ayize, and I and our children to create a time to come together purely to give thanks to God for all that He has done, is doing and will continue to do in our lives. I expressed what I was feeling to my husband and he was like “Cool”. So profound! Lol.

You may be thinking “Oh, yes this is wonderful. We do it all the time in our family”. And, if you do that’s GREAT. It really does make a profound impact on you and everyone who participates. It’s one of those things that you can’t truly appreciate until you get into the posture of gratitude and experience it. And, I’m not talking about giving thanks together at church or in a public venue outside of the house. I’m not talking about saying “Thank you Lord!” in passing while you’re around your family and I’m not talking about when you bless your food before a meal together. I’m talking about creating a ritual where your family comes to know that, for example, on Monday evenings at 7pm the lights dim a bit, soft meditative music is played to signal to your household that it is time to give thanks, one child knows it’s his job to light the ______candle (whatever you want to call it—unity candle, gratitude candle, etc.), another child knows it’s their job to pour libations, and the life changing power of giving thanks begins.

So, let me pause for a second for those of you who are reading this right now and are thinking “What is the big freaking deal? Is it really that serious? Is having an attitude of gratitude important? Well, I can only speak for myself and my family. Being grateful literally transforms my energy, my atmosphere, and my internal feelings. It just shifts my perception of my life and centers me in what is most important.

Unlockyourhappiness.com has this to say about gratitude:

Is having an attitude of gratitude important?

When it comes to experiencing a better life, Gratitude is considered to be a ‘biggie’. Some of the self-improvement gurus even talk about a Law of Gratitude. Many people keep a daily gratitude journal in which they write up a gratitude list of things to be grateful for that day. And apparently lots of people carry a gratitude rock in their pocket to remind them to express gratitude during the day.

The vibration of gratitude

It is said that having an attitude of gratitude carries with it a vibration that raises one’s own power of positive thinking so that we attract towards us all things good. Our desires are more easily fulfilled, and we experience a happier and healthier life.

Some would regard this as New Age thinking, and dismiss it out of hand. Some believers would say, ‘don’t deny it if you haven’t tried it’.

While I must admit that my family and I haven’t been as consistent as  I’d like, it is something that always brings calm, peace, joy, coziness, and the love of God in our home when we do it. I also know that even when my 4 year old is flip flopping all over the place and I have to keep telling my 5 year old to sit down please (in my fake it til you make it sweet mommy voice) they are learning and absorbing from me, my husband, and the atmosphere.

Never underestimate the impact you can have on your family—your kids and your spouse. I, for one, will use as much as I can in any way that I can to influence my family as much as I can. Will you?

BLAM Fam, What are some of the things you do or will start doing with your family to GIVE THANKS? There are so many ways. Share them with us!

Aiyana Ma’at is the wife of Ayize Ma’at, mom of 4, and co-founder and owner of this website, BlackLoveAndMarriage.com, as well as PurposePusher.com. Aiyana is a Seeker, Motivator, Risk Taker, Explorer, & Overcomer. She is a self-described PurposePusher and does her best to live her life with self-awareness and intention. Some of her official titles include licensed psycho-therapist, certified marriage educator & relationship coach and speaker. She is clear that a part of the call on her life is to help bring insight and awareness to others so that they can “get out of their own way” and create the lives they want to have.

Teenage Relationships: Are You Aware Of The Statistics?

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By Jonathan Hardcastle

Being a teenager is a troubling time. While adjusting to all the changes going on both in your biology and your responsibilities, making the right decisions can be hard when it comes to topics such as relationships. In this article, we’ll offer some statistics regarding teenage relationships so that you can better understand exactly what’s in store for the average teenager who is dating.

While domestic violence is a terrible aspect of adult relationships, few adults realize that this problem also occurs in their sons and daughters. A study conducted by “Children Now” in 1995 saw that a full 89 percent of teens have been in dating relationships and a whopping 40 percent of all teenagers know someone their age that was beaten or abused by a boyfriend in a relationship. This is a serious problem that every parent needs to watch out for to ensure the health and safety of their children. Another study, conducted by Silverman, Raj, Mucci and Hathaway in 2001 showed that young women who were in relationships that involved violence were more likely to abuse substances, develop eating disorders, conduct risky sexual behaviors, get pregnant, and even commit suicide. As you can see, domestic violence in teenagers is very worrisome for a host of reasons.

In the good news department, the number of teen pregnancies occurring in the United States has been declining since the early nineties. These decreases are found across the board, with age, marital status, and ethnicity not being a significant factor in the decrease, representing a uniform drop. Studies show that this drop in teen pregnancy can be due to the greater use of contraceptives by teens. Lowered rates of sexual activity amongst adolescents also are a factor in the declining rate. However, the teen pregnancy rate in the United States is still one of the highest rates in any industrialized nation. The use of contraceptives needs to be encouraged by all parties, regardless of religion or creed. If a teenager has sex unprotected, they run a risk of getting pregnant that is approximately 90%.

One aspect of teenage pregnancy that is frightening is the number of adult males that are having sexual relationships with teenage females. In cases where a girl aged 15 to 17 gets pregnant, over 50% of the time, an adult male is the father. A study conducted in California showed that seven out of ten teenage births were caused by men aged twenty or above.

BLAM Fam…let’s keep an eye on our children.  It’s our responsibility to protect them, provide for them, and guide them into adulthood responsibly and respectably.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://learntobecloser.com/ – In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://4homelife.net/ and http://foracloserfamily.com/

Flash Mob Alert! Join The Nationwide Dance Party For Healthy Kids & Fight Childhood Obesity Oct.24th-31st

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By Team BLAM

There are so many people, groups, and organizations doing truly great things to keep kids healthy and active and The Movement is no exception.

The all-volunteer group’s plan is to create a social avalanche of publicity onto the issue of childhood obesity by holding flash mob dance performances around the country from October 24 – 31, 2011. They hope to get enough people dancing to broadcast the video footage when the campaign ends.

Their mission is to draw attention to childhood obesity and drive traffic to local and national healthy kids organizations so people can get help or get involved.

Flash mobs will dance, sing and perform in towns and cities around the U.S. in joyful service to healthier kids.  They will also encourage  flash mob organizers to partner with local kids’ health organizations, nonprofits and community groups so that local groups can strengthen their numbers and raise their visibility in their community.

Check out the official kid-friendly song and choreography for The Movement below and get involved! Organize your own Flash Mob & join The Movement.



Black Couples That Adopt White Babies. Does It Matter?

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Back in 2008, NFL player DeMarcus Ware and his wife Taniqua caught a lot of criticism over their decision to adopt a white baby. Some argued that White babies are easily adopted as there are long waiting lines for them, but that black babies in America have a shortage of adoptive parents. But to the Wares, they say they fell in love with a little baby and paid no attention to its color. After struggling to conceive and dealing with many miscarriages and a still born, the couple delivered a baby boy last year, November 2010, named DeMarcus Ware, Jr.

In the reverse, celebrities like Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Sandra Bullock, HBO’s Weeds actress Mary Louise Parker, Hugh Jackman, Stephen Spielberg, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise, all have adopted black or bi-racial children without much fuss.

What are your thoughts? Is it wrong or a bigger deal for black couples to adopt white babies versus the reverse? If so, why?

Source: Bellyitchblog.com

CLICK HERE for the full article from Bellyitchblog.com

I Don’t Condemn Anyone For Choosing To Divorce & I Believe No One Should Condemn Me For Making My Marriage Work

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By Neysa Ellery Taylor

For the past 72 hours, I’ve been taking body shots. No, not the type of body shot that involves drinking liquor off some strangers belly. I am talking about the world of boxing and the body shots that come from having hard blows hitting you in the stomach. That is the body shot that I am referencing. Why? Because I decided to share my testimony with a nationwide audience. That’s why.

I’m not going to go into a back story here, you can google my name if you want the details or just search my name on the blog. It’s all there for you to read. And actually that is how the problem arose. I decided to share my test and resulting testimony with a large audience. And that made some people very angry and very opinionated.

But opinions are like assholes – everyone has one, right? So it’s fine. Disagree with me. I don’t mind that. As a journalist (that is my full time gig) people disagree with me all the time. I am used to that. But I must say I wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of negative energy that came from my latest autobiographical post on blackloveandmarriage.com. The most negative remarks even went as far as to call me a bad mother. That remark had me ready to “vaseline up” but instead I took a break. But now I am back and ready to address it.

Here’s the deal: As I said before I’m not the poster child for marriage or infidelity. I in no way condemn anyone for choosing to divorce just like I believe no one should condemn me for making my marriage work. I don’t know what God told you to do, just like you don’t know how He spoke to me. You can choose to discredit my encounter with God if you’d like. I don’t have to convince you of anything. You know why? He wasn’t talking to you! He was talking to me. And I listened and stepped out on faith.

I share my story not for elevation or to be put on a pedestal. I share my story because:

1. It helps me heal. Writing helps me process and move forward. Publishing means you get to come along for the ride.

2. To show that God is able to repair a marriage. Even a jacked up looks like it’s over marriage.

3. To illustrate that in the midst of trials, you can grow and change for the better. (Damascus anyone?)

4. To show that forgiveness is real. God forgives me daily (actually much more often then that – I’m kinda a hot mess) and I am trying to learn to share that forgiveness with others.

5. To give hope to others. If there is another person out there going through a trying situation and hearing the voice of God in the midst of it, I want to let them know that it’s ok to trust that voice REGARDLESS of what everyone says.

That’s it. That’s why I write and publish. Am I looking for praise? Nope. But I will gladly accept prayer.

So for all the people that disagreed (hated on) my post, sorry that I riled you up. But I am just getting started. Your angst does not change my purpose or my pen. I am trying to live my life His way. All I’m trying to hear Him say at the end of my days is “Well Done.”

Neysa Ellery Taylor lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, Chris, and their 4 children – Asyen, Maya, Preston, and Patrick. An Emmy-Award winning journalist, she hopes to share her passion for marriage and God through her writing. You can read more of her work at www.myriadthatisme.blogspot.com