Online Games for Kids

Amber at Amber's Rantings has created this great site for her children to play games online. Use it for your children too. She has some great sites to visit for younger and older children.

Rewards are Encouragement for Good Choices

In the first part of this rewarding child for good behaviors, I mentioned that all parents reward. The purpose in rewards are to encourage children to continue the desired behavior. This may be to keep following directions, cleaning up their room, making good choices at school, or being kind to a sibling. The more positive reinforcement the child receives, the more likely they will have the "good feeling" about the choice he made. If you are working with constant disobedience or more severe behavior, you need to pick one part of the behavior to work on first. For example, if you have a child that hits a parent every time they are asked to clean his room, you have to start with the hitting, then the room cleaning. You should choose to encourage every time the child went to clean his room without hitting, even if he does not actually clean his room. Using words explaining the right choice of not hitting is how the child will learn not to hit. Then begin to encourage the times the child does actually goes into his room and begins to clean it. Then encourage going into his room without instruction and cleans his room. Eventually with positive encouragement, the child will train himself to think of the right choice. It may take a long time, but positive encouragement will do far more than spankings or time out (Which in this case will give the child a way to escape cleaning his room! More on that in another post!) Keep up the good choices!

Great Contest for Blogger Moms

Two Moms in a Blog have announced a great contest for blogger moms. Here is what you can win:

* A fabulous make your own stuffed animal kit from FunOnTheArk.com valued at $20.00

*3 month gift subscription to Menu Planning Central $60 value
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* A gorgeous leatherette photo book that you make from your digital birthday photos compliments of photomemoriesalive.com valued at $50.00

* 10 handmade thank you notes provided by FunEvents4Girls.com valued at $20.00

That’s over $150 worth of prizes! Eeeeek! Spread the word!

But here’s the best part! Everyone who officially enters the contest will receive a $5 coupon code toward a free animal from funontheark.com.

If you are interested in entering, you can post this content on your blog and go to Two Moms And A Blog and give them your link. The winner is announced on Sept.30.

Rewarding a Child for Good Behavior- Part 1

This has come up in previous posts and on other blogs... do you reward or not? Coming from a behavioral background (my degree is in teaching children with learning and behavioral problems) I do realize the benefits in rewards. Rewards, used correctly, can encourage children to think the way you want to and make the choices you want. Rewards, used incorrectly, can teach a child that getting is the only reason to do. There is a fine line and parents will need to decide on what they want the outcome to be. Every parent rewards, whether it is with a kind word, a pat on the back, a special treat, or a special toy. Make your decision wisely and make you rewards appropriate.