K-6+Parents

__**October 2012**__
K-2 parents discuss with your student about the importance of staying healthy and safe. We discussed good touch and bad touch and how to keep our bodies safe.

3-4 parents can ask your child(ren) about what it means to have good character.

5-6 parents should be looking for a handout with cyber-safety tips and information that you can use to discuss with your child(ren).

__**Parents' Role in Bullying and Intervention...**__
"Bully-free, it starts with me!" 1. Behavior patterns begin at home; a child who has bonded well with his/her parents and feels warmth and caring from them is much less likely to resort to bullying behavior with peers in school and elsewhere. = a) talk to your children; = = b) get to know their classmates and friends; = = c) be observant of their behaviors, appearance, and mood; = = d) speak to your child's teacher if you have questions or concerns = = 2. Discipline at home establishes a pattern for interaction with others. = a) be aware of your discipline practices; = b) be aware of the language you use around your child; = = 3. Self examination would be wise course if your child has been accused of bullying behaviors. Before taking action ask yourself, "What have I done to contribute to this situation?" = = 4. Keep an open line of communication with your child's teacher and the school. = =* Information from [|www.nea.org]; reprinted from //Childhood Bullying and Teasing: What School Personnel, Other Professionals, and Parents Can Do//, Dorothea M. Ross, Ph.D. =

=__ Be a Great Parent! __= "Being a good parent doesn't involve doing extraordinary things. It's the little things you do every day that are the most important."

__Parenting Tips__ 1. Regularly **spend** one-on-one **time** with your child doing something you both enjoy. 2. Make **education** a top priority. Get to know your child's teachers and monitor your child's academic progress. 3. Encourage a **healthy lifestyle**. Have nutritious food at home and make sure that your child gets plenty of exercise. 4. Look for **teachable moments**. For example, if there's a storm, talk about what causes thunder and lightning. If you don't know, try to find the answer together. 5. Encourage your child to **dream about the future**. Discuss various careers and talk about which careers your child might be interested in. 6. Help your child **develop** his/her **interests and talents**. Celebrate the things that make your child unique! 7. **Pay attention** to your child's moods, sleeping patterns, and eating habits. These can be good indicators of how things are going at school and with friends. 8. If your child plays sports, support the players and coaches, go to every game, and cheer. 9. Understand the technology your child uses and know where your child goes online. 10. Encourage your child to invite friends over...

=Hope you all had a wonderful summer! As we get back into the swing of things, I will be posting information on our counseling lessons on the student pages and information and ideas here to help you interact with your child on the things they are learning at school! Mrs. Sander=