El News 11-06

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Elementary News
November, 2006

Help Your Child Choose Truth Over Lying
Encourage Respectful Behavior at School
Learning to Embrace Diversity, Respect Differences
Word From the Director

Help Your Child Choose Truth Over Lying

Most parents and teachers see lying as one of the most serious behavior problems a child can have. It should not be ignored. Children who lie a lot are prone to other unacceptable behavior. According to research, they may steal, fight and hang out with the wrong crowd. This can sidetrack their school studies.

To avoid or overcome lying:

Urge your child to be honest with you - always. Say you appreciate her telling the truth and love her no matter what.

Help your child feel safe about making mistakes or getting a bad grade. She may be lying to cover up mistakes and please you.

Stress that lying is bad - not that she is bad. You want to help her learn appropriate behavior.

Discuss the reasons for your child’s lies. Ask your child to think of what else she could do instead of lying.

Explain the consequences of lying. Dishonesty leads to lack of trust. Ask your child what punishment she thinks she should have for lying.

Monitor your behavior. If your child hears you lying, she’ll get the message that it’s acceptable.

Encourage Respectful Behavior at School

Ask most teachers … and most parents … and they’ll tell you that rudeness in school is becoming a bigger problem each year. In fact, nine out of 10 parents think that kids need to practice better manners when they’re in school.

Children today see example after example of bad manners in action. Adults yell at clerks in stores. They make rude gestures when they’re driving. And athletes? There’s a new story of poor behavior nearly every day.

The truth is that most parents want their children to learn and practice respectful behavior. Here are guidelines for promoting the “school manners” you should be teaching your child:

Don’t check your manners at the school door. If your child says “please” and “thank you” at home, remind her to use the same words at school.

Pay attention. At home, help your child listen to instructions and focus on what you are saying.

Do as the teacher says. Your child may not always want to follow the teacher’s instructions. But she needs to know that the teacher is in charge.

Put things away. Your child must take care of her belongings. This is a task she may work on at home, but it will also help the teacher at school.

Come on time. Promptness is a skill your child will need for the rest of her life.

Learning to Embrace Diversity, Respect Differences

You don’t want your child to grow up with prejudice toward others. Research says biased people have emotional problems. They fear failure and have low self-esteem. But a child who respects and accepts differences in people will get along better - in school and in life. Differences include race, religion, age, gender and ability. To instill tolerance:

þ Be a role model for your child. Let her see you speaking with respect to and about people who are different from you.

þ Talk to your child about prejudice. Stress how it hurts people and society as a whole.

þ Help your child see different skin tones, types of hair and facial features. Discuss how each is beautiful.

þ Explore various cultures with your child. How do they celebrate holidays? Include some of these practices in your own observances.

Make sure your child comes in contact with different people. Take her to a playground where people from many backgrounds go.

Greetings from PCN

What a wonderful autumn we’ve had so far! I hope you’re enjoying the football, the brisk weather and the changing leaves. As the temperatures cool down, youngsters’ Internet use tends to heat up. While many tech-savvy parents have long enforced basic computer safety rules, there are some areas that may be overlooked.

Social networking sites, like MySpace, YouTube and Facebook, are exploding in popularity – especially with teens and pre-teens. Take some time this month to talk with your child about these sites. Find out if your child has a profile on one, and if so, visit it together.

Happy Harvest Time!
Darcy Jensen and the PCN Board