Parenting Thought

Five things about making your child a star:

1. As parents we need to help each child know the star he is and the star he can become.

2. No children are too young to know they are stars – that they are important. (See Decisions Babies Make.)

3. Children need to know they are important just because they are who they are – that’s one kind of star.

4. Children need to know they are important because they do many things well – that’s another kind of star.

5. You can find ways to show your children that they are both kinds of stars.

(See Your Child Is a Star! for more about the star in your child.)

Spring’s Picture Books

We have been amazed at how much good parenting information is in children’s picture books – books that we hope you are reading everyday to the children in your lives – your own, your class, those you take care of.  For each book, we are noting there is something in it to remind you of how to be the parent you want to be.

• STARS by Mary Lyn Ray and Marla Frazee

A reminder that your child has a star within him, and you can help it shine.

• STOP THIEF by Adam J. B. Lane

A reminder that you can help your children with sad and frustrated feelings when they can’t have everything they want.

• TIA ISA WANTS A CAR by Meg Medina

A reminder how important it is for your children to learn to wait.

• ELLA SARAH GETS DRESSED by Margaret Chodos-Irvine

A reminder about what it means when your child says no and how important your response can be.

• KING ARTHUR’S VERY GREAT GRANDSON by Kenneth Kraegel

A reminder that it is important to help your child handle his or her aggression.

• THE CHANDELIERS by Vincent X. Kirsch

A reminder of how important it is for your child to have your attention.

Read All About It:

Your Child Is a Star!

SELF-ESTEEM A FAMILY AFFAIR, Jean Illsley Clarke

GROWING UP AGAIN: PARENTING OURSELVES, PARENTING OUR CHILDREN, Jean Illsley Clarke and Connie Dawson

Surf the Internet:

children need to feel important