Precious Time

Teaching Pre K-8, Mar 2004 by Pitino, Donna

The Parent Connection

A Monthly Newsletter for Parents

Volunteering means more when you do it as a family

Have you ever considered volunteering? Make it a family volunteer activity, and you're spending quality time with your children as well! You can make your own schedule, from volunteering once a week to once a year, from doing volunteer work at 'home to traveling to another state or country.

When my daughters were three and five years old, we volunteered once a week at a soup kitchen. While I served food, my daughters were given baskets of treats to hand out. As they brought joy to others just by being there, the girls learned to put faces on "the homeless." They saw families with children their ages, who had lost homes when a parent became ill or lost a job. They learned to enjoy helping others.

Before engaging in a volunteer activity, it's a good idea to decide how much time you're realistically able to give. Next, determine your interests. Would you like to help at school, visit someone who's lonely, stuff envelopes for a good cause? Finally, contact the organization you're interested in helping to find out how to volunteer.

No More Bullies!

How can parents help a child who's being bullied? What can kids do to help themselves if they are the victims of a bully? In addition to discussing the situation with your children and their teachers, visit http://groups.msn.com/NOMOREBULLIESNET WORK for helpful ideas and information on how to nurture kids' confidence and self-worth.

Getting a Grip

Just a few more months and your child will be ready for summer vacation. Don't wait until the end of the year if you think your child is struggling with a subject. Now is the time to ask the teacher if there are ways your child can get a tighter grip on the material and build the confidence he or she will need to begin a new school year in the fall. So, if you have any questions about whether your child really understands something, now is the perfect time to ask.

Squishy Letters

Delores Wright of Orlando, FL e-mailed to share this idea: "I use soft clay with my five-year-old grandson to help him with numbers and letters. I give him a lump of clay to shape into the form of different letters and numerals. It's multisensory learning - and a lot of fun, too!"

Donna Pitino was a teacher for 14 years and is now a freelance writer. She is the mother of two daughters.