Article 1: Role of Play

Nowadays due to the academic pressure through state standards and parental competition for children to have better future, the focus of learning has been shifted to only academic paper learning. Often parents don't realize the importance of play in child’s life and learning, yet they think learning is limited to academic. Not only children develop in many domains through play but also they learn life-long lessons through play. It is obvious that these days children are getting less play than before because of the false perspective of learning in children.

Play has an important role in children’s development and growth from earliest infancy. Children play because it is fun but they also learn and develop more effectively through play. Whether their play is solitary, parallel, or associative, their cognitive, language, motor, emotional and social skills will develop and enhance. I believe that play, hands on experiences, and exploration that comes from within the child is child’s first teacher and learning environment. Children first learn to have self-regulation and solve problems through play. They learn about their world, people around them and their emotions through play. Children who have opportunities to be engaged in more play time have more advanced language, social and emotional skills and will do better in academic learning. Play can be a free play picked by a child or a planned activity set up by an adult, but either way children will learn and develop positively.

I usually encourage my parents to incorporate play into teaching so children can learn better. For example, a child who has problem with alphabet recognition can play with blocks that have letters on them in many ways that can enhance her alphabet recognition. We as educators also use play and games to enhance children’s development in many different domains. For example, playing Bingo helps children cognitively while it helps them to develop their attention and focus. It also teaches them how to play as a group and socialize in a healthy competition.

Article 2: What Causes Disability in Children?

Distractibility in children can be the result of one or any combination of several sources, including:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Major life changes (e.g., divorce, relocation)
• High levels of day to day stress
• Learning Disabilities

Bolstering Self-Esteem in Kids with Focusing Problems

Parents and teachers have a right to feel frustrated when managing distracted children. At the same time, telling a distracted child that if s/he cannot pay attention s/he may fail or be expelled from school almost never helps the child improve. Worse, this is more likely to create feelings of inadequacy and shame. A strategy more likely to succeed would be to explain that you are proud of how hard your child has worked to achieve success, even though he has been challenged with distractibility.

But how can we further bolster a distracted child's ability to cope inside and outside the home with frustration and the feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt that often accompany their focusing problems?

Ways to Help Children Build Their Self-Esteem & Learn to Focus in Learning:

• Be Understanding
  Remember that the distraction prone child is struggling with feelings of inadequacy. It is of utmost importance that parents are empathetic with their frustrated children. These kids need extra doses of understanding and encouragement to stay motivated. You may say something like, "I realize you're frustrated about getting this done. How can we make some progress?" Sometimes just hearing this will help distracted kids.
• Be calm, firm, and non-controlling
  Avoid yelling. Yelling is really just an adult temper tantrum that only clouds your child's mind, making him more distractible. Keeping your cool, stating clear expectations, and trying not to command these children is the formula for success.
• Get to the bottom of the problem
  Remember that your child is not being bad when he or she is frustrated. The true reason for the angst and possible tears is that she is struggling with a task that is beyond her resources at the moment. Stay tuned into the frustration and remember what it is that makes your child find homework hard to do. This is much more productive and healthy than just viewing your child as "lazy." Keep asking questions to determine, for example, whether your son is frustrated because he doesn't understand the parts of the sentence or because he wants to call a friend. Try to discern how much your child learned the material in school and what is it about this problem that's too hard. Once you identify that there's a problem area or skill deficit, you can work on that or involve the teacher to help re-teach the material.
• Don't wait for the drama and tears
  Focus on the first signs of a meltdown and intervene early in the sequence of events. Does your daughter fidget, stare into space or seem reluctant to begin the work in the first place? Pay attention to those moments before you just mutter, "Oh no, here we go again..."
• Break down big problems into smaller ones
  This strategy is usually overlooked and underused. Distracted kids will feel more motivated by small successes versus big failures. Your child might need a break, or some help turning a big project into a series of small jobs. Kids may need an adult to supply the structure. Parents who see themselves as distractibility management coaches really help the situation. For example, saying "Yes, this problem is a tough one, but let's see what we can do. Let's do one question together, then you try the second and I'll be right here at the counter paying some bills if you need me." Modeling calm attention to a task often has a calming impact on kids.
• Use checklists
  Help your child get into the habit of keeping a to-do list. It's very reinforcing to be able to cross tasks off a list.

Article 3: Siblings & New Baby

Why is it hard for children to adjust to a new baby in the family?

• Research indicates that a child’s personality has the most effect on how they react to a new baby.
• Children with the closest relationships with their mothers show the most upset after the baby is born.
• Children with a close relationship with their father seem to adjust better.
• Your child’s developmental stage may affect how well they can share your attention. Often two-year-olds have lots of trouble getting used to a new baby, because their needs for time and closeness from their parents are still great.
• Stress on the family can make your older child’s adjustment harder.

See sibling rivalry on Your Child for more on causes.

How can you help your child adjusting?

• Set aside special time for your older child: Each parent should spend some one-on-one with the older child every day. It’s amazing how much even just 10 minutes of uninterrupted one-on-one time can mean to your child (and help their behavior!). Let your child choose the activity, and you follow their lead.
• Listen—really listen—to how your child feels about the baby and the changes in your family: If they express negative feelings, acknowledge them. Help your child put their feelings into words. Never deny or discount your child’s feelings.
• Make sure it is very clear that absolutely no hurting is allowed: Give your child other ways to express bad or angry feelings they may have toward the baby. For example, they could draw an angry picture of the baby, or act out their wishes with dolls, or roar like a lion.
• “Baby” your child, if that’s what they seem to crave: This may help stave off regression in areas that are less acceptable to you. There is a tendency to suddenly expect your child to become more independent when you have a new baby. If you expect less independence, you are more likely to get more!
• Have the new baby and older child exchange gifts.
• Have some special “big brother” or “big sister” gifts to give: As friends and relatives start showing up with baby gifts, have some big sister gift to give so your older child won’t feel left out.
• Remind visitors to pay attention to your older child, and not just the baby.
• Make sure the older child has some special: private space, and things of their own that they don’t have to share with the baby.
• Give them special jobs that they can do to help the family: Help with the baby’s care (but don’t overdo it—take your cue from your child on this).
• Let them participate in the baby’s care: baths, dressing, pushing the stroller, etc.
• Point out the benefits of being an older child: like choosing what to eat, being able to go the park and play, and having friends.