August already! This is usually the time of summer that I look at my "summer project list" and realize I have less than a month left to do all the things I promised myself I would accomplish. While I have mastered a few important skills (the art of napping, perfecting my homemade granola, honing my scrabble skills) there are many left to do..(or erase:) Meanwhile, my 2 and a half year old is busy running around in her birthday suit mastering potty training!  Summer is a great time for kids to blossom with new independent skills and hobbies like bike riding, reading, sleepovers, cooking, caring for pets, gardening, etc. Since my husband, a teacher, is also home for the summer, I am reminded about the art of  "taking time for training" for our daughter. Simple things like teaching her to put her blanket back on her feet, instead of calling for us in the middle of the night, watering plants, putting toys away, and all the steps of using the potty independently are all more effective when we take the time to break them down.  This is usually what happens: Me: "Josephine, put your tea party away please" Josephine: "I need help!" Then I do it for her, feeling frustrated that I spend half my day picking up around the house. Meanwhile my husband is patiently teaching her how to sort her toys and put them away in the right bin.  Fortunately my trusty Positive Discipline cards reminds me that when she is 18 she will have the skills to live independently, toilet trained and all!  In order to do that, I slow down, step back, and next time I ask her to do something I......

Take Time for Training
Training is an important part of teaching children life skills. Don't expect children to know what to do without step by step training (this goes for ALL ages.) What do you mean by clean?

1) Kindly explain the task as you perform it, while your child watches.
2) Do the task together
3) Have your child do it by herself while you supervise.
4) When she feels ready let her perform the task on her own

Enjoy the rest of your summer and see you at school soon!
Julietta Skoog, School Psychologist

PS-- Welcome new QA families! To learn more about me, catch up on previous blog postings or if interested in the parenting class starting October 4th at Queen Anne Elementary, you can go to my website here: julietta skoog