How to Raise a Responsible Child

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Hi,
February is Valentine's month. Are you ready for Valentine's Day? I know, I know, you probably say you are too old or too busy for this. It is easy to take your relationship for granted and forget to do the small things that show your spouse you care. In fact, you don't have to buy expensive romantic gifts or fabulous dinner to rekindle the romance in your relationship.

You can just make an effort to greet your spouse with a kiss, give your spouse a heart felt complement or simply do something to make your spouse's life easier ... these are just some easy things you can do to show your love and care. Well, I'm not a love expert or a hopeless romantic, but I do know that it takes effort to make a relationship work. Anyway, Happy Valentine's Day!

Thought for today:
" You know why God created gap between fingers? So that at someday, the one who is made for you, comes and fill that gaps by holding your hand forever. " - Anonymous

Best Regards,
Andrew Loh
Andrew Loh
Publisher & Editor, BrainyZine
andrew @ brainy-child.com

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How Can I Teach My Child To Be Responsible?
By Barbara Desmarais

Most of us when asked what we want our children to become we include "responsible" among other things such as happy, fulfilled and caring. Do we teach children to become responsible by simply giving them chores to do?

Make It Easy For Your Kids To Be Responsible
By Michael Grose

Some children need some help to develop responsibility rather than being left to their own devices. As a parent you need to make it easy for some children to be responsible for their own well-being. This requires us to move into teacher mode, which can be a challenge at those busiest times of the day.

Q1: My son is 5 years old and was evaluated to be gifted by TONI-2 quotient of >136 superior for his age level, Draw a person intellectual ability is average score 97 and Visual motor integration (VMI) if 114 which is average, but his visual subtest is 130 which is high and motor subtest is 97 which is average....He is only an average student and does not rank even top 20 of the 33 students. If he is such a gifted child why he is not in the top 20?

A: Your son has been assessed to be in the gifted range and I can totally understand the concerns you have since a lot more is expected from a gifted child in terms of performance. Unfortunately this is not always the case - gifted children do underachieve for various reasons.....Read Dr. Sandhu's complete answer on Underachieving Gifted here.

Q2: My son is 5 and has been reading since he was 3 years old. He currently reads at a 3rd grade level, can add double digits and is starting his multiplication tables. The Montessori school that he is attending ignores his academic needs in the classroom. He is not challenged with the work and spends time doing the simpler things....What do you think I should do to prevent him from getting bored next year? I don't want him to lose interest in school and the possible challenges it has to offer.

A: His school certainly looks into his development, but most preschools (especially the Montessori's) are concerned about whole development rather than academic achievement alone. However, your concerns are genuine and it appears as if the teachers have quite different views about his development. ...Read Dr. Sandhu's answer on Challenging and Stimulating a Potentially Gifted Preschooler here.

Q3: My son is 5 and he has been reading since he was three and is now a proficient reader. He enjoys reading the Magic Treehouse books, and started on Harry Potter, but was daunted by the size. He can add subtract, and do simple multiplication. The Montessori school he is in will not move him into 1st grade because they believe that he needs "the gift of time"...The policy of holding children back is endemic in Texas, and we have been made to feel as though we are "pushing" our child too hard. We view it as giving him the opportunity to grow. My question is: Will it hurt him to keep him back one year? What can we do to maintain his academic growth, while not overdoing it?

Q4: I have just received the CAT3 results which my daughter took last autumn aged 10 years 8 months. Her scores were VR 110, Q 108, NVR 130. There seems to be a very large difference between the NVR score and the others. Could you please tell me what strengths this may indicate? She is, and always has been, exceptionally good at Art; is also very good at Maths and Science...Is there a score above which a child is classified as 'gifted'? At her new secondary school they have a special 'gifted & talented' program - Should she be included in this?

Science and Social Studies Fun Flash Cards (Cards)
By School Specialty Pub

This box set of fact cards provides young learners a fun, engaging way to practice the science and social studies skills they need for school success. Beginning with U.S. Presidents, and progressing through such science topics as astronomy and dinosaurs, the colorful cards offer children the opportunity to learn and practice science and social studies skills at their own pace.

These cards also provide suggestions for fun games that will reinforce learning. Perfect for practice at home, for reinforcing concepts taught at school, and for proficiency test preparation, these fact cards are an important tool for school success!

Designs for Living and Learning: Transforming Early Childhood Environments
By Deb Curtis, Margie Carter

Give children wondrous places to learn and grow! Drawing inspiration from a variety of approaches-from Waldorf to Montessori to Reggio to Greenman, Prescott, and Olds-the authors outline hundreds of ways to create healthy and inviting physical, social, and emotional environments for children in child care. Full-color photographs of actual early childhood programs demonstrate that the spaces children learn and grow in can be comfortable for children, teachers, and parents alike.

Smart Strategy: Think of the Brain as a Muscle
LiveScience.com Feb 8, 2007

Students who are told they can get smarter if they train their brains to be stronger, like a muscle, do better in school, a new psychology study shows. Many people have various theories about the nature of intelligence. Some view it as a fixed trait, while others see intelligence as a quality that can develop and expand.

Study finds music good for children's minds
ABC News Feb 7, 2007

Many kids take music lessons as a hobby. But, a new study confirms what many people have long suspected: that these lessons are actually good for a child's mental development.

Parents spend more time watching TV than talking to their children
Daily Mail Feb 9, 2007

The findings sparked warnings that busy parents are failing to realise the importance of conversation in the home. Scientific studies have shown that talking to children, especially under-fives, is crucial for brain development.

Low-level toxicants can harm brain
NewsDay.com Feb 6, 2007

Low levels of mercury and lead exposure can damage developing brain cells - a finding that might help explain how these toxicants can lead to a host of mental and medical problems, a new study said.

Children's Sleep Problems Can Lead To School Problems
ScienceDaily.com Feb 8, 2007

The study offers one of the first demonstrations that the relationship between children's performance and sleep may differ among children of different backgrounds. Conducted by researchers at Auburn University and Notre Dame University, it is published in the January/February 2007 issue of the journal Child Development.

Relationship Problems May Affect Baby's IQ
ABC7News Jan 30, 2007

A new study claims that children born to mothers who experience relationship problems during their pregnancies have lower than average intelligence and are more prone to anxiety, scientists said. The study done at Imperial College London found that women who reported high stress levels in the months before birth had babies who scored lower in mental development tests than mothers with calmer pregnancies, according to the Telegraph.

Vaginal birth boosts risk of baby brain haemorrhage
NewScientist.com Jan 30, 2007

Vaginal birth increases the risk of brain haemorrhage in newborns, a new study suggests. But it is unclear if the early bleeding causes problems with subsequent child development, so natural births should not be eschewed in favour of caesarean sections, experts warn.

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