Blog – Page 7 – Easy Daysies

Executive Functioning: Successful Classroom Management Using Visual Strategies

Executive functioning: A set of mental skills that help you get things done. These skills are controlled by an area of the brain called the frontal lobe. Executive function helps you: Manage time. Pay attention. Teachers would all love have a dream class, but guess what? We can make every class a dream class! Teachers […]

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Posted on April 17, 2016

Elaine

Autism: 5 Things You Should Know About Children With ASD

Autism affects 1 in 68 children (and 1 in 42 boys), so you likely know a child who has been affected by this common brain development disorder. In honour of Autism Awareness Month, I thought I would share with you 5 things that you may not know about children with autism. While the symptoms of […]

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Posted on April 14, 2016

Elaine

Help Get Your Kids To Listen!

The 3 types of learning, and how Easy Daysies enhances the 2 more effective types for helping kids to “listen” One of the most common questions I get from parents is: “How do I get my kids to listen?” Parents are just so tired of telling their kids the same thing over and over […]

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Posted on March 08, 2016

Elaine

A Fresh Start: 3 Quick Rules to Reboot Family Organization & Routine

It is never too late to get on track. If your family is like mine once the hustle and bustle of school routines and extracurricular activities kick in, a start of a new year is a great time to take a moment and check to make sure your family to moving forward as best as they can. There is nothing that can give a parent more satisfaction than to see their kids be happy and successful from the moment they wake up to the time they put their little heads down on a pillow. Especially if it is as stress-free and as battle-free as possible!

Here are three quick steps, or “rules”, to a fresh kick start to help boost your family’s routine and organization. It is funny that all three of these steps come from the many years of experience of being an elementary school teacher. These “rules” target a child’s success not only in the classroom but in the home as well! First, a rule of the Teacher, is that having reliable and consistent routines are key to a successful day. Second, another rule of the Teacher is, a place for everything and everything in its place. Thirdly, take time evaluate what you are allowing your children to be fed physically and mentally.

Rule 1: Co-operation & Independence Is Found In Routine

Image courtesy Laura Magu

Having reliable and consistent routines are fundamental for a successful day. Many teachers know and implement this very powerful organizing principle. Children naturally co-operate better when they know ahead of time what is going to happen next.

This is why parents say things like, “Okay, in five more minutes we are going to visit grandma.” This is so your child can physically and mentally process an upcoming change in activity. It prepares them so that you will have an easier “event transition”.

Similarly many teachers utilize a visual daily routine in the front of their classroom showing and reminding children of the day’s events so that there will be smooth transitions between events in the day, like going to the Library after recess and then going to the Gym.

A visual routine is beneficial in alleviating anxiety and increasing co-operation. But whether you have a visual routine or not, the key is to establish consistent routines in the home.

Let your child know what you expect of morning routines, after school routines, and bedtime.

(e.g. Morning Routine: Make bed, Get Dressed, Breakfast, Brush Teeth, Pack Bag, School).

When routines are consistent, a child is much more co-operative and independent because they feel safe and confident all because they know what is going to happen next.

Rule 2: Contain the Clutter

It is amazing how we feel so good, happy and calm when our home is just cleaned and tidy. The principle of “a place for everything and everything in its place” holds a lot of merit for how a child functions as well.

As a school teacher, I make sure that not only is the classroom tidy and in order but so are the inside of my students’ desks. Kids can find what they need when they need it and a nice, calm and anxious free environment is created. As a mom of three kids, I see all the notices, homework, invitations, library books, projects and crafts that come home – not to mention guitars, skates, soccer, softball, and dance clothes and equipment on top of this!

Image courtesy ch10, flickr.com

Have a basket for incoming paper from school for each child and establish as part of the after school routine that they empty their school bags, followed by a routine like: wash hands, have a snack and share about their day and then get into homework and extracurricular days may be altered.

Lunch bags and water bottles go on the counter and homework, papers, etc. and planners in their basket. I picked up three different colored magnetic baskets that stick on our fridge for easy access and visibility. After work is done, have kids immediately put it away in their backpacks. Have a family bin labeled for library books as well to save yourselves from time spent searching and late fees.

One of our house rules is to put things back where they belong (not necessarily where you got it from.) Keep sports equipment together in labeled bins, or have a bin for each child if they have multiple activities, so that they can always find what they are looking for without having to sort through their siblings’ stuff too. Prevention of frustration is what we are aiming for here.

Rule 3: Concentrate on Healthy Feeding for the Mind & Body

A happy and healthy child is a parent’s goal. Their overall health is a result of what we “feed” them both physically and mentally What I mean is if they are eating sugary junk foods and staying up late, skipping meals, and laying on the couch watching television as soon as they get in the house, expect for them to be tired and unfocused.

Make it a house rule to not have the television on during school nights and watch how your kids will find productive things to do. “Feed” the mind with playing, reading and creating, which are all much better for the brain than staring at the television. (Please note, I’ve got a short Podcast episode here about Screen Time and your kids).

Getting a good night’s sleep is very important for the brain as well. Help them to have stress free mornings by taking a few minutes each night to pack lunches, put all homework and notices in their backpacks, and lay out the next day’s clothes. Taking the time each night will be worth losing the morning frustration!

Take the time to plan to eat healthy and begin it with breakfast! Studies show that children who eat breakfast perform better at school. They are more likely to have better school attendance, behave better, and are more alert and energetic. Keep it quick and simple. For example: whole wheat toast with peanut butter and banana with a glass of milk; cheese on toast and orange juice; or oatmeal or cereal with milk and fruit; or yogurt with granola and fruit.

Plan to have one or two slow cooker meals each week which can guarantee some healthy home-cooked meals on those busy nights. There are usually leftovers from those large pots which means less cooking time needed during the busy week nights.

Happy and healthy kids means happy and content homes.

I hope these three “rules” help your home get rebooted where it is needed. I know that I will be working on these steps as well!

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Posted on January 04, 2016

Elaine Comeau

A Letter To Moms

Being a Mom is a very difficult job – maybe the most difficult. It is also a very important job – maybe the most important. As a mom of 3 young children myself, I know that the costs and rewards of motherhood are both overwhelmingly great. Have you ever noticed that advertisements and Mother’s Day […]

Posted on November 22, 2015

Elaine Comeau

5 Must-Know Tips For Stress-Free Back-to-School Mornings

Breathe. Inhale, exhale, and repeat. That is right, the crazy hectic mornings of “Back to School” are just around the corner. Local newspapers are full of Back To School shopping flyers and supermarkets have aisles stocked with bright displays of pencils, binders, crayons and markers!

Whether your children are the ones who wake up early in the summer holidays raring to play outside or sleep in late like time does not matter, studies will show that the morning routine is the toughest one especially when school is back in session!

One in four school aged children are dealing with issues of anxiety as there is pressure and anticipation mounting up on all levels…. this so called “school stress” hits not only children but their parents as well. As much as we think having that first cup of coffee before the kids wake up will do the trick, we need to be more ready than that!

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Surveys, articles and websites will show that the most stressful time of day for moms is the morning routine. One website I found stated that 8:25AM was the most stressful time of day for moms. (inspiringmoms.com)

Being a Mom of three, School Teacher, Canadian Mompreneur of the Year, and Founder of Easy Daysies Visual Routines for Kids, as well as Parent/Educational Speaker, and Podcaster on the Elaine’s Kitchen Table Podcast, I often get asked what my secrets are. So, here are my “FIVE MUST KNOW TIPS For Stress Free Back To School Mornings!” Don’t wait for back to school to start getting ready for stress-free mornings….

Start now and have S.U.P.E.R. mornings!

1. S – Start Now!

Don’t wait for the first day of school to start. Back to school prep should start two weeks before school starts! It takes about 21 days to develop a habit but for children 14 days is perfect to establish routine. Easy Daysies is all about making making good habits stick and helping busy families have easier days, that is how it got its name! Begin by starting bed time a bit earlier, slowly reaching the desired bed time by the week before school starts. This also means start waking the kids up early too.

A side note: How much sleep should our children be getting? According to the National Sleep Foundation who says that 60% of children under 18 complained abut being tired during the day and 15% admitted falling asleep in the classroom, here is what they have to say: Teens (ages 14-17) need 8-10 hours of sleep, school aged children (6-13) need 9-11 hours of sleep, and preschool aged children (3-5) need 10-13 hours.

2. U – Up You Get!

Wake up 30 minutes before the kids. When you get ready first it is much less stressful, you get some alone time with out anyone pulling at you, you are less rushed and more cheerful to help the kids get ready. It is like showing up early for an important meeting, you just do not want to feel that same anxiety you would have if you were late for an important meeting. What ever anxiety you have will be passed on to your children and you do not want to do that!

3. P – Prep the night before:

get lunches packed, homework done and planners signed, clothes laid out and back packs packed. This will save you tons of time and arguments in the morning! This is a life habit and life skill you want to teach your children. They will transfer this skill of planning ahead and being prepared into their studies and into their first job interview!

4. E – Easy Access Breakfast.

Have it all accessible so that the kids can get everything they need to have breakfast on their own. Have healthy choices in a low reach cupboard because breakfast is truly the most important meal of the day. Studies will show that 20% of children skip breakfast and that skipping breakfast is linked to many problems such as lack of concentration, unhealthy weight gain, and the list goes on. Some quick breakfasts for the older kids who have to run out the door for band and sports practice are granola bars, breakfast bars high in fibre, fresh or dried fruit and dried cereal. Yogurt contains probiotic bacteria that helps regulate certain brain neurotransmitters that rule mood and may help lessen anxiety and depression. (Study done by PNAS, healthychildren.org)

5. R – Routine Routine Routine!

Dr. Karen BeBord,a PhD, child development specialist (for North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service) states that routines are good and they help alleviate stress and that it is important to set up a daily routine. She says that establishing a regular bedtime, wake up time, and bath time are important at any age as it helps children to learn to develop routines themselves. This is the premise behind Easy Daysies visual daily routines. Studies show that children as young as preschool age benefit from visual routines because they cooperate better and are less anxious when they know what is happening next.

I had so many parents ask me to create a visual routine for them at home to help their children be more cooperative and get out the door faster in the morning, similar to a visual schedule I had made for the front of my classroom. I made visual routines by parent demand for many years before it became the product called Easy Daysies (available at stores, including Staples Canada and Barnes & Noble USA). My heart now smiles every time I receive an email sharing how families are having easier days!

So, pat yourself on the back, because you read this blog, you are already ahead of the game and ready to tackle the dreaded back to school mornings. Start implementing your S.U.P.E.R mornings and you and your children will be so glad when school rolls around!

Written By Elaine Tan Comeau, Mom of Three, Wife, Award Winning Entrepreneur and Educator, Creator of Easy Daysies Magnetic Schedules for Kids, Dragons’ Den Winner and 2014 Canadian Mompreneur of the Year for www.EasyDaysies.com and host of the Elaine’s Kitchen Table Podcast.

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Posted on October 07, 2015

Elaine Comeau

Childhood Anxiety – It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way

One in four.

Twenty-five percent of school-aged children in North America suffer from some sort of anxiety. As a school teacher I’ve seen it myself. Our lifestyles are “busier” than ever, our kids are over-scheduled, and the pressure to “keep up” with other families keeps us on the hamster wheel of childhood achievement. We all want what is best for our kids, so why are our kids getting more stressed and anxious by the day?

The National Institute of Mental Health describes anxiety this way:

“Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress and can actually be beneficial in some situations. For some people, however, anxiety can become excessive, and while the person suffering may realize it is excessive they may also have difficulty controlling it and it may negatively affect their day-to-day living. There are a wide variety of anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and specific phobias to name a few. Collectively they are among the most common mental disorders experienced by Americans.”

Anxiety disorder among children statistics

The question is, do you want your son or daughter to be in the growing group of over-stressed and anxious kids, or do you want to take action now to help them thrive in today’s fast-paced world?

I recently read an excellent article from Worry Wise Kids about “Parenting Tips For Anxious Kids“. As I read each of the tips, I thought, “Yes, that’s Easy Daysies!”

Here are 4 tips from that article you can use today to help your son or daughter be less anxious, more confident, and better prepared for the world out there:

Expectations of Your Child

“It’s important that you have the same expectations of your anxious child that you would of another child (to go to birthday parties, make decisions, talk to adults). However, understand that the pace will need to be slower and there is a process involved in meeting this end goal. You can help your child break down big tasks into smaller steps that your child can accomplish.”

How Easy Daysies helps:

Easy Daysies Magnetic Schedules For Kids do exactly this – break down the day (or part of the day) into simple steps that adults often take for granted, but can be beneficial to children. A child’s concept of time is developed as far as “What’s happening now” and “What’s happening next”. Their sense of accomplishment is also very much that a task well done is its own reward, something we tend to forget as adults. Hence, the “To Do” and “Done” sides of the Easy Daysies magnetic board.

Build your child’s personal strength

“It’s important to praise your child for facing challenges, trying something new or brave behavior…There is a lot you can do to help build your child’s competence. Search to find avenues where your child can show he is good at something (music, art, sports). Also be sure your child has jobs around the house that show your child is contributing to the family.”

How Easy Daysies helps:

Your son or daughter does not need to power wash the house to contribute. Little things like making the bed, setting the table, or feeding a family pet are more than enough to contribute to the family. To make sure this happens consistently, use Easy Daysies magnets from the Chores and Special Times Pack that have check-mark boxes for each time the task is completed. Remember, the reward is the job well done!

Letting your child learn to do things on his/her own

“While tempting, it is best not to take over or do it for your child. While this might help your child feel better right now, the message your child is getting is that you don’t believe your child can do it. Then your child will start to think the same way about him or herself.”

How Easy Daysies helps:

While power washing may be a bit extreme, you would be amazed at what your child can do by himself / herself! Using Easy Daysies, my own children have learned to read time, clean their bedroom and clean the bathroom (toilets included) all by age 7. These are called “life skills” because our kids can use them for a lifetime! I’ve read too many stories about first year college students who don’t know how to cook, clean or use a bank machine because their well-meaning parents have done everything for them. Once again – the reward is the job well done!

Siblings Walking Together Lessens Anxiety

Consequences

“Don’t confuse anxiety with other types of inappropriate behavior. It is very important to set both expectations and have limits and consequences for inappropriate behavior. Parents who have reasonable expectations of their children and clear and consistent limits and consequences for behavior along with love and acceptance have the most competent, self confident and happy children.”

How Easy Daysies helps:

Set your reasonable expectations right on your Easy Daysies magnetic board. First, Snack Time, then Play Time, then Clean Up, and then you get Screen Time. Sometimes the reward is a job well done, plus a reward!

I feel really strongly about helping our kids become independent and less anxious. I’ve heard so many testimonials from professionals and Easy Daysies families about how Easy Daysies helps to lessen anxiety:

“I heard about you from a client of mine. I often recommend to parents that they have a visual schedule for their children. I see a lot of little ones with anxiety and part of keeping that at bay is setting up for them an expectation of what is coming up in their day. Unfortunately, many of the families that I work with are very busy and it is hard to follow through on that recommendation because it is difficult to go home and find the clip art etc. So I was beyond THRILLED to hear that someone has already done this and the in the exact perfect format!! I wanted to order a set to try out for myself so I can tell my clients all about it! Thank you for this wonderful product and for donating a portion of your proceeds. I have worked with children that have come through some of those experiences and have witnessed the horrible trauma as well as the power of healing. Sincere best wishes, Vanessa” – Registered Child Psychologist and Mom of two

Once again, which group do you want your child(ren) to join – the growing group of over-stressed and anxious kids, or the group of strong, independent children who can thrive in today’s fast-paced world?

Easy Daysies can be purchased online or at retailers across North America, such as Staples and Scholar’s Choice in Canada, and Barnes & Noble in the USA.

Shop Easy Daysies

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Posted on August 24, 2015

Elaine

It’s All About Chicken

There are about 18,700,000 kid favourite chicken recipes on Google. If you have children you will know that chicken is a good “go to” food because children, no matter how picky an eater, will eat chicken. Scroll down to see two yummy recipes, easy enough for kids to make, chosen by our chicken farmers […]

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Posted on August 11, 2015

Elaine

Breakfast Blast Smoothie Recipe

Quick, healthy smoothie that your kids will love! Mornings are a busy and sometimes stressful time for most families and breakfast may not be the best when rushing out the door. Here is a quick and healthy breakfast smoothie that kids of any age will enjoy! It is packed with vitamins and protein and tastes […]

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Posted on April 15, 2015

Elaine

Making Cue Card Stories With Your Kids

Getting kids to write can be a challenge at any age. As a school teacher, I have often heard children say, “I don’t know what to write about.” Well here is quick and easy way to get kids writing! Ingredients to Quick Fun Writing: Grab a stack of old magazines 3-4 pieces of paper for […]

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Posted on October 13, 2014

Elaine

Fabulous Two Ingredient Playdough!

Fun, Easy do-it-yourself at home Playdough Recipe

Making playdough is great learning fun! Even the youngest learner can help with this simple measuring experiment. Kids get to form and develop the small muscles in their hands as they stir and then mold the play dough into shapes.

As an extension for school aged kids, have them play a game like, “Name the Shape”, where they take turns creating a masterpiece in ten seconds and everyone else guesses what it is. This is a great activity for developing language using describing words (adjectives) and broadening vocabulary.
Ready, here is the recipe!

Ingredients:
1 cup cheap hair conditioner
2 cups cornstarch

Steps:
1. Mix together and have fun!
2. Add food coloring if you want to add to the fun!

Posted on September 14, 2014

Elaine Comeau

Fabulous Two Ingredient Playdough!

Fun, Easy do-it-yourself at home Playdough Recipe Making playdough is great learning fun! Even the youngest learner can help with this simple measuring experiment. Kids get to form and develop the small muscles in their hands as they stir and then mold the play dough into shapes. As an extension for school aged kids, have […]

The post Fabulous Two Ingredient Playdough! appeared first on Easy Daysies - Magnetic Schedules for Families.

Posted on September 09, 2014

Elaine