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Home What's New Services at RLS About RLS Views & Visions Resource Room Media Center	Below are links to some previously showcased articles. January 2007 Creativity November 2006 Home and Family October 2006 Diversity Awareness September 2006 Good Manners August 2006 Inventing and Inventions July 2006 Battling Boredom June 2006 Interpersonal Skills May 2006 Children's Mental Health
	January 2007 Creativity The Importance of Creativity The seeds of creativity live in everyone. Some individuals are fortunate - their sprouting imagination was nurtured and grown into strong creative thinking abilities. Their parents and teachers nourished them with creative experiences and confidence building responses to their attempts, throughout their childhood. Encouraging Creativity in Children Creativity is the ability to see things in a new way, to see problems that no one else may even realize exist, and then come up with new, unique, and effective solutions to these problems. Standard intelligence tests measure convergent thinking - the ability to come up with a single correct answer. But creativity involves divergent thinking - the ability to come up with new and unusual answers (Papalia and Olds, 1993). Research describes ways that parents can encourage their children to be more creative (Amabile, 1983; B. Miller and Gerard, 1979) Unlocking Children's Creativity What's the secret behind unlocking a child's creativity in the Arts? What's the best way to work with children? How can you get them to express themselves creatively? Make Room for Your Children's Creativity By Miriam Karp Webster's Thesaurus lists the following synonyms for creative: inventive, innovative, imaginative, ingenious, original, resourceful, clever, mystical. These are qualities needed in most every walk of life. They make the difference between automated response and truly human existence. They are qualities we want our children to feel comfortable and confident using to handle life's challenges. How can we develop, nurture, and support their creativity? Creativity in Young Children By James D. Moran, III The precursors of adult creativity are clearly evident in young children. This digest explores factors that affect creativity in children and techniques for fostering this quality. The need to study creativity, and the definition of creativity within a developmental framework, are also discussed. Why Teach Thinking? by Dr. Alvin Chan The word ‘creativity' has so many diverse meanings and interpretations. I remember telling an audience of teachers that creating a mess is also creative as long as new things and views are being conjured up. This led to much laughter and discussion about the meaning of ‘creativity' (This notion of ‘creative mess' was taken from master-thinker, Dr Edward de Bono).

	November 2006 Home and Family A Parental Game Of Chess by Valerie Zilinsky On a recent winter day, our son came home from school proclaiming a new-found love of the game of Chess. We were pleasantly surprised, as my husband has been trying to persuade him to try it for six years now. It seems that all it took was the knowledge that his classmates liked to play, and all of a sudden, he has dreams of being a master of the game. Self Defense Protection - Keeping Kids Safe Online by Michelle Annese We all know that keeping our kids safe on the internet is a parent's priority lately. Here are some new tips and strategies to give parents solutions on how to protect their children. Blended Families Can Be Successful by Judy Wright Many families today are blending members from past relationships. It would be easy to give up when faced with all the conflicting methods of parenting and discipline that come to a family who has joined forces together. Attitude of Gratitude—Become Happier & Healthier! by Gina Woods Do your children commonly say things like: "I never get to do anything fun" or "Why don't we get to go on vacation all the time like the Jones family?" or even worse, "I hate my life!" Now, don't panic! I'm not saying that there is something terribly wrong in your home if they do. Most parents have probably heard similar statements spawn out of their little darlings. In fact, these may be statements that you yourself have even mumbled (or yelled) on occasion! Am I right? Are Your Kids Running Your Life? by Allie Ochs Nobody ever promised that parenting would be easy. We are caught between spoiling our children and taking away privileges for bad behaviour. Apart from loving and encouraging our children, discipline is the most important parental task. Survival Guide for the Holidays by Keith Varnum Does your father act like an attorney, interrogating you as if you were a defendant on the witness stand? Is your mother-in-law the master of the subtle put down? Are you the roasted turkey they carved up for dinner? You love your family-yet dread the holidays because you know that, following the usual holiday debacle, the main thing you'll be thankful for is waving goodbye to Mom and Dad, knowing you have a year to recuperate. Family Communication Sometimes getting a teenager to talk is harder than getting a cat to follow instructions. And when things aren’t going well, talking sounds more like shouting. Nothing you say seems to register. Family Online Gaming by Andrew Bub The family that games together - can even do so in the virtual space. GamerDad looks at how Gamer Parents virtually game with children! Family Volunteering No matter the age of your child or children, volunteering together as a family is a great way to spend quality time together while also shaping your child's character. And it doesn't have to take a lot of time. There are hundreds of ways to volunteer together as a family, ranging from quick projects at home to taking family volunteer vacations. It all depends on what fits your family.

	October 2006 Diversity Awareness The Importance of Teaching Children to Celebrate and Value Diversity ...today, when competition in just about every arena is greater than it ever was, when more and more wars and conflicts tear families and countries apart, when globalization makes this world seem smaller - and seemingly more alike - perhaps we need to take stock at what exactly we are teaching our children about similarity and diversity. Talking to children about diversity: Preschool years A child's age is one of the most important factors in considering how to begin a discussion on any subject dealing with prejudice, discrimination or, more simply, the things that make people different. Color-Blindness: Teaching Children to Celebrate Diversity The next generation will see the rise of a new America – a place where more than half of the population is non-white and racial tolerance is the glue that holds us all together. Diversity and Cultural Awareness: Teaching Tolerance The idea of teaching tolerance is not new, but there are new efforts being made to reach out, educate and inspire teachers, students and citizens to value cultural awareness and diversity. Activities that Promote Racial and Cultural Awareness By Barbara Biles, M.Ed. Children develop their identity and attitudes through experiences with their bodies, social environments, and their cognitive developmental stages (Derman-Sparks, 1989). As these three factors interact, young children progress through certain stages of racial and cultural awareness. In this article, we'll talk first about the stages of racial awareness. Then we'll give you some ideas for activities that will help children accept themselves and others. Teaching Kids the Wonderful Diversity of American Indians By Bernhard Michaelis "Don't yell like a bunch of wild Indians!" shouts a mother trying to quiet her children in a supermarket in Cortez, Colorado. A long- time American Indian Head Start teacher from the Navajo Reservation is standing close by, feeling hurt and insulted. "We would never say that to our Head Start kids," the teacher explains. "But I hear things like that all the time when I go shopping off the Reservation." The teacher's frustration is understandable.

	September 2006 Good Manners Got Manners? Teaching Our Children the Golden Rules By Donna Smith Good manners don't come naturally to a child. Children want to be first in line, want the biggest piece of cake and want to be the one noticed in a group. But children need to learn to respect and care about others' feelings, and it's never too early to start. The Good Manners Club: A Parent's Guide to Fun & Practical Manners-Based Activities With many schools starting off the academic year in September, what could be a more perfect time to teach the basics of good manners to young people? These important life skills enable children to get along better with classmates, teachers and family members. Nine Steps to Good Table Manners Whether it's dinner at a friend's house or a business meeting over lunch, we judge people based on their table manners. But what can you do if your kids are burping and slurping their way through dinner? Tips for raising polite, kind, and honest kids by Kathryn Lay When children are polite, kind, and honest, they develop character--and make their parents look good. Plus, mannered children grow into mannered adults. Yes, please Children aren't born with good manners but they aren't born with bad ones, either. If parents practise politeness in their daily lives, chances are their kids will, too. Everyday Etiquette—Parents' Etiquette Tips Here are some etiquette tips to keep in mind when minding your children.... Students Learn Respect-- Thanks to Good Manners! R-E-S-P-E-C-T-- Aretha Franklin sings for it. Rodney Dangerfield never gets any. Educators who teach good manners find it every day in student behavior. Could mastering manners make a difference in your classroom? Teaching Children Good Manners By Rexanne Mancini Last week in my newsletter, I mentioned that my children knew how to behave in nice restaurants because they had been exposed to the atmosphere at an early age. My idea of well behaved might be different from yours, however, I think there are certain basics that are important and universal. Good Manners for Kids: Social Manners for Toddlers Social manners make your child a better person for himself, family, friends and community. And you don’t have to wait until he’s in school to start teaching him simple ways to show politeness. Teaching Children Manners Are you tired of the epidemic of rude children?? Here are some tips to teach your children good manners from early on.

	August 2006 Inventing and Inventions The Toy Invented by a Kid, for Kids! Have you ever had a problem with something and wished there was a good solution to fix it? Two years ago, Jacob Dunnack (then age 6), had a problem. Inventing with Kids(TM) By Tina Sanders There’s a wonderful resource you’ve probably never even considered to help you solve your problems. One of the most valuable sources of creative energy that can help you develop ideas for new products and services is closer than you think. They may be small, but they have great, big, wide-open minds—the perfect kind for innovative thinking. What’s the answer? Kids! Who Are Creative Parents? by Istar Schwager, Ph.D. Being a parent requires daily creativity. If you're a parent, you already know this. Getting a two year old to relinquish a toy snatched from another child; helping a six year old learn to read; creating an atmosphere where an eight year old is willing to confide what happened with the school bully all take enormous creativity as well as tact, sensitivity and focus. It doesn't get easier as kids get older. In fact, being the parent of a teenager requires the skills of a magician as you develop the art of being present but invisible at the same time. Beware: Invention at Play By Kate Swiencki What does an inventor look like? Consider this picture. You are a curious and imaginative person, who likes to solve problems. You think visually. Your daily routine includes walking the dog, going to soccer practice or taking dance lessons. You like to play. That's right--an inventor looks a lot like you!

	July 2006 Battling Boredom "Mom, I'm Bored --There's Nothing to Do" by Elaine M. Gibson These words can be like fingernails on a chalkboard. When faced with the prospect of bored children, parents can feel overwhelmed. Bored No More by SandraDodd Traditionally in this culture boredom is seen as a state of sin. "I’m bored" is met by unthinking parents with, "Then mop the kitchen," or "You have a thousand dollars’ worth of toys, you can’t be bored," or "Boredom’s good for you." I believe the VERY common habit of belittling children who use the word "bored" should be rethought (or "thought," since it seems many parents have never considered it carefully but just repeat what their parents said to them). 200-PLUS IDEAS FOR SUMMERTIME (or anytime!) FUN! By Deborah Taylor-Hough Since we don't use the phrase "I'm bored!" in our home, we don't hear our kids complaining about being bored during those long days at home during the summer months. But ... I have to admit that we're still an incredibly normal family. Even without the "b-word" in their vocabulary, there are still those times when my three children (ages 14, 10 and 6) just seem to be at a total loss for something constructive to do. Classic Road-Trip Games by Susan Fox In the course of logging about 60,000 travel miles with my kids in the past eight years, I've found that most complaints from the backseat can be tempered with simple solutions that can actually make it fun to travel as a family. Rainy Day Fun & Boredom Busters for Kids Quick and easy ideas to entertain your children! Encouraging our children to entertain themselves is not always an easy task. Television and Video games are a common solution, but are not necessarily, in the best interest of the child. Start a new pattern...Provide options that are prepared in advance and readily accessible for your children. Why Can't This Kid Find Something To Do? Boredom is a warning that things may be out of balance in our lives. With school, chores, friends, and extracurricular activities, children's lives seem so full that it may be difficult for adults to imagine a lack of excitement. By the time a child enters his middle childhood years, he has worked hard to establish predictability and control in his life. It is during this time, however, that parents most often hear their children's whiny complaints of boredom. The Benefits of Boredom by Richard Louv Every summer around this time, parents hear the moaning complaint: "I'm borrrred."

	June 2006 Interpersonal Skills Teaching Kids to Make Moral Decisions A student tells a close friend that she plans to commit suicide -- and says that she trusts her friend not to tell anyone else. What should the friend do? Some elementary-aged students already have faced that kind of decision -- Helping Your Child with Socialization For one reason or another, some children do not develop social skills as easily as others. They may earnestly seek peer relationships and then, having endured rebuffs, if not downright cruelty, retreat to the safety of home, family, and their own company. Encouraging Social Skills in Young Children: Tips Teachers Can Share with Parents By Jacqueline Mize and Ellen Abell "I feel so sorry for her She'll ask other kids if she can play, and usually they just say, 'No, you're not our friend.' She's trying to be nice. What more can she do?" Helping Children Learn . . . Self-help and Social Skills Being able to do things for one's self, to get along with others, and to be able to be away from people one knows, are basic to being ready for school. If your child isn't able to do this yet, parents and those who look after children are the best people to help children learn. TEACHING KIDS TO FIT IN: Learning social skills will help prevent kids from being rejected by their peers by Elise Pettus Every teacher is familiar with the painful dance of the child who doesn't fit in. It may be the third-grader who laughs at the wrong cues, the second-grader who alienates her classmates by constantly bumping into them, or the student who seems oblivious to the teacher's signal to quiet down. Even teachers themselves can be pushed to the limit by this child's persistently odd or inappropriate behavior. While they long for acceptance, these children face repeated rejection. Worse, it often seems that the harder they try to belong, the more painfully out of step they fall. Children and Sports: Don’t Forget to Practice Sportsmanship! by Dawn Ramsburg Through those hours of playing in the backyard, my sisters and I learned a variety of skills—how to throw a ball, how to hit, and how to catch. By having our dad as a coach, we also learned another important part of the game—how to be a good sport. The Dreaded "S" Word People ask me how my children will be able to get along with people from different backgrounds, and how they will fit into society as adults, if they haven't been through the ups and downs of school life. But what exactly is meant by socialisation? Social Skills and Homeschooling: Myths and Facts by Isabel Shaw The debate I've heard it a hundred times. If you're thinking about homeschooling, it probably troubles you. "What about socialization?" is the major homeschooling question people have about a homeschooling lifestyle.

	May 2006 Children's Mental Health Even Kids Get Depressed By Pat Carolan "First-graders can and do get depressed," says Dr. James C. MacIntyre, associate professor of psychiatry at Albany Medical College in New York. The Feelings of Children by Virginia Coigney Very few adults respect the feelings of children. Generally, expressions of emotion on the part of the young are identified and dismissed as "childish" and thus of no importance. Harvard Researchers Say Children Need Touching and Attention by Alvin Powell America's "let them cry" attitude toward children may lead to more fears and tears among adults, according to two Harvard Medical School researchers. Children Trapped by Gaps in Treatment of Mental Illness by Robin F. Goodman, Ph.D. More children suffer from mental illness than from leukemia, diabetes, and AIDS combined. Mental illness can strike anyone's child - not just someone else's. Unrecognized and unad-dressed, child and adolescent mental illness exacts a tremendous personal and societal toll. Choosing a Mental Health Professional for Your Child: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How by Robin F. Goodman, Ph.D. Every child experiences emotional difficulties from time to time but at some point, a child's problems may warrant professional attention. Yet parents are usually less familiar with, or feel confused about, obtaining mental health care. The ABC's of Children's Mental Health: Strategies for Educators By Peter Whelley, NCSP, Gene Cash, NCSP, & Dixie Bryson, NCSP Children come to school each day with more than their lunch and backpack. They bring a myriad of life factors that shape their learning and development. These influences range from family issues, health and culture to behavior, learning style and abilities. Virtually all are related to mental health. Although historically mental health has been viewed through the lens of mental illness (e.g., depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disease), we have come to recognize that good mental health is not simply the absence of illness but also the possession of skills necessary to cope with life's challenges. As educators we need to understand the role mental health plays in the school context because it is so central to our students' social, emotional and academic success. CHILDREN OF PARENTS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS Mental illnesses in parents represent a risk for children in the family. These children have a higher risk for developing mental illnesses than other children. BULLIES AND VICTIMS: WHAT A PARENT CAN DO Teasing may be an unavoidable fact of life, but once teasing turns to taunting and a child is afraid that the aggressor will cause harm, the situation is more serious and crosses the line into bullying. Parents' Questions on the Use of Antidepressant Medication for Depressed Teenagers By Glenn Hirsch, M. D., Medical Director of the NYU Child Study Center The medication treatment of depressed teenagers has been the focus of recent news articles, television programs and other media. The U. S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has mandated that certain medications (SSRIs, or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) carry the strongest possible, or 'black box' warnings, due to a possible connection between this class of medications and suicidal thoughts and/or behavior in some children and adolescents. This decision by the FDA and the resultant publicity have resulted in heightened concerns on the part of parents of youngsters already on medication and those for whom medication is being considered. To help parents make informed decisions and to make sense of conflicting and sometimes sensational reports about medication and teenage depression, we spoke with Glenn Hirsch, M. D., Medical Director of the NYU Child Study Center.