1. You don’t have to talk big to be cool.

Guys seem to have a dynamic of competition that is fun and playful but can lead to “big talk” or making yourself look and sound bigger than you are really are. Whether in sports, academics, girlfriends, stuff you have or stuff you can do, boys have no problem sharing all their amazing qualities with one another. This is awesome! Except that those qualities can sometimes be exaggerated and blown out of proportion.

Trust that you are an amazing kid without needing to promote yourself or exaggerate a single thing. People can see who you are without you having to tell them. Be yourself and you won’t need to talk yourself up.

2. Playing sports is not the most important thing in the world.

There is huge excitement and a rush that comes with watching someone who is great at a sport and everyone loves to be connected to a winning team. But sometimes the sports culture and our obsession with it can lead us to think sports are more important than everything else. It also creates the idea that kids who don’t play sports are second class citizens.

Your job as an awesome human being is to see everyone for their character above their performance. A lot of kids will be liked for what they do in a sport, not how they actually treat people. Avoid the trap of this particular type of group-think. And, if you are one of the athletes, be kinder and more inclusive of others because of it. Not the other way around.

3. You are in charge of your body—your body is not in charge of you.

You have a strong mind and a strong body. You are in charge of it, no one else. It is special to me and I hope it is special to you. It doesn’t matter what others are doing with their bodies, you decide what you’re comfortable with.

You may feel sometimes as if your body is the leader of your actions, but your brain is what drives your body. Always. You will have some pretty lit (as you kids say these days) relationships when you are older and wiser and you will experience everything in time. Don’t rush.

4. Your emotions are just as important as your grades, sports, friends or activities—actually, even more so!

Historically, boys and men have been taught to ignore their emotions, but trust that you have just as many feelings as every other human being (about 27 basic ones and even more complex ones!). Limiting your emotions or choosing to ignore them, limits your existence and your incredible awe-filled life experiences!

So, no matter how uncomfortable, embarrassing or difficult it may be at times, listen to yourself, pay attention to how you feel and learn talk about your emotions with the people you trust (i.e. your mom). They make you who you are and you are amazing.

5. Blame me for anything.

There will be times that you are faced with difficult decisions. When all your friends are doing something that you know is not okay, when your conscience is tugging at your, but your brain is confused because something sounds fun or you’re curious or you don’t want your friends to be mad at you for not joining in.

When you know you should say no, but that doesn’t seem like enough, when the pressure is there, blame me. Tell your friends your mom turns crazy and will ground you for life. Tell them I have superhuman powers and will find out everything so you just can’t do it. Of course, I trust you to make good decisions, but when you need an excuse, blame me.

6. I expect you to make mistakes and yes, even fail at a few things, too.

If you don’t know this by now, I will tell you again; it’s okay to make mistakes. In fact, I want you to, because that means you are trying new things and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone. This is the only way to actually grow as a human being and to find out all your incredible strengths.

How you handle failure is one of the best things to know about yourself, because there is little in this world more difficult than failure. It does not denote an end, but only a hurdle over which one must learn a new way to leap. And I know you are a great problem solver.

7. I am so proud of you.

Already I can see inside of you a huge heart and a strong mind. I can see your generous spirit and caring soul that looks out for the underdog. I love your cool hairdos and your insistence on needing to come to your own decisions on your own time, in your own way. You have a depth of character, persistence and a profound desire for the truth. You already know yourself well.

Trust yourself, love yourself. You have everything inside of you that you will ever need. And know that I am here, always, loving and trusting you, shining a light on you as you grow, stretch and run wildly and beautifully through life. I am so proud of you.

 

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Krissy Dieruf is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and three children, loves to sing and dance around the house and has a soft spot for rebels and crazy hair. 

This holiday season will look dramatically different for many children and families. Sesame Workshop and Viatris Inc. are launching new resources to support the social and emotional needs of families across generations around the world during the pandemic. This new global resource will reach families on six continents. 

Today’s release of materials on SesameStreet.org/caring in English, Spanish, Hindi, and Portuguese is designed to help young children talk through and name big feelings like stress and fear, encourage positive caregiving strategies and routines, and help families find ways to celebrate together when far apart.

“We know children and families everywhere are struggling as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Together with Viatris, we are offering families strategies to cope with today’s challenges and foster emotional wellbeing long into the future,” said Sherrie Westin, President of Social Impact and Philanthropy, Sesame Workshop. “As we head into the holidays with so many routines upended, we want to help children and their caregivers manage big feelings and spend quality time with each other, even when apart.”

Starting this week, new animations and activities will launch on a rolling basis in the U.S., India, South Africa, and Latin America, with select content available in Europe and Australia. In one video, Grover and his mom decide to make his Grandmother’s special family soup over videochat when they can’t be together for their holiday celebration. In additional videos, Elmo and his mom talk about big feelings and Elmo’s dad helps him name and cope with the feeling of fear of getting sick. Additional topics released on a rolling basis will include keeping routines, spending special time together, and learning about persistence.

“Our work with Sesame Workshop stems from our mission to empower people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life,” said Lara Ramsburg, Head of Corporate Affairs for Viatris. “From young children to parents, grandparents, and other caregivers, we hope these new resources will be of value to anyone who has experienced the emotional impact of the pandemic on their families. As we begin our journey as Viatris, we’re committed to supporting social impact initiatives and partnerships that have the potential to have a lasting, positive impact on patients, families and communities worldwide. We’re pleased to collaborate with Sesame Workshop, who has a long history of making a difference in the lives of children around the world.”

Viatris, a new kind of global healthcare company, is committed to doing its part in support of public health needs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the generous support to make these new resources possible, Viatris will share the resources with its global workforce of approximately 45,000.

The resources launched today as part of Sesame Workshop’s Caring for Each Other initiative, which was created in response to the uncertainty facing families during the COVID-19 pandemic and has reached families in more than 100 countries and 41 languages. http://SesameStreet.org/caring is regularly updated to meet the needs of families as the situation evolves, with resources designed to help parents provide comfort and manage anxiety, as well as help with creating routines, fostering playful learning at home and staying physically and mentally healthy. Resources will also be distributed through a wide range of national and community providers as part of Sesame Street in Communities, Sesame Workshop’s program to support children and families.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Sesame Street In Communities via YouTube

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Disney+ just debuted the trailer for the new film, Safety, inspired by the empowering true story of former Clemson University football safety Ray McElrathbey, a young man facing a series of challenging circumstances, whose dedication and persistence help him to triumph over repeated adversities.

Aided by his teammates and the Clemson community, he succeeds on the field while simultaneously raising and caring for his 11-year-old brother Fahmarr. Safety will debut exclusively on the streaming service on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020.

The film stars Jay Reeves (All American, The Tax Collector) as Ray and newcomer Thaddeus J. Mixson as Fahmarr along with Corinne Foxx, Matthew Glave, Hunter Sansone, Amanda Warren, Miles Burris, Isaac Bell, Elijah Bell and James Badge Dale.  It is directed by Reginald Hudlin (Marshall) and produced by Mark Ciardi, p.g.a. (Secretariat, Miracle) and Gordon Gray (Million Dollar Arm, The Rookie) with a screenplay written by Nick Santora (The Most Dangerous Game, The Fugitive). Douglas S. Jones and Campbell McIinnis served as executive producers.

Safety

Hudlin said, Safety is a movie about brotherhood and coming together for the greater good, which is a message our society needs right now.  It’s the story of a young man stuck in a situation where failure is not an option. Through sheer force of will, he does the impossible, which inspires the whole community around him to do the same.  It’s a movie I can’t wait to watch with my family on Disney+ on December 11th, and for families everywhere to do the same.”

Safety

Ciardi added, “For over a decade, I’ve dreamed of bringing Ray’s incredible story to the screen, and now that it’s ready, I’m thrilled that Disney+ is making it available for families to enjoy together during the holidays.”

The Safety original soundtrack features score by critically acclaimed Grammy®-winning jazz musician/producer and composer Marcus Miller (Marshall), plus the original song “Hold Us Together” performed by Grammy®-winning singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist H.E.R., which she wrote and produced in collaboration with Josiah Bassey and Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II.  The Walt Disney Records soundtrack will be available digitally on Dec.11.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Disney+

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If you’ve ever eavesdropped on a preschooler’s phone or FaceTime conversation, you probably found it very entertaining, but also a little cringey. After all, young children are still learning the social graces of one-on-one conversations.

Our experts in the Kiddie Academy Education Department have offered the following guidance on how to make virtual communicating a comfortable and worthwhile experience for kids of all ages.

Is It Worth Trying to Teach Your Child Virtual Etiquette?

As with any one-on-one interactions your child may encounter, you want them to be polite, responsive, well-mannered, and cordial. But the reality is some of these expectations can be developmentally inappropriate, especially with younger ones. In the early years (2 years old through preschool), your child’s receptive and expressive language skills aren’t fully developed. They don’t comprehend certain questions asked of them and will have difficulty responding appropriately. Or they may not respond at all.

However, the persistence of the coronavirus suggests that virtual interactions will continue to be the new normal and the future, so it’s important to teach children at an early age how to navigate and behave in a virtual world.

Tips for One-On-One Virtual Calls with Kids

It’s a big deal when children can see and talk to friends and relatives one-on-one via the screen. Here are a few bits of advice on how to turn the calls into a good experience for everyone:

1. Calls should be short. Recommended maximum times are two minutes for 2-year-olds; three-four minutes for 3-4-year-olds; five minutes for 5-year-olds, and so on. The interaction will be short and that’s OK, too. It may take more time to set it up the call than the call lasts.

2. Many young children become shy—reserved and uncomfortable—seeing themselves and others on a computer screen, while others will become excited and chat away. That’s OK. Don’t force the interactions and instead be gentle and supportive.

3. Sometimes the adult may be the one holding the child back from being comfortable enough to interact with their friends. Find alternative ways for them to interact with friends—send letters, call on the phone, do a drive-by and talk from your car, etc.

4. Don’t worry about your child not looking directly into the camera. Children have difficulty making eye contact in person. Looking into a small hole on a computer and being attentive enough to do so for the duration of a call may not be developmentally appropriate.

5. Avoid using the same space for one-on-one chats as you use for virtual learning. Try to separate the two so that your child is aware that one area is for learning and the other area can be for talking to friends.

6. Encourage your child to share toys, books, or anything that interests them with their friends. If possible, set up the computer so that the children may play together virtually and talk to one another as they play. It’s comforting to know that a friend is with you, even though it’s virtual.

This post originally appeared on Kiddie Academy Family Essentials Blog.

Richard Peterson has over 20 years of experience in early childhood education where he has been involved with the direct and indirect instruction of students. As the Chief Academic Officer, Peterson provides daily support to the Kiddie Academy education department in the areas of curriculum, assessment, training and more.

Photo: Tinkergarten

Whether we’re trying to get things done around the house, join a work meeting, or just catch our breath, parents all need ways to keep our kids engaged during the day. And, it goes without saying, we’d love it if whatever keeps them busy also helps them learn and thrive.

What’s the Solution? Independent Play.

We’ve all seen glimpses of it. You notice it’s been quiet in the other room for a while, you peek in and your child is totally immersed and “in the flow” of play. And it’s magical. It’s in those moments that kids are doing their best learning. They are feeling happy. They are engaged in what’s interesting to them, and they are developing skills like persistencecreativity, and problem-solving. That’s the good stuff—independent play.

What if you and your kids don’t just have to stumble into those magical moments, but you could actually make them happen every day? You don’t have to be a trained teacher to help your kids learn to play on their own. And, you don’t even need to have the ideas! You just may need some help to get started.

How? Independent Play Training! 

There are whole sections of the bookstore dedicated to “no-stress” sleep training and “quick and easy” potty-training, but most parents and caregivers don’t know that there’s a third type of training that’s just as essential. Tinkergarten’s Independent Play Training video series will take you step-by-step through the process of getting kids ready to play on their own.

Watch: Lesson 1: Setting Up a Space For Play and see how you can set up the following play stations that will your kids to play independently like mud kitchens, art centers, and water playgrounds.

Then, take 20 minutes and, using what you learned in the video, set up your own space for play. We guarantee you’ll get hours (if not days!) of independent play in your life.

What next?

  • Read more about how to set up play centers for your family, including a mud kitchen, art center or water playground. They work indoors, too!
  • See some play centers that families across the country have put together using just what they had on hand.
This post originally appeared on Tinkergarten.

After 18 years as an educator, curriculum developer and school leader, Meghan has her dream gig—an entrepreneur/educator/mom who helps families everywhere, including hers, learn outside. Today, Meghan serves as co-founder and Chief Learning Officer of Tinkergarten, the national leader in outdoor play-based learning. 

At Xyza: News for Kids, we’re continuing our conversation about racism by asking our young readers the question: What is the definition of racism?

Currently, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines racism as “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race,” but that’s going to change very soon. Why?

Recent graduate Kennedy Mitchum was tired of people correcting her when she defined racism to include a broader definition of the word. To her, the definition of the word was really outdated. To her, racism is not just people’s prejudice against others but also prejudice combined with social or systemic power. She emailed the editors of the Merriam-Webster dictionary and asked them to revise and expand the definition of racism.

To Mitchum’s surprise, Merriam-Webster editor Alex Chambers emailed her the next day, launching a series of emails to discuss possible changes to the definition.

Those working on revising the definition of racism will be consulting with experts in Black studies to come up with the new definition. The new definition of the word will be published as soon as August.

Activities for Kids:

1. What’s the definition of a word that you think needs updating in the dictionary? Share with us! Email responses to editor@xyzanews.com.

2. Speaking of words … Xyza’s throwing out fun trivia about words this week at newsicle.co. First up? The rhyming lyrics of Hamilton!

Want more news trivia? Follow www.newsicle.co for fascinating news trivia updated every weekday for the entire family to enjoy!

This post originally appeared on Xyza: News for Kids.
Joann Suen & Sapna Satagopan
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

We're two perfectly imperfect moms who have five very different kids between the two of us. We believe that topics in news are a fantastic way to spark conversations in families. That's why we started the Dinner Table Conversation series here at Xyza: News for Kids. Won't you join us in the conversation? 

While many of us have been homebound the past few months due to COVID-19, pet parents have leaned on their dogs for support more than ever. From loyally staying by our sides, to encouraging us to get out of the house and even making special appearances as new “coworkers,” the time spent together has been equally beneficial for both pets and pet parents.

Which now presents a new challenge: As areas begin to re-open, how will our pets fare when we start leaving the house again each day?

Our dogs have likely become accustomed to constant belly rubs, multiple walks per day and constant attention, so they may experience separation anxiety as we resume our daily lives and spend less time at home. In pets, separation anxiety is a behavioral reaction triggered when dogs are separated from people they are attached to the most. Behavioral signs often include scratching at the door, crying or barking excessively, going to the bathroom in the house and/or chewing things whenever you or your family leaves. In extreme cases, dogs may try to escape, which can result in self-injury and household destruction.

Whether you’re already seeing signs of separation anxiety in your pup or want to prepare them for your absence in advance, there are some simple steps you can take to ease into spending more time apart:

1. Practice leaving the home for at least a couple hours per day to make sure your dog can be left alone without displaying severe signs of stress. Start off in short increments: 15 minutes to a half hour at a time, then gradually increase over the course of a few weeks.

2. Consider crate-training your dog. When used properly, crates can help your dog remain calm and, importantly, out of trouble. Start with just short periods while you are present to help them get used to it. For example, when you are watching television, put your dog in his crate, put the crate next to the sofa and gradually increase the time crated. You can reward quiet behavior with calm praise or with treats.

3. When you do leave, don’t make a fuss and try to do the same when you return. It may be difficult, but limiting the attention your dog gets shortly before leaving or after you arrive home lessens the shock and eases the moment of relief when you do return.

4. Leave out a few fun toys that you only bring out when you leave—these special toys will seem like a reward to your dog and signify that you leaving is a positive thing.

5. If your dog responds well in social situations, try daycare or social walks to keep them engaged and occupied while you’re gone. Pro tip: call your local daycare center and ask if you can bring your dog for an early drop-off. This ensures your dog has the chance to sniff around, get comfortable and greet the other “regulars” as they come in.

As a pet parent, you know your dog better than anyone else and are the best resource to decide what’s most helpful for them to adapt. If cases of separation anxiety persist or worsen, professionals like trainers and veterinarians are also always available for extra assistance. Overall, it’s important to know that new routines can be tricky for humans and animals alike, but rest assured that with patience and persistence, you and your pup can get through it together.

Dr. Danielle Bernal
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Dr. Bernal has over a decade of experience in veterinary medicine, specializing in animal nutrition. In her role as on-staff veterinarian with Wellness Natural Pet Food, she educates pet parents on the importance of natural ingredients like wholesome meats and nutrient-rich superfoods and the highest quality standards. 

Once a picky eater, always a picky eater? Science says that may be the case. If your little one often pushes away or refuses to take a bite of a veggie they don’t like, don’t expect them to grow out of it anytime in the near future. 

According to a study by the University of Michigan, by four-years-old children could be established picky eaters. Additionally, controlling or trying to restrict your child’s diet may backfire causing them to become more finicky. 

baby eating watermelon

“Picky eating is common during childhood and parents often hear that their children will eventually ‘grow out of it.’ But that’s not always the case,” says senior author Megan Pesch, M.D., a developmental behavioral pediatrician at Michigan Medicine C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

Researchers found that fussy eaters tend to have a lower body mass index and are not underweight. It is also less likely that they will be overweight or experience obesity. 

“We still want parents to encourage varied diets at young ages, but our study suggests that they can take a less controlling approach,” Pesch says. That being said “we need more research to better understand how children’s limited food choices impact healthy weight gain and growth long term.”

The study followed 317 mother-child pairs from low-income homes over a four-year period. Families reported on children’s eating habits and mothers’ behaviors and attitudes about feeding when children were four, five, six, eight and nine.

From preschool to school-age, picky eating habits were stable which indicates that any attempt to expand food choices may need to happen during the toddler or preschool years in order to be effective. High picky eating was associated with lower BMIs and low picky eating with higher BMIs. 

Increased pressure to eat and food restrictions was closely associated with reinforcing picky eating habits. This backs up the research conducted by Mott Children’s Hospital. Pressuring children to eat foods they dislike will not lead to a well-rounded diet later in life. 

Certain child characteristics, including sex, birth order, and socioeconomic status, also have been associated with persistence of picky eating.

“We found that children who were pickier had mothers who reported more restriction of unhealthy foods and sweets,” Pesch says. “These mothers of picky eaters may be trying to shape their children’s preferences for more palatable and selective diets to be more healthful. But it may not always have the desired effect.”

It is unknown if children who are picky eaters would have become even more selective if they did not receive higher levels of controlling feeding behaviors, Pesch says. She says future studies should investigate interventions around maternal feeding and child picky eating.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Dazzle Jam from Pexels

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Chances are, your toddler or baby isn’t ready to start making slime and playing with glitter, but just because your kiddo is young doesn’t mean their minds aren’t primed for imagination. KiwiCo knows that and has developed engaging hands-on projects and activities to spark curiosity and creativity in kids of all ages, keeping kids entertained while spending time indoors.

KiwiCo delivers a craft kit that includes developmentally appropriate projects, inspiration, and activities. The crates are designed by a team of educators, makers, engineers, and rocket scientists (yep, that’s true) to ensure what your little one receives is enriching and entertaining. Every project is tested by kids at each stage of the product development cycle. And the best part? All of the materials are provided in each crate, so no trips to the store to get craft supplies!

Panda Crate was designed for kids ages 0 to 24 months, and is the perfect choice to keep your little one entertained. The Panda Crate kids support young kiddo’s healthy development and lifelong learning, while sparking imagination in the youngest of minds. Each crate is designed to help babies learn by doing what they do best: playing, exploring and interacting with the adults in their lives.

Panda Crate contains stage-specific products, and you can chose the crate that fits your little one’s age. Here are the different crates available:

Bond with Me (newborns – 0-2 months) — Establish a loving connection with your new baby by helping them feel safe and secure. Crate activities include ways to explore the world and help develop cognitive skills.

Count with Me (13 – 18 months) — Your little one is ready to learn about the world by experimenting. The crate helps kids discover cause and effect through repetitive play and master new skills and develop persistence.

Sense with Me (3-6 months) — Your little explorer is ready to roll, as well as sit, crawl and grab). The crate includes toys that play with concepts like over, under and through, which will help teach spatial awareness skills.

Explore with Me (7-12 months) —  Engage your toddler’s senses with fun products they can watch, grab, sniff, hear and chew.

Discover with Me (19-24 months) — Help your little one learn academics with activities like sorting objects by size or matching up shapes helps them develop their number sense.

How does Panda Crate work?

To order your Panda Crate, here’s what you need to do:

1. Pick a line based on your kiddo’s age and stage.

2. Panda Crate will be delivered monthly. And your first kit is shipped in two days!

3. Have fun! Watch your kiddo enjoy their create and see their imagination grow as they start exploring immediately.

Ready to give Panda Crate a try? You can cancel or pause your subscription anytime. Save 30% on your first crate with code REDTRI!

Along with Panda Crates for kids ages 0-2, KiwiCo has activities for older kids and a range of interests! Learn more about crates for older kids.

—Leah R. Singer