Does Time Out Work?

By Bridget BooherOct. 1, 2009

 

The Value of Time-Outs

Biting. Hitting. Pinching. Out-of-control meltdowns. Ask any parent of a 2-year-old about the most dreaded — yet predictable — behaviors of the terrible twos and you’ll hear that litany. Within weeks of her second birthday, my own sweet-tempered child grabbed her friend by the hair, angrily slapped her father, and practiced her kicking technique on my shins.

“Two-year-olds have very powerful feelings that they are just starting to learn how to regulate,” says Marilou Hyson, Ph.D., associate executive director for professional development of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), in Washington, D.C. “Parents need to help by setting limits and teaching through discipline, not harsh punishment.” That’s why this is the age when most parents introduce the ever-popular time-out.

Although the term has varying definitions (which many parents customize by creating a specific place or ritual for it), the general idea is to remove a child from his immediate surroundings in order to stop a negative behavior. For example, if your child clearly knows that she’s doing something wrong — throwing sand at a playmate, say — yet persists in doing it, a brief interval away from the sandbox lets her know that such behavior won’t be tolerated.

A time-out may also help a child calm down. If your son is running wild-throwing blocks or shoving his little brother — it’s necessary to intervene so he doesn’t hurt anyone (including himself) and can begin to regain control of his emotions.

As useful as it can be, however, time-outs don’t work in every situation. Here, some guidelines for deciding when it’s time for a time-out.

 

The Limits on Setting Limits

Lisa Campe could always tell when her daughter, Tess, was heading toward a rough spell. “There was no point in trying to talk rationally with her when she was upset,” says the Roslindale, Massachusetts, mother. Campe’s solution was to have Tess sit in her playroom for a brief cooling-off period.

In Campe’s case, a time-out did the trick. But how can you determine whether it’s the right response for your child? Parents should keep two factors in mind, Dr. Hyson advises.

First, realize that children this age are simply too young to make the connection between their own misbehavior and punitive discipline. That’s why any time-out, should you use it, must be brief. “Two-year-olds do not have long memories,” she says. “After just five minutes, they have completely forgotten the incident that prompted the time-out in the first place.”

The rule of thumb for a time-out is to give one minute for each year of age. Though two minutes may not seem like enough time for a child to absorb a lesson, it is long enough for a toddler. Besides, at this age, the point is less to instruct (2-year-olds are much too young to ponder the error of their ways) than to separate the child from the scene of the trouble.

Another point to remember is that using time-out as a punishment can be frightening for toddlers, especially if you’ve lost your temper. In addition to keeping your cool, make sure that you do not place the child in a physical setting where she will feel isolated or abandoned, even for just a couple of minutes.

Most important, a time-out should not be used as a way to punish a child in the throes of an out-of-control tantrum. “You’re trying to get a child to comply with something while he’s hysterical, and that just doesn’t work,” says Victoria Lavigne, Ph.D., an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University Medical School, in Chicago. Instead, take him to a neutral place, but stay close by while he screams.

Even if a time-out is appropriate, you need to determine (as with any other discipline method) the cause of the negative behavior, not just a means of stopping it. Is your child having a rough time at day care? Is she coming down with a cold? Is she hungry? Is she picking up on tension between you and your partner or feeling the end-of-the-day, predinner rush?

Staying the Course

At some point, your attempts to set limits will almost certainly be met with tears. Even after you’ve patiently explained to your toddler why pulling on the lamp cord is a bad idea, he won’t grasp the concept right away. (As with almost everything else a 2-year-old does, repetition and practice are key.) If you decide to impose a time-out, accept that crying or even a tantrum might ensue and be prepared to ride it out.

Once the time-out is over, don’t mention the incident again. Instead, direct your toddler toward positive behavior — and give him lots of praise and encouragement for acting correctly.

Remember that there is no quick fix or easy solution to this very trying phase. “There’s an almost naive assumption among a lot of parents that if you discipline children, they won’t engage in that behavior again,” Dr. Lavigne says. “That rarely holds true at any age, but especially not for a 2-year-old.”

Copyright © 2004. Reprinted with permission from the October 2000 issue of Parents magazine.

 

Source: Parents

Editor’s Note: All content here, including advice from doctors and other health professionals, should be considered as opinion only. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.

We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Dog Named Lucky

By Unknown
Sept. 30, 2009

 

Editor’s Note: Do you know what “Joyology” means? It is the study of caring, sharing, listening and Sacrifice.

This was written by Mr Jeineke in 1975

We would like to know what you think: dan@youngchronicle.com

What is a Joyologist? A joyologist, then would be one who studies joylogy. Frankly our world could use a great many joyologists whose mission in life is to actively research the effects of discussing and sharing joy. The research could branch out into how joy effects our careers, family lives, and friendships. The very act of doing the active research should spread jubilation throughout the world and bring about positive results. What a fun job!

All one needs to start with is to share the words joyism, joyology, and joyologist with others. Use the words daily and make them a part of the world’s vocabulary.

The upcoming year is going to challenge us all. Here is something we need to think about: A Dog Named Lucky

A Dog Named Lucky

 

Mary and her husband Jim had a dog, Lucky. Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy Inevitably someone would forget and something would come up missing Mary or Jim would go to Lucky’s toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky’s favorite toys. Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.

It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease…she was just sure it was fatal. She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders. The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky. A thought struck her…what would happen to Lucky? Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim he was Mary’s dog through and through. If I die Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought. He won’t understand that I didn’t want to leave him. The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.

The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully but the dog just drooped, whining and miserable. But finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn’t even make it up the steps to her bedroom. Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap.

Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn’t come to her when she called. It made Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed. When Mary woke for a second she couldn’t understand what was wrong. She couldn’t move her head and her body felt heavy and hot. Panic soon gave way to laughter though when Mary realized the problem. She was covered, literally blanketed, in every treasure Lucky owned!

While she had slept the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement and back bringing his beloved mistress his favorite things in life. He had covered her with his love. Mary forgot about dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking further and further together every night.

It’s been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free. Lucky? He still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box but Mary remains his greatest treasure.

Live everyday to the fullest…because every day is a blessing from God!

Source: Joyology

Pudding Pie

By Lee Colucci
Sept. 30, 2009

Description
An easy recipe designed to be made with grandchildren(age 4-8 yrs old) with no cooking involved.

 

Ingredients
1 box honey grahams
1 pkg. (4-serving size) Instant vanilla pudding
1 pkg. (4-serving size) Instant chocolate pudding

Directions
Have child place graham crackers at bottom of 8 inch glass square dish. In a deep bowl, mix ingredients of instant vanilla pudding. Have child spoon vanilla pudding on top of crackers. Place a second layer of crackers on top of the vanilla pudding. Mix ingredients for instant chocolate pudding. Have child spoon chocolate pudding on top of crackers. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for a few hours. You can serve with cool whip or whipping cream in a can if you’d like.

Servings: 8

Source: Eversave

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Dads Help Kids in School

By Apples 4 the Teacher
Sept. 30, 2009

“My dad can beat up your dad!” Oh yeah? “Well my dad is cooler than your dad!”

One thing about most kids, they’re loyal to their dads.  It doesn’t matter how much he’s working or how he may not be able to throw a ball or ride bikes because he’s working on Mom’s honey-do list, most children think their dad is pretty wonderful.

Often the room parents and those parents who are available to help out at school are the moms.  Many dads would love to help out at school if their schedules were a little more flexible.  Imagine the excitement on your child’s face if Dear old Dad was one of the chaperones on the next field trip.

Dads may not have the flexibility that the work-at-home-moms do to help out at school, but most dads I know are entitled to a lunch each day as well as some vacation days each year.
If  logistics permit it, dads should schedule their lunch break at the school a couple times a month.  They could help out in the school store, in the classroom or media center. Your child will be proud as a peacock!

A sad reality is that there are more and more single parent households.  Some children don’t see their dad nearly as often as they would like.  I remember one field trip to an apple orchard.  Dad rearranged his schedule so he could attend and help rally the children.  While sitting on the hay ride you would have thought he was a local celebrity.  Kids were fighting over who could sit next to “The Dad”.

It’s good for children to see dads participate with school activities.  Dads are cool when they help out at school.  Don’t negate the possibility helping just because dad works when school is in session.  Maintenance man Mr. Bob would love a hand setting up for the school carnival.  Do you realize how many tables and stations need to be set up?

The next time you overhear a group of children trying to one-up each other where their dads are concerned, perhaps you’ll hear one bragging, “Oh yeah? Well MY dad helps out at school!”  Do you know any cool dads?

Source: Apples 4 The Teacher

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

No Need to Fear the Big, Bad Wolf

By KNG
Sept. 30, 2009

In the story of the three little pigs, the one who built his house of straw did not fare well; the big, bad wolf huffed and puffed and blew his house down.

But builder Michael Furbish, who made his own home from bales of straw and an elementary school of the same material, says in reality, straw houses are not only sturdy but also good for the environment.

Straw—the stalks of plants like wheat, oats, and barley—is considered a waste material and is commonly used for farm animal bedding.  But more and more people are discovering that straw baled into rectangular blocks is an excellent, inexpensive building material.

“Our mental picture is that a straw bale is light,” says Furbish. “But each bale weighs about 40 pounds (18 kilograms). We stack them like bricks and then spray plaster—mud, essentially—on the inside walls to coat them one and a half to two inches [3.8 to 5.1 centimeters] thick. Then we put stucco on the outside. So a straw building is really like a fortress, and it is not going to rot as long as water is kept out of the bales.”

There are two ways to make a straw-bale structure. You can build load-bearing walls with them, which means the walls support the roof. Or you can build a post-and-beam wooden frame that supports the roof and fill in the walls with straw bales.

Either way, the walls are there to stay. And they provide great insulation, helping keep straw homes in cold climates cozy in winter and those built in hot places like the desert cool in summer.

Straw is considered a “green” (good for the environment) building material because it is a renewable resource: A whole new crop can be grown and harvested every year, easily “renewing” the supMediaply.

Also, planting and harvesting straw uses relatively little energy. “Most other building materials require a lot of energy use in production and manufacturing at a factory,” explains Furbish.  “With straw-bale construction, you are getting a building product without using much energy at all.”

Furbish used about 900 straw bales for his family’s two-story, three-bedroom house. His company provided straw-bale walls for the Friends Community School of College Park in Maryland. That project used about 4,000 bales.

When asked if there are any drawbacks to living in a straw house, like mice nibbling on the walls, Furbish points out that the straw is completely covered with plaster and stucco. Besides, he has a couple of cats on mouse patrol, just in case.

“It would be hard to find a wall system that will outperform straw,” he says. Looks like the big bad wolf is just out of luck.

Source: Kids National Geographic

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Saucy Apple Pork Roast

By Better Homes
Sept. 30, 2009

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 cloves garlic, cut into thin slices
1 3-1/2- to 4-pound boneless pork top loin roast (double loin, tied)
3 medium apples, cored and cut into wedges
1/4 cup apple juice or apple cider
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon coarse salt or salt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed

Nutritional Information:

vitamin C: 8%, calories: 262, polyunsaturated fat: 1g, vitamin A: 0%, very lean meat: 5 diabetic exchange, monounsaturated fat: 4g, sodium: 252mg, saturated fat: 3g, total sugar: 9g, carbohydrate: 10g, protein: 35g, fat: 1.5 diabetic exchange, calcium: 4%, fiber: 1g, total fat: 8g, iron: 8%, cholesterol: 87mg, fruit: .5 diabetic exchange.

Steps:

1. Trim fat from meat. Cut small slits (about 1/2 inch wide and 1 inch deep) in meat; insert a piece of garlic in each slit. In a small bowl combine salt, rosemary, and black pepper. Rub rosemary mixture evenly over meat. Place meat on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Insert a meat thermometer into center of meat. Roast in a 325 degree F oven about 2 hours or until meat thermometer registers 155 degree F.

2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine apples, apple juice, brown sugar, lemon juice, and dry mustard. Add apple mixture to roasting pan the last 30 minutes of roasting.

3. Transfer meat to a serving platter. Cover loosely with foil; let stand for 10 minutes (the meat’s temperature will rise 5 degree F during standing).

4. Remove the rack from roasting pan. Stir the apple wedges into pan juices. Cut the meat into slices. Serve the meat with apple mixture. Makes 10 to 12 servings.

Source: Better Homes

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Black Bean Lasagna

By Better Homes
Sept. 29, 2009

 

Ingredients:

9 lasagna noodles (8 ounces)
2 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained
Nonstick cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green sweet pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 15-ounce cans low-sodium tomato sauce or tomato sauce with seasonings
1/4 cup snipped fresh cilantro
1 12-ounce container low-fat cottage cheese
1 8-ounce package reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel)
1/4 cup light dairy sour cream
Tomato slices (optional)
Fresh cilantro leaves (optional)

 

Nutritional Information:

calories: 340, total fat: 8g, saturated fat: 5g, cholesterol: 25mg, sodium: 589mg, carbohydrate: 49g, fiber: 8g, protein: 21g, vitamin A: 21%, vitamin C: 31%, iron: 21%

 

Steps:

 1. Cook noodles according to package directions; drain. Mash one can of the beans; set aside.

2. Lightly coat a large skillet with cooking spray; add onion, green sweet pepper, and garlic. Cook and stir over medium heat until tender but not brown. Add mashed beans, unmashed beans, tomato sauce, and snipped cilantro; heat through.

3. In a large bowl combine cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream; set aside. Spray a 3-quart rectangular baking dish with nonstick coating. Arrange three of the noodles in the dish. Top with one-third of the bean mixture. Spread with one-third of the cheese mixture. Repeat layers twice, ending with bean mixture. Reserve the remaining cheese mixture.

4. Bake, covered, in a 350 degree F oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until heated through. Dollop with reserved cheese mixture. Let stand for 10 minutes. Garnish with tomato slices and cilantro, if desired. Makes 8 servings.

Make-Ahead Tip: Refrigerate unbaked casserole, covered, up to 1 day, and bake as directed. Or, freeze up to 1 month; thaw frozen casserole in refrigerator overnight, and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until heated through.

Source: Better Homes

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Mom and Dad: What You Need to Know About Me

by SafeKids/PIO
Sept. 29, 2009

I may roll my eyes at your safety rules, but I’m really listening. I am trying to be independent and show I’m in control.

I still don’t really understand risks. I think I’m invincible and nothing will ever hurt me. That kind of stuff only happens to other kids.

While you’re not watching, I’ll try new things. Sometimes I’ll take a risk just to show-off for my friends.

That’s why you should talk to me about ways to stay safe since you can’t follow me around. Empower me to make safe choices because I still trust you to teach me the right things to do.
Did you know…?

I  am starting to understand risks, but may take them anyway.

I still have trouble avoiding obstacles and preventing falls.

My visual perception is less defined than older kids’.

I can’t always identify oncoming cars in busy intersections because I’m not fully able to recognize an object from a busy background.

I’m very influenced by my friends and concerned about what they think of me.

I’m very likely to be injured by cooking equipment-related fires, candle fires or by fireworks.

I’m more likely to be completely unrestrained in a car than little kids.

Safety Tips Checklist

Preventing Falls & Injuries at Play

• Make sure your child wears a helmet and protective gear every time he or she bikes, rides a scooter, skates, skateboards, skis, etc.

Preventing Motor Vehicle Injuries

• Pre-teens should always use a lap and shoulder belt on every ride.

• Pre-teens under about 4 foot 9 inches and 80 to 100 pounds should use a booster seat with a lap and shoulder belt.

• Never put the shoulder belt behind the back or under the arm.

• All children under age 13 should ride in a back seat.

Preventing Burns & Scalds

• Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

• Practice an escape plan with your family.

• Teach your pre-teen to never play with matches, lighters or fireworks and to never light candles in his or her bedroom.

• Set your water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or below.

• Place hot foods and liquids on the center of the table. Don’t set them on the edges of tables or counters.

• Don’t let your child use a microwave until he or she is tall enough to reach the items in it safely and understands that steam can cause burns.

Preventing Poisonings

• Talk to your pre-teen about the dangers of poisonous items like inhalants and prescription medicines.

Source: Safe Kids

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Medal of Honor Recipient – US Army Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/YC
Sept. 29, 2009

Each week we at the Chronicle will be honoring one of these true heroes. We will call it Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week. We hope you will join with us to honor these true heroes. Who have given us the greatest sacrifice that one could give their life, to save their fellow soldiers?

We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

This Week’s Hero: Army Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an M2 .50-caliber Machine Gunner, 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, in connection with combat operations against an armed enemy in Adhamiyah, Northeast Baghdad, Iraq, on 4 December 2006.

That afternoon his platoon was conducting combat control operations in an effort to reduce and control sectarian violence in the area. While Private McGinnis was manning the M2 .50-caliber Machine Gun, a fragmentation grenade thrown by an insurgent fell through the gunner’s hatch into the vehicle. Reacting quickly, he yelled “grenade,” allowing all four members of his crew to prepare for the grenade’s blast.

Then, rather than leaping from the gunner’s hatch to safety, Private McGinnis made the courageous decision to protect his crew. In a selfless act of bravery, in which he was mortally wounded, Private McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it between his body and the vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion.

Private McGinnis’ gallant action directly saved four men from certain serious injury or death. Private First Class McGinnis’ extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Source: US Military

Teacher Suspended for Making ‘Obama youth’ Video

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