Orange County Tutoring » Parenting

Are Your Thumbs Addicted?

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:24:57 +0000

When I was growing up the thought of carrying around a phone for my personal use was not even on the radar. But for the past twenty years or so, we have seen the iPhones, iPads, iTouch, Garmins as well as any other number of electronics come out and be embraced by most of the population on the planet.
These are great tools that we all enjoy using and they do, many times, make our lives easier and offers us the ability to get things done in a more timely manner. This next generation, which for many of us are our children, are not only tech-savvy but they are tech-dependent. Gen Y’ers have grown up with most of the electronics that we now take for granted and don’t remember it any other way. But are we using them to make our lives easier or have we become enslaved by them?
I was at the car wash this morning waiting in line to pay while a man gossiped on his phone with his Aunt Hilda. (Yes, I know all of this because I could hear his end of the conversation!) Dude, the lady taking your money and all the people in line DO NOT care about all this gossip and don’t want to hear it. On top of that you are being very impolite to the cashier. Wouldn’t it be nice to give her a smile and say ‘Good Morning’ and then ‘Thank You’ instead of talking nonsense with Aunt Hilda? And the people behind you in line would like you to handle the transaction at hand and be done with it rather than fumbling for your wallet and having to ask the cashier twice about everything because you are fumbling around with your phone.
I consider myself an outgoing person and I like to say ‘Hello’ to people I walk past out in the public. But people are so glued to their phones these days even to the point of walking or bumping into you while they are looking down at their phone texting. Because you can’t make eye contact with them, there is really no reason to say “Hello’ to them.
Is our civilization coming to a point where the electronics that are supposed to make our lives easier actually become our en-slavers? I don’t feel a need to bring my phone into the gym, or when I run into the market or the bank or the post office. Unless, you are the President or a doctor on call, you may want to rethink the way you use your devices rather than blindly be enslaved by them and annoy the public around you that isn’t.

Where Does Aim High Tutor?

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:41:23 +0000

I am often asked in which cities we tutor. First of all, we tutor all subjects in all grades K – 12. The cities that we offer in-home tutoring in are the following: Aliso Viejo, Balboa, Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa, Coto de Caza, Dana Point, Dove Canyon, Foothill Ranch, Irvine, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Monarch Beach, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Portola Hills, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Talega.

Cyberbullying and What You Need to Know as a Parent

admin — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 22:50:53 +0000

Well, the world has certainly changed since I grew up and I am pretty sure a lot of other parents feel the same way. The fact is that technology within just the past decade or two has changed so much that we truly live in a different type of world now.

I love the internet and texting on my cell, but there is also the ugly side of this as well. With the current social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace and our children’s unsatiable need to text constantly, a lot of harm can occur.

How is cyberbullying defined exactly? “Cyberbullying” is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. It has to have a minor on both sides, or at least have been instigated by a minor against another minor. Once adults become involved, it is plain and simple cyber-harassment or cyberstalking. Adult cyber-harassment or cyberstalking is NEVER called cyberbullying.

Why is this issue so important? Because many kids that have had this happen to them or have gotten involved in it have killed each other or committed suicide. There are so many ways that cyberbullying can occur now that we ALL need to be aware of it. Lewd language, offering the vicitm up for sex on a site, tormenting the victim can certainly do a number and cause a lot of strees to not only the student but the whole family as well!

I found this website to be a great source of information regarding this subject if you need more. http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/

Are You Organized and Ready for the New School Year?

admin — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 23:02:08 +0000

I am the Queen of Organization. Both my middle child and I suffer from a bit of OCD. I am the one that watches the Hoarder shows with my mouth open in disbelief that anyone could live that way!

School is starting now and the paperwork is going to start piling up along with juggling schedules for your children with their sports, music lessons, tutor sessions, etc. Here are some tips to stay on top of it and NOT end up getting buried in a mountain made up of paper.

1) When school papers come home, have all your kids put them in a designated place for you. The kitchen table was always a good place in our household. There was no possible way I could miss things there. If they take them to their room, you may never see them and you could miss important functions or not sign something that needed to be signed, etc.

2) Set up a filing system for the papers that need to be saved. The important papers that just could NOT be lost, I stored in 3 individual files for my 3 children. For the papers, tests, and rest of it I had 3 storage boxes in the garage that ALL their papers for the year went into so that if they ever had to look something up or find something they needed, they were there. I just dropped them right in on top of the last stack.

3) Have special colored folders for any other types of afterschool activities such as for Tutoring, Religious Ed class, Piano, AYSO, etc.

4) Have a ‘FAMILY CALENDAR’ in the kitchen. Everyone can write down upcoming activities as well as check for the scheduling of activities, appointments and social get-togethers.

5) When the homework is completed, have the kids put ALL of their stuff in their backpack and put it by the front door. If anything extra is needed for school, such as a box of kleenex for the classroom, put that either in the backpack or by the front door as well. I ‘trained’ my children to do that and they usually didn’t forget anything important that they needed for school the next day.

Feeling organized and in control is a GREAT way to start the new school year!

Divorce and Families

admin — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 23:22:50 +0000

A lot of people think that divorce is no big deal and doesn’t affect the kids. These are usually the same people that think that because they aren’t happy divorce is justified. I tivo Dr. Phil and actually learn quite a bit from his shows. The other day he remarked about how divorce should be “earned” if you are in a difficult situation which we all know can happen in a marriage. “Earning” to him means exhausting EVERY avenue you know of to make the marriage work. I think that what he says makes a lot of sense. There are just those cases when the children might be better off or a divorce can be justified. I truly think that there is a large portion of divorces that end that shouldn’t be ending at all.

I meet a LOT of families each year and I can tell you that from those experiences alone, children generally do better when in an intact family situation. They seem better adjusted, have more self-esteem and frequently need tutoring because they are trying to get an ‘A” in a difficult class like Calculus and not because they are failing every subject. This is not true for all the cases, or course, but for the majority.

I am not condemning disrupted families as my marriage with three children ended 17 years ago. I have personally seen my own children experience difficulties that I don’t think would have otherwise happened were we still married and ALL living together. I just have a heart for children and like to see them all do well.

I meet families for tutoring consultations where they share with me that their marriage is on the “brink of divorce” and I ALWAYS recommend to them to do everything they can to work on the marriage and stay together. Divorce puts an unbelievable amount of stress on all concerned but most of all the children! They sometimes look at me as if they have just heard for the first time that marriage is ‘work’. Yes, I do know that it is a four-letter word but that is what it takes to have good relationships in life and a good marital relationship is important to your well-being and will aid your children tremendously as they navigate this maze called LIFE!

Is Your Teen at Risk??? Safety Series

admin — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 01:00:41 +0000

What every parent needs to know…Being a teenager can be difficult. Good kids eager to grow up sometimes fall in with the wrong crowd, are confronted with situations they don’t know how to handle, or end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Being a parent to a teenager can be equally as challenging. Both teens and parents will be able to get answers to important questions at the FREE community forum entitled “Is Your Teen At Risk?”

Laguna Niguel Police Services in cooperation with Orange County Sheriff’s Department Juvenile Services Bureau and Aliso Niguel High School PTSA will be hosting a 3-week teen safety series. Join us on Mondays, from 6:00 – 8:00pm in the Aliso Niguel High School Theater for one or all of the following presentations:

April 18th – Adolescent Subcultures and Current Substance Abuse Trends

April 25th – Bullying, Teen Dating Violence and Internet Safety

May 2 – Teen Driving Safety and Teen Binge Drinking/DUI

For more information or to RSVP, contact the Crime Prevention Unit at jadavidson@ocsd.org or at 949.362.4311.

Violence in Teen Dating

admin — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:14:08 +0000

Adolescence is a time when teens are beginning to learn how to build relationships with friends, family and dating partners. What they learn and experience during this time may determine how they perceive relationships for the rest of their lives. As an adult, being involved in these experiences with a teen is extremely important and can have a positive impact on a negative situation. Parents, teachers, counselors, coaches and young adults can help guide teens to recognize what a healthy and respectful relationship requires and help prevent an abusive relationship from forming. Teens ages 12-14 are experiencing dating for the first time and are not aware of the different types of abuse they may be exposed to. It is important for teens to know that abuse is not only physical, but can also be emotional or verbal as well as of course, sexual abuse. Parents should take time to sit with their teens and openly communicate the importance of a healthy relationship and the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship. Teachers and coaches should always be alert to signs of abusive relationships in the teens they are involved with.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in four teens reports verbal, physical, emotional or sexual violence each year. Knowing the warning signs can help prevent your teen from becoming a victim or abuser in a relationship. The following are some signs a teen may be a victim or is at risk of being a victim of an abusive relationship:

Suspicious bruises, scratches or other injuries
Failing grades
Loss of interest in activities or hobbies that were once enjoyable
Alcohol or drug use
Excuses made for their dating partner’s behavior
Fearfulness around their dating partner or when his or her name is mentioned
Avoidance of friends and social events

The following are some signs a teen may be a perpetrator or is at risk of becoming a perpetrator of violence:

Threatens to hurt others in any way
Insults or ignores a dating partner in public or private
Constantly calls or texts to check up on a dating partner
Damages or destroys a dating partner’s personal belongings
Attempts to control a dating partner’s friends, their activities or even the clothes they wear
Exhibits jealous and possessive behavior
Demands to know where their dating partner is all the time
Making a dating partner feel guilty or shameful with statements such as : “If you really loved me, you would….”
Blames the dating partner for his or her feelings and actions with statements such as” “you asked for it” or “You made me mad”

If you suspect or know a teenager that is involved in dating abuse, speak openly with them to get as much information as possible. If your teen refuses to talk about the issue, give them options of other resources they can use on their own, such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800 799-SAFE) or websites such as loveisrespect.org. If physical violence has occurred, call the Orange County Sheriff’s Dispatch phone number (949 770.6011) or if it is an emergency call 9-1-1. Also, seek expert help such as a hotline, counselor or youth group if you suspect your teen may be the perpetrator of violence.

How Can I Get My Kids to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables?

admin — Mon, 10 May 2010 22:09:55 +0000

We all know that our little ones and even our big ones, rely on their brains to help them think better and do better in school. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, of course, help our brains….and so….how do we get that good nutrition into the picky eaters?

Make eating fruits and vegetables fun by presenting them in a different way. You can freeze grapes (they are amazing on a warm day!), cut watermelon into ‘cute’ shapes with cookie cutters, let them help you make a fruit salad or veggie salad but chopping together!
When shopping, have each child pick out a ‘different’ vegetable to try….perhaps one they have never heard of. Kohlrabi anyone? When you get it home, ‘double-dare’ the kids to try it.
Put a chart on the refrigerator with five circles on it for each of your children for every day of the week. When they eat a piece of fruit or a vegie, let them color in that circle and see who can eat the most all week!
Growing their own veggies in your garden is a great way to get your kids to eat more vegies and different vegetables.

Tips for Protecting Your Children

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:15:27 +0000

We can never be too vigilant in protecting our loved ones!

Inform children that it is wrong for adults to engage children in sexual activity…PERIOD!

Make an effort to know the people with whom your child is spending time.

Teach your children about their bodies and give them the correct language to use. Emphasize that private parts are private.

Make sure you know where each of your children is at all times. Make it a rule that your children check in with you when they arrive at or depart from a particular location and when there is a change in plans.

Never leave children unattended in an automobile, whether it is running or not.

Be involved in your children’s activities.

Listen to your children. Pay attention if they tell you that they do not want to be with someone or go somewhere.

Notice when someone shows your children a great deal of attention or begins giving them gifts.

Teach your children that they have the right to say no to any unwelcome, uncomfortable or confusing touch or actions by others.

Be sensitive to any changes in your children’s behavior or attitude.

Screen baby-sitters and caregivers.

Remember that there is no substitute for your attention and supervision. Being available and taking time to really know and listen to your children helps build feelings of safety and security.

Also remember that in the vast majority of cases (up to 90 percent) children are molested by someone they know. Your efforts at keeping your child safe must be informed by this fact and not focused exclusively on the danger that strangers may present.

How to Create a Great Study Time for Homework

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:35:13 +0000

Taking care of homework after school can be tough enough as it is without the constant interruptions from phone calls and little neighbor friends knocking on your door to see if Johnny or Susie can play!

This is the time to start your students/children off on the right foot with good study habits by setting designated homework hours at the same time every day. Put a note on the door if you have to so the doorbell doesn’t ring. Turn off the ringer on the phone. Create a quiet ‘Homework Zone’ time so that your students can create good study habits from the beginning of the year!