2084 Baldwin Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 | Phone (914) 962-9622

These days, lots of early childhood specialists advocate an approach to misbehavior called “Positive Discipline,” originally developed by child psychiatrist Rudolf Dreikurs.

Dreikurs’ own books are still in print and are very readable (Children the Challenge is a good place to start). However, some people find his books a little dated.  There are many, many articles, books, and even sophisticated programs accessible through the Internet which explain and apply updated and modified versions of Dreikurs’ approach.

Some of the many child-rearing challenges we all face and that Positive Discipline addresses:

• How to help children make choices
• How to re-direct misbehavior
• How to help children build self-esteem and character
• How to avoid power struggles
• How to create mutual respect

Just start surfing the Web and you’re bound to find the work of this great man. Help is definitely “on the way” once you discover this wise, meaningful approach to positive discipline.

NEED HELP PAYING FOR CHILD CARE?

FREE assistance to help understand and apply for the Child Care Subsidy Program through the Child Care Council of Westchester.

There are financial resources to help pay for child care that are available to working families who live in  Westchester County.

Contact their Subsidy Support Services at  914-761-3456 ext 122 or email them at ArleneL@cccwny.org.

They Can Help:

• Determine if a parent may be eligible for financial assistance.
• Assist parents in obtaining and completing an application to apply for financial assistance.
• Educate parents in understanding the rules and regulations surrounding the financial assistance programs available.
• Assist parents with other situations or concerns you may be having regarding their child care financial assistance.

Have you ever seen the “Active Kids Pyramid”? It’s similar to the familiar food pyramid except that, instead of healthy food choices, it shows healthy activity choices.

At the base level, which is the broadest, it exhorts kids to play with friends, family, and groups. Then it gives ideas for activities in that category. I’ve highlighted in red the activities here that are great even for children as young as three, if they are suitably modified:

Team Sports • Basketball • Soccer • Baseball • Hockey • Riding Bikes • Nature Walks • Martial Arts • Swimming • Frisbee • Fly A Kite • Skateboarding • Inline Skating • Skiing • Ice Skating • Kickball •Tag • Hide-And-Seek • Sledding • Make A Game Out Of Chores • Backyard Adventures

As you can see, even very little kids can engage in the majority of these fun, movement-based activities.

The middle level tells children to move more. Three-year-olds can do almost ALL of the following activities!

Walk • Dance •  Jump • Run •Throw • Catch • Wiggle • Hop • Climb • Ride • Leap • Dig • Bounce • Kick • Tumble • Jog • Stretch

As you might imagine, the tip of the pyramid says, spend less time . . .  Watching TV • Playing Video Games • Just Sitting Around.

Now that the weather is warm and the pollen count is decreasing, it’s a great time for all of us to go outside and move  AND have lots of fun while we’re at it!

Find out about all the learning that’s going on in The Seed’s kindergarten and pre-K!