The Nanny Tutor

Some call it spring fever. Some call it burn out. I call it, “Help me!!!” Here’s a timely article from Understood about surviving the last few weeks of the school year.

School burnout in kids who learn and think differently School burnout can happen to any student who has nonstop stress. Kids with learning differences or ADHD are at particular risk. Burnout is a state of exhaustion that can lead kids to lose motivation.

You don’t have to be a Christian to benefit from this. I appreciate the heads up on what is going on in the teen world today.

400k+ Christian parents are already reading the Culture Translator each week to help them build their kids’ lifelong faith in Jesus. Join today for free!

Life hacks.

Here's why logic and reasoning doesn't always work with children under four. The brains of children under four are still developing and literally cannot comprehend logic and reasoning in the way older children or adults can. The part of the brain responsible for logic and reasoning (primarily the prefrontal cortex) doesn’t begin significant development until around age 4. Even then, it requires years of growth and practice to function effectively. In fact, the brain continues developing into the mid-20s. This means that when you use logic and reasoning to convince a toddler or preschooler to stop a behavior or follow a direction, it probably won't work! Unless they're just obeying you out of pure obedience. They don't truly "get" it. Their brains simply aren’t equipped to process abstract reasoning. If you want to try to use logic with young children, you have to meet them where they are by anchoring your logic to something concrete: something they can see, touch, hear, smell, or taste. Here’s a breakdown of how I used this concept in the video to transition my son from playing to going to nap (something he typically fights me on). 1. I started with a playful, physical activity to engage him and get him to me ("Can you hook your finger with my finger?"). 2. I used the momentum to direct him in the right direction ( "Okay, follow me this way!"). 3. As I carried him up the stairs, I explained what was happening (We’re going upstairs to bed"). I'm doing my best not to blindside him as to what our intentions are. 4. While I was carrying him up the stairs , I gave him two concrete options related to the next step ("Do you want to read your book in bed or in the chair?"). This keeps his "train of thought" focused on the bedtime routine in a way he can process. The options are endless when it comes to speaking to our young kids in a way that appeals to their five senses. We just have to retrain our own brains to think how they think because we're so set in our own reasoning and logic! #kelsewhatelse #bodylanguagegame #howtotalktolittlekids #momtips

Easy idea using an empty cashew container and some lids (from juice, milk or baby food jars).

I washed out the nut container, cut an oblong hole in the top just a little larger than the metal lids. And that’s it! I used some scrapbook paper and contact paper to make it look cute.

Voilá! A fine motor skill toy. Add a paper towel in the bottom if you don’t like the noise.

How to Keep Your Mom Sanity When School's Out for Summer School's out for summer! Kids at home underfoot? Here's how to make summer fun and mom sanity go hand in hand!

Even if you don’t partake in the tradition of Halloween, you’ve likely had to negotiate the delicate balance between allowing your child to enjoy treats and sweets … while not letting them overindulge.

Some parents recruit the powers of the Switch Witch at Halloween.

Much like the Elf on the Shelf, the “Switch Witch” is a growing trend where kids leave their Halloween candy at the doorstep and the Switch Witch trades it out for a coveted toy.

Although it may seem like a fun and well-intentioned concept, the “Switch Witch” may come with some unintended consequences…

…like a major case of “giver’s remorse” later on.

…or the whole idea backfiring by placing too much value on candy — which will only increase the appeal for candy in the future.

Whether or not you decide to invite the Switch Witch to your Halloween festivities, here are a few other ways to help your kids enjoy the candy without overindulging.

Start the night in a healthy way. Before embarking on your Halloween adventures, make sure your child eats a nourishing, protein-packed meal to reduce the risk of candy overload. Should they over-indulge, the natural consequence of a stomach ache will serve as an important learning experience.

Create a game plan for candy consumption with your child. Prior to Halloween, start a conversation with your child about your expectations and create an agreed upon plan for candy consumption. How many pieces of candy are okay per night? How many nights in a row will you eat candy that week? One option would be to indulge for one week and then donate the rest to troops overseas or another worthy organization.

Discuss how food affects how we feel. There is a correlation between what we eat and how our bodies feel. Help your child recognize the effects of food on their mood, energy levels, and more. “What do you notice about how your body feels after eating candy?” “Does it differ from how you feel when you have other snacks?"

Talk about how fun it is to have a treat now and then. The last thing we want to do is teach our kids that candy is inherently “bad” and lead them toward an unhealthy relationship with food. Enjoying the occasional indulgence is a wonderful part of the holiday that kids should be happy to celebrate, knowing it’s for a time and a season.

Positively yours,
Amy McCready
Founder & President of Positive Parenting Solutions, Inc.

Your turn!

I’d love to hear from you. What are your biggest challenges around eating and food? Comment to let me know.

Alternative Halloween treats
Trick-or-treating can be extra tricky for kids with food allergies. To help them enjoy a happier Halloween, make sure your candy stash has brands that are known to be free of many, or even all, major allergens. Examples include Smarties, Skittles and Dum Dums. Offer up chocolate goodies, too, which are more palatable for kids with braces and (in some cases) diabetes. It’s also a good idea to keep allergen-free treats in a separate container, and to keep the bags they come in, in case kids or parents want to verify ingredients. — Rose Lorre

Nextdoor's Treat Map returns for your neighborhood Halloween celebrations | Nextdoor Blog For the first time, neighbors can move the Treat Map and see pins in neighborhoods beyond their own.

This week we entrusted our 21-year old son to Adapt 2 Drive instructor, Shannon. She was sooo helpful. We’ve been teaching our son to drive for six months, but felt we had given him all the training we could. His ADHD brain needed something more. Miss Shannon handled my son beautifully. He understood the way she explained things to him. She was patient but firm. I especially appreciated her honesty. My son is finally on his way to driving independently!! Worth every penny!

When is the Lyrids meteor shower?

It occurs between April 14-29 each year, but in 2023 it peaks on Saturday through Sunday, April 22-23

Lyrids Meteor Shower 2023: When To See ‘Fireballs’ And ‘Shooting Stars’ This Week Here comes the Lyrids meteor shower, the first since January, which reaches its peak this week and occurs in virtually moonless night skies.