Author: Ms. Barbara
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Beware The Granny
One year during a summer camp, a particularly lazy camper expressed that all he really wanted to do was play on his phone. So I sat down next to him and asked him to show me what he was playing. It was awful. Apparently, you are trapped inside a haunted mansion and a zombie-looking old…
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Play Pretend
When I was a child, my brother and I ran through the woods inventing all sorts of pretend games. We built makeshift shelters, gathered make-believe foods, and started our own villages. Back then, Gilligan’s Island was popular on TV and we often pretended we were stranded on a deserted island and had to survive off…
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It’s Ok To Get Mad
Parenting is hard. Parents are human. There will be times when you just lose your temper. Use this as a teaching moment. I tell children at the studio, “It’s okay to feel angry, it’s not okay to act mean.” I usually give a form of time out to the child while they process this idea.…
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Take A Walk In The Woods
Personally, I get outside as often as I can. During Covid, when we were mostly avoiding other people, I started implementing “Take a Hike Tuesdays” in my summer camps. It was basically just a short hike through a local park. Mostly, I just wanted to get outside and breathe some fresh air, but it became…
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Make Eye Contact
The average American child spends about seven hours a day in front of a screen. It is no wonder we are losing our social skills. Parents, you are doing it too! At the dojo, I see parents on their phones the whole time their child is in class. I get it, you’re busy, but your…
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Building Confident Children
Let them do it themselves! I have three children of my own and I know how hard it is to watch a child struggle. Getting dressed, tying their shoes, buttoning a shirt… Not to mention how strapped we usually are for time. It’s so much easier to just take over and do it for them.…
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How Old Should My Child Be Before Starting To Date?
What is the rush? Seriously, I have watched parents of children as young as four or five refer to their child’s playmate as a “girlfriend” or “boyfriend.” In my opinion, if yourchild has a friend whose company they enjoy, why can’t it just be that? A friendship. Adding the level can imply a level of…
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Families, Parenting, And Watching TV With Your Kids
There are all types of families. The ones you’re born into and the ones youchoose. So many children have experienced divorce these days that this is not as hardfor them to accept as you might think. Still, it is important to talk to your children about what it means to be in a family and…
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When Is The Right Time To Have “The Talk”
We don’t really want our kids to grow up. At least not yet! Still, it is important for you to explain major concepts to them (like death, or sex, or race discrimination) as oon as they are mature enough to handle it. Generally, speaking the first conversation will be basic. Just touch on the main…
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Chores Vs. Jobs
Chores versus jobs. At my house, my children had chores, and they had jobs. Chores were responsibilities that were expected from them because they were members of the household. For example, you make your bed because you slept in it. You put your dishes in the sink/dishwasher because you ate. You walk the dog, because…