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February 11 | Boost your child's confidence with these tips!✨

February 11, 2022

tips & tricks for growth

it's totally possible to stop yelling at your kid(s)

By Reggie Madison

At some point, I decided I can’t keep losing it. I can’t keep yelling at my kids when they fail to meet my expectations or they simply don’t do what I’ve told them to do. I can’t continue to scream at them to get them to listen to me, and I can’t frighten them into respecting my role as their parent.

✦ Research shows that yelling at your kids out of anger or frustration can damage them emotionally. Researchers also found that adolescents who had experienced harsh verbal discipline suffered from increased levels of depressive symptoms, and were more likely to demonstrate behavioral problems such as vandalism or antisocial and aggressive behavior. I don’t want to yell at my kids, but sometimes there seems to be no other way to get their attention.

So, how do you actually stop yelling at your kids?

🗣️ Allow the consequences to do your screaming for you.

🗣️ Know Your Triggers.

🗣️ Apologize.

🗣️ Take a Timeout.

🗣️ Put on Your Own Oxygen Mask.

Remember kids will be kids! Let’s save the yelling for the real, physical danger that calls for drastic, immediate action.

have a happy, healthy family when routines are in place

By Gena Ellis

As someone who is not naturally organized, I’ve worked hard to understand the importance of being organized and having routines or schedules. Learning to juggle my family’s many plans has helped me embrace the need for routines. I’ve even found routines help our family be less stressed. If there’s one thing I need less of, it’s stress. Can you relate? Through trial and error, I realized that routines provide a structured framework for my family (even for someone not naturally organized). The habits and plans you create for your family should be based on what works best for you. As a result, your routines will look different from other families, and that’s perfectly normal.

Here are a few ways routines contribute to a happier, healthier family:

✅ Provide a flow for the day.

✅ Create space for intentional family time.

✅ Foster brain development in your children.

✅ Promote social and emotional development in kids.

Having a routine doesn’t mean you need to fill all the time slots or that you’ll be the most organized family on the block. The intent is to provide a framework that allows your family to be healthy and happy, and to prioritize what you value.

what we're lovin'

This week's picks come from Anna Reeves McCutcheon, former FTF Intern, and now the Social Media Manager here at First Things First! Take a peek at her recommendations for this week because they are just THAT GOOD. Check 'em out 👀: 📗 Educated By Tara Westover- A fascinating memoir, that I recently finished, about a woman who makes her way from an abusive childhood in a junkyard to discovering who she is at Cambridge University. 🌲 All Trails- A great source for finding beautiful hiking spots in whatever city you’re in. 😋 Trader Joe's Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Pretzels- My go-to sweet treat! (I think I could eat the whole bag if I put my mind to it.)

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