The “No Child Left Behind” Paradox

Today’s kids are not failing the academic standards – the academic standards are failing our kids! “No Child Left Behind” has inadvertently placed undue emphasis on elements that have nothing to do with academic success. The entire system has instead created a generation of button-pushers who lack critical thinking skills as well as the emotional and social intelligence to get their needs met independently. We have to take another critical look at this system before we churn out yet another generation of unmotivated, unskilled, and incapable graduates.

Television and Media, and FREE WEBINAR!!

Free Webinar August 24, 8:00 to 9:00 pm! Media and technology are evolving at a rapid pace, affecting young children in both positive and negative ways. Join us to learn about the impact of media on young children and most importantly, hear expert guidance about how to raise and educate children in today’s 24/7 media world.

Playing Our Way Through Life

Have you ever tried to hurry a little boy into his clothing and out the door? It is usually to no avail — the shirt becomes a pirate’s hat, and then his eye catches a forgotten toy — everything is so richly distracting to children, because they are still engaged so deeply in living life. So why do we try to pounce it out of them? “Straighten up! Hurry Up! Come on, we’ll be late!”

:: Patience vs. Presence :: by Scott Noelle

The root of the word *patient* means “to endure,” and since self-sacrifice ultimately hurts both the self and the intended beneficiary, you have to wonder if patience is really “a virtue” …

Faster Than Life ~ by Melody Elder

Ironically, when children are pushed to learn something before they’re physically, cognitively, or emotionally ready, it actually slows their progress down.

“NO!” is a Development-Stopping Word….

Exclaiming “No!” to stop a child works!

It is guaranteed to stop a child in his tracks and turn their happy, healthy, neuron-growing science exploration into a tirade of tears in seconds.

So what do we do instead?

Study finds that effects of low-quality child care last into adolescence

Federally funded study found obedience and academic problems among those who received low-quality care in their first 4 1/2 years of life, and the potential for lifelong difficulties.

Taking a Step Back

We all know that our children are not reflections of us, but every once in a while we get tricked into that lie again! It sneaks in, and we spring into RE-action, rather than mindful response.