Audio Tidbits

In episode 108 of How To Matter, I continue the series on helping children with school and learning problems. In this installment in the series, focus is on two additional signs that children are experiencing school and learning difficulty. In this episode, we consider children who are not doing as well as most youngsters their age and on kids who have trouble understanding and following the instructions and directions of their teachers. These are complex issues and require careful and thoughtful evaluation and attention to what is going on in the child's world and on what the child can do, what he or she has done. Focus first on what is going well before pursuing what is going less well.

In this episode of How To Matter, I continue the series on helping children with school and learning problems. For this session, I focus on children who have difficulty making good choices and decisions and children who have difficulty expressing their thoughts and ideas. Both of these skill areas are important for children to succeed in school and more generally for them to be successful wherever they are and whatever they are doing. In the series, I will discuss all of the signs of difficulty included in the last episode of How To Matter.

In episode 106 of How To Matter, I continue the series on helping children with school and learning problems. In this episode, you learn about the most common indicators of learning difficulty and develop an initial strategy for helping your child with learning issues. I also focus on the difference between learning problems and a child's simply not yet having learned. The distinction is very important. In future sections of the series, we will zero in on specific signs of learning problems for an individual child.

In episode 105 of How To Matter, I start a series of episodes focusing on children and on the school and learning problems they sometimes experience. In the series, I will discuss learning and school issues and how we can spot the problems and help children resolve these difficulties. We want to make a difference with people who make a difference to us; and our children are at the top of the list of people who make a difference to us. Their success in school is a clear priority for us.

In episode 104 of How To Matter, I try my hand at the guru thing. Of course, I don't pretend to be a full fledge guru but I like to pursue the notion of being a guru-in-training. Whatever our goal, we have to start somewhere. For this pass at the guru thing, I offer a success strategy you may find useful as you pursue making a difference with people who make a difference to you; since you succeed only in so far as they are successful.

In episode 103 of How To Matter, I return attention to those people who absolutely, totally and unequivocally drive us up the wall. Sure, these are the players from the pages of The Frustration Factor. In this podcast, I focus on Committee Players. Managing them is not complex but is a challenge for those of us who are most comfortable when people get along and cooperate. If you want to read about these players in more detail, you can Download The Frustration Factor.

In episode 102 of How To Matter, I share the story of Raging Randy and focus on what I refer to as the new normal development. In our contemporary society, the pressure on children and parents for earlier and earlier development is quite real. This is particularly problematic for children in the areas of emotional, social, and moral development and management. Times they are a changing and the struggle for many children and their parents is indeed challenging.

In episode 101 of How To Matter, I discuss kids, tantrums, and the importance of getting tantrums under control when kids are young. Helping our children learn effective emotional management when they are in their developing years is key to avoiding later behavior problems that may not be so easily managed and may not be manageable at all later on. Getting angry, upset, or frustrated are all part of life and living. Tantrums do not need to be part of the package.

In episode 100 of How To Matter, I turn back the clock to episode 1 to see what we were discussing when the podcast got under way. For this episode, I include two clips from that first episode and share a story from the remembered imagination of a child. The episode has a familiar theme, coming to the equally familiar conclusion, encouraging us to thoughtfully pursue making a difference to those people who make a difference to us.

In episode 99 of How To Matter, I share an update on both HowToMatter.net and on the How To Matter podcast. Special thanks go out to Dave Jackson of http://www.SchoolOfPodcasting.com for his help with the technology and to Becky Crockett of http://www.PodcastDesigns.com for her great work with HowToMatter.net, including design and graphics. If you ever need some help, you can't go wrong by contacting Dave or Becky.

I also discuss Can and Did. I did what I did with the website and the How To Matter podcast and let you know what I can do as time goes on, including having some guests to share their perspectives on making a difference to people who make a difference to them. When all is said and done, though, the final judgment about the website and podcast are your call. I will appreciate hearing from you about your judgment and any suggestions you have for either the website or podcast. You can do that at [email protected] or through providing a rating or review on iTunes or other place where you get How To Matter. Thanks for listening.