Sunshine Parenting

When the (campers) get home, parents and teachers, without knowing who's been to camp, can always tell. Their whole attitude changes. They have more confidence. Phil Lilienthal In Episode 62, I'm chatting with Phil Lilienthal of Global Camps Africa. We talk about his early Peace Corps experience in Ethiopia, forming Camp Langano, spending the next…

The post Ep. 62: Creating Change Around the World Through the Power of Camp with Phil Lilienthal appeared first on Sunshine Parenting.

Creativity is not (just) writing songs or painting a picture. It is figuring out what to do when you have a situation, which is not learned in structured play where adults tell kids what to do. They need informal, intentional free play. Andy Pritikin In Episode 60, I'm chatting with Andy Pritikin, camp owner-operator…

The post Ep. 60: The Importance of Outdoor, Child-Directed Free Play with Andy Pritikin appeared first on Sunshine Parenting.

"We need to prepare our kids for a future world that is changing. The economy is changing so fast and the corporate ladder is dissolving. We need to get out of our kids' way and allow them to try new things, figure out what they like and don't like. Let them fail and learn in…

The post Ep. 59: 5 Ways to Help Kids Thrive During Their School Years and Beyond with Pam Roy appeared first on Sunshine Parenting.

At Authentic Teacher we are dedicated to helping students learn using culturally relevant lessons, best teaching practices and state of the art technology to help parents and teachers provide the best education possible in the 21st century! Jackie Beyer Episode 58 features Authentic Teacher website and podcast founder Jackie Marie Beyer. Jackie is an experienced educator…

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"The strong bond of friendship is not always a balanced equation; friendship is not always about giving and taking in equal shares. Instead, friendship is grounded in a feeling that you know exactly who will be there for you when you need something, no matter what or when." Simon Sinek Our adult friendships are really…

The post Ep. 57: The Importance of Adult Friendships with Sara Kuljis appeared first on Sunshine Parenting.

In Episode 56, I’m chatting with Laura Vanderkam about her book Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done. Laura is the best-selling author of several time management and productivity books including 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think, I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time, and What the Most Successful People do Before Breakfast. Laura also co-hosts the Best of Both Worlds podcast with Sarah Hart-Unger. They discuss work/life balance, career development, parenting, time management, productivity, and making time for fun.Laura lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and four children, and blogs at LauraVanderkam.com.

When I read Off the Clock in August, I shared my thoughts about it here. I am thrilled that I also had the opportunity to interview Laura for my podcast and ask her questions including her advice for how to overcome the hurdles I faced trying to track my time.

Big Ideas

Time and how we perceive it

We all have the same amount of time but spend it differently.

How we think about time changes how we perceive it.

When we walk around saying “I’m so busy”, are we?

Which moments become your story?

Data study on time perception

900 people tracked their time and reported how they felt about it.

What things are a good use of time?

Evaluating your time

How to effectively track your time? Doesn’t have to be exact!

Getting a general sense of where time goes.

Data helps us see where our time goes.

Looking at time in weeks versus days.

Effortful versus effortless fun

Effortless fun is easy and ends up being the bulk of our leisure time.

Effortful fun is more memorable.

Putting in work to have fun.

Quotes

” You find people who are doing amazing things professionally as well as personally but they all have the same amount of time we do”. -Audrey Monke

“Time is all about how we perceive it. We all have the same amount of time. It all moves at the same rate. But that’s not really the way we think about”.  -Laura Vanderkam

“When we walk around with the story “I’m so busy” we will constantly look for moments that show that”. – Laura Vanderkam

“You want more time doing stuff you enjoy. Nobody wants more time in a traffic jam or boring meeting”. – Laura Vanderkam

“Your fun can take some work but you will be so happy you did it” – Laura Vanderkam

Find Laura

Laura’s TED Talk, How to Gain Control of Your Free Time:

Laura Vanderkam’s Website

Best of Both World Podcast

Laura’s Other Books:

 

168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think

LEARN MORE

 

 

I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make The Most of Their Time

LEARN MORE

 

 

 

In Episode 55, I'm chatting with Anne Driscoll, owner of Branches Books & Gifts in Oakhurst, California.

We talk all things books, including:

Reading Levels

Getting the parent and the child on the same when choosing books.

Getting the right books in the hands of each child.

The pros and cons of the reading level system.

Asking for teacher input when choosing a book.

"Let the child read what they want to read" - Anne Driscoll

Why some children at high levels are embarrassed.

AR (Accelerated Reader)

Choosing a book

"I gently try to encourage them to let the child read what they want to read." Anne Driscoll

Why audio books can be great when a child is struggling with content

• Audio Books: https://libro.fm/branchesbooks

Knowing your child and what books are appropriate

Graphic novels for reluctant readers

Encouraging reluctant readers to choose books with a TV show or movie that might be familiar

"Sometimes parents want to shield their kids from sad stories or tragic endings, but those are the ones that really stick with you." Audrey Monke

Fostering a love of reading

"One of my favorite things as a parent was when my kids got to an age where I could read my favorite book to them aloud." Audrey Monke

The importance of reading aloud

Listening or reading a book before your child to be aware of inappropriate content

Why getting into a "don't read that" mentality isn't good

Independent bookstores

Helping children and parents find books that foster a love of reading

Taking the time to get to know the child and their interests and then finding a book

Informing parents about unexpected content that may be in a book a child is requesting

Related

Raising a Reader

Books We Talked About

The Read Aloud Handbook, Jim Trelease

Harry Potter series

A Wrinkle in Time

Harriet the Spy

Roald Dahl

Judy Blume

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Guys Read - short stories (horror, sci fi, sports)

Five Nights at Freddy's

Dog Man

To All the Boy I've Loved Before

The Book Thief

Wonder

Ramona (Beverly Cleary)

ESIO TROT, Roald Dahl

Charlotte's Web, EB White

The One and Only Ivan, Catherine Applegate

Little House on the Prairie

Chronicles of Narnia

Hunger Games

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Sharp Objects, Dark Places

Milk & Honey, The Sun and Her Flowers

Fun Reading Related Websites

IndieBooks - Find your local independent book seller

What Should I Read Next?

goodreads

Branches Books & Gifts

"Chores give children a sense of purpose and accomplishment." -Dr. Jim Sears

In Episode 51, I'm chatting with my long-time friend and camp colleague, Dr. Jim Sears. I've known him as Camp Doctor "Bones" for the past 14 years, but he is better known by his patients at his family's pediatric practice as "Dr. Jim."

Dr. Jim spent several years as a co-host on the Dr. Phil hit spin-off series called, The Doctors, a nationally syndicated hour-long daily talk show that is informative and entertaining!

Dr. Jim earned his medical degree at St. Louis University School of Medicine in 1996 and completed his pediatric residency at Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine, Tod Children's Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio in 1999. During his residency, he received the honor of "Emergency Medicine Resident of the Year."

Dr. Jim has been featured on Parenting.com's "Ask the Experts," and has written for "Parenting" and "BabyTalk" magazine. Dr Sears' medical advice has been featured on "Dr. Phil" and the PBS parenting series, "Help Me Grow." He is an active contributor to the content of AskDrSears.com, and is a co-author of The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood (Little, Brown 2006), Father's First Steps – Twenty-Five Things Every New Father Should Know, (Harvard Common Press 2006). The Premature Baby Book (Little, Brown 2004), The Baby Sleep Book (Little, Brown 2006) and the best selling The Baby Book – Updated and Revised Edition (Little, Brown 2013).

Dr. Jim's personal passions include endurance cycling, triathlons, sailboat racing and musical theater with his daughter, Lea. His favorite role has been Harold Hill in "The Music Man." Other recent favorite productions include "Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat" (French brother), "The Wizard of Oz" (Cowardly Lion), "Annie" (Rooster), "Fiddler on the Roof" (Lazar Wolf) "Oliver! (Mr. Bumble) and Big River (King). In his free time, Dr. Jim enjoys snow skiing, hiking, and mountain biking (especially during a beautiful sunrise!).

Topics we Discuss

How to Help Kids Develop Their Self Esteem

Importance of Keeping Your Emotions in Check

You, Me & the Issue: Address the issue/behavior, not the child's character

Fostering Independence

Resources/Related

Ask Dr. Sears

Give Children Freedom to Explore (episode from The Doctors)

Benefits of Nature

In Episode 50, I chat with K.J. Dell'Antonia, author of How to be a Happier Parent: Raising a Family, Having a Life, and Loving (Almost) Every Minute.

From KJ's website:

I believe each of us is responsible for our own happiness. I believe happier parents are better parents and better people. I believe family should be a source of joy and refuge, not another stressor in a busy life. I believe we can be happy even when things aren't great. We can raise our families, live our lives, and love (almost) every minute of it — if we let go of the idea of parenting as a direct route to a destination: success, and decide to meander along our own merry way.

This former New York Times reporter is taking on the rug rat race — join me! I wrote and edited the Motherlode blog for the Times from 2011 until 2016 and was a contributing editor to the Well Family section from 2016-2017. Ten minutes in my kitchen would convince you that, while some parts of my family life are enviably together (the Rice Krispie treats on the counter, the meal in the slow cooker) others are works in progress (the child on the floor, wailing that the homework is "too hard"). "How to Be a Happier Parent" is not a memoir (far from it!). Instead, my research, interviews, and reporting are geared towards helping all of us figure out "how it's done" in the bits of family life we find most challenging.

I was fortunate to meet KJ at the Mom 2.0 Conference, read an advanced copy of her book, and interview her for the podcast!

To determine what her chapters would be about, K.J. asked parents, "What sucks most?" about parenting. Chores and discipline rose to the top of the list, and those are two of the many topics we discuss in this episode.

Order How to be a Happier Parent: Raising a Family, Having a Life, and Loving (Almost) Every Minute!

How to be a Happier Parent description

An encouraging guide to helping parents find more happiness in their day-to-day family life, from the former lead editor of the New York Times Motherlode blog.

In all the writing and reporting KJ Dell'Antonia has done on families over the years, one topic keeps coming up again and again: parents crave a greater sense of happiness in their daily lives. In this optimistic, solution-packed book, KJ asks: How can we change our family life so that it is full of the joy we'd always hoped for? Drawing from the latest research and interviews with families, KJ discovers that it's possible to do more by doing less and make our family life a refuge and pleasure, rather than another stress point on a hectic day. She focuses on nine common problem spots that cause parents the most grief, explores why they are hard, and offers small, doable, sometimes surprising steps you can take to make them better. Whether it's getting everyone out the door on time in the morning or making sure chores and homework get done without another battle, How to Be a Happier Parent shows that having a family isn't just about raising great kids and churning them out at destination: success. It's about experiencing joy--real joy, the kind you look back on, look forward to and live for--along the way.

Resources/Related

K.J.'s Website

Follow K.J.

Ignore It by Catherine Pearlman (mentioned in this episode)

Raising Happiness with Christine Carter

In Episode 49, I'm chatting with Michelle Kinder, Executive Director of the Momentous Institute in Dallas, Texas.

Michelle has worked in the field of children's mental health for more than 20 years and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts and the University of Texas with a Master's degree in Educational Psychology.

Michelle is a fellow of the OpEd Project and has articles featured in TIME, Washington Post, Dallas Morning News, Mindful Magazine, Huffington Post, PBS' Next Avenue, and Scary Mommy. She is a nationally recognized speaker on trauma, parenting, social-emotional health, and emotionally intelligent leadership. Michelle is a member of the Stagen Leadership Academy, the North Texas Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and the Leadership Dallas Alumni Association.

Michelle grew up in Guatemala and is fluent in Spanish. She lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, Patrick, and their two daughters, Maya and Sophia.

In our interview, Michelle and I talk about the Changing the Odds conference (September 27-28, 2018 in Dallas, Texas), children's social-emotional health and well-being, and the resources available for parents through The Momentous Institute.

Social-Emotional Health is the capacity to understand and manage emotions, reactions, and relationships.

Three Things Kids Need for Social-Emotional Health

We talk about what Michelle believes are the three most important things we need to address in order to ensure children's social-emotional health:

1. Safe relationships.
2. Capacity to self-regulate their emotions.
3. Inspiring them for contribution over achievement.

Quotes from Michelle

"The materials that we put out really are meant to shift every single adult on the planet into a headspace where they can really see and feel and understand children and give them the experience that they are seen and felt and understood and capable and cherished."

"We always tell parents and caregivers and teachers, if you do not know what to do if you're in a situation with a kid and we all are at some point where it's like, 'Holy cow, There's a possession taking place right now!' Start with just regulating your own nervous system. Just get your own self in check."

"There's such a hyper-focus on individual achievement and that's an empty place for most of the population. There's a very small percentage of people who are filled because they achieve individually. They might be proud, but they're not filled up by that. So we spend a lot of time talking to children about a contribution being the inspiration and that that will fuel achievement, that none of us are in it for ourselves."

"We're in it to be part of a community, safe relationships, helping kids learn how to self-regulate and then inspiring them for contribution over personal achievement."

"In our education system and in our parenting, we're all a little overly captured by fear."

"Energetically we show up differently when we are guided by love instead of fear."

Links

Momentous Institute

Momentous Institute Blog

Momentous Institute Shop

Related

Ep. 45: Social Media Wellness with Ana Homayoun

Talking with Kids about Friendship

Helping Kids Find Their "Green Zone"

A Guide to EQ and SEL