Being distracted while your child is talking to you can be a big problem when communicating. We have all been there, listening while holding a phone or not making eye contact. MiaLisa from Doing Good Together is a special guest on this episode to talk about how and why it is critical to be listening fully.
Minneapolis educators went on strike Tuesday after negotiations between the city’s public school district and its teacher’s union on a new contract failed. There is no immediate indication when talks might resume.
During the strike all classes pre-K through 12th grade and Transition Plus classes will be canceled. That puts more than 30,000 kids out of classrooms and about 4,000 teachers and staff out of work.
Here’s are some resources for families in need of child care or other support while classrooms are closed.
Fortunately, there’s a lot of emphasis on giving during this time of year, so it’s even easier to have this desire at the forefront of our minds. But with all of the hustle and bustle of already-booked weekends and the day-to-day grind, how is one able to just dive right in and take action? Check out the suggestions…
Amid so many messages of wanting and getting, so many wish lists and shopping lists, we all deserve to make time for giving back. What better opportunity than at the events already on our calendars?
Whether you involve immediate family or host a boisterous group of friends and neighbors, these ideas will add more meaning to your holiday parties and may become annual traditions that teach your children the values of compassion and empathy.
The next time your child asks to have pals over, consider organizing a simple and fun service project that can be done at home to help people in need. It's a great way to keep the kids entertained while teaching them the importance of giving back to their community—and reminding them of how lucky they are to have a room overflowing with toys!
“A lot of parents feel overwhelmed by the idea of community service,” says Jenny Friedman, Ph.D., executive director of Doing Good Together, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit that helps families find ways to volunteer together. ... But projects like Marin’s prove that it doesn’t take a lot to make a big difference. The best way to get kids excited about taking on a new project? Start with something they already know and love.
Doing Good Together encourages family volunteerism and reflection on social issues. The website has a page of ‘Kitchen Table Activities” – things you can do together as a family at home to improve people’s lives, heal the Earth, fight poverty and take social action.
