Dad Blogs - Useful Parenting Tips for Dads » School and activities

Dad tips for back to school season

Adam Rockmore — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:55:22 +0000

For a free skin cancer screening in your area sponsored by Olay, go to: http://www.olay.com/sctf08/ . Also, be sure to keep wearing at least an SPF 15 during the fall & winter months on any exposed skin for protection from daily exposure. e. Organize the medical receipts from medical emergencies, doctor’s visits and prescriptions since they may be deductible. ... Whatever works for you to avoid the last minute issues is great. b. Input all calendar updates into your Outlook/iCal every morning- Again, your work, school and social calendars should all be visible at one time. c. Get the carpool schedules in check with you, your spouse, your neighbors, the nanny, and anyone else involved. ... 4. Get your vehicles in shape a. Get a tune-up and check the oil, gauges, tires, and anything else due for a checkup. b. Clean out the car- it probably looks like a disaster area so get the kids to help you do a thorough cleaning from the windows to the floors to all of the crevices. c. After clean, equip the car with vehicle trash bags, tissues, snacks.

A Day at the Pumpkin Patch

Paul Banas — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:12:19 +0000

Except for my son, of course, the boys were heedless, running wherever their little brains thought they could find pleasure. ... I was prepared for a lot of pleasure-oriented seeking, but not the heedless running, oblivious to either my yells or stern lectures. ... One of the kindergarten teachers mused, "If aliens landed and saw us out here communing with the hay and pumpkins, what would they conclude?

Unkindergarten? A new phenomenon?

Paul Banas — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:36:47 +0000

They are part of a community of like-minded parents who are opting to enrich rather than formally educate their not-yet-school-age children (6 is the age that New York City law requires parents to register their children as home-schooled). They discovered one another through the New York City Home Educators Alliance (nychea.org), a home-schooling bulletin board. ...theirs is an ad hoc, day-by-day exploration into what it means to be a stay-at-home parent and child in an accelerated culture like New York.

... If I had the time and flexibilty, this sounds like an ideal way to continue those care-free years of babyhood on through age 6, with benefits for both mom or dad and for the child.

Preparing kids for the challenges of the first days of school

Paul Banas — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:21:01 +0000

It's hard to imagine what goes on in a little one's mind when he goes to the big school, but you can help him overcome some fears by talking to him before hand. ... If you have given him strict instructions on other people touching him in the bathroom, make sure he is aware of how changes in caregiving my change that policy, for example if a teacher has to wipe him. ... You don't have to be a car salesman to know the value of walking right up to someone, pointing to something you have in common (your love of sand or the color of your tennis shoes) and introducing yourself.

Parenting skills: separation anxiety tips and tricks

Paul Banas — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:44:41 +0000

Reassure him that you love him and that you'll be back to pick him up, avoid the drama, and move quickly out the door, no matter how hard this is. ... When you pick him up, don't overdo your joy in the reunion because this will just remind him of the pain of separation. Be reassured that separation is a necessary part of growing up and that you're actually teaching your child a valuable life lesson, no matter how painful for you both at the moment.

Separation anxiety – The worst ways to say goodbye

Paul Banas — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:17:55 +0000

If you're sending your toddler off to daycare or preschool, be prepared for tears on the first day, and perhaps many after that.... Don't be sad - while you may want to be empathetic, you will be communicating that it is a sad event, which reinforces your child's fears.

We love the Banana Bunker

Paul Banas — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:46:50 +0000

For a dad who packs a lunch every day wondering whether the good stuff will get eaten, finding variety is a big issue.... I could never pack bananas because by the time the lunch box was tossed around the playground a few times, the banana was too mushy to be eaten.

Dads at the pre-school coffee

Paul Banas — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 03:28:03 +0000

Some of it I complain about since driving kids around town for playdates does seem like very underpaid taxi work, but it all does have the advantage of providing more time with the kids and insights into their lives.

...Dads either don't want to plan things that way (like I want to go out and spend the evening drinking and talking about childcare), or would rather stay at home watching TV or playing on the computer if they have a night off.

Starting the year off right

Paul Banas — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 03:15:00 +0000

We, or I should say I, decided that 20 minutes of focused piano-playing per day was about right and I discussed it with my 7-year old.... I opted for the When our friends at Active Allowance get their new chore charts done (Monday 9/24), piano will be right there as part of the daily rituals.