Question from a Parent about figuring out homework time!

QUESTION: How we can make children to do their work by calculating time available for them?

ANSWER:  It takes different kids different amount of time to do things.  If they have a big project they should do a little bit each day.  If it’s homework, you need to help them figure out how long it takes to do each part.  If it’s a lot of homework they should have a break in between each subject so they can think better.  After a while, you usually figure out how long all of it will take.  When they’re done they can do something fun!

QUESTION FROM A 6 YEAR OLD ABOUT HER RED HAIR

QUESTION: I’m 6 and I have red hair.  My dad has red hair so my mom says that I match him.  My problem is that I don’t think that I like it anymore.  There is no one else in my whole class that has red hair and some of the kids tease me about it. Yesterday one boy said I look like a carrot.  I cried at school and my teacher yelled at the boy who said it.  I’m glad that he got in trouble. I want to wear hats to school but we have uniforms so I can’t.  How can I hide my hair?

ANSWER: First of all, don’t hide your hair! Everyone is beautiful for who they are even if people say you’re not. I actually think that you’re lucky to have red hair. 
Sometimes I want red hair because not many people have it and it looks exotic.

When you look in the mirror you should think that you are more than who you are (like how special you are and lucky to have what most people don’t have.)

I understand why you would cry because he was rude but you should just ignore him!

7 YEAR OLD HAVING NIGHTMARES

QUESTION: I’m 7 and I keep getting nightmares from a Harry Potter movie I saw. My friend likes Harry Potter movies so I watched one at my friend’s house. My mom said she knew I’d get nightmares but I told her that I wouldn’t.  My mom is a little bit mad that I saw it. I don’t want to tell my friend because he’ll think I’m a baby. I’m afraid that when I go over his house again he’ll want me to watch another one with him.  I don’t know what to say.

ANSWER: If your friend ever asks you to see one again, you should tell your friend that your mom won’t let you see them until you’re older. You said your mom was a little bit mad so I don’t think that she wants you to see more anyway. You don’t have to say anything about the nightmares because all you have to say is that you’re not allowed.

I hope this helps!

Friends Being Mean!

QUESTION: I got selected student of the month and some of my friends started treating me differently. Some of them stop talking to me. (From a 4th grader)

ANSWER: If you’re talking about it too much you shouldn’t do that. They could be jealous or annoyed with you.  If they are just jealous you could say “That you’ll probably get a chance to be student of the month too.”  Just keep being nice and the kids will probably start talking to you again. You should be proud to be student of the month because you earned it!

Question from a 3rd grader about making friends in a new school.

QUESTION: How do I make friends after joining a new school? (From a 3rd grader)

ANSWER:  What you have to do is be nice to the other kids and talk to them and play with them at recess. If you’re if a little shy just be really nice and they will see what a nice kid you and they’ll talk to you.  Also your mom and you can make a chart of how many friends you made in a week and at the end of the week you can see how many new friends you made.  It would feel good to see how many new friends you have and you’d feel happy about that. Maybe your mom could volunteer at school and meet some other moms and then make some play dates for you.  If your mom can make some play dates on Saturday or Sunday or sometimes after school you can make friends that way too.

ALYSSA'S 5 YEAR OLD FAN!

PARENT QUESTION: Hi Alyssa!  My daughter is 5 and I would say that she’s gotten “addicted” to you! She loves your dog and every day she asks me to read what Alyssa said! I had read some of the questions from parents and your answers as a way of teaching her and now she wants to look after school each day to see what you wrote!

She’s just learning to read and I saw your comment the other day about the books you suggested for someone who is 7.  Do you remember any of your favorites when you were 5?  She would love you to answer this to her and tell her why it’s important to read and some of your favorites.  Her name is Samantha.  Thanks so much Alyssa.  I really love all that you write and your advice is wonderful!

ANSWER: Hi Samantha, thank you for loving the things I write!

It’s important to read because reading is EVERYTHING! It’s math, its science, its social studies, it’s for learning to play an instrument.  Reading is reading and it’s in everything!  The more you read the more you love it!

When I was 5 the books that I liked were Junie B. Jones (all of them!!!),  books that were #3 readers (that’s on the top corner of a lot of books), Fancy Nancy, Splat the Cat, Amelia Bedelia, Miss Nelson is Missing, all of the Don’t Let the Pigeon books, Knuffle Bunny, Henry and Mudge, Olivia, Diary of a Worm, Diary of a Fly, Diary of a Spider, Angelina Ballerina & Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.

I hope you like some of the books!