Encouragement

How to Help Your Child Get the Most Out of the Olympics

July 26, 2012 By Deb Chitwood 7 Comments

There’s a natural excitement that comes with the Olympics. You can use that excitement to encourage positive learning experiences and give your child the chance to explore new interests and activities.

Here are 5 ways to help your child get the most out of the Olympics:

1. Watch the Olympics together.

Watch your child’s favorite event or events and maybe an event that’s new for your child. For toddlers and older preschoolers, you could have some Olympic-inspired activities set up on shelves in the room where your family watches television. That way your child could enjoy watching some Olympic events with you but not feel forced to watch events he or she isn’t interested in.

Even if you feel the stories of the athletes are sometimes “fluff” pieces, those are often the most interesting and inspiring for children (and people like me). They’re a good springboard for character-building discussions with your child.

2. Do some Olympic-inspired educational activities.

There are SO MANY great Olympic activities you can do to help prevent the “summer slide” if your child is still on summer vacation. And whether or not you’re still on summer vacation, the Olympics are a great way to refresh or continue your child’s excitement for learning.

You and your child can read Olympic books, check out lots of online Olympic resources, make Olympic crafts, make an Olympic scrapbook, learn about different countries, study the history of the Olympics, learn about different sports….

Olympic Unit Study Pinterest Board

There are too many great educational activities to even begin to list them all here. I have an Olympic Unit Study Pinterest Board where I’m pinning Olympic posts, websites, and activities of all kinds and for all ages.

The number of activities available can seem overwhelming, but I recommend just choosing some you feel drawn to. You can even have your child help you choose activities he or she would like to do. I also have a Montessori-Inspired Olympic Unit with activities you can choose or you and your child can choose together. I’m adding to both my post and Pinterest board throughout the Olympics, so keep checking back for new ideas. Note: If you’d like an Olympic creed word art freebie (and information on the Olympic creed and Olympic motto), I have that here: Olympic Creed Word Art Freebie.

I’m also excited to be participating in Kids Bloggers Go Olympics, where you’ll find activities and ideas throughout the 18 days of the Olympics! I’m pinning each of those posts to my Olympic Unit Study Pinterest Board, too. And I’ll have an Opening Ceremony post at Living Montessori Now tomorrow!

3. Encourage your child to try out a new sport.

Whether or not your child has discovered a favorite sport, now is a great time for your child to try out something new. It could be a one-day activity that may or may not lead to something exciting. My husband and I tried to give our children lots of opportunities to find what they loved. You never know what might spark a new interest or even a new career.

For our son, a cub scout activity in which he worked to earn medals for trying various sports led to both our kids’ careers as adults. For Will, it was a one-day skiing activity that showed his natural talent at skiing, which led to ski racing, which led to our moving to Vail, Colorado, which led to our kids discovering figure skating, which led to lots of great family trips to competitions, which led to international competitions (and Christina living in Great Britain and representing Great Britain in ice dance), which led to both of our kids having successful careers in skating.

Whether your child is interested in sports just for fun or as an intense part of his or her life, there are many character-building benefits to sports when they’re encouraged in a healthy way.

4. Hold your own family Olympics or an Olympic-themed celebration.

This could be a fun way to encourage movement and physical fitness, promote family togetherness, and/or just have a fun celebration. The Olympic-themed event could be a party for neighborhood kids as well. You’ll find lots of ideas for family Olympics and Olympic parties on my Olympic Unit Study Pinterest Board.

5. Get caught up in the excitement of the Olympics, but remember that it’s all about the journey.

Allow you and your child to feel the excitement of the Olympics. It’s okay if your child has Olympic dreams after watching the Olympics (whether or not your child will actually ever compete in the Olympics). I have more about following those interests in my post “Raising an Elite Athlete.” One of the links in that post is particularly relevant to a lot of parents’ worries about allowing those dreams: “What If My Child Doesn’t Win the Olympics? Is It Alright to Dream?”

What’s most important in this excitement is truly following your child’s interests. Your child’s Olympic wishes may foreshadow an exciting sports career. Or they may be stepping stones leading to something else which is exciting in an entirely different way. Just trust that following your child’s interest will lead to something wonderful. And be careful that you don’t get your own Olympic dreams mixed up in your child’s.

The Carl Lewis quote is one that my family always found helpful for keeping things in perspective: “It’s all about the journey, not the outcome.”

Have fun, and enjoy the excitement of the Olympics! I’d love to hear how your kids are involved!

Linked toThe Weekly Kid’s Co-op, Living Life Intentionally Linky Party, Preschool Corner, Saturday Show & Tell, Show-and-Share Saturday, The Sunday Showcase, and Link & Learn.

Dream a New Dream

June 1, 2012 By Deb Chitwood Leave a Comment

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis

I love that C.S. Lewis quote. It reminds me that there’s always something new to focus on, a new goal to set, no matter what age we are.

I could never fully subscribe to the “If you can dream it, you can do it” philosophy because it simply defies logic too much for me. I do believe that you can do amazing things at any age if your dream is in tune with God’s dream for you.

Of course, I can never be on American Idol. (Not only don’t I meet the age requirements, but I don’t have a singing voice that’s even close to qualifying.) But I’m happy in knowing that God didn’t call me to be a singer except for my own happiness and when I’ve shared songs with children. There are dreams I can embrace that will embrace me as well.

Read the entire article

Photo Credit: Photo by Vijay at Flickr Creative Commons (license)

Filed Under: Encouragement, Inspiration Tagged With: C.S. Lewis, dream a new dream, You are never too old

What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger

May 18, 2012 By Deb Chitwood 15 Comments

If you’ve been following my blog, you know I can relate to the concept of being a survivor: Being a Survivor. I think we all can. Who hasn’t gone through some hard times?!

Stronger | Seattle Children’s Hospital

Yet, my hard times can’t begin to compare with the hard times many individuals face. I want to share a moving video you might have seen on YouTube. I learned about the video from Shannon at Blog Frog’s Mom Loop.

This video was created by Chris Rumble, a 22-year-old hockey player/filmmaker who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. He brought together the hemoncology floor of Seattle Children’s Hospital for an inspiring remake of Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).” Published on May 6, the video has already had 1,980,235 views.

If you’d like to know more about how the video was made, check this out: Extended Cut – Making Of Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Here’s more about Chris Rumble from the Huffington Post: Chris Rumble, Seattle Children’s Hospital Cancer Patient, Creates ‘Stronger’ Video.

Small Hands Creating Hope

I’m happy to say that I’m participating in a fundraising project going on right now to help the American Cancer Society. The Small Hands Creating Hope eBook and print book was organized by MaryAnne from Mama Smiles blog. MaryAnne was diagnosed with cancer at 22 months and is celebrating 30 years of being cancer-free.

Small Hands Creating Hope Collage

Small Hands Creating Hope symbolizes hope in the face of cancer. For the book, MaryAnne brought together 40+ kid bloggers to share crafts, tutorials, and many stories that inspired the projects. Children can make the projects to bring hope to cancer patients.

I was inspired by my own parents, who are both cancer survivors. Here’s more about my part of the book: Free Counting Book Printable for Any Theme and One Small Part of Small Hands Creating Hope (at Living Montessori Now).

Ultimately, I wish for a cure for cancer. For now, there’s the strength and depth that comes to anyone who’s a survivor. And there’s always hope for the future.

“What Doesn’t Kill You” Word-Art Freebie

Photo at the top of this post by Michael Deeble at Flickr Creative Commons.

Linked with Thought-Provoking Thursday.

Filed Under: Encouragement, Inspiration, Making a Difference Tagged With: American Cancer Society fundraiser, being a survivor, Chris Rumble, encouragement, Inspiration, Kelly Clarkson, making a difference, Seattle Children's Hospital, Small Hands Creating Hope, stronger, Survivor, What Doesn't Kill You

Enjoy Being a Good-Enough Mother!

May 11, 2012 By Deb Chitwood 4 Comments

So many of us mothers want to be perfect mothers. But that’s obviously impossible. I’ve grown to like the concept of being a good-enough mother.

I remember wanting to be a more-perfect mom years ago, and I can only imagine how much worse the Internet has made things for moms with perfectionistic tendencies today. Who can possibly be a saintly mother happily creating even a fraction of all the wonderful materials, amazing activities, and fun foods found on Pinterest alone?

I love this post by Jennifer Kunst, Ph.D., at Psychology Today: Searching for the “Good Enough” Mother.

And I REALLY LOVE this post by April Perry at The Power of Moms: Your Children Want YOU!

Whether you’re a sports mom, homeschool mom, career mom, or any other type of mom, I hope you’ll give yourself permission to be happily imperfect. Here’s a post I wrote at Living Montessori Now about learning what my kids really needed: Top 5 Homeschool Lessons My Children Taught Me.

Despite my imperfections, my now-adult kids turned out great. I’m incredibly proud of my kids. I’ve learned that being a good-enough mother is good enough!

DChitwood_TheIdealMother

“The Ideal Mother” Word-Art Freebie

Happy Mother’s Day weekend! Enjoy being a good-enough mother!

Linked with The Mommy Club Resources and Solutions at Milk and Cuddles and Crystal & Co. and Thought-Provoking Thursday.

Filed Under: Encouragement, Parents' Role Tagged With: good enough, good-enough mother, happily imperfect, ideal mother, Mother's Day, perfect mother

Are You Getting Outdoors for Earth Day and Every Day?

April 20, 2012 By Deb Chitwood 4 Comments

I recently wrote a post at Living Montessori Now about helping kids avoid nature-deficit disorder through Montessori-inspired outdoor activities. But it isn’t just kids who can have nature-deficit disorder.

Richard Louv first coined the term “nature-deficit disorder” in the 2005 book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder. In a more recent article, “Get Your Mind Dirty” at Outside Online, Louv says that adults as well as children are suffering from lack of time in nature. He writes:

“In the book, I introduced the term nature-deficit disorder—not as a medical diagnosis but as a way to describe the growing gap between children and nature. By its broadest interpretation, nature-deficit disorder is an atrophied awareness, a diminished ability to find meaning in the life that surrounds us. When we think of the nature deficit, we usually think of kids spending too much time indoors plugged into an outlet or computer screen. But after the book’s publication, I heard adults speak with heartfelt emotion, even anger, about their own sense of loss.”

In the spring especially, I feel a greater need to spend time outdoors. “Spring fever” hits me each year and continues throughout the warm months. And I need to get out of the house some even the middle of winter. I think that most adults as well as kids feel better, more whole, by spending time outdoors.

“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” John Burroughs

Richard Louv talks about some interesting benefits of spending time in nature:

“While the study of the relationship between mental acuity, creativity, and time spent outdoors is still a frontier for science, new data suggests that exposure to the living world can even enhance intelligence. At least two factors are involved: first, our senses and sensibilities can be improved by spending time in nature; second, the natural environment seems to stimulate our ability to pay attention, think clearly, and be more creative.”

I’ve been focusing on getting outdoors more in general lately. And I want to take my writing outdoors, too. I plan to take my laptop outdoors in the warm weather rather than spending the day sitting at my desk, even though my computer is right by a window.

“The Earth Delights” Word-Art Freebie

What better plan for Earth Day or any day than to get outdoors and enjoy the earth? How do you plan to spend more time outdoors?

Photo Credit: Photo at the top of this post by Vinoth Chandar at Flickr Creative Commons (License).

Linked with Thought Provoking Thursday.

Filed Under: Encouragement, Motivation Tagged With: Earth Day, getting outdoors, nature deficit-disorder, Richard Louv

You Can Do It!

September 16, 2011 By Deb Chitwood 13 Comments

“You can do it” is definitely one of my all-time favorite movie lines, especially the way Rob Schneider says it in Adam Sandler’s Waterboy. It’s also one of my favorite motivations for life.

“You can do it” is even compatible with the latest research on encouragement versus praise. At Living Montessori Now, I published a post on “A Montessori Approach to Praise.” New research says we need to be careful about giving excessive praise, be careful about praising for talent and intelligence. It’s better to give encouragement or specific praise for hard work. Otherwise, we’re at risk of our kids becoming afraid to try new things, afraid of failure, afraid of not living up to expectations. That’s something none of us wants, whether our kids are athletes, scholars, businesspeople, or artists.

But “you can do it” and “you did it” still work.

“You can do what you have to do, and sometimes you can do it even better than you think you can.” Jimmy Carter

“Few things in the world are more powerful than a positive push. A smile. A word of optimism and hope. And you can do it when things are tough.” Richard M DeVos

“If you want to become the best runner you can be, start now. Don’t spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it.” Priscilla Welch

“You’ve done it before and you can do it now. See the positive possibilities. Redirect the substantial energy of your frustration and turn it into positive, effective, unstoppable determination.” Ralph Marston

“I wasn’t popular in high school. I was the weird kid. So to all you weird kids out there – you can do it.” Adam Lambert

“You can do it all by yo self!” Lil Jon

“You Can Do It” Word Art Freebie (without watermark)

One of my very favorite YouTube videos:

Photo Credit: Photo by Steven Depolo at Flickr Creative Commons (license).

Linked with Thought-Provoking Thursday and Kirsty & Friends.

Filed Under: Encouragement, Motivation, self-esteem Tagged With: Adam Sandler, encouragement versus praise, praise, Rob Schneider, Waterboy, you can do it

Don’t Give Up

September 9, 2011 By Deb Chitwood 18 Comments

Whether you have a tendency to give up before you start or just give up … don’t. Some of most successful people are the best inspiration when it comes to overcoming fear of failure and overcoming discouragement because of failure.

Inspiration from Wayne Gretzky

”You Miss 100% of the Shots You Don’t Take” Word-Art Freebie

Inspiration from Michael Jordan

Even though this video is a commercial, the message is awesome.

“Michael Jordan ‘Failure’ Nike Commercial”

Inspiration from “Famous Failures”

You must see this video if you haven’t before. And if you’ve seen it, this is one that never gets old!

“Famous Failures”

What helps you overcome fear of failure? What helps you to not give up?

Linked with Thought-Provoking Thursday and Kirsty & Friends.

Filed Under: Encouragement, Inspiration Tagged With: don't give up, failure, famous failures, fear of failure, Inspiration, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky

Stop Procrastinating and Start Living Your Life

September 2, 2011 By Deb Chitwood 12 Comments

It’s been proven that procrastination is bad for our health. (Procrastination: Ten Things to Know from Psychology Today). But it really doesn’t take research for us to know that procrastination isn’t good for us.

William James (American psychologist and philospher, 1842-1910) said:

“Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.”

Still, most of us feel we procrastinate more than we should. There’s a Procrastination Research Group with a don’t delay blog, iProcrastinate podcasts and even procrastination comics.

Some Ideas on Procrastination and What We Can Do about It

Piers Steel, Ph.D., in The Procrastination Equation: How to Stop Putting Things Off and Start Getting Stuff Done says that we procrastinate because we fear failure, because we don’t value the work, or, especially, because we’re too impulsive.

He has some suggestions, such as:

Try new and difficult things, which will build your self-confidence.
Watch inspirational movies.
Avoid distractions and temptations.
Give yourself rewards.
Make specific goals.
Break down big projects into manageable chunks.
Find a job you love.
Get in the habit of not procrastinating.

Piers Steel has a blog at Procrastinus.com as well as a 15-minute survey: Measure My Procrastination!

I’m very fond of Marla Cilley, aka FlyLady as an anti-procrastination motivator. She believes that perfectionism leads to procrastination and has lots of simple ideas that help perfectionists like me; ideas such as:

Set your priorities.
Add a good habit a day (babystep) for 31 days to develop good habits.
Use daily reminders.
Create daily and weekly routines. (Wednesday is anti-procrastination day, a day for doing something you’ve been putting off.)
Do certain tasks no matter what (like shining your sink every night – something I actually started doing because of FlyLady and have continued for a number of years).
Set a timer and do a task for 15 minutes. (“You can do anything for 15 minutes.” – FlyLady)
Use motivational quotes (like “progress, not perfection,” “good enough is good enough,” or my favorite: “right away is the easy way”).

Here’s a post I published at Living Montessori Now: How FlyLady and Montessori Help Me Keep My House Clean.

“Right Away is the Easy Way” Word-Art Freebie

I love my 30-day challenges. I’m starting my 3^rd challenge. And I’m getting more done! I use a mixture of FlyLady and the 30-day challenge to do a minimum of 15 minutes a day of the task for my monthly challenge.

And there’s a lot to be said for the Nike slogan: Just do it! The feeling of accomplishment from finishing something is much better than any sense of relief from putting something off.

Do you have an anti-procrastination technique that works well for you?

Linked with Thought-Provoking Thursday and Kirsty & Friends Linky Party.

Filed Under: 30-Day Challenge, Encouragement, Motivation Tagged With: 30-day challenge, FlyLady, just do it, Marla Cilley, Piers Steel, procrastination, stop procrastinating, The Procrastination Equation

Whatever the Outcome, I Hope We Dance

July 22, 2011 By Deb Chitwood 12 Comments

The Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships are next week. That’s an event that marks the beginning of the competition season for many ice dancers. The perspective of the skaters (and their coaches and families) can make all the difference between a happy or miserable competition.

In sports – and life in general – it’s too easy to get caught up in placements and success. But there are some quotes I find especially helpful.

When my kids were competitive figure skaters, we always were happiest at competitions when we found something to celebrate, regardless of the competition outcome. It really is good to remember the Carl Lewis quote “It’s all about the journey, not the outcome” and to have an “attitude of gratitude.”
“It’s All about the Journey” Word-Art Freebie

And whatever the outcome, I think we all need to remember to just dance – through competitions and through life.

“We Should Dance” Word-Art Freebie

In a comment on my “We Should Dance” word-art post, Snowcatcher, a Colorado blogger with stunning photography and designs, reminded me of the song “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack. I think that song fits perfectly with the quote “Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we’re here we should dance.”

If you’re an athlete or have athletes in your family, you might find these posts helpful:

How to Get the Most out of a Skating Competition

Let Gratitude Carry You through the Competition Season

Whether it’s in sports or life, I truly hope we can all just dance.

Linked with Thought-Provoking Thursday and Kirsty & Friends Linky Party.

Filed Under: Competition Help, Encouragement Tagged With: Carl Lewis, I Hope You Dance, It's all about the journey, Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships, Lee Ann Womack, skating competitions, success

Double Inspiration – Nick Vujicic and Bethany Hamilton

June 17, 2011 By Deb Chitwood 4 Comments

Two weeks ago, I shared some inspiration from Nick Vujicic. (Actually I have a number of posts about Nick Vujicic!) Last week, I shared some inspiration from Bethany Hamilton. And today, I have some inspiration from the two of them together! I just love that they’re both amazing role models, truly live their faith, and have the greatest attitudes!

Enjoy!