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| BETTER BEGINNINGS PENNY PATTER |
September 24, 2004
| Children achieve more in school, when their parent(s) are involved in any way in their education, research tells us. However, to provide food and shelter for their children, many parents devote 12 or more hours per day to their jobs, either in full + part-time | minimum-wage employment; or in fulfilling the responsibilities of their better-paying job. What’s a mother (and/or father) to do? I would love to hear some of your thoughts. |
| About "The Golden Rule of the Peaceful Preschool" (a term coined here), Mrs. Lupe synopsizes: "You do not do to another, that which you do not want done unto you: this is what we must teach the children. They must learn to respect all people; and people need to learn and understand the children, treating them as they want to be treated. This rule is recognized by almost all the religions but is not applied. If it were, the world would be wonderful. | Aside: Still wondering: if the rule is
so universal, so great, so golden, why do we so often fail to follow it?
The Lakota Sioux have a proverb: "The ones that matter most are the children. They are the true human beings." A future in which people cherish and respect each other lies in our children’s hands and hearts. What those hands and hearts will hold is being formed today. |
| We can build children’s confidence and encourage positive qualities by "catching them being good". Comment often on positive actions. Ignore the negative whenever possible. Confidence builds success. | Confident children and people are more likely to be kind to others. By the way, adults enjoy hearing encouraging words too! |
| On September 21, by coincidence the
International Day of Peace, the new National Museum of the American Indian
opened on the Washington DC mall. Festivities, including singers, dancers
and storytellers will continue through Sunday, September 26. Find out more
about it, and view some of the "living arts" by visiting
www.nmai.si.edu.
What you ask, is the International Day of Peace? The third Tuesday in September is |
dedicated to strengthening the idea of peace in the world. I suppose this means that we ought to each light our little candle, dispelling a little of the darkness, where we are. I have been burning my candle at both ends for years. I am now arrived at the middle, and find it very wonderful to still be burning brightly, with only an occasional sputter! My little cookie eaters say the middle is the best part. From the mouths of babes, from whom I have learned much! |
| Heart Friends (After Kindergarten) Class keeps wishing for a record player that plays 33-1/3 or 78 records. They have very many records and would like to be able to play them. Children learn easily from music. If you don't think so, just remember how YOU learned the alphabet. Music and movement are also a part of learning, and using fine and | large motor control.
The children at Better Beginnings would enjoy having a volunteer musicmaker. If you can play any instrument, even a tape player, and would like to lead some happy young students in some delightful musical moments, please get in touch. |
| Homemade Cold Pack: Penny Pincher wets a wash cloth, places it in a zipper plastic bag, and freezes it. As an alternative, she places a few ice cubes in the bag. If desperate, she grabs a package of frozen vegetables. | Usually, when needed for an ache or a pain, she wraps the plastic bag or the box of veggies in another cloth before applying to the "hurtie". |
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Bettie Witherspoon is a former executive director of Better Beginnings, which has provided affordable child care to the East Windsor/Hightstown area since 1967. |
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