How To: Get your Child to Do Their Homework

1. Create a kid-friendly study environment. Music often aids study.

2. Go over the work together with your child. Don’t just say ‘Do your homework’.

3. Break it down into smaller chunks of work. If there is a lot - make a goal chart for completion.

4. Familiarise yourself with the content, and re-create it in your child’s specific learning style, which gets the point across, ie: Soccer math.

5. Create a practical hands-on real life example of the exercise. Dramatise the maths problem; Act out the scene in the story-line of the paragraph or sentence.

6. Re-phrase difficult terminologies into simpler concepts or wording, ie: Odds vs Probabilities; or as a friend put it once: ‘Peas in chicken soup’.

7. Offer a privilege of some sort on completion.



Copyright 2006. Rebecca Laklem.

How To: Live With Your Opposite

The old adage says: Opposites Attract. So how do you live with your opposite?

Every couple experiences the little things about the other that rub you up the wrong way. I’ve found that it’s better to find a way to live with your spouse’s funny little quirks instead of fight them.

1. She wants to talk/ he fains sleep; If you find him asleep - write it down and talk about it later when the time is right.

2. He likes to sleep in pitch darkness/ she likes a light on – buy a small nitelite.

3. He wants to turn off the light /She likes to read in bed – torchlight/flashlight under the covers or a comfy reading chair in the lounge room.

4. He likes the fan/she does not – cover yourself with a blanket and face away from it.

5. He likes watching sports on TV with the boys - serve the drinks and snacks, or buy/or borrow another TV and watch a girlie movie in another room; or arrange timeout with the girls at the same time.

6. He prefers meat / She prefers vegetables – when eating out share a plate instead of
buying two. Have different ‘favourite’ restaurants? All you can eat buffets are great for picky eaters; or alternate.

7. If you find you are playing ‘tug-of-war’ with the blanket at night – buy two and
have one each.

8. If she prefers the toilet roll topside and he likes it under – put two roll holders near the toilet (one topside; one under)

9. If he squeezes the toothpaste in the middle/ she at the end – get a pump tube
instead.

10. Toilet seat (up or down) designate a ‘his’ and a ‘her’ bathroom.


The best alternative is to talk through all these ‘little’ things together calmly well before they become an irritation and an issue.

Copyright 2006. Rebecca Laklem.

How to: Travel With Kids

Here are just a few tips:

1. A must when traveling with kids is plenty of bite-sized snacks, such as small packs of dried fruit, popcorn, granola bars, soda crackers. And drinks, preferably just plain water or milk, or even juice. Zip-lock bags are great for this.

2. A change of clothes for you and baby. (Including Nappies/Diapers for infants and toddlers). I have found Pull-ups serve well for underwear for 4-5 year olds in an emergency.

3. Plenty of Baby Wipes. These are good for adults too. Wet wipes are great for getting spots out of ties and lapels etc.

4. Pack an activity pack yourself. Most airlines supply activity packs, but they are only sufficient for a short time. Include: Small toys, travel games, pen and paper, crayons, a good book.

5. Face cloth and soap, for sponge baths; toothbrush and toothpaste.

6. Have some form of identification. Give each child an ID bracelet with their name on the top side and on the reverse side – Mum and Dad’s names and mobile numbers. Give them also a business card of your accommodation (preferably laminated). Some parents may choose to dress all family members the same. Same t-shirts and hats etc, for easy identification in a crowd. The brighter colours are best.

7. It is advisable to use a safety harness on little ones to avoid losing them in the hustle and bustle of busy airports and stations. Keeping a hand on the kiddies while juggling, tickets, passports and hand luggage is no small feat.

8. Use the 'buddy' system. Everyone has a buddy, to go to the toilets etc. That way no one is ever alone. It is best to team an adult or older child with the younger ones.

9. Do a head count or roll call frequently. Always check you have everyone with you.

10. Give each of your children instructions what to do if they ever get separated from you. Memorise by song any important details they need to know. Give them each coins for a phone call or a phone card.


Copyright 2006. Rebecca Laklem.

How To: Save Money - 10 Tips.

1. Plan your budget.

2. Put aside a regular percentage in savings account ie: 5% and don’t touch this account – in fact forget about it.

3. Always pay your bills according to priority and in advance or on time.

4. Separate designated funds ie: Bills; Petrol/Gas; Groceries; School fees; Gifts. Separate sealed envelopes work well for cash payments.

5. Have a coin jar - one of those big drinking water bottles works great. Put in all your loose change.

6. Limit eating out and takeaways.

7. Invest in a big freezer. Buy in bulk and cook in bulk and freeze meals. Saves the temptation to order in when you are tired.

8. Do your grocery shopping with a list and stick to it. Portion out meat and other foods, Kids lunch items etc when you get home. Limit daily intake.

9. When on a particular errand, only take the amount you need for that purpose.

10. Before you buy, always go ‘window-shopping’ a few times, without any money with you or, if you can, try it before you buy it. (Rent it; Borrow it from a friend; Sample it; Try it on.)

How To: House-Train Your Puppy

When I lived in Hong Kong for a time, I was impressed with the method they used for controlling dog-waste. In every public park, there were designated sandpits with dog signs on them, where the dog would do its ‘business’ in the sandpit instead of on the grass or path. Even our adult dog, that we brought all the way from Australia with us, learned very quickly to use the sandpits.

1. Designate a toilet-area for your puppy outside such as a small sandpit or a corner of your yard.

2. Observe your puppy closely and learn the signs to when he needs to relieve himself.

3. Make sure to put him in his toilet area each and every time he needs to go, even if he has an ‘accident’ and does it on your rug, put him immediately in his designated toilet area. He will soon learn that’s the place to go.

4. If he accidentally goes in the house, wash clean with white vinegar. Dogs do not like the smell and won’t go there.

5. Lavish with praise and treats when your pup does the right thing.


6. At night, get up often approx every 2 hours to take your puppy outside to the toilet. They are babies after all.



Copyright 2006. Rebecca Laklem

How To: Get Your Teenage Daughter/s to Eat Breakfast.

We would all like to have the ideal of having a sit down breakfast all together as a family but with today’s busy lifestyles this is not always possible and sometimes near impossible. Here are several tips of how you can give your daughter the most important meal of the day….take your pick or for variety try them all!


Find out your daughter’s favourite food even if it doesn’t fit with the traditional and conventional type of breakfast food. Surprise her by preparing it for her the next morning.

Tempt her with a smorgasbord of nutritious food (like your own breakfast buffet) well before she stirs in the morning, so she comes into the kitchen with a table already laid out.

Copy your daughter’s style…..have a ‘stash’ of healthy breakfast bars or muffins in a basket. Put it on the kitchen table or in an obviously visible place such as the hallway.

Whip up a fruit smoothie. The quicker she can eat or drink it – the more likely she will have it.

Pack your daughter’s ‘breakfast’ with her lunch and recess. She will more likely eat it when on route to school.

A basket full of a variety of fruit often does the trick.

Wake her up a half an hour earlier with breakfast on a tray.



If your daughter still won’t eat anything……seek medical advice.


Copyright 2006. Rebecca Laklem

How To: Get the Family Organised

PRIORITISE

Plan your day and work in that of your family's activities and appointments. Fit it all in so you know exactly how to keep one step ahead of your family's needs and take the lead. Use a master calendar/planner. (It is best to make one yourself so you can customise). It is a fun project to do altogether as a family too. Laminate it so you can write on it with a white-board marker that wipes off easily when you need to update it. (Use stickers for permanent events such as birthdays and anniversaries. Stickers can still be removed if you so choose.) A day-a-page diaries are good for use on the move when you're out and about. Hand-held PCs are useful for this as well.

COLOUR-CODE

Designate a colour for each person in the household, preferably their favourite colour. Use it on the family calendar and for anything that belongs to that person, even down to the humble toothbrush. This method works extremely well for kids.

PERSONALISE

Put yours and your children's names on it. This works especially well for larger families. Lunchbags, toothbrush, hairbrush, mugs, towels, trinket boxes, name plaques for bedroom doors etc. It gives each person a real sense of worth.

MINIMISE

By cutting down to the bare minimum that you really use (note I said USE not need). You can save time on washing dishes and laundry. Packing and finding certain items of clothing becomes a breeze. Also toys - less clutter.

CONTAINER-ISE

Laundry - a laundry basket for each person makes sorting and collecting clothes so much easier.

School - a personalised basket or box to place school lunches, permission notes, library books to be returned, excursion fees, completed homework sheets etc.

School bags and uniforms - A coat hook rack in the hallway near the front door works well to hand school bags, hats, jackets. School shoes and a box for school socks can be placed on a rack under the bags. A separate hanging space for school uniforms only also comes in handy. Minimises loss of items at the last minute rush our the door in the morning.

Project Box - Have a fairly large box regularly stocked with various project necessities such as coloured cardboard, marker pens, scissors, glue, old magazines, a variety of different stickers and pictures etc.

Knick-Knacks - In each room that is frequented by the whole family, have a box where you place any items that have strayed from their original place as you tidy and clean. Take the box with you when you leave the room and return all items to where they belong. Saves several trips back and forth around the house.

Keys - Buy or make a key rack, make sure that all keys are placed there the moment you come into the house. No more 'hunting for the keys' when you are about to go out the door. Keeps them out of reach from little hands too.

Wallets and Watches - Other easily lost items are your wallets and watches. Have a special box or drawer that you place these in. Good for belts and that special pen too. Make sure, as you would the keys, to place these items in their designated box/drawer the moment you take them off.

Coins - Have a kitchen kitty/piggy bank/money box. A decorative jar does the trick, where you place any stray coins and loose change. You can use it for milk and egg money or save it in the bank when full.

Lost and Found - This is different to clutter. Have a basket or box for miscellaneous items that you have picked up but not sure where they belong or who they belong to. Make sure to clear this out every couple of days - if the item is not claimed when you clear it, then it is classified as Junk. A Junk drawer defeats the purpose, as you are less likely to sort through it than a basket or box.

Keepsake Box - Have a personalised box for each member of the family which holds personal treasures such as handmade cards, artwork, baby photos, school photos, baby mementos - A memory lane box. Laminate and Display - special photos, award certificates, kid's drawings etc. Also, another box can be for your child's personal treasure box to hold that special shell or pebble, or sentimental items - little 'secrets'.

Documents - This is different from personal treasures. This box holds all important document papers such as marriage certificates, birth certificates, diplomas, citizenship papers, passports, property deeds, stocks etc. It is advisable to get a fire-proof box for these.

Birthdays and Special Events - Have a box with assorted wrapping papers, scissors, sticky tape, ribbons and assorted cards. Buy a small gift and birthday cards (or even make them yourself) each time to do your regular grocery shopping and place them in the box ready for on-the-spot birthday gifts for your children's friends or an unexpected birthday of a guest. Saves last minute panic and embarrasment.

Toy Cupboard - Designate a cupboard or bookcase for toys. Categorise all toys ie: Barbie dolls and accessories; toy cars; Lego blocks; board games; soft toy animals etc. Place them in suitably sized containers and label them (remember to label the lids as well). It helps to have ones that can stack up on top of each other. The children can then take one box out at a time and return it before taking out another. This saves toys getting thrown about helter-skelter when looking for that particular toy. No more lost toys or game pieces and no more clutter.

Storage - Do the same as you do for the toys (above), do for anything that you want to go into storage.

Copyright 2005. Rebecca Laklem