Teaching Budgeting and Savings – “Sorry, Our Budget Is All Gone”

Parenting, Principles, , ,

ArcadeTo teach a child about a budget, when going to an event give your child a “budget”.  Let them know it’s their budget and when it’s all gone they is no more money.  As parents, Amy and I used this lesson when taking the children to the Fun Factory arcade.  Our children or course spent their budgets quickly the first few times they went to the arcade. When they asked for more money, our answer at that point was “Our Budget is All Gone”.  By keeping this consistent answer the concept of budgeting was learned quickly.  And, yes they may have a tantrum to assert themselves, it’s important to stand wisely and with kindness say, “sorry, our budget is gone”.

Budgeting and savings are important concepts for children to learn.  Contrary the fool spent in all.  Have fun teaching the children, you’ll be glad you did.

The Planting Twos – Memory – Remembering at Genius Speeds

Grandparents, Parenting, Principles, , , , , , , , ,
The Planting Twos learning and remembering at genius speed
Photo by Kimberly Okuyama

Last month on their way to the airport, Amy said to our granddaughter Andee, “Grandma is going home to the Big Island”.  A few times since then, Andee has mentioned to her mother Kimberly, “gamma big island”.  Much to both Amy and Kimberly’s surprise,  Andee started using the words “Big Island” after hearing them only once.  Amy knows she had said “Big Island” to Andee only once during her stay in Honolulu; Kimberly never mentioned big island before.  Wow, kids at the age of two learn at tremendous speeds, a time period in early childhood I refer to as the “Planting Twos”.  What we say, do, and teach during this period will greatly impact their personalities, intelligence, and social life.

The “Planting Twos” is a wonderful time before preschool to teach about God, social morals, health and wellness, reading, music, science, mathematics, sports, obedience, kindness, sharing, caring for others, chores and rewards.  The Planting Twos are the golden teaching years in early childhood development.

These wonderful years are academically described by Barbara Rogoff, in her book The Apprenticeship of Thinking: Cognitive Development in Social Context.  The book is about guided participation by children and their companions. Barbara Rogoff is UC Santa Cruz Foundation Distinguished Professor of Psychology. Barbara Rogoff has held the University of California Presidential Chair and has been a Fellow of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, a Kellogg Fellow, a Spencer Fellow, and an Osher Fellow of the Exploratorium.

By Carl Okuyama

Creating The Life You Deserve – Leonard Mukai, PhD.

Classes, , ,
Leonard Mukai, noparentingproblems.com
Leonard Mukai, sharing “Creating The Life You Deserve”

Join us for a rewarding evening viewing an intervention by master coach Tony Robbins and then applying simple principles to create a better life. You will learn

1.       A secret ingredient you MUST have for a successful life.

2.      How to get that secret ingredient.

3.      How to relieve stress.

4.      How to stop depression and control anger.

When:  Saturday September 21, 2013 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Where:  YMCA (300 W Lanikaula St, Hilo, HI, 96720)

Presented by Leonard Mukai, PhD, CPC, Strategic Interventionist, Marriage Educator, Parent Project Facilitator.

Call (808) 896-4384.

Event is free.

Child care is not available.

Create the life and relationships you deserve!

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Leonard Mukai is a Parent Project Facilitator and is one of original supporters of Starts at Home.  His knowledge and wisdom is enjoyable, fun, and worth sharing.  Enjoy an evening with Leonard and friends.

Grandparents and Parents Teaching with Loving Discipline – Toddlers Obey

Grandparents, Parenting, Principles, , , , , , ,
Thank You grandpa and grandma for your helping in raising our family.
Thank You grandpa and grandma for your helping in raising our family.

September 8th is National Grandparent’s Day. Happy Grandparent’s Day to all the grandparents, have and wonderful day and give your grandchildren a big hug!  If that’s not possible call them over the phone and give them phone hugs or hopefully they’ll call you.   Here’s a nice story.

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Grandma May shared a wonderful moment with her granddaughter April, a toddler who recently became three years old.  One morning just before 7:30 am, April called grandma’s cell phone. Grandma recognized her son’s phone via Caller ID, answered it and heard the voice of her granddaughter April, who asked “where are you?”  Grandma replied “at work” and April replied  “bye!” which ended  the call.  What a short and sweet call to get from your grandchild!

It’s so joyful to know that your toddler grandchild misses you and goes out of her way to phone you.  April abruptly ended her call because she knows grandma cannot talk to her while working, a lesson and rule taught to her from grandma and her parents.  It’s pleasing  to hear how toddlers learn to obey their parents, an important rule that will help them through early childhood development.

At two to three years of age, toddlers begin to learn at genius speeds.  This is their “Planting Twos” years, and all they need is the sharing, teaching and loving discipline of their parents and loved ones.

May and her parents Mark and Olivia, nice, “pat on the back” and way to go!

By Carl Okuyama

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