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Heres a kids special for you….

Just the other day, when I was surfing for interesting children’s book on Amazon, I came across a series of “What-To-Do-Guides For Kids,” written by Dr. Dawn Huebner, Ph.D. There are four books in this series, with each book teaching the troubled child a set of cognitive - behavioral strategies to break from problems that hold them captive.

These books are must haves for parents, teachers as they help children in the process of learning practical skills that they can use immediately and motivate children to think and act in newer ways towards change.

What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety (What to Do Guides for Kids): This interactive self help book is designed for six to twelve year olds and their parents. Through cognitive-behavioral techniques, examples, metaphors and humorous artwork, the author makes difficult concepts easy to understand, encouraging the child to learn new skills to reducing anxiety.

What to Do When You Grumble Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Negativity (What to Do Guides for Kids): A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Negativity - This book treats negative thinking through cognitive behavioral techniques. Step-by-step instructions and illustrations prompt the child to get past those obstacles, transforming negative thinkers into happier positive kids.

What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming OCD (What-to-Do Guides for Kids): A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming OCD - This interactive self help book treats OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Kids are made to imagine themselves as sleuths to recognize and respond to OCD’s actions. Activities, engaging examples and stepwise instructions help the child to break free from thoughts and impulses of OCD.

What to Do When Your Temper Flares: A Kidæs Guide to Overcoming Problems With Anger (What to Do Guides for Kids) - A set of anger dousing methods in the book guides children and parents to treat problems related to anger. Engaging examples, lively illustrations and instructions teach kids how to cool their angry thoughts and actions, resulting in calmer and more effective kids.

After a brief glance at what the books have on offer, I am off to placing an order for them. I might never know when I need them.

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Does your child cringe every time you mention homework? If yes, then he/she must not be enjoying it. Irrespective of your child’s age, homework is a part of student’s lives since the beginning of formal schooling. Doing homework is good for kids as it reinforces the daily classroom teachings. It develops the child’s sense of responsibility towards completing their own work, help to follow directions independently, manage and budget time among work and play and lastly it teaches how to finish work to the best of their ability.

Homework is not entirely a child’s responsibility. If one or both the parents are involved, it is a positive experience for both, the child and parents. Taking interest in your child’s homework will let you find out your child’s strengths and weakness and what is being taught to them.

How can you help?

Fix a small corner in your house where your child does the homework i.e., some place quiet without any distraction and all resources at arms length.

Avoid changing homework timings everyday. Some kids will want to finish homework first (after a small snack) and then play or vice versa. Some might even start after dinner.

Help your child to do homework on its own. Explain where and how to find information, rather than just giving it to them. Do not do their homework for them. It’s your child responsibility.

Know your child’s teacher. Get involved in your child’s academic career. Attend PTA or any function that requires parent’s participation. Ask the teacher about your child’s progress and related concerns.

Make homework time a special time. Your child will look forward to show you his/her work and expect positive / constructive feedback.

Praise your child’s work, celebrate his / her achievements. Reward them suitably to keep their interest levels high. Help them find out their strengths and weakness.

Talk to your child’s teacher if you still have any concerns about the workload or your child’s progress.

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Most children and teenagers use backpacks to carry the necessities of the school day.

Mary Ann Wilmarth, the assistant dean and director of the transitional doctors of physical therapy degree at Northeastern University in Boston said in a statement that backpacks that are overloaded and/or are worn the wrong way can cause problems for children and teenagers like injury to the muscles and joints leading to severe back, neck, and shoulder pain, as well as posture problems.

Backpacks are designed to distribute the weight of the load between some of the body’s strongest muscles like back and the abdominal muscles. To choose the right backpack, here are some guidelines:

Ensure that your child uses both the straps to distribute the weight of backpack. This promotes well-aligned symmetrical posture. Carrying the weight with just one strap means that one side of body has to bear most of the weight.

Avoid excessive twisting and keep the trunk of the body stable especially while putting on and removing backpacks.

Backpacks should be positioned in an uniform manner towards the middle of the back, not extending below the lower back. A waist strap helps in distributing the weight of heavy load evenly.

Shoulder straps should be adjusted to allow your child to put it on and remove the backpack easily. Straps should not be too loose or tight. Your child should be able to move his/her arms freely.

The load in the backpack should be 10-15% less than your child’s weight. Put in only necessary items for the day. Heavy books or items should be positioned closest to the back.

Encourage your child to be active, teach them back strengthening exercises to promote better muscle strength, flexibility that makes carrying a backpack an easy job.

If you have to bend to pick up something from the floor with your backpack on, bend using both the knees.

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