Why Should Little Kids Have Music Lessons?

What Does Mindfulness Mean?

What Should We Do When Misfortune Strikes?

How Can We Overcome Our Frustrations?

Holiday Gifts for the College Bound Student

Often when meeting parents at Back to School Night, they would ask me what they could give their children for Christmas or their birthday that would help them get ahead. I loved this question, and soon began writing a list of gift ideas on the board in the front of the room before any parent meeting. Here’s the list I would write on the board this year, (if I was still in the classroom) and the ages when I would give them:

1.   Seven Habits of Highly Effective Students by Sean Covey – Age 13

2.   Personality Plus by Florence Littauer – Age 14

3.   The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz – Age 15

4.   Free $ for College for Dummies by David Rosen and Caryn Mladen – Age 16

5.   The Blue Zones of Happiness by Dan Buettner – Age 17

6.   The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley – Age 18

Of course, it would be unethical to suggest families buy my own book, Free College Awareness, if I was still in the classroom, but I’m not. So, when it’s available, which should be soon from what my publisher has told me, you should get a copy. It’s for parents of all Pre-K through high school students (college bound or not), although like the strategy in this article, parents start the process, and students take over as they mature.  

For more information, you’ll want my new book, Free College Awareness, coming soon from Griffin Publishing. How to avoid needing college loans; available soon to families of Pre-K through High School students.

You are reading from the blog: http://www.roadtofreecollege.com

Photo credit: Google Images

Does Your Reputation Really Matter?

What Makes Failure Final?

How Young Is Too Young to Prepare for College?

I recently had a conversation with the mother of a fourteen year old boy. She was freaked out, saying her son was feeling anxiety about preparing for college. She complained he was too young to start prepping. I couldn’t disagree more. Parents should start helping their children plan for their future (college or other post high school plans) much sooner. A great deal can be accomplished earlier, so there will be less pressure later.

I observed this during my 40+ year career teaching both college prep and non-college prep students. Students whose families started supporting their future plans when they were little suffered far less stress and anxiety. They seemed calm and almost serene. I also witnessed this while doing research for my book, Free College Awareness.  

All the steps families need to follow are in my upcoming book, but here’s one strategy parents can start right now. This one is appropriate for elementary aged and older students. The next time you’re out shopping, stop by an office supply store, paper boutique, or big box store. Find a wall mounted, age appropriate calendar for the upcoming year. Pick up some stickers and colored pens too.

Sit down with your child and your own personal planner. Start with the holidays already listed on the calendar. Guide your child in decorating those days, leaving space to write something later, if the need should arise. Second, note the birthdays of family members and close friends. Again, let your child dress up the date. Third, mark school events, such as the first and last day of school, back to school night, and the like.

If there’s anything in your planner for the upcoming year that impacts your child, show him/her how to write it on the correct date. Use different colored markers selected by your child. What you’re doing is demystifying the organizational process.  Hang the calendar on the wall or back of the door in your child’s bedroom. If two children share a room, it will cause less conflict if they each have their own calendar and space where it is hung.

As time goes on, and other events or appointments come up, inform your child and assist him/her in recording it on the correct date. The younger your child when you begin using this process, the more guidance will be needed. As time goes on, or if he/she is older, very little help will be necessary. Just encourage children to develop the habit of recording upcoming events, both the fun ones, and all the rest. When you do so, you’re teaching them one of the sixteen strategies used by all full ride scholarship winning students. They use wall calendars and are very organized.

In answer to the question posed in the title of this article, there’s no such thing as too young. Parents begin setting things up for the child when he/she is little, and the child takes over as he/she matures.

For more information, you’ll want my new book, Free College Awareness, coming soon from Griffin Publishing. How to avoid needing college loans; available soon to families of Pre-K through High School students.

You are reading from the blog: http://www.roadtofreecollege.com

Photo credit: Google Images

How Should You Deal with Your Weaknesses?

Why Should Students Eat a Nutritious Breakfast Daily?

The Best Kept Secret of Parents of Successful Pre-K – H.S. Students

While researching the strategies used by families of successful college scholarship winners, I noticed they dined together at least five days a week. It didn’t matter how busy they were at work, or if their children were involved in after school sports or other activities. They made sure to have dinner together. Many studies have shown this is a significant factor in the success of a child in school and later in life.

Think of any negative activity a teenager could get into, (alcohol, crime, drugs, dropping out of school, pregnancy, gangs, etc.). Research indicates such conduct is avoided by children who grow up dining with their families at least five nights each week. The families of every full ride scholarship winner I have met also followed this practice.

Here’s a painless way to make it happen, if you aren’t doing so already. Decide you’re going to do it. This is the most difficult step. Once you’ve decided, really decided, the rest is pretty easy. Determine which evening of the week is filled with the fewest activities. Circle it every time it appears on your calendar or planner. Pick a dinnertime and write it down. When a friend or work colleague wants you to go somewhere, or do something for them on a Sunday, tell them you need to check your calendar before agreeing. Then tell them you’re fully booked that evening. Done.

After your family has made this a habit, (maybe after three or four weeks), not just writing it down or telling people you have a prior commitment, but actually doing it, then pick another night and repeat the process. It may take a little more effort arranging the second night, but it’s worth it. Children who dine with their families this often are happier, more successful in school and receive more scholarship money for college. Continue rearranging your schedule until you are enjoying dinner together at least five nights each week.

During your family dinnertime, chat with your children and your spouse. This is not the time to scold anyone for failing to do chores or to check up on grades or homework. This is a time to connect through sharing a meal and pleasant conversation. If you are ever stumped as to what to talk about, then check the Families Alive website, https://www.familiesalive.org/dinnertable/ for suggestions. When you first start this family tradition, it may seem awkward. After a few meals, everyone will relax, and you’ll notice your children will start to really talk to you. That is, if you listen to them, really listen, especially while looking them in the eye.

Make this your New Year’s Resolution. It'll pay off with happier kids, fewer problems, better grades in school, and could actually help earn more scholarships for college down the line.

For more information, you’ll want my new book, Free College Awareness, coming soon from Griffin Publishing. How to avoid needing college loans; available soon to families of Pre-K through High School students.

You are reading from the blog: http://www.roadtofreecollege.com

Photo credit: Google Images

When Should High School Students Start Looking for Scholarships?

What Is The True Value of Music?

Winter Break Scholarship Challenge for High School Students

Although many students want to go to college, few have the financial resources to do so without scholarships, grants or loans. I’m completely against loans, since they have a tendency to destroy a graduate’s future. That leaves grants and scholarships, but they don’t magically appear. Someone has to apply for them.

When writing my book, Free College Awareness, I realized I didn’t complete many chapters without having a specific goal, with a time limit. Once I set this up, the chapters almost seemed to write themselves. This could be true for scholarship and grant applications too. I suggest setting up a routine for finding, filling out, and submitting college scholarship and grant forms.

To this end, I propose a challenge over the upcoming Winter Break. For most students, this means two weeks. For others, it may be three. Whichever is the case for you, pick the number of applications you wish to submit during this time. They will all be completed online, of course, so you don’t have to worry about offices being closed. My suggestion is a minimum of one per day, better yet would be two or three.

You’ll still have time for visiting with family and friends, watching football or parades, opening presents, and eating lots of turkey or ham. Discuss your family’s travel plans with your parents in advance. Block out this time on a calendar (you can print templates online for free). Then block out your sleep schedule. You’ll do a terrible job if you’re sleep deprived.

You now know when you have free time for meeting this scholarship/grant application challenge. Use a red pen to outline the times you are allotting to find, complete and submit your applications. If you have already filed at least one, you know how much time you’ll need for each. The average student takes about an hour, after the first one.

Sure, vacations should be fun, but why not dedicate 20 hours of the 500 over the upcoming Winter Break to applying for scholarships? Doing so might result in you being awarded thousands of dollars for college. Go ahead and do it. I dare you.

For more information, you’ll want my new book, Free College Awareness, coming soon from Griffin Publishing. How to avoid needing college loans; available soon to families of Pre-K through High School students.

You are reading from the blog: http://www.roadtofreecollege.com

Photo credit: Google Images