Monday, May 18, 2009

Mothers' talk is key to kids' social skills.

Here at Maren Green, we love to keep our readers up to date on helpful information that relates to the children in our lives. This latest information reported on CNN here, isn't surprising, but is an important reminder:

In a UK study funded by the Economics and Social Research Council, research has shown that the way mothers talk to their children at a young age influences their social skills later in childhood. Specifically, those who often talked to their children about people's feelings, beliefs, wants and intentions developed better social understanding than children whose mothers did not.

The article goes on to quote Dawn Huebner, a psychologist in Exeter, New Hampshire, who sees children ages 6 to 12:
"It's essential for both mothers and fathers to give children a vocabulary of feelings...children don't always realize what their emotions are and need to have words to describe them in order to become more empathetic."
Further support as to why our children's books on feelings are best-selling resources to help parents have conversations with their children. For birth to preschool, this sturdy little board book is a perfect introduction to the basic feelings of happy, yucky, shy, excited, mad, scared, kind, and more.

For ages 4 and up, the paperback version covers a full alphabet of age appropriate feelings such as brave, dramatic, generous, jealous, lonely, nervous, optimistic, proud, responsible, understood, valued, and more. Fun to read and beautifully illustrated, your kids will be able to name, claim, and share their emotions in no time.

Thanks for all you're doing to raise such capable, kind, and resilient children. We know it's not easy, which is why we're here to support you.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

May 11-15 is National Etiquette Week

National Etiquette Week was established by Children’s Etiquette Consultant Sandra Morisset in 1997 as a self-assessment on the current status of civility in the United States. It's a wonderful opportunity for all of us to stop, reflect, and ask: How civil am I?
To my spouse or significant other?
To my children?
To my parents?
To my friends?
To my teacher?
To my colleagues?
To the stranger in the check out line?
To other drivers on the road?
The dictionary defines civility as follows:
Ci•vil•i•ty noun (pl.-ties)
formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech: I hope we can treat each other with civility and respect.
ORIGIN late Middle English: from Old French civilite, from Latin civilitas, from civilis 'relating to citizens.' In early use the term denoted the state of being a citizen and hence good citizenship or orderly behavior. The sense [politeness] arose in the mid 16th cent.
Parents, educators, and caregivers, here's an easy activity that's perfect for this important week: Invite the kids in your life to get together—perhaps at this week's "family meeting", or as part of "morning meeting" in your classroom, or at group activity time during the day—and ask everyone (including yourself!) to answer the following three questions:
1. What does civility mean to you? (you can provide the definition—but have children, depending on age, answer in words or pictures what it means to them, or have a simple conversation together)
2. What are 2 examples of how you ARE civil every day? (have kids answer in words or pictures, or have a discussion together)
3. What are 2 more ways you CAN BE civil every day? (have kids answer in words or pictures, or have a discussion)
Give a good amount of time for kids to express themselves, then invite everyone to share their answers and have an open discussion of good ways everyone can be more civil with each other.

At Maren Green, we hear over and over again how helpful it is to have books around to support the the life lessons and positive messages we're trying to give children, and that's why you'll find the books shown in this blog entry of particular value. They're good to read one-on-one, good to read at storytime, and good for kids to read on their own. You'll find them conveniently available here.

From all of us at Maren Green, have a great National Etiquette Week!

Friday, May 8, 2009

Positive Impact of Social & Emotional Learning (SEL)

CASEL is a not-for-profit organization that works to advance the science and evidence-based practice of social and emotional learning (SEL). Their research findings from three large-scale reviews of the impact of SEL programs on elementary and middle-school students shows that SEL programs:

* raise achievement test scores up to 17 percentile points.
* increase social-emotional skills in test situations.
* improve social behavior (e.g., getting along and cooperating with others)
* decrease behavioral problems (e.g., aggression and disruptiveness).
* lead to more positive feelings about self, others and school.
* reduce levels of emotional distress (e.g., anxiety and depression).

Here at Maren Green, we also understand the importance of social and emotional learning for young children—and the harsh reality that most schools simply can't afford SEL programs for children. Compounded with how we're all becoming increasingly isolated as a result of the online social media craze (facebook, myspace, youtube, blogs, twitter, etc.), the opportunities to develop social-emotional skills in our children have become less and less. It's easy to forget how integral social and emotional learning is for our children's future success and happiness.

As parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, and caregivers and educators, it's important we rely on each other to help children develop their social and emotional skills—and that's where Maren Green Publishing can help. We publish affordable resources that make a positive impact on the social and emotional development of children.

For example, you can help children (ages 3 & up) learn the value of kindness, learn good manners (and why they matter), and understand and express their emotions with our set of 3 books: Kindness to Share from A to Z, Manners Are Important for You and Me, and Feelings to Share from A to Z. When read together, you'll be amazed at the great discussions you'll have with kids—and how quicky they put their new skills to good use.

We even have board book versions of some so you can start when they're younger. Check out: Feelings to Share and Manners Are Important for toddlers.

For less than the price of a new video game (our set of 3 books is only $23.97 online here), you'll be giving children social-emotional skills that will last them a lifetime.

That's a positive impact you can feel very good about.