Sunday, February 27, 2011

Children with Greatest Self-Control Have Greater Success in Life!

According to this study cited in a recent NPR article, “Children who had the greatest self-control in primary school and preschool ages were most likely to have fewer health problems when they reached their 30s,” says Terrie Moffitt, a professor of psychology at Duke University and King's College London.

Moffitt’s study found that self-control predicted adult success, even after accounting for the participants’ differences in social status and IQ. “Identical twins are not identical on self-control,” Moffitt said. “That tells us that it is something they have learned, not something they have inherited. And she says self-control can be best learned in preschool.

Examples of self-control in the article include: expecting a 4-year-old to hang up her coat without being asked, putting their lunch away when they arrive at school, hanging up their clothes, and washing their hands before they play.

You can help develop your little one’s self control at school or home with Maren Green’s newest title You Are Helpful—from our award-winning ‘You Are Important’ series. You Are Helpful develops a child’s self-control by positively reinforcing the many ways they can help out: when they dress themselves, when they put toys away, when they do chores at home, when they put trash in the right place, when they listen and follow instructions, and more.

Get your copy here. Available in board book or paperback format.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Am I A Quirky Parent?

I didn’t think so…but if pursuing a healthy lifestyle for my family is worthy of being called “quirky”, I guess I am.

I got to thinking about this after reading Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s recent online interview with writer, cancer survivor, and mother of two young children, Amanda Enayati who has written about pursuing a healthy life for her family by cutting excessive sugars, bad fats, dyes, preservatives and pesticides from their diet and reducing her household’s “toxic burden.” Ms. Enayati thinks other might consider her quirky, eccentric, and even annoying. But she's okay with that, too.

Like Ms. Enayati, I’m willing to be considered “different” in the name of pursuing a healthy lifestyle for my family—especially when it comes to my young daughter. It’s so important today to use what we know. And we know so much more today.

In my parent’s generation, they didn’t have access to the information we do today. We know more, and have access to more, and that enables us to make positive changes in our lives—and change is good! I appreciate that I live in this “information” era and can make informed decisions when it comes to pursuing a healthy lifestyle and being a good parent.

But there’s another aspect of having access to all this information: sometimes it’s just too much information. Which is why I try hard to rely on my common sense. While learning the pros and cons, the tried and true, the false and fake, the insightful and the idiotic, the sheer volume of all that information serves as an important reminder that I need use my common sense. That’s a good thing for all of us to remember since we’re the ones who decide what works best for our families and children—quirky or not.

Common sense is also an important component of Maren Green Publishing and the award-winning books we publish. Why? Because it works. And because it’s good for young children. Our common sense approach supports and expands children’s understanding of their life experiences in positive, affirming, fun, and educational ways. With our books you can be help make sure the children you know grow up happy, confident, and healthy—physically and emotionally.

Do you think it’s okay to be a quirky parent, too? Do you think common sense is an important factor in today’s “information” era?

Let us know what you think and win a FREE book to share with a young child in your life. Simply leave a comment with your email address and we’ll enter you in a drawing for a FREE Maren Green book of your choice. Winner will be randomly drawn from entries and notified March 15, 2011.

Thanks for reading!