Smart Learning Newsletter
Helping You Help Your Kids Rewire Their Brain to Reach Their Smart Potential
Dr. MaryJo Wagner, Editor and Publisher
Vol 1. No. 7 July 30, 2010
Contents
- What's Happening at Smart Kids Smart Parents: August and September
- Note from Dr. MaryJo: Some Kids Can't Go To School
- Smart Kids Brain Games™: What are They? What Do They Do? Who Can Do Them?
- Smart Moms Get a Life: Learning To Say "no."
Complimentary Coaching Calls:
Got parenting questions? ADHD questions? Set up a 30-minute complimentary "Smart Moms Get a Life" coaching call with Dr. MaryJo Wagner. Just let me know and we'll find a mutually convenient time.
Tuesday TeleTips: Always Free. Always recorded. Always an Action Guide. But you do need to sign up
August 3: Brain Games: Doing the 8s
August 10: The Best Brain Game for ADHD
August 17: Getting Organized: It's Good for the Brain! Good for School! Good for Mom!
If there's something you'd like know, let me know and I'll get it into the September Tuesday TeleTips.
"The Smart Moms Show" every Thursday, 2 pm Eastern on Your Radio starting in Sept.
Sept. 2: "Aromatherapy for ADHD" with Barbara Schwartz
Sept. 9: Dr. Mommy's "Life Lessons" for Happy, Healthy Kids with Dr. Daisy Sutherland
Sept. 16: "The Super Confitelligent Child with Denise Hornbeak
Ongoing Audio Classes at Smart Kids Smart Parents:
*ADHD Success Strategies for Your Kids. Includes 122 strategies, activities, and programs to help kids manage ADHD and ADHD-like behavior. Begin your audio class immediately with your instant access and download. No waiting for a specific date and time, hoping it fits into your schedule. Sign up now for your ADHD Success Strategies.
*Brain Games Online Workshops. You'll get immediate access to Workshop One. Then another workshop every two weeks for six months. 12 workshops in all. Discover all the Brain Games, how to do them, when to do them, and so much more. Get your Brain Games Online Workshop Today.
Coming in the Fall at Smart Kids Smart Parents
*Meetup for Moms in Denver. Watch for more information. It's going to be fun, interactive, and informative.
Watch for the Super Back-to-School Special from Smart Kids Smart Parents.
Coming soon!
Note from Dr. MaryJo
It's already time to start thinking about school. In some areas, kids will be going back to class in a couple of weeks. We take it for granted that our kids can go to school.
But for most Mayan children in Guatemala, school isn't free. It's $120-150 a year. Doesn't sound like much if you think about it as a monthly fee of $10-$12.50. But most Mayan Indian families are desperately poor. Many, already in dire straights, lost their homes and then jobs from the mudslides and other damage caused by Tropical Storm Agatha in June. And now, for lots of these kids, hunger and malnutrition are all too common in dozens of villages around the country.
For some lucky Mayan kids who have a sponsor or support through a charitable organization, school is a double blessing. It's not only learning to read and write but also a nutritious meal. For some, the only meal they'll get each day is the meal they get at school. Find out more about these kids and how you can help them.
You'll be hearing more about Guatemala and these wonderful children in future issues of the "Smart Learning Newsletter." My husband, Eric, and I are busy planing our return trip to San Pedro La Laguna in 2011.
But for now, take a look at the feature article to find out how easy Brain Games are. You already know how to do several of them! Plus I've got something new for you. You're going to love "Smart Moms Get a Life." This week is all about why it's important to say "NO" to your kids. "You can't take care of others if you don't take care of yourself."
Enjoy!
P.S. And while you're at it, check out the Smart Kids Smart Parents blog. Read the latest posts. Leave a comment.
Maybe your kids don't have ADHD after all and maybe just a change in diet will help with ADHD symptoms. To find out what looks like ADHD and isn't ADHD, I invite you to grab your copy of the FREE "Maybe They Don't have ADHD" inventory and checklist.
Discover 12 factors that can contribute to ADHD-like behavior Give it to teachers and parents. Help stop the over-diagnosis of ADHD! No more prescribing stimulant meds for kids who don't really have ADHD at all (Yes, ADHD is real but good chance your kid doesn't have it. And that's good news!
Smart Kids Brain Games: What Are They? What Do They Do? Who Can Do Them?
Wiggle your toes and you've changed a neuro-connection in your brain.
Neuroscientists have discovered over the past 20 years that the brain changes all the time. This is very good news indeed for kids who are struggling with reading or don't like math or just can't seem to do well on spelling tests. We can easily help them rewire their brains so reading isn't a struggle, math is at least tolerable, and taking tests is a piece of cake.
Turns out the best way to change the brain is through movement. And that's what Smart Kids Brain Games are all about--moving.
The most basic Brain Game is aerobic exercise. Consistent vigorous physical exercise changes the brain to help improve grades, attitude, and test scores.
Stretching to touch your toes (as long as your knees are bent) and doing the so-called Runner's Stretch both help with focus and paying attention.
This week's complimentary Tuesday TeleTips focuses on The 8's and it's many variations to help with reading and lots of other activities. You'll want to sign up for it. No charge for Tuesday TeleTips and the Action Guide.
Everybody can do Brain Games to rewire their brain to learn anything more easily. Want to improve your golf score or learn to play the guitar or master some complicated computer software, Brain Games help.
So you and your kids get out there (Finish reading the "Smart Learning Newsletter" first, of course.) and take a vigorous walk. Touch your toes a few times and do the Runner's Stretch before you start. You'll be smarter when you get back!
Discover Brain Games yourself in the Online Brain Games Workshop. You get immediate access to Workshop One when you sign up. Then another workshop every two weeks for six months. 12 workshops in all. Discover all the Brain Games, how to do them, when to do them, and so much more. Get your Brain Games Online Workshop Today.
Smart Moms Get a Life: Learning to Say NO
"You can't take care of others if you don't take care of yourself."
I'll admit that my Mom probably overdid the business of saying "no." Although I don't think that's such a terrific child-rearing strategy, nevertheless, I survived.
On the other hand as I watch kids and listen to Moms and worry about how stressed out and tired so many Moms are, I wonder if maybe my Mom wasn't right after all--at least in moderation.
When you say "yes" to everything, you end up exhausted and stressed out. Your kids learn that you really don't have a life of your own. They think your life is completely their life. NOT SO!
If you're a "yes" Mom, it's going to take some practice to get over it but it's well worth it. Start with something easy: When your kid says: "Mom, I HAVE TO HAVE a red-two-pocket-portfolio-with-stars-on-it for school tomorrow so we HAVE TO go to the mall right now," you say "I can't take you this afternoon. I could go tomorrow afternoon when your homework is finished. Let's plan on that."
By the way, this is a true story. I did it with my son. It worked. He stopped asking to go to the mall at the last minute. He did not flunk out of school. He did get into a good college. And he didn't end up hating me.
Try it. It's good for you. It's good for your kids. Next week, we'll look at how to say "no," even practicing ahead of time in a mirror.
In the meantime, I invite you to get your complimentary "Smart Moms Get a Life" coaching call today. It's time to take care of yourself! Your kids will thank you for it in the future and you'll both live through it now.
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Watch for next week's "Smart Learning Newsletter." Discover the best Brain Gym for ADHD. Lots of people do it--it's quick and easy--they just didn't realize it works for ADHD. And more of "Smart Moms Get a Life."
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Get more ADHD strategies and Smart Parent tips at http://articlesbymaryjo.com