Late afternoons are always the hardest part of my day, as I struggle to get dinner on the table and deal with the needs, whines, and tantrums of my three kids. Any advice for how to cope with these so-called "witching hours"?
- Kira

Those few hours before dinnertime can be anything but fun. Kids are often overtired, hyper, and cranky. You're exhausted. And everybody's hungry. It's natural for tempers to flare and parents to lose their patience.

It often helps to establish a late-afternoon routine. Whether your kids are just home from school or childcare, or have spent the day with you, offer them a healthy snack if dinnertime is far off. Then, give them time for active play to help channel some of that extra energy. Suggest playing outside or put on some music and let them jump and dance and move around.

If you've spent most of the day away from your kids, they're probably craving some quality "mommy" time. In that case, set aside some time to spend with your kids. Doing prep work for dinner earlier in the day (or the night before) might make this easier to do. Ask your child to choose an activity that you can do together, whether it's reading aloud, playing a game, or just talking. Giving kids your full attention now will make it easier on you in the long run. They'll be less demanding of your time when you have to devote your energy to cooking a meal.

After the kids have released some of that energy, try to have them wind down before dinner. Active play can be followed by quiet time, which may include reading, doing homework, or playing nicely with siblings or alone.

To read more of the original article from KidsHealth.org please click on the link: http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/dinnertime_stress.html

By: Reading Rockets

Read about it, talk about it, and think about it! Find ways for your child to build understanding, the ultimate goal of learning how to read. The tips below offer some fun ways you can help your child become a happy and confident reader. Try a new tip each week. See what works best for your child.

Make books special
Turn reading into something special. Take your kids to the library, help them get their own library card, read with them, and buy them books as gifts. Have a favorite place for books in your home or, even better, put books everywhere.

Get them to read another one
Find ways to encourage your child to pick up another book. Introduce him or her to a series like The Boxcar Children or Harry Potter or to a second book by a favorite author, or ask the librarian for additional suggestions.

Crack open the dictionary
Let your child see you use a dictionary. Say, "Hmm, I'm not sure what that word means... I think I'll look it up."

Talk about what you see and do
Talk about everyday activities to build your child's background knowledge, which is crucial to listening and reading comprehension. Keep up a running patter, for example, while cooking together, visiting somewhere new, or after watching a TV show.

First drafts are rough
Encourage your child when writing. Remind him or her that writing involves several steps. No one does it perfectly the first time.

Different strokes for different folks
Read different types of books to expose your child to different types of writing. Some kids, especially boys, prefer nonfiction books.

Teach your child some "mind tricks"
Show your child how to summarize a story in a few sentences or how to make predictions about what might happen next. Both strategies help a child comprehend and remember.

To read more of this article from Reading Rockets and find more like it please click on the link: http://www.readingrockets.org/article/7837/