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    Blog Posts by Susan Belton

    • User Post: Seven Tips for School Success

      By Susan Belton | Helping Kids Succeed – Wed, Sep 5, 2012 3:37 PM EDT

      August is here and the start of a new school year is just ahead. Many families find this exciting while others dread it in anticipation of homework, early mornings, and school stress. But all parents want their children to have a successful school year. Here are seven tips to help every child reach that goal.

      Make education a family value.

      The goal of school is to learn to love learning. Learning is a lifetime goal, and parents can demonstrate their own appreciation of learning. "What is one thing you learned today?" is a nice question for everyone to answer at the dinner table. Ask your children daily about their school day. You don't need to know every detail, and often kids are reluctant to share anything. So simply ask them to tell you the worst moment and the best moment of their school day. This makes them feel that you care and want to participate in their school and their education.

      Read to your child every day.

      You can't start too early and you can't read too

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    • 10 Steps to Calmer Parenting

      By Susan Belton | Parenting – Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:41 PM EDT

      Parenting is the toughest job in the world, but also the most rewarding. The journey is long, and how we approach each day makes a huge difference in how we feel. Remaining calm is good for our own mental health but also a wonderful lesson to our children. Children often act the way their parents act.

      So take a deep breath, remember that this stage will soon be over, and demonstrate a sense of calm and control. The calmer you are, the calmer your children will be.

      1. Take care of yourself

      It's hard to take care of your children, your partner, and your home when you haven't first taken care of yourself. In order to be the best parent you can be, you need to make sure that you are feeling as good as you can. So exercise, eat right, say "no" when you want to, and don't feel guilty. Your children deserve a happy and healthy parent.

      2. Stop trying to be perfect

      There is no such thing as a perfect parent, so stop aiming for that. Just be the best parent you can be;

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