Dear Parent Child Ü Friends & Supporters,

Happy Back to School/Class for so many! Come create memories to last a lifetime at our parent & child classes!

Have you heard the new buzzword in education "EXECUTIVE FUNCTION?" Now that I am back in the schools half-time as an elementary counselor, the term is used quite a bit. Below is a great way to remember what the term discusses. But do you know how to build or enhance executive function in your child and yourself? I hope our Parent Child U families know the answer to this question, because we practice it at the beginning of (and throughout) each class. Come see for yourself, or encourage your child's teacher, director, or administrator to learn more.

Perhaps the best way to describe Executive Function (EF) I learned at  a Conscious Discipline Conference a few years back. Becky Bailey, Ph.D. had us come up with acronyms at our tables to help us remember EF skills. This was her own acronym at the time:

EXECUTIVE FUNCTION

T - Time Management
O - Organizational Skills
P - Prioritization

W - Working Memory
I - Impulse Control
F - Flexibility
E - Empathy

When you are stressed you lose access to these EF skills. When you have certain medical conditions, such as ADHD, these skills are diminished (but can be built or rebuilt :). We all find ourselves walking into a room wondering why we are there sometimes (Working Memory) or wondering how we could have said something or done something (Impulse Control). We all want it to be our way or the highway sometimes (Flexibility) and we can't understand why others don't see it our way (Empathy).

But, how do you build and/or enhance Executive Function skills? According to Becky Bailey there are four necessary ingredients:

EYE CONTACT
TOUCH
PRESENCE/ATTUNEMENT &
PLAYFULNESS

Five years ago, most people did not own smart phones. Believe me, I LOVE mine! However, as you probably know, it is way too easy to be looking at your phone instead of each other (Eye Contact). I also hand my screen to my current preschooler like I, literally, never could have before, with my older two children. After school, I see primary students texting friends standing right next to them or playing checkers with a friend online, instead of face to face (Eye Contact  & Touch & Presence lacking).

Such changes are literally changing our brain and the way it is wired. It also is changing the way we are all wired (bad pun intended) to each other.

In our child enrichment and parenting and teacher training classes  we teach fun activities to increase these four important components. We know it works! Research has proven that even FIVE MINUTES a day of such activities with young children decrease temper tantrums and oppositional behavior by at least 50%. Just think about that!  Amazing!  Then think about a really good 5 minutes with your significant other and how that can carry you through your busy day. Next consider all the Eye Contact, Touch, Presence, and Playfulness the average adult experienced growing up and how that wired our brain for EF and connection with others. Personally, I grew up with woods behind my home and played in it for hours all summer! Now think about the kids today playing online and through screens.

Becky often says, "Connections on the outside make neural connections on the inside." Screen time is literally changing the world. But now that you know... pass the word. Pass a smile and a pat and know you are making a real difference in the world!

Want to learn more? , Come experience the ultimate Eye Contact, Touch, Presence, and Playfulness -  through our classes! Register this week, before classes disappear.

Wishing you well,

Parent Child Ü Class Descriptions

We have a wide variety of award-winning, research-based classes to choose from! See our photos & video clips of each class type - all hyper-linked below!
 
Child Enrichment Classes at PCÜ
   
☻ Positively Disciplined!™ 
 
☻ Kindermusik® (0-7 yrs.)
   
             Village (Birth-18 mos.)
 
             Cuddle & Bounce (0-23 mos.)  
 
             Our Time (18 mos.-3 yrs.)

             Wiggle & Grow (2-3 yrs)
              Imagine That (3-5 yrs.)

             Young Child (4-7 years)

             Family Time (0 - 5 years; 6+ yrs & 

                             infants FR*EE! with a 

                             registered sibling)
    
  ☻ Signing Smart™ (0-2 yrs.)
 
             Beginner (Birth, reco 5 mos.-2 yrs.)
             Intermediate (9 mos. or walking is
                              recommended-2 yrs.)
             Zoo (Birth, recommended 5 mos.-2)
             Holiday (Birth, recommended 5 mos.- 2)

 ☻ ABC Music & Me! In-school music!
              (2-4 yrs.) ABC Music & Me
              (4-6 yrs.) ABC Music & Me

 ☻ Playground Diplomacy™
              (3-5 yrs.) Diplomats
              (5-6 yrs.) Diplomats

Tutoring & After-School Programs

♥ American History Tutor
               Grades: 4-12

♥ Girl Power! 
               Grades: 4-6

♥ Get Real About Violence
               Grades: K-3
               Grades: 4-6

Parent/Teacher/Administrator Training

♥ Positively Disciplined!™
  
♥ Signing Smart™
   Signing Smart™ Parent Workshop
   Signing Smart Infant/Toddler Teacher Workshop

♥ The Happiest Baby/Toddler on the Block

♥ Playground Diplomacy™

♥ Dr. Sears' L.E.A.N (Lifestyle, Exercise, Attitude, Nutrition)

♥ Parent Coaching