My Summer Reading
My summer reading included Voice Lessons for Parents: What to Say, How to Say It, and When to Listen by Wendy Mogel, Ph.D. As an educator of young children as well as a parent I was curious about Mogel's newest book. From the very first page I was completely hooked!
Her chapters on early childhood were very informative. I learned that the squeeze pouches that children have at snack and lunch time do not develop the muscles around the mouth. In fact, the sucking action that the children use to extract the food from the pouch is doing more harm than good! Children need strong muscle tone around the mouth area to develop language. Chewing food helps build up the muscles young children need to begin communicating.
In the later chapters Mogel covers teenagers and college in her book. As a mother of a teenager I learned that it is important to listen to your teenage child. Asking teenagers a barrage of questions is off putting. I know first hand this gives me little to no feedback from my son. I have been practicing listening to my son, in hopes of building better communication with him.
Blessings of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children
As an educator working in a preschool that incorporates Jewish traditions and culture I was eager to read The Blessings of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children. Mogel culls the wisdom from the Torah, Talmud and Jewish thinkers and couples it with contemporary psychological insights to compile a guide to raising children. Mogel thoughtfully connects Jewish tenants with parenting. I've copied some of the topics Mogel tackles in this book below.
- "Accept that your children are both unique and ordinary.
- Teach them to honor their parents and to respect others - family, friends and community.
- Teach them to be resilient, self-reliant, and courageous.
- Teach them to be grateful for their blessings.Teach them the value of work.
- Teach them to make their table an altar - to approach food with an attitude of moderation, celebration, and sanctification.
- Teach them to accept rules and to exercise self-control.
- Teach them the preciousness of the present moment.
- Teach them about God."
You can learn more about Wendy Mogel and her books at: https://www.wendymogel.com/