Teaching Humanity Remotely with Dr. Mindy Shaw – Podcast Episode 22

For my latest podcast episode, number 22 in this series, we continue talking about the central theme of my latest book project.  A few weeks ago, I let listeners know that I am working on finishing a new book designed FOR PARENTS.  That book is designed as a parenting guide for effective communication with children, and the opening section of the book which forms the backbone of the guide is something I am calling my “10 Governing Principles” for communicating with children.

What I have been doing on my latest podcasts is delving deeper into each of the ten guiding principles one at a time, podcast after podcast, and this podcast contains the FOURTH discussion in that series.  That means the theme of this podcast is the fourth governing principle that I see as essential for communicating with children, and the simple guidance offered by this fourth governing principle is to BE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE.

Being developmentally appropriate when communicating with your child can be challenging.  It is challenging because the content of some discussions can involve delicate subject matter.  It can be challenging because every child is different, and every household has different value systems. Overall, what I don’t believe in is sheltering your child from reality, and it should not be a case of IF you should communicate certain subject matter to your child but HOW and WHEN.  Children face real life situations, and they will know if you are being secretive with them around certain subject matter.  In fact, forbidden fruit may seem sweeter to your child.

In the podcast, I offer examples of what might consist of a sensitive conversation, and one example is discussing news events like the recent and violent storming of the Capitol building in Washington. There is clearly a developmentally appropriate way to discuss that with your child.  What is developmentally appropriate for your child may vary, but I offer this advice… don’t “baby” your child and don’t speak over their heads. Try to recognize the level of conversation that is just right for them.

This podcast concludes with a recap of the structure of my new book on parenting and how the 10 Governing Principles for effective communication with children are all inter-woven.

The next podcast will focus on the fifth governing principle from my new book for parents, so please stay tuned for that. Thanks for visiting and for listening.

My new parenting book is now out and you can find it here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WJRX7JF

You can hear Podcast 22 here:

https://learnwithmeremotely.podbean.com/e/teaching-humanity-remotely-with-dr-mindy-shaw-ep-22/

 

 

 

Teaching Humanity Remotely with Dr. Mindy Shaw – Podcast Ep 21

For my latest podcast episode, number 21 in this series, we continue talking about the central theme of my latest book project.  A few weeks ago, I let listeners know that I am working on finishing a new book designed FOR PARENTS.   That book is designed as a parenting guide for effective communication with children, and the opening section of the book which forms the backbone of the guide is something I am calling my “Ten Governing Principles” for communicating with children.

What I have been doing on my latest podcasts is delving deeper into each of the ten governing principles one and a time, podcast after podcast, and this podcast contains the third discussion in that series.  That means the theme of this podcast is the third principle that I see as essential for communicating with children, and the simple guidance offered by this third governing principle is DON’T OVER-SPEAK.

Over-speaking is a common mistake that we make in various aspects of our lives, and we do it when we are not confident.  Because children have a type of radar that allows them to detect when we are not honest, they can also detect when we are not sure of ourselves or the information we are imparting. This principle of not over-speaking works hand in hand with the first two principles of being honest and being clear.  Again, nothing is done in isolation, and there are TEN principles that govern good communication with children, and they are inter-related and just doing one is not enough.  Generally, all ten boxes need to be checked for completely effective communication with your children to occur.

The next podcast will focus on the fourth governing principle from my new book for parents, so please stay tuned for that. Thanks for visiting and for listening.  You can hear Podcast 21 here:

https://learnwithmeremotely.podbean.com/e/teaching-humanity-remotely-with-dr-mindy-shaw-ep-21/

 

Teaching Humanity Remotely with Dr. Mindy Shaw – Podcast Ep 20

For my latest podcast episode, number 20 in my series, I am continuing on a path of discussion that was started recently.  Not long ago, I let listeners know that I am working on finishing a new book designed to help parents, and I outlined the concept for this new parenting book.  The book was inspired by input and requests from parents, and it’s about how to communicate effectively with children to get them to listen.

The backbone of this new book is something I am calling my “Ten Guiding Principles” for communicating with children.  Beginning with my last podcast, I started an ongoing theme where I delve deeper into each of the ten guiding principles one and a time, podcast after podcast, and this podcast contains the second discussion in that series.  So, the theme of this podcast is the second guiding principle that is a key to communicating with children, and this is BEING CLEAR AND HAVING CLARITY.

And by the way, I do point out at this point in the podcast that when teaching, nothing is done in isolation.  I bring that up because there are, again, TEN principles that govern good communication with children, and just doing one is not enough.  These principles are intertwined and generally all need to be boxes that are checked for completely effective communication with your children.

Regarding CLARITY, it is an important tenet because, as young learners, children have a lot of information coming at them.  If we are not careful, we can be imparting confusion.  When I was a teacher, I ALWAYS set my goal and intention first, and I would also ask myself if I am doing anything that would confuse my students.  Here are the keys… state your aim clearly upfront, and then less speaking is often best.  I provide an example which illustrates a bedtime conversation between a parent and child.  It’s a simple formula for success.

The next podcast will focus on the third guiding principle from my new book for parents, so please stay tuned for that. Thanks for visiting and for listening.  You can hear Podcast 20 here:

https://learnwithmeremotely.podbean.com/e/teaching-humanity-remotely-with-dr-mindy-shaw-ep-20/

 

 

 

 

Teaching Humanity Remotely with Dr. Mindy Shaw – Podcast Ep 19

For my latest podcast episode, number 19 in my series, I am continuing on a path of discussion that was started on my last podcast.  On that podcast, I let listeners know for first time that I am working on finishing a new book designed to help parents, and I outlined the concept for this new parenting book.  The book was inspired by input and requests from parents, and it’s about how to communicate effectively with children and to get them to listen.

The backbone of this new book is something I am calling my “Ten Guiding Principles” for communicating with children.  I promised on my last podcast that, beginning with this podcast, I would delve deeper into each of the ten guiding principles one and a time and one podcast at a time, and this is the first discussion in that series.  The first guiding principle is that a key to communicating with children is BEING HONEST.

This premise begins with idea that children are truth seekers whether they know it or not.  The other thing about children is that they do have a sensitivity to know when they are being told the truth and when they are not.  Telling the truth to children demonstrates respect for the child and it also demonstrates holding expectations high for our children.  I do share a sidebar story about my experience with children with autism, and that experience is that, without words, children with autism have a sensitivity to know if an adult wants to be with them or not.  They have an intuition for knowing who has their back.  Many of us, adults and children alike, also have that sensitivity.

Of course, why wouldn’t you tell the truth to children?  I came from the generation where our parents often said “because I said so” as an answer to all sorts of questions, and in fact, that answer never was helpful.  What that answer doesn’t do is promote open, honest and clear communication. If you want to develop a lifelong companionship with your own children, losing your credibility early in a child’s development would be very damaging to that goal. Honesty is the most effective and fulfilling way to begin your relationship with your child.

The next podcast will focus on the second guiding principle from my new book for parents, so please stay tuned for that. Thanks for visiting and for listening.  You can hear Podcast 19 here:

https://learnwithmeremotely.podbean.com/e/teaching-humanity-remotely-with-dr-mindy-shaw-ep-19/

 

 

 

 

Teaching Humanity Remotely with Dr. Mindy Shaw – Podcast Episode 18

For my latest podcast episode, number 18 in my series, I decided to introduce a new area of discussion and the conversation in this podcast reflects a new project that I have taken on.

I have pleased to say that I’ve been getting a lot of nice feedback on my children’s book series for social and emotional learning, and I’ve also happily been getting feedback on my podcasts.  Part of that feedback has come in the form of requests.  Some requests that I get are suggestions for future topics for the children’s books, but interestingly, I’ve also recently been getting requests to write a book for parents.  The book that’s been suggested is essentially a guide or a manual on how to speak with children in a manner so that they will listen.

I’ve been working diligently on this new book, and I’ve come up with what I believe is a unique format.  I won’t reveal too much of that yet, but I do share in this podcast a key component of my forthcoming book and that is the parental guidance that I’m calling “The Ten General Principles for Communicating with Children.”   While I do like to acknowledge that there is no one-size-fits-all approach for children, I do believe that these ten guiding principles will go very far in creating successful communication with children.

In this 18th podcast I actually enumerate these Ten General Principles and describe them in very broad terms.  I also let the listener know that in my next number of podcasts, I will be discussing these principles in greater detail one at a time.  For example, the first general principle is to BE HONEST, and how to do that when communicating with children will be the topic of my next podcast.  Meanwhile, this podcast runs down the whole list of general principles for communicating with children, and I hope that you find this information helpful for you and your family.

https://learnwithmeremotely.podbean.com/e/teaching-humanity-remotely-with-dr-mindy-shaw-ep-18/

Teaching Humanity Remotely with Dr. Mindy Shaw – Ep. 17

Episode 17 of my Podcast series went up online this week and it really is one of my favorite podcasts so far.  The inspiration for this new podcast was actually a portion of my radio interview discussion that took place on WDST, Woodstock, and that interview can be heard at any time as it was posted as Podcast #16.  During that radio appearance, there was another guest on the show who mentioned that, even though my work in social emotional learning is geared towards children, her opinion is that often adults could use the same kind of learning that we are offering to our children.   We address that in this podcast, and we talked about how we are what we pay attention to. I brought up the example of how some schools and educational administrators will offer lip service to social and emotional learning, but not actually follow through.   If we want our children to learn something, we need to focus on it, we need to model it and we need to discuss it.   If one is teaching or parenting, one needs to really create an environment in which supportive behavior exists and do it with sincerity.   Education requires repetition and it requires developmentally appropriate language.   Not every parent has the same skills, and that’s okay.   One can play into one’s own strength and to take the opportunity to do three things… to say what is needed, to say what do I have that can fulfill that need and what do I need to learn because I can’t fulfill that need yet.

If you’re just being introduced to my children’s books for the first time, I have developed an extensive series of single-story e-books and multi-story paperbacks for social and emotional learning.   They are picture books that can be read as children’s stories would be read… at bedtime or repeatedly.  The characters recur which gives children a sense of connection and relatability.  The books are all here on this website under the books tab, and they were all created to help busy parents have the tools and the language to support social and emotional learning at home or in schools… it’s my way of continuing to be of service in the field of education.

https://learnwithmeremotely.podbean.com/e/teaching-humanity-remotely-with-dr-mindy-shaw-ep-17/

Dr. Mindy Shaw on Radio Kingston Once Again

Given the recent violence both in Washington, DC and in Kingston, NY, the home of Radio Kingston, Nadine Ferraro invited Dr. Mindy Shaw back as a guest on The Radio Happy Hour to discuss how to talk with children about the sad events we witness in our culture at times.   That interview can be heard and seen here:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=156459892642912&ref=watch_permalink

 

Teaching Humanity Remotely with Dr. Mindy Shaw – Ep 16

For my latest podcast episode, number 16 in my series, I decided to share a radio program on which I had the pleasure of participating recently.  The program is called The Woodstock Roundtable, and the show is heard on WDST-FM in Woodstock and hosted by Doug Grunther.  Thanks to Doug , Ron VanWarmer and Gary Chetkof of WDST for not only keeping this show alive but for having me as a guest.

On the radio show, I was invited to talk about my series of children’s books for Social and Emotional, and in particular the discussion started with the radio host asking about my book called A KID’S CONCERN: THE CORONAVIRUS – FEELING SICK – BAD.  That three-story book has gained a lot of attention among news organizations because it’s a children’s book related to the pandemic that began in 2020, but the conversation about that book led, as it eventually does, to a talk about having honest communication with young children about life, about emotions and about feelings.

The 20 books in my series of paperbacks are all here on this website under the books tab, and they were all created to help busy parents have the tools and the language to support social and emotional learning at home or in schools… it’s my way of continuing to be of service in the field of education.

By the way, during this interview, I introduced my concept of helping families further with a bit of a special offer… if a family buys multiple books in my series, I will zoom with a child or children in that family as a bonus.  My years of teaching were always about service to children and their families, and this is my way of continuing to be contributing.

https://learnwithmeremotely.podbean.com/e/teaching-humanity-remotely-with-dr-mindy-shaw-ep-16/

 

 

Teaching Humanity Remotely with Dr. Mindy Shaw – Ep 14

In my latest podcast episode, number 14 in this series, we are focused on one of my favorite educational topics, the subject of LEARNING LESSONS.  There’s a lot to consider regarding learning lessons, and we begin with a definition of what a learning lesson involves.  What we state is that when there is a learning lesson, there is a shift or impact on behavior or academic ability.

First, we talk about learning to read, then we dive into another example which is learning how to share.   Then, there’s a detailed reference to my nonfiction children’s books called ANGER and we review the strategies presented in that book regarding how a child can learn to safely and appropriately express the feeling of anger.   We also talk briefly about my book called SORRY, and again, the discussion is about how to use the contents and the talking points of the book to change the child’s behavior.   There’s also a reminder that parents and teachers often need to “scaffold” with a child in order to truly deliver the lesson.

We also talk about the important function of the mistake, or “mis-take,” and how it contributes to learning.   A key point in this part of the discussion is to celebrate that very special time in the learning process when there is an openness and a celebration of not knowing.  It is in the phase of not knowing that the exploration and the learning happens.   As a child learns something, they might get stuck and they might need help, BUT, when we have no shame or embarrassment about a mistake, it will eliminate the negativity and make the process of learning inspirational.   You will see a big difference in how a child is engaged in their learning process if we provide a lightheartedness about the mistakes that are made during the learning opportunity.

To lighten that psychological load and stress for a child by embracing the mistake, it will give the child a greater sense of accomplishment.   Let’s not deny ourselves learning lessons and understand that one should not know something before they learn it, and let’s understand that the mistakes lead to learning.

If you’re just being introduced to my children’s books for the first time, I have developed an extensive series of single-story e-books and multi-story paperbacks for social and emotional learning.   They are picture books that can be read as children’s stories would be read… at bedtime or repeatedly.  The characters recur which gives children a sense of connection and relatability.  The books are all here on this website under the books tab, and they were all created to help busy parents have the tools and the language to support social and emotional learning at home or in schools… it’s my way of continuing to be of service in the field of education.

 

https://learnwithmeremotely.podbean.com/e/teaching-humanity-remotely-with-dr-mindy-shaw-ep-14/

 

 

Teaching Humanity Remotely with Dr. Mindy Shaw – Ep 13

In my latest podcast episode, number 13 in this series, we take a quick detour from the subject of developing good character in our children for a topic that’s not far off from a conversation about character… it’s the subject of showing.  The topic of bullies and bullying is top of mind among children, parents and teachers, and there are valuable lessons for everyone when bullying is discussed.

In order to address this issue, I take a few moments in this podcast to actually read through my children’s book on life lessons titled SHOWING OFF.  The book is based on dialogue between 5-year-old Olivia and me, her grandmother, Min Min, and it talks about a child that Olivia meets in school who says mean things and degrades other children.  I explain during the course of the story that we have all encountered people like that, and that bullies and show-offs generally don’t feel good about themselves and that’s what causes their behavior.   My philosophy is that behavior comes from need, and the need to feel better about one’s self drives bullies to their bad behavior.

If you’re just being introduced to my children’s books for the first time, I have developed an extensive series of single-story e-books and multi-story paperbacks for social and emotional learning.   They are picture books that can be read as children’s stories would be read… at bedtime or repeatedly.  The characters recur which gives children a sense of connection and relatability.  The books are all here on this website under the books tab, and they were all created to help busy parents have the tools and the language to support social and emotional learning at home or in schools… it’s my way of continuing to be of service in the field of education.