Teaching Humanity Remotely with Dr. Mindy Shaw – Ep 5

In this episode of my podcast, we answer questions that came in via the CONTACT page on my website at www.learnwithmermotely.com.   By the way, I am not only open to answering your questions about education, but I am open to suggestions about topics that could be covered in additional books in my series of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) paperbacks and e-books.  In fact, I am creating a new book right now based on one such request that came in recently.

Regarding the questions this week…

The first one came from Linda in Long Island, NY, and she asked what to do in a situation when she feels she is made a mistake by misbehaving in front her child and not presenting a consistent approach to parenting.   For Linda, I recommended that first she take a deep breath, and compose herself.   Then, she needs to apologize to and tell the truth to her child… she needs to admit that her behavior was wrong and explain why it happened.  That will model appropriately for the child.

Then, Sharon from Syracuse, NY wrote in asking how to teach a 3-year-old to share.   This is the question that inspired my newest paperback, SHARING – CARING, and the three-step answer for how to teach sharing is…

• Point out good sharing behavior when others are doing it… I give some examples in the podcast, but this is very important to do so that children are socialized, again, to learn what you want them to learn.
• When you child is sharing or taking turns properly, point it out. Make it a positive statement in the form of a compliment.   This positive reinforcement focuses your child in a way that they pay attention to what you want them to learn.
• Play games with your child that involve sharing and taking turns. This will demonstrate the correct way of playing with another person.

Finally, Gail from Gardiner, Maine asked how often one needs to say to a child before it sinks in?  Great question, Gail…. Studies show that it takes roughly 30 times of repetition for something to take hold in a child’s mind.   There is a new term for this repetiion and it’s called “mega-drilling”.

The podcast concludes with a recap and reminder that parents have a lot of challenges right now and that Dr. Shaw and her learning materials are intended to do one thing… to help.