Penny Stones Blog
Posts Tagged ‘children’
Friday, June 4th, 2010
My daughter came home with this great little sheet on communication skills: Seven Blocks to Communication
Here are seven things NOT to do when you want to communicate well. They block communication in a number of ways. They prove that you are not listening.
- Fidget. Play with your hair and clothes, twiddle your fingers, swing your leg or tap your foot.
- Don’t look at your partner. Look around the room, at the clock, or anywhere else. Don’t have eye contact with your partner.
- Interrupt. Ever time your partner starts talking, break in with a question or statement.
- Ask questions. Lots of them. Every time your partner starts talking, ask a questions, such as, “Why did you do that?” or “Why do you feel that way?”
- Criticize. Tell your partner all the tings that are wrong with his or her ideas, clothes, hairs, friends.
- Disagree. Every time your partner says something, disagree. Tell your partner that he or she is wrong.
- Give advice. Every time your partner starts talking, make a suggestion. Pretend to know a lot more than your partner does.
Tags: children, communication, communication skills, conversation, first impressions, good listener, interpersonal skills, listening skills
Posted in Conversations, communication skills, interpersonal skills, listening | 1 Comment »
Monday, January 11th, 2010
My family had so much fun last night playing a game around the dinner table. It’s called Goober Goat and it’s out of a box of game cards from the Original Dinner Games box by Family Time Fun. My daughter started the game with a word that has to do with a farm, “farmer”. The next person has to say a word that is related to it “overalls”. You go around five or six times and see if the final word traveled far from the farm.
The funniest connection was “hawk”, ”eagle”, “bald” – to Daddy. There are lots of fun games, this is is our favorite so far.
Tags: children, communication, conversation, family, family relationships, Games, parenting
Posted in Conversations, Games, children, communication, communication skills, conversation starters, family, ice breakers, icebreakers, parenting | 4 Comments »
Friday, December 4th, 2009
Below is a message I recently received from a school counselor.
Tammy,
This year at the All Ohio Counselor’s Conference, I purchased a bag of Penny Stones. I was excited to buy them because they were something different to use in my school counseling setting. I bought the pink slumber party bag. I have 3 self esteem/friendship groups that I am currently conducting (3rd, 4th, and 5th grade). At the beginning of each group, the students pick one Penny Stone out of the pile and they have to share their answer with the group. The kids LOVE them! They always ask, “Miss Creek, can we please pick another one?”. I just wanted to let you know what a HIT these Penny Stones are with my students.
Thank you very much!
Sincerely,
Candice C., M.Ed
Tags: children, communication, communication skills, conversation, conversation starters, counselors, ice breakers, icebreakers, interpersonal skills, Penny Stones, school counselors
Posted in Conversations, Penny Stones, Quotes, children, communication, communication skills, conversation starters, counselors, ice breakers, icebreakers, interpersonal skills, school counselors | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
Thanksgiving Tree on November 30, 2009
Here’s our Thanksgiving Tree, in all of it’s glory. We had much to be thankful for this year! See this link to the previous post about our Thanksgiving Tree.
Tags: children, conversation, family, family relationships, parenting, Thanksgiving craft
Posted in Photos, children, communication, family, family relationships, parenting | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
I’ve been thinking a lot about relationships lately. It may just be that time of year, but, for whatever reason, I’ve been thinking about the difference between how I communicate in this stage of my life versus when I was younger. Today, as a wife and mom, I seem to talk more about the goings-on of everyday life – schedules, meals, appointments, and all that. It’s more on the surface and the goal is to maintain the relationship and the activities we share. When I was in high school and college, I/we talked more about values, opinions, preferences and the future. Conversations were longer and were building, not just maintaining, relationships.
I remember calling a few of our new neighbors after we had moved into our home in Ohio in 1998. Each time, I expected to talk to the ladies like I did with my friends in California. But each time, after a few minutes, I got the impression that if I wasn’t calling for a specific reason, the conversation was ending quickly. They were busy and didn’t have time to chat on the phone. So I adjusted my expectations and my phone calls.
While maintaining a relationship is good and coordinating schedules is necessary, I think it misses out on “the good stuff”. Until recently, I wasn’t aware that I’d become like my neighbor ladies. Upon reflection, I’m afraid I’ve slipped into the mom mode of talking about surface stuff.
I want to really know what my kids are thinking and how my husband is feeling. I like to share stories and dreams. I want to hear about wishes and fears. But those things take time to share. There has to be a level of trust and time to let the conversation flow.
From now on, I’m going to be more intentional with the conversations I have with my loved ones. I’m going build, not just maintain, my relationships.
Tags: children, communication, communication skills, conversation, family, family relationships, friendship, interpersonal skills, moms, parenting, relationships
Posted in Conversations, children, communication, communication skills, family, family relationships, friends, friendship, interpersonal skills, parenting, relationships | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
Sometimes I think I really blow it as a mom. And today was one of those days. I had to go into Cleveland and pick up 150 Penny Stones. My kids came home from school as I was packing them to be shipped to customers. I had promised them that I would be done with Penny Stones when they got off the bus but I’ve been working more days than not recently.
My daughter asked me if we could get our gear ready for our Girl Scout camp out this weekend. I said “Of course! As soon as I finish this I can work with you on that.” So she patiently waited as I stuffed and taped and labeled.
Because my son’s basketball practice time was changed, we had to leave earlier than planned. And I couldn’t help my daughter. The look in her eyes let me know I REALLY disappointed her. How is it that I can renig on promises I’ve made to my kids, something I would not do to a friend?
I love my kids more than anything but I don’t think my actions have spoken those words to them today. Tomorrow I’m going to be at the bus stop and the computer will be off.
I’m thankful tomorrow’s always a new day.
Tags: children, family, family relationships, interpersonal skills, parenting, relationships
Posted in children, entrepreneur, family, parenting, relationships | 5 Comments »
Sunday, November 15th, 2009
Thanksgiving Tree on November 12, 2009
To help us remember what we’re thankful for, my husband and I started making a Thanksgiving tree on our refrigerator when we were newlyweds. It’s become a wonderful tradition over the years. I always enjoy seeing what friends and family are thankful for during the month of November.
To make the Thanksgiving Tree, we cut the tree trunk and limbs out of paper grocery bags and cut the leaves out of construction paper. We keep the leaves and markers in a basket on the counter. We each try to write at least one a day. And we invite any visitors to write one too.
On Veterans Day, my father and and old friend came to visit and they added to the tree. Then it was my turn to watch the other leaders’ children during the Girls Scout meeting. Each of the siblings made three or four leaves. So in less than a week it’s already looking pretty full! I’ll post a picture from Thanksgiving to show the tree in all its Thanksgiving glory.
Tags: children, family, family relationships, friendship, parenting, relationships, Thanksgiving craft
Posted in children, family, family relationships, parenting, relationships | 1 Comment »
Friday, November 13th, 2009
Penny Stones in the Journeys of Life Booth
I had the pleasure of going to the All Ohio Counselors Conference in Columbus, Ohio on November 5. It was my first counselors’ conference. Penny Stones were on a table in the Journeys of Life booth and I was the “celebrity inventor”.
The response of counselors to Penny Stones was amazing. Never have I had so many people look at Penny Stones and ”get it” instantly. Counsleors would walk by the table, see the Penny Stones, read the questions, and say things like “I love this!” , “How cool!” or “What a great idea!” I sold out on the first day!
I’ve been to many trade shows. And counselors, as a group, are the nicest and most friendly customers I have ever met. Not only were they supportive of Penny Stones, but they were very supportive of me as a woman owning my own business. I can’t wait for the next conference!
Tags: children, communication skills, conversation, conversation starters, counselors, ice breakers, icebreakers, interpersonal skills, Penny Stones, school counselors
Posted in Penny Stones, Trade Shows, Uncategorized, children, communication skills, conversation starters, counselors, entrepreneur, ice breakers, icebreakers, interpersonal skills, school counselors | No Comments »
Sunday, November 1st, 2009
These tips for talking to teens are from come from The Partnership, http://www.timetotalk.org/
Start Early
“If you’re thoughtful and open and expressive, and you’ve developed good communication with your kids all along, it’s going to be an easier ride.”
— Neil I. Bernstein, Ph.D., adolescent psychologist and author
Talk Daily
Make time to talk with your teen every day, so it becomes routine. That way when you have an important topic to discuss, it will be more comfortable and flow more naturally. Chat it up regularly — about celebrities, classmates, the news or anything to help maintain open lines of communication.
Become Digitally Savvy
Bone up on the latest technology online social networks like Facebook and MySpace and status update services like Twitter and you’ll gain a better understanding of your teen’s world. Texting your teen is a great non-confrontational way to check in, show your support and stay connected.
Tags: children, communication, communication skills, conversation, family, family relationships, good listener, interpersonal skills, parenting, relationships, talk, teens, tips
Posted in Conversations, Uncategorized, children, communication skills, conversation starters, family, family relationships, interpersonal skills, parenting, relationships | Comments Off
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
One of the best traditions families can establish is to sit down and eat dinner together. Families, especially kids, benefit enormously from frequent positive family meals:
- Improves family communication
- Improves nutrition and eating habits
- Improves literacy development among preschoolers
- Develops a protective factor for adolescents against tobacco, alcohol, drugs and low grade point averages
Tags: children, communication, communication skills, conversation, family, family relationships, good listener, interpersonal skills, parenting, relationships
Posted in Conversations, Uncategorized, children, communication skills, conversation starters, family, family relationships, ice breakers, icebreakers, interpersonal skills, parenting, relationships | No Comments »
