Homework Help

Do you have trouble with your kids and homework? Are you at a loss as to how to help, or having difficulty knowing what a fair expectation for homework should be?

We have some tips for you, to make homework less of a battle. 

• Establish a consistent homework routine
• Make a work space - give your child their own space to work.
• What time does homework start and stop? It is much easier to stay focused when there is a time limit. Try using a timer, and pausing if your child gets off-track. You could also use the timer to establish how long s/he should work until s/he gets a break. ("Time Timer" App is $2.99, and is perfect for young children & time management.)
• Will there be a computer available? Does your child have everything they need in their work space? Also, if a computer is available, be sure to check in with your child to make sure that it is a help rather than a distraction.

• Remember, homework is key in developing;
• Time management - how will your child meet deadlines? Are you allowing your child to work within the pressure of a deadline, or are you bailing them out by doing their work? Many parents also write notes to teachers to have their child exempt from meeting deadlines. How are you setting your child up for the "real world"?
• Work ethic - homework teaches your child to work hard, even after hours. People with a strong work ethic are much more employable than those who work half-heartedly.
• Problem solving strategies - when your child doesn't have a teacher at hand, how will they learn to use their initiative to get things done?

• Set time aside to help each child get started. Learn to tell the difference between laziness, attention problems and a lack of understanding. If you feel like your child is struggling more than s/he should be, set up a time to talk to the classroom teacher about your concerns. Productivity is related to motivation, realistic expectations and ability.

• Be prepared to help your child in the time set aside for homework. If you can’t help them, organize another time to do it. If your child asks for help, provide them with a consistent response.

Parenting With Confidence Workshop

Do you have a strong-willed child?
Is your child "difficult"?
Are you having trouble connecting with your children, or as a family?
Are you feeling frustrated with the way things are?

We have a course for you.

"Parenting With Confidence" is a 6-week course in San Francisco for parents wanting to learn more about building stronger family connections. The course covers topics such as;

•  Dealing with meltdowns
• Communication
• Juggling family dynamics and schedules
• Building the parent-child connection

Pricing

The full 6-week package costs $175 per parent, $225 for both parents - or $35 per parent for casual attendees. 

Location

Westside Art House

540 Balboa St, San Francisco 

Day & Time

Wednesday nights 6-7PM, starting 27 February (date subject to change) 

The Early Signs of Autism

It can be extremely difficult for parents to hear that their child is developing differently. Part of giving your child the best possible start in life is being able to pay attention to red flags that may indicate developmental delays, such as Autism. While an accurate diagnosis of Autism can not be made yet in infancy, there have been various studies conducted into signs and behaviors that correlate to later diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorders.

ABC News reported in May last year about 'Head Lag' being an early sign of Autism - and can be seen very early on. Click here  to be linked to their site, where you can watch the full report. We have pooled together some more developmental milestones to keep track of with infants and young children, so that if you are noticing any delays, they can be seen to as soon as possible. There's a big chance that what you're noticing isn't Autism, but if you have suspicions about your child's development please don't ignore them. The best chance you can give a child with Autism is an early intervention.

6 months...
- An absence of big, warm smiles and joyful expressions

9 months...
-  An absence of back and forth sharing of sounds, smiling and other facial expressions

12 months...
- An absence of babbling, back & forth gestures (pointing, smiling, showing, reaching, waving)
- Doesn't respond to name

16 months...
- Doesn't speak any words

24 months...
- Doesn't use any two-word phrases (not including repeating)

OVER 3 Years...

• Doesn't seem to care what is going on around them socially, but pays attention to the movement of physical objects (e.g. Doors, fans, etc.) 
• Doesn't play pretend, and has significant trouble distinguishing between "real" and "fake"
• Doesn't share interests or achievements with peers
• Doesn't know how to play with peers, join in or understand other people's feelings
• Speaks in an atypical tone of voice with odd pitch and pace 
• Limited interests with one particular fixation that dominates all conversation
• Repeats words and phrases
• Takes everything literally
• Hand flapping
• Frequent and severe meltdowns over things that often make no sense to you
• Has sensory sensitivities; covers ears at loud noises, uses a very loud voice (and has a hard time knowing how to speak in a quieter voice), dislikes bright lighting, lays on the floor at inappropriate times, spins repeatedly, "crashes" frequently (running into people, falling over on purpose, falling off chairs, jumping off high places), alternately - is fearful of physical activity, uncoordinated, frequently falls over, is clumsy, chews on shirts/sleeves/other items, is either very messy or very clean, prone to hyperactivity due to overstimulation

If any of these things have raised red flags about your child, or somebody you know, the very best thing you can do is see a professional who can help steer you in the right direction towards early intervention. At Kahlon Family Services, we can not diagnose a child, but we can work alongside your family and other professionals (like Occupational, Speech and Physical Therapists) to see change. Whatever the age of the child, we can help. 

Visit our website on www.kahlonfamilyservices.com