Positive Parenting With Olu

6 Ways To Deal With School Work (for secondary school students especially year 7 students) 

Summer holiday is over now, and most school starts soon.

I wanted to share a few of my tips with you guys on how to deal with homework and school work in general, and getting back into a routine:

1. Go to sleep early – I know it may be hard to get back to the routine of going to bed early because during summer you sleep as late as you want to, and not having to worry about early starts the next day.

You may find it really hard to adjust from that routine when you started school, as you were so used to it. But, I think it’s a really good place to start getting into the routine for school, and to ensure that you won’t be tired at school.

2. Focus in class – Really this sounds so simple, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned in all my years in school, is that by focusing and working hard in class, you’re really just helping yourself. By listening and doing what you’re meant to in class, you usually end up with less homework, or you find the homework easier to complete. And, when it comes to a summative assessment you are way more prepared because you have understood everything along the way, and don’t need to do a last-minute cram session.
3. Utilize your time – This tip is really big for me, as I do like to make sure my schedule is completely full, and I take on as much as I can. So for others, this would result in them not having time to do everything. But, I have come up with a system for utilizing every single second of my time during the day. Whatever you do to utilize your time, it’s a really good idea to finish tasks throughout the day, whenever you find that you have time.
4. Make lists – This is so helpful for me. Wow. I always find that I have a never-ending list of things I need to do, and I like to keep a list on my desk, as well as on my phone, of the things I need to do next. There must be some scientific reason as to why lists are so effective, but for me, it just un-jumbles everything in my brain and gives me a step to step guide of what I’m doing next. I would really recommend this for any student.
5. Go Running – This has really helped me get into my school routine again. Of course, it’s partly because I love running, but also because running gives me discipline.

6. Attend classes, make sure you’re not late and ask for help when you need it!

So that’s some of the ways you can have the best year in secondary school

Best of luck guys, you’ve got this and I am rooting for you.

Ms Olu

One of the coolest things about raising teenagers is the intelligent conversations you get to have with them. Suddenly they have a profound opinion about EVERYTHING! 

Raising teenagers has its shares of challenges, but if we take a moment to soak up all the good moments you have with them, because talking from experience the positives outweighs the negative for sure. 

My advice would be, if you want to connect with your teens, you need to do it on their terms 😊

Sometimes our teens aren’t interested in our advice or solutions. All they really need is a listening heart and a little empathy. So let them vent, let them get it off their chest.

LET THEM KNOW YOU ARE THERE 🥰❤️

They need you more than you know. Being a teenager today is hard – Be there for them.

They need your attention, hugs, encouragement, and your unconditional love 

You make them feel better, 

You make them feel stronger 

You make them feel loved

Do you have a teenager? How do you connect with them? Please share your thoughts below 👇

Thanks and have a great day

See you next time

OLU

Today’s post is not for everyone o, so be warned. 

And you don’t have to agree with me on the things I’m about to share.  😄

Peer influence is when you choose to do something you wouldn’t otherwise do, because you want to feel accepted and valued by your friends.

If you want your teenager to say NO to sex, smoking, and other potentially risky behaviour, they need to know they can say NO to you first!

Most parents have trouble accepting NO from their children. In some culture it’s a taboo for a child to say NO to their parents 😄 

However, if we can lose our ego and allow them to express themselves freely by saying no to us sometimes, then they will be able to say no others too.

My son is allowed to say no to me without me getting upset about it. I allowed this because I want him to know that he doesn’t have to agree with me about everything, and that he’s free to say no if he wants, but within reason o 😆.

And I won’t take it personally at all. (It was hard at first, being an African mom, but I soon realise that by allowing him to express himself freely with me means that I’m giving him power and confidence to be himself with others, and not to be a pushover or a people pleaser.

You don’t have to believe me, but it’s the truth.

My son is 19 now, and when we go out to important events, I see how he interacts with people and he speaks his mind. I’m so proud of him for that.

Kids aren’t going to just magically have any skill. We must allow them to practice these skills with us first.

As an adult yourself, picture the adults you like to hang out with and the characters that they had. Those are the skills you need to instill in your children when they’re little.

Because we are not really raising a child, we are raising an adult. (They grow up so fast)

Here are some skills you can teach your kids: Setting boundaries, negotiating, standing up for themselves, saying no and others. Then model and encourage those skills.

Start early and you will be glad you did 😊

I’m starting to see the fruits of my labour in unexpected and delightful ways. It wasn’t easy but it’s worth it.

I would like to hear from you in the comments below… How do you react when your tweens or  teens say no to you? 

When we know better we must do better 🙏🏾❤️

Happy parenting 🥰❤️❤️

@msolu

Today’s post is not for everyone o, so be warned. 

And you don’t have to agree with me on the things I’m about to share.  😄

Peer influence is when you choose to do something you wouldn’t otherwise do, because you want to feel accepted and valued by your friends. 

If you want your teenage to say NO to sex, smoking, and other potentially risky behaviour, they need to know they can say NO to you first! 

Most parents have trouble accepting NO from their children. In some culture it’s a taboo for a child to say NO to their parents 😄 

However, if we can lose our ego and allow them to express themselves freely by saying no sometimes to us. if they can say no to you without an argument, then they will be able to say no to others too.

My son is allowed to say no to me without me getting upset about it. I allowed this because I want him to know that he doesn’t have to agree with me about everything,  he is free to say no if he wants, but within reason o 😆.

 And I won’t take it personally at all. (It was hard at first, being an African mom, but I realise that by allowing him to express himself freely with me I’m giving him power and confidence to be himself with others, and not to be a pushover or a people pleaser  

You don’t have to believe me, but it’s the truth.

My son is 18 now, and when we go out to important events, I see how he interacts with people and he speaks his mind. I’m so proud of him for that. 

Kids aren’t going to just magically have any skills we don’t let them practice. 

As an adult yourself, picture the adults you like to hang out with and the characters that they had. Those are the skills you need to instill in your children when they’re little. 

Because we are not really raising a child, we are raising an adult. (They grow up so fast)

Skills like; setting boundaries, negotiating, standing up for themselves, saying no and others. Then model and encourage those skills. 

Start early and you will be glad you did 😊

I’m starting to see the fruits of my labour in unexpected and delightful ways. It wasn’t easy but it’s worth it. 

I would like to hear from you in the comments below… How do you react when your tweens or  teens say no to you? 

When we know better we must do better 🙏🏾❤️

Happy parenting 🥰❤️❤️

Dear parents, if you’re worried your teens might blow their whole vacation sleeping or binge-watching Netflix. Then get them a summer job!

And if you think they’ll never go for that, here’s even better news: I’ve put together a list of cool jobs that’ll bring in money while also allowing them to have some fun along the way. That’s a win-win for your whole family!

How to Look for a Summer Job.

When it comes to your teen’s job search, the internet is your friend. While your teen probably knows how to work the web better than you do, you know more about job searching. Help them search for summer jobs in your area. Job postings might require them to fill out an online application, and you can be a big help with that.

HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF JOBS FOR YOUR TEENAGERS DURING SUMMER

• Retail food Service /hospitality (They can register with an agency) 
• Tutoring. (If they’re good in a subject they can teach younger kids. All you need to do is help them talk to people that may be looking for tutor for their kids)
• Sharing Your Skills. 
• Babysitting and Pet Walking. ( a lot of pet owners are looking for people to look after their pets when they’re away for holidays) 
• Photography. 
• Blogging, Vlogging and Social Media. Your teen probably spends plenty of time on social media already, so why not make some cash for creating content?

Ask around and see if anyone within your network works for a company who is offering summer jobs for teens.

If your teen has creative talent, have them put it to good use this summer. Websites like Etsy have made it simple to make a buck on the gift of creativity. Anyone can set up a shop in a matter of minutes and then get to work on designing gifts and merchandise! Things like jewelry, clothing and blankets sell really well.

Start a Business

Some teens are self-starters who have their own vision of a way to make money. In fact, some of the most successful people started companies as teens! Others may discover they just can’t find any good companies hiring teens. Either way, if they’re interested, help them start their own business! The sky’s the limit when it comes to what kind of business they could dive into. Help your teen think about the kinds of things they’re good at and what their hobbies are.

My final thoughts

Remember, this is just a summer job—it’s not a full-time career. Although, if they really do find their niche out there, then maybe that’s what it will become!

Happy holidays 🥰❤️❤️👍

DO YOU HAVE A TEENAGER? Then today’s post is for you

It’s summer and I thought if you’re like me and you have teenagers at home, you may be thinking of

how to keep your teen busy during the summer months.😄

What better ways to achieve this than a getting them registered with a part term agency that only works with teenagers (if you don’t know one send me a DM) 

Dear parents, trust me, a summer job can be good for young people and it won’t interfere with their school. 

Here are some of the biggest benefits your teen might gain:

✅ Financial skills: With support from you, a paycheck can be an opportunity for your teen to learn how to effectively manage finances. Teach your teen to establish a budget so they can practice saving for the future.

✅A good job can give your teen valuable insight into what they may want to do after SIXTH FORM or University. They may discover they enjoy working with people or they might decide that they want to own a business. If nothing else, a part-time job gives your teen valuable work experience that they can list on future job applications.

✅Less time to get into trouble: If your teen heads straight from school to a job, it shortens the amount of free time they have to engage in risky behaviors. They’ll be less likely to be bored when a job keeps them busy.

✅Life skills: A job could instill confidence and independence in your teen. If they work with customers, it can teach them how to handle difficult situations and improve their communication skills. 

✅Work skills: A job will help your teenager gain work skills—such as how to complete a job application, how to do well in an interview, and how to work for a supervisor.

My final thought,

Deciding whether to let your teen get a job isn’t a decision you should make lightly. 

Having a job after completing sixth form is not right for every teen.

 You will need to determine if your child has the time, the maturity, and the responsibility to juggle a job along with their other commitments.

‼️ Watch out for my post tomorrow on different skills your teens can learn and monetize it 

#summerjob

#teens

#beintentional

#positiveparentingtipstuesday

#positiveparenting

#parentingtips

#positiveparenting

Here are some summer activities for 8+

Because I’m a teacher, I know what happens to kids’ brains and memories during the summer months.

Their brains turn mushy. . 

Kids forget things they had mastered in July by September. 

So what you can do this summer is to do “summer learning,” every day.

Even if it’s just 30 minutes, learning each day will help.

Here are summer activities for 7+

• Visit your local library with them at least once a week. (There are lots of events going on, I am going to be reading one of my books at my local library this week too)
• Visit local parks and recreation departments which run day camps.
• Read books with them and ask them questions.
• Create a summer memory board from pictures and things you love to collect.
• Arrange a playdate with cousins, neighbors and friends.
• Gather Donations. Ask your child to gather all her old toys and clothes they no longer wear and donate them to the charity shop.
• Keep a diary – encourage them to write down their daily experience in a notebook. You never know they can turn it into a book on the future.
• Go to the park

Happy summer holiday 🥰❤️❤️❤️

Thanks for reading

What are your plans this summer? Please share your thoughts in the comments below 🥰❤️

Thanks

Olu

Dear young people,

I know it’s summer and you may just want to enjoy yourself and do nothing! right? 😄

Sure, there are games to play, movies to watch, and friends to hang out with.

But there are also plenty of productive things to do during the school holidays.

So I’ve come up with this list of 10 meaningful things to do.

1. Set goals for the coming school year.
2. Watch documentaries.

You can watch thousands of high-quality documentaries for free at Documentary channel.

3. Learn a new language. Visit these websites and learn a new language: Duolingo,  Babbel and  BBC Languages
4. Learn a new skill.  Public speaking, Cooking, Drawing, Coding, Graphic designing, Website designs, Self-defense, Negotiation, Listening,  Positive thinking. 
5. Read. I strongly recommend that you read these FOUR BOOKS: 👉1: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. 2: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. 3:The Success Principles by Jack Canfield. 4: Feel the Fear … and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers. 
6. Watch Khan Academy videos. This school holiday, brush up on your math, science and humanities by watching Khan Academy videos.
7. Start a business. YOU COULD START SOMETHING LIKE:  Babysitting business; Dog-walking business; Pet-sitting business. Or you could think big like the famous 12 kids,   who have built million-dollar businesses in arenas like app development, online advertising, fashion, and hair products.
8. Pick up a new hobby. You will probably feel bored at some point during the school holidays. That’s the time to pick up a new hobby like… Photography: Dancing: Baking and so on.
9. Improve your vocabulary. Students’ success in school and life is linked to the size of their vocabulary, the research indicates. I’m sure you want to be successful, so use these Two resources to improve your vocabulary: Vocabulary.com: EnhanceMyVocabulary.com:. 
10. Improve your writing skills. Writing skills are important for academic success, and they’re even more important for career success. So work on your writing skills this school holiday. Register for an online writing workshop.

My final thoughts 

It’s impossible to do all 10 things described in this article. 

Besides, I know you also want to have plenty of fun this school holiday.

So don’t feel overwhelmed.

Instead, develop a realistic plan. (To do this, write down your daily or weekly plans and check everyone you accomplish each goal.) 

As you follow your plan, I’m confident that you’ll have a meaningful, productive and fun-filled school holiday.

Have fun guys and enjoy your summer well done for all your hard work ❤️

OLU ❤️

Because I’m a teacher, I know what happens to kids’ brains and memories during the summer months.

Their brains turn mushy. . 

Kids forget things they had mastered in July by September. 

So what you can do this summer is to do “summer learning,” every day.

Even if it’s just 30 minutes, learning each day will help.

Here are some ideas of learning activities for 3-5 year olds.

So what should a  4 year old be learning? 

Count 10 or more objects. Correctly name at least four colors and three shapes. Recognize some letters and possibly write their name. 

Better understand the concept of time and the order of daily activities, like breakfast in the morning, lunch in the afternoon, and dinner at night.

I will share some learning ideas for 6-10 year olds tomorrow. 

Below are some of our educational books that you can use at home this summer. Just from £5. Most of our books are 100 pages long which is a plus compared to other educational books on the shelf.

Click the link today to get yours and you will thank me later. 

Have an amazing summer guys 🥰❤️❤️

Olu ❤️

#summerlearning

#books

#kids

#homelearning

#homeschooling

#parentingtips 

#kidsareawesome

#toodlerlearningtips

#author

#amazon

#educationalbooks

#kindergarten 

#tutors

#teacher

#

This is the last week of the school year for most schools in England.

By now, I know most  parents would have made some summer holiday plans for their family. 

Anyway, today’s post is for those of us that will be spending the summer holidays at home with our children and maybe you’re wondering how I can keep them entertained. 

So this week I will be sharing some summer Activities ideas for different age groups. 

So you need to stay tuned so that you won’t miss it. 

Here are some fun activities for 3-5 years 

1. Coloring : Not all kids love Coloring, but I have found that if you allow them to color however they want with no expectation they  start to enjoy it. 
2. Role Playing : for example; Playing doctors, playing nurse, playing dress ups and so on.
3. Read books: Read books to them.
4. Baking: Most preschoolers love to help in the kitchen. Baking is a great activity too. 
5. Chores: while chores don’t sound like fun activity ideas, they are actually great for young kids. 

NOTE: In addition, going out with children can be tricky especially younger kids. So dear parents, please before you go out with your kids, make sure you tell them what to do just in case they can’t find you. Teach them your mobile number.  However if your kids are too young to memorise your mobile number, make sure you write it on a piece of paper and put it in their pocket before going out. 

Let’s say you’re in a big park, and they seem to have gotten lost, tell them not to panic, explain to them that they’re going to be ok and the important things to do at that moment is to find an adult wearing a uniform at the place and ask for help. They can say, “excuse me, I can’t find my mum, can you please call her for me thank you?” 

Do you have any summer plans for kids this summer? please leave a comment below 👇 🥰❤️❤️

Thanks and Stay safe and have fun 🤩

OLU 🥰❤️

#summertime