Table Talk Archives - MamaBear App

November 18, 2016

Thanksgiving Table Talk: Expressing Gratitude DIY

Sitting around the Thanksgiving dinner table is the perfect time to ask open-ended questions that can help your children practice gratitude. Answering the basic question, “What are you thankful for?” might be hard for kids at first. Creating a conversation jar can be a fun way to break the ice. These questions make it easy for kids to identify and discover the things and people they really appreciate. In turn, a conversation jar also gives you the chance to inspire by example and express your own gratitude.

Use these questions as an example or write your own.

Who was the best teacher you ever had?
What is the best part of being a part of our family?
What is one of your favorite memories from a family vacation?
What is one thing you couldn’t live without?
What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend or after school?
What’s your favorite thing to do with your grandparents, aunts or uncles?
What is something someone did to help you today?
What’s your favorite thing about dinner tonight?
What is your favorite part about living in our town?
Who is your best friend in school? Why?
What book is your favorite to read before bed?
Who is the most generous person you know? Why?

Creating a conversation jar is a fun DIY to craft with your family. Turn these questions into conversations. When your child responds, make sure to point out how lucky they are to have those experiences, items and family members. Point out that not everyone in the world has access those things.

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to get kids to talk about what they are thankful for, and help them acknowledge and cultivate a feeling of gratitude and gratefulness.

CREATE YOUR GRATITUDE CONVERSATION JAR

Supplies:

Glass Jar
Wooden Sticks
Sharpies
Ribbon
Burlap
Super Glue or Hot Glue
Scissors
#TableTalk printable
Puffy Paint (optional)

Step 1:

Cut a 4” wide piece of burlap to wrap around the jar.

Use a hot glue gun or super glue to attach the burlap to the jar.

Cut a 2” wide piece of ribbon to wrap over the burlap. Glue to fasten.

Step 2:

Print out the tabletalks-printable.

Cut out and glue to center of the jar.

Or use puffy paint and markers to decorate ribbon.

Step 3:

Write your “Gratitude” questions onto the wooden sticks with a marker.

Step 4:

Insert sticks into jar, and enjoy engaging Thanksgiving conversation starters with your family!

December 18, 2015December 18, 2015

Table Talk Topic: The Gift of Giving

All of the excitement around the holidays can feel self indulgent and make it easy for kids to forget that it’s a spectacular time for giving. It’s our job as parents to show them how to express empathy and compassion for others.

The holidays are an exciting time for kids. Christmas trees, time off from school, cookies and of course, presents. All of the excitement around the holidays can feel self indulgent and make it easy for kids to forget that it’s a spectacular time for giving. It’s our job as parents to show them how to express empathy and compassion for others.

As you’re sitting down for dinner this week, talk about the importance of generosity and giving and the impact your family can make on others this season. Below are some ideas to consider. Then as a family, pick out an activity or two you all like and can do together.

Buy gifts for children in need. Toys for Tots is a national campaign to provide families in need with gifts for children. Their website includes a list of drop-offs around the country. You can also look for locations with an angel gift tree (many churches and retail stores have them during the holiday), where you select an angel with the age and gender of a child and purchase a gift for them.
Sponsor a child. A gift that will last all year, sponsoring a child is a great way to keep the spirit of giving throughout the year. With most programs, you will receive letters, photos and cards throughout the year, and you are encouraged to do the same. This is a great way to continually show your child the impact of their decision to give.
Send holiday cards or gifts to serving military men and woman. You don’t have to spend money on this one. You can simply create holiday cards for military men and women serving overseas. If you have a budget for gifts, Military.com has a list of organizations that collect books, commissary gift certificates and more for serving members of the military.
Ring Bells for the Salvation Army. If you want to get out and serve your community, ringing bells for Salvation Army is one of the most festive ways to experience the holidays from the serving side and fill the red kettle.
Serve in a soup kitchen. Another way to psychically get out into the community is to visit a local soup kitchen or homeless facility that serves meals around the holidays.
Grocery shop for a local food pantry. Let your kid pick out some of their favorite foods so they can feel like they are a part of the process. (Make sure to give your kids guidelines, such as selecting only non-perishable, healthier options.)
Clean out closets and toy boxes and donate. Remind your child how much they have by taking an inventory of their toys and clothes. Donate what they don’t need anymore to a local shelter or second-hand store that donates the proceeds to charity.
Make dinner for a family or elderly person in need. Have a little fun in the kitchen and allow your child to help prepare a meal that can be easily portioned out and delivered to a family or person in need.
Deliver a dessert or tray of cookies to public or civil servants on Christmas. Show your kids that not everybody is able to spend the holidays with their family. Take them to see the hard-working people who commit to serving the public over the holidays, and drop off holiday treats to police officers, firefighters, or hospital workers.
If you are traveling, volunteer in the local community. If you happen to be traveling during the holidays, you can still participate and volunteer in the local community teaching your children that where doesn’t matter.

Related: Table Talk Topic: Expressing Gratitude

By teaching your children selfless giving, you are giving them a gift far more powerful than presents under the Christmas tree. For more ideas on dinner discussion ideas that can help your family connect, learn and grow, check out our series at Table Talk Topics.

November 23, 2015November 23, 2015

Table Talk Topic: Expressing Gratitude

Thanksgiving is a time that reminds us to express our gratitude and be more thankful, but throughout the year parents have an opportunity to bring that type of gratitude to the dinner table.

We don’t need to ask “What are you thankful for today?” in order to prompt conversations about gratitude with our families. There are many ways to bring more appreciation to the dinner table, and talking about being thankful might be more important than you think.

It’s Never Too Early to Start Being Thankful

Parents.com reports that children as young as 15 to 18 months can start to understand the concepts of gratitude. Barbara Lewis, author of What Do You Stand For? For Kids, explains that around the age of two or three, children can start to verbally acknowledge their gratitude for things in their life like people, pets and toys. And by age four, they are able to grasp the concept of being grateful for abstract items like love and kindness.

Since children are aware of gratitude at such a young age, it’s important to cultivate it early on and continue the process as they grow.

The Benefits of Being Thankful

Living a more grateful life can benefit your child throughout their lifetime. Those who practice gratitude feel less entitled and disappointed. They are more likely to be positive and find more satisfaction in their lives. All of which can affect mind and body. WebMD reports that practicing gratitude can decrease stress, boost the immune system, and encourage a healthier lifestyle.

Questions That Encourage Gratitude

Sitting around the dinner table is the perfect time to ask open-ended questions that can help your children practice gratitude. Because answering the basic question, “What are you thankful for?” might be hard for kids at first. These questions make it easy for them to identify and discover things they really appreciate and give you a chance to express your gratitude.

Who was the best teacher you ever had?
What is the best part of being a part of our family?
What is one of your favorite memories from a family vacation?
What is one thing you couldn’t live without?
What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend or after school?
What’s your favorite thing to do with your grandparents, aunts or uncles? Whom do you feel closest?
What is something someone did to help you today?
What’s your favorite thing about dinner tonight?
What is your favorite part about living in our town?
Who is your best friend in school? Why?
What book is your favorite to read before bed?

Turn these questions into conversations. When your child responds, make sure to point out how lucky they are to have those experiences, items and family members. Point out that not everyone in the world has access those things.

This is a good way to get kids to see how much they really have to be thankful for, and help them acknowledge and cultivate a feeling of gratitude and gratefulness.

Show Your Gratitude

Children mirror the image of their parents, so be sure that you are practicing gratitude in your own life, especially when interacting with your kids. Share answers to the same questions.

Be sure to say “thank you” to them regularly even for small moments and events. (“Thank you for eating all your vegetables. Thank you for helping me clear the table. It made dinner easier and more enjoyable.” )

And most of all, remind them how grateful you are to be their parents.

Talking around the dinner table is a great way to build a deeper connection with your child. Maintain that connection inside and outside of the house by using MamaBear Family Safety App, which offers easy check-in features that can keep you and your kids connected anywhere, anytime. App is available for iPhone and Andriod devices.

September 28, 2015October 24, 2015

Table Talk: How to Stop Kids from Oversharing on Social Media

Anneli-Marie R. was a normal 17-year-old walking her dog one evening in the countryside of Eastern Germany.

When Anneli-Marie didn’t return that night, her father went to look for her. He spotted her dog, but she was nowhere to be found. Then, her parents received a distributing call.

Kidnappers, claiming to have Anneli-Marie, called her parents and requested a ransom of over $1 million in exchange for her safe return.

A Tragic Loss for One Teen’s Family

The parents obliged and promised to do whatever they could to get their daughter back. But the exchange never took place as the kidnappers panicked and cut contact with the parents. They later killed Anneli-Marie and left her body on a farm near her home.

Two men — Markus B., 39, and Norbert K., 61 — were arrested in the murder that took place in mid-August. The men were familiar with both Anneli-Marie and her father, a local businessman, when they abutted the girl from the street.

One of the men lived near the victim, and police believed that before the kidnapping, the man scouted the location and researched Anneli-Marie on Facebook.

The Scary Truth About Social Media Sharing

It hasn’t been said exactly what information the men found by researching Anneli-Marie on Facebook. But knowing that the girl’s kidnappers studied her Facebook page highlights some of the scary realities of social media profiles.

Through social media, strangers can begin to identify a person by sight and even learn about their habits and activities.

Public social media profiles send out more information than we realize, and that danger is amplified when users overshare through social media.

How to Talk to Your Kids About Oversharing on Social Media

Oversharing on social media is common among kids and teens as they don’t realize the full reach of their posts. As parents, you need to explain to your kids why oversharing is dangerous for them and everyone in the family and arm your kids with best practices that will protect them.

Here are a few of our recommended best practices:

Set Profiles to Private. There are multiple privacy settings on each social media site. Before your child joins any social site, review the privacy options and decide on the safest settings together.

Never Accept Requests from Strangers. When you approve a friend or follower, they often get additional access to your information and updates. Never accept a friend request unless you have met the person in real life and you know them well. Don’t accept someone just because you have many mutual friends online.

Don’t Overshare Personal Information. Certain information should never be shared on social media including photos that might indicate information such as:

address
phone number
school name
social security number
passwords

Don’t Share Your Life in Real Time. While it is common for teens to share their life on social media as it is happening, it is better to share after an event or experience. If your family is going on vacation, tell your teen not to mention it on social media as it can signal to followers that nobody is home at your house. It is also unsafe to share your location as it makes it easy for stalkers to know where you are at the exact time.

As you teach your children best practices for managing their social media accounts, it is a good idea to follow up and ensure they are doing what you taught them.

You can use the MamaBear app, Peace of Mind Parenting™ app to easily monitor your child’s social media sites all in one place. The free app, available for iPhones and Androids, connects your account with your child’s so you can keep an eye on their activity in real time, further protecting them in the often scary world of social media.