Cameray Book Recommendation: Maya Was Grumpy

 

CAMERAY BOOK RECOMMENDATION: MAYA WAS GRUMPY

maya was grumpyMaya Was Grumpy is a children’s story written and illustrated by Courtney Pippin-Mathur. As the title suggests, the book is about a girl named Maya who spreads her grouchy mood around the house, affecting those around her. After a while, Maya’s grandma shows Maya all the fun things they could be doing – if only she was in a better mood. This starts to rub off on Maya, after learning she’ll miss out on swinging with the monkeys, bathing baby elephants, and hunting for hippos. Although Maya shrugs it off at first, with an “I didn’t want to do that anyway” growl, she slowly comes around and realizes that she can improve her own mood by doing fun stuff with her grandma.

This story is funny and entertaining, because it mixes fantasy with reality. Maya feels grouchy and grumpy at home, but it is grandma’s ridiculously silly suggestions for play activities that make her laugh and get out Maya out of her grumpy mood. We recommend Maya Was Grumpy for kids aged 4 and up.

How can parents use this book?

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Family Resource: The 5 Love Languages

The 5 Love Languages

based on the book by Dr. Gary Chapman

How do meet each other’s deep emotional need to feel loved? If we can learn that and choose to do it, then the love we share with our partners and/or children will be fulfilling and rewarding.

Love languages are basically the language we speak when giving and receiving love. For example, if I feel most loved when getting hugs and kisses, then I would tend to give hugs and kisses to others to show them I love them.

BUT…The key to love languages is figuring out what the other person’s primary language is so that you can give love the way THEY want it received (rather than assuming they receive love the same way as you). See below for detail on each love language.Continue reading

Cameray Book Recommendation: Let’s Talk About Saying No

Let’s Talk About Saying No

saying noLet’s Talk About Saying No is a book written by Joy Berry about when to say no, and when not to. The book is accompanied by bright illustrations, and the topic is presented by a cat named Casper, which makes the topic lighter and fun to look at. Casper the cat talks about a bunch of situations where Tonya, the girl in the story, should say no, and other times when she shouldn’t. For example, Tonya learns that she should say no when someone asks her to do something she knows she shouldn’t, like taking cookies from the cookie jar when she is not allowed. She also learns that she shouldn’t say no when someone asks her to do something she should, such as when her mother asks her to go to bed because it’s late and she has school the next day. There are many other examples in the book that get this basic idea across.

This book is great because it talks about an important concept that children learn as they grow up, but presents it in simple writing that isn’t preachy. Joy Berry has written other stories in the Let’s Talk About series, such as Let’s Talk About Feeling Angry, Let’s Talk About Being Helpful, and others.

How can parents use this book?

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No Drama Discipline: The No Drama Connection

No Drama Discipline: The No Drama Connection

Based on book: No Drama Discipline, By Dr. Daniel J. Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson

You are not alone if you feel at a loss when it comes to getting your kids to argue less, listen or speak more respectfully. It is hard to know how to discipline our kids. All often they do something wrong, we get mad, they get upset and the cycle continues. Here’s a new way to approach situations from Dr. Siegel’s book “No Drama Discipline.” These strategies help parents and kids deal with difficult situation in a healthy way and can lead to strengthening their relationship and emotional connection.Continue reading

No Drama Discipline: How to Respond When our Children are Uncooperative or Reactive

No Drama Discipline: How to Respond When our Children are Uncooperative or Reactive

The ultimate child-raising challenge is discipline. Parents react to misbehaviour in various ways. Dr. Daniel J. Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson’s book called “No Drama Discipline” illustrates an approach that provides an effective and compassionate way for dealing with tantrums, tensions, and tears without causing a scene. The authors explain how to reach your child, redirect emotions, and turn a meltdown into an opportunity for growth. By using their “1,2,3 Discipline” strategy, the cycle of negative behaviour can be brought to a halt. See below for details on this strategy:Continue reading

CONNECT Parent Groups

CONNECT Parent Groups

Have you ever felt like you and your teen are speaking different languages, worried about your relationship with your children or felt alone in parenting? The Connect Parenting group provides a supportive environment for parents to learn about attachment and how it relates to their relationship with their children over a 9 or 10 week period. There are 9 attachment principals that are taught throughout the weekly group.Continue reading