Whenever parents talk of discipline, many focus too much on punishment or restrictions. It’s just as important for parents to reward children for good behavior and accomplishments. That said, the balance between treats and spoiling may confuse some parents.  There’s also the worry of favoritism to those with multiple children.

Parents must be mindful of these issues and strive to create a fair and balanced environment.  To that end, rewards must motivate children to strive for better, not just for the promise of a material reward. These rewards must be a net positive for the child’s overall development while ultimately being a fun gift.

Motivational Reward Ideas for Kids

There are many ways to reward children that are both motivating and beneficial., without being overly materialistic.

Verbal Praise and Recognition

Simple words of encouragement and acknowledgment can go a long way. Let your child know you see and appreciate their efforts. Don’t be too general, either. Focus on the aspects of their performance or skills that warrant praise. For example, if your child finished their homework fast (and correctly), praise their speed and smarts.  If a child encounters a bully, and they turn the other cheek, praise them for being mature. Validation is an excellent reward.

Hobby-Based Gifts

Encourage and nurture your child’s hobbies by giving them rewards relevant to their pastimes.  For example, if they love to draw, provide them with art supplies like new coloring tools or a sketchbook. If they’re sporty, give them new athletic gear or take them out to the ball game.  If they like video games, research what kind of games they like and look for the most appropriate and popular for their age.  The more specific a gift, the more a child recognizes the attention their parents give them.

Quality Time

Allowing extra time for a favorite activity or game can be a great incentive. Even better, plan a trip to the park, zoo, or a favorite restaurant as a reward for significant achievements. If they’re introverted, spend one-on-one time with your child doing something they enjoy, like reading a book together or playing a game. Remember, the quality time is for them as much as it is for you.

Favorite Food

Every kid has that one dish that they just can’t get enough of. If your child has been exceptionally productive and well-behaved, surprise them by whipping up a delicious meal or dessert. Even better, ask your child to help out in the kitchen to teach them about the fun of cooking.

Responsibility and Trust

While this does sound rather conceptual, it’s also one of the most significant rewards a parent can give their child. One day, your kids will grow up to be adults, and it’s important to instill in them, even now, the value of responsibility. Show trust in your child by giving them more freedom, like allowing an overnight stay with a nearby friend or some extra pocket money.

When Should I Reward Kids?

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Parents should only give rewards when appropriate, not by some arbitrary measure.  Never impose a quota on yourself or your children as far as rewards are concerned. Focus on encouraging good behavior and productive habits such as following rules, proper manners, and overall good behavior. Reinforce these with positive affirmations, whether verbal encouragement or physical affection.

Always acknowledge achievements and milestones, whether academic or personal. Completing a challenging project, reaching a personal goal, or successfully finishing a set of chores deserves recognition. Rewarding these accomplishments shows children that their hard work and dedication are valued.

Even if the outcome isn’t perfect, acknowledging the effort put into a task encourages a growth mindset. Remember, no material object will equal the love and respect you give to your children. Even when they stumble, their efforts must be acknowledged, if not “rewarded” in a material sense.

How Should I Reward Kids?

The way you reward children can have a significant impact on their motivation and self-esteem.  This is true whether at home as a parent or a teacher at school. It’s crucial to be specific about why they are receiving a reward. Instead of a general “good job,” say, “I’m proud of how you handled those bullies.” The specificity helps children understand what behaviors are valued and stick with them for the rest of their lives.

It’s also essential to avoid using material rewards excessively. While toys and treats are a fine motivator, over-reliance on them can lead to materialism.  The key is to match the reward to the effort and significance of the achievement.

Final Thoughts

Kids must earn rewards, not simply get them for doing nothing. Of course, that doesn’t mean forcing kids to hold themselves to unfair standards. Always keep these achievements reasonable, and never hold the lack of a reward over their heads. Rewards are ultimately a token of appreciation. When they’re grown, they may forget what you rewarded them, but they will never forget that you showed them you cared.

Kids experience emotional ups and downs as they grow. They inevitably go through periods of moodiness and fluctuations in academic performance. As a parent, you must ensure your child feels supported as they grow. However, it’s not always easy to know how they’re feeling, and many kids have a hard time opening up.

Learn why some kids find it challenging to open up with their parents and how you can help your child’s mental health.

What Is a Mental Health Check-In?

Mental health check-ins with your child involve asking about their feelings, moods and worries. It can start with a simple “How are you feeling today?” or discussing what’s been worrying your kid lately. This is essential to understanding what’s going on in your child’s life.

Around 20% of children in the U.S. have a mental, developmental, behavioral or emotional disorder, making regular mental health check-ins more important than ever.

Why Do Some Children Refuse to Open Up to Their Parents?

At first glance, a mental health check-in sounds simple. It can be challenging, especially when your child refuses to open up. Here are some reasons why children struggle with discussing feelings with their parents.

They Don’t Know What They Feel

This scenario is common among tweens and teens who don’t know how to navigate their feelings because they focus on how others feel and think first.

They’re Shy

Your child may struggle with opening up because they’re naturally quiet. Encouraging your kid to open up can be tricky if they have never been open with you before.

You’re Too Predictable

Did your child open up to you before? How did you react? The reason why your kid won’t open up to you is because they already anticipate your lecture. Your kid is more likely to tune out if they feel criticized after sharing their vulnerabilities or if you’re saying too much, which can be overwhelming.

They’re Hiding Something

Just because your child refuses to open up the first time you ask them doesn’t mean he lacks trust. Sometimes, all it takes is patience.

How to Start a Mental Health Check-In With Your Child

Get a sense of how your child is doing with these tips.

1.   Establish a Routine

Children benefit from having a routine. A sudden change in routine can have negative impacts on their mental health. This could be caused by a change in their daily routine, like entering a new grade, or a change in yours, like working more hours.

Any time your child enters a new phase in life, help them establish a new routine. This could include a homework schedule, a new bedtime and a calendar to keep track of school and sports.

2.   Keep an Eye on Behavioral Changes

Mood shifts are normal. However, it could be serious if a sign of distress lasts two weeks or more and disrupts your child’s regular functioning. Here are some signs to look out for:

• Appetite changes
• Missing school
• Irritability
• Drop in school performance
• Difficulty concentrating
• Withdrawing from social interactions
• Self-harm or discussing self-harm or death

Don’t hesitate to ask questions about more complicated topics, such as suicide. Express your concerns in a reassuring manner. This will make your child feel that they can trust you. If your child is feeling suicidal, you can call or text the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 998.

3.   Normalize Talking Openly About Mental Health

Conversations about feelings can be uncomfortable, but it’s essential in the household. To overcome discomfort among family members, initiate open discussions about mental health, as you would about any physical health concerns, such as the flu and allergies. Share how you’re coping with your own feelings.

You can also help them find spiritual or meditative ways to reflect on their mental health. If you are religious, you can try a 40-day prayer practice, during which they can express gratitude or ask for help. Non-religious practices that can provide similar comfort include meditation, journaling and positive affirmations. Encourage your child to identify and reflective practice that they enjoy and engage in it together.

4.   Ask Open-Ended Questions

Questions like “Are you sad?” often elicit one-word responses, making it tricky to start a conversation with your child. Instead, reformulate the question into something like “Share how you feel today” to give them space to express their thoughts and feelings.

5.   Let Them Know They Are Loved

Reassure your child that you’ll be there for them no matter what they do and feel. This is even more important if your child is particularly hard on themselves in response to their mistakes. Reminding them of your love and understanding will increase their feelings of safety and security in the home.

6.   Encourage Professional Help if Needed

Don’t hesitate to seek help if you’re worried about your child’s mental health. Describe the behaviors that concern you. Talk to your child’s friends, teachers and other people close to them to see if they’ve noticed your kid’s behavioral changes.

Be Mindful of Your Own Well-Being

You know your child best, so don’t hesitate to initiate regular mental health check-ins. With these tips in mind, helping your kid navigate their feelings and worries will be more bearable. But remember, you cannot fully help others if you are not taking care of yourself.

Prioritize your own well-being as well. This may range from finding moments to recharge to seeking professional support when needed.  In doing so, you’ll also be better equipped to talk to someone about therapy if they need it.  This may include your own child if it’s necessary.

Additional Resources:

To learn more about mental health issues in children, check out this infographic:

Author bio:  Cora Gold is the Editor-in-Chief of women’s lifestyle magazine, Revivalist. She strives to live a happy and healthy life with her family by her side.
Follow Cora on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Every parent loves sharing photos of their kids with family and friends online. After all, “My baby is definitely the most beautiful baby in the world!” But at the same time, some parents worry: If I share my baby’s photo on social media, will someone steal it? Could someone recognize and kidnap my kids?

To preserve the memories safely, here are some tips for posting your baby’s photo online.

1. Understand Your Social Media Settings

Always be aware of who can see your social media posts. Are your photos visible only to family and friends, or can strangers access them? Knowing this is the first key to determining what photos you can share. While there’s no hard rule against sharing your kids’ photos on a public account, it’s important to know who might see your life. In any circumstance, sharing too many personal details is not recommended.

If you are not trying to become an influencer, setting your account to private is the most efficient way to protect your kids’ photos. This way, you control who can see your posts, making it less likely that someone will steal your photo and create a fake account with your kids’ images. Regularly check your privacy settings list to keep your social media secure.

2. Add Watermarks to Your Photos

A simple yet often overlooked method is adding a watermark. Make sure your watermark matches your account name. Almost all social media platforms now allow you to add a watermark easily, making your photos safer. While this doesn’t guarantee your photos won’t be stolen, it discourages cyber thieves from targeting your images. Some might feel that watermarks ruin the aesthetic of their photos.

However, social media compresses your artwork anyway. While social media is a good tool to share memories, it’s not the best for preserving high-quality images. Consider using photo books or other tools to preserve your beautiful memories.

3. Be Selective About What You Share

When protecting your kids, consider what photos they would want to see on your social media when they grow up. It is easy to decide what to share, but harder to decide what not to share. Think about what you would have liked your parents to post about you. If you wouldn’t have liked it, your kids probably won’t either.

Here are two rules to consider:

• Physical Rule:  Avoid sharing identifiable features like fingerprints, iris patterns, or birthmarks.

• Mental Rule: Don’t post embarrassing photos. If you plan to show your kids your social media account someday, ask their permission before posting.

4. Control What Others Can Share

Make sure your family and friends know what they can and cannot share. Everyone has different standards for what is safe. For instance, you might think posting an individual photo is unsafe, but your friends might think differently. Always communicate your rules clearly. Also, be aware of who else is using your kids’ photos and where they are being used. Schools, summer camps, or photographers might ask to use the photos. Know where and how they will be used. For example, a newborn photographer listed where she use the photos and how she protect child’s information. Discuss this with them and ensure it aligns with your philosophy. If not, do not hesitate to say no.

In situations where you meet new people, such as at a kids’ party or community event, it might feel awkward to say, “Please don’t take my kids’ photo.” A simpler way to protect your kids is to dress them properly, even at swim parties, ensuring they wear appropriate swimwear. If you are very serious about not having your kids’ photos shared, consider bringing a face-painting artist to events, so your kids’ faces are covered without having to ask people not to take photos.

5. Control Sharing and Commenting

When you post your kids’ photos on social media, you have full control over sharing and commenting. If your account is public, you can’t control who comments, but you can delete inappropriate comments immediately. Social media can amplify everything, and one negative comment can trigger a lot of arguments. Deleting negative comments as soon as possible is the simplest way to manage this. If you are not an influencer, managing comments and shares shouldn’t be too hard.

In Conclusion

Protecting your kids’ privacy while sharing their photos online is crucial. By understanding social media settings, using watermarks, being selective about what you share, controlling what others can share, and managing comments, you can safely share your precious memories without compromising your child’s safety. Always communicate your boundaries clearly and stay informed about privacy settings to keep your family safe online.

University Clinical Aptitude Test — a rite of passage for aspiring doctors and dentists!  If you’re gearing up for a career in medicine or dentistry in Australia or New Zealand, the UCAT is your gateway. The test assesses a range of mental abilities and behavioural attributes identified as important by university medical and dental schools for new students.

Originally known as the UKCAT (UK Clinical Aptitude Test), so you might see the terms used interchangeably, but they refer to the same test, — it was rebranded to UCAT to accommodate its broader use. This is the up-to-date version used in both the UK and Australia/New Zealand. UCAT is your go-to test for medical and dental school applications in these countries.

Quick Tips

Stay Updated: Make sure you’re aware of any updates or changes to the UCAT format or policies.

Peer Learning: Discussing common challenges and strategies with fellow UCAT aspirants can offer new insights and perspectives. Consider tutoring as a great source of help as well. A good tutor can give you that tailored, nuanced insight that no book can.

They’ll nail down where you need an extra push and provide just the right techniques to boost your performance. Think of a tutor as your brain-coach, keeping your cognitive gains strong and steady.

Healthy Routine: Ensure balanced nutrition, exercise, and adequate rest, especially as the test date approaches.

Preparing for the UCAT is a journey of building skills that will serve you well not just in the test, but also in your future medical or dental careers. Your commitment and strategic preparation are your best allies.

UCAT’s Anatomy

The UCAT consists of five sections, each tailored to evaluate distinct skills. Here you have it:

Verbal Reasoning (VR)

Assesses your ability to read and comprehend passages of text, then answer questions that test your critical understanding and the ability to think logically about the information presented.

• VR Content: You’ll encounter about 44 questions spread over 21 minutes, with passages ranging across various topics.

Reading a scientific article and determining whether statements are true, false, or can’t be determined from the text.

VR Section Example

Imagine you’re analysing a passage about the impact of climate change on polar bear populations.

• Question: Based on the passage, what inference can be drawn about the relationship between sea ice decline and polar bear hunting patterns?

Answer Options:

(A) Polar bears are migrating to new habitats.

(B) Polar bears’ hunting success rates are decreasing.

(C) Sea ice decline has no impact on polar bear behaviour.

(D) Polar bears are shifting to a herbivorous diet.

• Strategy: Carefully scrutinise the passage to identify evidence supporting the correct answer (B).

Decision Making (DM)

This section evaluates your aptitude for interpreting data and making decisions based on complex information.

• DM Content: About 29 questions over 31 minutes, including text, charts, tables, graphs, and diagrams.

Interpreting a set of rules and applying them to different scenarios to identify valid conclusions.

DM Section Example

Picture you’re evaluating a scenario where a hospital needs to allocate limited resources during a flu epidemic.

• Question: Should the hospital prioritise flu vaccinations for children under 5 and the elderly, or for all citizens equally based on first come, first served?

Options:

(A) Prioritise children under 5 and the elderly.

(B) Provide vaccinations equally to all citizens, first come, first served.

• Strategy: Weigh the benefits of protecting vulnerable groups (A) versus the fairness of equal distribution (B). Go with the ethical and practical rationale favoring (A).

Quantitative Reasoning (QR)

This one tests your numerical problem-solving skills.

• QR Content: Around 36 questions in 24 minutes, focusing on basic arithmetic, percentages, ratios, and critical analysis of numerical data.

Calculating costs, analysing trends from graphs, or solving problems that require numerical reasoning.

QR Section Example

Suppose you’re analysing a dataset about coffee consumption habits across various age groups.

• Question: If the average coffee consumption for individuals aged 20-30 is 3 cups/day with a standard deviation of 0.5 cups, what percentage of this age group drinks between 2.5 and 3.5 cups of coffee daily?

Answer: Using the empirical rule (68-95-99.7) in statistics, 68% of data lies within one standard deviation of the mean, which here equates to drinking between 2.5 and 3.5 cups.

Abstract Reasoning (AR)

Here your ability to identify patterns and relationships in abstract shapes will be measured.

• AR Content: Approximately 55 questions in 13 minutes, consisting of sequences and sets of shapes.

Determining which shape completes the pattern or identifying commonalities within a set of seemingly disjointed shapes.

AR Section Example

Imagine deciphering visual patterns in a sequence of shapes varying by color, size, and number.

• Question: Identify the next shape in this series: [red triangle, blue square, yellow hexagon, green circle…]

Options:

(A) Red circle

(B) Blue triangle

(C) Yellow square

(D) Green hexagon

• Strategy: Recognize the sequence cycling through shape changes along with rotation of colours. Continue the sequence logically to identify that (C) is the correct choice.

Situational Judgement (SJ)

The SJ test section evaluates your ability to understand real-world situations and identify appropriate responses.

• SJ Content: About 69 questions in 26 minutes, presenting scenarios where you need to rate the appropriateness or importance of various actions.

Deciding how you would respond to a difficult ethical situation in a clinical setting.

SJ Section Example

Consider responding to a workplace scenario where a colleague is consistently late, affecting team morale and productivity.

• Question: How appropriate is it to have an informal private chat with the colleague to understand their situation and offer support?

Answer Options:

(A) Very appropriate

(B) Appropriate, but not ideal

(C) Inappropriate but acceptable

(D) Very inappropriate

• Strategy: Evaluating the empathetic and leadership aspects suggests (A) as the most appropriate response, fostering open communication and support.

Each subject tests a unique blend of skills and critical thinking. Keep practising these strategies and remember to stay calm and focused during the exam.

Prep Tips for UCAT – The Doctor’s Orders

1. Familiarise with the Format

Knowing the structure and timing of each section can ease test-day stress.

2. Practice Regularly

Use practice tests to sharpen your skills and get used to the types of questions you’ll encounter.

3. Work on Weak Areas

Focus more on sections that challenge you, turning weaknesses into strengths.

4. Time Management

Develop a strategy to handle time pressure, especially for sections like Abstract Reasoning.

5. Stay Calm and Collected

Practice mindfulness and stress-reduction techniques to ensure your mind stays clear and focused.

It’s your chance to shine not only through knowledge but through critical thinking, problem-solving, and ethical reasoning. The UCAT is designed to test not just your academic prowess but essential skills that future doctors and dentists need.

You’re arming yourself with knowledge and insight, and that’s half the battle won. Let’s toast some brain-boosting drinks to your dedication and upcoming success in the labyrinth of medical school admissions!