AboutEvelyn Petersen Expertise I`ve been a weekly parenting columnist for the Knight Ridder papers for 18 years and have answered hundreds of parent questions on at least 200 different topics, most of which related to educational, behavioral and family issues. I`m also a mom, grandmom and author of 7 parenting books. My advice is practical, direct, and positive.
Experience My experience as a mother and grandmother is just as important as my 40 years in the field of education. My degrees are in Child and Family Life and Education. I've taught in settings from preschool centers to family homes, and from private and public schools to college classrooms. I'm also an active consultant for Head Start and other early childhood programs.
Organizations National Assn. for the Education of Young Children
Assn. for Childhood Education International
National Federation of Press Women
Publications Weekkly parenting columns in the Knight Ridder papers and Wire Service from 1984 to present
Author of eight books: "A Practical Guide to Early Childhood Planning" and "A Practical Guide to Early Childhood Curriculum, Second Ed" Allyn & Bacon; "Growing Happy Kids", "Growing Creative Kids", "Growing Thinking Kids", and "Growing Responsible Kids" McGraw-Hill/Totline imprint; "1,2,3, Blocks" McGraw-Hill/Totline imprint; and "Sams Teach Yourself e-Parenting Today" Macmillan USA. My writing also appears in the Nashville Tennessean, on women.com and on tnpc.com (The National Parenting Center)as well as on my own web site (www.askevelyn.com)and other link-related sites. I am also a regular feature writer for "Children and Families" magazine.
Education/Credentials BA Child Development/Family Life; Purdue University
MA Education (early ed priority); Central Mich. University
Awards and Honors Honored by the Michigan State Legislature and the Michigan Childrens' Trust Fund for the Prevention of Child Abuse for writing that helps to promote positive parenting skills. Winner of several Press Women Awards for various columns. Winner of Parents' Choice Recommended Award for the book "Growing Responsible Kids".
Question I am asking on behalf of my best friend. She has a 6 y/o son who is K. Almost every day in class he gets a red light because he is either talking, singing or playing when he should be listening. She has tried time-outs, taking away his game cube, which is his favorite thing to do, and also spankings. Nothing is working! At the beginning of the year she tried the reward system, get a green light so many days in a row and get a reward, that only worked for a while. He minds and will be quite when he is told but quickly forgets. He is very smart and does all his work he just can't seem to sit still and be quite while doing it? What do you suggest?
Answer Please forgive me but I think that whole system of red, yellow and green light indicators is incredibly stupid and inappropriate for kindergarten children. I would not have my child in a Kindergarten which would expect children to sit still for long periods and listen to an adult lecture on something. Children this age need hands on learning centers as well as whole group listening times. I cannot help you except to say your friend is doing all she can. if rewards helped most, she should continue to use that method. If she thinks the child has a learning problem relating to focus, she needs to have him tested (free) by a specialist the school can refer her to.
