October Challenge: Take 10/Stop. Look. and Listen

Question: When's the last time you put the old fireman's adage to use? Stop. Look. and Listen! This month's challenge is to put it to the ultimate test. 24 hours=1,440 minutes. Spend 10 UNINTERRUPTED minutes of your day Listening to your child. The challenge becomes tricky if you have a multi-kid household, but even then the math is simple. 10 x The # of children in your home. If you must divide the time with another adult or older sibling, then by all means... please do so. All too often we get lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life that we forget to just stop, look, and listen to those dearest to us. If we as adults are swept away in the busyness, what of our children?? Take 10 minutes out of your hectic day. My guess is you'll be surprised at how much they have to say & how much you don't know. The sessions may go a little slowly at first. Don't be discouraged. Not only is this a 'talking' challenge, it's also an 'observation' challenge. As parents sharpen their listening skills, unspoken observations will become more clear. Children know when someone genuinely cares and eventually they will verbally open up.

*Because this challenge may be difficult to achieve on a daily basis, set 3 days aside each week. Mark it on your calender. Child(ren) and Parent/Caregiver alike will begin to look forward to that sacred time. So Take 10 to Stop. Look. and Listen.

AEF President & Founder-- Katandra Shanel Jackson Taylor

September 2011 Challenge

Attention: Mothers, Aunts, Sisters, Grandmothers, Female Family Members/Friends. Now is the time, a conversation is in order. The good thing about this is that there is no age requirement. Children are never too young to learn Correct Terminology. But first before you trade 'boobs' for breast and 'pee pee' for vagina/penis... ask them what do they already know. My guess is you'll be surprised. In the case of single fathers, seek the voice of a female family member or friend that your child(ren) is/are comfortable around.

The purpose in this month long challenge is to open up the more serious channel of conversation with our children. Often times 'cutesy' names for our private parts/genitalia induce snickers to downright uproarous laughter. By expanding their vocabulary with these very powerful words, we empower their voices. As the month unfolds and conversations take place, please feel free to comment via this note. Share your experience, your fear, your relief, your trepidation, your own experience with this topic as a child, any tips that may be beneficial in preparing for this 'talk'. Thank you.

--AEF President, Katandra Shanel Jackson {Taylor}