Check it Out! Products You Can Use: Forming Good Habits
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PSN Team 
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Forming Good Habits
Keystone habits” like making the bed, journaling, exercising–which have a positive “domino effect” on other areas of our lives—are small actions that when performed regularly affect other parts of our life. These habits start a chain reaction and cause a series of other positive behaviors to occur. One example of outcomes from a keystone habit is when a family eats meals together regularly, kids are more likely to develop better homework skills, good grades, stronger emotional skills and more self-control.
Researchers have also found that keystone habits like making the bed regularly correlates to greater productivity, a sense of well-being, and stronger planning skills. Sounds like a prime keystone habit to instill in every child!
Reward charts (effective for many kids) can be a first step to motivate kids to follow through and promote good habits. Every morning your child makes the bed, give her a point, sticker or chip to acknowledge the task. Pick up a Toy“R”Us Toy Guide for Differently Abled Kids from your local Toys“R”Us or Babies“R”Us store, online or downloadable app to browse the toys and let the kids decide which toy they want as a reward for good habits. 
Establish a number of points per habit and the total amount of points needed for each toy.
Reward Worthy
Every time your child makes his bed, use a visible reminder and give him a point, sticker or chip. When they have collected enough points to earn a toy, it’s time to go shopping!
Here are a few of our favorite toys from the Toys“R”Us Guide we feel are reward worthy:
Radio Flyer Cyclone – Kids can zoom, spin and grin using arm-powered action!
Tomy Chugginton Trains & Tracks – Critical thinking skills get on board as kids get Brewster rolling around the track.
Hexbug Toys – Children can hold the Nano Bug in their hands to feel the vibrations and stimulate nerves on the skin.
Fisher-Price – Educational toys for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
Reviewed by Ahren Hoffman
Helpful Books for Parents of Children with Special Needs
The Frugal Paleo Cookbook
by Ciarra Hannah, Page Street Publishing
Cooking these 100 easy, wallet-friendly, Paleo recipes will help feed the whole family. Ciarra uses flavorful but less expensive cuts of meat in traditional yet approachable cooking methods, as well as her roll-forward technique for creating multiple dishes to maximize your time in the kitchen. You’ll love her keys to budgeting, tips for making items ahead of time, 5-ingredients-or-less seasoning blends and other money-saving pointers.
Patient’s Dental Handbook
by Robert Fullton McGee and Linda McGee ,Tate Publishing
Have you ever wanted professional dental care but didn’t know where or how to begin? Are you looking for ways to have a perfect smile at an affordable price? The Patient’s Dental Handbook provides everything you should know before seeking dental treatment in order to make intelligent decisions regarding your dental care.
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This post originally appeared on our January/February 2015 Magazine
