By now most of you know that Alissa Peichel has been the sparkplug behind the success of Minnesota Say Yes to No. Alissa was so captured by the importance of the Say Yes to No message that last May she signed on as the coordinator of the groundbreaking campaign. Today, one year later, at least five hundred Say Yes to No conversations have taken place with more being scheduled every day. Leaders in Michigan and Allen County, Indiana are busy getting ready to bring Say Yes to No to their states in the next school year.

 

Alissa’s talent and commitment transformed an idea into a movement that has drawn interest from around the world. More importantly, it has sparked conversations and decisions among parents and educators that will position our children and youth for success. A measure of the importance of Alissa’s work came from an elementary school teacher last month: “This could be the thing that not only saves our kids, but saves our society.”

 

Alissa has decided it is time for her to move on to her next adventure. She is leaving Say Yes to No at the end of this week and preparing to go on to graduate school. Please join me in thanking Alissa for laying the foundation that we can build on. Just click on the comment button and wish Alissa good luck in her future endeavors.

Dave Walsh

 

 

A very special email awaited me this morning.  Our coordinator, whom many of you know, Alissa Rath accompanied a group of students from St. Cloud University to China last January.  One of those students, Silu Ma, was so impressed with our Say Yes to No message that he is translating some of our Say Yes to No materials into Chinese as a gift. 

 

It’s a book.  It’s a conversation.  It’s success for our kids.

 

We hope to continue the language translations.  Parents in many cultures and countries are looking for the message and conversations of No.  What started as an initial spark in Minnesota is quickly spreading around the country.

 

Another interesting study from the Pew Internet and American Life Project popped up today also.  It seems that a lot of our kids are using their texting, and IMing shorthand style of writing in their classroom assignments and writing reports.  Little happy faces are popping up all over.  What do you think?  Should kids be allowed to be ‘creative’ and use this new language in their school assignments or should teachers and professors expect standard English?  Send us your comments.

David Walsh

People energized by their Say Yes to No conversations and book reads want to spread the word. We are excited to announce a new feature on our Say Yes to No website. You can now add your event easily by clicking on the ADD YOUR EVENT button on the Events page http://www.sayyestono.org/events.html from the top tool bar.

We want to hear about your Say Yes to No event!  Send us the details by clicking on our new ADD YOUR EVENT button and we will post it on our Say Yes to No Events page. Parents and community members are hearing about Say Yes to No and want to know where they can plug in. You can help.

Here’s what one administrator said about their event: “Parents tell me that they wish they would have read this book years ago.”

The public is welcome to the Say Yes to No speaking event next Monday, April 28, 7-8:30pm at the Mraz Center at Burnsville High School. Child care will be provided.

Many of our parent conversations in the Say Yes to No campaign touch on how to handle the media in our children’s lives. We at the Institute work to provide parents with resources and information to make media a healthy, productive and fun part of family life. This week is the annual TV-Turn Off Week sponsored by the Center for Screen Time Awareness. This is a valuable time for parents and kids to take stock of their screen time use: is it too much? Are other activities sliding by? Is it just right?

With your kids, make a plan to turn off the electronic screens for entertainment this week and focus on interests and hobbies. Try a Family Game Night or check out your local park or nature center. If you are looking for ideas of family friendly places or events in your city, check out Go City Kids at www.gocitykids.com.

Click here http://www.mediafamily.org/earlychild/screen-free-activities.shtml for screen free activities from the Institute for your pre-schooler, toddler or infant. Many families have re-discovered a whole new way of being together when they shift their focus from the screens in their lives.

The Minnesota Masonic Charities have been a platinum sponsor of Say Yes to No from the beginning. Their support has put hundreds of No books and Say Yes to No materials in the hands of parents all over the state. This active support has led to overwhelming turnout of parents and ongoing book reads and conversations.

Winona School District is one example where Paul Durand, Superintendent, Winona Area Public Schools, Lori Ortega and Clarence Russell, Winona Masonic Lodge (featured in picture) joined forces to support the parents and educators in their school district with a hugely successful kickoff event and follow-up Say Yes to No book reads and conversations.

 

Last Friday, the Masons again expressed support as I was invited to speak at their annual conference in Duluth. Over 400 Masons gathered from all over Minnesota and heard the Say Yes to No message with enthusiasm.  hank you again to the Masons.

Do you have a Say Yes to No story?  Please share it by posting a comment.

There’s still snowy weather in the Northland, but that didn’t stop over 200 parents and educators from showing up at Richfield High School last night to hear a presentation on No.

One group of moms was particularly there on a mission. The LAATE CLUB (Ladies Assisting Adolescents Till Evolution) from SW Minneapolis, having read Why Do They Act That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain For You and Your Teen, were interested in No parenting strategies for teens.

This group is a great example of parents supporting one another through the ups and downs of adolescence, helping their kids (and themselves) manage the teen years with a minimum of bumps and bruises. Parenting in an age of More, Fast, Easy, and Fun isn’t easy.

Who do you rely on for parenting support?  A friend, a group?

Help another parent, share your story.

With the economic news swirling from dire predictions to dire realities, our schools and kids need parent and community support more than ever before. The business community has been dealing with the global market place for a while, and now our kids are going to have to find their way to success in the global marketplace too. These thoughts were running through my mind during the first year college seminar I spoke at last week. I’ve related several of the comments these nineteen-year-old students made and here’s one more:

“I am afraid for the way things will be like when we graduate from college. The workplace will be looking for people who can work really hard. I don’t think we know how to do that.” -Student

These students are hitting the realities of life and expressed a lot of worries. We know that Say Yes to No will equip kids with the self-discipline they need to meet these challenges. The lessons come in small doses, but result in a big payoff.

What lesson do you think your child will learn from No? Please, post a comment and share your thoughts. Thank you.

Word of Say Yes to No spreads quickly, with school and community groups starting book reads all over the state. Here’s what one parent did:

“I attended a Say Yes to No event with Erin Walsh as the speaker. As a result, I am working with our local police chief, the director of our youth probation and our local chemical health initiative group to initiate a Say Yes to No book club through the schools.”  -A parent

One person can have a lot of impact in a community. We’re also spreading the word using the Internet with this blog, eNews, etc. Here’s one website that has picked up on the importance of Say Yes to No for kids: PlayTimePlanIt.com – a website with great things to do with kids in the Twin Cities. Here’s what they say:

 “It seems kids these days are overweight, overindulged and over stimulated. If you have concerns, check out this great campaign based on the book No! Why Kids of All Ages Need to Hear It by local author and child and family advocate, David Walsh.”

They ask for comments. Help spread No – add your comment!

This headline jumped out at me over my morning coffee. My first reaction was, “Great, teachers are supporting elementary school kids.”  But I quickly realized that the headline carried more dire news. The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system released a study Wednesday stating that 38% of our Minnesota high school graduates had to take at least one remedial course upon entering college – 38%!

This study directly connects with my seminar No conversation with a group of college freshman. Here’s another quote from one of those students: “What you are saying about the impact of behavior on achievement is absolutely correct. I sailed through high school with straight A’s, hardly had any homework. I was one of the “good kids.” I was completely unprepared for college work. My first semester at the U of MN was like getting hit by a truck.”

I get feedback like this wherever I visit. The impact of not teaching our kids the self-discipline they need to be successful reaches from pre-school to college. When teachers have to deal more with student behavior than teaching & parents do not support teachers, the “pact” happens and grades are more indicative of behavior than academic achievement. All kids are impacted – those who do have self-discipline and those who don’t.

Do you agree or disagree?  Please post your comments.

I spoke in a seminar class to a group of nineteen-year-old college freshmen yesterday about brain development and No. The students engaged in the topic immediately and I want to share their responses over the next few blogs because it’s important.

Here’s a quote from one student: “If I talked to my parents the way my 10 year-old-brother talks to my parents, I would have been in my room for hours.”

Teachers, parents, police officers, youth workers, child care providers, etc. across the state and indeed, the country agree that rude and disrespectful behavior is a major issue. It’s the top reason many of our teachers leave the profession after only a few years. Police officers who work with juveniles and in our schools tell me that kids’ behavior has deteriorated quickly in just the last five years. A pre-school child care provider is worried about the rude behavior and language she sees in her young children.

Emotional self-regulation, common courtesy, cooperation, respect, ability to work in groups – these are all skills requiring self-discipline.  Children need to learn how to self-regulate their behavior. Parents are the first and most important teachers. A failure to learn the lessons of No will have ramifications beyond the family and school and into adult friendships and work success.

What No parenting strategy have you tried?  Share your story.