Teaching piano to children
www.helium.com/items/921453
Pianos for Children
www.ronjuneshop.com/childrenstoypiano.html
Story books for children learning to play the piano
http://www.pianobears.com
Songs for Worship
www.amazon.com/Songs-Worship-Kids-Sing-Praise/dp/B000066JGK
Piano Education Page
http://pianoeducation.org/pnokids.html#Note
What Kids Need to Succeed
http://www.freespirit.com/catalog/item_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=191
Benefits of Music Education
http://www.music-education.getyoureducationhere.com/permalink.php?article=Benefits+of+Music+Education.txt
The Benefits of Music Across Ethnic Lines
www.masterworks.wordpress.com
A Child's Guide to Greatness
www.squidoo.com

In this day and age there are so many harmful influences that can affect children. Children are very impressionable and are unable to discern on their own whether their involvement in certain activities is detrimental. Therefore, parents must become "involved in the child's life and monitor" (Perkins, 2001) their day to day activities.

According to Dr. Peter Benson, Ph.D., Judy Galbraith, M.A. and Pamela Espeland, authors of What Kids Need to Succeed, there are eight different factors which enable a child to develop a sense of security, make wise decisions, and to grow up to be responsible, caring, and compassionate. These factors are grouped under external assets and internal assets. The external assets include support, empowerment, boundaries and expectations and constructive use of time. The internal assets include commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies, and positive identity.

In order for the children to develop these assets, they must be involved in relationships with adults, their peers and younger children. They must also hear consistent messages from the adults relative to what is important and what is expected from them.

The constructive use of time is what I would want to focus on. I know that when I was a child, my mother kept her children busy. We never ran out of things to do. She taught us crafts, while my father taught me art. I can remember sitting around my mother in a circle while she taught us how to knit and crochet. My sisters and I laugh now about the little ones who were only able to crochet chains. They must have had crocheted a chain about a mile long! I learned how to make cookies when I was six and I learned sewing in school. By the age of 14, I could sew well enough to make my own clothes. We always played music in our house. On rainy days, we would often thumb through the two sets of encyclopedias or read other books.

We loved music and whenever my sister and I came in contact with a piano, we would try to play songs and learned how to play from other students. It was not until I was an adult that I developed an interest in playing the piano.

I never realized how valuable these experiences were until I met women in my adult life who could not do the things that I could. I cannot say that my home life was perfect, but I can say that as children, my sisters and I never got into trouble with the law. I am not saying that all children should take piano lessons, but most children like creative activities of some sort.

Here are some things you can do to insure that your children are making constructive use of their time:

1. If you play an instrument or have creative ability of any kind, practice your instrument or craft often to set a good example for your children.
2. If your children show an interest in playing the piano or some other interest or craft, encourage them to become involved by enrolling them in lessons. Provide all the supplies that they need and encourage them to practice.
3. Experience the arts everyday in some way such as attending concerts, recitals, operas, listening to music, singing in choirs or choral groups.
4. I am available for piano lessons in Newport, RI. Send me an e-mail at: gailcav@cox.net.

Reference

Benson, Galbraith, & Espreland, (2007), What kids need to succeed, In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Free Spirit Publishing, Inc.

Perkins, D., (2001), Resiliency and thriving in families and youth, Penn State, 2, 3, 3
http://www.resiliency.cas.psu.edu/RTFY/RTFYSept2001.pdf

This is an excellent resource of blogs by category for those who home school their children.

www.family.com
A blog for families to share their struggles and joys as well as debates about childrearing.

www.masterworks.wordpress.com
Blog written by a piano teacher