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Parent Choices Radio Show

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Posted: Sep 11, 2013 00:45

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Woodbury Reports, Inc.
Bonners Ferry, ID


Of What Use
Are Grandparents?



Contact:
Lon Woodbury, MA, CEP, IECA
208-267-5550
lonwoodbury@gmail.com
www.strugglingteens.com

Featuring:
Dan Blanchard, Teacher/Author and Speaker
Mansfield, CT
860-786-7094
Dan007blanchard@gmail.com
www.granddaddysecrets.com



September 2, 2013

On today's Labor Day show of Parent Choices for Struggling Teens, Lon Woodbury's guest, Dan Blanchard, an inner city Social Studies teacher talked with Lon about the underused resources that grandparents are in helping to raise and mentor kids in our society. "Our youth today are missing out on knowing the elders in our families and in our communities. The knowledge that they have is of more value than ever before and if they would learn from them, it would improve everything and the kids would not have to go through so many massive mistakes, if they had elderly mentors in their corner."

"A lot of older people are not feeling valued and are divorcing themselves from the day to day activities of their kids and their grandkids lives. Feeling a lack of appreciation or of worth, many older people are moving south for the winters and just moving on with their lives. And the young people aren't looking towards their elders as mentors; rather, they are looking at people in the public eye such as celebrities, actors and actresses, sports players and singers and rap players, idolizing these young adults as role models and thinking the "old people" have nothing to give them.

Blanchard explained "Our elders are a wealth of knowledge and we need them in all areas of our lives. There are so many civic organizations and clubs needing volunteers, which are under supported: from boy scouts and girl scouts, volunteer coaching for sports teams, schools from grade school up to senior high teachers needing assistance with reading and math tutoring or just plain help in the classroom. Schools need to improve on their end with utilizing the elders in the community perhaps as guest speakers in the classrooms. These older people have had successful careers in their lifetimes: scientists, teachers, politicians, doctors, lawyers and the list goes on and on. The students then become comfortable and used to being around older people."

Dan's books, the GrandDaddy Secrets series were written for both teens and parents. "I wrote them so that people won't lose hope for when everything gets hard and hopeless. There are people out there to help." With the encouragement from his students during the last ten years pushing him to write his books, Dan wants his books to be a positive role model for kids. With useful tips for kids to succeed in life, Dan listed off a few of his favorites: Be a lifelong learner- read a book, learn something new, have fun…make learning fun and stop looking at it as a dreaded place to go. And "GOYA" which simply means: Get off your behind. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and get up and move and go help someone…when you are helping someone else, you forget about your own troubles and have self-respect and confidence in yourself.

To listen to the full interview, go to Of What Use Are Grandparents? on LATalkRadio.

Also available in Podcast

Lon Woodbury is the owner/founder of Woodbury Reports, Inc. and www.strugglingteens.com. He has worked with families and struggling teens since 1984 and is the host of Parent Choices for Struggling Teens. He has also authored three eBooks currently on Amazon.com.

Dan Blanchard teaches Social Studies in Connecticut's largest inner-city high school in addition to being chosen by the American Federation of Teachers, as their face and voice of education reform, as a teacher consultant for the University of Connecticut's - Connecticut Writing Project. Dan is a two time Junior Olympian wrestler and two time Junior Olympian Wrestling Coach. He has authored two teen leadership books: Feeling Lucky? And Feeling Good. Dan's third book of the GrandDaddy's Secrets series: Feeling Strong is due out this winter. When Dan is not teaching, coaching, writing or at a speaking engagement, you will find him at home with his wife, Jennifer and their five children and Daisy the dog.


Stay Tuned for Upcoming Programs:



September 9, 2013
Frank Granett: "Over Medicating our Youth"

September 16, 2013
Colleen Norris: "Ask a Kid"

September 23, 2013
Peter Eden: Landmark College, "Special Approaches to LD Education"






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