Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Don’t constantly tell your child that they’re smart. Encourage a growth mindset instead of praising intelligence. Feed their stomachs to help grow their minds. Respect different learning styles. Love your child.

Answer: Of course you want to tell your child how proud they make you, but telling your child too much that they’re smart can actually discourage them. If they constantly hear that they’re intelligent or gifted, they may begin to think that intelligence is completely innate, and that they don’t need to try. When things do get difficult, they may then get discouraged and fall behind. Believing that abilities can be gained through effort is called a growth mindset. Fostering this in your child can encourage them to be more well-rounded and intelligent overall.  Praise your child for their hard work rather than their intelligence, with statements like “Your effort really paid off on that math test,” instead of “You aced that test! What a genius!” Tell your child stories about when you worked hard for something, especially when you had to struggle to succeed. These techniques will teach your child to persevere and to react well to setbacks. That way, they can maximize the full potential of their intelligence. When your child is struggling or has failed at something, talk to them about it. Ask them what they would do differently, and encourage them to keep trying. If your child is struggling with a subject at school, help them learn it in a different way. For example, if your child isn't good with math, ask them to help you measure food when you cook or to add up items around the house. The old saying is that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and there is some truth to that. If your child is hungry in the morning, they’ll have trouble concentrating later in the day, and can become tired or irritable. Feed them well in the morning, and they’ll be set up for a day of success.  Try to give your child a nutritious breakfast with things like protein and whole grains, instead of sugary cereals and snacks. A nutritious breakfast could include things like oatmeal and fruit, whole-grain toast with peanut butter, yogurt and granola, or an omelette with fillings like spinach and cheese. Experts now recognize that there are numerous types of intelligence, and different styles that are associated with them. For instance, your child might be a spatial learner, someone who does best when they can try things “hands on.” Or, your child might be a verbal learner, someone who does best when they can talk about what to do.  Be open to your child’s learning styles, which may be different than your own. Help them find activities and learning strategies that they enjoy and that help them reach their potential. The loving connection formed between you and your child and your one-on-one interaction with him provide the foundation for their higher thinking skills. Remember that it’s not all about the brain! A loving, nurturing, safe, and happy home is one of the greatest gifts you can give a child. Hug, talk to, and play with your child! Positive interaction is key.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Clean out an area of your home. Get a punching bag. Find instruction. Choose an area to focus on first.

Answer: Since you'll be doing a lot of jumping, kicking, punching, and basically tearing through whatever's in front of you (or to the left, right, or behind), designate an area of your home to be for your kung fu practice sessions. At least ten feet by ten feet should be plenty. If you don't have an empty room you can use, just clear out the corner of a room and remove any object you don't want to break or that you can hurt yourself with. You can hold off on this for a bit, but eventually you'll want a punching bag. At first you'll be doing your moves just in the air, but eventually you'll want to have resistance, which is where a punching bag comes in handy. You can hang a bag from your ceiling (if the room makes that feasible) or you can purchase a free-standing one at most sporting goods stores. Simply put, an actual teacher, or "sifu," is the best way to learn kung fu. But you can also learn kung fu yourself if you're diligent and persevere. Buy some DVDs, watch some videos online, or look at the websites of schools. Many have short videos that offer you a taste of the program, teaching you moves at the same time. It's best to find more than one source. There a few different schools of kung fu, and you want to make sure you're doing the one that appeals most to you. What's more, there are some people out there that claim to be experts when they're really not. Finding more than one source can help you know that you're doing it correctly. There's so much to learn when it comes to kung fu – to tell yourself that you're going to learn everything is quite the tall order. When you're starting off, pick a focus. Once you get a few stances down, do you want to concentrate on jumping? Kicking? Punching? This makes it easy to write yourself a lesson plan, too. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, say, you'll work on stances and kicks. Then, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, you mix it up with core skills, like balance and flexibility.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Have an emergency plan in place. Ask a lawyer for advice. Look at your state's laws. Take self-defense classes. Get pepper spray. Buy a taser. Purchase a firearm. Avoid illegal means of protecting your property.

Answer:
If something does happen and an intruder gets into your property, you want to make sure you and your family have a plan. If you do not have a professional security system, you might need to call 911 yourself. In addition to calling law enforcement, everyone in your family should have a planned escape route and rendezvous point where everyone can meet after getting out of the home. You should always get out of the home or hide if possible. Never confront the intruder unless absolutely necessary. While other methods of defending your property focus on what you can do to deter intruders, you also need to know what to do if an intruder is already on your property. Before you purchase a gun or protect your property through the use of force, talk to a lawyer about the laws in your state. Each state has different laws regarding what is acceptable for property owners to do in the face of a home invasion. Lawyers will be able to give you the most up-to-date information that can be relied on. To find a qualified lawyer, visit your state bar association's lawyer referral service website. After answering a few general questions, you will be put in contact with multiple qualified lawyers in your area. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer you can do the research on your own. Start your research by doing a simple internet search. Use Google or another search engine and search for "[your state's] home protection laws" or "[your state's] castle doctrine".  After doing some initial research online, go to your local law library to continue your search. Ask the librarian for help on the subject. They should be able to point you in the direction of statutes and court cases you can read on the subject of protecting your home from intruders. Read these laws and gain an understanding of what is and what is not allowed. If your neighborhood has had recent intruders or if you simply want to know how to protect yourself, visit your local police website and search for offered self-defense classes. Most police stations will offer free classes for individuals concerned for their physical safety. Most classes will teach you how to assess threats, strike vulnerable areas of an intruder's body, and escape from an intruder's grasp.  A lot of classes are meant for females who want to know how to protect themselves from sexual assaults; however, these same skills can be used to protect yourself from intruders, regardless of the intruder's intentions.  If you are a male looking to learn how to protect yourself, ask your local law enforcement agency about options in your community. The same people that teach women's self-defense classes will most likely have other classes available for you. Pepper spray is a canister that can be kept close to you in your home. If an intruder is present, you can use it to disorient and inflict physical pain on them. Pepper spray is usually available at sporting goods stores, online, and through pharmacies. Each state will have different laws regarding the purchase and use of this tool so make sure you know how to use it legally. For example, in California, canisters can only be a certain size and can only contain a certain level of the active ingredient "OC." In New York, you can only purchase pepper spray from a licensed pharmacist.  To use pepper spray, grasp the canister in your hand and use your thumb to press down the trigger. Point the canister in the direction of the intruder and squeeze the trigger when the intruder gets within two arm lengths of you. Aim the stream at the eyes of the intruder. Once the intruder has been hit with the spray, step aside but do not turn your back on the intruder. Continue spraying until there is a safe opportunity to run away. Make sure you practice using the pepper spray so you feel comfortable with it. This will make using it easier when you are faced with an intrusion.  Don't touch your face with the hand used to deploy the pepper spray, as some may get on your hands. Try to hold your breath when you spray so you don't inhale any of the pepper spray. If you think you need something stronger than pepper spray, a taser should be your next option. A taser will disrupt the intruder's body communication system. When this happens, the intruder will become immobile for a short period of time. When used properly, a taser should allow you to get away from an intruder safely. Tasers are not allowed to be used in a number of states including Hawaii, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Check with your state laws before you purchase and/or use a taser to protect your property. Other states limit the use of tasers to homes and to people with valid permits. Tasers come in many forms and each one will be used differently; therefore, before using any taser, make sure you receive training and practice with your weapon. The improper use of a taser may cause you to get injured. As a last resort, if your safety cannot be secured through the use of other tools, you should consider purchasing a firearm. In most cases, you will have to go through a background check before you buy the gun. In some states (e.g., California), you may even have to wait a number of days before you can purchase the gun. For the purpose of home defense, a pistol or specialized shotgun are your best options. These weapons are easy to use and store safely in close quarters.  Before bringing a firearm into your home, go to gun ranges and practice with different types of firearms. Get an idea of what works best for you and what you feel comfortable with. It is incredibly important to know how to handle a gun safely so you do not injure yourself or your family. Owning a gun is a serious responsibility. A firearm should only be used in incredibly limited circumstances when an intruder is seriously threatening your life or the life of your family. Never use more force than needed to protect your property from intruders. If you use excessive force, you may be get in legal trouble. For example, never use booby traps to protect your property. These devices might include trip wires, bear traps, bamboo pits, and snares. Even if your state has not outlawed these things, when you use them you run the risk of innocent bystanders being harmed by them.