and Closeness foal ROTI RC a cui Mom and dad ~ they’re two of the most important people in your life. You probably see at least one of them every day and, over your lifetime, they're likely to influence you more than anyone else you will meet. So if your dad is a football fan, you will perhaps like football, too. ‘And if your mom loves to read, you just might grow up carrying a book wherever you go, just like she does. But parents do a lot more than just pass along their hobbies. Moms and dads need to care for their kids from the minute they’re born. It’s a parent’s job to love and guide kids — and most parents will do this as long as they live — even when the “kids” are grown up and have children of their own. That means you have many years ahead to share with your mom and dad. Here are five ways you can stay close, get along, and build a strong relationship: Spend time together. How much time do you spend just enjoying each other’s company? Instead of playing a computer game or watching TV, maybe ask your mom and dad to play with you. Go outside together, try a board game, or read a book out loud. If your parents are divorced, make the most of the time you spend together. In between, talk on the phone and email each other to stay in touch. Share your feelings and ask for help. Many kids say they’d like their parents to help them when they’re unhappy. But your mom or dad might not know that you’re having a problem. Tell ‘a parent if you’re sad or have a problem. Be kind. Little things might mean a lot to your mom or dad. You can brighten a parent’s day with a hug, a card, or a joke. It’s also lovely when a kid offers to help with the housework or cleans up his or her room without being asked. And if you try not to fight with your brothers or sisters, your parents might be really happy! Show you care. Some families are always kissing, hugging, and saying “I love you.” Other fami- lies aren’t as lovey-dovey. But it’s important to show that you care for each other. Kids and parents show their love by respecting each other, being caring, and polite. Do your best at whatever you do. You don’t have to be perfect, but when you do your best, you make your parents proud. It makes them happy to see how you’re turning into such a great kid. Why? Because it lets them know they’re doing a good job. Source: htip://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/home_family/parents. html iro Inahouse with more than one kid, there always are some problems. Brothers and sisters borrow stuff, and don’t always return it. Younger kids sometimes feel like the older kids do whatever they want. Older brothers and sisters think that the baby of the family gets more attention. These are typical problems at any age, everywhere in the world.When brothers and sisters don’t get along, it’s called sibling rivalry. A sibling is a brother or sister and rivalry means competition. It’s normal, but too much competition can lead to an unhappy home life. Have you ever heard of the green-eyed monster called jealousy? Sometimes brothers and sisters are jealous of one another. For instance, if your sister always does well at school, it may be frustrating for you, especially if your grades are lower. ‘Although you're probably proud of your sibling or siblings, it’s normal to be a little jealous, too. But you should remind yourself that you have special talents. Your sister may have won an art contest, but you might be better at basketball, or math, or singing. Eight-year-old Marisa says her brother “always wins running races, but I always get good grades for homework and that makes me feel better.” It may be hard to believe now, but your brother or sister may turn out to be your best friend someday. Many brothers and sisters fight and compete with each other while growing up but become very close when they get older. As you grow up, your friends might change, but your family is your family forever. Source: http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/home_family/sibling_rivalry.html Ask any kid: Grandparents are great. They’re known worldwide as great companions and often give their grandchildren special treats and lots of love. Some kids live far away from their grandparents so they stay in touch by phone, through email, and with letters. Other kids live close to their grandparents, making it easy to visit often. And still other kids live with their grandparents. Sometimes, the family is sharing the grandparents’ house and sometimes the grandparent moves into the family’s house or apartment, Maybe your grandmother moved in with your family because she was having trouble living alone. Or maybe your grandparents take care of you in place of your mom or dad. Being a grandparent is a big job, but grandparents have a lot of experience. They cared for your parent when he or she was a kid! And grandparents have been the heads of households since the beginning of time. In many cultures — Native American and Chinese, for instance — grandparents are looked up to as a source of wisdom. Source: http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/home_family/grandparents. htm! 0. Your parents a) are only important for you while you are a kid. ) care about you as long as they live. c) will not change their hobbies as long as they live.Famity — WaRMTH AND CLOSENESS _ a7 Your parents’ a) hobbies will never become your future hobbies. b) job is only to earn lots of money. ©) main job is to care about their kids and love them. ‘You, as the kid in a family a) can also do a lot to have a good relationship with your parents. b) have nothing else to do but enjoy your parents’ love and caring. ©) have to share your parents’ ideas and hobbies There are five ways given in the text that a) might help you to stay close to your parents. b) show you how to help around the house at home. ¢) tell you about how your parents care about you. It’s important to a) play computer games and watch TV together. b) do different things together; to play, to go out together or read. ©) play board games every day. If your parents are divorced, you should a) only care about the one you live together with. b) make your parents spend time together with each other. c) do everything to have a good relationship with both of your parents. Ifyou are sad or have a problem you a) shouldn’t talk about it to your parents; they’ve got enough problems. b) should share your feelings with your parents and ask for help. c) should find help outside your family. You can be kind to your parents by a) doing little things; helping with the housework, not fighting with your brother or sister, ete, b) hugging and kissing them all the time. c) cleaning up your sister’s or brother's room after a big fight with them. Ina good family parents and children a) doa lot of housework every day. b) are lovey-dovey. ) respect each other and care about each other. To make your parents happy you have to a) do your best. b) be perfect. c) tell them they’re doing a good job. 41Famity - WARMTH AND CLOSENESS 10 If your parents see you are becoming a nice kid a) they can work harder. b) it makes them proud and happy. ©) they will think they’re perfect. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 r 8 9 10 B 2. Read Text 2 about siblings and grandparents and fill in the gaps. The first one is done for you. 0. If you're not an only child, there might be some _problems_ between you and your sibling(s). 1 Itsnormaltobe_ __ of your sister or brother even if you have a good relationship 2. Many sisters and brothers always fight and with each other when they’re kids and then they become best friends. 3. If your sister ot brother is better than you at something, you should know that you've got special ; 4 When you've got problems with your sister or brother, it’s called sibling 5 Everyone in the world knows that grandparents are great _ and give lots of love to their grandchildren. 6 Your grandparents cared about your mom or your dad when they were kids, so they've got lots of 3. Do the sentences below say the same as Text 2 or do they state something different? ‘There is an example for you. 7 0 In many cultures grandparents do all the housework. No, the text says that grandparents have been the heads of households and are respected as a source of wisdo! many cultures. 1 Ifyou live far away from your grandparents you can still have a good relationship with them; you can call them on phone, send emails and letters to them. 2. Older brothers or sisters think that the youngest kid in the family can do whatever he or she wants. 3. Sibling rivalry is a very bad thing; you shouldn't be jealous of your sister or brother. 4. Some kids live together with their grandparents because one of their grandparents couldn’t live alone any more.