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Seeing Purple - On Pens and Paying Attention

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:05:06 +0000

It’s back-to-school time once again, and purple is IN. I’m not talking about fashion trends–though the September issues of most magazines are singing the praises of plum and berry shades. No, I’m referring to the hottest item at Office Depot, Staples, and other school supply meccas.

Purple pens.

According to a recent article in The Boston Globe, many teachers are giving up their infamous red pens and turning to purple. Although some stalwarts are gripping their crimson felt tips, others are embracing the royal shade in all its jewel tones.

Red is aggressive. It suggests danger. It makes us stop. A returned assignment covered with red corrections is a hallmark of humiliation. If “seeing red” is a euphemism for rage, seeing red marks is a sign of failure.

Bring on the purple. Purple is friendlier. Violet checks aren’t as likely to cause cringing. Lavender circles are easier on the eyes. Purple gets your attention without increasing your heart rate, and according to color psychologists, it is therapeutic for those suffering from nervous tension or mental anguish.

I feel like dancing in the streets in my orchid boots, tossing my lilac beret in the air and twirling my dozen iris scarves. You see, I am known as the “woman who wears purple” and I make it a big part of my work.

I use purple to make a statement, but I’m borrowing the idea from Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple, who said: “I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it.”

Purple makes perfect sense as my color of choice. There’s nothing woo-woo about it for me. It’s not favored by my guru (I don’t have one). It isn’t about connecting with my chakras. It happens to be in style this season, but believe me, if I am considered a fashionista, it is purely by accident.

No, I use purple as my black because of Alice Walker and chromotherapy. If boysenberry walls stimulate deeper concentration in monks who spend all day meditating, it’s good enough for me. Besides, I look good in it.

I hand out custom-ordered purple M&Ms in my workshops as part of a mindfulness exercise. I encourage clients to consider grape-colored items as triggers for paying attention. Would red work just as well? Possibly, but it’s more glaring. Red reminds us of sirens–and blood.

Red says “gotta” while purple says “please”. Red means business, but purple hints that there’s a party down the hall when you’re finished.

Critics of the pen switch say that educators should be more concerned with teaching skills and less worried about bruising feelings. They say that those traditional red pens create tension and that’s what motivates students to get it right next time.

Hmm. Tension doesn’t help me learn better.

I don’t like paying bills, but using purple ink to write my checks makes it all a bit more festive. I’m guessing teachers would benefit from the color switch as much as students.

Purple is the color of mindfulness. I can’t think of anything more likely to prevent mistakes than a friendly reminder to pay attention. Purple pens could turn out to be effective triggers for learning, and at the very least, make those corrections more palatable.

Now, where’s that party?

About The Author

Maya Talisman Frost is a former teacher and mother of four teenage daughters. She offers specialized mindfulness training in Portland, Oregon. Her work has inspired thinkers in over 90 countries. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, visit http://mindmasseuse.com

maya@mindmasseuse.com

Teenage Gambling At Post Prom High School Party

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:05:03 +0000

The latest trend to hit high schools is supervised teenage gambling at the Post Prom School Party. Over the past few months I have received numerous emails from parents, students and school faculty expressing concern about the new alternative entertainment. In all cases these people believe it would do more harm then good.

The concept became reality for students once the Post Prom Committee voted to accept this new alternative entertainment.
This Post Prom Committee believes this is safe night party for the High School prom. The students who are taking part are between the ages of sixteen and eighteen years old. Each student is able to purchase fake money to gamble with and at the end of the night they can trade this money in for prizes with at the end of the night. Some parents believe this is a safe wonderful event for their children. While others believe this is one area they prefer their kids not be involved with.

One of the emails I received was from a family who home schools their five children. I was surprised since their kids were not involved. She had explained to me that her daughter who is seventeen has friends who attend the public school system. She went on to tell me the negative behavior exhibited by these teens after the event took place. In fact they taught her daughter how to play black jack and poker. This is a good neighborhood that has strong community ties. She also informed me that she not see the difference between using fake money or real money when you still have a chance to win a prize that has value. She believes these teens are being educated on how to gamble, win and take the easy way out.

People in favor of this gambling event, nicely told those who were against it to have their teenager’s stay home. It was my understanding the post prom parties were supposed to be for everyone.

It surprised me that a school district finds gambling night an acceptable behavior for our teenagers.

I have seen first hand the self destruction gambling can do to teenagers and adults. It’s my belief that gambling should be limited to people who are eighteen and over.

Another email was asking me for the specific statistics on the negative impact on a teenager’s who attend a gambling event. General statistics reflect a percentage of those in attendance will develop a compulsive gambling addiction. Some of these same students may become addicted at some point in their life. I have found that addictions to gambling are not age sensitive. People of any age who are gambling for the very first time can develop a gambling addiction. Usually a friend or family member takes them to the gambling establishment. I first found it difficult to understand how a person who is sixty five retired and on a fixed income gets addicted to gambling. The seniors I spoke with were very upset and didn’t understand how this happened to them. The unfortunate part is they lost their pensions and now only have their Social Security to live on. In one case the Grandmother has to move in with her daughter.

There is very little difference between supervised gambling and allowing supervised drinking alcoholic beverages or serving the students there choice of dugs on a silver platter. If a Principal served a student an alcoholic drink he would be arrested. I am trying to understand how school educators and parents can distinguish between alcohol and gambling on school property. How is one more acceptable then the other?

Studies have shown that there is a correlation between alcohol addiction and gambling addiction. The correlation was based on individuals who attend both Gamblers Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

It would be a shame to find out ten years from now that students who took part in supervised gambling at the High School level their future was compromised by a life of self destruction and low self esteem.

It’s a proven statistics that students who gamble get a similar rush as if they just had an alcoholic beverage. The only difference here they will not wake up with a hang over and the side effects are minimal until it’s too late.

We have now given our students another option in life. The major concern is the student’s will probably like the rush from gambling a lot more then alcohol and or drugs since there is no hang over or smell. Some students are likely to continue gambling. Students with A grades are not exempt from this. Statistics show that compulsive teenage gamblers are also very bright and articulate individuals.

People need to be educated on teenage gambling and its long term affects. It’s illegal to gamble if you are under 18. It’s also illegal to drink if you are under 18 (some places 21) and it’s illegal to smoke cigarettes if you are under 18. These laws were set for a reason. Another email I received wanted to know do these school systems have any respect for the Law?

I emailed each of the people and asked why haven’t they raised their concerns to the school board? They all responded the same. “We are the minority and now we look bad in front of our kids.” This is truly a no win situation.

The parents who are against this sort of entertainment believe; if just one student develops a compulsive gambling addiction that is one too many.

For more information on Stop Teenage Gambling Website http://www.teenage-gambling-addiction.org/ and I Stopped Gambling So Can You http://www.istoppedgambling.com/.

Mr. Howard Keith has an extensive background in dealing with compulsive gamblers, relatives and friends of gamblers and teenage gamblers.
Mr. Keith believes there are many alternatives to aid in the recovery of a gambling addiction verses a twelve step program. A large percentage of his emails were from compulsive gamblers looking for an alternative to Gamblers Anonymous and twelve step programs. Gamblers Anonymous also helps a significant number of people each year but there is a large percentage that they are unable to reach.

TV Critic Reviews ‘Higglytown Heroes’

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:05:13 +0000

As aunt of a preschooler and an aspiring voiceover actress (I knew all those hours of watching Bugs Bunny would come in handy), I know all the kids’ shows as well as every kids’ DVD out there.

In my opinion, there’s no better way celebrities can recoup their outrageous salaries than entertaining and sometimes educating kids. And They Might Be Giants get the “cooler than Elvis” vote for singing the theme song to one of Playhouse Disney’s newest hits, “Higglytown Heroes,” which is also on their CD/DVD for kids, “Here Come the ABCs.”

For those of you not familiar with all things Higgly (an adjective used as much as “Smurfy” but not, thank Higgles, as a verb), the series centers on a small town and four tots named Eubie, Kip, and siblings Wayne and Twinkle. Think “South Park” with better art and no foul mouths. The strongest language is, “Aw, pickles,” usually uttered by Twinkle (pinker than Trista Rehn Sutter!) after her fanciful ideas for solving the kids’ dilemmas get gently punctured by Fran, a friendly squirrel voiced by Edie McClurg.

In each two-episode half-hour show, the Higgly Kids experience common, innocent childhood events such as finding a caterpillar, hosting a television party for the Happy Hairy Higgly Monster Primetime Special, losing a tooth, Kip’s Grandpa locked in the bathroom, or caring for an unhappy bird. The kids try to solve their problems, guided by Fran who is the voice of reason, helped by their loving families and the ever-enthusiastic oddly Bill and Ted-ish Pizza Guyplus someone special. Then comes the inevitable song

“Someone special, who could it be?
This job’s too big for you and me.
We need some help!
But never fear-o,
It looks like a job for aHigglytown Hero!
A Higglytown Hero!”

Some of the heroes are natural choices, especially after September 11: Police Woman, Firefighter, etc. But how many of us think of sanitation workers, electricians, plumbers, gardeners, mail carriers (voiced by Kathie Lee Gifford) and farmers as heroes? Or a telephone operator (voiced by Cyndi Lauper)? Although the heroes have celebrity voices, the Higgly Kids discover that the real stars all around them are the people who solve problems every day.

Some of the dilemmas get a little ridiculous from an adult perspective. For example, when Kip climbs a tree to save a beloved neighborhood cat and her kittens, his friends help him. Why, when he gets stuck, can’t they help him back down? Ahemwhen was the last time you tripped and panicked? You need help in your own life every day without thinking about it.

The beauty of “Higglytown Heroes” is that it celebrates working together, “having fun together,” and the Higgly Kids as well as their families never take for granted the Heroes in their lives. The Electrician (Lance Bass) gets invited to share in the “Higgly Monsters” TV party after repairing the circuitry for Kip’s house. The Fire Fighter (Donald Faison) who gets Kip out of the tree shares in a birthday party for the neighborhood cat. How many of us go out of our way to thank the people who make our lives easier? Sometimes we forget to see them as people with needs and feelings.

We even forget to see our own families as heroes. Kip’s Grandmama (voice of “Golden Girl” Betty White, with Rose Nylund-like hairdo) knits the kids sweaters. Kip’s real-estate agent Mom, Bitty, acts like the soul of ’50s domesticity, but gets rewarded when Kip and his friends make her a get-well card. Wayne’s Mom, Plunkie, shows the kids a caterpillar and drives them to the beach, while Wayne and Twinkle’s Uncle Lemmo cooks them breakfast at his diner and, in the Christmas special, drives Wayne and Twinkle about in his sleigh.

Interestingly, Higgly families aren’t always nuclear families, something Disney portrays as normal without calling attention to it. Kip’s family is the proverbial nuclear family, with twin sisters, a baby sister, a mom and dad, Fripp, (who operates a hot dog cart), and two grandparents who either live in Kip’s large house or visit constantly. Twinkle and Wayne’s mom seems to be a single parent (although all are African-American, no one has screamed racism yet), and Eubie is apparently being raised by his Southern-accented Aunt Mellie and Uncle Zooter, with visits from his Southern-accented Grandpop Crank (a farmer).

In many ways, Higglytown is idealized. No one really seems to worry about jobs, money or status. People go to the library, and a Librarian is a Higglytown Hero! The kids “work real hard” and take responsibility (gasp) by thinking up ways to help themselves and their families, and in each episode there are little moral lessons and advice (take care of your pets, don’t use too much electricity, make someone smile) to show the kids how they can grow up to beHigglytown Heroes!

Cynics and naysayers will deride this as kiddie pablum. I call it a refreshing dose of reality and a tribute to the heroes all around us. The Disney animators are Higglytown Heroes for creating this show.

Author’s Note: After this review originally made the rounds on the Web, actor Rory Thost, who provides the voice of “Kip,” was kind enough to be a “Higglytown Hero” and make my day by telling me how much he and the cast liked the review. For all of those who think our kids are complete troublemakers, young Master Rory Thost is thirteen: http://imdb.com/name/nm1191277/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfHE9cm9yeSB0aG9zdHxodG1sPTF8bm09b24_;fc=1;ft=4. His showbiz career is already longer than mine! More importantly, in a world where bad behavior by celebrities is sadly the norm, this young man remains polite, mature, well-educated and well-grounded.

Author’s Note II: This series gets better and better. The continuity is even on a par with most primetime shows. Kip has adopted a dog named “Shadow,” who makes guest appearances; we meet Fran’s parents after seeing them in the Christmas special; Eubie’s Grandpop becomes a Higglytown Hero; Eubie’s bird Flappy makes appearances from time to time. The Firefighter returns. And Pizza Guy’s role keeps expanding. He comes to the rescue more than once, but when oh when will he get to be a Higglytown Hero? I want to hear that song!

Author’s Note III: Disney has created JoJo’s Circus toys, so I assumed that Higglytown Heroes toys were not far behind. Stacking Russian-doll toys? What could be simpler? But after receiving e-mails from some of you inquiring about Higgly toys, I double-checked. Sad to say, there are no Higgly toys out there.

Aw, pickles!

The best thing to do is go to Playhouse Disney Online (http://playhousedisney.com) and e-mail the Mouse about making Higgly toys!

Kristin Johnson is co-author of the “enthusiastically recommended” Midwest Book Review pick, Christmas Cookies Are For Giving: Stories, Recipes and Tips for Making Heartwarming Gifts (ISBN: 0-9723473-9-9). A downloadablemedia kit is available at our Web site, http://www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com, or e-mail the publisher (info@tyrpublishing.com) to receive a printed media kit and sample copy of the book. More articles available at http://www.bakingchristmascookies.com

Starting College

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:05:23 +0000

Starting college is a big milestone in anyone’s life. In some families, starting college is almost like getting married - it’s a big step, a giant move towards independence. Everything that happens during college counts towards the future - that’s why it’s so important for students to start college on the right footing.

First of all, see if you have everything all pinned down before you start college. If your college is going to be quite a distance away from home, you’ll need to find a place to stay. And if you’ve already found a place to stay, you’ll need to find roommates who can share the rent with you. You’re only starting college and finances are going to be tight - with someone sharing the place with you, you can bring the expenses down.

The next thing that you have to decide on before starting college is the mode of transportation. Your options arecollege car, a motorcycle or a bicycle. The mode of transportation depends on how far you are going to be housed from the college. If you’re within college campus, you can probably start with a bicycle. If you’re located outside the college campus, you might need a car to get you around.

Next, go shopping for college clothes. A whole new wardrobe is necessary only if you are moving to a place where the weather is very different from where you live, for example, your home is in Maine and your college California. Otherwise, you can probably live with what you already have in your wardrobe. If you don’t know the kind of clothes you will need for college, why not factor the cost of a new wardrobe into your starting college funds. You can go do some shopping when you’ve started college. Living on your own and starting college also means that you’ll have to do some calculations on the use of kitchen utensils (getting some of your own is a good idea), and also some entertainment. Yes, you’re starting college but you still need to have some fun once in a while.

Starting college means that you’re probably going to need your own computer, printer and scanner too. Most colleges have these facilities in their college campus. The options are:- buy new ones if you can afford it before you start college, buy second-hand ones, loan one from your relatives or parents, use the ones available in college or pay for the services in Internet cafes where these facilities are widely available. Research the area near the college and see if there’s a need to get your own electronics. If you can save the money for something else, you can start college without it and use the ones in the college first.

If you have reasons to want to move tables, beds, furniture and shelves from home, this could save your parents some money. Starting college is already ripping the bank accounts apart, so, if you can save on furniture, why not? If you’re bringing the furniture from home, find a relocating service contractor to help you move the furniture to your new place.

Most importantly, before starting college, you’ll need to get a list from your college so that you can purchase the books before college starts. It is best that you start college on the right footing, so, don’t wait until all the books are gone.

Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.your-college-life.com on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

Mindfulness and Education - Teachers Must Make It Fun

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:03:05 +0000

As a mindfulness trainer, I’m a big fan of promoting greater mindfulness in the classroom. However, it’s interesting to me that those who seem to be the most thoughtful and passionate proponents of mindfulness in education are the ones most likely to be trapped by their limited thinking.

Now, don’t get me wrong.

I praise those who introduce silence, stillness and contemplation among students. I applaud those who explain the concept of mindfulness and invite their charges to explore the wonder of watching the mind in action. I celebrate the teachers who use “mindfulness” as an everyday word in their lessons.

But why stop there?

In the name of recess, field trips, and all that kids hold holy in school, can’t we make mindfulness FUN?

By using bells to signal silence and having kids close their eyes in order to be mindful, we’re sticking to the tried-and-true meditation model.

Must we?

Could kids settle peacefully in their chairs at the sound of a kazoo? Would they benefit from an eyes-wide-open approach to mindfulness that allows them to be active? Can they develop heightened awareness and concentration while playingwith words, music, numbers, colors, shapes, textures and smells?

We learn best when we’re enjoying the process. Teaching kids to meditate? Great. But we are unnecessarily limiting the possibilities for greater awareness by preachinger, teachingthat meditation is the only path to paying attention.

Kidslike the rest of uswant shortcuts. They love games. They remember the things that make them laugh. They pay attention to processes that allow them to be their natural creative selves. Kids see oddball connections and they are extremely resourceful when it comes to playing with even the most mundane objects and concepts.

So, let’s let them play. Something tells me they’d approach this differently if it were up to them.

I encourage teachers to include mindfulness training in the classroom, but I urge them to release their attachment to the notion that it has to be done so SERIOUSLY.

Lighten up.

Mindfulness is about noticing new things, drawing distinctions, shifting perspectives, and staying fully present. It is the very essence of having fun.

The truth is that it’s impossible to have fun UNLESS you’re fully present. So, it seems to me that kids already have an innate tendency to be mindful.

With a little guidance, plenty of humor, and a blast of creativity, good teachers can become great mindfulness trainers.

As long as they’re having FUN.

Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she teaches fun, creative and powerful eyes-wide-open alternatives to meditation. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.MassageYourMind.com

Prom Updo Hairstyles

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:03:02 +0000

How can I get that classy updo prom or formal hairstyle? First you need medium to long length hair. You will also need some ponytail holders, gel, and long pins. The trick to getting your updo to look its best is to use several of these pins in different directions to hold your hair in place. Don’t rely on too much hair gel as this just makes your hair stiff. You want your hair to be able to withstand the humidity, but also to be touchable by your date.

You want your curls to be loose. The looser and bigger the curls, the cuter you will look. First, pull your hair up, use some baby powder to add fullness and then tease your hair. Other looks are more classic, like the French Twist. You have to slick back your hair with gel. Part it on the side and pull the hair down. You may need the help of a hair rat. No, not a real rat. You can get this at a beauty supply store. It will help you pull your hair down if you have real smooth hair. You will still need lots of long pins.

Starting with just straight hair, you can use large curlers to get those nice big curls. Once you have them, you can position them in place on top of your head, towards the back. You don’t want your hairstyle to make your face look too long, unless you have a round face, and then it will help balance your geometry. You can use shine serum to give you that sleek sophisticated look. Be sure to use plenty of pins, flexible hairspray, not the max hold kind, and gel if you need it.

Experimentation before prom will be the key. Use what works best for your hair. Find some pictures on the web; try it out with these ides using the pins, gel, and hairspray.

Stuart Simpson

Prom Updo Photos

http://www.formal-tuxedo.com/

School Bullying Stopped - Don’t Be Fooled by the Smoke Screen!

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:01:14 +0000

School bullies are manipulators.

They are masters at confusing students as well as adults.

But with these masters of manipulation, we must always look at the big picture!

Hardcore bullies will often try to confuse the issue when being confronted with their bullying behavior. They will blame their victim for the incident that happened between them. They will bring up small transgressions that the victim may have made and try to make them seem huge.

For example, maybe the victim told them to “Shut Up” and the hardcore bully will make this seem like a huge insult the him or her when in reality the hardcore bully has threatened or cursed at the victim, and the victim was just trying to defend himself or herself.

This Smoke Screen technique is one of the hardcore bullies most successful deflecting attempts because it is easy for school staff to get caught up in the details of the incident at hand. And, the hardcore bullies are experts at throwing up the smoke screen.

But through much success and failure at working to resolve the bullying situation, I force myself to look at the big picture with the hardcore bully and not be deflected by the smoke screen.

In other words, I look at the overall pattern and large number incidents the hardcore bully has participated in vs. the small number of incidents the victim has been involved in - if any. I don’t give the bully a clean slate in every incident - I believe the best way to stop bullying is to deal with it on a cumulative level - not each incident individually.

Hardcore bullies are experts at throwing up a smoke screen and making a “mountain out of a molehill” when they have been wronged but minimizing any wrong that they may have done to another student. But, now you will be able to see through the “haze.”

Paula McCoach invites you to subscribe to the Bully Zapper Newsletter published weekly with tons of tips on how to effectively deal with bullies in elementary and middle school. You will receive a free special report for your subscription. To subscribe, go to http://www.bullyzapper.com

©2005 Permission granted to reprint this article in print or on your web site so long as the paragraph above is included and contact information is provided to the email coach@bullyzapper.com and http://www.bullyzapper.com

Parents Educate Themselves On Teenage Gambling Addiction

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:03:04 +0000

Parents now realize if their teenager develops a compulsive gambling addiction their future course of action and time involvement is unknown. This isn’t something that is here today and gone tomorrow.

Compulsive teenagers with a gambling addiction have one or more of the following in common:

1. School grades drop
2. Social development decreases
3. Low self esteem
4. Self destructive behavior
5. Asking you why this happened to them?
6. Thinking suicide is the only way out.
7. Stealing
8. Pawning personal possessions
9. Negative Attitude
10. Cutting School
11. Disappearing for long periods of time
12. Blaming the parent because they gamble too.
13. Working a part time job to pay off debts
14. Stopped after school activities
15. Watched poker tournaments on cable and television
16. I tried to stop but I couldn’t

Parents have been forced to educate themselves on the above when confronted with their teenager’s gambling addiction. From there they try to find answers instead they have more questions. They are not looking to point the finger but really to get help for their child. They also would like to help prevent another parent from having to deal with this addiction.

The following questions were raised by parents regarding the local school gambling event:

1. Has the school systems educated themselves to guarantee that gambling is equal to arts and crafts?

2. If one student develops a gambling addiction will the school system compensate the family for the negative affects on their teenager?

3. Will the school system cover all medical expenses if needed?

4. Should the post prom committee be legally responsible if just one student becomes addicted to gambling?

5. What does the law state?

6. What’s happening to our children’s future?

7. How I can tell my kid he can’t go when all his friends are going?

8. Is there something wrong with me, because I disagree with the school system?

9. How can I write a letter to the school board when my son may find out it was me objecting to the gambling event?

As a parent when you find out it’s your child who has the gambling addiction, what are you going to do? From a majority of the emails I receive, parents question and ask. “How did this happen to my teenager? I am a good parent.”

Just as you have to take the time to talk to your children about, protective sex, drugs and alcohol you now have to explain the effects of gambling.

Teenagers who grow up in a house where their parents are active gamblers are more likely to gamble too. A school event puts a stamp of approval on gambling.

Parents have asked for statistical proof that the upcoming post prom gambling party will have a negative effect on their teenagers. I gave the parent specific examples of real situations. This was not sufficient for the prom committee. They wanted to know what percentage? And how many students will be negatively affected by this event?

I haven’t been in high school for twenty years. I am amazed by the current events in our school systems.

The following was never heard of when I was in high school:

1. Teenage gambling addiction
2. Gambling at the post prom party
3. Teachers sleeping with students
4. Students shooting students on school grounds
5. Gambling on school grounds before and after class
6. Teenagers addicted to the Computer
7. Teenagers addicted to video games
8. Protective Sex
9. 911

Before I wrote this article I had fewer questions. The more you look into this subject matter more questions come up. Should gambling in schools be eliminated if the local law states no one under eighteen can gamble?

Gambling is the wagering or betting of money on games of chance. Even though most people believe it’s a form of recreation, it can become a psychologically addictive and harmful behavior in some people.

It’s very hard to track a teenager who has a gambling addiction. Once they graduate high school they are on their own start their life

If a teenager develops a gambling problem, in a majority of these situations parents are not going to openly admit their child has a gambling addiction. Once again we have limited statistics.

It’s possible no one ever sat back and looked at this subject realistically because it’s new. Education is the key.

For more information on Stop Teenage Gambling Website http://www.teenage-gambling-addiction.org and I Stopped Gambling So Can You http://www.istoppedgambling.com.

Intro to Airsoft

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:02:06 +0000

Airsoft is a military/law enforcement sport simulation, where players participate in a mock style combat with military like weapons and tactics. Firearms are 1:1 scale models of real firearms. A typical example of an airsoft firearm is: firing 6mm or 8mm spherical, solid plastic BBs of usually .12, .20, or .25 grams, with propulsion for the projectile provided by manually compressed springs, compressed gas, or electric motors.

Airsoft as a sport is extremely popular in eastern Asia, in Japan, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. This popularity is a result of real arms being difficult or impossible to obtain because of local laws. For this and other reasons the vast majority of Airsoft guns, accessories, and aftermarket upgrade parts are made in Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Korea. For a while it was rumored that Airsoft was made illegal in Mainland China. That is just a rumor though as it is actually very legal and extremely popular.

The popularity of Airsoft is starting to grow in the West. Especially in countries like the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Finland, Italy, Belgium and Denmark. Starting in 2003 Daisy once again started marketing airsoft guns for sale in the US, under their “Powerstrike” brand name. Trying to get in on the expanding market, Powerstrike and other competing models have started to appear in mass across the US. The Internet auction site, eBay, has noticed the increased interest in airsoft products as well, and as a result has created several categories specifically for the thousands of listings of airsoft gear and guns.

Feel free to reprint this article as long as you keep the following caption and author biography in tact with all hyperlinks.

Ryan Fyfe is the owner and operator of Pixibot. Which is a great web directory and information center for information on all types of topics.

Back to School Safety for 2005

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:04:06 +0000

As we pack our K-12 kids up and get them ready for another school year, we need to be constantly thinking about their safety. This applies both to their travel to and from school and their safety while on school grounds.

Parent drivers must remain watchful. Children dart unexpectedly into traffic, often from between parked cars. And young pedestrians face a variety of dangers while walking to and from school. Here are a few basic safety tips to follow:

Mind all traffic signals and the crossing guard.

Walk your bike through intersections.
Walk with a buddy.

Wear reflective material. It makes you more visible to street traffic.

The US Dep’t. of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests the following safe bicycling practices:

Always wear a helmet.

Always ride on the right side of the road. Never ride against traffic.
Ride single file. When passing other bikers or pedestrians, let them know your position by shouting out something like, “On your left!”
Always check behind you before changing lanes.

Watch out for dangerous things in the roadway. Litter, potholes, gravel and storm drains all can cause you to lose control.

Stop at all stop signs and at all traffic lights. Be extra careful at crossroads.

Always signal before making a left or right turn.
Maintain control of your bike. Don’t swerve or make sudden turns.
Use caution when riding next to parked cars to avoid injury from someone suddenly opening a car door in front of you.

Listen for cars approaching from the side or behind you.

Don’t follow a car too closely. You may be in the blind spot, where the driver cannot see you, and you may be unable to stop if the car comes to a sudden halt.

Know your road signs and obey them.

Always be prepared to stop.

Wear brightly colored clothing.
Don’t wear headphones, loose clothing or inappropriate shoes.

Remember these safety tips for entering and exiting the school bus:

Have a safe place to wait for your bus, away from traffic and the street.

Stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop.

When being dropped off, exit the bus and walk ten steps away from the bus. Also, remember that the bus driver can see you best when you are away from the bus.

Use the handrail to enter and exit the bus.

Be aware of street traffic. Drivers are required to follow the rules of the road concerning school buses, but not all do. Protect yourself and watch out.

You may think that riding in a car is completely safe. But there are still rules you must follow to avoid accidents when riding in a car:

Don’t forget that most traffic crashes occur close to home.

Safety belts are the best form of protection in the event of a crash. Everyone needs to be buckled up properly: older kids in seat belts, younger kids in booster seats and toddlers in child safety seats.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has a “Back to School Safety Checklist” with tips on making schools, child care facilities and playgrounds safer. Hidden hazards from the checklist include the following:

Playgrounds — Check the surfaces around equipment. There should be a 12-inch depth of wood chips, mulch, sand or pea gravel, or there should be mats made of safety-tested rubber or fiber material to prevent head injury when a child falls.

Drawstrings on jackets and sweatshirts — Remove them from around the neck. They can cause strangulation by catching on things. Cut drawstrings at the waist or bottom of jackets to three inches.

Window blind cords — If the windows in your home, childcare centers or schools have blinds, cut the loop and attach separate tassels to prevent entanglement.

Recalled Products — You can get up-to-date recall and product safety information by checking out CPSC’s web site on your home or school computer. Sign up to get free recall notices by fax, e-mail or regular mailing by calling CPSC’s hotline or writing to CPSC, Washington, D.C. 20207.

The information in this article was compiled from the National Safety Council website at http://www.nsc.org , CPSC’s website at http://www.cpsc.gov, and an article on Back to School Safety on the AT&T website at http://www.att.com.

Karen Cole-Peralta is the Executive Director of Rainbow Writing, Inc., a corporation specializing in freelance and contracted writing, copyediting, ghostwriting, graphics and CAD, Internet marketing, publishing help, search engine optimization, free and paid links exchange, free professional services and supercheap dedicated web hosting and website development. We also partner with Four Seasons CDROM Store: fun arcade games, Internet, Windows and computer learning tutorials, and money-making business software. We ship anywhwere worldwide, and offer deep bulk discount rates for resellers. http://www.rainbowriting.com/ and http://www.cdromshowcase.com/fourseasons/. Stop on by!

Your Kid is Online

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:02:23 +0000

Kids often start using the Internet at about the same age they go to primary school, or perhaps a bit later. If your son or daughter is new to the Web it means he or she is relatively young — and you, a parent, are an indisputable authority. Your kid tries to imitate you, bombards you with questions, listens to your advice (and sometimes even follows them), asks you for help, appreciates your tutoring him. It’s the best time to tutor your child how to avoid various online dangers.

Kids and young teens can freely access the Internet from computers at school, at their friends’ homes and in public places such as libraries and even from cell phones and video game consoles. Internet is everywhere, that is why kids and teenagers (and their parents, too) should be well aware of its perils and know how to avoid them.

Searching and Surfing

Kids and young teens are usually content with resources aimed at kids and teens and rarely look for more — in case you don’t make one mistake. Introducing these search engines to kids for the first time,don’t contrast special search engines for kids and those which you use. Don’t say that they are “clean” — unlike those used by grown-ups. Don’t just declare that dibdabdoo or Yahooligans are “cleaner” than Yahoo or Google.

You’d better say that their search results on dibdabdoo will be more interesting. People who know what kids like and what they are looking for built these engines SPECIALLY for them –isn’t it nice? You certainly will have to mention explicit sexual content, porn sites, gambling sites and other junk one can meet while surfing the Web. But please show no fear of it — just disgust. And don’t overwhelm your kids with plenty of negative info all at once.

There are plenty of search engines and resources for kids. Here is just several links to look for them:

http://www.ivyjoy.com/rayne/kidssearch.html

http://www.kidinfo.com/Search_Engines.html

http://www.searchability.com/children.htm

Look for more links. A simple search will bring you plenty of information.

Chats and Strangers

Even before your kid reaches his teens, he or she will be actively mixing with other kids in chat rooms and probably will start a blog as well. It is YOU who must warn your son or daughter about the risk of posting private information for everybody (both good and bad people) to read.

What kids and teens say in chat rooms, whom they communicate with and what they post on web logs and other public Internet places can get them into much more serious trouble than just viewing some inappropriate websites.

These figures are taken from the telephone survey made by the Pew Internet and American Life Project:
81% of parents of online teens say that teens aren’t careful enough when giving out information about themselves online and 79% of online teens agree with this.

Unfortunately, kids and teenagers carelessly post online their first and last names, postal addresses, phone numbers, pictures and give lots of personal information about themselves. It enables an online predator easily identify and find any of them.

Unfortunately, sex predators teem in cyberspace. Sometimes they immediately start sexually explicit conversations with children in chat rooms. If a kid or a teen is forewarned and taught to end such a conversation immediately, he or she is relatively safe, except for moral damage from such a talk.

But there are others. They gradually allure their future victims by attention, affection, kindness, and even gifts. These individuals usually devote much time, money, and energy to this process. They listen to and empathize with the problems of children. They are aware of the latest music, hobbies, and interests of children. Some time later this person may succeed in arranging a face-to-face meeting with the kid offline — you can guess what for.

What you can — and should — do for your kid not to become one of these victims?

The most important is to maintain trust and mutual understanding in your family. Listen to your son or daughter. Encourage your kid tell you about his or her online acquaintances — freely, without fear of being scolded or punished.

There are simple rules any kid should learn by heart from the very beginning of his or her online experience:

Don’t believe everything you are told online, never reveal your name, age, birthday, nickname or any other personal information while chatting. Think twice before posting something personal in a blog, too.

Should You Monitor Your Kid?

To monitor or not to monitor kids online — that’s a question millions of parents face. On the one hand,software for monitoring kids’ behavior in the Web and other computer activities is a relief for ever-busy Moms and Dads. On the other hand, parents should be very careful when relying on technology in uch a delicate matter as parental control.

Should everybody who has a child apply software for monitoring his or her computer activity? Not just checking browsing history, but monitoring every keystroke the kid makes?

Monitoring software isn’t a panacea, though advertising sometimes tries to prove the opposite.

My opinion is that monitoring software is a VERY “strong medicine”. Like any medicine, it has its own side effects which can be worse than the disease. Any medicine, if overused, can do harm.

Using monitoring software will be appropriate if you feel you are losing control of the situation, or have lost it already. Please think more than twice before you install such a program.

It’s always easier to prevent a problem. Do it in time.

Alexandra Gamanenko currently works at Raytown Corporation, LLC — an independent software developing company that provides various solutions for information security, including software for parental control.

Learn more — visit the company’s website
http://www.softsecurity.com

Don’t Throw Away That Poem! - Tips For Successful Poem Scrapbooking

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:02:14 +0000

“Roses are red
Violets are green
I’m really sorry I hit my brother
But he was being mean.”

Kids not only say the darndest things, they write them, too. Whether this poetry springs out of creative writing exercises in the schools, or in HEARTSONGS, HOPE THROUGH HEARTSONGS and JOURNEY THROUGH HEARTSONGS 13-year-old now-deceased-but-never-forgotten writer Mattie J.T. Stepanek’s case, out of special circumstances, degenerative muscular dystrophy, that bring forth a remarkable gift, the rhymes can easily be lost through time, moving, throwing away of school papers, or just simply forgotten.

While our children’s poetry may not become best-selling books and CDs (Stepanek teamed up with young country star Billy Gilman to produce a CD), those sweet or questioning verses of childhood and angry, angsty teenage songs bring pleasure, joy and comfort. They are as much a part of history as official family records. How many of us wish we had saved our poems form clutter, neglect, forgetfulness, or the (we hope) well-intentioned suggestions of parents that “You just aren’t a poet”—or even a parent throwing away our written longings? You can bet Mattie Stepanek’s mom would never throw away his first poems!

Whether we have the gift to become a poet or not, whether or not our children are Emily Dickinsons, those scribblings and typings are part of our life, our thoughts, our feelings. They are gifts in themselves, and loving children everywhere have the creativity to give them as presents. Mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, are moved beyond words when they receive a card on construction paper, or even computer-created by a junior Bill Gates or Charles Schulz. That card may contain a poem about “The Greatest Dad in the World.” Do you want to throw it away and keep all the store-bought greetings you take for granted? It may even move your spouse to wrestle with love poems, and you want to save those too.

The answer is scrapbooking. Poetry on paper is perfect for preserving in the pages of scrapbooks. You may want to create a scrapbook for family poems and created cards, or several scrapbooks if you have more than one poet in the family. You can organize the family scrapbooks by writer, poem subject (Dad, mom, the family dog or cat) or by occasions: birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, graduations, new homes, weddings, births, and so forth. Or you can include poems in scrapbooks you’ve created to record these occasions, scrapbooks that contain decorations, invitations, announcements, pressed flowers, and so forth.

Some tips for successful poem preserving:

* While it’s tempting to include the yellowing paper your son wrote his first poem on, consider recopying it on pretty paper and include it. You can include the original paper if you wish, but do so beside the typed or handwritten version.

Do the same if a poem has smudges or spills.

* If you haven’t dated a poem by your child, look at the writing and compare it to different ages. Always list your child’s age.

* Always date family poems, either on paper or by making a note on a printed label or in handwriting.

* If you can’t guess when a family poem was written, look at the occasion. If it was your 50th birthday or a particular wedding anniversary, you know the date (unless your memory is like a man’s!)

* When you’ve started scrapbooking family poems, always choose heavy paper for future poems, or paper that holds up well.

* If the poem goes with a photo, include the original even if the image of the photo is on the paper the poem is printed on. Or include a photo from the event or a photo of the family member the poem is about for an illustrated poem!

* Consider typing up a page that includes sample quotes from family poems, a kind of “Best Of the Jones Family” list.

* Finally, if anyone in your family doesn’t mind hearing their recorded voice, record a CD or cassette of the poems and include it with the scrapbook.

You may never get your poems read nationwide, but you and your family will treasure the memories they bring. So start writing, and happy scrapbooking!

Kristin Johnson composes personalized poems, speeches, toasts, vows, and family memories. Visit http://www.poemsforyou.com to order your personalize memories. She is also co-author of the Midwest Book Review “enthusiastically recommended” pick Christmas Cookies Are For Giving: Stories, Recipes and Tips for Making Heartwarming Gifts (ISBN: 0-9723473-9-9). A downloadablemedia kit is available at our Web site, http://www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com, or e-mail the publisher (info@tyrpublishing.com) to receive a printed media kit and sample copy of the book. More articles available at http://www.bakingchristmascookies.com

Have Fun With Nature - How To Play Conkers

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:05:20 +0000

In an age where children spend a huge percentage of their free time playing with expensive computer games, it’s nice to know that some old-fashioned games are still being played outdoors and cost absolutely nothing.

During the fall, wherever you find horse chestnut trees you’ll find children playing conkers. It’s a game that was enjoyed by their parents, their grandparents, and even their great grandparents and, hopefully, their own children will one day enjoy it, too.

What is A Conker?

A conker is a hard brown nut that’s encapsulated in a green, prickly case produced by the Horse Chestnut tree. The cases fall from trees when they’re ripe and can easily be collected from the ground.

In contrast to the nuts produced by the Sweet Chestnut tree, conkers are NOT to be eaten by humans.

Choosing A Conker

If you’re serious about your game, choose your conkers carefully. The best ones are symmetrical in form, firm to the touch and should be uncracked.

Use the water test. If a conker is damaged inside it will float in water so this is a good way of testing the density of your nut. Floaters should be discarded while those that sink to the bottom will be the hardest and the best.

Preparing A Conker for Play

Make a hole through the middle of your conker, going from the dull area at the top and down through the bottom. A thin skewer or hand-drill is useful for this.

Choose string that doesn’t break easily and thread a length about 12 inches long through the hole and tie a knot at one end to stop it from pulling through.

There are several ways to make your conkers harder, including:

Bake the conker in the oven on a low heat for 30 minutes

Soak the conker in vinegar overnight

Put conkers away to use the following year (they harden with age).

How To Play Conkers

Two players are needed, each with a conker of his own. Each player holds his conker from the string and attempts to hit the opposing conker.

If your conker is the one being hit, you should let it hang down with the string wrapped around two or three fingers to secure it - you don’t want your conker flying off when it’s hit! It’s up to your opponent to decide how high your conker should be held and it’s important it’s held still.

If you’re the striker, you should wrap the string around your hand in the same way as you would if your conker was being hit. You should then take the conker in your other hand and draw it back, ready to strike. As you release the conker, you should swing it down and try to hit your opponent’s conker. If you’re successful, this is called a strike. If you miss, you’re allowed two more goes before swapping positions.

If, when making a shot, the strings tangle together, the first player to call “strings” is awarded an extra shot.

If a player drops his conker or has it knocked out of his hand, the opposing player can call “stamps” and jump on it. End of one conker! However, if the owner calls “no stamps” first, the conker is safe (unless it smashed when it hit the ground, of course).

The game continues until one conker is completely destroyed; the one with the remaining conker is the winner.

Good luck!

Sharon Jacobsen is a freelancer content writer living in South Cheshire, England. For a competitive fee she will happily populate your website with interesting, key-word rich articles on any subject of your choice.

To see more samples of her work or to contact Sharon, please visit: http://www.sharon-jacobsen.co.uk

Science and Discovery Toys Provide Wonderful Educational Experiences for Children

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:05:19 +0000

Whether your child wants to be a future geologist, archeologist, chemist or scientist there are a wide variety of excellent science and discovery toys for them to have fun and learn with. There is an endless array of kits, toys, play sets and devices available to experiment and explore some of which include; animal kits, archaeology and geology toys, astronomy tools and play sets, bugs and insects, chemistry and physics sets, electronic and robotic kits, geography and globes, habitats, microscopes, telescopes and binoculars.

Most children are enchanted by anything to do with animals. There are plenty of fun and exciting habitats and play sets to keep your child entertained for hours. Frog habitats, horse and stable play sets, plastic dinosaur kits, a variety of sea monkey habitats from magic castles to mini aquariums, creature keeper (for catching beetles, butterflies and praying mantis etc.), farm animal play sets, plastic wildlife animals, hermit crab kits, reptile habitats, sea life plastic toy sets, plastic reptile sets, foam t-rex dinosaurs, foam lizards and foam great white sharks to name only a few.

The archaeology and geology sets and educational toys offer wonderful educational experiences for children, allowing them to have fun while enhancing their learning skills. Some of the great toys and ideas for play are; rock polishing kits, metal detectors, wooden dinosaur bone building kits available in different sizes (no glue or hardware needed), volcano making kits, outdoor adventure equipment kits (available with flashlight, compass, working camera, binoculars, digital watch and telescope) and 3D wooden dinosaur puzzles.

For a future aspiring astronomist anything to do with the planets, stars, galaxies and universe causes excitement. Some of the great astronomy items that can be found for children include; telescopes (if this is something your child is very interested in, be sure to find a quality telescope that will last and work properly), rockets (complete with sound effects and vibrations), 3D solar systems that glow in the dark, binoculars, space mission play sets, glow in the dark stars and planet sets, solar system mobiles and hand held star navigators (electronic devices used to locate and identify stars and their constellations).

Bugs and insects are interesting to children and adults alike, there are some excellent kits and observatories great for viewing and keeping critters. Something to note with most kits is the larvae or bugs will only be sent separately once the kit is purchased). Some of the exciting kits available are butterfly gardens (complete with supplies for feeding and observation chamber and informative booklet), ant farms, lady bug gardens, butterfly flowers seeds and net sets, silkworm sets, plastic bug play sets, creature viewer (magnifying scope) and special bug jars. The butterfly kit allows a child to see the complete metamorphosis from larvae to butterfly, both an exciting and wonderful learning experience.

Aspiring chemists and physicists will love the great snap circuit kits which allow your child to build an array of exciting projects from radios to light bulb testing set ups. Other great chemistry and physics kits available include; science kits (color mixing, making soft crystals, or rainbows in test tube), water wizardry kits (allowing children to make snow, gels and rainbows in test tube all with the addition of water), and wonderful chemistry sets complete with microscope, accessories, material and equipment allowing first time scientists to conduct simple and fun chemistry experiments.

The electronics and robotics choices for children come in several exciting devices and kits. Metal detectors are one device that offers children a sort of “treasure hunt” experience through use on a beach or the backyard where they will find all sorts of lost treasures and trinkets. There are great electronic kits which allow children to build everything from clock radios to robots and aliens that will respond to sound. Other fun and educational toys available are walkie-talkie kits, snap circuit kits and moving robot kits for building an endless array of moving vehicles and robots. These wonderful kits teach your child a variety of great skills while proving that learning really can be a lot of fun.

One of the most practical and great learning aids for geography is without question the globe. Globes today come in all sorts of different designs some with raised relief land formations and others with lovely prism designs. Popular electronic globes come with geographical facts, trivia, national anthems and world clock times. There are electronic interactive books available with talking maps giving names of states and capitals offering children excellent and fun learning opportunities. Puzzles are also another popular learning aid made in a variety of designs and sizes. Regardless of the globe you choose for your child it is sure to be of use for years to come.

Lastly there is a vast selection of children’s microscopes, telescopes and binoculars available for viewing bugs, stars and wildlife. Microscopes offer future scientists and biologists a view of the physical world through magnification. While telescopes give a glimpse of the wonderful night sky and binoculars bring wildlife up close. All these devices will change the way your child looks at the world. These toys are made in both plastic sets and higher quality metal sets. Which set you choose will depend on the age of your child and how often they will be using the device. An older child will probably prefer a better quality set that will withstand wear and tear and be more optically correct.

Science and discovery toys, sets and devices should inspire fascination and inquisitiveness in your child helping to encourage a love and desire for learning. All the wonderful toys in this category are sure to provide any child with hours of entertainment while providing an awareness of science and how it works. These toys are sure to open doors and teach skills on a variety of different levels. The endless array of choices can at times be a bit overwhelming, it’s always a good idea to do a bit of research before making your purchase. Reviews and recommendations on toys are a great way to get a bit of an idea on what to expect.

Valerie Giles owns and operates Toys-4-Kids; Educate your child through play. Toys-4-kids is a web site full of resource information and online toy stores. Purchase the right educational toys for every child throughout their growing years. The site focuses on many categories of toys from baby toys to outdoor toys and bikes for kids, as well as Barbie Collectibles. http://www.toys-4-kids.com

School Bullying Stopped - 5 Ways to Zap School Bullies with the Facts!

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:05:02 +0000

So, there is a bully that you just can’t catch! You have been trying for years and no luck!

Well, I have learned with good documentation, anything is possible - even building a great case for catching that hardcore bully.

1. I keep a large file card on each student that I speak with, and the bullies are usually referred to me at some point.

On this card, I make note of the date of the conference and generally what the student and I spoke about. If the student is referred to guidance for peer mediation, that is documented also.

2. If this bully is tormenting tons of kids, I put out a memo to the team of teachers who have the bully in class, and ask them to jot down any bully or teasing behavior they see or hear from the bully.

3. The students who are reporting that the bully is bothering them are asked to write down “exactly” what the bully is saying with the date. Even if what the bully is saying is obscene or gross, I ask the students to write verbatim what the bully is saying to them.

4. Most schools have students for more than one year. Our school has 5 grades, so we have students from 4th to 8th grades. You can pull out documentation from previous years to add to your information from the current year.

5. In my opinion, a bully does not start the school year with a “clean slate.” Pull out your notes on this hardcore bully from past years and add it to your current facts for this school year.

Amazing documentation for zapping a hardcore bully might take you a few months to accumulate.

But, as we all know a bully “bullies” and eventually the staff will catch them and document their bullying.

Getting adequate documentation might take some time, but you will eventually get enough to either remove or rehabilitate the bully.

So, get out your file cards and start documenting! The more incidents of bullying you can cite, the better. And, thanks for helping kids deal with bullies!

Paula McCoach invites you to subscribe to the Bully Zapper Newsletter, which is published weekly with tons of tips on how to effectively deal with bullies in elementary and middle school. You will receive a free special report for your subscription. To subscribe, go to http://www.bullyzapper.com

Purchase the latest Bully Zapper publication, 11 SIMPLE STEPS TO ZAPPING BULLIES! Discover tips on working with the bully as well as the victim, talking to parents effectively, using behavior checklists with success, enabling teachers to deal with bullies in their classrooms, and much more practical and useful information you can use immediately to Zap the Bullies in your school! To order, go to http://www.bullyzapper.com

By Paula McCoach
http://www.bullyzapper.com

What Can We Do to Make Kids More Likeable

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:04:17 +0000

Nothing touches the heartstrings of a parent or teacher more than the plaintive cry “nobody likes me” or “I don’t have any friends.” We wish there were something we could do to insure the child will be, if not the most popular, at least included in the games on the playground. Actually, there is something we can do to increase their acceptance by the group and become more approachable to others.

New research shows that all likeable children behave in certain ways. These skills are not in-born but can be taught by parents, teachers and other caring adults. There is a language of likeability that some children cannot pick up by osmosis, but must learn. It has been called a “shorthand” to making friends. Not only does fitting in and having friends feel good, it has numerous other advantages including better grades, healthier bodies, less stress, and more opportunities to learn social skills. Children who feel like they have friends tend to stay in school longer, make wiser decisions, and are generally happier.

Parents, teachers and other caring adults: Here are 7 secrets to assisting your child to be more likeable. Teach and model them on a daily basis and you will find your social circle enlarging.

Look for opportunities to assist others. Studies show that helpfulness correlates more strongly than any other attribute to being liked. Teach them to be aware of other people’s needs and to offer assistance spontaneously, before they ask for it.

Find something that makes you feel special. Encourage your child to find an activity, hobby or interest that they really enjoy. They don’t have to excel at it, just enjoy it. Do you enjoy drama, dance or railroads? Join a group of enthusiasts.

Say “hello” first, and smile. People who smile are perceived as nice and approachable. Friendly and optimistic people act as a magnet to others. Have you ever gotten mad at someone who smiled or said hi to you?

Don’t stand out from the crowd. Whether we like it or not, kids are judged by the way they look. Try to help them fit in socially.

Don’t take it personally. Help your child understand that another person may just be having a bad day and may not be mad or dislike him or her. Teach them that people are really less concerned about us than we would like to think.

Watch your body language. Verbal communication is the language of information. Body language is the language of relationships. Appear open, friendly and eager to join in and make friends. Stand up straight and look people in the eye. Respect other people’s space by not standing too close.

Recognize the difference between friendship and popularity. Friendship is more important and will last a lifetime. Popularity is fleeting and dependent on the group. You really only need one good friend.

Judy H. Wright is a Parent Educator and author. Parenting books, workshops, teaching aids and FREE e-zine: “The Artichoke-finding the heart of the story in the journey of life” are available by going to www.ArtichokePress.com.

Judy H. wright is a Parent Educator, author and international speaker and trainer. She lives in Missoula, Montana but travels extensively working with parenting and school groups to enhance the lives of families. Her website is http://www.ArtichokePress.com

Child Birthday Party Game Ideas

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:02:04 +0000

Need some fun child birthday party game ideas that will turn your child’s party into an instant success? Here are some great games that your party guests will love.

The Secret Of The Mummy

Divide your party guests into two teams… Have each team choose a player to be “the Mummy.”

Then give each team three rolls of toilet paper… Then start your party theme music and see which team is first to wrap up their Mummy from head to toe… To make things more fun, you might want to give them a two minute time limit… A great child birthday party game idea!

Whats That Smell

Blindfold each party guest one at a time, then place something in a paper bag for them to smell and see if they can guess what it is…

Try a peppermint, gum, toothpaste, cheese, a slice of pizza, cherry candy, grape candy, a banana, peanut butter or something milder like a slice of bread.

The Great Detective

A child birthday party game idea they’re sure to love.

Have your birthday child go into another room and make a slight change in their appearance… Put on something different, one different sock, reposition their hat, or take off or add some jewelry… Then have them come back in the room with their party guests and see which guest is “the great detective” and can figure out what’s different.

Quick Change Artist

Give each child a bag that contains a big over-sized shirt, big pants, big socks and a big knit or floppy hat… Start your party theme music and say “ready - set - go!”

Each player starts putting the baggy clothes over their own clothing.,.. The first one to put on all the clothes from the bag is “the quick change artist.”

You might want to have your party guests remove their shoes to make it easier to get the big socks on their feet.

Sneak Attack

Have your birthday child sit in a chair in the middle of the room and place a blindfold over their eyes… Place an object under the chair. It can be a stuffed animal, a toy, a small bag of candy or a wrapped gift.

Keep everyone quiet as your party guests try to sneak up (one at a time) and take the object under the chair… If your birthday child tags them, that player is out and the next player must try and take the object… Your birthday child can move their arms around, but don’t let them use their feet.

Silly Dress-Up

A great child birthday party game idea for everyone.

Take lots of wild - colored shirts, pants, hats, socks, scarves, jackets and anything else you can think of and have your party guests see who can come up with the silliest, funniest, craziest costume.

Wild Animal Act

Write the name of an animal on a piece of paper, fold the paper in half (so you can’t see what’s written) then put all the pieces of paper in a bowl… Have one party guest take a piece of paper out of the bowl and act out that animal… The first player to guess the animal correctly then takes a piece of paper from the bowl and acts out that animal… Keep playing until all your party guests have had a turn.

Wacky Balloon Race

Divide your party guests into two teams… Have one player from each team put a balloon between their knees… When you say “go,” start your theme music and both players race to the finish line without dropping or popping their balloon.

If a balloon pops or the player drops their balloon, that player has to start all over again with a new balloon…

Every player on each team must race with the balloon. The team that finishes first wins.

Child Birthday Party Game Ideas

You can vary each of these games to make them appropriate for the age group of your party…

Have fun, laugh, enjoy, take lots of pictures and shoot plenty of video!

Mike Dougherty is a grandfather with lots of experience putting together birthday parties for his children. For more great information and tips on kid birthday party ideas take a quick look at http://fun-kid-birthday-parties.com and take a look at his movie themed web site, http://best-dvd-movie-club.com

School Bullying Stopped - 5 Steps for Having a PST Meeting that Works!

admin — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:02:22 +0000

You have had so many meetings on these bullies, but none of them ever seem to be effective.

You waste time and energy, and the bullies keep bullying.

Follow these 5 steps and have a meeting that produces results.

1. Be sure you have the decision makers at the meeting. It is fine to meet with the team of teachers, psychologists, social workers in attendance. But, in order to get anything accomplished, you need the staff members present that can make the decisions.

Be sure you have the principal or vice-principal of the building present, so decisions can be made and carried out.

If the bully is a hardcore bully, you will need the Pupil Services Supervisor or Alternative School Principal from the Board of Education present. If your plans are to remove the bully from the school, be sure to have the appropriate staff members present.

2. Be sure to invite the parent(s) or guardian of the bully. When you contact them, you should spell out exactly why the meeting is being held. Parents like administrators and Board of Education staff, are the people that can make and/or carry out the decisions make to help this child.

If the parent or guardian is unable to attend, make sure you call them following the meeting and let them know the team’s recommendations as well as get their input.

3. Have a basic idea of what recommendations would be effective for possibly making a difference with this student. Check out these ideas and be sure they are feasible. For example, if you are thinking of putting this student in an alternative program, you need to make sure there is space in these programs before the meeting.

Another example, if you want to recommend a mentor to work with this student, be sure there is a mentor available, when they would be able to start working with this student and what their current relationship is with this students.

4. You may think this step is a no-brainer but be sure to schedule the meeting at a time when the key players can attend. Moreover, you want the decision makers to be able to attend if possible, so tailor your schedule your meeting around them.

5. Another no-brainer step but one that is often overlooked, be sure to have the school records file at the meeting, it is a good idea to have reviewed and discussed any pertinent information from the students past history.

So, use your meeting time wisely and profitable. You want to solve this bully problem quickly and effectively, and a PST, Child Study or whatever your team meetings are called, will be not only effective but efficient as well. Thanks for helping kids dealing with bullies.

With Children, Life Is A Daring Adventure!

admin — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:02:14 +0000

Having been a teacher and raising three children I have seen just about everything a child can throw at you good and bad and I have loved my journey with them.

When you are involved with children 24-7 you certainly get to see the different personalities and you can usually visualize what each child could be like in the future with the right guidance. And let me tell you, taking on the responsibility of raising children is something I definitely consider a daring adventure.

Most animals have their young for a year or two before they grow to adulthood and leave to make their own way, but for us, it is a commitment of 18 to 22 years!!! (Some even longer). Still, we love them even though they can behave badly sometimes.

There is a motivational poster that I love called “Purpose-Boy (and also Purpose- Girl), and it states: A century from now it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in or how much money I had in the bank, but one hundred years from now the world may be a better place because I was Important in the life of a child”.

We as parents really do shape their lives even though they have their own personalities; we instill in them the family values, morals and ethics.

“Give the children roots but also give them wings”. This is another saying on one of our motivational prints. I love these pictures and sayings because it reminds me of my grandmother and her needlepoint with her favorite quotes of wisdom, which she would pass down from daughter or son to grandchild to great grandchildren.

Raising children a worthy endeavor? I think so!

Willie Jones

Willie is a freelance writer, researcher, floral designer, and artist. Thanks very much for reading this far.
“Make sure you enroll in the free motivational poster drawing at http://www.artinspires.com/. All winners receive a free framed print.”

Kid Movie Party Theme

admin — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:04:28 +0000

Lights! Camera! Action!

Now with our exclusive movie party theme, your birthday child can star in their own movie!

That’s right, with fun kid birthday parties one-of-a-kind movie making adventure, you can turn your child’s birthday party into a movie making party they’ll never forget.

Imagine how excited your birthday child will be when they get to tell all their party guests that everyone is going to be in a movie… Wow! This is going to be super fun.

“The Great Birthday Treasure Hunt” is an original 3 minute mini-movie script exclusively from Fun Kid Birthday Parties and it’s yours absolutely FREE.

And when you order your free movie script we’ll even send you our easy to follow tips on how to put together this super fun one-of-a-kind movie party theme that everyone will love… And you’ll have a great time too!

Movie Party Theme

Everyone has dreamed of starring in a movie… And now your birthday child can star in “The Great Birthday Treasure Hunt” a fun 3 minute movie production.

Movie Party Invitations

Make your invitations into a “Movie Star Contract.” You might write something like this:

Movie Star Contract

“You’re so talented and glamorous that (your family name) Productions would like for you to sign this fun contract to appear in our latest blockbuster movie production titled “The Great Birthday Treasure Hunt.”

We’re celebrating (first and last name of birthday child)’s birthday on (day and date of the party) at our (your family name) Productions movie studios from (start time and end time of your party).

(First and last name of birthday child) will be starring in our movie adventure and wants you to be one of the movie’s co-stars.

“The Great Birthday Treasure Hunt” will be filmed on location in and around our movie studio.

Our movie party theme will include time for autographs, movie games and activities, movie screenings and our studio commissary will be providing delicious movie production treats for our entire cast.

Please sign this Movie Star Contract and call your agent (name of agent to ask for) at (telephone number) to RSVP for your movie star roll in our original movie production.”

The (family name) Productions movie studio is located at (address).

Come dressed as your favorite movie character. (or you can have everyone show up in whatever costume you’d like, western, The Incredibles, Princess, fashion, or whatever theme you want).

Movie Party Theme Decorations

Your decorations can include a director’s chair, a megaphone, scene slate, light cut outs, camera cut outs, studio signs like “Hot Set”. “Birthday Movie Set”, “Hollywood Studio”. .

Movie Party Theme Games And Activities

You can make your movie production your entire party or you can set up some movie related activities and games.

Movie Party Theme, Screen Your Dailies

After you shoot the scenes for your movie, “The Great Birthday Treasure Hunt”, you can screen the raw unedited footage. Your guest will love seeing everything, including all the fun out-takes and bloopers.

Movie Party Theme, Snacks And Refreshments

Movie sets always have lots of snack food nearby for all the actors and crew… Favorites include M & M candies, Gummy Bears, nuts, fruit slices, veggie slices, chips and dips and any other finger snacks your birthday child might like.
Have fun and put a sign on your table that reads “Studio Commissary”.

Kid Movie Party World Premiere

One of the fun things about shooting a movie as a special birthday party is that you can have a second party as well. We’ve done this and everyone loved it!

Once your movie is edited, you’ll want to have your movies “World Premiere.”

Print out some movie ticket invitations, roll out a red carpet, invite the “paparazzi” (photographers) to snap pictures and video as your stars arrive.

Have some popcorn, screen your movie!

Follow your movie’s world premiere with an Academy Awards style party. Hand out awards (special best actor certificates) to all your actors! And let everyone make an acceptance speech. This is a lot of fun. This will be a movie premiere that everyone will remember!

To get you started on this unique, one-of-a-kind movie making adventure, Fun Kid Birthday Parties will send you a copy of our 3 minute movie script, “The Great Birthday Treasure Hunt” absolutely free. And we’ll include our easy to follow tips on how to put together this fun movie production for your birthday child.

To get your free kids movie party script visit us at Fun-Kid-Birthday-Parties.com and fill out the easy form at the bottom of the page.

Mike Dougherty is a movie and television writer, producer, director, video editor and regional Emmy award winning videographer. Most recently as a Hollywood screenwriter “the Long Ride Home” a western movie starring Randy Travis is based on Mike Dougherty’s short script. Mike is now webmaster of his site http://www.fun-kid-birthday-parties.com and the blog http://fun-kid-birthday-parties-blog.blogspot.com