Frugal Winter Fun With Kids

Writen by Sara Noel

Winter is upon us. The kids get cabin fever quickly when their outside free time is limited. You're looking for some fun things to do before you all start climbing the walls. You don't need a wallet full of cash to enjoy the cold, snowy days. There are all kinds of frugal ways to enjoy the winter season together both indoors and outdoors. Here are a few frugal boredom busters to have as your 911 "plan" for the winter blahs.

Outdoor Fun

1. Homemade Snowman Kit
It's just not winter fun without building a snowman. Assemble a snowman kit to have handy. Your kit can contain the following: A hat, scarf, mittens, plastic carrot nose, charcoal briquettes, (place in plastic baggie) buttons, and can add two dowels or branches for arms.

2. Obstacle Courses or Winter Olympics
Jump over the mounds of snow or have relay races.

3. Snow Paint
Mix food coloring and water and add to spray water bottles and spray the snow to make colorful works of art outside.

4. Homemade Bird Feeder and Bird Identification
Need large pine cones, peanut butter, and birdseed. Add peanut butter to pine cones and roll in birdseed. Keep a journal of birds in your yard. Can borrow a field guide from your local library.

5. Snow Ice Cream
Mixing together a quart of milk, an egg, 1 cup sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract in a pan. Cook on stove top until mixtures thicken and cool to room temperature. Pour this mixture over fresh snow.

Or

3 cups loose clean snow
2 Tablespoons milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Mix all the ingredients.

6. Snow Golf
Use a tin can buried in the snow for the holes or just carve out holes in the snow.

7. Winter Photography
Take pictures of nature. Icicles, birds, trees, etc.

8. Identify Tracks in the Snow
Check out a book from your local library on animal tracks.

Indoor Fun

1. Paper Snowflakes
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/dstredulinsky/links.html

2. Paper Airplanes
http://www.bestpaperairplanes.com/

3. Make a Snow Gauge
Mark inch lines on a coffee can or plastic liter bottle with the top cut off and setting it outside to catch snow in.

4. Mister Grass Head
Materials Needed:
nylon knee stocking
Grass Seeds
Potting Soil
Baby Food Jar
Wiggle Eyes or glass paint/markers

Using hosiery, place some grass seeds in the toe which is where you want the grass to grow. The hosiery is the head and the excess will be placed in the baby food jar to soak up water. The toe of the hose is the head and the grass will look like hair as it grows. The baby food jar is the body. Add some potting soil in the end of the hosiery on top of the seeds. Make sure the hosiery of seeds and soil is bigger than the opening of the baby food jar.

Tie a knot in the hosiery to keep the seeds and soil in. Completely soak the soil/seed ball. Place the hosiery in a baby food jar filled with water making sure the head is above the mouth of the jar. Decorate the jar to look like Mister Grass Head's clothes and add a face onto the head.

5. Smores
Indoor Smores
1/3 Cup light corn syrup
1 Tablespoon. butter
1 (12 oz.) package chocolate chips
4 cups honey graham cereal
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

Bring corn syrup and butter to boil. Lower heat and add chocolate. Stir until chocolate melts. Add cereal and marshmallows and stir. Put in square pan, covered with foil. Let set and cut into bars.

6. Shadow Drawing
Take brown grocery bags and tape together until you have enough paper to be the same size as your child. Have your child lie down on the paper bags and trace your child's outline. Your child can then color her "shadow" drawing to look anyway she wants.

7. Homemade Toys
Decorate a paper towel tube. Paper punch a hole about an inch from the end. Now tie a mason jar ring to a piece of string about one foot long. Attach and tie the loose end of the string through the hole in the cardboard tube. Hold the tube and flip the ring up and try to catch it onto the tube.

Or

Try taking a plastic, Styrofoam, or paper cup and poking a small hole in the bottom, running a piece of yarn through and tying it securely in place and adding a large button on the loose end. Catch the button in the cup.

8. Bubbles in the Bathtub
How fun to blow bubbles indoors. Here are some homemade recipes: http://www.bubbleblowers.com/homemade.html

9. Homemade Bowling
Use empty water bottles or coffee creamer containers as the pins and find a spare ball to roll.

10. Indoor Snowball Fight
Wad up newspaper balls and have a snowball war inside.

11. Homemade Hot Cocoa
Nothing beats the winter chills away after a day of snow fun outdoors than hot cocoa. Make your own with this recipe.
2 Cups nonfat dry milk
1 Cup white sugar
1/2 Cup cocoa
1/2 Cup non-dairy creamer
1 pinch of salt
Miniature marshmallows

Combine ingredients and mix well. Store in an airtight container. Add 4 tablespoons of mix to a mug and add boiling water. Stir.

12. Window Fun
Crayola Window Writers are a product that writes and easily washes off of windows. Can also purchase spray snow for windows.

Sara Noel is a freelance writer and the Editor/Publisher of http://www.FrugalVillage.com

http://www.HomesteadGarden.com and http://www.Homekeeping101.com Visit these sites for information on getting back to basics through frugality, gardening, organizing, home keeping, lost arts, simplicity, homesteading, and natural family living.

Teaching Learning And Bonding With Preschoolers

Writen by Linda Popolano

Some of my best memories of parenting consist of recollections of my son curled up against me while I was reading him a story or while racing one another on word puzzler-type books. His whole experience of learning to read was not painful at all, but was more an experience of bonding with mom while bonding with printed type. There was laughter and hugs and encouragement, which should always be part of early learning at its best.

Some people object to the idea of parents teaching their children "too young". Other people feel unqualified to do what they perceive as the singular job of schools. However, the teaching is secondary to the sharing that goes on, the interaction between the child's mind and spirit and the parent's mind and spirit. Whatever learning happens, happens almost unnoticed because the child feels so good about being the sole center of the parent's attention during these shared, special times. Twenty minutes a day, whether after a nap or before bedtime, isn't a lot to ask even of the busiest parent, especially when those twenty minutes will become cherished memories of closeness and significant builders of self-esteem and confidence in the years to come.

Any parent can do this, with just a bit of dedication and commitment. And the rewards will pay off for years to come. Don't just give your child crayons and paper. Sit with him at the kitchen table and draw something yourself. Share yourselves with one another. Sit her on your lap and cuddle when you read....someone gave my son a lamp with a tape player in the base that would read those children's books that come with audiotapes, but after using it once or twice, we both found we preferred to cuddle together and listen to me read aloud. That way, we could also add unexpected surprises (like sound effects) to the text of the book or even repeat (sometimes several times) his favorite parts.

I cannot possibly imagine a more efficient use of time with a young child. To share love and affection while sharing a gift of the mind, a gift of thought, is priceless beyond measure. Take your clues from the child; don't attempt this when the child is in a physical mood needing to burn off energy by running around or when he's overtired. But if you adjust the timing to the child's cycle, both of you will get inordinate mental, emotional, and spiritual sustenance from your periods of bonding and learning.

Blessings on all your teaching adventures with your little ones....and always also be ready to learn from the young sage whose head is resting in the crook of your arm.

Linda Popolano is an Independent Consultant for BRIGHT MINDS, which publishes wonderful, effective, and fun books and software to teach children from pre-K onward critical thinking skills across all curriculum areas. Products range from those that teach sign language to babies (Teaching Signs for Baby Minds) to an award-winning phonics-driven learn-to-read program (Rocket Phonics) to products for school-age children which guarantee higher standardized test scores. You can visit her website at http://www.inspirethinking.com or e-mail her at inspirethinking@yahoo.com for more information.

The Effects Of Pushing Academics Too Hard

Writen by Peggy Tsatsoulis

Parents want what is best for their children. They want their children to be happy, smart, and successful. Educational level and school performance serves as the measuring stick. Parents believe if a student excels in school, s/he will excel in life. Striking a balance between accepting a child's performance and pushing a child to reach a higher level can be very difficult. However, pushing too hard will impact your child negatively.

In my tenure as a psychologist and coach, I have heard countless middle school students say: "What's wrong with a B, they expect me to make straight A's", "I hate being the example", "They just want me to get into an IV league college- I'm only in 6th grade I don't want to think about college yet", "They just want to brag to their friends". At times, parents can lose sight of how hard they push their kids. In addition, they can be negligent in realizing the negative impact pushing may have on their child's self esteem. Pushing too hard can be internalized as - You're not good enough. This message can translate into a number of different behaviors. For example, I have worked with children who have shut down and given up on academics completely because the pressure is too great. In their minds, not trying and being a failure is a lot better than trying and being a failure. I also have seen students resort to lieing and cheating just to make the grade. These students know it is wrong to cheat or copy their friend's homework; however, the praise and parent satisfaction for bringing home a good report far outweighs the guilt and consequences for getting caught.

It is common knowledge that children would rather stay in their comfort zones rather than take risks, especially academically. It is important for parents to set high standards for their children. So how can a parent maintain a balance between setting "high standards" and putting undue pressure on their child?

1. Self Reflect.

a) Figure out the reasons why it is important for you to push your child. Be honest and frank with yourself. The reasons may not be pretty at times, but by accepting the ugly, you can let go and make changes.

b) Determine where your child is academically and where you want them to be. Then reflect on whether these expectations are realistic, too demanding, or not demanding enough.

2. Practice acceptance. Know your child and adjust your expectations. For example, B's may be acceptable in reading because, as the parent, you know reading has not been easy for your child since first grade.

3. Make it a point to speak with your kids regularly. Kids will open up when you least expect it, so always be ready for a conversation. Most often, parents have the best conversations with their children in the car on the way to or from an event (ie soccer practice). Ask them two basic questions: 1)what do you need from me, how can I support you in your school work? 2) do you feel I put too much pressure on you? Most often they will give you honest feedback and tell you what they need.

4. Pay attention. Notice any changes in your child's behavior. Pay attention to eating and sleeping habits, the kinds of friends they hang out with, as well as the consistency in their grades.

5. Speak with your child's teacher(s) and/or counselor. Always make it a point to speak with your child's teachers. I recommend a check in phone call twice a year. Ask the teacher how you can be supportive to the academic process? Ask the teacher how much help s/he expects for you to give your child on homeowork. Furthermore, a good counselor is a parent's best resource. Counselors have tools and tips to help you be a support system to your child.

6. Tutor- Tutors can work wonders with children. Tutoring is not just for students who are behind. I have seen tutoring have a significant positive effect on very bright students. Working with a tutor alleviates some of the pressure, and as a result, bright students shine even brighter.

7. Relax and Know - that everything will work out.

By taking a balanced and supportive stance in your child's academic life, you will ensure that your child will grow and learn successfully.

Peggy Tsatsoulis, MA CAGS - is a highly sought after Professional Life Coach and Certified Psychologist with over ten years of experience. She has been dedicated to working with individuals to improve the quality of their lives, and her focus has been on bringing out the best in others. For more information and resources, or to sign up for a free e-course and/or consultation please visit http://www.simplycoaching.net

A Bedwetting Teen Back In Diapers Could Be A Serious Medical Problem

Writen by Peter Crump

A bedwetting teen back in diapers is a stressful situation both for the teen and the parents. Even if you are concerned, you should never let your fears transfer to the child. However, you should try to be as sensitive as possible because any teen that has to wear diapers for a bedwetting problem does not feel very good about the situation. He/She knows there is a problem and the stress of worrying about the possibility of bedwetting could actually make the situation worse. When you have a bedwetting teen back in diapers, you need to look very carefully at the diet, the amount of liquids consumed, any stressful triggers and any medication that he/she might be taking.

One thing that you should do with a bedwetting teen back in diapers is to take the teen for a full check up by the doctor. This will help to rule out any medical problems, which could be causing the bedwetting, especially if this is something new that has developed. Once the doctor has done necessary tests to rule out diabetes, problems with the excretory system, then he/she will help you look for solutions to help the bed wetting teen back in diapers. While disposable diapers and pull ups do help the teen in situations where others might find out about the bedwetting, bedwetting diapers are not a cure for the problem.

A bed wetting teen back in diapers will probably try to hide that fact that he/she is wetting the bed. This is easy to do by changing the bed early each morning while you may be wondering where all the laundry is coming from. If you try to be sensitive, you can have a stack of bed sheets handy so the young person can do this without being conspicuous to others in the house. You do have to be careful you don't let the teen know that you are worried because a bedwetting teen back in diapers can pick up these vibes quite easily. Point out that it is not his/her fault, but that you need to consult with a doctor just to make sure there is nothing wrong.

With bedwetting teens in diapers, if you make cleaning up a form of punishment, this will make the teen more uncomfortable. He/She will dread waking up in the morning just in case they find that the bed is wet. If you discuss the problem and discuss possible solutions along with bedwetting diapers, chances are the teen will be very receptive to various bedwetting solutions. Behavior modification may be one method you can use with the many models of bed wetting alarms that are on the market. These will help a bedwetting teen back in diapers to wake up at the first sign of moisture so that he/she can get to the bathroom in time.

There are also medications to help a bedwetting teen back in diapers. One of these is DDAVP, a medication that works by reducing the amount of urine that the body produces during the night. According to the research results of this medication, bed wetting teens back in diapers relish the thought of something to help ensure they do not wet the bed. They may use bedwetting diapers when they first start taking this medication because they are not sure if it will work or not. However, a bedwetting teen back in diapers usually has low levels of the hormone that regulates the amount of urine their bodies produce and the DDAVP helps to bring this into the normal range.

To find out more about Bedwetting visit Peter's Website Bedwetting Answers and find out about Teenage Bedwetting and more, including Adult Bedwetting, Bedwetting Alarms and Bedwetting Diapers

Removing The Step Out Of Fathering Your Wifes Children

Writen by Mark Davis

It was about 7AM on a Saturday morning, and I was just turning over to position myself for another 3 or 4 hours of sleep. All of a sudden, I feel a gentle tap on my bare shoulder blade. I slowly open my eyes to find the biggest doe eyes staring at me. The little four-year-old princess standing beside the bed whispered, "I'm hungry." I glanced at my wife, who was lying as motionless as possible, and I slid out of the cozy bed to prepare bacon and eggs. That's when I realized the change. I'm not step-dad anymore. I'm a real father.

When I was single, I always avoided relationships with women who had children. I dated quite a bit, so I was not desperate to get married. And while most adult relationships eventually approach the possibility of marriage through conversation or habitation practices (living together), it seemed as if women with children were understandably preoccupied with the notion. I wasn't…until I started dating Donna. The difference that I experienced in a relationship with Donna and her children helped me to open my eyes about the idea of a ready-made family.

The best advice that I could give to a man who is considering a relationship with a single mother is to get to know the woman first. Try not to "jump in" too quickly. Let her really get to know you and your habits as you date, and slowly begin spending time with her and the children together. Don't spend an excessive amount of time with her children until you have made a commitment to stay in their lives. Some children are emotionally devastated by sudden changes, so make sure that you are not setting them up for a major disappointment.

After you've established some stability in their lives by marrying their mom, it's time for you to establish your own personal relationship with them. When my children first met me, they appropriately called me "Mr. Mark". As my wife and I were dating, they called me "Daddy Mark". Now after two years of marriage, they call me "Dad". I never asked them to call me anything. I let the way they feel about me dictate how they address me. Of course, this wouldn't work if I had two disrespectful problem children. They wouldn't have had a chance to call me anything if that was the case. Their mother and I would have never made it to the altar.

What I'm saying is this: though your primary relationship is with their mom, a potential step-father has to establish a solid bond with the children to make it a real family. At our wedding ceremony, I made a vow to my new children after I made the traditional "Take thee" vows to my wife. I promised them that although I would never try to replace their biological father, I will always love them like a father. You see, I believe that the "step" can be taken away without request when you take a major step of care and responsibility.

The only problem in this thought is that caring for someone can't be taught. You have to genuinely feel a specific way, and then act what you feel. And when you really care about someone, you'll want to hang around them. Go shopping. Go to church, to the barbershop, and everywhere else that we find ourselves week in and week out. It'll be pretty obvious in a short period of time if you're genuinely wanting to spend quality time with your children, or if you're just trying to appease their mother.

When Donna and I were first married, I overheard my son Evens call me his step-dad to one of his friends. I had no right to protest, so I didn't. Now, only two years later, I noticed that most of his friends initially think that I'm his biological father (until I have to tell them that he's visiting his father in Virginia every other weekend). My daughter, Josie, has never let on to her friends that I wasn't her father. But I think that's just because I make good breakfast food.

Mark Davis is a high school English teacher in Baltimore, Maryland. He lives with his beautiful wife, Donna, and their children, Evens and Josie.

Personal Responsibility

Writen by Judy H. Wright

Summary:

What constitutes a neat and tidy room may not seem like such a big deal, but it represents a microcosm of how the family works together and how personal responsibility is taught and learned. Even though your child picks up his shoes without being reminded and turns in his homework assignments, it won't guarantee his success in life. It will, however, go far to help him to develop the characteristics and attributes that employers and mates look for.

Body of article:

"How many times do I have to tell you to clean your room?" Why should a child keep his room neat? Many children say they don't care whether it is neat or dirty, so why should it matter to anyone else? Unless it is a health or safety hazard, or things are getting lost and broken? Then comes the age old question, "What is neat?" The answer certainly differs with a ten year old child and a thirty five year old Mom. Who is setting the standard of how clean a room must be to be acceptable.

What constitutes a neat and tidy room may not seem like such a big deal, but it represents a microcosm of how the family works together and how personal responsibility is taught and learned. Even though your child picks up his shoes without being reminded and turns in his homework assignments, it won't guarantee his success in life. It will, however, go far to help him to develop the characteristics and attributes that employers and mates look for.

In the next few minutes, as you read this article, you will find two different and distinct components of responsibility: outward and inward.

1. Outward responsibility deals with everyday life skills such as doing chores, cleaning the room, doing assigned chores, brushing teeth, returning videos on time, and feeding the dog. Each family has its own list of what they consider important, so we will not discuss particular tasks. Rather, we want you to focus on nurturing a positive attitude and good habits in your children - habits that will help them to be productive and reliable.

If your child has the responsibility to clean his room and you clean it for him, he has learned a valuable lesson. He has learned that if he stalls long enough or whines convincingly enough that you will step in. He has no "ownership" of the task. It is not really his job, it is yours and you occasionally get him to do it.

2. Inward responsibility deals with attitudes, beliefs, and values. Being inwardly responsible means admitting mistakes, treating others as you would like to be treated, being unselfish, and caring about other people's health, property and feelings. We frequently get bogged down with the frustration of dirty rooms and forget about more important factors like inward motivation.

Effective discipline and mindful parenting is setting reasonable limits on our children at different developmental stages but giving them choices so they can learn to form their own opinions.

Our goal is to help them become self-disciplined and to learn to think and problem solve without asking or being told what to do in every situation.

Aptitude and competence or the ability to accomplish a task is not nearly as important and vital to a happy life as attitude and confidence. This is the area where we help our children build self-esteem, problem solving skills, a can-do outlook, and positive expectations toward life.

A cooperative environment is one where everyone in the family wins; there are no losers. By learning to support and assist each other in small daily tasks, we set the stage for encouragement and a willingness to become self-reliant.

Good luck. As a word of encouragement, I have to tell you that, of our grown children, the ones who were the messiest as kids are the neatest as adults! Hang in there; there is hope for the future.

Judy H. Wright, Parent Educator © 2005 www.Artichokepress.com

This article is written for your education use and sharing by Judy H. Wright, parent educator, author and international speaker in "finding the heart of the story in the journey of life. Please go to http://www.ArtichokePress.com for a full listing of books, tapes, tele-classes and free online magazine. For those searching for a more abundant life, please go to http://welcomeabundance.com

When A Parent Is Deployed

Writen by Elizabeth Tucker

When a parent is deployed with the military it can be very traumatic for the children left behind. Having things for them to do, that makes them feel a part of the family and helping the parent who is gone, is really important.

Here is a list of things you can plan that should help ease the pain of having mom or dad gone.

We all have happy and sad feelings about our parent leaving. It is important that we talk about them with our families. Have the child (children) make two lists. One with YOUR HAPPY FEELINGS and one with YOUR SAD FEELINGS. Sit down and discuss these lists and explain the feelings that they don't understand or answer questions.

Get a map and place it on the wall and show the kids where mom or dad has gone. They can stick a pin in it or place a small flag on the map. They might get a sheet of stickers and put them where the parent is, where they are, where the grandparents are, etc.

Get the kids a tablet with lined paper and show them how to write letters to the parent. Here they can also use stickers and draw pictures.

Make a list of things that kids can do to cheer the family up like: do some chores, write letters, sing a song they wrote, tell their best joke and add your ideas to the list.

You might want to take a calendar and mark special days and holidays that will be happening while the parent is gone.

If the child (children) are old enough to write, suggest they keep a journal (buy them a book to write in). Then when the parent comes home they can share the journal with the parent. That gets the parent caught up on events and thoughts the kids had while they were gone. Another thing you could do is tear out the page and send it to the parent each week.

You might have a cookout and invite other friends whose mom or dad is also deployed. You could also invite a new family that just moved into the neighborhood.

If you have a major holiday, i.e., Thanksgiving, while the parent is gone, turn on the tape recorder during the dinner so mom or dad can hear the conversations. Have the kids make a list of all the food that you had to eat. Take lots of pictures to send. Have everyone say a special message to the parent.

Have the kids write a poem and send it. Have the kids make a secret code, write a message in the code and send both to the parent. Another neat letter to send would be made of words cut from the newspaper or magazines.

Take pictures of important events: new haircuts, birthdays, parties, etc. Let the kids take pictures. Have them take pictures of the family pets and tell a story to go along with the pictures.

Always remind the child that whether it is mom or dad that is at home or away....they are always a family.

About the Author:

Elizabeth Ann Scaling Tucker is a retired grandmother of 5. She retired after 35 1/2 years with the Department of Defense. In her retirement years, she is a grandchild sitter and an assistant webmaster for family websites. You can see one of the websites at http://www.theclassicbabystore.com

Parenting Your Teenager The Bottom Line Issues

Writen by Jeff Herring

Q. When you consult with a family with teens, what are the typical bottom-line issues?

A. Not surprisingly, the bottom line issues for parents are very different than the bottom line issues for the teen.

For the parents, the bottom line issues look something like this:

They see the kid they raised from an infant changing right before their eyes, usually getting more and more out of control. Their concerns can run through a whole range of problems - from slipping grades, bad attitudes and little or no communication all the way to depression, running away or drugs.

The bottom line is that the parents are scared, and they want their nice kid back.

For the teens, the bottom line issues usually look something like this:

"If Mom and Dad would just get off my back and trust me, everything would be OK. I'm not a little kid anymore!"

The bottom line is: "I just want to be more and more in charge of myself!"

One useful tip for both sides is to learn to pick your battles.

For the parents, not every issue needs to be a battle for control.

For the teens, not every issue has to be a battle for independence.

Visit ParentingYourTeenager.com for tips and tools for thriving during the teen years. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 5 day e-program on The Top 5 Things to Never Say to Your Teenager, from parenting coach and expert Jeff Herring.

Staying Calm Tips For Parents

Writen by Susie Cortright

My beloved car had just blown its engine, pregnancy was making me crazy, and we had no money in our pockets (or anywhere else). When I slammed our front door, I knocked the only plant I had managed to keep alive all season off the windowsill. Just as the pottery hit the floor and cracked, so did I. I lay face down in black potting soil and pottery shards and let my Labrador lick the tears off my dirty face.

That was just before the birth of our first child. Since then, there have been countless times when I've wanted to curl up on the carpet and scream, but the ever-watching kids have made that a luxury I can no longer afford.

It's more difficult now, too. One of the biggest surprises of parenthood is the absolute anger we can feel in no time - and with very little provocation. Start with a sleep-deprived parent, throw in a troubled teenager, a whining child, or a colicky newborn, and even the coolest cats can lose their minds.

Releasing our anger in the wrong ways can lead to emotional and physical scars on our kids. When infants are shaken, even for one heated moment, they can die. And it takes only a moment to harm their little souls.

As they watch us, these young ones are paying particular attention to the way we handle difficult situations. And what we model for them will, in large part, determine their success at controlling their own tempers as they grow up.

So, even in the face of total exasperation, we must stay calm. For a long time, the advice has been to simply go away for a moment and count to ten, but, as all parents know, sometimes that's not so easy. A small child may be frightened when mommy or daddy leaves to take a time-out. Sometimes counting to ten just doesn't do it, and there's no time to count to 100.

So here are a few more tips, compiled just for parents, to help you deal with anger and stay calm with your kids.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES The best time to work on staying cool is before you're hot.

*Declare a zero-tolerance policy on the out-of-control temper.* You must decide, for yourself, that behaving this way is simply not okay. Remind yourself that it is possible to manage your emotions. Think back to times when you were successful at controlling your anger. Perhaps you bit your tongue rather than hollering at the boss. Or you were just about to let it fly at your husband when your in-laws called and suddenly you couldn't believe the sweetness of your own voice. We all have the power to suddenly change our mood.

*Be prepared.* Lots of things can go wrong each day; be ready for them. For example, if you've got babies, pack a bag with at least one extra shirt for everyone, a complete outfit for each toddler, and several for the infants. Stow them in the back of the car with extra diapers and plenty of baby wipes.

*Is there anything specific that triggers your anger?* Keep a journal for those times when you feel like you're ready to fly off the handle. Do you notice any patterns--time of day, hunger level, lack of exercise, a full calendar? Even noise from a TV or radio can contribute to a feeling of over-stimulation, which can set off an emotional explosion. Create a nurturing environment for yourself.

*Take care of yourself.* We're more likely to react to a situation - rather than to simply act - when we haven't gotten enough sleep or we haven't been eating right. Start your day with a light breakfast that includes carbohydrates and protein. Then continue to eat for energy throughout the day.

*Daily exercise* provides a physical release to help you control anxiety and aggression throughout the day. A half-hour of kickboxing can release tension you didn't even know you had.

*A regular routine of prayer and meditation* can calm a chaotic mind. Sit quietly for at least 15 minutes a day. Practice a few yoga stretches when things get tense.

*Decide how you'll deal with certain situationS before they arise.* What makes you want to blow your top? Whether it's toddler temper tantrums or the preschooler's occasional whine, determine how you will handle those things beforehand - while you're calm.

*Understand your child.* Read up on child development and put yourself in their shoes. Ask yourself: "What's it like to be two and not have the skills to express what you want?" "What's it like for a newborn who finds herself with a gut-wrenching bellyful of gas and doesn't understand why it hurts?" Kids act the way they do for a reason. Often, there's a developmental milestone associated with a child's behavior. Understanding the reasons behind our kids' actions can go a long way in helping us develop a sense of empathy, compassion and, ultimately, tolerance.

IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT *Take a few deep breaths.* Diaphragmatic breathing helps reduce stress. This will also give you a time-out, long enough to make a rational assessment of the situation and to help you regain a sense of control.

*Visualize* yourself as the cool, calm, person you strive to be. Whom do you know who embodies these traits? Imagine this person's reaction to the situation.

*Stop. Think. Then speak.* Remind yourself of the importance of keeping yourself under control. If you feel anger building inside, don't pick up a baby. Ask for help or wait until you are calm.

*Consciously lower your voice.* Yelling will only make a child angry and defensive, and it can scare a young child. A soft tone says you're in control.

*Don't catastrophize.* Resist the temptation to blow something out of proportion. Avoid using the words "always" and "never" when you talk to yourself and others.

*Distract yourself.* Is there any way you can laugh about the situation? Ask yourself: what is the real significance of the situation that triggered my rage? It's more important to model a healthy approach to stress than it is to win certain battles. Choose those battles carefully.

Afterwards, reinforce your love for the child and retreat to assess the way you handled the situation. What did you do right? What will you do differently next time?

About the author: Susie Cortright is the founder of momscape.com - http://www.momscape.com - a website devoted to helping busy parents find balance. Read her reviews about behavior modification programs, including programs designed to help you eat for health and enjoy exercising here: http://www.momscape.com/thinkrightnow/reviews.htm

Little Kids Games Look In The Toy Box

Writen by Claire Kolarova

Why not use your child's favorite toys to play some great games together? All it takes is a dash of imagination to create a host of little kids' games that you can play again and again.

Wooden building blocks

Get involved. Sit down with your child one day when he's busy building. Start arranging blocks in a long line and tell him you're building a lo-o-o-ng wall. He'll love to join in. Build the wall together with a lot of oohing and ahhing about what a wonderful wall this is!

Now make it into a game. Who can build the longest wall? Or use blocks of one color. Can you make your red wall longer than my blue wall? Or go high and try the tallest tower competition!

Your child will observe what you do as you're playing and use some of your techniques next time himself. Playing this kind of game is a great teaching tool -- and it's great fun too!

Dolls or soft toys

If your child has a favorite doll or soft toy such as a teddy, sit the toy next to you one day as you're doing something together. When you get up, take teddy with you -- and pop him on another chair or somewhere obvious nearby. Then look back to where you were sitting and ask "Oh! Where's teddy?"

Your child will love telling you where teddy is. That naughty teddy, stay in your seat! Put him back in his place again - and then - repeat! Do this several times, each time placing teddy further and further away. For small children, repetition is the spice of life. Don't be surprised if this game becomes a favorite!

There are a hundred games hidden in your child's toy box - have fun!

Claire Kolarova is a busy mother and webmaster of Little Kids Games Online which features all kinds of games for little kids!

What You Should Know About Counseling For Attention Deficit Disorder

Writen by Douglas Cowan, Psy.D.

At the ADHD Information Library we are big believers that you should not just be giving a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder medication without also providing some sort of counseling or therapy. There are good, long-term studies that show that medication by itself over the long term is not a whole lot better than no treatment at all (Satterfield, et.al.). Medication for Attention Deficit Disorder is far more effective when it is combined with counseling of one type or another. But not all forms of counseling are worth the investment of time or money. Read on to learn what works and what does not.

Family therapy is helpful.

The family needs to adjust to the ADHD child, and needs to know how to do that. Parents need to know what to expect from the ADHD child, and the siblings need to be filled in on what is going on as well.

In fact, often the focus of family therapy ought to be the siblings. There is often a lot of jealousy with the siblings focused at the ADHD patient. Why? Because the patient has been getting all kinds of attention from the parents, both good attention and bad, over the past several years. Also because the ADHD child probably gets away with a lot more than his non-ADHD siblings do. So the jealousy needs to be addressed at some point in the family context. 

Parent training classes are great.

Most classes focus on getting kids with Attention Deficit Disorder to be more compliant. It doesn't matter if the ADHD child is noncompliance because he's a space cadet and can't remember what he's supposed to do, or if he's non-compliant because he's being defiant and refuses to do what he's supposed to do. Either way there's a problem that needs to be fixed. A good parent training class will give parents the skills needed to teach their ADHD kids to be successful at being obedient. 

There's another program that is nationwide, so it would be available to most any of you reading this. However, it has become a very controversial parenting class. It is by Gary and Ann Marie Ezzo, and is called "Growing Kids God's Way." When it comes to basic parenting principles I think the class is very good. When it comes specifically to dealing with kids with neurological problems, such as ADHD kids, then the class leaves something to be desired.

I have several friends who know the Ezzos personally, and think they are great people. However, sometimes the people hosting the video lessons of the classes are so inflexible that they misrepresent what the Ezzos are trying to teach. It is a Bible-based program, basically focusing on the moral principles which underlie our rules of conduct. It stresses respect for other people as one of the main reasons why we expect certain kinds of behavior.

Please don't write me and try to tell me that this is a cult, or something like that. It's not. Please don't waste my time criticizing the class unless you have actually taken the program and there was something that you didn't like. I've seen about half of the tapes, and liked what I saw, and I've seen several families go through the program with good success. My family has gone through their class for teenagers and parents, and I thought it was very good. I used to be critical of the class myself, but only based on hearsay. It's not perfect (neither am I, and neither are you), but it may be very useful to your family.

What about individual counseling or therapy for Attention Deficit Disorder?

Individual therapy using cognitive-behavioral approaches can be very helpful in the treatment of ADHD. Stop and think therapy, teaching the ADHD child how to solve problems, and teaching him how to decrease his impulsivity is great. Teaching the ADHD child how to monitor his own behaviors is important as well.

But some forms of individual therapy may be a waste of time and money. I really have a tough time with people doing regular psychotherapy with these kids. "Well, how does that make you feel? Here, come play with this doll." Sorry, I have a tough time with that. The problem isthe child's Attention Deficit Disorder, which is a neurological problem.

Attention Deficit Disorder is an impulse-control disorder, or dis-inhibition disorder, and ADHD children need to be taught how to control themselves, how to decrease their impulsivity, how to solve problems, and how to stop and think before they act. They need to be taught the necessary skills to help them be more successful. 

I rarely ask ADD kids, "How do you feel?" simply because I rarely care how they feel. Now, that may sound cold to you, but it's really not. I don't try to help ADHD kids to "feel good" about themselves, or have "good self-esteem." There are too many people who feel good about themselves, but do wrong things, things that keep them from being successful, or things that get them into trouble, or things that hurt other people. This may shock you, but Self-Esteem is highly overrated. 

Some of you may find this opinion offensive. I'm sorry, but I know in my heart that I'm right. Self-Esteem, without Self-Control and Respect for others, leads to selfish behaviors at best, and to criminal behaviors at worst. Every criminal behind bars has good Self-Esteem, so much so that they believed that the laws of our society did not apply to them.

For those of you who want to argue, first consider this: one study published in 1997 reported that the "average" criminal locked up in prison had committed 116 crimes for which he was not arrested, or convicted, for each crime for which he was arrested and convicted! That's 116 to 1!

Every sociopath in the world has self-esteem. We have to stop pushing self-esteem and start pushing self-control and respect for others. Self-esteem should come naturally as the result of hard work which leads to success, not from "Self-Esteem Classes" or "Workbooks." We've become a society that praises mediocre work so that we don't offend anyone, and as a result our national work ethic has eroded away. Kids need less self-esteem, and more self-control.

The Keys to making this work: Teach SELF-CONTROL and RESPECT FOR OTHERS.

In order to be successful in life, which should be the goal of therapy, Attention Deficit Disorder kids need to learn what to DO to be successful. The good "feelings" will come as a result of the successful "doing."  ADHD individuals need to be taught how to be under control, how to wait their turn, how to be polite, how to finish their work, how to work fast and hard until they are finished, how to pay attention to the right thing, how to follow rules, and how to obey their parents and teachers.

If your therapist can do this for you, stick with him. You can learn more about ADHD at the ADHD Information Library.

 

Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library's family of seven web sites, including http://www.newideas.net, helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of NewIdeas.net Incorporated.

Parenting 3 Types Of Back To School Phobias

Writen by Jeff Herring

Every year at back to school time, I see lots of kids that come down with what I call Back to School Phobias. Here are 3 types of Back to School Phobias and what to do about them.

1. The But Summer was Just So Much Fun Phobia

Some kids have a hard time adjusting to back to school because they have had such a great summer.

If I child has been on lots of trips, or even just one great trip, it's difficult to get used to homework, having to sit in ta seat, etc.

What to do

Time and consistency is a critical factor here. While it is important to be attentive to the upset, you need to hold them accountable and keep them going each day until they get used to it.

2. The You Mean I Actually Have to Study and Work Now Phobia

For many bright kids, their school experience so far has been all they have to do is show up and pay attention to do well and get good grades.

There comes a time, however, when you have to begin to apply yourself by actually studying and working. This can come at any time, age and grade level.

What to do

No need to panic, this is a natural thing. Make sure the kid knows that this is normal. Make sure the student has study skills, and if they do not, teach them.

3. The Genuine Phobia

The real thing often begins with either a bad experience at school or an anticipated bad experience. One of the signs of a true phobia is that the fear is grossly out of proportion to the cause.

What to do

Identify the bad experience or the anticipated bad experience. Sometimes talking it out will lessen or eliminate the fear.

When the above does not work, it's time to get an appointment with the family doctor and to find a counselor that specializes in school phobias.

Do this right away with actual school phobias, because the longer they go untreated, the harder it is to change.

Visit ParentingYourTeenager.com for tips and tools for thriving during the teen years. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 5 day e-program on The Top 5 Things to Never Say to Your Teenager, from parenting coach and expert Jeff Herring .

How To Stop Bad Behavior Before It Starts

Writen by Katie Basson

Coping with a child's bad behavior, perhaps more than any other aspect of parenting, can cause stress, family disfunction, and a general loss of harmony in your home.  Over time, negative behavior cycles can become ingrained in a family's way of interacting with each other
1.  Be a Benevolent Dictator
In today's times it is tempting to think of our family as a small Democracy, giving equal weight to the wants and needs of every member.  Families schedule meetings to discuss rules.  Negotiation is a skill learned even before tying shoes.  Rules apply only if children choose to obey them.  Giving children lots of choices seems to be of paramount importance.  Parents who operate these types of Democracies think that they are showing their children love and respect.  In fact, what these parents are showing their children is that they don't have the fortitude to do what is right.

This approach belies the fact that we parents usually have decades more life experience than our children, we have had more education, and we are more mature (hopefully).  In short, we should be the ones in charge.  Contrary to what children might say, they in fact, want us to be in charge.  They know better than anyone what their limitations are, and if they are given too much responsibility, it scares them.  Imagine how you would feel if you were suddenly put in charge of a small country in a foreign land.  You might feel powerful, but I dare say, you wouldn't feel secure.  It's like being the captain of a sailboat and not knowing how to sail.  Eventually you would run aground.

Research has shown that in order to raise well-adjusted kids, parents need to be authoritative.  Authoritative parents were described as people whose motto is, "I love and respect you, but since I am the parent, you have to do what I say regardless of whether you agree with me."  Taking this type of approach with your child ensures that they know they are loved, and that they will be saved from making bad choices because they have a parent looking out for them.  Setting limits for your kids makes the world more manageable for them.  They feel safer knowing what the boundaries are, and in knowing that they have your help to stay within them. 

2.  Consistency is Key
Choose a small number of rules that are absolute and stick to them!  These rules should be non-negotiable and carry with them clear and immediate consequences if they are broken.  In my family, rules about safety are set in stone.  If you ride your bike without a helmet, you lose bike privileges for a week.  No exceptions.  This way I know my child is always going to wear his helmet, and I save myself the hassle of arguing with him each day after school about whether he can ride his bike without it.

A psychologist I know stated that the surest way to have kids who misbehave is to be inconsistent.  By having limits that are fluid and that change depending on circumstances, kids spend most of their time with you testing those limits. They know that sooner or later, they'll wear you out, and they'll get what they want.  So, if you want to be worn out day after day, then the secret is to be wishy-washy about rules.  If you don't want to battle day after day with your kids, then set good rules and stick to them!

3.  Know Your Child
Every child has a unique style which includes their own set of triggers for bad behavior.  For my son, transitions always cause him to become unglued.  A temper tantrum always ensued at the end of play dates, the beginning of a school day, or the call to the dinner table.  So, I learned early on that to avoid that type of misbehavior, I needed to be savvy about transitions.  I give plenty of warning before a transition, and I usually sweeten the deal to make it easier.  For example, I play his favorite music in the car on the way to school so that he focuses on looking forward to his songs rather than his nerves about having to leave the house and head to class.

Your child might have similar issues with transitions, or she may act up when tired or hungry.  Your child might feel uncomfortable in crowds, be afraid of loud noises, or become easily overwhelmed in stores.  By knowing your child's triggers for bad behavior, you'll know what to avoid.  For those things you can't avoid, you'll at least be able to develop helpful strategies for coping with problems.

4.  Know Yourself
In addition to being in tune with your child's style, you need to be aware of what your particular needs are.  It will always lead to trouble if you expect lots of peace and quiet after work, but your kids need your help with homework and a ride to soccer.  If you are tense and irritable, it will most certainly translate to misbehavior in your kids.  Busy schedules rarely enable parents to have a peaceful dinner hour, but perhaps you can insist on twenty minutes to unwind in your room before you join the fray downstairs.  My mother made a rule that we couldn't ask anything of her until she had changed into her jeans.  That was our signal that she had decompressed after work and was ready to engage in the family hubbub.

5.  Pay Attention
Children often misbehave simply to get their parents' attention.  Though it confounds adults, children would rather be yelled at than be ignored.  Perhaps it is Darwinian—in the wild, to be ignored by a parent meant that you weren't safe.  Whatever its origin, this aspect of child-rearing can be especially trying.  Negative cycles can so easily begin by a child learning that acting up is the surest way to get a parent's attention.  The only way to avoid this is to lavish love and attention on your child when they are behaving well.  Enjoy their company and play games with them.  Praise them with words and gestures often.  Reward your child with special activities with you—not with toys and treats.  If you sense that your children are acting up more than they should, then that is a sign that you need to stop waiting for your children to misbehave before you give them your attention.  With all the love and attention from you that they need, there won't be many reasons to misbehave!

Katie Basson is a parent, teacher, and creator of The BITs Kit Better Behavior Kit for Kids™.  Katie teaches seminars on behavior modification techniques, and assists parents through challenging behavioral and educational issues.  She serves on the Board of Directors of the YWCA and is an educational advisor to Zoesis, Inc., a children's software company.  Katie's expert advice has been sought for articles in The Boston Globe and Parents Magazine.  Sign up for her biweekly Parenting Solutions newsletter at www.bitskit.com.

How Has God Tested You

Writen by Carey Kinsolving

"God tested me when I had raced with my friends. When they won, I didn't say ugly words," says Rachel, 6.

Vince Lombardi once said, "If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?"

To win in life, we must know the difference between testing and temptation. In testing, God wants to mold our character. Like a good teacher, he always wants us to pass the test. In temptation, the evil one delights in our failure. Furthermore, he wants us to feel guilty about our sin.

"God tested me by telling me that I should take my mama's jewelry, but I did not," says Victoria, 7. Actually, the voice Victoria heard is not from God. The Lord will never tempt us to sin. We must learn to hear God's voice and to resist temptation.

"God has tested me to call my brother names," says Tristan, 7. I didn't do it, because it was not Christ-like. I didn't want to hurt his feelings." Tristan has the perfect reason for not wanting to hurt her brother's feelings. Everything we do should be Christ-like. The test Tristan ascribes to God deserves further consideration. Is name calling the kind of test God would send? I don't think so, especially when Satan is called the accuser of the brethren. (Revelation 12:10)

"God tested me when my fish died and my sister's cat ran away," says Michael, 6.

At age 6 or 66, the death of pets and loved ones will challenge us. If we don't have a strong sense of God's providence, we'll begin to question and doubt. Is there anyone who can understand what we consider to be the untimely death of a loved one? If God were to explain it to us, could we understand?

Tests from God often deal with matters we don't understand. An inscription on a T-shirt someone gave me reads, "God is good all the time." Faith in a good God allows us to pierce the veil into an unseen realm where God is interweaving people and circumstances to accomplish his purpose. Everything that happens is not good, but that doesn't stop God from accomplishing his purpose in our lives when we trust him. Even though God has revealed himself to us through the Bible, everyone will face circumstances and losses that might be described as looking in a foggy mirror. (I Corinthians 13:12) We may have a vague idea of what God is doing, but we don't fully understand.

How much did Abraham understand when God told him at age 75 that he would make a great nation from him? (Genesis 12:2) Do you think Abraham might have wondered when God was going to get started?

Abraham's test involved waiting. Like so many of us, he grew impatient. Abraham and Sarah developed their own plan for helping God deliver on his promise. Sarah suggested Abraham have a son by her servant, Hagar. God wasn't impressed.

Abraham didn't pass every test, but he learned to trust God. Once more, he heard the voice of God. God told him to take his son to the land of Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering.

Think about this: Abraham learned to trust God so perfectly that he believed God could raise his son from the dead to keep his promise. (Hebrews 11:17-19)

Scripture to remember: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." (James 1:2-3)

Ask this question: Can you think of ways God might bless you through testing?

Carey Kinsolving is a syndicated columnist, producer, author, speaker and website developer. To see more articles like this one, visit http://www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/ColumnArchive.aspx. The Kids Talk About God website contains free, online content for children and families. See Carey's Kid TV Interviews. Print free lessons from the "Kids Color Me Bible" and make your own book. Let an 11-year-old girl take you on a trip around the world in the Mission Explorers Streaming Video. Print Scripture verses illustrated by child artists. Receive a complimentary, weekly e-mail subscription to our Devotional Bible Lessons. Bible quotations in this Bible lesson are from the New King James Version. Copyright 2006 Carey Kinsolving

Whine Oh Whine Am I The Only One

Writen by Marsha Maung

I thought I was the only one in the world with a whiny 5-year-old. All the other 5-year-olds that I know of are either well-behaved or are total monsters! My elder child is a cross between the two – most times he's well-behaved and sometimes a total monster. And when he's a monster, mommy turns into an uglier one (blushing in embarrassment).

I don't want this to sound like a "Dear Thelma" article with me doing my whining online and venting it angrily out at readers, about how unfair this world is and how horrid my child is whenever he whines…when in actual fact, I think the problem lies with me. I have a problem with giving him the attention he needs, therefore, he resorts to whining to get my attention.

Does my younger son whine? Not as often as my elder child. My younger son is wiser, he uses a more effective method to get my attention. He would yank my sleeve or part of my clothing up (or any other embarrassing parts of my clothing that reveals undesirable parts of my body) and place hot and wet kisses there! Boy oh boy, you have to give it to the boy for knowing how to get my attention.

Anyway, let me get back to the topic here….whining.

THE VERY BASICS ABOUT WHY TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS WHINE ::

From a very young age, kids need their parents and rely on adults for everything. And to get those things, he has to learn how to get the adults' attention. As babies, they cry. As toddlers, they cry and kick around. As preschoolers, they whine and complain.

The reason why children and kids whine and put up a fuss is because they want something from you and they feel powerless in obtaining it. If they know how to get your attention, like my younger son, they won't whine. It's only when their calls for help are not answered or if they are not getting their way that their calls rise in pitch, resulting in a whine.

Children whine because they are looking for a response and it could be good response or bad response. They want your attention and if bad attention is the only kind of attention that they capable of getting, they'll take it and figure out how to turn it around after that.

HOW TO DEFINE WHINING TO YOUR WHINING PRESCHOOLER ::

Instead of pointing a finger in their faces (which I have the tendency to do, as well, when I am stressed), try pinpointing their whining. The moment they start whining about something, state very firmly, "You're whining and I can't hear you when you do that. Can you please talk in your normal voice now?" If your preschooler doesn't understand what you're saying, repeat the word 'whining' and then imitate him whining. You'll either end up with a wiser child or you'll both end up rolling on the ground with earth-shaking laughter. Either way, it's good news.

HAVE YOU NOTICED WHEN IT IS THAT YOUR CHILD IS MOST LIKELY TO WHINE? ::

Take a wild guess…..yes, when you're in the middle of something important, trying to concentrate on a game or a television program! It's when you're most occupied with your own things or not focused on them.

RESPOND TO YOUR CHILD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE OR POSITIVELY REDIRECT THEM. ::

The worst thing you can do to a child is to snap at them when they're asking something from you nicely. That's like saying, "Not now. Try whining. I might get angry about it and answer you". Instead, respond to them immediately, as you would any other adults. If you're in the middle of something important, you can always explain to your child as patiently and kindly as you can that you are doing something important. Explain to them that you won't ignore them but if they can wait, they should. Most preschoolers can understand this type of instruction – they can understand more than we give them credit for.

DON'T JUST SAY 'LATER' TO A WHINING CHILD ::

Later could mean 5 minutes, it could mean 1 hour, gee whiz, it could mean TOMORROW! Give your preschooler a ballpark figure and a realistic length of time that they should expect the wait to be. Once you're done with whatever that is that you're doing, keep your promise.

If he waits it out, offer encouragement, offer congrats, shower praises on him and make him feel like the President of the WORLD for waiting it out so long.

Marsha Maung is a freelance graphic designer and writer who has been working from her home in Selangor, Malaysia the past 6 years. She is the author of "Raising Little Magicians", "No Products to Sell", "The Lance in Freelancing" and other popular books. For more information, please visit http://www.marshamaung.com and for her books, visit http://www.lulu.com/marshamaung

How To Start The Year In Balance For Your Child

Writen by Dr. Charles Sophy

With the newborn Year barely a week old, our minds are still filled with the promises of all the year will hold. Parents and children alike want to start the New Year off right. For adults practiced at the art of reflection and introspection, we resolve to make changes in our lives and work towards achieving our goals. Sadly, our resolutions are more often than not an indication of a loss of balance in our lives. For children, the task of taking stock of their lives can be challenging. They need our help to learn quiet reflection and balance and require direction towards helping them achieve their goals.

As parents, our role is to first reflect on our own lives and strike the correct balance between our heads and our hearts – find the work / life balance that allows us to live our lives to the fullest. Balance in our lives is of paramount importance. Parents that can teach, guide and love their children from a place of balance will have a much more favorable and loving relationship with their children.

Let's meet Josephine:

Josephine is 8 yrs old and in the 3rd grade. She has been struggling in school for the last several months. Her behavior has deteriorated to the point that she is argumentative with her teachers and peers. In addition to the increase in personal conflicts, the quality of homework assignments has dropped tremendously. These changes are extremely unusual for Josephine. Always a well-behaved and co-operative child, she rarely had conflicts with her peers and always completed homework assignments successfully.

School officials suggested to Josephine's parents that she meet with a counselor to discuss the changes in her behavior to see if they could determine the root cause. Anxious to assist their child, Josephine's parents agreed to the evaluation. Through talks with Josephine, it was discovered that there had been some changes in her home environment: Mom had recently returned to work and, as a result, Dad had been providing more child care then he used to provide. Also Mom and Dad have been experiencing some disconnect and challenges over several personal issues that did not pertain to Josephine.

Clearly, the family dynamics have reached a point that elements in the family unit are no longer in balance. Josephine's parents need to resolve their own feelings about Mom's return to work as well as the shift in the balance of life / work for both parents. Once the parents have restored balance in their own lives, they can assist Josephine with adjusting to the changes and restoring her sense of balance.

Here are 4 tips to keep awareness of balance in focus:

1) Discipline with knowledge. Know what you want to achieve and the best way to get it.

2) Anger awareness. Be aware of your own anger and prevent it from your distraction.

3) Practice good judgment. Make your decisions in a good mind space.

4) Take a deep breath and think before reacting.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Charles Sophy currently serves as Medical Director for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), which is responsible for the health, safety and welfare of nearly 40,000 foster children. He also has a private psychiatry practice in Beverly Hills, California. Dr. Sophy has lectured extensively and is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California Los Angeles Neuro-Psychiatric Institute. His lectures and teachings are consistently ranked as among the best by those in attendance.

Dr. Charles Sophy, author of the "Keep 'Em Off My Couch" blog, provides real simple answers for solving life's biggest problems. He specializes in improving the mental health of children. To contact Dr. Sophy, visit his blog at http://drsophy.com.

Finding The Best Backtoschool Basics Online

Writen by Aaron Wittersheim

Thanks to advances in local Internet search technology, you can get the kids ready for school, support the local economy and save gas — all at the same time. Local search sites and geo-targeted advertising make it simple to find the best deals on back-to-school supplies at stores near you.

Top Sites

For local store search, Google™ Maps is as useful as it is fun. Search results are displayed at right as lettered flags on a map, cross-referenced to descriptive store links at left. Clicking on a link produces a pop-up window over the map with more information about the store — a great tool for planning a day of shopping. Of all sites tested, Google's search results for "school supplies" were the most accurate, and the split-screen design provides maximum information with minimum clicks.

For local product search, ShopLocal.com™ leads the way. Inputting your desired location and a product (e.g., pencils) yields hundreds of results with all the information you could want: pricing, product description, nearest store location (all stores are big chains), a photo image of the product, online offers, local offers, and store ratings. Easy to use, the site is potentially addictive for the comparison shopper.

Other Sites Worth a Look

Searching for "school supplies" plus a zip code, YellowPages.Com™ delivered plenty of local results, but information about the stores and their location is scattered across several pages.

Yahoo!® Local, Yahoo!®'s new local search engine, delivered few results for "school supplies", but Yahoo!® has an enormous database and resources to improve search performance. Their user rating system for stores might grow into a useful feature, but so far there is little data.

Windows Live™ Local, in Beta testing, works similarly to Google™ Maps. It offers more complex mapping options than Google™, but navigation and page layout are equally complex. Searching for "school supplies" plus zip yielded several results, but many were not relevant. Still, a robust mapping program and Microsoft® know-how make this a site with a future.

Stores Are Looking for You

Stores that sell school supplies already have a strong advertising presence on local search engines. That is no surprise: geo-targeted advertising is inexpensive, effective, and reaches highly qualified prospects. A simple business listing on Yahoo!® Local and Google™ Maps is free. For $25 a month, Yahoo!® Local provides a featured listing and a free (!) five-page basic Web site. Geo-targeted advertisements through Google™ AdWords, Yahoo!® Search Marketing or Microsoft® adCenter can be obtained at a very low cost.

Two factors ensure that on-line local shopping is here to stay. First, rapidly growing local search engine traffic indicates shoppers enjoy doing preliminary research from home. Second, new technologies allow advertisers to more accurately identify shoppers based on zip code, area code, and/or IP address. Before long, you will be able to use your cell phone to find the best deals on notebooks and rulers, and get directions to the store.

Stay Tuned

Whether you want the closest one-stop shop or the one perfect backpack your child cannot live without, local on-line search points you in the right direction.

Aaron Wittersheim is president of Whoast Inc., a suburban Chicago search marketing firm. For more information, visit http://www.whoast.com.

The Courage To Be A Loving Parent

Writen by Margaret Paul, Ph.D.

Most of us really don't like it when someone is angry at us. We don't like it when people go into resistance to helping us when we need help, instead of caring about us. We don't like it when people withdraw from us, disconnecting from us and shutting us out. We don't like it when people make demands on us and do not respect our right or need to say no. Many of us will do almost anything to avoid the soul loneliness and pain we feel when people treat us in angry, resistant, demanding and uncaring ways.

It takes great courage to stay loving to ourselves and others when faced with others' angry and closed behavior. It especially take courage when the people we are dealing with are our own children. Yet unless we have the courage to come up against our children's anger, resistance, and withdrawal, we will give ourselves up and not take care of ourselves to avoid their uncaring reactions. The more we deny our own truth and our own needs and feelings, the more our children will disrespect and discount us. Our children become a mirror of our own behavior, discounting us when we discount ourselves, disrespecting us when we disrespect ourselves. The more we give ourselves up to avoid our children's unloving behavior toward us, the more we become objectified as the all-giving and loving parent who doesn't need anything for ourselves. When we do this, we are role-modeling being a caretaker.

On the other hand, it is unloving to ourselves and our children to expect our children to take responsibility for our well-being. It is unloving to demand that our children give themselves up to prove their love for us and to pacify our fears. It is unloving to demand that they be the way we want them to be rather than who they are. It is unloving to set limits just to make us feel safe, rather than limits that support their health and safety. When we behave in this way, we are role-modeling being a taker.

The challenge of good parenting is to find the balanced between being there for our children and being there for ourselves, as well as the balance between freedom and responsibility - to be personally responsible to ourselves rather than be a taker or a caretaker.

Our decisions need to be based on what is in the highest good of our children as well as ourselves. If a child wants something that is not in our highest good to give, then it is not loving to give it. If we want something that is not in the highest good of our children, then it is not loving for us to expect it. It is loving to support our children's freedom to choose what they want and to be themselves, as long as it doesn't mean giving ourselves up. Children do not learn responsible behavior toward others when their parents discount their own needs and feelings to support what their children want. Our own freedom to choose what we want and to be ourselves needs to be just as important to us as our children's freedom and desires.

On the other hand, if we always put our needs before our children's, we are behaving in a self-centered, narcissistic way that limits our children's freedom. We are training our children to be caretakers, to give themselves up for other's needs and not consider their own.

The challenge of loving parenting is to role-model behavior that is personally responsible, rather than being a taker or caretaker. This is our best chance for bringing up personally responsible children. However, we need to remember that we can do everything "right" as a parent, but our children are on their own path, their own soul's journey. They will make their own choices to be loving or unloving, responsible or irresponsible. We can influence their choices, but we can't control them. They have free will, just as we do, to choose who they want to be each moment of their lives. All we can do is the very best we can to role-model loving, personally responsible behavior - behavior that supports our own and our children's highest good.

About The Author

Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is the best-selling author and co-author of eight books, including "Do I Have To Give Up Me To Be Loved By You?" She is the co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding healing process. Learn Inner Bonding now! Visit her web site for a FREE Inner Bonding course: http://www.innerbonding.com or mailto:margaret@innerbonding.com. Phone sessions available.

Quotgimmequot Proof Your Kids How To Keep Your Childs Materialism In Check

Writen by Dr. Charles Sophy

It's the first day of the summer holiday. Five year-old Stephanie is shopping with you at Wal-Mart and picks out three stuffed animals that she saw in the movie Madagascar. "Oh Mom please! I want to bring Alex and Gloria and Melman to Kinder Gym with me!" she says and stomps off in disgust when you tell her she has to choose only one.

Your eight-year old, Alex, comes home from Summer Day Camp. "I need an iPod!" he declares, "Thomas has one and it's sweet!" Your first thought is, "What's an iPod?" Once Alex fills you in on the latest must-have gadget, you're floored by the ticket price and wonder why he needs one when he already has a walkman.

To top it off, your ten-year old, Tabitha, woke up this morning with a singular mission; to have pierced ears with diamond studs like her new best-friend Sarah by the end of the day, when last week she thought body piercings of any kind were gross. She has spent the entire day begging you to bring her to the Salon to get them pierced, ate her dinner in silence and retreated to her room to call Sarah and complain about how unfair her parents are.

You finish the day exhausted by the challenges of managing "gimme" requests from your children. Sitting down with your partner after the kids have been put to bed, you share your concerns about the day's events. You're both left wondering how your children became so materialistic, and worried that they are becoming followers rather than children who are secure in themselves and their values. A change is needed! But where to begin?

During the grade-school years, children grow more interested in the material world than they were back in kindergarten. Motivated by a combination of an increasing awareness of what other kids have and the desire to fit in by having the same things themselves, their acquisitiveness begins to become more apparent.

A child's age-appropriate progression from self-awareness to awareness of others is compounded by the society in which we live. We live in an age of affluence, at times one obsessed with status and possession. Evidenced by TV and other forms of media. One message is coming through loud and clear: You are what you buy and what you own. There's no doubt that it has become increasingly difficult to raise children in this world of materialism, distraction and temptation.

You can help keep your child's materialism in check by following these simple steps:

1) Back to Basics: Try to bring your parenting back to a basic level. No need to respond to the distractions that at times seem out of range on many levels and maybe out of your comfort zone.

2) Self-Awareness: Working along with your parenting partner, ensure agreed-upon family values, as well as the structures that support your beliefs.

3) Explore: Remember that the need your child may have for all these newest gadgets possibly camouflages a deeper problem.

4) Communicate: Discuss with your child the concept of earning, as well as alternative to their request. A less costly option may meet the need.

5) Don't fulfill every request: Children who get everything they ask for don't learn to handle disappointment, and they don't learn to work for the things they desire, or delay the need for gratification.

6) Spend time rather than money on your kids: It's not easy in our hectic lives to give children the time and attention they crave, but that's the best way to ward off the "gimmes."

Remember: No matter what your child says, he/she wants — and needs — a secure sense of family more than a roomful of possessions. There may be times when it's appropriate to fulfill a request and times when it's best to say no. You know your child best: listen, learn, teach and communicate in a respectful manner and do your best to focus your children on the lessons of giving as well as receiving.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr. Charles Sophy currently serves as Medical Director for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), which is responsible for the health, safety and welfare of nearly 40,000 foster children. He also has a private psychiatry practice in Beverly Hills, California. Dr. Sophy has lectured extensively and is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California Los Angeles Neuro-Psychiatric Institute. His lectures and teachings are consistently ranked as among the best by those in attendance.

Dr. Charles Sophy, author of the "Keep 'Em Off My Couch" blog, provides real simple answers for solving life's biggest problems. He specializes in improving the mental health of children. To contact Dr. Sophy, visit his blog at http://drsophy.com.

Safe Or Not What You Need To Know About Childrens Outdoor Toys

Writen by Mayoor Patel

With the recent spate of playground related injuries, parents are starting to become more aware of what is and isn't safe in an outdoor child toy. The sad thing is, hundreds of thousands of children are still injured each year in toy related incidents. So how can you make sure that your child is safe when he or she plays?

First of all, it's important to remember that it's impossible to keep a child completely safe during play, or any time, for that matter. Some bumps, bruises, scrapes and cuts have to be expected on the rocky road to growing up, and little injuries like that are good for children; they give them an idea of the world around them, and teach them what the laws of physics will and will not allow them to do. But with that said, no child should ever be hurt so badly while playing that he or she had to go to the emergency room. And the best way to keep that from happening is to know what's going on with your child, at all times.

However, it's equally important, especially with very young or very small children, that they play with toys that are suitable for their age unless you're right with them. It's one thing to hold a toddler on a bicycle seat and let him pretend he's riding it; it's quite another to let the same toddler clamber over the bicycle while it's lying on the ground and you're at the other end of the yard. Just as toast always lands butter side up when it falls, a child left on his own will get hurt if he possibly can. Check for small parts or sharp edges on any toy before you allow your child to play with it without you right over them. Mind you, I'm not saying that you should become a second shadow; if you have more than one kid, you won't be able to, anyway. I am saying that you should always be close by when your children are playing, and always make sure that the toys they're playing with won't be able to hurt them if you should turn your back for a few minutes.

Check labels. Most toys will come with warnings that say "3+" or "Not for children under four". Pay attention to those labels. Heed them. But don't just assume that because a label says "For ages three and up" and your child is four that the toy is automatically safe. Check for sharp edges. Check for places where curious little hands might get stuck. (The chain and gears on bicycles are particularly bad about that, for example.) Above all, be aware, and use common sense!

For vital information on all things concerned with outdoor toys visit Outdoor Toys

Turn Off The Tv And Turn On To Physical Activity

Writen by Rae Pica

Imagine having no television for an entire season. Such was the case for a friend, whose mother hauled the appliance right out of the house at the start of every summer. Surprisingly, Ola and her siblings didn't miss it, as they managed to keep themselves busy in other ways. And, today, Ola is glad her mother maintained that annual tradition, as she learned not to rely on TV to keep her entertained. She and her two young daughters also tend to be more physically active than other families she knows – something she attributes directly to the amount of active play she engaged in as a child.

Could today's families survive as well without the "tube?" And, if forced to go without (say, during TV-Turnoff Week: this year April 25 - May 1), would they be physically active or simply resort to another form of electronic entertainment?

Unfortunately, children today spend the better part of their waking lives watching television. It's been estimated that between the ages of two and seventeen American children spend an average of three years of their waking lives watching TV – and that doesn't even include time spent watching videos, playing video games, or using the computer. That's the equivalent of more than fifteen thousand hours in front of the set (about a thousand hours a year) – as compared with twelve thousand hours spent in a classroom. The end result? A total of twenty-seven thousand hours – more than six years of their young lives – without a whole heck of a lot of movement.

Why be concerned? The number-one reason is that too much television results in an unfit individual – adult or child. In 1998 researchers at San Diego State University found that both parents' and children's performance levels on a simple test of aerobic fitness (one-mile walk/run) decreased as their viewing increased. The fact is, children who watch several hours of television every day have lower fitness levels than those who watch fewer than two hours.

Worse still, as the hours spent watching TV increase, so does the likelihood of obesity among children and adolescents. Researchers are discovering that the percentage of body fat increases along with the number of hours spent in front of the tube – and that obesity is lower among children who watch television for one hour or less a day. The risk actually increases almost two percent for each additional hour watched!

Of course, even children who aren't overweight or obese can still be unfit if they participate in too little vigorous physical activity. Whether it's evident on the outside or not, when the time comes for them to exert physical energy, they'll likely find their muscles, heart, and lungs aren't up to the challenge.

Once upon a time, children ran and skipped, climbed trees, jumped rope, played hopscotch, and rode their bicycles for blocks. Most likely you remember some of that yourself. Before you were old enough for school, it seems you were never indoors. You and the neighborhood children ran screaming through each other's yards and even down the middle of the streets. You raced each other to the slide and the swings, chased butterflies, and got grass-stained practicing your tumbling skills on the lawn.

Once you were in school all day, the instant the bell sounded, you ran all the way home, shed your good clothes, and were out the door again. You played touch football, hide-and-seek, and tag. And you stayed outside until forced to come in. It's no wonder no one ever worried about your getting enough exercise!

But does all that activity bring to mind what your own children are doing? Probably not. Today, because children's days are nearly as scheduled as adults' – and they are driven, rather than walk, everywhere – we need to "program" movement into our daily lives.

That doesn't have to be as challenging as it may sound. It can be as simple as putting on some music and holding a dance party in the living room. Make a game of Statues out of it by inviting your children to move in any way they want while the music is playing and to freeze into statues when you pause it. Play Follow the Leader, or break out the pots and pans and hold a parade around the house. Play a rousing game of Twister or simply go for an after-dinner stroll.

Once you've turned off the TV, you'll be amazed at the amount of time you have together and the creative ways you'll find to spend that time. Remember, though, that the most important thing you can do is to serve as a role model. Research has shown that parents' inactivity may exert more influence on their children's behavior than being active does. So, if your children see you sitting in front of the TV during all your free time – if they never see you exercising or enjoying yourself as you do something physical – your actions (in this case inactions) will speak volumes. They'll simply follow suit. Even if you tell them how important it is to be physically active, they'll have no reason to believe you. So turn off the TV and turn on to physical activity! Both you and your children will be glad you did.

Rae Pica is a children's physical activity specialist and the author of Your Active Child: How to Boost Physical, Emotional, and Cognitive Development through Age-Appropriate Activity (McGraw-Hill, 2003). Visit Rae at http://www.movingandlearning.com

Creative Thinking In The Midst Of The Mundane

Writen by Carolina Fernandez

Today's Quote: "For a parent, it's hard to recognize the significance of your work when you're immersed in the mundane details. Few of us, as we run the bath water or spread the peanut butter on the bread, proclaim proudly, "I'm making my contribution to the future of the planet." But with the exception of global hunger, few jobs in the world of paychecks and promotions compare in significance to the job of parent. Joyce Maynard

We cannot escape them. The mundane realities of motherhood present themselves at every turn.

Upon rising, it's blast off! We're faced with cooking and serving breakfast, washing resultant dirty dishes, wiping countertops, sweeping floors, packing lunchboxes, checking and signing school papers, and initialing bus passes or driving carpool.

Barely over, laundry stains rear their ugly heads and our next campaign of the hour screams for our attention. Once attacked, three loads of laundry morph before our eyes to four, stray socks and underwear mysteriously jump to the stairs instead of the hamper...and more washing, more drying, and more folding goes on ad infinitum.

Grueling grocery-store queues, bewildering bills, and time- consuming phone tag continue to fill our mornings.

And all before 9 AM!

Get used to it. The mundane--oftentimes dreadful--realities of motherhood have been with moms since time began, and likely will stay with us for, well, the rest of our lives. There's no sense despairing, no need to wring your hands, no time for wishing them away.

But take heart. There are tricks to conquering the mundane to keep you from going completely insane.

First of all, use your time when doing mundane, everyday chores to think creatively. Mindless, repetitious motions like ironing, soaping down dirty dishes, folding t-shirts...things we could do with our eyes closed in the middle of a tornado, present perfect opportunities for us to think of creative solutions to present day dilemmas. My hunch is that not many of you take the time out during the day to just sit in a chair and think; indeed, the idea--credited by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Luis Alvarez, who took a half-hour every day to ponder what he knew and what its implications might be--is highly impractical for ROCKET MOMS! Nevertheless, the idea is pure gold. (1) How can you translate it into your everyday reality? Use that time, when you are performing repetitious tasks, to ponder dilemmas, think through frustrations, sort out ill-feelings, and organize your day.

Secondly, use an "Open Road Strategy" to think creatively. Drive times with sleeping children-buckled securely in car seats and nodding off happily to Raffi tunes and Mozart for the Mind-are great opportunities to think without distractions. This practice is endorsed by John Rogers of the University of Illinois, who is developing microfluidic optical fibers, and needs this time to think creatively. (2) Don Arnone, a leader in t-ray technology, also employs this strategy, calling it "an inadvertent bonus of the realities of modern life." (3)

Lastly, use times doing repetitious exercise as your "Physically Energizing Strategy" to think creatively. As an avid lap swimmer, I often get my most creative insights while swimming monotonous after monotonous lap. I almost never think about the physical part of the swim, such as the way I move my arms or the way I breathe; I've been swimming so long that the mechanics are second-nature. Rather, I purpose to use this time to sort out problems, figure out solutions to perplexing issues, and mentally test out different angles to dilemmas. I always emerge feeling both mentally and physically refreshed, and that I have moved forward creatively.

Wishing you a wonderful day! And may your chores of the day be your pathways to creative genius!

NOTES:
(1)Buderi, Robert. (2004) "Thinking about Thinking." Technology Review, February, p. 1.
(2)Ibid.
(3) Ibid.

Carolina Fernandez earned an M.B.A. and worked at IBM and as a stockbroker at Merrill Lynch before coming home to work as a wife and mother of four. She totally re-invented herself along the way. Strong convictions were born about the role of the arts in child development; ten years of homeschooling and raising four kids provide fertile soil for devising creative parenting strategies. These are played out in ROCKET MOM! 7 Strategies To Blast You Into Brilliance. It is widely available online, in bookstores or through 888-476-2493. She writes extensively for a variety of parenting resources and teaches other moms via seminars, workshops, keynotes and monthly meetings of the ROCKET MOM SOCIETY, a sisterhood group she launched to "encourage, equip and empower moms for excellence."

Please visit =>http://www.rocketmom.com

Successful Childhood Learning Starts With Reading Aloud

Writen by Brent Sitton

Popular theory in the world of education has long been that a young child is an empty slate, just waiting to have information poured into them. That theory has promoted the idea that learning by rote will make a child smarter, and thus more likely to succeed. But studies of the last fifteen years or so have turned such thinking on its ear – the new thought behind early childhood development is not to shove a book under their noses and say "learn," rather, it's to show your child how to learn, by reading with them, and forging not just an interest, but a real pleasure out of what the printed word can bring.

Let's looks at an example: "The filibuster is a strategy employed in the United States Senate, whereby a minority can delay a vote on proposed legislation by making long speeches or introducing irrelevant issues. A successful filibuster can force withdrawal of a bill, and filibusters can be ended only by cloture."

Pretty interesting, huh? No? Well, to be honest, we didn't think it would be. The fact of the matter is, if you don't have a passion for politics, a piece of information about a political process will likely go in one ear and out the other, even if you're forced to read the passage more than once. You could read it two or three times, memorize the words, and even be tested on them, but will you still remember that information next week? How about in a month?

When your child goes to school and is told to read several pages in a book that doesn't interest them, they're going through the exact same thing you just experienced. If there's no inherent passion for reading, and no passion for the subject matter, then there will be minimal retention at the end of it all.

A study of 74 schools by the UK National Foundation for Educational Research found that "fewer youngsters believe reading is difficult, compared with 10 years ago. However, there is a substantial decrease in pupils reading for pleasure. 65% of 9-year-olds and 73% of 11-year-olds said they did not think reading was difficult, compared with 56% and 62% respectively in 1998. Just over 7 out of 10 of the younger age group enjoy reading as a pastime, compared with 78% five years ago, while for 11-year-olds, the proportion has declined from 77% to 65%. Children said they preferred watching television to going to the library or reading. But the biggest changes in attitudes were among boys. In Year 6, only 55% of boys said they enjoyed stories compared with 70% in 1998."

Why? Perhaps other statistics in the same report might have some insight:

• 24% of children under the age of 4 had television sets in their bedrooms
• More than 50% of children over the age of 4 have their own TVs
• 28% have computer games in their rooms
• 8.5% of under-fours have a VCR in their rooms

The Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) recommends that parents read with their child for at least fifteen minutes every day, all the way through third grade, stating, "Before you read each book, read the title and look at the cover and pictures inside. Ask your child what [he or] she thinks the book may be about. After reading the book, review [his or] her predictions. Was the prediction right? If not, what happened instead?"

The object in such an exercise is threefold: You make reading an interactive experience that a child can enjoy much as they do playing in the yard, you give the child an opportunity to ask questions about things they don't understand, and you promote creative thought within your child, where they learn to assess what they see, critically appraise it, and think beyond what they're seeing on the page.

The FCRR advice goes further, recommending a weekly trip with your child to the library, and rhyming games that make your child think about how words are put together, all of which are intended to show your child that reading is just as much fun off-the-page as it is on.

The ultimate object is to convince your child to open a book for fun, in their spare time, and thus begin a lifelong enjoyment of the written word and the information that books can bring. This doesn't just help them at school - according to the NCREL, readers "have self-confidence that they are effective learners [and] see themselves as agents able to actualize their potential."

It's important for every parent to realize the value of literacy in their child, at the earliest age possible, but it's even more important to understand the value of comprehension, and how you can help that seed take root.

Brent Sitton is the founder of http://www.DiscoveryJourney.com. DiscoveryJourney has a variety of tools available to parents to help promote a culture of reading in your household. Discovery Journey has compiled a Child Book List of children's books that not only engage children, but also delight parents. Our children's book reviews identify character trait and child behavior issues in the book to discuss as a family. Each children's book review contains 5 related fun and educational child activities to enjoy as a family, inspiring the passion for learning and reading!