1. Meet the teacher ahead of time

If it’s practical, arrange a meeting with your child’s new teacher before the first day of class. Most teachers are glad to do this, and if your child sees a familiar person in his teacher, he will feel more relaxed. See if the prospective teacher will meet you both for lunch, or come to your home for a meal. More than one meeting is even better.

2. Visit the school before class begins

Take a tour of the school to get familiar with the layout and possibly meet some of the students. If it’s summer, there may be an official orientation for new students; but it’s better to go as a family or with a parent in a no-pressure visit. Your child will feel a lot less overwhelmed if she knows where her locker, the bathroom, and her classroom are going to be.

3. Keep lines of communication open

Your child needs to feel safe in discussing social problems and joys with you. If you and your child never talk about such things, you may think everything is just fine when it is not. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and let your child know you are asking because you want to help.

4. Teach basic social skills

It’s easy to take these skills for granted, but your child may not know these things - especially if you have never gone over them. Teach him to look people in the eye, to shake hands, to answer when spoken to, and to introduce himself. Also teach specifics about being a good listener, such as not interrupting and making eye contact while another is speaking. These are skills that will serve your child well in school and in the future.

You can arrange play dates and meetings to teach these things, and take advantage of ones that happen along the way, such as the grocery checkout clerk or the mailman. Keep it relaxed and easy, even game-like at times, because high-pressure situations forced on your child will only make him more anxious.

5. Encourage some group activities

There’s no need to overwhelm your child with a dozen extracurricular activities. But finding something your child can do with others can help socialization. Find out what groups are available at your child’s school - it does not have to be a sport, or a large, organized group (although those are fine). Find something that suits your child’s personality and needs.

Teach and practise socialization, talk to your child about how she’s doing, and the transition to a new school will be more a time of excitement than one of stress.

Tweet This Post 

The Pros of Home Education

Your child can work at their speed. Some children may be math whizzes who easily do algebra at home but are required to remain “at level” with the students in school classes. With home education, you can allow your child to excel in the areas they enjoy. There’s also nothing wrong with your child working on many different levels if that’s where their abilities are.

You can work with your child’s bent. Not all children learn in the same way. Some children are auditory learners, some hands-on learners, and some visual learners. Instead of providing the same type of teaching for every child in your home, you can determine how your child learns best and find a curriculum which will work with your child’s bent. You may find your child will enjoy learning more if they are being taught using their learning style.

You can watch your child relate to everyone around them. In public schools, children are separated by age; the only person older than them is their teachers. As they learn to deal with the world around them, they may have problems relating to people older or younger. Home educated children, on the other hand, normally can carry on a conversation and relate to people of all ages because they’re not segregated into age groups.

You have more control over what your child learns. Some people homeschool because of religious convictions. Others do so because they don’t want their children to be exposed to certain subjects in the way public schools generally handle them. As a parent who homeschools, you have more control over what your child learns, how they learn it, and when they learn it.

The Cons of Home Education

You’re together all the time. Let’s face it; too much of a good thing isn’t always good. When you’re together all the time, everyone can become overwhelmed and stressed by all the togetherness. Find activities your children can do away from you and this problem can be handled.

You may not have money for the curriculum you want. Homeschooling isn’t necessarily an inexpensive endeavor. In fact, some curriculums can be quite expensive. It is possible, however, to find free homeschool resources or you can purchase a used curriculum from other homeschoolers.

You may experience times of self-doubt, no matter how long you homeschool. It happens to some people who have homeschooled for years as well as to those new to homeschooling. If this is a problem, talk to other homeschool parents to get encouragement.

You may be concerned about your children not being around others. Socialization is one topic brought up when people say they’re considering homeschooling. While your children may be limited on a daily basis in who they interact with, many homeschooling families are involved in plenty of outside of the home activities such as scouting, religious, or community so their children can interact with others.

There are many pros and cons of home education. You can read through the above or talk with a homeschooling family to learn more about it. If you’re considering homeschooling, remember there are pros and cons to everything; you simply make the best decision you can based on the information you have.

Tweet This Post 

* Commitment of the whole family – One thing that that will help you to home educate successfully is a commitment to do so by the entire family. This means that both parents must agree that homeschooling is the right choice for their children. The children must be willing to be homeschooled and commit to do their best. Without this commitment, homeschooling will be stressful and will be seen more as an experiment which can be discarded rather than a change in the family’s dynamics.

* A good sense of humor – Home education requires the parent doing most of the teaching to have a good sense of humor. There are days when being able to laugh will be what gets you through. You’ll also want to try to make learning enjoyable and using humor is one way to do that. There will be times when you have to be serious, but allowing the children (and you as the teacher) to have fun during the learning process will make your day go smoother and quicker.

* A good relationship with your children – Parents who are having struggles with their children may not want to homeschool. It’s not that they can’t be effective in teaching their children, but their children may not want to spend most of their time with their parents. Having a good relationship with your children will enable you to bond closer together and overcome any obstacles you may face.

* Patience with your child and yourself – Many families choose to begin homeschooling from the beginning of their child’s education. It is so much easier then because children are like little sponges that soak up new skills and knowledge. As they get older, however, home educating may require more patience with your child and yourself. You may both get frustrated after a long day of schoolwork, but have patience; you can and will get through the tough days.

* Curriculum and course materials – Of course, if you’re teaching your child at home, you’ll need some type of curriculum or course materials. There are many homeschool curriculum choices available. Talk with other homeschool families to see what curriculum they use.

Make plans to attend homeschool curriculum fairs which are normally held at the end of school year. This allows you to physically look at the curriculum to see if it meets your family’s needs. You can also search online through auction websites to purchase a used curriculum and find websites for curriculum producers. Be sure to get a variety of catalogs to help you make your curriculum choices.

You may be under the impression that home education success depends strictly upon the curriculum or textbooks you use. Surprisingly, nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, the curriculum you use with your children is important, but if you don’t think you can spend the amount of time it takes to homeschool with your child day in and day out, homeschooling may not be the best choice for you.

If you really want to know what is needed to home educate successfully, look to your family’s commitment, sense of humor, and your relationship with your children to help you decide if this education method is best for you.

Tweet This Post 

The Education Store’s website ‘www.learningthings.com’ offers a wealth of information and products on homeschooling. The online store provides homeschool materials for any subject from preschool to college level, from English grammar to history and foreign languages.

On the website you can browse through informative homeschool-related articles, find relevant online resource links and coupons & special offers on educational resources.

Go to www.learningthings.com for a closer look at this fabulous online educational homeschooling resource website.

Tweet This Post 

The book features:

* Things you need to consider before homeschooling your child
* Important actions to take to make sure you have the correct information for homeschooling in your own state and know the law
* How to make sure your school district will approve your homeschooling proposal
* What is expected from you as a teacher
* What a school committee looks at before accepting your proposal
* How to create lesson plans
* How to pick subjects the school committee will approve of
* How to make homeschooling fun
* Where to find homeschooling resources and information
* And lots more

In his book, the author gives you the straight talking on what you need to know before embarking on homeschooling your children. Which laws to abide by and on how to deal with your local school district. You don’t need to be a qualified teacher or have a degree but you need to have enthusiasm, be informed, find the right support and want the best possible education for your children.

This book comes as a Kindle version and the file size is 58KB.

For more information, go to www.amazon.com.

Tweet This Post 

Children need to be made aware that most animal extinction and endangerment is caused by human activities. There are many animal rights activists who strive valiantly to save the endangered species and stop extinction but it is a long, hard battle. Rainforests are under constant threat and saving the rainforest means saving the animals that inhabit the forest. Tropical rainforests are considered to be nature’s largest pharmacy due to the numerous natural medicines found there.

A few of the better known endangered rainforest animals for your kids to know include:

Gorilla – found in the west central African rainforests of Zaire and Rwanda are in danger of being wiped out through loss of habitat and being hunted as bush meat. The Ebola virus has already done significant damage to the Gorilla population.

Golden Lion Tamarind Monkey - is probably one the most endangered of all the rainforest animals and is nearly extinct. The fur of these monkeys is extremely valuable and can fetch as much as 20,000 dollars on the black market. Their number has diminished drastically and only a few of the species are to be found in the Brazilian rainforests.

Jaguar – one of the sleekest of all beasts of prey, this magnificent animal is on the endangered list. Hunting although prohibited in most countries continues to drive the species nearer to extinction with each passing year.

Bengal Tiger – there are only approximately 4000 of these animals left in the wilds of the Sundarbans in India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, China and Siberia. When you consider that they numbered roughly 50000 in the 1900s, you will realize how much damage man has done by poaching not just these beautiful animals but their land.

Most of us know and love the Orangutan and it is sad to know that these cute creatures with their mops of orange hair are on the endangered list. Destruction and loss of habitat coupled with poaching and being hunted as an exotic species have led to the decline in numbers.

This list is only the beginning of a very long list of endangered rainforest ouTube- Sherlock Holmes - The Awakenedanimals for your kids to know.. Encourage them to visit as many sites as possible to learn more and teach them to be motivated towards saving the endangered animals.

Tweet This Post 

Ask twenty different people which is the best breed of dog for a family pet and you’re likely to get fifteen different answers. Of course, some dog breeds are more common so they’re often chosen as a family pet. Does that mean it’s the best choice? Not necessarily, at least not necessarily for your family.

Before you choose which type of dog to get, you may want to ask yourself if you and your family are truly ready to add a puppy or dog to the family dynamics. Dogs require a good bit of attention and can live quite a long time if cared for properly. It is also helpful to know who will be responsible for various aspects of the dog’s upkeep. Will everyone chip in with walking, grooming, and feeding the dog?

More than 21 million homes already have at least one dog as a pet. With so many people choosing to add dogs to their family, it’s easy to see how they’re so popular. And, when you invite a dog into your family, you can expect more than protection; you get a life-long friend who can grow up with your children and be a major part of their lives.

One breed of dog which is very common for families is the Border Collie. They are very intelligent, active, and will keep a close watch on your children. Bred to help shepherds keep the flock together, don’t be surprised if a Border Collie appears to herd your children and keep them close by. They are friendly, loving, obedient, and easy to train.

Labrador Retrievers are another common family pet. They are especially good with children and love to play. They have a lot of love to give a family. They are gentle and trustworthy with children even though they grow to be quite large. They need plenty of room to run.

Golden Retrievers also make great family pets. They are eager to please their masters and are very loving. They are excellent guard dogs and excellent swimmers. They love to spend time with their family and will gladly show them how much by being obedient.

For families with limited space, you may want to consider getting a toy or miniature poodle. They are smart and sensitive. They respond well to obedience training and make a great friend for children.

Miniature Australian Shepherds are another breed of dog to consider. They are loving, loyal, protective, and eager to please. They are intelligent and like having a particular job to do in the family. They can be nippy while trying to herd the family together, but generally they don’t bite.

There are so many breeds to choose from. It’s not easy knowing which breeds would make great family pets. In many cases it’s not the breed which determines how they would react to a family dynamic, it’s the training and treatment they received before coming into your family. Learn as much as you can about the breeder and lineage of any dog you may choose to ensure there is no abuse in their background. Then choose the pet dog which best suits your family.

Tweet This Post 

Dogs are probably the most loving of all pets; they give love unlimited and want the same in return. As a parent it is your responsibility to teach your child the importance of loving and caring for the animal as a first step in keeping a pet. A dog needs to be fed right, exercised and groomed at regular intervals. Training the dog to live indoors, obey commands and not chew your favorite rug or slippers is all a part of owning a dog.

Some basic tips on the right kind of animal care knowledge for kids to be practiced:
• Sweets are poison for your dog; the Xylitol an artificial sweetener is very dangerous because it causes the animal’s blood sugar to drop dangerously causing seizures, lack of coordination and even depression.
• Chocolate for dogs is an absolute NO! It can cause seizures, diarrhea and vomiting and has been known to be fatal for the animal.
• Dogs by nature are curious animals especially in the puppy and growing stages, keep them away from electrical cables and power outlets, glass and plastic. They can get an electrical shock, choke on plastic and the glass when ingested can cause internal bleeding.
• Dressing up your dog may cater to your fantasies but for the dog it may mean skin irritations and breathing problems.
• Your dog should be registered and wear a collar and dog tag ID attached to the collar at all times. Make sure your contact details are on the Identification tag.
• It is not advisable to bathe a dog too often due to skin problems; your vet can guide you on the right bathing intervals. Practice grooming the dog on a regular basis; everyday is best and give the animal plenty of fresh air and good nutrition. You can always sponge the animal down with warm water if he gets too dirty.
• You need to do a physical exam of the animal at least once a month – check the teeth for tartar, the gums for disease, the pads of the feet for cuts and bruises, the ears for infection. The dog needs to be taken to the vet for annual checkups and booster shots.

Use these basic tips as a starting point and build on your animal care knowledge for kids.

Tweet This Post 

The twentieth century has probably seen the most extinction due to degradation of the natural habitat of animals and plants, overexploitation, human induced climate changes and human borne infections and diseases. The 21st is doing its best to outdo the damage done in the previous century.

Some of the more rare extinct animals can be classified as follows:

The Caspian Tiger was once found in Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan, Mongolia and surrounding countries and was also referred to as the Persian tiger. It was the third largest of the species with a stocky body, strong legs, wide paws and unusually large claws, with a furry growth resembling a beard around the cheeks. In color the Caspian tiger was similar to the Bengal tiger. Varying reports claim the tiger went into extinction around 1950 to 1970; there have been reported sightings that have not been proven. This species has been systematically eradicated with Russia playing a major role in their extinction due to their major land reclamation plans. Deforestation and intensive hunting drove the Caspian tiger further and further from their habitat until they reached the mountains and certain extinction.

Most of us have probably never heard of the Irish Elk or Giant Deer, one of the largest of the deer species to inhabit the earth. Carbon dating places its extinction around 7-8 thousand years ago. The species was characterized by their distinctive antlers that were truly huge in size. Recent research indicates that large amounts of calcium and phosphate were required to form the antlers, which the animals met from their bones, leading to a condition similar to osteoporosis in the animal. Probably human presence and a decrease in their natural habitat led to their disappearance.

Extinct animals includes the non-threatening, passive sea cow found in the Bering Sea was discovered by Georg Steller and is commonly referred to as Steller’s Sea Cow. This animal weighed a massive three tons and was much larger than a dugong or manatee, and looked like a very large seal. It lived only in water never touching land and was completely tame. The most likely explanation for its disappearance is probably human presence.

Tweet This Post 

In biology the word “Animal” comprises all species belonging to the animal kingdom; it is very interesting to read about the little known facts about these animals found in our world today.

Some of the more interesting animal facts for kids:

• A cow can produce more milk than a single human being can consume in one lifetime – approximately 200,000 glasses of milk! Apart from this staggering figure, you will never find two cows with the exact same pattern of spots!
• Horses weighing approximately 1,200 pounds eat roughly seven times their own weight each year!
• When a lion roars you can hear the sound from a distance of about 5 miles away.
• Cheetahs are swift and merciless toward their prey. Scaring the living daylights out of man and beast but the sound they emit is anything but scary - more like a dog yelping. However you can hear them a mile away!
• Elephants are the largest land animals alive in the present age. An elephant’s tusks grow all through its lifetime and can weigh as much as 200 pounds; usually tusks grow for the male species. The females are seldom found with very small tusks or no tusks at all.
• The Chimpanzee is often considered the closest of all animal species to man, with an intelligence that supersedes all other animals. Chimps as they are commonly referred to actually make tools and use them to get their food. They adopt highly refined hunting strategies to get their food. To Chimps status is important; they are also very manipulative and deceptive in their behavior patterns. They can be taught to use symbols, numbers and some aspects of the human language.
• The Giraffe is the tallest living mammal in the animal kingdom and has approximately double the blood pressure of any other animal to enable blood circulation, especially to the brain.
• Some interesting animal facts include: rats live longer without water than even the Camel does; squirrels bury their nuts and often forget where they have hidden them, inadvertently helping to plant millions of trees.

The animal facts for kids detailed above are only a tip of the iceberg; it is hoped that once a child’s interest is awakened, he or she will continue to read more.

Tweet This Post 

There are many good sites that will teach you how to type successfully. When using virtual worlds to socialize, play, shop and chat you need to call upon your typing skills. A good way of learn to type for kids in the virtual world is to practice your skills. It is recommended that you log on to sites and practice because typing is an acquired skill that is developed over time and through constant practice.

You will find sites that focus on the right use of the fingers on the keyboard, provide extra practice for weak keys and non repetitive lessons to keep you motivated. Some of the sites even have games that allow you to take a break from your typing lessons. Some of the best sites provide training for the right positioning of the keys on the keyboard and the right way to type, as well as practice sessions to use the letters. You can track your own progress through the data that is recorded and strive for continued improvement. The text passages provided in the practice mode help you maintain your speed and improve typing skills.

Learn to type for kids in the virtual world is a good option for the dyslexic student, who fares better because much of the communication is done through typing. In virtual worlds the typing is done in real time and you can see the mistakes you make and learn the right spellings form what is produced on screen by others. Moreover, text logs provide the opportunity for the student to revise what was done, understand at their own pace and make corrections.

There is a very good site called Wiglington and Wenks that allows you to make use of your typing potential to the full through games that are education oriented. These games will help to develop a child’s IQ and social skills, educate about animals, the environment, geography, history, culture and much more. Children learn to develop their typing skills as they move through the site playing games and learning.

Tweet This Post 

Research has shown that children who actively use virtual worlds for learning, not only benefit in terms of education but also learn to be technologically smart and the art of socializing. The educational value from using virtual worlds for kids that focus on education can be quantified in terms of engaging a child’s mind in study and the ethical values that a child learns from playing games that require ethical decision making skills.

One of the better virtual world kids’ sites is the Wiglington and Wenks site that allows a child travel to over one hundred factual places around the globe; travelling through time and space, you will meet many famous people, plays loads of enriching and fun games, party with new friends, buy island and build houses, explore many secret places and solve mysteries and puzzles. What could be more inspiring or fun? A safe site that allows children to learn about history and geography and so much more, giving the player fun filled hours of exploration and discovery.

Virtual worlds replicate all of the bullying and racism found in the real world to help educate your child on the realities of life. Parents are advised to take an active approach with their children in these virtual worlds. Going into the virtual world with your child will give you a better understanding of the level of education the child receives from playing these games.

Educational virtual worlds are a combination of different learning activities, imagination and plenty of fun for your child and the adult too. Virtual worlds offer children a range of activities that include puzzle solving, action games, contests, fascinating facts and a host of learning activities, all combined to make learning fun. There are various educational elements of math, history, geography and English woven into the fabric of the games, so children learn while they play.

These virtual worlds offer the opportunity of earning virtual money as various activities are completed. The money can then be used to buy different items like homes or pets. The really good part about virtual worlds for kids that focus on education is parents can also register an account and link it to the child’s account. In this way parents can control the child’s play and chat safety features.

Tweet This Post 

One alternative approach to education many families choose is Montessori. This method is based upon the scientific studies of Dr. Maria Montessori of Italy, who saw that children will learn naturally without assistance from adults by interacting with their surroundings. Schools are set up with various objects which enable the children to use their senses to learn. There may be a kitchen area with play pots, pans, and food, or baby dolls and associated necessities to care for a child. Children in Montessori schools are often of different ages so the younger children can learn from older students.

Waldorf schools are another alternative approach to education parents may want to consider. Waldorf or Rudolf Steiner education considers the entire child – body, soul, and spirit – and uses educational methods which address each area. It is also based upon the assumption that children go through specific stages in development, and it gears learning to those stages. Waldorf education strives to enable children to develop skills and abilities they’re born with while being non-discriminatory.

Charter schools are often begun by a group of parents with the approval of their state board of education. Unlike traditional school systems, charter schools are run by a board which is elected by the parents of the school’s students rather than by the population as a whole. This type of school chooses their own curriculum, makes their own rules in relation to dress code and discipline, as well homework requirements. They promise to get “back to the basics” of learning and often teaches from a “core curriculum” approach which builds upon a what a child has previously learned rather than injecting new ideas a child hasn’t learned.

Magnet schools are similar to charter schools but are designed to offer a unique learning environment for their students. They teach all basic subjects but will often have a concentration in one subject such as science, math, or technology. To encourage students to excel in this area, magnet schools will choose a curriculum which also emphasizes that subject. Other magnet schools may concentrate on performing arts or offer hands-on activities to help a child learn.

The final alternative learning environment is homeschooling. Parents are the teacher and school is done at home. There is a variety of homeschool curricula available through publishers which specialize in providing it for home-educated students. Anyone considering homeschooling as an option will want to learn their state’s laws regarding homeschooling and follow those laws carefully before pulling their children out of public school systems.

Parents have many reasons for wanting to take their child out of traditional public school systems. They’re looking for alternative schools which will better match their child’s personality, abilities, or interests so their child can excel in life. The above alternative schools are options you may want to look further into before making a decision which alternative school is right for you.

Tweet This Post 

Elementary school teacher, reading specialist, speaker, author, and mother of three Michelle Vallene says that parents are the key to successful learning in young children and that the time parents spend before kids start school can translate into success throughout school and ultimately financial success in the job market.
Parents just want what’s best for their kids and can often feel overwhelmed by the multitude of choices and recommendations available in the marketplace. Vallene’s daily interaction with her students enables her to monitor successful educational strategies on a daily basis to better advise parents. Based on her expertise and years of experience, she has developed activities with proven success that are fun for both parents and kids.
Vallene can tell your audience:
– Fun ways to foster language development in infants.
– How to incorporate learning into playtime for older children.
– Why early literacy can secure your child’s financial future.
– How parents can make reading fun for kids.
– Easy tips to help even the busiest parents.

SOURCE Michelle Vallene

Tweet This Post 

Planet Turtle is a virtual world where children can interact with their peers in a protected Web environment by developing online animal-based character avatars and completing learning “challenges” that progress as their skills improve. The program allows teachers to instantly assess the proficiency level of a particular student - giving teachers actionable data that allows them to differentiate their instruction based on the individual needs of each student.
Dave Eisenmann, director of instructional technology and media services for Minnetonka Public Schools, said approximately 2,000 elementary students are using Planet Turtle to learn early math skills in classrooms this school year.
“Since we’ve implemented this program, we’ve seen an incredible amount of excitement,” said Eisenmann. “I have witnessed kids begging their teachers to let them take part in Planet Turtle and heard cheering from classes that are told they will get to use the program. Teachers are also excited about the program and its easy interface for management of individual student learning.”
“Recent evidence shows that kids are learning in different ways more than ever before,” said Randall Reina, senior vice president of McGraw-Hill Education’s Center for Digital Innovation, which developed the program. “McGraw-Hill Education’s Planet Turtle and the other digital resources from the Center for Digital Innovation use popular social media and cutting-edge technology, allowing today’s digital natives to learn in the classroom using the same tools they use for fun.”

In fact, a recent study conducted by Education Development Center Inc. and SRI International commissioned by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, showed that children were better prepared for success in kindergarten when their preschool teachers incorporated educational video and games from public media.
With Planet Turtle, students can customize their own turtle avatar, explore and socialize together, participate in two-player games for a fun learning experience, and learn community values by working together toward common goals. Game types range from strategy-based to racing the clock, and players earn rewards of new features and an ever-expanding world. Planet Turtle and other programs from the Center for Digital Innovation help teach 21st century learning skills by cultivating high-level critical thinking and Internet-based problem-solving.

<object width=”550″ height=”400″><param name=”movie” value=”http://www.youtube.com/v/EZCl-6Vaq7c&hl=en_US&fs=1&”></param><param name=”allowFullScreen” value=”true”></param><param name=”allowscriptaccess” value=”always”></param><embed src=”http://www.youtube.com/v/EZCl-6Vaq7c&hl=en_US&fs=1&” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” allowscriptaccess=”always” allowfullscreen=”true” width=”550″ height=”400″></embed></object>
Source McGraw-Hill Center for Digital Innovation

Tweet This Post 

With interest in recreational music making at an all-time high, according to a 2009 Gallup Poll* conducted by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), the holidays are the perfect time to share the gift of music by giving a gift of music lessons or instruments. NAMM’s “Top 10 Reasons” illustrates just some of the many proven benefits of an untraditional musical gift that keeps on giving beyond the holidays:

10 Reasons for Giving Musical Instruments and Lessons This Holiday Season

Brought to you by

You’re never too old to learn how to play music - A common myth, but music can be learned at any age, and studies show that making music is a life-long skill that enriches the lives of children and adults

Making music relieves stress - Recreational music making has been scientifically proven to help reduce stress and reverse the body’s response to stress at the DNA level. With the holidays as one of the most stressful times of the year, making music or giving a gift for someone special to make music for you, can help reduce stress for an entire family

Making music fights off depression - Depression affects about 19 million people in the U.S.**, and with the holiday season as one of the most vulnerable times of the year, music making can make all the difference in keeping spirits uplifted

Enrich your holiday experience - and your life! - with music making - Whether gathering around the piano to play holiday tunes or caroling around the neighborhood, or dancing to live music at a holiday party, music making vibrantly brings the entire holiday experience to life

Use music to create lasting family traditions - Each family has its own traditions, but music making offers a new way for families to celebrate the festive season together. From playing a favorite tune on the piano or jamming on the drums with a rock n’ roll rendition of a classic holiday song, music-making can create unique traditions for generations to share

Source NAMM

Tweet This Post 

Told from Catiana’s point of view, “Catiana Makes a Family” is a perfect tool for helping children understand adoption by relating to Catiana and her story. Catiana’s tale begins when her adoptive parents fall in love and wish to share their love with a child. Soon, the couple makes friends with people who want to help their dream come true.

One day while at the beach in New Jersey, the couple receives a telephone call about a special new baby who has been born just for them. Once they hear the news, they begin dancing on the clouds. Immediately, they pack their bags and all of their baby belongings to travel to Colombia, South America, to meet their new baby.

Once in Colombia, the couple has to go into the mountains so that they may finally hold their baby girl. When baby Catiana is in the woman’s arms, tears of joy fill the couple’s eyes and when Catiana smiles up at them, they realize that in this exact moment the woman had become a mother and the man had become a father. All together, smiling, they were a family.

At home, they arrive back to a big welcome party for the new family, complete with balloons, food and presents galore. After the celebration, Catiana and her parents get settled and ready to live their happily ever after.

By contrasting the New Jersey beach to the exotic landscape of Colombia, full of eucalyptus trees, gorgeous flowers and mountains, “Catiana Makes a Family” reflects how both adoptive children and their new parents come from diverse places with their own unique characteristics. Entertaining for eyes and ears, “Catiana Makes a Family” will be fun and informative for the whole family.

SOURCE AuthorHouse

Tweet This Post 

“So far, we’ve traveled from the neighborhoods of New York City to the mountains of Ecuador to see if we can find the ‘true spirit of Christmas’ around the world,” said Devin Hermanson, campaign manager for World Vision’s “Spirit of Christmas” tour. “In a year full of financial scandals, war, natural disasters, and a global recession, we all need a little encouragement. What we’ve found so far is that people around the world are still helping their neighbor in need.”

The team has traveled to New York City and Quito, Ecuador. The team left Ecuador on Saturday, November 28 and traveled to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. There the team will learn first-hand about the sex trafficking industry and meet several young children who have been rescued from sexual slavery and are rebuilding their lives. About 2 million children - most of them girls - are enslaved in the global sex trade today.

SOURCE World Vision U.S.

Tweet This Post 

I will never forget that the only reason I’m standing here today is because somebody, somewhere stood up for me when it was risky. Stood up when it was hard. Stood up when it wasn’t popular. And because that somebody stood up, a few more stood up. And then a few thousand stood up. And then a few million stood up. And standing up, with courage and clear purpose, they somehow managed to change the world. Obama, speech, January 2008

Today is 20th Anniversary of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, (UNCRC) , adopted by all the countries of the world (193) except the USA and Somalia. The CRC sets out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of children adopted on 20 November 1989 (the 30th anniversary of its Declaration of the Rights of the Child), adopted by 193 countries, except the United States of America and Somalia. President Obama has described the failure of the USA to adopt human rights of children for child education thought the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) as ‘embarrassing’ and has committed to change it. (Walden University Presidential Youth Debate, October 2008).

You can’t let your failures define you — you have to let your failures teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently the next time. Obama, National Address to America’s Schoolchildren, September 2009
The United States has had many challenges of human rights and people have stood up for the equal human rights for all people. Our commitment to human rights continuously leads us to change. In the US people owned other people as property through slavery until we stood up and demanded a change.

Slavery ended in 1865 with the 13th Amendment of the Constitution that declared, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude…shall exist within the United States.” Today, the federal anti-slavery statutes were updated in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, P.L. 106-386, which expanded the federal statutes’ coverage to cases in which victims are enslaved through psychological, as well as physical, coercion.

SOURCE Ariana-Leilani Children’s Foundation International

Tweet This Post 

Holiday travel. “Over the River and through the Woods to Grandmother’s House We Go” often means either a road trip to get there or a rental car upon arrival. The Alliance’s Drive $marter Challenge website offers road trip tips (http://drivesmarterchallenge.org/money-saving-tips/Default.aspx) and resources (http://drivesmarterchallenge.org/money-saving-tips/fuel-efficient-resources.aspx) such as links for a customized map showing where to find the cheapest gasoline along your travel route as well as information on renting fuel-efficient vehicles and public transportation at your destination.

Honey, what you mean you got me insulation for my holiday present? There’s some good news this holiday season. You can make home improvements that keep your family toasty — and get a tax credit to boot. Add insulation, sealing, high-efficiency windows and a number of other efficient products and not only reduce your monthly energy bills but also save up to $1,500 on your federal income taxes for certain improvements. Details at www.ase.org/taxcredits.

Be an “ENERGY STAR” with energy-saving presents. Electronics, home office equipment, appliances and other products with the ENERGY STAR label — the federal government’s symbol of energy efficiency — not only make great holiday gifts but can also cut related home energy bills up to 30 percent. More potential good news: check out state and municipal energy efficiency incentives and rebates being made available in your area as part of the federal stimulus package as well as rebates from energy companies and product manufacturers.

Lower operating costs and increase safety with LED holiday lights. LED technology (Light Emitting Diode) for holiday lighting is a smart choice. LEDs use 10 times less energy than incandescent mini-lights and 100 times less energy than standard bulbs, last more than 50,000 hours, are safer because they’re virtually indestructible and stay cool — which means they’re safe to the touch and eliminate fire concerns. They are easily strung and don’t overload a typical household’s electrical circuits. If the bulb does burn out, the other bulbs will stay lit, so you can easily replace only the bad one.

To further maximize holiday lighting savings, use timers to limit light displays to no more than six evening hours a day. Leaving lights on 24 hours a day will quadruple your energy costs — and create four times the pollution. And be safe — untended incandescent lights can cause fires, so always unplug your interior holiday lights before going to bed or leaving the house.

SOURCE Alliance to Save Energy

Tweet This Post 

Bright Baby Tees (which is also planning a collection for babies) is the nation’s first producer of clothing that incorporates the concept of Infant Visual Stimulation (IVS). The high-contrast colors and patterns grab and hold an infant’s attention, having a positive effect on visual processing and neural and synaptic growth — meaning, when baby starts wiggling, giggling, kicking and arm-waving at the sight of their parent’s shirt, they’re getting a healthy head-start on their mental and physical development.

With 15 child-engaging T-shirt designs currently available, and 60 more in the works, parents, caregivers and older siblings will have an abundant variety of shapes, colors and patterns to sport in helping babies learn and grow. “We have geometric designs, letters of the alphabet, interesting halftones, animal themes, and much more to come,” says David Hagan, President of Bright Baby Tees. “A wide array of styles, sizes and colors are already available for purchase on our website, http://www.BrightBabyTees.com, at very reasonable prices.”

Hagan assures parents they needn’t worry if their baby is so delighted with the tees they can’t resist grabbing or biting the fabric. The line is eco-friendly. Designs are printed on organic cotton with non-toxic inks that are safe for both babies and the planet. To emphasize these benefits, the line was launched on Earth Day at the La Leche League Conference in Cherry Hill, NJ.

The new T-shirt collection has received the professional endorsement of neuropsychologist Dr. Darren Caffery, who confirms that early environmental influences exert significant effects on neural growth and visual/perceptive processing. “We have smart cars and homes,” he asserts, “so why not wear smart tees to nurture smart kids?”

SOURCE Bright Baby Tees

Tweet This Post 

At a time when parents spend more each year on fast food for their children than on books, child education materials, DVDs, music, trips to the movies and video games combined, it can feel like instilling healthy eating habits is a losing battle.

With the publication of her third book, “Veggiesaurus Lex” (published by AuthorHouse), Karen Fine offers parents, educators and caregivers a new resource to combat the seemingly endless array of easy, cheap and available unhealthy food.

Meet Lex, a big pink dinosaur who has a big tummy ache after she eats too much junk food. Lex, feeling sluggish and slow, seeks the advice of her vegetarian friends who immediately have an answer for her. Fine writes:

Veggies are great
And they don’t slow you down.
They’re easy to find all around town.

Carrots are roots
That grow in the ground.
Peas are quite yummy; smooth, green and round.

Looking for color?
There’s plenty, they said.
Green peppers also come in yellow, orange and red!

As her friends go on to describe other types of tasty vegetables, Lex decides to try some for herself and discovers that they truly are delicious! With charming illustrations by Ross Novak that bring Lex and her friends to life on each page, “Veggiesaurus Lex” combines a fun, rhyming story with an important message: to stay fit and energized, it’s important to eat vegetables. Find out more in the pages of this whimsical new book.

SOURCE AuthorHouse

Tweet This Post 

It addresses some major issues faced today by the nearly one in eight households across Europe which are caring for a child under the age of 6. More specifically, the study examines the measures taken to favour participation of the most disadvantaged social groups. It is part of the follow-up to the 2006 Commission Communication on Equity and Efficiency in European Education and Training Systems.

The study presents the available cross-national data and examines national policies on early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Europe. It aims to answer the following questions: how is early childhood education and care organised in Europe? What are the benefits? Which policies facilitate access to it for all? It also draws some tentative conclusions as to what might be needed in order to provide effective ECEC.

The data of the study relate to the school year 2006-2007 while the background data from Eurostat mostly refer to 2005-06.
87 % of 4 year olds attend an educational institution in Europe
The European Commission has recently suggested a new benchmark, whereby 90% of 4 year olds should participate in pre-primary education by 2020. In 2006 on average, 87% at this age were already involved in some form of pre-primary education, but national situations vary significantly. Also, the enrolment of 3 year olds in such programmes is a growing trend since 2000 and currently reaches 74% across Europe (10% growth on average with a sharper rise in Luxembourg, United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia and Norway for example). All countries in Europe offer some form of early programmes for children before the start of compulsory schooling, yet major discrepancies exist between countries or even regions, in terms of starting age, participation rates and type of ECEC provision available.

Source Eurostat

Tweet This Post 

Now, the country’s largest in-school educational theatre company has been invited to perform at the Jump$tart National Educator’s Conference, the first national educator conference devoted entirely to personal financial education. NTC will present Mad About Money on Saturday, November 7, for conference attendees and the media in the ballroom of the Capitol Hilton at 8:30 p.m.

The Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy was established because the average student who graduates from high school lacks basic skills in the management of personal financial affairs. Many are unable to balance a checkbook and most simply have no insight into the basic survival principles involved with earning, spending, saving and investing. Jump$tart’s objective is to encourage curriculum enrichment to ensure that basic personal financial management skills are attained during the K-12 educational experience.

Recognizing the same need, NTC created a series of multi-platform financial education programs - utilizing live theatre, the Internet and television shows - to help the nation’s schools teach important concepts around money. While these programs teach very specific curriculum points, they are also funny and entertaining. Performances of Mad About Money for middle schools, Crazy About Credit for high schools and Showdown in Cash Canyon for elementary schools have encouraged students to save a little more, spend a little less, and use credit wisely.

While student and teacher feedback has consistently indicated that the plays make an impact, a recent study by Dr. Lewis Mandell of the University of Washington provides empirical evidence that NTC’s productions are influencing student attitudes on personal finance. Professor Mandell’s research showed that watching the Mad About Money play - and using the student workbooks and Web site aligned with the program - significantly increased a student’s knowledge of personal finance concepts.

“The intervention increased knowledge by more than 13 percent, which was highly significant,” writes Dr. Mandell in his report.
Financial institutions have taken notice. In the past two years, no fewer than eight corporations have sponsored a Mad About Money tour into schools in their service territories including Bank of the West, CoVantage Credit Union, and Wachovia (now Wells Fargo).

“These companies understand that helping educate students is a good thing to do,” says NTC President Ward Eames. “They also understand that doing ‘a good thing’ has a positive impact on their brand image with teachers and parents, as well as with the young people who grow up to be potential customers. It gives companies a chance to be good corporate citizens and smart business people.” State agencies in North Dakota, Tennessee, Washington and Iowa have also sponsored NTC financial literacy programs for students in their communities.

SOURCE The National Theatre for Children

Tweet This Post 

As part of the program, ACC will provide LA’s BEST students with reusable water bottles that they can use throughout the day, challenging children to make a habit of carrying their water bottles and drinking more water instead of sugary drinks.

“LA’s BEST welcomes this partnership with the American Chemistry Council. Our campaign encourages waste reduction through the use of reusable water bottles, teaches children about recycling, and educates kids about the health benefits of drinking water. This program will help create long lasting healthy habits for the kids who participate in LA’s BEST,” said Carla Sanger, LA’s BEST President and CEO.

Ninety different LA’s BEST school sites across Los Angeles are participating in the “Go H2O” Campaign from November 2 through November 20. Each child will be challenged to drink one bottle at the beginning of LA’s BEST program each afternoon. At the end of the campaign each participating LA’s BEST program will receive books and sports supplies from ACC.

“LA’s BEST has helped 12,500 students focus on learning and we are very pleased to work with them on this recycling and health-oriented partnership,” said Steve Russell, vice president, plastics, of the American Chemistry Council. “Learning to reduce, reuse and recycle is an important way all of us can make a difference for the environment. We are excited to work with LA’s BEST to get kids involved early.”

SOURCE American Chemistry Council

Tweet This Post 

The North East winner from 2008 was Eric Allen from St Oswald’s Primary School in Durham and time is running out for schools to get this year’s top child education entry in.

The 2009 competition is even bigger and better. Twelve regional winners from across the UK will receive GBP500 worth of holiday vouchers and each of the 12 schools will be awarded with GBP100 worth of book tokens. All winning regional entrants go forward with a chance to win the UK title, with GBP3,000 available to the winning school for new equipment and a holiday of a lifetime for the crossing patroller.

Brendan Devine, Group Managing Director of Kwik Fit Financial Services said: “We have had some fantastic entries already this year for the competition and time is running out for schools to get involved. There are unsung heroes all over the UK helping our children to and from school safely and I want to put out the message today that it’s not too late for schools across the North East region to nominate!”

Lorraine Kelly, who has been an ambassador for the campaign for the past 2 years, said: “The Lollipop Person of the Year Awards is a real heart-warming way of recognising the wonderful job our lollipop people do every day to make Britain’s roads safer for our children.”

“This year the competition is bigger than ever before, with schools from Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland all having the opportunity to show how their lollipop person makes a real difference to their journey to school. We want kids, teachers and parents alike to show their support for their local lollipop person and get voting!”

Source Kwik Fit Insurance

Tweet This Post 

“My goal is to teach students the importance of taking care of their health. I want them to have fun while doing it, and they’ll also be graded,” says Beth Ivey, a Physical Education teacher at St. Francis de Sales. “More than ever, taking responsibility for your health is a critical subject kids must learn while they’re young.”

With child obesity on the rise, and nearly 12 million children in the U.S. significantly overweight*, improving the health of young Americans is a growing national emergency for powerful influencers like First Lady Michelle Obama. In a recent interview with Women’s Health magazine, Mrs. Obama declared combating childhood obesity as one of her top health-related issues: “We need to educate children in particular about how to live a healthy lifestyle. If we provide kids with [that] foundation, they are much more likely to become healthy adults.”

Also on the roster in the nation’s fight to improving children’s health is former President Bill Clinton and his Alliance for a Healthier Generation where he actively encourages schools, non-profit organizations, and most importantly, parents to step up and act as role models. Clinton’s organization states that today, 1 in 3 children or youth (age 2-19) are either overweight or obese and that number is expected increase by 20 percent over the next five years if the current trends are not reversed.

“This is a real passion project for our company,” says Angela Manzanares, chief fitlosopher of California-based fitlosophy, inc., creators of fitbook(TM) junior. “If we can teach the kiddos when they’re young to make healthy choices, we can play an active part not only in combating the trend in rising childhood obesity, but play a major role in changing the shape of America - literally.” Complete with star stickers, the interactive, fun format also includes a ‘coach guide’ to provide parents and teachers with tips on educating and motivating children. “Our mission is to positively influence kids by offering a fun program that the entire family can partake in.”

The release of fitbook(TM) junior is an extension of its parent product, fitbook(TM), a functional fitness and nutrition journal that educates and supports adults to reach their health goals.

“The simple, colorful layout of fitbook junior is easy enough for kids as young as 5 to understand and use, yet structured and engaging enough for the older kids to want to use it. They set goals, track progress with their star stickers, and earn rewards,” says Lisa Greenwood, a mother and Program Director of Fleet Feet’s Zoomerang Kids Running Club in Connecticut. “I use the grown-up book, and my son and I make our plans together. His goals include running eight laps and eating five new fruits this week, while I’m working on strength training and stretching.”

SOURCE fitlosophy, inc.

Tweet This Post 

America After 3 PM is the most extensive research on how America’s children are spending their afternoons. It found that the number of children left alone after the school day ends has risen to 15.1 million children (26 percent of school-age children) — an increase of 800,000 children since the 2004 edition of the study.

Thirty percent of middle schoolers (3.7 million kids) are on their own, as are four percent of elementary school children (1.1 million children). At the same time, Americans see afterschool programs as a solution: Nine in 10 adults surveyed agree that there should be “some type of organized activity or place for children and teens to go after school every day that provides opportunities to learn.”

“The bottom line is that more children need — and don’t have — afterschool programs today than five years ago,” said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. “We have increased the number of children in afterschool programs over the last five years, but not enough to keep up with demand. Today in our country, too many parents are unable to enroll their kids in afterschool programs because they’re not available, transportation is unworkable, or they can’t afford the fees. As a nation, we need to increase our efforts to keep up with the rising demand and make sure that afterschool is available to all children who need it. Quality afterschool programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and help working families.”

The results of the study were released at a Department of Education event featuring U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in Washington, DC yesterday. “Thinking creatively about non-school hours is important,” Secretary Duncan said to a packed auditorium. “Thank you for helping create the model of what schools should look like.”

Next week, on October 15, the Afterschool Alliance and the JCPenney Afterschool Fund will release survey data from all 50 states.

Source: Afterschool Alliance

Tweet This Post 

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Congressional leaders spoke at a ceremony this morning in the Capitol Rotunda to unveil a statue of Helen Keller, a stalwart beacon of child education. The statue will become part of the National Statuary Hall Collection, which is comprised of two statues from each state to honor notable men and women. Below are the Speaker’s remarks:

“Members of House and Senate Leadership, Governor Riley, President Augusto and members of the Keller family: What a great day this is for America in the Capitol of the United States as we honor Helen Keller.

“As Helen Keller said: ‘My sympathies are with all who struggle for justice.’ In her lifetime, Helen Keller worked for opportunity for people with disabilities, for racial equality, and for the rights of women.

“In demonstrating that passion that she had, Helen Keller, in this statue in the Capitol, will always remind us that people must be respected for what they can do, rather than judged for what they cannot. Helen Keller ignited a century marked by progress for people with disabilities. We have made progress rooted in our national ideal that we are all created equal.

“For more than 30 years, a free and appropriate education for all children with disabilities has been required. For almost 20 years, fundamental civil rights for people with disabilities have been assured by the Americans with Disabilities Act. For a generation, closed captioning for televisions and relay services have helped remove barriers to participation in society. Let me also thank our signers who are here today.

Source: Office of the Speaker of the House

Tweet This Post 

Starring Sam and the adventurous Edgebrook gang, Kick the Can is Byrne’s first paperback, chapter-style story in the Project Play (www.ProjectPlayBooks.com) series, which debuted in 2008 with Treasure Hunt, Follow the Leader, and Just a Baseball Game. The new book continues the series’ mission of encouraging timeless, backyard games to children as the characters engage in “kick the can” after sundown at the neighborhood block party.

“I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin, where playing games like ‘kick the can’ and ‘ghosts in the graveyard’ was the norm,” said Byrne. “But after pondering the fading popularity of these games today, I began searching for a way to bring back the carefree days of our youth.”

The mother of two young children, Byrne realized that electronic models of play, organized sports and extra-curricular activities were quickly taking over classic, backyard games. And while she does not condemn video games and team sports, she questions the percentage of time spent and precedence families place on these activities over simple backyard fun.

“Our children are growing up in a generation in which parents, teachers, and coaches tell them how, where, and when to do everything,” said Byrne. “Although our culture tends to place the most value on academic achievement or athletic success, unstructured playtime is crucial to a child’s cognitive development.”

Source: Project Play

Tweet This Post