Moving can be stressful, especially if there are children involved. But, there are some things you can do to make it easier especially for children activities. Here are some tips to make the transition go more smoothly.
-Make a list
Trying to keep a running list in your mind of what needs to be done can tax your sanity. Early in the game - as in months ahead - take some time to sit down and make a comprehensive moving plan, complete with details. Then your mind can rest and you can see what has been done, and what you still need to do.
-Purge your house of unnecessary items
There is a reason why people have moving sales. Both packing and unpacking are made easier when there is less stuff. You don’t have to have a moving sale if the notion seems daunting. You can give your items to a charity or give them away online. Some charities will even come to your house and pick up your stuff.
-Organize
Whether you are packing and moving your own items or hiring movers, be sure the boxes are well labeled. Consider specific boxes for special items, especially those things that will be needed right away: cookware, special children’s toys, bedding, etc.
-Call ahead and have utilities ready
Arrange to have the utilities turned on and in your name on the day you move in. Nothing adds to stress like not having running water or electricity, and trying to make phone calls to get the utilities turned on when there is no phone service hooked up.
Moving with children
-Make lots of special visits to the new house with the children
Before actually moving in, take your children to visit the new house as often as is practical. Take a picnic and eat on the floor or in the yard, or bring a special toy reserved only for the new house. Consider a homecoming party when you do move in, where the children each get a special gift that signifies their new home. Talking about the party you are going to have will give children something to look forward to.
-Encourage participation
Children feel insecure when they feel something is happening to them without any input. While children may not get a choice in when/where you move, letting them participate in as many aspects of the move as possible will help them feel empowered and view the move in a more positive light. Allow them to help paint their new room, for example, or pick paint colors (narrow it down to two or three colors you can live with before letting them choose!). If children get to participate, they will gain a sense of ownership of the new house.
In time, your family will settle in and your new house will become home.
Some of us stay home for the holidays. Others make trips to see family and friends. But when you’ve got the kids in tow for children activities, road trips can become rather unpleasant.
It’s not that we don’t enjoy spending time with our kids. It’s just that they get bored. And they get hungry. And they need to stop at every rest area. But if you stop every time they want to stretch their legs or get a candy bar, you could add hours onto your trip. You may find yourself wondering why you didn’t just take a plane.
But road trips with the family don’t have to be an exercise in frustration. If you’re well prepared, they can actually be lots of fun. Here are some ideas to keep boredom and other things that make a road trip less pleasant at bay.
* Bring along plenty of snacks and drinks. But steer clear of chocolate, caffeine and sugar as much as possible, because these things can make already antsy kids even more hyperactive. Instead, pack some juice boxes, fresh fruits and veggies, crackers and other snacks that are healthy yet filling.
* Invest in a couple of travel games that the family can play together, or make up your own. These are great for keeping morale high and providing for quality time on long trips.
* Let each child bring a toy or individual game to play with. Most kids enjoy both group and individual activities at home, and they need both to keep them occupied and contented during a car trip. But be sure to place limits, because if you don’t, they’re likely to bring a whole bag full of stuff.
* If you have an infant, make sure to bring plenty of diapers, wipes, bottles and formula. Calculate how much of each item you will need, and bring about twice as much, just in case. Also, if any of your children take medication, be sure to bring an adequate supply.
* Bring something to put trash in. It’s surprising how many parents forget this. If you fail to do so, you’re just about guaranteed to end up with a car full of trash by the time the trip is over. Depending on the size of your family, you might need a grocery bag or a full-sized garbage bag.
* Be prepared for messes. If you have a mini car vac, it’s a good idea to bring it along. Other things you might need include wet wipes, paper towels, upholstery and carpet stain remover and glass cleaner.
* Ask kids if they need to use the restroom each time you stop at a restaurant or gas station. Otherwise, you might find yourself making lots of unscheduled rest stops.
Parents often consider holiday road trips necessary evils in which they must participate to get where they’re going. But if you plan ahead, the trip can be enjoyable for the whole family.
It’s a common complaint of many families these days. Everyone is involved in so many children activities that it’s hard to come together and enjoy time as a family. Consider some of these ideas on how to enjoy a fun family night in instead of everyone going their separate ways.
Scientifically it has been proven that families who eat meals together are more emotionally connected and more stable. And since everyone has to eat, why not start your fun family night in by cooking a meal together?
Family meals don’t have to be elaborate or tedious to prepare. They can be as simple as cooking hamburgers, having chips, and drinks. Of course, you may want to prepare something that will get everyone involved in the cooking process. Someone can cut up vegetables, someone else be in charge of cooking the dessert, and another person in charge of the main meal. Have everyone pitch in and the work will be completed quicker. You can also use the time to reconnect and talk about what’s happened in each person’s life since your last family fun night.
Once the meal is complete, take time to set a nice table and eat there rather than in front of the television. You can make clean-up a breeze by using disposable plates and napkins if you like, but you can also make the dinner seem more special by using nice place settings which are normally reserved for holidays.
After you’ve eaten dinner and cleaned up the dishes, continue your family night by playing board games. Have everyone choose one of their favorite games and then decide together which one you’ll play first. Games are meant to be fun and relaxing, so try to avoid becoming too competitive if that’s your personality. Depending upon the game you’ve chosen, you may be able to play more than one game; and don’t forget to play games even the little children of the family can enjoy.
If games aren’t your favorite things, you can also plan a movie night. Find a movie everyone will like, or at least tolerate, and pop some popcorn. Comedies are usually a good choice even though people have different senses of humor. Unless the humor is extremely dry, everyone in the family should at least get a chuckle out of the movie.
Pull out the family albums and take a stroll down memory lane. Remember the way the children were when they were young. Everyone loves to look at pictures of or hear stories about themselves even if they can be slightly embarrassing. Talk about some of the things your children did as babies or toddlers that you found so endearing.
No matter how busy your family may get, it’s vital to take time to reconnect as a family. You can use some of these ideas on how to enjoy a fun family night in or you can come up with some of your own. The important thing is to do something everyone, no matter what their age, will be able to enjoy and look forward to.
In order to use the computer you need to know how to type, efficient typing or touch typing, you still need to learn how to type. Learn to type for kids in the virtual world is an article that covers the child education, you will need to know how to type or you will be lost, reduced to fumbling around.
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.
Employees continue annual charitable tradition at Santa Monica facility
Canyon Capital Realty Advisors (CCRA) helped kick off this year’s holiday season for children activities at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Monica. On Wednesday, December 9, more than 125 children gathered at the Boys & Girls Club for a pizza and cupcake party, where CCRA employees distributed pairs of TOM’s tennis shoes to all party guests. At the end of the evening, CCRA Managing Partner Bobby Turner also presented a check totaling $30,505, which represented the generous donations of CCRA employees, business associates and friends.
The non-profit Boys & Girls Club, founded in Santa Monica more than 60 years ago, strives to enable all young people, especially those with the greatest needs, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. Programs in Santa Monica are offered at two branch locations, and at Santa Monica High, John Adams and Lincoln Middle Schools, and McKinley and Roosevelt Elementary Schools.
The shoes and donation were given in support of the Family Assistance Program at the Santa Monica Boys & Girls Club. Each year, the program provides the most deserving families with food, clothing and presents. For many families, being a recipient of the Family Assistance Fund is the only time they will receive new clothes or toys throughout the year.
“Our annual holiday visit to the Santa Monica Boys and Girls club has become a wonderful tradition for Canyon, and we are thrilled to support an organization that works so hard to improve the lives of young people,” said Turner. “This year in particular, resources are strained for families across Los Angeles and the needs of the community are greater than ever. We are thrilled to bring a bit of cheer into the lives of these children and make their holidays a little brighter.”
“For two years running, Canyon has helped create a fun and energetic event that is a highlight of the holiday season at the Boys & Girls Club,” said Aaron Young, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Santa Monica Boys & Girls Club. “These economic times have put tremendous pressure on many families whose children are involved in the club. Now, more than in years past, the tennis shoes and Canyon’s generous donation will make a meaningful difference in the lives of these children.”
About the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Monica
Founded in 1944, Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica currently serves approximately 7,000 youth through memberships and community outreach. They come from all over Los Angeles County, largely from Santa Monica, Venice, West Los Angeles and Inglewood. Members pay a $10 annual fee for access to all Club amenities and programs that span across education, leadership, recreation and more.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica operates with the objective of serving children from all backgrounds, regardless of economic circumstances - ensuring that youth ages 7 to 18 have a safe and nurturing environment to develop socially, succeed in school, stay physically active and prepare for positive futures.
Use of wood-burning devices is prohibited on Christmas Day
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is issuing the third Winter Spare the Air Alert of the season for Friday, December 25, 2009, which bans burning wood, manufactured firelogs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors.
Stagnant weather conditions and wood smoke from the 1.4 million fireplaces and woodstoves in the Bay Area, will bring the region into the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category of the U.S. EPA’s Air Quality Index. This is bad for child safety. Children, adults, and especially people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, are advised to limit outdoor exertion.
“Air quality is unfortunately forecast to be unhealthy on Christmas Day, and the Air District is taking steps to protect public health by issuing a Winter Spare the Alert,” said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District. “Please remember this holiday season that children, the elderly and those with heart and lung problems are most susceptible to the harmful effects of wood smoke.”
During this Winter Spare the Air Alert, it is illegal for Bay Area residents and businesses to use their fireplaces, woodstoves and inserts, pellet stoves, outdoor fire pits, or any other wood-burning devices. Homes without permanently installed heating, where woodstoves or fireplaces are the only source of heat, are exempt.
The public must check before they burn during the Winter Spare the Air season which runs from November 1 through February 28
For children and adults alike, family traditions bring joy and warmth to the holiday season. From picking out lights to putting the Lionel train around the tree, decorating for the holidays provides a wealth of opportunities and children activities to integrate new and contemporary touches to established traditions.
Traditions can be inherited, created as new or even made as a combination of both. Evette Rios, Lifestyle Expert, Designer and Stylist, offers the following tips for mixing the old and new to make your holidays even more memorable:
Infuse your family history into the Christmas Tree: View the tree as a blank canvas and go through old family photos and keepsakes to find decorations. A favorite family photo can be made into an ornament. Even your baby rattle or first pair of shoes can find a home on the Christmas tree.
Bring out vintage favorites to create new memories: For example, model trains are a classic element around a Christmas Tree. Holidays evoke nostalgic feelings so pull out your family’s Lionel Trains and bring multiple generations of families together to set it up around the tree. Help the younger members of your family pick out a new car to add to the set or even decorate their own. Lionel Trains have been shaping family memories for over 100 years and adding a car to the train each Christmas can strengthen a wonderful family tradition this holiday season.
Make the gift wrapping meaningful with new gift wrapping traditions: The act of opening presents can create as many memories as the present itself. While wrapping presents can be as difficult as finding the perfect present, a little creativity can make gift wrapping a fun and meaningful experience:
Adorn your gifts with little packs of seeds. Giving someone you love something new to grow in the New Year is a green and a symbolic gift.
Make gift tags out of the large Christmas lights - just use the bulb and write on it with a permanent marker and use wire to attach it to the gift. You can use the colorful, but burned out ones, instead of tossing them in the trash.
Get the kids involved in wrapping! Have your kids draw on scrap paper to make their own wrapping paper. Friends and family will love seeing your kids’ masterpieces.
Crystal Cruises invites kids 17 and under to cruise for free on two Crystal Symphony European voyages this summer. The new offer for children activities, valid for children sailing in a third berth with two full-fare adults, is available for Crystal Symphony’s seven-day British Isles and Baltic itineraries:
June 14, Roundtrip London - The “Ballads of Britain” cruise includes calls at London, England; Guernsey/St. Peter Port, Channel Islands; Waterford, Dublin and Belfast, Ireland; and Liverpool, England.
August 7, Copenhagen to Stockholm - The “Russian Inspiration” voyage visits Copenhagen, Denmark; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia (two nights); and Stockholm, Sweden.
Junior Activities Directors will be on board to oversee dozens of organized activities from arts and crafts and story time for little ones to disco-themed pool parties for older kids and teenagers. As with all summer and holiday cruises, Crystal’s Northern European summer voyages also feature destination-related enrichment for junior cruisers, like “dress-up” photo sessions in traditional Russian costumes, or scavenger hunts promoting fun facts about Stockholm.
Crystal’s purpose-built Fantasia and Waves children’s and teens’ facilities - rare in luxury cruising - also feature events and top video games and toys.
Also ideal for families, Crystal’s Family Memories program offers two savings options: $500 credit toward a Crystal Private Adventure, kids under 17 sail free in third berth, plus other perks for six full-fare bookings; all of this, plus one complimentary berth for 10 full-fare bookings.
Two-for-one cruise fares start at $4,210 for the British Isles cruise, and $4,375 for the Baltic itinerary, per person, double occupancy, and include $1,000 per couple All Inclusive - As You Wish shipboard credits, complimentary air transportation and business class air for Penthouse guests. The credits and air transportation apply only to full-fare bookings.
Santa Claus is coming to the annual “L. Ron Hubbard’s Winter Wonderland” this Sunday at 8:00 PM directly following the Hollywood Christmas Parade to give away gifts to hundreds of underprivileged Southern California children and teens.
Santa’s gifts and children activities will include Disney Studios’ movie DVDs, Stories from the Golden Age print and audiobooks by L. Ron Hubbard, and presents donated by Southern California businesses.
The invited children and teens (ages 6-19) come from local youth shelters and programs for underprivileged youth.
“We wanted to make this evening a very special one for these young people, so several of us (area businesses) decided to contribute gifts for those who might not otherwise receive any,” said Tony Dinges, president of LTD Enterprises, one of the event’s sponsors.
Other event sponsors include Audiology & Associates, Color West Printing/Packaging, Inc., Distribution Video & Audio, Hirschey & Associates, Pasadena Family Dental Center, Stevedores Physical Rehabilitation and the Wellness Support Network.
For more information on the event or how you can participate, contact John Goodwin at jgoodwin@galaxypress.com or call 323-321-2144.
A survey of over 1,000 people across the UK and Ireland has revealed that people, children specifically, have not lost the Christmas spirit, despite the recession.Expect the holiday children activities and festive celebrations to continue.
With more than half of adults saying that this Christmas is set to be just as good as any other, the festive spirit is, clearly, still very much alive.
64 percent of adults who took part in the survey said that Christmas 2009 will not be different to any other year.
The poll crushes any fears that Britain will have a gloomy time this winter, amid the economic recovery.
Youngsters are set to have a merry Christmas too as only 2 percent of adults admit that they will be cutting spending on their children this year. The survey also revealed that most people are looking forward to spending some quality time with their families this Christmas.
“Christmas is obviously a special time for families,” said Scott O’Donnell of http://www.triviala.com, which commissioned the survey.
“It is sometimes the only chance each year that families will be able to get time off work and all spend the day together.”
Other things people admitted to looking forward to this Christmas included, indulging in some festive food and drink, and getting a well-deserved break off work.
Receiving presents was listed as the fourth most popular answer with 11 percent, closely followed by entertaining and having people over, which 10 percent of Brits are looking forward to doing this year.
Scott O’Donnell added: “Christmas traditions are certainly not dying out either, regardless of the current economic climate. It just seems that everyone wants to have an enjoyable Christmas together and forget about any money issues.”
The survey revealed that 84 percent of people are going to have a Christmas tree in their homes this year. When asked whether their trees had decreased in size over the past few years, 64 percent of people said it had not.
With increased high street competition among retailers this year, many revealed their Christmas displays in mid October, the earliest recorded so far. 79 percent of people agreed that this is far too early for shops to be beginning their Christmas retailing.
What people are most looking forward to this Christmas:
1. Being with family
2. Food and drink
3. Time off work
4. Presents
5. Entertaining people
6. Christmas shopping
7. Work Christmas Party
8. Going on Holiday
9. Other
Between summer vacations, spring breaks, fall getaways and the winter holidays, it seems that every season is filled with family travel. So to help parents plan vacations and children activities everyone can enjoy, Marriott International, Inc., one of the world’s leading lodging companies, is offering tips to make the experience one you won’t want to forget.
Family Travel Planning
* Make the process of selecting a destination a democratic one - that way everyone can voice their ideas and opinions.
* Look for special family travel packages and discount offers available in your top-five destinations. This will help determine where you can make the most of your time and your budget.
* Once you’ve selected a destination, get a city-specific travel guide designed for those traveling with children. It will help you find activities everyone can enjoy.
Choosing a Hotel
* Try to select a hotel designed for family travel. With amenities like on-site dining, room service, pools, babysitting services and/or kids’ clubs, high-speed internet access, video game consoles and DVD players, you can give them easy access to kid-friendly fun.
* Choose accommodations with room to roam. If you have teenagers or older children, you can also opt for connecting rooms.
* Select a hotel that’s near the attractions you want to see most. Rather than driving across town, you may be able to walk or take the hotel’s shuttle service to your destination.
The haunted happenings of Halloween children activities are upon us and soon we’ll be carving pumpkins, dressing in costumes and telling spooky stories.
But if your child has a food allergy, what’s at the bottom of his or her trick-or-treat bag may be more frightening than any ghost or goblin.
According to a new national survey of 678 moms of children with food allergies - whether to peanuts, tree nuts, milk or eggs, eight out of ten say Halloween causes a great deal of anxiety because they fear their little ones might eat candy containing peanuts or another allergen.(1) Their anxiety is heightened by the fact that food allergies can cause a potentially life-threatening severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is caused when an allergic reaction becomes so severe that a person may stop breathing. Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict when a child with food allergies might experience an anaphylactic reaction.
According to the survey, 40 percent of moms said that this time of year makes their children feel alienated because the child can’t fully engage or participate in Halloween activities.(1) The fear is so great that nearly half of these moms said they are thinking about having their child skip trick-or-treating altogether.
In spite of these concerns, less than half of moms surveyed are adequately prepared to handle a life-threatening allergic reaction - 43 percent of moms surveyed said they carry or have immediate access to an epinephrine auto-injector, such as EpiPen® (epinephrine) and EpiPen® Jr Auto-Injectors 0.3/0.15 mg.(1) EpiPen® Auto-Injector is a self-administered medicine that is used in the emergency treatment of a severe allergic reaction, including an anaphylactic reaction.
For those children who do go trick-or-treating, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) offers these helpful tips:
Never Go Alone: Always accompany younger children trick-or-treating and have older children go out with friends.
Inform Others: Make sure all the adults and friends in your group know about your child’s food allergies and what to do in an emergency.
Pack Medication: While out for Halloween, make sure you or your child is carrying an epinephrine auto-injector. Make sure your child’s friends or other adults know how to administer this medication.
Provide Safe Snacks: Provide your close neighbors and even your child’s teacher at school with safe treats or even non-food items like stickers that can be given to your child.
Check the Goodies: Carefully read labels or check the candy company’s Web site to make sure the product doesn’t contain something that can cause an allergic reaction. It’s important to remember that the ingredients of ‘fun size’ candy bars may differ from the regular-size bars.
When in Doubt, Throw It Out: If you can’t find information on a treat’s ingredients or are simply not sure if it’s safe, then throw the candy away or stick it in a treat jar that is out of the reach of the child.
Avoid Snacking: Eating dinner before trick-or-treating might curb your child’s urge to sneak goodies from the bag.
Kwik Fit Insurance are calling on all schools in the North East region to remember to nominate their Lollipop person for the 2009 Lollipop Person of the Year Awards, which close on Friday 30th October.
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!”
Veteran creative strategist Marlene Byrne today announced that her fourth book in the Project Play children’s series, which aims to inspire child education to get back outdoors for good, old-fashioned playtime, is now available.
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.”
Halloween is one of the most avidly awaited holidays for children activities, but it also harbors the greatest potential for dangers, including accidents and contact with strangers.
While any night on which children parade darkly-lit streets in a race for candy is a fraught with hazards, statistically speaking, the biggest threats to kids on Halloween are traffic accidents, cuts while carving pumpkins, and fires caused by candle-lit jack-o’-lanterns.
According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Halloween is the most dangerous evening for children to be on the streets. In fact, The CDC states that “the number of childhood pedestrian deaths increased fourfold among children on Halloween evenings when compared with all other evenings.” Halloween is an evening of parties, too, and more drunk drivers are on the road at precisely the time children are too.
Another increasingly relevant worry for parents is that Halloween is primetime for sexual predators. “Halloween is a day when child safety is on everyone’s mind,” Trip Wakefield, CEO of ThinAir Wireless said. “Parents should accompany small children and explain to older ones how to avoid problems when trick-or-treating.”
Telematics innovator ThinAir Wireless makes the POM Offender Locator, which quickly and accurately pinpoints sexual offenders in any neighborhood. The Offender Locator is a downloadable app available for iPhones and is currently the 23rd most popular iPhone application in the “top paid app” category; it is fourth in “utilities”. Two versions, one of which is free, are available for download in the iTunes Store (listed under “Utilities”).
The statistical probability that children will have contact with a sexual predator is now 1 in 3.
“With Halloween just a month away, the time to begin talking about safety with your child is now,” Wakefield said. “POM Offender Locator, in its free (2.5) or paid (2.2) versions, should be considered an integral part of any family security strategy.”
Trick-or-Treaters
Keep to neighborhoods you know well.
Visit only houses that are lit. Stick to the sidewalk - don’t run - and pay attention to traffic signals.
Don’t cut across driveways and yards, especially in the dark.
Use makeup instead of wearing a mask.
Wear shoes that provide good support, fit, and traction.
Don’t wear costumes that dangle or drag on the ground.
Carry only fake, flexible rubber swords, knives, etc.
Parents
Be sure that an adult - if not you - is with children under the age of 10 at all times.
Know where your children are going.
A cell phone is a recommended part of the wardrobe for children and adults.
Tell your children where they can reach you if you are going out that night.
Make sure that children’s costumes are flame-retardant and use reflective tape.
Instruct children that all candy they collect must be inspected by you at home before it can be eaten.
Toss out anything that looks like it may have been tampered with.
Sort it Out!, the educational game of putting things in order, allows players to make sense of events and measurements by arranging them in correct sequences. By inviting players to interact with facts as they compete for points and race to the finish, Sort it Out! is destined to become a new party classic for the Information Era.
With the Internet at its fingertips, today’s generation experiences vast quantities of information pouring in from different outlets in every direction–Google, Wikipedia, Facebook, to name a few–and it becomes overwhelming to try and process it all.
As economist Herbert A. Simon warned, “a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.” Sort it Out!, a new board game from University Games, aims to harness the influx of information that surrounds us, transforming it into an opportunity for stimulation and entertainment rather than a source of stress.
Did you know that a blue whale tongue weighs more than a Jeep Grand Cherokee? Or that a cockroach can hold its breath longer than a penguin, a platypus, or a dolphin? With Sort it Out!, knowing something is only important relative to other facts. Created by Australian inventors Craig Browne and Leonie Cutts, Sort It Out! has sleek, simple graphics and an engrossing premise that is perfect for gatherings and all levels of players. Drawing from culture, science, sports, and history, Sort It Out! tests logic, luck and memory in an innovative way.
University Games has acquired the rights to create educational toys based on children’s books by award-winning author Mo Willems. University Games plans to design a broad range of games, puzzles, and other merchandise inspired by the fresh illustrations and humorous dialogue of the Mo Willems’ “Pigeon” series, published by Hyperion Books for Children.
Beginning with the New York Times bestseller, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Willems’ series follows the caprices of the spastic and often demanding Pigeon. As The New York Times has pointed out, “The Pigeon is one of this decade’s contributions to the pantheon of great children’s book characters.” University Games is excited to adopt the character of the Pigeon as well as the uncluttered and childlike illustrations by Willems, which they see as ideal material for children’s games and merchandise.
“We are thrilled to have the Pigeon join our line-up of outstanding learning games for kids,” says University Games’ CEO Bob Moog of the licensing deal. “University Games has specialized in bringing books to play for young children since the introduction of the Green Eggs and Ham(TM) game in 1995. Mo Willems’ work will translate wonderfully into our style of game and puzzle.”
Mo Willems began his career as a writer and animator for television, where he won six Emmy Awards for his writing on Sesame Street. His first children’s book, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, was awarded a Caldecott Medal and has been translated into many languages. He has since garnered two more Caldecott Medals and a Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for his book Don’t Put a Bird on your Head! He lives and writes in Brooklyn.
Depending upon the age of your children, they may be involved in a myriad of children activities. You know the importance of striking a fair balance between allowing children to be involved in activities and having time for the family to spend together. Unfortunately, the children may not agree with your definition of “fair.”
Perhaps your older children are interested in a number of activities. They may want to be involved in baseball, football, soccer, martial arts, gymnastics, softball, basketball, or ice skating. Then there’s band, dance, musical instrument lessons, or voice lessons they’re interested in. Throw in scouting or volunteering and the number of possible ways to be away from home increases even more.
It’s important to make sure kids aren’t involved in too many activities. Children, like adults, only have 24 hours in each day. They have to attend school and sleep at least eight hours a night. This leaves eight hours for eating, doing chores, doing homework, spending time with family, and then extracurricular activities.
You can choose to limit each child to one extracurricular activity per season. If your child is athletic you might allow them to play two sports each school year as long as they don’t coincide with one another. Do you have a music lover? Allow them to play in the band, but you could ask them to wait until summer to take individual lessons.
How do you maintain balance among the different family members? While you may not favor one child over the other, it may seem that way to your children. Try to spend quality time alone with each child at some point during the month. In fact, you may want to plan a special “date” with each child. This will enable them to have undivided time with you or your partner and squelch any complaints about you not spending time with them.
You’ll also want to be sure you to spend quality time with your partner so they don’t feel left out. Planning a weekly or bi-weekly date night is important for maintaining your relationship. Instead of spending your time talking about the children, take the opportunity to dream about your future.
While you’re spending time with others in the family, don’t forget to take care of yourself. You can’t be expected to be able to meet others’ needs if you’re overly stressed or burned out. A trip to a day spa which will pamper you may be just what you need to rejuvenate.
So, you’ve limited the number of activities each person in the family is allowed to participate in. You are also spending time with each child to ensure they feel loved. Now it’s time to keep all of the activities from cutting into the family’s free time, but what can you do to accomplish this? One thing you might consider is actually scheduling activities for the entire family to do together.
Talk about activities that everyone in the family would enjoy. This could be anything from visiting a museum, going fishing, or watching the latest movie. If your children range in age, you may find it difficult to find activities everyone will enjoy. In this case, switch up the types of activities you choose so everyone has at least one or two activities they enjoy.
Keeping your family running smoothly isn’t easy when each person is running in and out of the house to different activities. You know the importance of striking a fair balance between outside activities and family time - using some of these ideas may help create the balance you seek.
Childhood obesity is a concern of medical experts these days. It seems children spend so much time in front of the television, gaming consoles, or computers that they aren’t as active as they used to be. Instead of signing your children up for a weight-loss reality show, here are five ways to be a fitness role model for child development and fitness.
1. Learn to recognize hunger. Do you recognize when you’re truly hungry or do you eat out of boredom or because the clock says it’s time to eat? If you can recognize hunger and teach your children to do the same thing, they’ll be more likely to avoid eating except when truly hungry.
2. Get moving! Many people think you have to run a marathon or spend hours a day working out to be fit. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, studies have proven that being active even in small ways can help you maintain normal weight. Have you told your child to stop fidgeting? Well, fidgeting actually burns calories.
There are small things you can do that will help you be a fitness role model. Take the steps at the mall rather than an elevator or escalator. You can also park further away from the store instead of driving around looking for a close spot; this will allow you to walk a little bit. By working up to 45 minutes of activity a day, you’ll be amazed how much better your entire family will feel.
3. Limit screen time. Many children have their own computer or television in their room. This encourages them to spend time watching someone else be active rather than being active themselves. You may want to move the electronics out of their bedroom and keep them in the common areas of the home so you can limit how much time they spend in front of them. Encourage them to roller skate, ride their bikes, or do some other physical activity instead of staying in front of a screen.
4. Eat your meals together. Cooking your meals and eating them together at home will allow you to control what your children are eating and how much. Plan your meals out for at least a week so you know what to buy to avoid getting junk food. Prepare fresh meals rather than processed foods; they’re more nutritious and better quality.
5. Speak positively about being fit and healthy. If your children hear “I dread going to work out” they’ll think exercise is something to be dreaded and avoided. Instead, if they hear how much you’re looking forward to going to work out, they’ll see exercise as something good and positive which will make them more likely to enjoy it.
These are five ways to be a fitness role model to your children. Obviously there are other ways, but by starting with one or more of these you’ll be able to change your home and your family for the better. Don’t underestimate the role you play in encouraging your children to be healthy. Why not get started today?
If your family has several members, it’s quite likely everyone has activities to attend. It’s also a good bet the parents expect the children to help with chores around the house for children activities. There are many advantages of family rosters, or charts, to keep your house running smoothly.
Family rosters can make daily and weekly chores easier. By making a roster, you’re able to write down all the chores that need to be done and who is responsible for each chore. Then you can create a centralized roster for the whole family or give each person their own roster of chores.
Consider having a family meeting to discuss changes being made in regard to chores. Explain that each person, except infants, will be expected to help. You may also want to determine consequences for not doing chores in a timely manner. Some families even go as far as writing up a chores contract that each person is expected to sign, showing they understand their responsibility in helping keep the house running smoothly.
Start by knowing what each family member is able to do. Make a list of chores each person can do and then assign each one to the person best able to do them. Of course, if you have several children close in age, you may want to switch out days so they share duties. Continue to assign chores based on ability until all household chores are assigned and rosters made.
Don’t expect everyone to do their chores perfectly the first day. In fact, you may want to give yourselves a week to get used to the new family rosters. Once everyone learns what they’re supposed to do and actually does them, your house could begin to run smoother than it ever has.
One advantage of having family rosters is the fact that one person won’t be responsible for everything. It wasn’t uncommon in the past for women to “keep the home” while the men cared for everything outside. Times have changed, and traditional roles for caring for the home have changed as well.
Another advantage of family rosters is the work should get done quicker. The old proverb “many hands make light work” is true. If everyone is working to get their chores done each day, there won’t be so much work to do on the weekend. This will free everyone up to do things they enjoy rather than tackling chores at home.
Perhaps your family hasn’t been successful at keeping a family roster. Put past failures behind you and start afresh. When your family realizes the advantages of family rosters, they may be more willing to give it another try. Before long, your family will know what’s expected of them, do those things, and the house and family will thank you.
Recent popular movies have brought back the idea of pirates and the open seas. Boys may have never lost the desire to set sail for uncharted waters and to have the salty wind in their faces. Of course, backyard boat building is one the best children activities not to be undertaken lightly. These ideas, however, may allow your sons to enjoy building their own wooden boat and setting it a sail.
Let’s face it, boys are more adventurous than girls; but that doesn’t mean a girl can’t enjoy a good pirate story. However, they’re not as likely to get lost in the idea of faraway places, deserted islands, and pirate treasure as a boy. Boys are more likely to take the time to actually build a boat in the backyard.
Backyard boat building would be a great activity for Dad and son. Dad can ensure tools are used properly; he can also return tools to their proper place when the work is done. Building a boat also gives the boys a chance to connect with Dad on a different level. All in all it can be a win-win situation for both.
They may want to search the internet in order to find a boat kit, or they can get a boat-building book from the library. They may also be able to find free instructions online. Don’t give up - if the instructions are out there, they can be found.
If they’re interested in creating a small boat that they can sail in a pool or the bathtub, it will certainly be easier than building a full-size boat. Building small will also take less time and there will be less chance of injury. You may want to take your son’s desire to build a “real” boat seriously, though. He might just surprise you!
To make a small boat, your son will need wood, of course - in various dimensions depending upon the size and type he wants to make. They’ll need Dad or another adult to help them use power tools to shape the wood to the desired shapes.
A flat-bottomed boat will be easier to make than a canoe or kayak, so you might want to use that suggestion. Be sure to use good quality white oak for the stem, or front, of the boat. You’ll also need two sides (port and starboard) and the stern (back of the boat) which can be made from other types of wood. They’ll want to be sure to carefully plane and sand each piece of wood before fastening them together with nails.
Use galvanized nails to nail together a frame and then hammer the various component boards to it. The bottom of the boat will be added last by turning the boat upside down and nailing the floor to the fame. Try to get the boards to fit as closely as possible to avoid having to use caulk. Seats are normally made from cypress and fastened to the center board.
When the boat is all together, paint it with a thick, marine paint. The oars will be placed after the boat is complete and dry. Then the boys can see if their new boat is sea-worthy by taking it, along with Dad, to a pond or lake.
Backyard boat building may not always be an activity that boys participate in, but you can be sure they would love to build a boat and set sail for imaginary places. This is a perfect activity for a boy and his dad, or another male figure, which can do more to build their relationship than get their boat in the water.
Summer is in full swing and flowers are in full bloom. If you remember back to when you were a child, you probably can remember one of the most typical children activities, the flower arrangements for bouquets for Mom. Here are five flower craft ideas you may remember and can use with your own children.
1) Dandelion chains are something that children all over the country have made through the years. They’re almost the epitome of summer fun, especially for small children. And, because they don’t need many components, they’re easy enough for small children to master. Here’s how to make them:
Pick dandelions - the longer the stem, the better. Tie one dandelion onto another, close to the flower, with a double knot. Continue until the chain has reached the desired link, then tie the two ends together.
You can also split the stem part of the way down and then insert the stem of another dandelion until the flower reaches the stem. Continue by splitting the stem of that dandelion and then repeating until the chain reaches the desired length.
Make rings, bracelets, and necklaces for your children to enjoy.
2) Pick summer’s fragrant flowers and flowering herbs. Pull the petals from the flowers and allow them to dry. While the petals are drying, make a small bag out of a light, airy fabric. Include a draw string to create a potpourri bag that can be closed. Fill the bag and then pull the bag’s strings to keep the potpourri inside the bag.
3) You can also decorate fabric by hammering summer’s flowers to make a natural design. Cover a wooden chopping board with two to three layers of paper towel and then place a piece of fabric on top. Place the flowers or herbs you’ve chosen in a design you’d like; place another piece of paper towel on top of the design. Thoroughly, but gently, hammer the entire area where the plant matter is located. Remove the paper towel and plants. Use an iron, set to the fabric being used, for approximately 45 to 60 seconds to set the design on the fabric.
4) Pressing flowers is an age-old craft that your grandmother may have enjoyed. Gather a bouquet of flowers you’d like to press along with cardboard about the size of a book, newspaper, tissue paper, and heavy objects (large phone books and bricks work well). Layer the cardboard with newspaper and tissue paper. Place the flowers onto the tissue paper but don’t allow them to touch or hang off of the paper. After you have the flowers situated, place tissue paper, newspaper, and then cardboard on top followed by heavy books. Leave the stack for 2-4 weeks and then remove the layers to see how well your flowers have pressed.
5) Drying flowers is another craft from days gone by. The easiest way to dry flowers is to pick a bouquet, tie it together, and then hang it upside down in a warm, dry, dark place. The air must be dry so the flowers won’t rot, and dark so the flowers don’t fade. You’ll want to check the flowers every couple of days to see if they are dry to the touch. This process could take several weeks. When they are dry, you can store the flowers in a dark, sealed container until you’re ready to use them.
You know that summer’s flowers are temporary. To enjoy their beauty after summer is over, use one of these five flower craft ideas. Enlist your children’s help to make these crafts and they’ll be able to share them with their own children.
The Wii game console may have overtaken similar systems in popularity. Why, you may ask. One of the main reasons is that there are Wii games for all ages rather than having them geared for a specific age group. The following are some examples of Wii workout games that nearly the whole family can enjoy.
Parents often dislike computer games and gaming consoles because the only muscles that get a workout are the thumbs. Nintendo, in creating the Wii, has changed game consoles into an interactive system that can everyone can play from grandparents all the way down to preschoolers. And, instead of merely sitting and holding a controller, Wii games simulate sports such as bowling, baseball, soccer, yoga, and golf.
When you purchase a Wii system, it comes with a Wii Sport game. Included in this game are tennis, baseball, golf, boxing, and bowling. As an added benefit, these games can be set to multiplayer as long as each person, up to four, has their own remote. Nunchucks will also be required for boxing.
Playing the Wii is a great alternative in inclement weather. Your whole family can still get their exercise because the Wii is played indoors. Choose one of the Wii Sport games or try the relatively new Wii Fit.
Wii Fit is a breakthrough in gaming consoles. It comes with a Wii Balance Board that can be used for doing aerobics, strength training, yoga, and balancing games. This system does so much to encourage its users to be active. The Wii Balance Board is also a scale and is calibrated to notice subtle movements for each game.
You’re not limited to using the Wii Balance Board with the games that come with the Board. There are new games coming out to be played with the Board. If this is a system you think you might enjoy, you’ll want to keep an eye out for them.
Maybe someone in your family really loves to dance more than play sports to get a good workout. Why not purchase a copy of Dance Dance Revolution? Of course, you’ll need a Wii Dance Pad, but playing the game could allow you to learn some new dance moves as well as burn calories and increase stamina.
The Wii games, whether sport-related or not, encourages movement. Children can find games, such as anything with Super Mario, which they’ll enjoy playing and will find it hard to keep still in their seats. Senior adults may enjoy the more leisurely games like golf for fitness but also games that challenge their mind.
If you’re looking for a game console that everyone can enjoy, you might want to look into the Nintendo Wii. With Wii games for all ages, skill, and activity level it’s no wonder it’s so popular. You can also expect the company to continue to make not just for children activities but for family-oriented games the whole family can play together.
Headed to the beach this summer? You may want to bring back something to remember the trip without it getting in your carpet. While you’re at the beach, your children can have fun with sand pictures they create with found items on the shore.
Take along some shallow bowls or dishes that your children can place wet sand in. Then go with them as they search the beach for pieces of driftwood, shells, rocks, or other items. These will be perfect for creating sand pictures.
Using the sand as a canvas, your child can create pictures with the items they found. Two small stones can be eyes, and a stick can be the mouth or a nose. Let them use their imagination. You may be amazed at what they come up with.
Help your child create a mini garden in much the same way. They can create buildings, walk ways, and an actual garden with little flowers. When they’ve finished creating, they can choose to remove the found items and start again, or you can take a picture of their masterpiece to save for posterity.
Another way to have fun with sand pictures is to use the sand and glue to create images. Here’s what you’ll need:
* Dry sand from the beach (or you can purchase some at a home improvement store)
* Pencil
* Glue
* Construction paper
* Tray to keep the sand contained
Have your child draw a picture on a sheet of construction paper. Let them choose the subject of the drawing, but they may want to use water-related items since they will be using sand in the picture. Place the paper on the tray so the sand will be easy to clean up and so the glue won’t shift when it’s time to add the sand.
Using plain school glue, let the children “draw” by covering the lines of the picture with glue. Have them shake a spoonful of sand onto the glue and shake it over the paper. Continue shaking more sand over the paper until all of the glue is covered. Tell them to carefully shake the paper to remove the excess sand but to be careful because the glue is still wet.
Your child will want to allow the glue on the picture to dry over night. In the morning, they may want to draw other items on the picture or add stickers to it. When they’re satisfied with the way their picture looks, it can be framed and hung on display.
If your family is planning a trip to the beach this summer, you’ll undoubtedly take photos to remember the trip. Your children, however, can take items they find, along with sand from the shore, to create pictures in the sand. They can also create fun with sand pictures that can be displayed in your home. In either case, you’ll remember the fun you had, thanks to your child’s creativity. This is truly one good children activities to do for summer.
Sunshine, heat, and water are common elements to summer fun. You may be wondering what children activities to do this summer to combat the heat and still enjoy your time outdoors. Consider these ten ideas for having fun with pool toys and games to keep your whole family happy in the pool this summer.
Pool toys are often considered a luxury because they can be pricey, but that’s generally only applicable for larger swimming pool toys. Why not give these a try:
* Swimming pool basketball. This set has an adjustable net to allow for a quick game of water basketball. There are several manufacturers which offer the swimming pool basketball sets. Prices range from $220 to $825 and they can be purchased from Pool Toy Source. They also have combo sets with volleyball.
* Rock-It Totter is an inflatable toy that can be used on water or on land. For children six and up, this toy is made by Aviva and can be purchased for $115 from Wagon Depot.
* Poolmaster offers the Jumbo Hot Shots Water Launcher, a refillable toy that shoots water up to 45 feet! They can be found at American Sale and sell for around $15.
* Inflatable animals are always fun for children to play on. They come in any number of animal types and can be purchased from local discount stores for as little as $5.
* Swim noodles are an inexpensive alternative to some of the more pricey pool toys and games. They help keep children afloat as they’re having fun or learning how to kick when learning to swim.
* Depending upon the size of your pool, you may want to purchase a pool raft. They range in price from $5 for one person and up to $330 for four people. Pool rafts are available through Pool Toy Source and other sources.
* Remote control fish and other water creatures can be fun for the whole family. If you have a snorkel and a mask, you can pretend you’re on a trip to the Great Barrier Reef - however, at $25 a piece, your trip may or may not allow you to see too many fish at once. They can be purchased through INYO Pools.
* Water guns come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and water shooting powers. Some only shoot a couple of feet; others shoot water up to 75 feet and are easy to refill. Water guns can be found locally at discount stores for $1 and up, depending upon the type you want and how much water power you need.
* Underwater Soccer Challenge Pool Toys may be just the thing for a child that loves to play soccer. It comes with weighted balls that roll along the bottom of the pool and has a weighted goal. It costs around $30 at Pool Toy Source, but you could probably find it at other sources.
* For the golf lover in the family who can’t be dragged to the pool, there’s now a way to enjoy both at the same time. Pool Toy.com has a floating golf island complete with tee off pad, golf club, and 8 foam golf balls. It sells for $40.
The swimming pool beckons soon after warmer weather arrives. If you’ve patiently waited to have fun with pool toys and games, you won’t have to wait much longer. These ten pool toys and games are not all that are available, but they may give you some ideas about what you’d like to get for the whole family to enjoy this summer in the pool.
Children can run a parent ragged. Of course, if your child is active, they may be thinking about playing a sport at school. Choosing the right sport for your child may seem like a hard task, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some children activities pointers to consider when helping your child choose.
Child’s temperament
Think about your child’s temperament. Are they loners or do they enjoy spending time with others? Do they excel at competing against their self or are they competitive with others? How well do they follow authority? All of these would be questions you may want to ask about your child.
Some children are naturally athletic. They may be a mini-jock who is a natural daredevil. These are often boys, but not necessarily. Non-aggressive children can also be athletic. They may prefer being physically active but don’t have the “killer instinct” of a mini-jock. Some children aren’t particularly athletic but they enjoy being active. Sedentary children may not be interested in sports at all. If this is the case, you may not want to push your child into playing a sport.
Team or individual
If your child is interested in playing a sport, are they more of a loner or the center of attention? Does your child have many friends or only one or two? Answering these two questions may help you determine whether your child would prefer an individual or team sport.
Children that prefer to be alone may enjoy playing tennis, swimming, gymnastics, or martial arts. Children that thrive being around others would probably enjoy team sports such as baseball, basketball, volleyball, football, or soccer.
What age?
It may be difficult to recognize when your child is ready to play sports. Each child matures in their own time, so you can’t give a definitive answer to the question. Watch your child to see how they play with other children, particularly siblings. If they continually have disagreements or are physical with others they may not be ready or old enough to play sports.
Financial impact
Most parents would love to give their children everything they want; however, they know that doing so won’t serve the child well. Think about how much each sport your child is interested in will cost. Some sports, like gymnastics, require considerable finances, whereas a sport like baseball or football would cost less.
Time required
A sport, no matter which one you choose, will require both you and your child to spend a good deal of time on it. The child will have practices and games to attend; you’ll be expected to transport the child to and from practices and your child will expect you to attend each game. Of course, some sports, like gymnastics, require long practice times - often early in the morning and in the afternoon once the child has reached a certain level.
Choosing the right sport for your child could take some time if you want your child to enjoy themselves. Take your child’s likes, dislikes, and temperament into consideration when helping them choose. Then when you’ve chosen, stand back and watch them have a ball!
With cut-backs in education budgets, one of the areas to suffer is allowing children to have recess during the school day. You know how being physically active can help you feel better, look better, concentrate more, and be healthier than leading a sedentary life. The same is true for your children. Use hula hoops and jump ropes as a fun way to inspire children activities.
Unstructured recess may be a thing of the past at your school, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give your children unstructured play at home. Purchasing play equipment like hula hoops, jump ropes, and balls can make active play something your children look forward to each day. Science has proven that having this type of equipment available may help your children be more active and play for longer periods of time.
You know increased activity can help stave off obesity in your children, so why not do what you can to help improve their health? Is there a better way to encourage them to get moving than by providing them with fun activities they can do? And, while you’re at it, why don’t you join in the fun with them?
What can you do with a hula hoop? Actually, you might be surprised. Obviously, you can use the hula hoop as it was intended. You swing your hips in a circular movement and try to keep the hoop moving. Did you know that using one of these hoops, especially if it has been weighted, is a great abdominal exercise? They can also be used as a prop in rhythmic dancing or gymnastics. You can also use them at different points on the body, so you can concentrate on separate areas and give them a great workout.
Jump ropes are also wonderful pieces of exercise equipment. Of course, if more than one person chooses to use it at once, you will probably want to get one for everyone in the family. Again, you can use these as intended, jumping rope, but you can also incorporate them into gymnastics or rhythmic dancing. If you’re not sure what you can do with a jump rope, take a look at double Dutch jump roping. You’ll be amazed at the way some athletes use a simple pair of ropes.
Find hula hoops and jump ropes at local department stores. If you don’t think those will stand up to use, you may want to look at school supply stores. If there aren’t any school supply stores nearby, you can always look online to find them. You may find other pieces of exercise equipment that you’ll be interested in, too.
Remember that the goal is to encourage your child to get active rather than sitting in front of a computer or television. Give them a couple of pieces of exercise equipment and they’re more likely to use them. If you really want to encourage them, let them see you use the equipment, too. There’s nothing like exercise to get you and your whole family healthier and quite possibly happier.
Children usually look for any excuse to ride their bicycles during the summer. It’s a fun children activity that is good for them, too. While you’re planning your 4th of July festivities, why not organize a 4th of July bike parade in your neighborhood? It will give those in your neighborhood an opportunity to show off their bikes, celebrate the holiday, and have fun at the same time!
The bike parade doesn’t have to be limited to children; adults can and probably should participate as well. Here’s what you’ll want to do to plan and host your own neighborhood bike parade.
1. Gather the neighborhood together to discuss your idea and see how many people are interested in participating. After you know who will be involved, you can determine the parade route through your neighborhood. Don’t make it too long that little children won’t be able to participate, but don’t make it too short that adults and older teens won’t be interested.
2. Announce the event in your area at local businesses. Create colorful flyers with the important information – date, time, and place. You may want to include a tear-off with your telephone number so others in your area can contact you if they need more information.
3. Ask the children to decorate their bicycles, tricycles, wagons, or scooters with streamers. Leaving the type of transportation open will allow more people to join in the fun. The only limitations necessary are that the decorations not be dangerous such as things poking off of a bike that a child might be injured on. Otherwise, the sky is the limit as far as the decorations go.
4. Allow the children, and adults too, to dress up in patriotic clothing or have a face painting area set up at the beginning of the route so those interested can have their faces painted with red, white, and blue flags, stars, and Uncle Sam hats.
5. Plan to arrive early on the day of the parade. Mark off the route and be ready with other adults to help you. Take your time getting everyone arranged so the parade will be safe (adults or teens at the front and back to keep an eye on the children).
6. Choose a teen or adult to lead the parade because they’ll need to carry the music. Remind the participants to stay together rather than running off on their own. This is a parade, not a race, so it’s important that the parade go slowly enough for young children but quick enough for older children not to become too impatient.
7. Ask those viewing the parade to take pictures to remember the day by. You may even want to call the local newspaper to come and cover the parade.
8. At the end of the parade, you can have refreshments or a picnic for everyone to enjoy together.
July 4th is a great day in the United States’ history. You can organize a 4th of July bike parade for your children and others to enjoy. They can show of their bikes and have a great time celebrating the day. If it’s a success, you may want to consider making the bike parade a yearly event.
Children are used to seeing the American flag flying over government buildings and in their classrooms. They may not, however, understand the significance of the different parts of the flag. Do they know what the colors of our flag mean? This is an important aspect of child education so make sure to tell them.
When the flag was originally created, the colors on it held no significance. However, when the Continental Congress adopted the Great Seal, the colors did have particular meanings. Those colors and their meanings were transferred to the Stars and Stripes at a later date, although no one knows exactly when.
* Red – There is some disagreement about what this color represents on the American flag. Originally the color was used on the Great Seal and was to represent hardiness and valor. Some have indicated that the color is indicative of the blood of the patriots who fought and died helping to make our country free and are still doing so.
* White – This color has always signified purity and innocence.
* Blue – Vigilance, perseverance and justice are what this color symbolizes.
The thirteen stripes are purported to represent the thirteen original colonies of the United States. The fifty stars are said to represent each of the fifty states that make up this great country.
If your children don’t know the story behind the flag, you may want to take time this year to teach them. Be sure to include the proper handling of the flag in a respectful manner.
1. Flags are not to be displayed at night unless they are fully illuminated.
2. The flag should not be flown in inclement weather.
3. The flag is not to be allowed to touch the ground. If it does, the flag should be properly disposed of.
4. Flags flown at half-staff are first hoisted to the top of the flag pole and then lowered. Normally you will see flags at half-staff, or half-mast, on governmental buildings only. Flags at half-staff signify the death of a former President. From sunrise to sunset they are placed at half-staff on May 15 for Peace Officers Memorial Day, from sunrise until noon on Memorial Day, from sunrise to sunset on September 11 which has been declared as Patriot Day, during October 5 to 11 for Fire Prevention Week, and then again on December 7 for National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
While the President of the United States cannot require the citizens of the country to fly their personal flags at half-staff, he may request that they join the government in flying them in that manner. The President may, at his discretion, declare other days as being recognized by flying the flag at this position.
Perhaps you don’t know, or have forgotten the significance of the Stars and Stripes and its history. You may not be aware that the flag has be changed twenty-four times during is history. You can learn more about the flag’s history by visiting the official website about the American flag, www.USflag.org.
Each country in the world more than likely has a statement of allegiance that their citizens know and recite. It’s no different in the United States where the Pledge of Allegiance has been spoken in classrooms around the country since 1892. Many people, especially children, however, don’t know the history behind the Pledge; here’s a way to change that and enrich child education:
The Pledge of Allegiance is an oath that American citizens make to assert their loyalty to the country. It has been quoted at the beginning of the school day as well as during many public events. Each day, the U.S. Congress opens its session by reciting the Pledge. When reciting the Pledge, one would stand at attention facing the flag and place their right hand over their heart. If the person is a member of the military, they are allowed to leave their hats on and salute the flag.
Written in 1892 by Frances Bellamy, a Baptist minister, the Pledge of Allegiance was first printed in the children’s magazine The Youth’s Companion. The Pledge was written to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. The original Pledge, however, read differently: “I Pledge Allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”
By October 1892, President Benjamin Harrison made the proclamation that the Pledge would be recited during Columbus Day observances. Over the years, however, changes have been made to the Pledge. The first major change was from “my Flag” to “the Flag of the United States” in 1923. The phrase “of America” was added a year later. On June 22, 1942, the Pledge was declared the national pledge by the U.S. Congress.
The phrase “under God” was added originally to the Pledge in 1951 by the Knights of Columbus, pulling the phrase from the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln. The addition of this phrase to the national pledge, however, took considerably longer. Following a sermon by Reverend George M. Docherty, in 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower agreed that “under God” should be a part of the Pledge to help keep the United States humble despite its strength.
In recent years, some people have been trying to get the phrase “under God” taken back out of the Pledge. Their rationale is that having this phrase in the Pledge violates the protection in the Constitution about the establishment of religion.
In effect, when one pledges allegiance they are promising their loyalty to the ideals represented by the flag, loyalty to each of the states in the country, as well as to the government which unites all of us. The current Pledge of Allegiance is recited at the beginning of school and also during sports events around the country. It currently reads: “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.”
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