The New Webkinz Toys - A Kid's Best Virtual Friend At Webkinz World Online

By Neil Day

Most of people have grown up with stuffed animals and pets. These toys were their best friends, the silent companions as well as silent protectors against the unknown fears at night. With the coming of the information age and the high-tech console games, these cute and adorable pets have been left to gather dust on our cabinets and shelves. That was all in the past, since children now can have the best from both sides of the world.

The Ganz Gift Company introduced Webkinz, a new and very exciting interactive toy for kids of all ages. At first glance they may seem like any ordinary cute stuffed toy, but they're way much different since a code comes with every stuffed toy. This code can be used to gain access to the Webkinz World, an educational as well as safe online community for kids. This site has a lot of activities as well as games that are appropriate for young kids.

At Webkinz World, kids will find a virtual version of their newfound pet. They can create a living space for their Webkinz as well as take care of them. They can also feed them and give them a bath in this world. Also, there is the Quizzy's question corner as well as Arcade games where the kids can earn KinzCash. This KinzCash can then be used to buy furniture, clothes as well as toys for their virtual Webkinz. The site is updated with new games as well as items, so something new is in it for children each time you visit the Webkinz World.

There are a lot of Webkinz out there, and it's almost impossible to keep track of how many there are already since a lot of new animals are added from time to time. There are the more common puppies and kittens, to more exotic animals such as the yellow and green tree frogs, panda, cheeky monkey, blue hippo, and other animals that are of any children's fancy.

There are some concerns with having Webkinz though. These can be very time-consuming since kids can become so engrossed with taking care of their virtual pet online at Webkinz World. This is just like any other toy or computer game too. This can be remedied by setting schedules and limits in playing with these toys. At least, children should finish their homework and chores first before they can play and they should be given a time limit in playing it in order for it not to become an addiction.

Kids today are becoming more and more Internet savvy. This can raise a lot of concerns with parents since kids are spending a lot of time online. But the Webkinz World site provides a great environment where the kids can learn, enjoy playing as well as interact with other kids without giving too much personal information. This can even help with their eye and hand coordination as well as basic computer skills. Webkinz is a fun and easy way to teach your child some early learning skills as well as responsibility for taking care of something.

Want to know more about Webkinz world and the intearctive role they provide for children and their Webkinz pets? Visit www.webkinzcharmsworld.com today. Just imagine that look of joy on your child's face when you give them their very own Webkinz pet.

Reducing School Stress for Children - Navigating From Home to School

By Kathleen Karlsen

In this commuter age when very few children walk or ride to school on their own each day, psychologists are discovering how important it is for young children to understanding the location of their school location in relationship to the location of their own home. Interestingly enough, children must be able to create a cognitive map between their home and school to avoid the sense of being "lost" and the accompanying stress.

Preschoolers may additionally fear the "loss" of their parents each day because they cannot navigate from the school to where their parents are during the day. A study done as early as 1957 in Britain tested the learning achievements of children who walked or rode their bikes to school versus those who came on buses or in cars. Those who navigated to school themselves learned more while at school. Educational psychologists also suggest that children who have contact with the "ground" by walking or biking are better oriented and relaxed for learning.

Perhaps educators in the 20th century can find a solution to this dilemma by creating a map with the home of each child and their path to the school each day. Children can have a lesson on basic navigational skills and take a map home to follow on their way in a car or bus to and from school until they know how to get to each location or how to instruct someone to drive them each way. Children can also have a map showing them where their parents work in relationship to their school and their home.

This lesson in navigation can create profound sense of the child's geographical place and their place in the fabric of the community. In addition, finding ways to alleviate stress for children in today's society and teach them at the same time is an ideal combination!

Kathleen Karlsen, MA is an artist, writer and design consultant residing in Bozeman, Montana. Kathleen is best known for her contemporary impressionism style and her colorful forest, landscape and flower paintings. Kathleen's original art and fine art gifts can be seen at http://www.livingartsoriginals.com For an extensive article about flower symbolism see http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/infoflowersymbolism.htm To see a selection of Kathleen's flower paintings, please visit http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/originalfloralart.htm

Understanding Short Term Memory in Children

By Madonna Jeffries

Did you know that it is not just adults who suffer from short term memory loss our children do also? Short term memory loss is quite prevalent amongst children who have low self esteem or suffer from a lack of self confidence. It is also a fact that children who have hearing or site problems are also potential sufferers of memory problems. Unlike adult short term memory sufferers, young children with the same problem are often quite unaware that they have a problem so it is important that the child's carer monitor their situation.

Short Term Memory and Learning Difficulties

There have been countless scientific studies conducted which have explored the connection between language and speech development problems and short term memory skills in children. Many of these studies have found that there is indeed a connection between problems with short term memory in children and the way these particular children progress their speaking, reading and learning skills.

Treatment Options

As is the case with many mental problems there is not one single remedy for the treatment of loss of short term memory in children. The most effective way you, as a parent, can help your child improve their short term memory is to combine a number of well documented techniques to help improve the retention of what they are learning.

First of all it is important that your child is both mentally and physically active and that they interact with other children. These days a lot of children spend literally hour upon hour sitting in front of a computer playing games or chatting on the web. While using the computer is generally quite educational and useful there are other activities which are likely to be more effective with assisting in the improvement of short term memory in children.

A great way of improving short term memory in children is to encourage them to participate in a range of games and activities that have been specifically developed to stimulate the child's mind. These games and activities are not necessarily expensive or complex and include doing crosswords, jigsaw puzzles, match the picture cards as well as other trivia games. Children of all ages can participate and on the whole they find these style of games quite enjoyable and stimulating.

As a parent you should be mindful that problems with short term memory in children can often be an indicator of a more serious problem which could possibly require medical attention. A number of studies have identified that some children who suffer problems with memory loss can in fact be suffering from a form of dementia. This does not mean you should go in to an instant panic, but you definitely need to follow through with a medical examination if you notice your child is difficulties in this area.

If you notice that your child is continually forgetful or for no apparent reason has a marked deterioration in their school work you are encouraged to take your child to see your doctor as soon as possible so that they can have a check up to ensure that nothing more serious is wrong with their health.

For more information on title= short term memory in children and other memory retention tips and techniques visit title= Memory Improvement Online.

Buy Webkinz Toys Today - They're Definitely One Of The Coolest Buys Around

By Neil Day

If you have children, it would be pretty certain that you have heard of Webkinz toys at one point or another. Many kids consider these toys as one of the coolest toys one kid could have. Not only are these toys cute and adorable, they are innovative as well as unique since one can play with them online. They have made a lot of buzz among children as well as adults. When you buy Webkinz toys, you get a special code that can gain the holder access to the Webkinz World Online website. On this site they can take care as well as play with their furry little pets. They can feed, bathe as well as play with these toys as if they were real pets.

In the Webkinz virtual world, kids can dress their pet and take it to the vet. They can also earn KinzCash by doing chores and winning at contests, games, and other activities. With this they can buy Webkinz stuff for their pets. There are a multitude of options the children can have to make their website more interesting. They can create different spaces for the animals, add exercise equipment and gardens to the homes of their pets, or even just change the design themes, backgrounds and wallpapers. This site is made for children 6 to 13 years old, but older as well as younger people also have a great time with them. Many people hail Webkinz World as one of the best sites for kids of
different ages.

There have been other websites also dedicated to these toys, and they offer games, prizes as well as offering visitors the chance to buy Webkinz toys. This is quite a growing phenomenon in the world today. The most comparable to these toys are the Beanie Babies, but the Beanie babies did not offer the same interactive world that Webkinz does for its buyers.

However, there has been quite a few concerns with these toys. When parents buy Webkinz toy animals, many feel that these little critters take out a lot of time from their kids, causing them to skip homework and chores, as well as opportunities to socialize with other kids. More and more kids are starting to spend more time on the computer playing with their Webkinz animals and they are getting addicted to it.

These stuffed animal toys are gaining immense popularity, maybe more than they should? Even the best things should be done in moderation. But the future for them is very bright indeed.

Kids today are realizing the great things that the Ganz company ahs done for them and are eager to buy Webkinz animals as soon as they are introduced. They have caught their fancy since the children can now belong in a new and wonderful world for them. They can take care of their virtual pet in more ways than taking care of a real one. Though parents may have a lot of concern, the kids themselves are the ones benefiting from this. All it needs is just the right amount of balance between playing, schoolwork and chores, and these kids will grow up to be healthy and bright.

Want to know more about the new Webkinz animals you can now buy? Is the Panda webkinz bear really the cutest Webkinz toy produced yet? To find out more about the wonderful world of Webkinz visit www.webkinzcharmsworld.com today. Imagine the look of joy on your child's face when you give them their very own Webkinz pet.

Teaching Teens to Drive

By Levi Quinn

There may be nothing more menacing and frightening than teaching teens to drive. White-knuckle adventure on the roads may not seem like your idea of a good time, but eventually you will have to break down and teach your teen to drive. Thankfully, there are safer ways to accomplish this daunting task and make it out of the adventure with your life and vehicle intact.

It's easy to take a teen on to a rural road and let him or her have at it. City driving is a lot more complex, however, and learning how to manage the various ins and outs of parallel parking, stopping, starting, and handling the general stop-and-go nature of rush hour traffic can make for hours of guaranteed headaches. To stop the insanity, it's a good idea to take it easy and ease your teen into the driving experience.

Start Slow

The teen driving adventure works best when it starts out slow and works up to some of the bigger, more challenging driving aspects. Start your teen slowly by backing out of the driveway of your home and perhaps simply driving around the block or to some sort of close location. Other options include starting off in a parking lot and allowing the teen to get a feel for the car or starting on an old, dirt road and watching the dust fly as your teen gets used to the vehicle.

Regardless of the location of the driving adventure with your teen, it's important that you practice patience and allow your new driver to gather a feel for the vehicle. A big part of driving is learning to feel the roads, the various bumps and valleys, the weather conditions, and how the car reacts to those things. If your teen begins his or her driving experience by realizing how the car reacts to different weather conditions, for example, he or she is more likely to be able to handle those conditions in important situations where safety is a priority.

Ease Into It

Try not to start your teen on parallel parking or pulling out of a slide on the first day. Teens, as we all know by now, are emotional animals and they need incessant reassurance and guidance. Whether they tell you this fact or not is certainly up for grabs, but the reality is that reassurance is one of the key components when it comes to teaching teens to drive. Alongside this reassurance are a willing spirit and a patient heart. Ease your teen into the driving experience by demonstrating acceleration techniques, braking techniques, and better ways to pay attention while driving. Most teens learn by observing first and by doing second.

Model Responsibility

A third piece of general advice when it comes to teaching teens to drive is to model responsibility on your own. If you demonstrate the type of driver that yells and curses out his or her window or puts on makeup while driving, you're probably going to wind up with a teen that will emulate the same behaviour. Instead, emulate good driving techniques at all times. Remember your shoulder checks instead of your iPod and try to keep both hands on the wheel.

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Leave No Child Inside - Reconnecting Children and Nature

By Linda Marks

I am not much for AM radio. However, Red Sox baseball games are broadcast on AM radio stations, so my car radio is often tuned in during baseball season.

One afternoon this week, I started my car, with the baseball station on, and heard a talk radio host make a comment that really caught my attention. He was talking about how kids never play outside anymore. And that when he was growing up, kids spent time running around on a green thing called a "playground."

He then translated what this meant for his younger listeners. "A playground when I was a kid is a lot like what playing Nintendo DS is for you. It was a lot of fun. It was something we did every day and with our friends. But it involved a lot more moving around, and it was outside."

Wow! To think that one would need to offer a technical definition of a playground! And then to realize that kids today are not OUTSIDE playing in the yard or at the playground, but INSIDE playing their techno-video games in front of a screen.

Video games, be they the handheld portable variety or the wired versions requiring a living room and a tv, are now a universal language of play and downtime for so many kids. And playgrounds are used for recess at school, should the child attend a school that still has a playground, or for organized practices of team sports like soccer and baseball.

When my son and his best friend go outside to kick the soccer ball around or play basketball with the hoop in the driveway, I realize the airwaves are kid-silent. It is only the laughs and conversations of the two boys I hear. There must be other kids around in the neighborhood. But are they all inside?

You can imagine my amazement as I read Richard Louv's article, "Leave No Child Inside: The Growing Movement to Reconnect Children and Nature." The very thought that children of all people have gotten so disconnected from the natural world is horrifying to me. Yet, as I thought about it more, I realized what Louv was saying was true.

"Within the space of a few decades, the way children understand and experience their neighborhoods and the natural world has changed radically. Even as children and teenagers become more aware of global threats to the environment, their physical contact, their intimacy with nature is fading. As one suburban fifth grader put it to me, in what has become the signature epigram of tthe children-and-nature movement: 'I like to play indoors betters 'cause that's where all the electrical outlets are.'"

As housing developments have snatched up what once were woods and open pieces of land, fear of "stranger danger" and increasing traffic has kept kids off of the neighborhood streets, homework demands has minimized "downtime," and television and computers have become competing forces in the shrinking pie of "play" time, "urban, suburban and even rural parents" can all list the myriad reasons "why their children spend less time in nature than they did themselves."

Louv states, "In a typical week, only 6 percent of children ages nine to thirteenp lay outside on their own. Studies by the National Sporting Goods Association and by American Sports Data, a research firm, show a dramatic decline in the past decade in such outdoor activities as swimming and fishing. Even bike riding is down 31 percent since 1995."

What are we doing to our children? In his book LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS, Louv coins the term "nature-deficit disorder." Harvard professor E.O. Wilson's "biophilia hypothesis" states that we as human beings are innately attracted to nature. Louv writes, "We are still hunters and gatherers, and there is something in us, which we do not fully understand, that needs an occasional immersion in nature. We do know that when people talk about the disconnect between children and nature--if they are old enough to remember a time when outdoor play was the norm--they almost always tells stories about their own childhoods: this tree house or fort, that special woods or ditch or creek or meadow. They recall those 'places of initiation,' in the words of naturalist Bob Pyle, where they may have first sensed with awe and wonder the largeness of the world, seen and unseen."

This gets at the very essence of being human and being interconnected, not alone. "When people share these stories, their cultural, political and religious walls come tumbling down."

While there are risks in the larger world, there are also risks "in raising children under virtual protective house arrest: threats to independent judgment and value of place, to their ability to feel awe and wonder, to their sense of stewardship for the Earth."

There are also threats to their psychological and physiological health and wellbeing. I have worked with countless clients who as children, found safety and sanity in the natural world, finding refuge from an abusive or neglectful household. Where are today's children to go? For even adults suffering from depression, connecting with nature can be a salve for the spirit and soul. Connecting with nature is part of our self-care, and an essential way to move from isolation to connection with a larger whole. How can we teach our children this kind of emotional and spiritual self-care, if we don't ignite their innate sensibilities?

The media is full of articles on the increasing incidence of childhood obesity and its long-term potential impact on the health of the next generation. If kids can't go outside and run around or take a walk in the woods, sitting in front of the tv eating junk foods fills up their time and as my son says, "kills their brain cells."

In addition to our health and personal survival, Louv goes further about the importance of reconnecting children and nature for the survival as human beings. "The outdoor experiences of children are essential for the survival of conservation. And so the truth is that the human child in nature may be the most important indicator of future species sustainability."

Louv continues, "If society embraces something as simple as the health benefits of nature experiences for children, it may begin to re-evaluate the worth of 'the environment.'" Instead of associating environmental health with the absence of toxic pollution, public health officials can have a more positive spin on their work: "how the environment can improve human health."

"Seen through this doorway, nature isn't a problem: it's the solution." Who can imagine being a member of "the last generation to pass on to its children the joy of playing outside in nature?"

�2007 Linda Marks

Linda Marks, MSM,has practiced body psychotherapy with individuals, couples and groups for more than 20 years. A passion of hers is developing emotional literacy programs for children and parents and kids. She is the author of Living With Vision: Reclaiming the Power of the Heart, and Healing the War Between the Genders: The Power of the Soul-Centered Relationship, and holds degrees from Yale and MIT. You can reach her at http://www.healingheartpower.com - Linda's blog is http://www.heartspacecafe.com

Childrens Clothing Deals - Online Wholesale Clothing

By Howard Brule

No matter the culture that you come from or where you stay, as a parent you would want to give your child the best possible products and amenities. This is no different with clothing, you want your child to wear the best possible clothes to help them look their best. You are certainly justified in your want to provide your child with the best that money can buy, but you do not need to burn a hole in your pocket.

It is correct that there are ways to save on clothing that are also true for your children. If you wonder how this can be, let's begin by looking at the different needs of kids prior to laying out the ways to get all you can out of childrens clothing deals.

You must resign to the fact that no matter how pricey the clothes you buy for your child, he or she won't be able to wear them after a year or two. There are multiple reasons for that. First, children grow up fast and therefore clothes that fit them today won't fit them the next year. Secondly, children have a tendency to get bored with their clothes in less time than adults. Keeping these two things in mind your certainly want to save on clothing by taking advantage of childrens clothing deals.

While loitering or playing around the neighborhood, children almost always soil their clothes. This by now convinces you that it is not wise to spend a fortune on your kid's clothing, unless you are extremely rich to even mind. You may take advantage of discounts when doing bulk purchases and it is ideal that you buy clothes in bulk.

To receive the best bargains on wholesale childrens clothing, peruse the papers looking for special discounts offered by clothing superstores. Research the different options available, since every store will offer a slightly different deal. Once you've done your homework, you'll usually narrow it down to just a few stores to check out.

Once you enter the store there is no need to hold your child back from visiting a particular section of the store for fear of going over your budget. You should instead think about what articles of clothing he will require in the present season and seasons following. Usually, there are seasonal discounts on childrens clothing deals. This way you can save money by planning to buy clothes to last the whole year.

When looking for childrens clothing deals, you should try to avoid purchasing all the same type of dress and instead you should spread your buying out among many different clothing choices. Wholesale childrens clothing from Ice Canada a wholesale clothing provider of all major brand names and designer urban wear. Howard Brule does article marketing that works.

Planning A Child Care Startup?

By Dean Forster

A person, thinking about child care startup may very well be looking forward to a profitable business in the form of a child care center.

Setting up a child care center, is a flourishing business but it also requires a lot of dedication. The certain factors involved may be the cost of starting it altogether, making a business plan and looking after legal requirements.

These centers can also be started in spaces that are otherwise unoccupied during the entire week or within a school that has surplus space. If a child care center is set up within a school, it brings the advantage of having well coordinated programs.

After the location is decided, child care insurance is the next essential step. This is very crucial for starting a child care business. These centers offer dedicated services to working parents. Hence, these should provide a safe environment to the children. And, insurance works as an added security measure.

As this is a very fast growing industry, proper management is very important. This is also required to give the center, better recognition. As there are a number of child care centers, people will generally prefer the one that has a better management system. Therefore, better management system results in a flourishing child care center and great profit.

A management application is especially designed for childcare management that could be obtained before starting up the child care center. This software is easily accessible at a number of online and offline resources. This software provides complete, user-friendly and integrated modules that help in managing child records, billing and various accounting operations, available city subsidies, payroll records, direct deposits and preauthorized payment records. Find out more about childcare management at http://www.childcare-management.com

The child care software that maintains the records updates automatically. This helps the parents and family members understand the child's progress. It also provides an opportunity to them to observe the activities of the child. For the various child care institutions, security is of utmost importance. This security can be protected by using this software.

Finally, a business broker can be a good source of information. He could provide detailed information regarding a child care center like the availability of the area, its price, current market requirements and so on. He could not only provide you information but also help you strike the best possible deal of the infrastructure. Information of the brokers regarding a child care startup may also be found through a search on the internet.

Learn more about Childcare Management software, courses and daycare training at http://www.childcare-management.com

Children's Book Clubs - Get Your Child Involved!

By Desiree Difabio

Book clubs are a great way for adults to get together, have some fellowship, drink a glass of wine, and have intellectual conversation. Sure, book clubs may seem more geared towards women than men, but I know plenty of fantastic men who love their "book clubs" just as much as I do! True theirs may be on the latest Bobby Flay cookbook but hey, it is still reading!

So why are we not getting our kids more involved in these types of activities? Reading is the biggest push in education today. If our kids do not or cannot read, the future of this country will be in jeopardy. Educators are working overtime, round the clock, trying to teach kids to read. Think of a strategy to engage a child in reading? The school systems are doing it. Special props to Duval County in Jacksonville, FL for taking a proactive approach and requiring that ALL students be enrolled in some sort of reading class based on their reading needs.

That said, we can do plenty about this at home! As a parent and a teacher I know that it must start with me. If you are busy and do not have the chance to stay at home with your child, then read to them every night before bedtime. Let them touch the books, hold the books, eat the books if they want to! Any interaction a child has with a book is good and should be made to be a positive thing. Find a couple of friends with children in your age group and get them together once a month, just like the adults, and sit them in a circle with a pile of books. Do not expect them to discuss which characters they liked or hated, instead, have them "play" together with the books. As they get older, have them read to each other. If we make reading fun and part of what they do with their friends, we still have a chance to teach our future leaders how to be good readers!

For a list of great books to start your child off with, visit me at http://www.book-club-queen.com/book-clubs-for-children.html

Desiree, aka Queenie D is an English teacher, mom, and lover of books!

Want more information on book clubs? Looking for a book to read? Want to share something you've read? Visit http://www.book-club-queen.com for a fantastic adventure in reading!

Top 10 Bully Excuses

By Billy Simms

1) I was only teasing.

This is the classic excuse that most bullies will use when they are accused of verbal abuse. Teasing usually happens between friends. Verbal abuse happens to weaker students who are unable to stand up for themselves. If you know that the two students who are involved in the incident are not friends, you can be sure that it was not just teasing. Also, teasing becomes bullying when it happens often and over a period of time.

2) I didn't mean to hurt him.

Bullies will almost always try to downplay their actions. Most of the time, their intent is to emotionally hurt or physically cause pain to their victims. Acting like they didn't mean to do it or trying to comfort the victim once they have been caught are ploys that bullies like to incorporate.

3) He pushed me first.

Between two students of the same size and social stature, maybe that could occur. But, between the captain of the football team and the student who is hardly noticed on campus, it's doubtful. It's highly unlikely that a smaller, weaker student will push or try to intimidate someone who is bigger.

4) His face flew into my fist.

Well, problem solved. Kids will actually say this and expect us to believe them.

5) He tripped and fell by himself.

Many students trip and fall every day at school. But, if you have a student complaining that another student is tripping them or pushing them down, then it's probably happening. A question that educators can ask themselves is this: How many times a day/week are students reporting that this behavior is taking place? If the behavior is being reported more than a few times a week, the alleged bully is probably guilty.

6) Someone pushed me into him.

Blaming others is what bullies do so well. Bullies at the elementary level love to push their classmates when they are in line. Since elementary students are in line a lot, this happens quite often. Acting like someone pushed them into another student will be the first excuse that bullies will use if they are accused of pushing another student. Put the bully at the front or the back of the line and keep a close eye on them.

7) She thought I was talking about her, but I wasn't.

Relational bullying among girls is a huge problem. Manipulating friendships and spreading rumors are how girls generally bully each other. This is somewhat of a comical excuse because if the alleged bully denies saying anything, it will be quite easy to find ten or more girls who will admit that the bully did say something.

8) They deserve to be bullied because they are ugly, fat, don't wear the right clothes, etc.

No one deserves to be bullied. Period. Bullies will try to justify their actions by blaming the victim. This is similar to racial discrimination.

9) Everyone bullies.

No, they don't. Only a small percentage of students are bullies. Bullies will say this to try and place the blame on others. Their attitude is that if others are doing it, then it's okay.

10) I didn't do anything.

This may be the easiest thing for students to say when they know they are in trouble. When a student says, "I didn't do anything," it almost always means, "I'm guilty." The phrase I didn't do anything has become such a part of children's vocabulary, it almost automatically comes out of their mouths when they are accused of something.

For more tips and information about bullying I invite you to visit http://www.BillySimmsSpeaks.com

From Billy Simms-Your Trusted Bully Advisor

Want Bullying To Go Away? Don't Delay, Call Billy Today

What are Zwinkys?

By David Pitman

A Zwinky is a small cartoon character which can be completely customized to your own liking. Although this is nothing new, they differentiate themselves from similar services by making the process extremely simple and straight forward. Secondly the actual design is so cute, that everyone adores them at first sight. Finally, and indeed most importantly, they are completely free to the user.

The winning concept behind Zwinkys, is that it gives people the ability to quickly make a cute avatar which can used to represent themselves. The benefit to the younger audience, is that they can quickly change the appearance of them to suit their mood, or if there is a special occasion, they can redesign it to fit that occasion. So if it's Halloween, perhaps you might want to dress your new avatar in a little monster suit, or skeleton suit.

The really clever part of of this, is that once you make changes and save them, everywhere that you have previously used your Zwinky is automatically updated. So instead of having to visit your myspace page, blog etc you can literally click a button and they all update.

Parents not only adore the cute little avatars, they recognise that the added benefit of their child using a Zwinky is that their identity is more secure. As no longer are their children uploading images of themselves to use as avatars. So the benefits of using them are clearly positive.

Once you have created your unique Zwinky, you can then enter Zwinktopia. This virtual world is a place to meet and chat. It's basically a virtual world. In this virtual world, they can meet with each other and can earn zbucks which can be used to go shopping with. There are various articles like shoes, bags, etc which you can buy and the more you earn the more items you unlock. Thus the interactive portal keeps audiences of all ages enthralled for hours.

If this wasn't enough, you also get access to your own profile page. This profile page, allows you to add friends and keep in touch with them. You can also leave znotes, which are little notes that can be shown to the visitors of your profile page.

In order to get one and enter the Zwinktopia, you are going to have to download the Zwinky software. The software is required in order to aid the process of creating the Zwinky. But rest assured, the software is completely safe and contains no spyware or malware. Once you have downloaded the software, you can install it and it will prompt you to create a username/password. Once you have completed this, you will then have access to enter the Zwinktopia.

So now's the time to grab your free software and create a little Avatar, so that you can become the talk of the town, and protect your identity.

Dave Pitman is founder of MakeZwinkys.com, the Zwinky resource. The site contains great information on Zwinkys and tells you exactly how to create a zwinky.

Easy Rainy Day Activities For The Kids

By Lydia Quinn

Many parents dread a rainy day, with active kids stuck inside all day with nothing to do but watch TV or play video games. Here are some ideas for easy activities to engage and entertain your kids on the next rainy day.

Coloring

It seems like a simple idea, but coloring can take up a lot of time and is a very inexpensive activity. If you don't have coloring books around, go online and print out some coloring pages. It's easy and free.

Puzzles

Keep some jigsaw puzzles around in case of a rainy day. These puzzles can be a good challenge for kids and keep them busy for a while trying to piece together the picture. You can even get puzzles from garage sales and flea markets for pennies.

Board Games

Board games like Life, Chutes and Ladders and CandyLand take up a lot of time and gets the kids or family together. Popular board games are another item you can find at garage sales for much less than you buy them in stores new.

Art Project

Get out all the crayons, pencils, markers, clay, play dough, construction paper, kid scissors, glue and tape you have and let the kids create. Art is a great way to get kids to express themselves and it can take up hours.

Dance!

Put the stereo or radio on a top 40 station and get the kids dancing. Or put on classical music for the aspiring ballerina.

Write Letters

Have loved ones that live far away? Why not have the kids write letters to relatives that they miss. It's wonderful to receive a handwritten letter in this age of email. The letter will surely be treasured by the recipient.

Fashion Show

Let the kids have access to a closet with some clothes. Let them play dress up or have a fashion show with adult clothes. Though girls may enjoy this more than boys.

Card Games

Games like Hearts, Go Fish, Old Maid, Uno, Spades and Pinochle can be taught to many children easily and they can play for hours.

Bingo!

Bingo is a fun game for all ages. If you don't have a bingo set around, then make one from scratch! It's easy, and making the game yourself can be as fun as playing it. Include prizes for whoever gets Bingo first, for extra fun.

Baking

There are many recipes on the web and in cookbooks that are safe and appropriate for kids to make. Choose one and have the kids make lunch or dinner, with supervision, of course.

Activity Books

Books full of crossword puzzles, word searches, math games, trivia and quizzes are perfect for rainy days. Stock up on these at the dollar store.

Books

Lastly, don't forget the old standby of reading. If you need quiet time, get the kids reading or read to them. It keep kids quiet and engages their minds.

Lydia Quinn writes for SmellStickers.com, your online source for scratch and sniff stickers and gift sets. Visit us at http://www.smellstickers.com/

Interactive Toys Make Learning Fun

By Alicia M.

The days of G.I. Joe's, Barbie's and board games fulfilling children's playtime activities seems to be a thing of the past. Today's kids are tech savvy and need hi-tech interactive games that supply instant gratification.

Sure, little boys still love to play with their trucks in the mud, while little girls dress their dolls up for tea dates, but today children are computer smart. But that's anything but negative; the best part about them - children are developing their minds and sharpening their intellect while they play games! As a parent it's like getting your cake and eating it too. Now if you could just get them to eat their vegetables!

The best toys for children are indeed those that are interactive and foster learning and playing in one. Interactive toys give children the opportunity to explore, talk, and learn while having fun!

The fourth annual "Hot Holiday: Toys, Game and Video Games" survey from Play-Date, a marketing service firm, found that little boys will be asking for more video game and interactive toys this year then in years past.

With the popularity of the Leapfrog Learning System, educational games have never been so much fun. These learning tools are turning to the TV in a video game format to teach children the basics like colors, animals, the alphabet and more. Today, industry shifts have now moved to computer learning games as well.

One of the most popular interactive toys, if not the most popular of 2007, Webkinz, have taken the industry by storm like none other since the Tamagotchi's craze in the 90's. They are adorable stuffed animals that transport kids into a world of virtual friends, fun, learning and game playing!

Visiting their kid-friendly website, children get to play educational learning games, visit with friends and learn responsibility by taking care of their virtual pet. If you haven't seen one yet, just wait. And if you're a parent with a child who has one, we know you're playing right along with them! Big brothers and sisters are volunteering to help out with the Webkinz just to get a crack at the secret code to enter the Webkinz world.

Following Webkinz has been a whole assortment of interactive computer related games for children like the Lil Kinz, Shining Stars, Ty Girls and Zoobie pets.

While parents might be slow to adapt to kids tech savvy learning of the 21st century - no imaginary friends, less board games - interactive games and toys are an asset to your child's learning and development. Gift them with education by introducing them to the newest developments and latest technologies in learning fun!

PamelasBoutique.biz carries tons of interactive toys at low prices, including Webkinz and Shining Stars. That darling child in your life will have a huge smile on their face when you present him or her with a cuddly interactive plush toy!

Written by Alicia M.

Give Me Wood and I Will Show You a Toy

By Jon Skinkis

How many toys are made of other materials that you can't find made from wood? Not many, other than the electronic ones. You see, natural wooden toys have been around for more years than any other toy. That's FACT. Archaeologists have found natural wooden toys when digging for other artifacts, which date back to before Christ. That certainly is more than can be said of plastics and man made materials. Wood in fact will still be around when plastics and the like have ceased to exist because of the scarcity of oil.

Look at the skill of the wooden toy maker, it is remarkable and to look at a child's rocking horse when it has been hand carved and the final touches added is a joy to see. I am sure if you were to ask the wooden toy maker to make a toy of your choice he would not have a problem carving one to perfection, whatever it may be. Yes the moulding of plastic has given it an edge in the past, but nowadays with new technologies, the wood carver can give highly polished and intricate finishes to wood never seen before.There are lorries, diggers, spinning tops as well as aeroplanes and pirate ships to mention but a few, in a vast range of natural wooden toys, most of which have been hand carved.

We know if we were all to look in our homes that we would find lots of plastic toys. But where are these toys kept? Are they out on display in pride of place? Or are they pushed to the back of a cupboard or wardrobe, probably never to be played with again? Now if you would take a look again, is there any wooden toys? My guess would be, yes, at least two and probably one of these is on display, or left out. It is out because natural wooden toys are attractive and pleasing on the eye, they can be a centre piece in the lounge, or if small enough sat on a mantelpiece over the fire.

Do we love natural wooden toys because the wooden toy maker puts so much love and effort into his masterpiece, which is then passed on through the wood, or is it because it was once living and giving us life through its leaves giving us oxygen. It may be lots of differing things, one thing is for certain though, wood will be used for making toys for generations to come.

Wooden rocking horses and natural wooden toys will last generations, the wood toymaker has seen to it. wooden rocking horses Childrens wooden toys wooden rocking toys
Author Jon Skinkis checks out wood and plastic.

The Game Plan - Kids and Sports Safety

By M. Kabel

Get "the game plan" for keeping your kids safe at play this school year with the safety review and overview in this easy to read article.

The fall and winter seasons mean football, hockey, volleyball and gymnastics. Then, come spring it's basketball, baseball, softball and tennis. Kids love sports, and there's really no better way to let them burn off all their youthful energy.

As a parent, however, you're concerned about injuries - the pulled or strained muscles, broken and cracked bones, torn tendons and ligaments, and any of dozens of other injuries. But children are often more resilient than their protective parents realize, and can snap back from an injury much faster than adults. Just the same, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of peace of mind.

Training first

Training also includes pre-training: getting ready for the more structured and formal training kids will undergo with their team. You and your child can work together to compose a pre-training regimen, combining calisthenics with a good cardiovascular workout to prep their bodies for the more specialized training to come later.

Probably the most important aspect of training and pre-training alike is consistency. The body at any age thrives on structure and regularity. Sticking to the regimen you and your child set is crucial to building efficiency and raising muscle and respiratory stamina.

Diet and hydration

It's said so often it's practically a clich�, but proper diet and exercise are essential for children to develop and thrive. This is especially true for children speeding up their metabolisms with intensive exercise. Young athletes in training need lot of carbohydrates and protein to keep their energy up and their muscles stocked with the necessary building blocks.

Keep children well hydrated during training and play, especially during the warmer months of the year. In general, the body needs as much water as it releases in sweat. For most purposes, one cup every fifteen to twenty minutes of training is sufficient. Remember too that over-hydrating can cause cramps and nausea, so use your best judgment. Giving the child sports drinks is fine so long as they are sugar-free and contain plenty of electrolytes.

In case of emergency

The team your child joins should have a thorough emergency plan and first aid preparation and materials with them at all practices. All padding and equipment should be reasonably new and in good condition. It's also important to make sure the pads and other equipment are the right size. The field or court the team competes on should be level and in good repair, with no holes, jutting cracks, or fissures that could present a tripping hazard.

Corner Stork Baby Gifts is proud to present this article as part of our continuing efforts towards better child safety. We invite you to visit our catalog of unique baby gifts, baby shower gifts, baby blankets, and baby shower gifts and supplies at http://www.cornerstorkbabygifts.com

Help Children Make Friends Checklist

By Judy Wright

� Be Objective-don�t take it personally
� Let them solve their own problems, unless there is danger.
� Provide opportunities to be with peer group
� Teach the unwritten rules of life & likeability
� Don�t push them to be in �the� group
� Help them find positive in every situation
� Blame, shame and focusing on the pain won�t work.�
� Watch for and teach importance of body language and facial expressions
� Help them to understand personal space
� Assist them in regulating tone of voice and laughter
� Help them develop a passionate interest in something
� Teach when approaching a group, ask someone other than the leader to join.
� Have them write a list of what they are looking for in a friend
� Have them write a list of what they have to offer as a friend
� Teach them to smile and say hello. Appear open and approachable
� Work together to give service and help others
� Remind them that this too shall pass. We all develop friendships for different reasons, when a friendship ends; it may just mean you have learned all you needed from each other, someone else will come along soon.
� Model friendly and kind actions in relationships
� Build your child up, not tear others down
� Express confidence in their ability to be a good friend and to draw others to them.

Judy H. Wright, parent educator, author and international speaker, http://www.ArtichokePress.com

Modern Technology Now Available To Help Prevent Children Swimming Pool Deaths

By Mark R Burdett

Picture the scene, you are with friends at the local swimming baths when one of your friends slips when attempting to dive into the pool and bangs their head. Help is likely to be available in the form of a lifeguard but the fact is despite swimming pools generally being safe, regulated environments, there are still about 15 deaths by drowning in swimming pools each year.

When you realise that in Great Britain each year there are about 350 million visits to public swimming pools as well as visits to pools at leisure clubs, gyms, hotel, holiday parks and at home it is safe to say most swimming pools are a safe environment. However, 15 deaths by drowning is 15 deaths too many so if anything can be done to reduce this figure whilst also providing improved health and safety practices to pools and leisure centres then surely they would take it. Well the good news for swimming pools, hotels and other leisure facility providers is that modern two way radio can now be used to improve their health and safety.

The Government has recognised that it is essential that children learn about the principles and skills of water safety and survival, which is why swimming is a compulsory component of the PE curriculum in primary schools. By the age of 11 all children must be able to safely swim a minimum of 25 metres.

So with more children swimming at an early age and with the London Olympic Games in 2012 no doubt likely to fuel further interest in sport, leisure and keep fit, there is every chance more and more leisure centres and swimming pools will be required. It is therefore vital that swimming pools have procedures and fail safe communication systems in place for members of staff to stay in touch and communicate an accidents or incidents that may happen.

One such system is the new waterproof two way radio systems. Being waterproof of course is ideal for use by lifeguards and swimming assistants. The good news for leisure centres is that they can take advantage of these waterproof 2 way radios pool side and also have other types of radio communication system like the Kenwood TK3201 will is an ideal safety and communication system for all types of business.

Traditionally, Two Way Radio has been used as a safety and communication tool in businesses including factories, schools and retail outlets where their staff need to stay in touch over a wide area whilst also having no call charges. And with the new waterproof 2 way radios, swimming pools and sports centres can make sure their staff stay in touch and can immediately report accidents and other incidents. Not only will this increase their safety and performance but it will also ensure that if an incident does happen in their pool they can report it immediately and steps can be taken to ensure serious incidents and possible fatalities can be prevented.

With so many people and children in particular using swimming pools, leisure and sports centre managers and owners now have the option to make their facilities as safe as possible with two way radios like the Kenwood TK3201 Radio which are available from companies like Apex Radio Systems Ltd. As business owners there is nothing as important as the safety of our staff and customers so modern technology is now available that can make your business safe and not sorry.

Apex Radio Systems Ltd are the UK's Leading Providers of Radio Communication Equipment including Two Way Radios for all types of business including Swimming Pools, Schools, Pubs, Shopping Centres, Retailers and Taxi Firms.

As the UK's Fastest Growing Radio Communications company, Apex Radio Systems Ltd, are active supporters of schemes including Shop Watch, Pub Watch and School Safe which all use 2 Way Radio Systems to help improve safety and communication amongst UK shops, pubs, clubs, schools, colleges and universities.

For all your Two Way Radio needs contact The UK's Two Way Radio Experts by visiting either:

Apex Radio Systems Ltd - http://www.apexradio.com

Natural Wooden Toys - How Are They Made?

By Jon Skinkis

Maybe you already know, or maybe you've even made a natural wooden toy before, but if you are not one of those fortunate people to have this knowledge, then you can find lots of web sites that cater for the up and coming toy maker, come carver. They have plans for making wooden rocking horses and children's wooden toys, but not only this they give step by step instruction of which type of wood to use, how to cut, shape, drill and finally add the finishing touches with paint or varnish to your wood creation.

It will take time and a lot of effort to master this fine art, but as long as you follow the instructions and persevere you will produce a fine natural wooden toy and it will be worth every minute of your time when you have finished it, especially when your family see the finished piece and 'fall in love with it.' There are also your friends, who may ask 'where did you get that wooden toy from? it's so beautiful'. With your family and friends so positive about your creation your feelings of satisfaction and pride will lift you on a high, ready to embark on another project in wood.

Soon you will love carving and you will be making wooden toys for anyone that wants one, that's the beauty of wood. These natural wooden toys can last generations, so what a legacy you will leave having made your own natural wooden toys to be passed down to the next generation and the next and the next.

It's never too late to learn a new art. Carving wooden toys is one. wooden rocking horses Childrenswoodentoys.html Thehorses.html
Author Jon Skinkis

Welcome to Adolescence - A Child Becomes a Teen

By Christina Sponias

Adolescence is a difficult experience. Childhood is safe, nice, and the only thing you know in your life. Suddenly you have to change and stop being what you were till that moment. This is a very serious transformation! Everything changes completely.

You are not a child anymore. But, you are not an adult either. You are in between...

This in-between phase is difficult, dangerous and uncomfortable.

You wish you could be a child forever...

No, you want to grow up, be an adult, and start being independent. Yes, independent, and do only what you want. This is the best thing about being older! Independence!

You'll have your group of friends and your parents will stop being around all the time and telling you what to do.

If you are still afraid, follow me. I'm preparing a new movement to save the planet, humanity and our future. I need young people in this movement!

You can simply follow my advice and you'll be ok.

I'm going to help you and you will help humanity. Humanity needs the salvation that your work will bring. So, start feeling good for being older, because if you are a kid you cannot save the planet, you cannot do anything important and nobody takes you seriously. You have to be mature.

I'm even showing you what you will understand now that you are almost an adult: our world needs to be rescued. The planet is being destroyed, humanity only suffers and everything is difficult. I can understand how you feel when you think that you have to live alone in such world and be someone significant, do something significant. Your mission is difficult!

This is why I'm preparing you. You must be wise and love peace, sincerity, truth, true friendship, gratitude, loyalty and everything good you learned when you were a child. Don't stop being a kid only because you are now an adult, or almost one. Continue believing in the good things you believed in as a child now that you can see how difficult is to live in our crazy world in its current state.

Be loyal to goodness and you'll be fine. Forgive, comprehend, and give everyone another chance. Be the saviour in this world, don't be the one who blames others and causes wars.

This way you will form your personality based on goodness and peace, and you will really save humanity when you become an adult.

Now your body is changing, many things are totally different from what they were before. But you'll see how quickly time will pass and soon, the first days of this new life will be part of your remote past.

You have a purpose in life, you have guidance and you know what to do. Therefore, forget your fears and start thinking about what you could do to improve our world. Think about everything you can do in your life and start feeling fine for being more independent.

You will be much better than your parents and your grandparents! Your generation will be special-it will mark human history because you will help this world become really human. This way, happiness on Earth will finally exist and all generations will be wise, everyone will be free and everything will be nice! Prevent Depression and Craziness through the scientific method of Dream Interpretation discovered by Carl Jung and simplified by Christina Sponias, a writer who continued Jung's research in the unknown region of the human psychic sphere.

Learn more at: http://www.booksirecommend.com

School Uniform - The Final Showdown

By Jan Gamm

Okay all you kids out there who are lucky enough to still be at school, here is the last and final word on that old chestnut; the school uniform issue. Here is your opportunity to finally come clean on all of the subterfuge currently enjoying exceptional world sympathy for a game which is as old as mankind itself.

The truth of the matter is - and let us all understand that nobody is more verbal and more passionate about truth than a bunch of kids fresh from the classrooms and laboratories of our finest learning institutions - is that it is all just another scam to get to dress how the hell you want and not have to conform to crummy grey pleated skirts and dopey shorts and caps which make you look like a twerp. Right?

Well even if you hotly disagree with that statement, the fact is we have all been in high school at some stage in our admittedly distant development and we have all slunk into the bathroom to roll over the waistband of a cruddy, scratchy, over warm skirt or pick holes in a pair of sixty denier tights so we might not have to wear them to school the next day.

For boys the problem can be even more distressing. You take a lad with sticky out hair, a crop of angry, hormone fed pimples and elbows which project at impossible angles to the rest of his body. Put him in a pair of branded loafers or trainers, with slope hip jeans, shades and a hoodie and he will look semi cool, transformed into someone to be reckoned with by cruel playground mafia - especially if he has a face piercing to match the rest of the outfit. Put him in a pair of neatly pressed school trousers, a blazer with a badge and a school cap and he will look - actually - dorky. He will also feel dorky; a walking advertisement for adolescence. And that is the point all you champions of free fashion in schools are trying to make. Right?

So let us drop the nonsense about freedom of expression, violation of human rights and all that other silly affected rubbish about uniforms causing mental torture and other fairy tales.

The truth comes down to this - why are we trying to make this poor kid wear stuff which makes him feel uncomfortable? Why are we insisting on paying good money for regulation uniform when our kids have perfectly serviceable clothes hanging in their wardrobes? Perhaps we are clinging to the final frontiers of classroom discipline by trying to instil a sense of pride in our respective educational centres. Perhaps we are exercising a sneaky bit of superiority - after all, we had to wear a uniform and we are going to make sure our kids have to wear one, yes sir! I do not think so. We are doing it because we like the way our kids look in uniform.

My child has attended schools where a uniform policy was not in force. She subsequently attended a school where the uniform code was extremely strict and admittedly she hated having to don a blazer and tie each morning. She hated having to change out of her uniform as soon a she got home and hang it up so that it was ready for wear the following day. But my goodness she looked terrific in her crisp white shirt and regulation tie.

A uniform is a pain in the you know where for parents as well as for the wearer, you know. Half the stuff you need may only be purchased at designated school stores where the prices charged are way above a reasonable profit margin, you have to ensure you have enough shirts to last a school week and spare ties so that if one gets lost you have one in reserve, and you spend half your life ironing in pleats, trying to get grass stains out of sport kit and fretting if your child comes home without the school scarf you paid a fortune for and which you forgot to name tag. Yet, truthfully, we still like to see our kids in uniform and not wearing the ragbag of outfits they seem to enjoy wearing on weekends.

So, sorry kids, you seem to be stuck with it for a few more years.

Jan Gamm writes reflections on life with an emphasis on world travel. She has lived in many countries and traveled extensively in the Far East, the Middle East, America, South America and throughout the South Pacific. She writes for fun and for money whenever she can manage it.

Making Money Online - Ideas for Teens

By Mike Anson

There are quiet a few online money making ideas for teens that can help them earn some cash during their breaks. The internet has made it possible for teens to earn money in a safe and comfortable manner from the convenience of their homes.

Teens can start earning money online by various methods. Here are just a few methods that can help them do that.

Teens can join in online surveys and make quiet a bit of money. Online survey databases help the teens in finding great surveys at regular intervals that will help them earn during their holidays. The teens have to register for free and give details such as their age, educational qualification, interests, geographical location etc. They may then earn $5 to $75 for each survey the take.

Some teens sign on to try free products and give their opinion, which will earn them extra cash. They enjoy this, as they get to keep the products, some of which may be cool and very attractive.

Teens can also join firms that offer to pay them to read e-mails. They just have to click on advertisements displayed in the pages for a few seconds and then move on to another email with another advertisement. They may be paid from a few cents to up to $5, for each page they viewed.

Teens can start a blog and earn money by sponsoring websites/business that may pay them to be featured on the blog. They need to use SEO to get their blog visible and to drive targeted traffic to their websites.

Teens can also make money by trying their hand at affiliate marketing. They may select products that are popular with their peers and market them most effectively, using a relevant keyword rich SEO website.

Teens may also start their own online business, offering services such as dog grooming, baby sitting, lawn mowing etc. They may design their own websites and use Google AdSense to supplement their earnings. They just have to use appropriate content for the keyword that they optimized their site for.

If the parents run a home based business, the kids can help by acting as virtual assistants and earn by working online.

Teens may also start a small scale business online such as a gift basket making business, or they may take up writing on topics that interest them and post them on article directories. They may get hired by firms that like their writing style. They may also foray into making money from myspace, by shooting videos that they can sell.

The internet has made it possible for teens to become millionaires too, so just take your time, select a method that you are comfortable with; use your creativity to make it a success. These are a few money making ideas for teens to earn online.

Mike Anson is an expert Internet Marketer who has been training others on Internet Marketing for many years. Visit his latest site Affiliate Marketing for Free information on How to make Money Online.

Money Making Gifts For Your Child - 13 Reasons to Choose These Alternatives This Holiday Season

By LaVerne Summers

November through December are traditional family holiday and religious holiday months? The religious community reminds us it is the season of giving. The retail and commercial community promotes gift giving, spending-often more rather than less. Sometimes mixed in these two months, Ebenezer Scrooge or the Grinch emerges as parents wrestle with their children's WANTS itemized on the holiday shopping list.

This can be a stressful time for many individuals. For some parents, there can be a big pull between what they would like to do and the lengthy list of "things" children desire due to the awesome skills of commercial advertisers. Consider something different this year, not due to Christmas, Kwanzaa, or Hanukkah. Consider something that has a magnetic pull and is lasting, not just until New Year's day but throughout the next year or beyond.

Our children are incredibly bright and talented in so many areas, too many to name right now. Why not, take those same "brain smart", "world smart", and/or "social smart" talents and develop them into full blown entrepreneurial skills? Why not create an opportunity, REAL, not imaginary that teaches your child how to set up, operate, market a legal business online, on the Internet, for about the price of one of those PlayStations, electronic games, Mp3 players, cell phones, or seriously overpriced tennis shoes?

This is something I did for a group of children. Maybe, it's a gift you will want to give to your child also. I invited children-difficult children, strong willed children, bright, gifted, and ADHD children to learn how to establish their own business. I used two business software packages, Niche Websites and Tools Bundle and Traffic Maker Bundle, to teach them how to build a presence on the Internet. Both have predesigned websites, ideas, graphics, and a bunch of other tools provided, which assisted them in launching a business relatively quickly. They were focused, task oriented, and attentive to details. I even provided them with some perks, incentives such as resell rights to sell the same software, that I taught them to use, on their sites, as well. Here's the really cool part. I didn't have any "quitters" when faced with a challenge. I had active, very interactive learners. And, we were free from the dreaded adolescent attitudes!

How's this sound so far? When's the last time you received any of these as a return on your investment in Nike, Cingular, Sprint, PlayStation and others on the behalf of your child's desires and wants? You can change all of that today, and get phenomenal returns-it's called a win/win situation for you both. How often does this happen for parents raising children?

Interestingly enough, my focus wasn't shaped by the holiday shopping season. I had a larger goal in mind. I wanted to train a group of youth and teens to establish their own home based business on the Internet. Adults have the creativity and skill to do so many things. But, for a host of many reasons either delay starting or conclude the task is too hard before beginning; some never start a venture of their own, at all. Sometimes they determine that the start-up cost will be too much, but never investigate it fully. Or, from either their own faulty self assessment or someone elses', individuals sometimes bypass an opportunity to do more with their ideas. Those are situations where everyone loses. Their idea just may have held a key that could literally, change the world. Children, just by being children, are willing to try so many things, {sometimes too many} mostly because it's different. The spirit of adventure and exploration in youth, that drives so many of us parents crazy, found an affirming outlet during this business building project.

What about your child? Could this be the gift, no the investment, that will make a dramatic and positive 360� turn in their attitude, academic performance, relationship with you and others? What do you both stand to gain? Here are some of the benefits my group and their parents received from the under a $100 investment. (1) Training through teleseminars, (2) Ongoing technical support following training, up to six months, (3) Additional software bonuses with the Niche Website Bundle Tools, (4) Question and answer session with national Internet Marketer(s)/Trainer(s), and more These can be yours as well.

13 Benefits For YOU and YOUR Youth/Teen:

�They will create a second income stream for themselves other than your income.
�Increase their reading comprehension skills
�Increase math problem solving skills-calculating percents, profit, loss, commissions and more
�Build or strengthen writing skills
�Develop and/or increase goal setting skills
�Develop or increase team building skills
�Learn marketing
�Learn advertising
�Develop or strengthen critical thinking skills
�Reconnect, re-energize our underachieving, undermotivated, gifted children
�Develop and/or strengthen confidence, self esteem, self image
�Develop and/or strengthen communication skills
�Build public speaking skills

I was asked if these youth could become millionaire kids. These children, just like yours are bright enough to become anything they desire. I'm just teaching them long lasting strategies on how to achieve this while in pursuit of their "A" life plans. I train adults and children to always plan projects with "A", "B", "C", and multiple plans. They may choose to execute these plans, either simultaneously, or as secondary alternatives, if obstacles temporarily block progress to their desired choices. I do fully expect them to excel beyond me. I expect them to use this brief but intense foundation to make new discoveries. An unexpected learning benefit: they discovered their ability to obtain, digest, remember, and apply a great deal of new technical information in a very short period of time, with noticeable results. The real test of learning in any area, is how individuals continue to apply the knowledge independently. Our mentoring relationship will continue a little while longer. Our business relationship will continue, perhaps indefinitely.

Ms. Summers will train another group of "kid entrepreneurs" through three weekly teleseminars BEGINNING NOVEMBER 17th. For more information on the Kid Entrepreneur package, use the email or telephone contact information to reach Ms. Summers or visit the Financial Wellness Marketplace at EarthenVesselCollections.com

Ms. Summers owns a consulting business that specializes in designing "wellness" solution tools for a wide range of personal and business problems, e.g. personal development, education, health, financial--resource building and small business development. These "solution tools" incorporate training, workshops, coaching--business & personal, along with educational and self development products. Products include, but are not limited to consultation, poetry/art prints, wellness journals, and software for building financial wellness and/or business development.

Ms. La Verne Summers, M.Ed., M.C.R.P. http://www.earthenvesselcollections.com http://www.earthenvesselcollections.com/financialmarketplace.htm
earthenvesselcollection@yahoo.com
(614) 531-0454

Micro Excavator Riding Toy for Kids

By Francisco Segurata

Toys that are exact replicas of construction equipments are popular to kids. This motivated many toy companies to create more and more construction equipment toys for kids to enjoy. These toys allow kids to have fun in the outdoors digging and scooping soil and other materials just like in construction projects. The Micro Excavator Riding Toy is one of the more popular construction equipment toys distributed all over the world.

The Micro Excavator Riding Toy takes the design and features of the micro excavator which is popularly used in construction sites that have limited space. This machine is smaller compared to other excavators but it is powerful enough to accomplish what ten men can accomplish. Its small size also allows it to fit and pass through standard doorways making it very ideal for interior demolition jobs. It is also ideal for outdoor construction projects that require digging near existing structures or near highways. Moreover, the height of this excavator can be adjusted through its folding safety frame feature. The undercarriage of the micro excavator can also be adjusted from 700 mm to 1000 mm for greater stability and lift capacity.

The Micro Excavator Riding Toy comes with a safety helmet that kids can use when operating this construction toy. It is equipped with control sticks that can be moved up and down. This also allows them to maneuver the equipment to whatever direction they might want to head to. Moreover, this toy is capable of producing real engine sounds. The battery operated Micro Excavator Riding Toy is recommended for kids who are three to six years of age and has a weight capacity of 77 lbs. It is recommended that adults supervise their kids when they operate these. Aside from the micro excavator riding toy, there are other construction equipment toys that are just as popular to kids. The Kettler CAT front loader tractor with excavator and Caterpillar Dump Truck are just some of them. There are also other similar toys that are operated through remote control. These toys do jobs such as dumping, hauling and digging with just a push of the remote control button.

Experts recommend construction toys such as the micro excavator riding toy to kids, especially preschoolers and school-age children. These toys help them improve hand-eye coordination, increase spatial awareness and encourages them to explore their creativity and imagination. These toys also help children improve their narration skills when they tell parents what they just did with the toys they have. Moreover, playing with these toys will also help kids develop their social skills since these encourage them to stay outdoors and have fun. It is important for parents to make sure that their kids have the necessary motor skills before purchasing construction toys so they would not get frustrated if they are not able to successfully control the movement of their toys. For first timers, it is a good idea to start with a toy that does not have too many parts. For battery-operated toys, it is also good idea to purchase an extra set of batteries beforehand to ensure continuous play time.

Francisco Segura owns and operates http://www.excavatorssolutions.com Excavators

Science Experiments for Kids

By Donna Bankey

There are a few things you need to think about when choosing science experiments for your kids, such as if it is age-appropriate, and does it fit their interests. Sometimes what you think would be just perfect does not interest your child, so don't get too invested in your chosen science experiment. The only bribe you should offer your child for completing the science experiment is the fun of experiencing the end result. Especially when working with small children it is important to take your time and be flexible. You might think you know what the end result should be, but things can turn out differently, so be willing to accept any results of the experiment as a fun lesson learned.

Here are four easy experiments to get you started.

(You probably already have all that is necessary to do the experiments in your home.)

1 Taste:

For this experiment you will need cotton swabs, water, several cups, unsweetened baking cocoa, lemon juice, salt, honey, and pens and paper, and a partner. One partner will be the one tasting and the other partner will be the one testing, and then switching places later. Different areas of your tongue have taste buds that taste sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. The point of this experiment is to find out firsthand what part of your tongue tastes these different things. To start this experiment first make sure the different foods are all in liquid form. You can do that by mixing the powders with water to make them liquid. First the tester should dip the cotton swab into one of the liquids and brush it on different areas of the taster's tongue. Repeat this with each of the other liquids. The taster should frequently sip water to cleanse their palette. As each item is tasted, take your paper and pen and map out where the different foods taste the strongest on the tongue. When both partners take turns being tasters then you can compare notes. Have fun finding out exactly where these areas are on your tongue.

2. Reaction time:

To do this experiment you will need a standard ruler, table, and paper and pencil, and a partner. The object of this science experiment is to find out how fast your reaction time is. The reaction time is the time it takes for your eyes to see what is happening and your brain to register and tell your hand to grab the ruler. One partner will need to sit with their arm resting on a table with the wrist hanging slightly off the edge with both the thumb and index finger on top with the hand a little bit open, like holding a mug handle. The other partner will stand nearby with the ruler hanging over the seated partner's hand slightly. The partner holding the ruler will, without warning, drop the ruler so it will fall straight down between the partner's thumb and fingers. The partner that is having their reaction time tested should try to grab the ruler as fast as they can after it is dropped. Record the centimeters under the fingers were the ruler is gripped, and record those numbers on paper. Try this experiment a few more times and record your results. Then let your partner try to catch the ruler. It is fun to see if your reaction time gets better with practice or one of you has a faster reaction time than the other.

3. Peripheral vision:

For this experiment you will need three different colored pieces of paper, three different colored markers, and a big piece of butcher paper or newspaper, and a partner. The object of this experiment is to test your peripheral vision. Cut each colored paper into a different basic shape. Then use a different colored marker on each shape to write a different letter. One partner will stand on the butcher paper and the other partner should draw a semi-circle in front at arms length. The partner standing on the paper should stay still with eyes looking straight ahead as the other partner holds up one of the pieces of paper and walks from one end of the semi-circle to the other. The partner on the paper should say when they first see the color of the paper, then the shape of the paper, and finally the letter written on the paper. Note these findings. Now switch partners. Repeat as before. Compare the two charts to see the differences between the two partners' peripheral vision.

4. Perception:

For this experiment you will need a clear cup, several pennies, pen and paper, table, and chairs, and a partner. The object of this experiment is to see if using two eyes is better than just using one. Have each partner sit on a chair at the table with the cup between them. One partner will hold their hand over the cup with a penny. The other partner will watch and tell the partner with the penny to move forward, back, left, or right. When it looks like the penny is over the cup tell your partner to drop it. See if the penny goes into the cup. Then try the experiment again with one eye closed. Write down your results. Then trade jobs with your partner. Compare your results to see if two eyes are better than one.

The most important thing to keep in mind while deciding on what science experiments for kids to do is to pick experiments you and your kids can have a good time doing together.

DJ Bankey is a mother of 3 with inquiring minds, and runs a blog that focuses on science experiments for kids. This blog can be found at http://scienceexperimentsforkids.blogetery.com

Teenage Pregnancy

By Floramae Malazarte

One cited reason for adverse outcomes in teenage pregnancy is the gynaecological immaturity of mothers. Many adolescent girls continue to grow when pregnant. Though weight gain and increased fat stores are often experienced during pregnancy by adolescent mothers, their babies have lower fetal growth rates as a result of the competition for nutrients between the maternal body and the growing baby. During birth, there is also the increased likelihood of obstructed labour for adolescent mothers because of their small, underdeveloped pelvises.

TEENAGE girls account for nearly one quarter of all births - fact that leads to collective worry, sermons, finger-pointing and, occasionally, over-the-top demands by anxious politicians.

The relationship between violence and women's reproductive lives is a relatively new line of inquiry. In June 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention convened a national conference on the topic, with three main objectives: to assess the state of the research, to increase awareness and understanding of the possible associations between violence against women and their reproductive lives, and to lay the groundwork for future research and action. The conference addressed the association between violence and such specific topics as pregnancy intentions, contraceptive use, pregnancy termination and pregnancy outcomes.

Listed below are some of the many risks and complications that can occur as a result of teenage pregnancy.

Low Birth Weight - Teenagers are less likely to gain the extra weight they need during their pregnancy, leading to a low birth weight. Low birth weight, in turn, is associated with many and varied childhood disorders, and also has a high rate of infant mortality. Infants who are born with a low birth weight often have organs that aren't developed fully, which can result in something as serious as bleeding in the brain. If you are a pregnant teenager, it is very important that you make sure you gain adequate weight to avoid such health risks.

Premature Babies - Teenage mothers are far more likely to give birth to premature babies, which pose serious and sometimes fatal risks for the baby. Most commonly, premature babies are at a much higher risk than full term babies to develop bleeding in the brain, serious retinal problems, intestinal problems, and even sudden infant death syndrome, which is the unexpected and unexplainable death of a baby in their sleep. Even if none of these happen, a premature baby is much more prone to face a lifetime of many health problems - seizures, developmental delays, and even cerebral palsy.

The information on this page is not intended to be a criticism towards teenage pregnancy; rather it is geared towards highlighting the risks involved. We strongly recommend that if you or your child is a teenager and pregnant, that you should always go to your prenatal care visits. And no matter what else you to, at the very least be sure to take your vitamins and eat a healthy diet - always keep a record and maintain a good pregnant weight, but don't do it by eating junk.

Floramae Malazarte is a writer. She loves collecting books about Romance and Health. Learn more about it by clicking this site http://socialissues.wiseto.com, try also http://www.medicalinfopedia.com

Reducing Children's Symptoms Of Sleep Disorders With Better Bedding

By Sarah Freeland

It is difficult enough to get a child to go to sleep at night, but some children actually suffer from various sleeping disorders such as Restless Leg Syndrome and Sleep Apnea. These are but two in a vast number of sleep disorders suffered by children today. If your child has one of these, do not overlook it as mere sleeplessness. For decades, RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) was considered to be nothing more than a difficulty in sleeping. In recent times, it has gained recognition as what it is, an actual medical condition.

Though there are drugs and medical procedures to aid in all these conditions, the true cure actually starts at home. To be more precise, it begins in the bedroom. If your children are suffering from one of these conditions, first, see a doctor. After that, look at the child's surroundings in his or her room. Ask yourself, "what would help my child sleep better." In most cases, the answer lies in the bed itself.

In these conditions, the bedding is all-important. You must make certain that the child has adequate cover to keep him or her warm on cold nights and a sheet to keep them cool on warm nights. Beyond that there is the pillow and the blanket. Both should be extremely soft and relaxing to the touch. A cotton filler is suggested for both. Take care in picking out the perfect youth bedding. In the end, it could spell the difference between a healthy happy child and a tired, worn out youth.

Kids are so much fun! But shopping for them and getting all the things they need can be overwhelming. Weather you're a new parent, a professional grandparent or just looking to buy some fun things for your niece or nephew, we can help you. From toddler apparel to kids bedroom furniture, this is the place to find everything you want and need for the child in your life. Every kid has their own personal style. We can help you find items like European kids clothing, Hawaiian childrens wear and baby cowboy boots. Whatever style you and your child prefer, there are items available to suit both of you! More info: Kids footwear

Juvenile Bedding And Room Decor

By Sarah Freeland

A child's room is a key aspect of the start of his or her life. The child's mood, outlook, personality, and moral values will all be affected by his or her room. Consider the toddler. Would you place them in a room with black walls and blood red trim? Certainly not! You would find something calm, soothing, with aspects for the child to look at and learn from.

Choosing the perfect room decor does not have to be a difficult matter. It is the simple process of asking yourself a few key questions.

1) What is my child interested in? Is it a particular cartoon character? Does this character offer good moral values and a solid learning slant?

2) What colors go well with the Childs interest? If your child is interested in a purple dinosaur, then you wouldn't want a deep brown colored background on the walls.

3) What all can I find to accent this interest? You will want more than just a picture of the character on the bedding. You will want posters, pictures, stuffed animals, toys, and murals.

4) How can I make this interest a learning experience? If it is the aforementioned purple dinosaur, have the dinosaur painted on the wall beside a stack of blocks with the alphabet on it. Have him writing his name even. Anything educational will do.

5) Lastly, will this be something that he will still be interested in next year? Children grow fast and inevitably lose interest in certain things quickly. Unless you want to redecorate the room every year, you will need to find something that he or she will be content with for some time.

A room is a fortress for a child. They will spend a minimum of fifty percent of their childhood within those four walls. Through bedding and decor, we can make that time worth something.

Kids are so much fun! But shopping for them and getting all the things they need can be overwhelming. Weather you're a new parent, a professional grandparent or just looking to buy some fun things for your niece or nephew, we can help you. From children's apparel to kids bedroom furniture, this is the place to find everything you want and need for the child in your life. Every kid has their own personal style. We can help you find items like kids jackets, Hawaiian childrens wear and children's boots. Whatever style you and your child prefer, there are items available to suit both of you! More info: Toddler sandals

How to Use Active Listening for a Happier Child

By Andrea Arnold

Sometimes, communicating with our children can be a daunting task. We feel like they're not listening to us; they feel like we're not listening to them. Good listening and communications skills are essential to successful parenting. Your child needs to understand that his or her feelings, views, and opinions have worth, and we should all make sure we take the time to sit down and listen openly and discuss them honestly.

With active listening, you listen for the meaning in your child's words, and you check with your child to make sure that you have correctly heard and understood their meaning. The big goal is to improve mutual understanding.

It is important to watch your child's behavior and body language. Try to paraphrase what your child said to you. This doesn't necessarily mean that you have to agree, but just state what you have said. Listen to your child's emotions, too. Try to describe the underlying emotion, like "you seem to feel angry" or "does this make you feel frustrated?"

If your child is too young to know a lot of words that describe emotion, you can try verbalizing it another way, like "does this make you want to stomp your feet (or throw something, or whatever they do when they feel that emotion)?" You can also make a chart of faces that show emotions. In a non-emotionally charged situation, go over the chart with your child and describe the emotions shown in each face. Then when you have a situation you need to work through, you can use the chart and have your child point at the face that represents the emotion they are feeling.

It's a natural tendency to react rather than to respond. We pass judgment based on our own feelings and experiences. However, responding means being receptive to our child's feelings and emotions and allowing them to express themselves openly and honestly without fear of repercussion from us.

When we react, we send our child the message that their feelings and opinions are invalid. By responding and asking questions about why the child feels that way, it opens a dialog that allows them to discuss their feelings further, and allows you a better understanding of where they're coming from.

Responding also gives you an opportunity to work out a solution or a plan of action with your child that perhaps they would not have come up with on their own. Your child will also appreciate the fact that maybe you do indeed understand how they feel.

It's crucial to give your child your full and undivided attention. Put down your newspaper, stop doing dishes, or turn off the television so you can hear the full situation and make eye contact with your child. Keep calm, be inquisitive, and afterwards offer potential solutions to the problem.

Don't discourage your child from feeling upset, angry, or frustrated. Our initial instinct may be to say or do something to steer our child away from it, but this can be a detrimental tactic. Again, listen to your child, ask questions to find out why they are feeling that way, and then offer potential solutions to alleviate the bad feeling.

Just as we do, our children have feelings and experience difficult situations. By actively listening and participating with our child as they talk about it, it demonstrates to them that we do care, we want to help and we have similar experiences of our own that they can draw from. Remember: respond--don't react.

Andrea Arnold writes about parenting at Articles Unleashed.

Keeping Your Classroom Bully Free

By Mathew Obenaus

There will always be bullies and there will always be victims, but children in your classroom don't have to be either. The new school year is the perfect time to cultivate classroom connectedness and communications, which are key to eliminating bully behavior and empowering victims to stand up for themselves.

Can the classroom bully be controlled and taught to act differently? Yes!

At this point, you're probably expecting some hard-line tactics designed to minimize the bully. However, there is an alternative approach. We are better served by educating children how not to become victims, than by spending too much time on the bullies. Bullies (or predators) are attracted to various signals that victims put out, such as apprehension, over shyness, timidness, vulnerability, and alienation.

Helping children develop good communication skills eliminates these signals and leaves the bully with nothing to pursue. These skills involve creating boundaries, understanding body language and handling a bully encounter.

Creating Boundaries

Boundaries create guidelines for what is and is not acceptable in the classroom. Setting them diminishes the bully's strength as well as the victim's weakness. Enforcing them establishes a safe and comfortable environment for children who are normally in the victim mentality, i.e., displaying signals that bullies are attracted to.

Creating three main boundaries will develop a better classroom environment.

The boundary of possessions. Students who want something should ask first instead of grabbing. This neutralizes the bullies' operating mode, which is always to dominate and overcome the boundaries another person has set. In turn, this boundary clarifies in the victim's mind the rules everyone must go by. They will then need guidance from the teacher on how to defend it. Operating in this environment increases the victim's confidence and eliminates some of the appeal for the bully.

The verbal boundary. Verbal boundaries are guidelines that keep the interaction between the classroom respectful. A child speaking to a teacher should always respond with "Yes, ma'am or Yes, sir." This boundary makes children feel safe. If a child thinks he's your buddy, he'll feel unsafe in the classroom. Children need leadership.

"Please and thank you" should be used among the students and all issues should be handled in a respectful way.

The physical boundary. Children need to know what is appropriate and inappropriate touching. Holding hands, hugging and playing together are appropriate. Hitting, kicking, and pulling are aggressive touching that needs to be controlled. One school system in northern Virginia tried to pass an absolute rule stating children cannot touch each other. That is ridiculous. It's better to set physical boundaries and teach children to defend those boundaries directly.

Bullies resort to physical intimidation because they desire dominance by creating fear. Eliminate the physical intimidation with boundaries and you neutralize the bully and strengthen the potential victims.

A good example of the importance of boundaries and how they facilitate learning was displayed in a behavioral study. A group of children was placed in an unfenced park. Their reaction was to congregate to the center. When the same children were placed in the same park, but this time with fencing, they expanded to the boundaries of the fence. The study concluded that children learned and explored more when they felt safe. Boundaries create a safe environment.

Body Language

Body language is a primary communicator and accounts for approximately 65 percent of our interaction with the world. Body language is also one of the key attractors for a bully. If we can change a child's body language, we can eliminate some of the bullying. It's a fact that when we become aware of our posture -- walk straight, head up -- it changes how we feel about ourselves. That same truth applies to the classroom. How a child stands, makes eye contact, and speaks are all important to projecting a non-victim persona.

Watch how a child walks up to your desk. Is he dragging his feet, slumping his shoulders, and talking to the chalkboard? You can encourage him to stand tall, be proud, and talk to your face and eyes. Encouraging good interaction and communication can change a child's weak persona into a powerful one which bullies will avoid. When classmates communicate well within set guidelines, it puts everyone on the same playing field and creates a safe and nourishing learning environment.

Teaching students how to handle bullies early in life will pay off down the road when they encounter the same type of behavior in relationships, jobs and other areas of life.

Handling a bully encounter

Whether you witness a verbal or physical attack by a bully, your approach should be the same.

Address the victim first:

- This creates a proactive, safe environment where priorities favor the good students.

- Ask victim: did you like being pushed, did you like what she just said to you, or did you like him pulling your hair?

- When victim says no, this is the opportunity to teach him to defend his boundaries.

- Have victim stand up straight, look bully straight in the eye and in a serious voice say, "Never do that again. I don't like it."

- This simple process helps the victim take another step up the ladder toward more confidence and a stronger persona.

Address the bully next:

- Make bully stand up straight, look victim in the eye, and say, "I'm sorry. I won't do that again."

- Tell bully he is going to end up with no friends and people are going to talk about him in a bad way.

- This plants in bully's head what is socially acceptable and unacceptable.

- Ask the bully, "Don't you want people to like you?" Everyone, even a bully, has a need to belong and to be accepted.

Mathew Obenaus, co-founder of SafeU headquartered in Chesapeake, Virginia, is an expert on predator behavior and teaches safety workshops nationwide to groups, schools, colleges, businesses and more.

Contact him at (757) 630-0662 or at http://www.safeU.us