Importance of Homework

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Vanaja_R]Vanaja R

Homework has been a part of students' life from the beginning of formal school.However, the practice has sometimes been accepted and other times rejected, both by educators and parents. This has happened because homework can have both positive and negative effects on children's learning and attitudes towards school. Some educationists of the view that homework should not be given to students. Giving homework means creating in the child school mania in the home also. Others are of the view that five hours in the school is in sufficient and it must be supplemented by some work at home. It is not the homework that is objectionable, but its nature and amount which invites criticism.But the importance and need of homework cannot be minimized, if it is of a right nature.

It utilizes the leisure time of the children, which otherwise would have been wasted. It may establish the habit of working hard and that too regularly.We know that good assignments, completed successfully, can help children develop wholesome habits and attitudes. Homework can help parents learn about their children's education and communicate both with their children and the schools. And it can encourage a lifelong love of learning.Homework can have many benefits for young children. It can improve remembering and understanding of schoolwork.

Homework can help students to develop study skills that will be of value even after they leave school. It can teach them that learning takes place anywhere, not just in the classroom. Homework can benefit children in more general ways as well. It can foster positive character traits such as independence and responsibility. Homework can teach children how to manage time.

The author is the webmaster of www.mathsupporter.com which provides online math help

www.mathsupporter.com

Why Giving Your Child an Allowance is a Good Thing

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Karyn_Hodgens]Karyn Hodgens

Giving your child an allowance is probably the most effective tool you can find to teach your children healthy money management skills. �Effective� because when it�s their money, kids become a little more discerning with what happens to it.

And in order to learn money management, your kids should probably have some money to manage. Most childhood development experts agree that teaching kids money management skills can begin as young as 3 or 4 years old. Since most 3- or 4-year olds do not have jobs, they�re going to need some seed money to get started. An allowance is the perfect tool.

Once your child starts receiving an allowance, consider it their �salary�. That means it�s going to need to be paid on time and consistently. You probably wouldn�t feel so great if your employer was flaky on getting you your paycheck. After all, you make a lot of financial decisions based on knowing when your paycheck is coming in. The same should be true for your child. If she is working towards a purchase, then she needs to be able to rely on consistent paydays. And even if she doesn�t have a personal financial goal in mind, it�s important to show her you value her money enough to make sure she gets it on time. A great way to handle this is through a software savings and money management program called KidsSave. With this program, parents can set up accounts for their children which includes allowance. You choose how much and how often and the program makes sure it ends up in your child�s account on the given day.

Now that your child has money, he needs the skills to learn how to save some of it and, yes, spend some of it. One of the first things he needs to understand is the value of saving his money. But �value� can be a very abstract word, especially if you�re six. One way to do this is to crunch some numbers in the calculator to show how much money he can save over time by not spending it. But that�s not exactly exciting to a six year old.

Another better way to illustrate this is through the KidsSave program. It�s much more visual, and kids are, by nature, very visual. There�s a section in the program called the What-If where kids get to experiment with interest, allowance, matching funds, deposits and withdrawals and see the effect it has on their money. They key is THEIR money. When it�s your money, it�s not as interesting. What they see, quite visually, is the power of saving THEIR money and how it can grow over time. The graph generated can go out as far as 10 years and, if you include earning interest, is quite impressive!

Real young kids may not yet understand the What-If graphs but this doesn�t mean that they shouldn�t also save some of their money. Getting them in the habit of always putting some of it aside, be it for a charity, for something they�re saving up for, or simply to save it, will follow them as they get older. You decide how much they need to save and every time they receive money they automatically know that part of it is off limits.

Now that kids have saved some of their money, they need to learn how to wisely spend some of it. The �wisely� part may take some time because it�s important to let kids make their own money mistakes. It may kill you to watch them spend their money on an item that you know is a poor choice but better they make a mistake on a $20 toy that breaks after several days than on larger ticket times later on.

And having kids save up for an item teaches them to live within their means. It also has an added benefit in teaching delayed gratification. And, oh what a treat to finally get the thing you�ve been saving for! What�s more, now that they know they can achieve a goal, they�re more likely to do it again.

Teaching kids how to manage money is an important life skill. Giving your child an allowance can help teach this skill. Consider it an investment in your child�s future and what better gift than to make sure your child is equipped with the skills necessary to be responsible, independent, and financially savvy adults! And that�s a good thing!

Karyn and her husband John co-founded Kidnexions on the idea that kids learn best when engaged in interesting and relevant activities that are connected to their everyday lives. Their goal is to build on kids' interests by providing opportunities for them to develop real-world skills through fun, motivating, and meaningful activities.

Kids Birthday Invitations Guide, Where to Find Kids Birthday Invitations

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Corey_J_Thompson]Corey J Thompson

We all remember when we were kids, the good old day�s right? Well it can be tough finding birthday invitations for your kid, so that�s why I wrote this article for all those parents out there looking everywhere.

Steps to finding the perfect kids birthday invitation:

1. Ask your kid what he wants his/her birthday theme to be.
2. Make sure you plan ahead and buy related theme items as they can be hard to find sometimes (allot harder!)
3. If you have a really young child make sure it suitable for young children, the last thing you want is an embarrassing birthday party that you and many others will never forget.

Now that you know the basics (sorry but I felt it was my duty to go over these) you can move on to how to find your kids birthday invitations. You can head over to my free blog at the bottom of this page and check out my invitations I have to download, im sure you will find something there. You could also do a search on Google and check out other sites, but they key thing to remember here is to find something that you and your kids like.

Birthday Invitations can be hard to find online, have you ever thought about buying one at the local pharmacy? I bet you have right? Well don't worry, im always looking for something free too, lol. I actually enjoy giving away free birthday cards because I know it helps out people like me. Just remember that birthdays are meant to be fun days, so do not stress over it too much. Here are a few tips on enjoying a birthday:

1. Make sure you are prepared and have a list of guest that are coming
2. Get your husband/wife to do half the work
3. Birthday Parties can often turn into stressful events, but this should not happen ever. To avoid this it�s very important to make sure you�re prepared.

I hope you found this article informative, have fun with the free kids birthday invitations. Please feel free to check out any of my other articles on birthdays, you will find a wealth of information as I'm still updating and creating new articles every week.

Want to find over 100 Kids Birthday Invitations? Corey's Blog is loaded with free birthday cards/invitations at: http://www.freebirthdaycards.blogspot.com

Ten Ways to Survive the First Year of Middle School (Junior High)

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Donna_M._Mcdine]Donna M. Mcdine

While you are excited to be entering Middle School you are nervous. What with all the changes, lockers, changing classes for every subject, not knowing everyone you may become easily overwhelmed. But don�t get too upset. If you follow the below ten tips your transition should go smoothly:

1. Purchase a 3-ring binder with folder compartments for your subjects to help you stay organized

throughout the day, which make completing your homework assignments and studying go easier.

2. Make sure you complete your homework organizer daily and bring it with you to each class.

3. Complete all homework assignments on time and correctly.

4. Have on hand at least five sharpened pencils, one hand eraser, one highlighter, one pad of post-it

notes, and one calculator.

5. Ask questions to your teachers with anything that you do not understand from the get go.

6. Review and read class notes each day and highlight important facts noted by the teacher.

7. Setup flash cards for all vocabulary words as received. This will save you time when preparing for

quizzes and tests.

8. Complete all extra credit assignments given, even if you are an �A� student. This important if you do

not do well on tests. The extra effort will be noticed and recognized by your teacher(s). By

completing these assignments it will help your grade in the long run.

9. Try out for a sport that you are interested in. This will help you to get to know more fellow students

that you normally don�t interact with during the day.

10. Be kind to others. What you dish out is what you get back in return. When a disagreement or

argument amongst your peers occurs try your absolute best to say out of it.

Put yourself out there with your teachers and peers. Most of all relax and have fun!

Donna is a graduate of the Institute of Children�s Literature and is a member of the SCBWI, The National Writing for Children Center, and Musing Our Children Group. Using her children, extended family, and their friends as inspiration, she consistently studies the children�s magazine markets for submittal of articles and short stories. Donna also continues to participate in children and young adult writing workshops and critique groups on an ongoing basis to sharpen her writing skills.

Visit her at: http://www.authorsden.com/donnamcdine or http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com

Bullying at School - Is your Child a Silent Victim? Get the Lowdown on Bullies and their Victims!

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sandra_Fisher]Sandra Fisher

Bullying in schools has become an epidemic. But the worst part is that the people who need to know about it are often the last to know.

Why is this? It�s an unfortunate fact that many children who are being bullied are often ashamed or unwilling to talk about it. It�s almost as if they are protecting their tormentors. And that�s exactly what bullies want. It allows them to get away with it scot-free.

At school a child who is being victimized is afraid to go out to play. He knows that the time of punishment is once again at hand. Meanwhile, the teacher, unaware of the classroom dynamics, goes to the staff room for a cup of tea while all hell is breaking loose in the playgrounds. School bullying in the playground is loud and noisy. After all, it�s difficult to victimize, demean and physically push a child around without making some sort of noise. But back in the classroom, the bully is the picture of innocence. All is quiet and serene as if nothing has happened at all. The only give-away is the victim�s growing withdrawal and inability to participate properly in class activities.

Even when your child goes home from school, he won�t tell you about it. For one thing, he is too embarrassed to reveal that he is not coping at school. But more importantly, the bully�s ongoing threats are vividly etched into his mind. Obviously if you question your child directly, you are not going to get to the bottom of the problem. He is trying too hard to conceal it.

However, he may show signs of being unwilling to go to school or he may complain about various ailments. But these are only hints and not conclusive indications. Your child is not being dishonest. He simply cannot bring himself to divulge his problems. So if he won't talk about it, how can you tell if he is being victimized? Fortunately, there is a very effective way to find out. It goes right to the heart of the problem and it will give you a much clearer view of your child�s emotional state.

At first it may seem strange to think about examining your child�s handwriting for answers. But this is indeed where you will find much of the information you are looking for.

Not only will your child�s handwriting explain a great deal about his state of wellbeing; the bully�s handwriting will also reveal a lot about his own motivation and personality make-up too.

Few people realize that handwriting reveals unspoken feelings and emotions and that it also reveals aggression and a predisposition to violence. It�s the ideal tool to help us assess a child�s emotional state of well-being. It�s also very effective when used to help us identify sadistic tendencies in bullies.

When you know how, you only have to glance at a page of handwriting to understand its implications.

Unfortunately it isn�t possible to show you how to do this in the space of a short article but it�s important for you to know that it can be done. In situations such as these we need all the help we can get and when you can read the hidden message in handwriting the possibilities are endless.

Sandra Fisher, a parent, teacher and expert handwriting analyst is the author of many books about handwriting analysis. In her new book; �School Bullying - is your child a silent victim?� she reveals a simple way to use handwriting to delve into the problem of school bullying. For more information go to http://www.graphicinsight.co.za/schoolbullying.htm

Summer Camps and Outdoor Programs 200 - It's Not Too Early To Start Making Plans

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dan_Schaefer]Dan Schaefer

If you're a parent who is considering sending your child to summer camp or an adventure program next summer, now is a great time to start the planning process. There are many good reasons for this.

First, many camps and programs most popular sessions fill up quickly, with some even wait listing very early in the fall. This was the case with an adventure oriented youth camp (Adventure Unlimited) I worked for in Colorado. While serving as their enrollment coordinator, our most popular session was an early July two week horseback riding session. Most parents with children interested in this session knew to send their child's registration in before October 1. We still received a flood of applications for this session well after October 1 and had to direct campers to other sessions that may not have been their first choice or fit their families summer schedule as well.

In addition to having access to the best selection available, many camps and programs offer an early registration discount or an incentive of some sort to register early. Finally, while your plans for next summer may not be set in stone, many camps and programs will allow you some level of flexibility if you need to change the date of the session you have registered for.

If you're at a loss as to where to start in finding a camp or program, you may want to use a camp referral service. These services work to find summer opportunities that meet your child's interests and your families schedule and goals. Most services are free for parents (they receive a commission from the camp or program much like a travel agent). My service, Adventure Advisors (www.adventureadvisors.com) specializes in helping families find adventure oriented programs and camps. Other camp referral services include The Summer Lady (www.thesummerlady.com) and Tips on Trips and Camps (www.tipsontripsandcamps.com).

Whatever you choose to do, keep in mind that fresh air, time away from television, cell phones, computers, and even close friends can good for adolescents in the summer. Experiences at summer camps and programs build character and help ground soul and body, better preparing youth for the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. If you would like to discuss summer options, visit any of the websites listed above or feel free to call (608-637-3644) or email (dan@adventureadvisors.com) me for some suggestions on summer options.

Dan Schaefer is passionate about adventure and helping families find appropriate programs and camps for teens. As a former Outward Bound admissions director and enrollment coordinator for Adventure Unlimited, he's worked with thousands of parents and youth through the selection process for finding appropriate programs and activities.

Teenage Sexuality and How to Cope With It

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jan_Gamm]Jan Gamm

Think back to the days when you were seventeen, or eighteen years old. Does it seem like a very long time between the age of seventeen and, say, twenty? No? I thought not.

Now, think of what you are doing when you deny your daughter the right to contraceptive protection NOW. If your daughter is only fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, whatever she might be, do you really think that when she is a grown up lady with children of her own, you are going to agonise as you lay awake in your bed, �Oh God, I wish I had not allowed Florence to use condoms when she was seventeen!!� I do not think so.

Sometimes, as parents, we love our children so deeply that when new evidence of maturity and independence appears, we struggle and fight against the tide of development. That is not to say it is right to do so. Some issues are so vitally important, you must let go of their hands, so they can make the right choices.

When it comes to sexual practicality, we as parents must always err on the side of safety. So what if your daughter is proposing to have a sexual relationship with a young man she is unlikely to spend the rest of her life with? Hello? Are you in the same century with the rest of us?

We all find it hard to discuss these things with our �children,� and I do not care what anyone says, my child will remain my child for the rest of my life, whatever her age. My advice to someone having to cope with this very grown up development in their daughter�s life is to make an appointment with the family doctor - for her, not you � and then graciously step aside, while she makes a sensible contraceptive plan with someone who can certainly advise her better than you.

Do not question her as to what took place in the doctor�s surgery, do not utter a word. Wait patiently and she will likely inform you of developments herself. If she does not � tough.

Sexual maturity is something which happens to everybody eventually whether their parents like it or not. Far better help your kid do something sensible, rather than join the long, long line of heartbroken parents whose teenagers fall pregnant, or ill with a sexually transmitted disease. These alternatives do not bear thinking about for parents who sincerely love their kids and want the best and safest possible transition into adulthood for them.

There is a side benefit to being supportive in these matters; your daughter will always remember how understanding you were at this time and be glad to have you as her friend. Be grateful.

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.

Adoption - My Personal Story

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Barbara_Whelan]Barbara Whelan

Adoption: To Tell the Truth or to Lie?

Forward

This is a person account of adoption written by an adult who was adopted as a child. I am not a counselor or a therapist. This is simply a documentary of my experience and my opinions. I hope that you can glean something from it, maybe learn something, or find it helpful for you and/or your family.

If you are anticipating adopting a child, I think this is a �must-read�. If nothing more, it may bring some questions to mind that you hadn�t yet considered.

I expect you are looking forward to bringing your new baby home. Life must be in a bit of a bustle with excitement. There are so many preparations to consider, but have you really stopped to consider what the child is going to think of all of this? What impact will all this have on the child�s future?

Don�t get me wrong, I�m not judging you. I just want you to think of an alternative perspective, of the possible consequences of what you are doing. And, more importantly what you are saying.

It is my hope that this account of my experience can play a small part in making a big difference to you and your child�s future.

Question:

How do you tell a child about adoption?

Is it something you ca talk about freely or is it a secret?

How can adopting affect a child?

Some answers:

One lie begets another, and another and another. If you start with a lie, when do you stop lying?

In the beginning was my life a lie?

I was born Barbara Jean Johnson, on April 16,1950, in Salem Clinic, Salem, Ohio. My mother was Barbara Jane Johnson and my father, Wilmer Dale Johnson. So reads my birth certificate.

Now, I lived a �normal� life. I had an older sister, Alberta Louise Johnson, and a brother who was born when I was four years old, Charles Dale Johnson. I grew up believing Mommy and Daddy were exactly that, Mommy and Daddy, until I was given a certain grade school writing assignment.

I came home from school and told my mother I had to write something for class. I don�t recall the exact title of the assignment but her response was shocking. She said �Why don�t you write about being adopted?� So I asked: �What is that?� My sister, eighteen months older, who was adopted at the same time with me now says I�m stupid for not knowing what �adopted� meant.

So this is how I learned that I was adopted, and that, I had another set of parents. I had grown up with an uncle visiting and now I�m told that he�s my �real� Dad!

I was told that my parents were divorcing and the children needed to be adopted. By �the children� I assumed my sister, Alberta, and myself. I was twelve months old when my new mother took my sister and me into her home. She described a woman from an office who would come to inspect the situation. This continued for six months, and then we were adopted. My mother ended her explanation with the words �You are my children and I don�t want to talk about you being adopted.� Now, I don�t remember, the exact words but the point was taken that this was an issue that was not open for discussion.

I think I did probably write that paper on adoption, since I didn�t know what else to write. I don�t recall the grade I received, or any questions or responses from the teacher.

Meanwhile, life at home changed. Occasionally, my mother would go to town and we (the children) were left at home with my Dad. My Dad, who never spoke to the children other than to give us work orders, started talking about out past lives. I learned there had been a boy taking care of me, and he would feed me hot dogs. My parents bought me for $158.00.

I grew up hearing this same story, over and over again from my dad. But, I had been told I wasn�t allowed to talk about it.

Trust me. Children can handle the truth. In my experience, the truth is much easier to accept than the hiding, omission or, avoidance of the truth, and the lies.

If you find yourself, reading this because you are considering adopting, I ask that you please look at other parts of your life and see if you feel you just have to be in control.

Barbara is a small business owner, living in Orange Park, FL. She has a wonderful Christian husband, Jerry, who is always supportive and gives Barbara the room she needs to expand in all areas. He is often found expanding her horizons, and pulling her where she is not naturally stretching. Jerry and Barbara are looking forward to the day they will have an organization that they are leading to bring people closer together with respect and love for one another. Barbara and Jerry have that loving relationship that is an example to others. Theirs is a life to emulate. You always see them happy together. The smiles on their face and the gleam in their eyes is a sure give away of their feelings for each other.

We Amongst the Animals - How Great Are We?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=John_T_Jones,_Ph.D.]John T Jones, Ph.D.

We humanoids think we are at the top of the evolutionary chain and superior to other critters.

Is that true?

Hmm!

Let�s start with the brain.

Largest Brain: Sperm Whale

Well, we can handle that. What about the ratio of brain size to body size.

Largest Brain for Body Size: Hummingbird

Mass doesn�t mean much as far as the brain goes. A whale has tons of blubber that require little brain action. A giant dinosaur had a brain the size of a walnut.

Speech Complexity: No race here. The whales have millions of bits of information in their speech. Human brains are evidently too small to totally decipher the language of dolphins, porpoises, whales, and other creatures. We are good at making up new languages such as Chinese and the computer languages.

Ability to Reason:

Now this is our big advantage, right?

Probably.

Some of us can solve the Rubik�s Cube and make nuclear bombs, fighter jets, rockets, computers, cell phones, and hula hoops, etc. I haven�t see animals doing this yet. We write stuff like Taylor Jones the Hack Writer is writing right here too. Other animals don�t spend much time in these activities, at least outside the brain. Our reasoning activities lead to war and evil and, at the same time, religion.

Largest Animal: We lose. The Blue Whale gets the Blue Ribbon.

Fastest Animal: We are slowpokes. It�s good we keep most animals out of the Olympics.

We know God: Animals don�t seem to know about God. We think that we do. But do we? It depends whom you ask.

Nudity: We are obsessed with nudity. We like to hide it on an everyday basis and reveal it in pornography. A Zulu king said that the social problem was clothing, not nudity. It really get silly. Naked primitive people who don�t know they are nude, are shielded by blurred circles covering their private parts when we see them on television but we can watch a movie of humans copulating on the kitchen table. Animals don�t care about nudity.

Profanity: Only we use it as far as I know. I wonder about pit bulls, chimps, and baboons.

It�s true that humans have a remarkable brain but we are not the only ones with marvelous brains. We piddle around on land. Water animals need special functions for their environment. Is the brain of a human any more remarkable than that of a porpoise?

Flying: We can�t. But we can build airplanes, lighter-than-air craft like balloons, and rockets that once took a few of us to No Name Moon. Arctic terns fly from pole to pole.

Swimming: Some few of us can swim the English Channel if we coat ourselves with grease and have a rowboat for safety. Whales routinely swim for thousands of miles. We have submarines that swim like whales and carry horrific atomic rockets which they launch while submerged. We have scuba gear to spend some time in the shallower depths of the ocean.

Eyesight: Eagles have the best eyesight. We have spy satellites. The Hubble telescope is a wonder of wonder letting us peer into the cosmos.

Odor Detection: We use dogs to find drugs and lost people, etc. Sharks and honey bees are very good at this too. But we do have smoke detectors. How's the battery in yours?

Hearing: Human hearing range is narrower than many animals. That�s why your dog howls when you sing. Even a cow has a wider hearing range than a human, as do most all other animals. But we humans can pick up sounds outside our hearing range with microphones and amplify them with our electronic instrumentation.

So what is the bottom line? It�s in a song: Anything you can do I can do better.

It goes like this:

Anything you can do,
I can do better.
I can do anything
Better than you.

See all of the lyrics at: http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/anniegetyourgun/anythingyoucando.htm

That is our race with the animals we share this world with. Unfortunately, they don't seem to know they are in the race. Now, if we can actually become civilized and concentrate on preserving this planet and all of its creatures rather than just talking about it.

The End

copyright�2007 John T. Jones, Ph.D. (Taylor Jones the Hack Writer)

John T. Jones, Ph.D. (tjbooks@hotmail.com, a retired college professor and business executive, is author of detective & western novels, nonfiction (business, scientific, engineering, humor), poetry, etc. Former editor of an international engineering magazine. Jones writes on many subjects including articles for teenagers. When he writes science fiction or humor articles he calls himself "Taylor Jones, the Hack Writer." He will sell you a TopFlight telescoping flagpole at his business site.

More info: http://www.tjbooks.com

Business web site: http://www.AAAFlagpoles.com

Youth Education, Sports Icons and Community Leadership

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Bramwell_Osula]Bramwell Osula

For as long as I can remember the need to focus on school and the cultivation of a positive attitude has been proclaimed from the hill tops but has sadly only been embraced by a few in the trenches.

Today, it's all about being "cool" or "hip." It's about presenting the right "image", about being able to impress the girls or one's peers. It's about making the team, about being the coolest looking player on the basketball court or football field, the dude with the snazzy haircut or braids, or gangster style tattoo, or Fubu outfit, or pricey Nike trainers, or gold chains, or rings, or saggy pants, or sports car.

Of course girls aren't immune, they too are enticed with "bribes" of good times and pregnancy! But it is mostly our boys - the next generation of Black men - that are in real and in some cases mortal danger. It might be an overstatement to say that sports can be seen as a new form of mental and physical slavery. But is it? It's probably true to say that because it is attractive and associated with stardom, that sports exerts a powerful influence on our youth and that in some respects its influence is insidious.

Okay you say, let's keep things in proper perspective. No point scare mongering right? After all it's only a game. And can we really offload this sports thing onto the media moguls, sports magnates or fashion houses? Accepted, they do have the power and the influence but aren't we the ones who willingly purchase their products, their services and who allow ourselves to be used?

As powerful as the media is; as seductive as the lure of instant success through Nike trainers or an NBA or NFL contract might appear, the reality is that most parents and children are not caught up by the hype or fooled by the lies. In other words, the choice is ours. And many of us have taken a stand against the enticements of sport realizing that one Michael Jordan, or Venus or Serena Williams, or Tiger Woods does not an entire generation make.

The overwhelming majority of young black males who rally to the call of the sports and fashion media are drawn either to basketball or football. Almost undoubtedly these are the "coolest" sports and the black presence is obvious. The few players who, either because of their performance or earnings (the two usually go together), make it into the superstar leagues are the new emblems of success and have become the role models of every young black male who fancies his chances and sees sports as an easy ticket out of the ghetto, the classroom, or the boring life dictated by those of his parents' generation.

What I find most worrying is the way in which the educational opportunities of many young black males are seemingly being hijacked. Of course, those who make it into the professional ranks realize the importance of a scholarship and a college education. But the stories of cooked grades and stars who can barely read or write are too real to dismiss as fantasy.

But, perhaps more important even than this, is the "easy believism" that may be paralyzing or otherwise infecting our community through our children. Hey, they say and think, you don't have to work too hard. Just play a little basketball. Don't worry about school. There's nothing wrong with practicing that jump shot all day at the park. Homework? What's that?

Forget it, who needs grades anyway? Just work on those Harlem Globetrotter skills, slam, dunk, dribble, don't pass, drink your milk and Oreo cookies and think of Michael Jordan's success. No problem. You're gonna make it!

And my prayers are with you. But the reality is that you probably have a better chance of making it to the White House and appointing an all-black cabinet as you do of becoming the next Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Allen Iverson, or any of the other currently top-rated basket ball stars.

Get real.

And that's the problem; the cloud of unreality that has colored our thinking and blinded our vision. And, unless we wake up and soon, our collective blindness may consign our children to the career ghetto with no education, limited opportunities, on a train going nowhere fast. And you don�t have to think too hard about the usual passageway from here to drugs and the criminal justice system.

Most of us recognize and accept that these last two are tearing many communities apart and we regularly hear individuals speaking out against the cancer of crack cocaine or the unwarranted numbers of black men behind bars. We rightly recognize these "truths" as being evidence that perhaps all is not right with our society. But the possibility that slipping educational standards and the promotion of an easy path to success may be the real modern-day curse of our children has yet to be trumpeted from the hilltops by our politicians, community leaders or conscientious media personalities.

If they are speaking about it, then they must be whispering. Either that or I'm slowly becoming deaf! Of course, not all sports stars are jocks and it would be a terrible disservice to the able, gifted, and aspiring among them to say as some might that most athletes are nothing more than kids with too much money and too little sense for their own good. While the stereotype remains popular, again largely because of the media's focus and misrepresentation, it is largely untrue.

There are many young, bright, articulate, educated, conscious young male and female athletes who are serving as positive role models for the next generation. However, it's unfortunate that interviews with these individuals or real-time media representations of their lives off the court or field are few and far between. It's so much easier to focus on their sporting talent and promote their star quality. After all that's what sells tickets and increases the value of the individual to the promoter, owner, manager, coach, or television network.

For all the positive qualities that a Michael Jordan may exude, and for all the speed with which selected individuals are catapulted onto the world stage and transformed sometimes overnight into American icons, how many of your sons or daughters do you really believe will ever have an opportunity to achieve the same degree of success?

If your answer is one in a million, then you understand the stark reality. The reality is that the media allows relatively few players to rise to the top. As with Hollywood, it's much easier to work with a single hero. The same formula is followed to some degree in the sports world.

The script is written; the actors assembled and only one athlete at a time can play a leading or superstar role.

Is it any wonder then that sports "stars" almost routinely look to Hollywood, product endorsements or the music industry for further development of their careers? But, let's give credit where credit is due.

There are some real success stories out there. In most cases, the silent and the quiet who shun media attention, and who focus on their families, their careers and their futures in that order are not usually the stuff of which legends are made. You won't find such individuals being touted in the media. And there are other stars who, having gained a certain notoriety by living up to the stereotype, have gone on to make a success of their lives and business accomplishments.

Magic Johnson is perhaps one example. It was back in November 7, 1991 that the sports world was rocked by the announcement that Magic had the HIV virus. The news was shocking. This was at a time when for many HIV was equivalent to certain death. Now, a decade later Magic is a significant force in business with a reported $500 million business portfolio.

Many communities are the richer for such efforts and no one can take away from these public successes or the significance of these acts of entrepreneurial magic. However, I always find myself asking, when confronted with such tales of success and material wealth, how much more could our stars and leaders be doing by way of sponsoring scholarship programs or linking their names, talents and wealth to charter schools, colleges and universities, after-school care programs, mentoring programs, summer camps, space camps, foreign language learning schemes, cultural exchange programs, computers in schools, science and technology initiatives, hospitals, clinics, fair rent housing development schemes, libraries, urban renewal initiatives. The list is almost endless and the benefits would extend far beyond the black community.

But how do I know that they aren't investing in such things? Just because we don't hear about it doesn't mean they ain't? Right? Pardon the grammar but the point is well made. Perhaps they are doing all this but no one is talking. After all isn't this what the Bible encourages when it speaks of humility and the left hand not letting the right hand know what it's doing? Well how come we hear so much about the supposed wealth of individual stars and so little about the acts of "good."?

Surely, declaring these good works is a potent way to be an example.

I mean, let's be realistic, if nobody knows what these individuals are doing, how can we be expected to say "Hey, that brother or that sister is focusing on something positive, or investing their time and money in building the community, in our future, in our schools, in learning? How can they serve as potent role models unless we SEE them playing the role?

How?

The way I see it, until we begin to see more visible examples of such investments in people and communities we're all wasting our time. Unless we see these institutions and edifices being built, arising from the ashes of our decaying communities so to speak, until there are conscious, vocal and repeated statements of support for the building of lasting institutions that are geared to improving the minds of our children and keeping them healthy and in school then even the success of a Magic Johnson, or a Michael Jordan may be taken as no more than the largesse of a rich individual who may be simply throwing his surplus cash around in blind imitation of other wealthy folks.

While no athlete or media star is under an obligation to support public works and they could very well invest their hard-earned cash elsewhere or live lavishly we all know that many do support some of the initiatives that I've outlined above and that they do so through privately established trusts or channels of investment.

The likes of Oprah Winfrey, Bill Cosby, Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, Spike Lee, and Whoopi Goldberg among others have long been associated with positive if not always public acts of kindness. Well, now may be the time to come out of the closet.

The point I'm making is that the dangers are so great that what we need to do now is mount a public campaign, to wage a public war on the apathy of our kids and their acceptance of second-rate grades. As athletes and stars we need to start telling and showing them by the way we walk, talk and invest our money that education is important. We need to be telling them that there's more to life than basketball, or football, or overpriced trainers, or MTV, or gangster rap, or Hollywood, or video games, or fully loaded convertible sports car, or the latest prison hand-me-down fashions, or ribbed condoms, or gold chains, or reefers, or smack, or crack cocaine, or alcohol, or cigarettes, or gang banging, or getting pregnant at age fifteen, or becoming a father before you're old enough to drive, or hanging out, or jailhouse tattoos, or multiple body piercing, or even the "cool" walk.

Whoa!

Is there anything left that I don't like and want to get rid of?

Or am I saying that there's some natural association between this litany of supposed negatives and professional sports? The answer is of course no. The fact that some sectors of the media continue to make this association is tragic and dangerous.

The fact that many young people themselves make the connection is perilous. The only point I'm making is that in the balancing act of life it appears that education and lasting career development continue to be challenged by the litany of material and emotional goods some of which I've identified above.

But don't get me wrong. This isn't about going back to the way things were when George Washington was President (actually, they weren't so good then). Or back to the fifties when men were men and women were women (yeah right), or a period before there were drugs on the street and television had yet to be invented. This isn't about going back to an unreal time when every child got perfect grades, there was no fun, no sports, no soda and everyone wore gray uniforms.

Rather, this is about coming together and deciding what it is we want for our children. It's about taking a long hard look at the reality of the world in which we live. It's about recognizing that many of our children are being left behind. It's about accepting that many of our young men and women - our children - are losing out on the American Dream. Their minds and their bodies are being sapped of all energy. Commitment and effort are being replaced by a desire for easy returns, usually with little output.

The dangers of a continued focus on life as a trip down easy street are obvious, although not so obvious as to have drawn the attention of every politician in the country. Every parent and citizen with even a passing concern for the future should be demanding that something be done. More importantly, each of us should be looking out for the kids in our care, for the kids on our block, in our school, in our churches, mosques and synagogues, in our boys and girls clubs, at the local Y's, hanging out on the street corners.

We should also be looking out for all the others out there. Sport has its place in our society. Basketball, football, and baseball, along with many other sports, capture our collective attention. We're a nation of sports lovers. And that's all right. The combination of skills, artistry, rivalry, strategy, tactics, techniques, personalities and drama is interesting, sometimes even exciting.

Sports may even help get us through the week and give us something on which to pin our hopes (the fortunes of "our" team) or, increasingly, the hopes of our children. For many the fascination is innocent enough for what can be harmful about little league baseball or a friendly competition, or my son playing basketball a couple of hours several nights each week, or following the fortunes of his favorite team or players by television or fanzine?

The answer is nothing, so long as the fascination is measured and balanced against the need to invest time in other creative pursuits and, above all, in education. Learning must count for something today. Look at the efforts of other communities. Recent immigrants from India, from Korea, and other parts of Southeast Asia are linking their future success to the classroom. Other communities would do well to take note.

If education is important today, it will be even more important tomorrow.

We must therefore give our children every possible opportunity. Accompany them to the game, applaud their successes, tend to their occasionally broken spirits or bodies, and give them every support possible for sports can help round them out as individuals.

However, we should also encourage them to keep everything in perspective and resist the tendency that some of us may have to cast ourselves in the role of aspirant coach, referee or parent to a prospective superstar.

Digest the fact that, nine times out of ten neither you nor your child will make it. Did I say nine times out of ten? Add a few zeros to the nine and you'll be closer to the real ratio between the dream and the reality.

But even for that very small minority who consider themselves specially gifted or blessed and who are determined, come hell or high water, to challenge the statistics and make it into the first tier ranks of professional sports, the point must still be made:

Maximum effort and educational success are non negotiable.

Bramwell Osula is a professor. He has over 20 years experience in the corporate, government, and academic sectors and has worked extensively in Europe, Africa, and North America. His interests include Performance Consulting, Critical Leadership, and Global Networks.

Back To School Safety Tips

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Joyce_Jackson]Joyce Jackson

Lots of kids and families are preparing to head back to school right now for the start of a new school year at least "up here" where we live in the US, Canada and Europe. For those of you who aren't going back to school right now, or those of you that Homeschool, these tips can still keep your child safer today than yesterday.

Back To School families typically focus on new clothes, shoes, book bags and school supplies. That's great. We want to add in a "Back To School Safer" awareness to their list of things to remember.

There are three immediate things parents can do, things you can teach your child, right away, today. It's simply about education, knowledge and awareness, not paranoia. So, when teaching these things to your child, keep a light-hearted approach and atmosphere. We're endorsing a better awareness for kids and families, not fear.

The fact is, your child is going to be around new teachers, students, coaches, counselors and acquaintances when YOU Mom and Dad, are not around. Your child needs an ability to keep themselves safe when they are out and about in today's world. There are a few things parents and kids can do together at home to make sure they are safer this year than ever before.

First, teach your child to project confidence. Confident kids are naturally less of a target for predators. This means bullies at school, too. A confident child is a child that stands tall, shoulders back, head high and with eyes alert to their environment. This type of posture subconsciously projects a struggle, a notion of, "I'm not going to be that easy to pick on," to anyone looking for a victim.

Sad kids, those that look like they are unhappy, those with stooped shoulders and a shuffling gate, look like they are in need of a friend. We know many child predators like to befriend a child first, offer presents and kind words, and take their time patiently to lure a child into a friendship before they abuse or molest them.

A big part of building confidence in your child is doing daily what we call, "Catch Them Being Good." It's easy for us as parents to notice the things our kids do wrong. But a short moment, noticing your child doing something right, and a "Hey, Sally, that was great!" goes much further in teaching your child to feel good about themselves in only seconds a day. This is a big first step in solid confidence building and something you can easily do.

Second, teach your child to keep a safe distance from a stranger. We call it a "Circle Of Safety" and it's about 15 feet. Your child can still talk to them at this distance but have time to react in case it's a bad stranger. Your child can turn and run and get safely away at this 15' distance.

For the most part, this is when your child is outdoors and finds themselves alone, like on a playground, on a sidewalk or in the yard, being approached by someone they don't know. In school, when there are lots of other students and adults around, it's just something they should know.

Third, teach your child to listen to their "Belly Brain." This is the "gut reaction" we as adults have, that instinctively tells us something is not right. Your child has it too. We simply have to teach them they have it and then, to listen to it. And, teach your child that their "Belly Brain" is never wrong.

Today, this is a critical skill for your child to have, especially for those kids surfing the Internet. When your child reaches a website they shouldn't be on or stumbles upon one inadvertently, their "Belly Brain" is going to go off. They need to know to get off that site when their stomach feels funny and signals them.

If your child ever finds themselves alone in a situation with an inappropriate adult or teenager, their "Belly Brain" is again going to go off. It is going to give them that "funny feeling" and when it happens, they need to know it is "OK" to feel that way and to leave the room or place they are immediately. They need to know it is "OK" for them to find a trusted adult, you, and tell you about it. And, this includes surfing the Web.

We study the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) information to stay one step in front of child predators and they have some great Online Safety Tips. Online predators troll for kids behind the anonymity of a user name and keyboard. The Belly Brain can give your child an advantage in being able to take appropriate action if ever in a situation where any danger from predators threatens them.

These three Quick Tips are really just the tip of the personal child safety iceberg, but they are very effective. They are also simple and easy and you can introduce and teach you child them in just minutes a day for a lifetime of results.

Joyce Jackson is a child safety expert in northern California. For her extensive website and information see [http://www.KeepingKidsSafeToday.com]Keeping Kids Safe and a free special report at [http://www.keepingkidssafetoday.com]Keeping Kids Safe!

Clothes for Toddles

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=William_Brister]William Brister

When you see tiny baby clothes and shoes you are instantly attracted to buy them all. A legendary name and designer brand, it continues its popular label for children�s wear and toddler clothing. Their online store features trendy and classic baby clothes that Osh Kosh B�Gosh is known for; as well as some newer designs. There is quite a range of prices on this site, so you can find baby clothes to fit any budget. learn more about finding the best place to shop and what items to buy. If you are not inclined to hunt and shop for the best deals in huge shopping complexes with the baby strapped to your skin, the Internet has opened up a convenient and simple avenue for baby clothes shopping.

Listed below are some of the best retailers of baby clothes on the Internet, which offer you a wide selection of durable and cute clothes, combined with great customer service.

OldNavy.com
Old Navy is one of the most popular stores, well liked by all parents for their toddler�s clothing and accessories. A good mix of classic styles and current trends, they are reasonably priced and of premium quality. They also have a discount section that makes most bargain hunters smile. While many stores wait until the end of a season to offer clearance, you can often find clothing for the current season at clearance prices here. OldNavy.com.

LandsEnd.com
As famous as they are for their classic styles for adults, so also, are they popular for their baby clothes. Though slight higher priced than most other retailers, these toddler clothes are worth it because of their durability and styles. They are guaranteed to last you through more than one child. Land's End is a great choice if you're looking for classic baby clothing like jeans and tees.

BabyStyle.com
This is more of a designer toddler wear and thus an upscale shopping option. BabyStyle offers trendy and sophisticated baby clothes as well as some classic baby wear. Catering to a slightly higher priced market, it offers unusual materials and beautiful detailing. It is known for its high quality branding and durability.

Osh Kosh B'Gosh.com
A legendary name and designer brand, it continues its popular label for children�s wear and toddler clothing. Their online store features trendy and classic baby clothes that Osh Kosh B�Gosh is known for; as well as some newer designs. There is quite a range of prices on this site, so you can find baby clothes to fit any budget.

William Brister - http://www.kidsclothes.tv - Branded Clothes for Kids

Naruto Episode 10 - Chakra Training

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Amyobus_Key]Amyobus Key

As Kakashi recovers from the ordeal of the battle, he reveals that the unknown boy was part of a fire extinguishing unit, responsible for erasing any evidence that a ninja was alive, which the corpse of Zabuza might otherwise reveal.

Back in the forest, we see the boy in the ANBU mask, but rather than attending to a dead man, he cares for the now resurrecting Momochi Zabuza. The patient harshly removes bloodied needles, as large as skewers, in spite of the warning from the boy that if he removes them too roughly, he will die for real. The boy is not an ANBU; the mask is counterfeit. He removes it to reveal a youthful visage. Zabuza knows he will take a week to recover, after which he vows revenge upon the Sharingan.

At the same time, back at Kakashi's sick bed, the teacher is awakening to the realization that Zabuza is still alive. His students and the bridge builder are horrified. But the logic is inescapable. The weapons that supposedly killed him were needles used mostly in acupuncture healings, and were rarely mortal unless delivered to vital spots. The boy also took the body home, a body that was heavier than himself, when all he required to complete the task of erasure was the head. Only Naruto appears pleased to hear that Zabuza is still alive, for he was jealous that the powerful enemy had been conquered by what appeared to be a mere youth. Naruto wants to be both conqueror and hero.

As they plan to engage in special training, the very young grandson of the old man appears. The boy, Inari, is aloof, morose, and rude, for he will not greet these wondrous guests who have saved his grandfather's life. He states that there is no hope, they will all die, and that there is no such thing as a hero. This disturbs Naruto, who plans to confront the abnormal boy, but finds him alone, and pining for his deceased father, a man who had been a hero, but who is now dead.

In the next scene, the recovering Sharingan has taken his students into the forest for special training of their Chakra. The knowledgeable Sakura is chosen to explain the subject: Chakra is an energy that a Ninja needs to utilize a technique. The energy comes from the body and is collected from every cell and from the spirit energy that comes from training and experience. Techniques from from these two energies are squeezed out of the body and molded together, enabling one to execute techniques by forming seals.

Kakashi explains that the amounts of energy required will be different for each technique, the energies coming from different elements: earth, water, fire, thunder and wind. Without control, the energy cannot be used effectively and the technique will be weak or not executed at all. To practise this they must climb trees, but they must accomplish it without using their hands. They do this by gathering their Chakra at their feet and allowing it to hold them to the tree. The purpose is to accumulate the right amount of molded Chakra in the right location. As the feet are the most difficult to hold Chakra, this exercise will allow them to master any kind of technique.

On their first attempt, Naruto can only gain a short distance up the tree, while Sasuke makes it just below the top. It is Sakura who is the most accomplished and ends up reaching a branch on her first attempt.

Kakashi slyly comments to his students, "Maybe Sakura, and not someone else, is the closest one to becoming a Hokage right now." The dart lands heavily on the boastful Naruto. To inspire Sasuke he says, "The Uchiha clan isn't as great as I thought, either."

Back at the hut where Zabuza is recovering, a visitor appears, the powerful Gatoh and his bodyguards. He is sarcastic and contemptuous of Zabuza's failure. The mysterious boy shows a powerful force of protection towards Zabuza, in a threatening display that could have destroyed Gatoh and his bodyguards, if Zabuza had not restrained him. It is here where we finally learn the identity of the boy. He is called Haku.

Back in the forest, the young Ninjas are still trying to climb trees, but without much success. Despite Naruto's immediate limitations, Kakashi secretly suspects that the boastful young Ninja, above all others, even including himself, has the greatest potential of all for the future.

(Chapter 11 next) http://www.narutoboy.com

The Inhibitive Cost of School Uniforms - Is the Badge on the Pocket Breaking the Bank?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jan_Gamm]Jan Gamm

There has been an interesting debate on British television recently on whether it is reasonable to ask parents to spend huge amounts of cash on school uniforms.

Most schools designate a particular retail outlet, where parents might purchase uniform items exactly to requirement. Parents often choose to divide their purchases between the designated shop and the local stores where a cheaper version of certain items are on offer, but even these economies sometimes prove inadequate when certain vital items retail at over thirty pounds.

For instance, a school blazer is often the deal breaker, as the item may not be copied by cheaper chain stores; most blazers carry an embroidered badge on the breast pocket. A grey skirt, however, or a navy blue pullover, is easy enough to find in a cheaper line.

The interesting comparison in cost comes when you add up the price of a uniform purchased in a designated shop, at a cost of well over one hundred pounds and sometimes more, with the more economical and almost unidentifiable copy costing around forty pounds.

Children undeniably look great clad in a smart uniform with buttons and badges in all the right places, but are we really spending this much in our effort to turn our children out in uniformed splendour? Surely parents could better utilise this cash by purchasing a better home computer, printer, screen, books � anything rather than this silly waste of financial resources.

I do not completely discard the idea of uniform as undesirable, in fact I believe uniform is a good idea as it saves parents investing in fashion items for their kids. It also promotes the concept of team spirit in sports and projects the school more attractively on public outings. I do wonder, however, whether we might do better by putting a ceiling on the amount of money that should be spent on what is, fundamentally, surface appearance.

Most schools have a school badge. Surely it is acceptable to manufacture this badge in large quantities and sell them at a reasonable price through the school shop or office. The badge might then be sown onto jackets, caps, sports shirts and sweat shirts ad finite, instead of designating a particular store for multiple items at an inflated price. Even better, perhaps schools might donate part of the profits to subsidise uniforms for those who genuinely cannot afford to buy them.

There are hundreds of resourceful economies to be made in the design of a school uniform, if school governors would only step down to ground level and agree to let go of outdated uniform policies. Some school management personalities see such compromise as the thin end of the wedge, of course, and staunchly refuse to relinquish their iron grasp on their schools image statement. I would dispute their antiquated approach and would encourage all schools to indulge in the spirit of a little practical economy.

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.

The Teenage Twilight Zone

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jan_Gamm]Jan Gamm

I was shocked to learn recently that nearly all of my daughter�s friends are on bad terms with their parents. Out of a collection of around twenty teenagers, only two were happy to spend time with their parents, most preferring to avoid family interaction altogether.

This is a sad indictment of the parents, in my view. Teenagers by definition are self centred, aggravating creatures with inbuilt radar for avoiding household chores and a mysterious ability to disrupt the family home from the cellar to the attic for most of the interim years between the age of 12 and 19. This, however, is not a good enough reason to give up on them.

I learned early in my daughter�s teens that, in spite of being completely unable to keep her room even moderately clean and tidy, she had a reputation amongst other families for being an organised washer of dishes, an unstoppable whiz with a vacuum cleaner, and an asset in the kitchen. At first, I thought they must be talking about someone else�s child, but no. It really was my little horror they were talking about.

Why is it that these kids can perform so beautifully in another environment but not at home? I could quite truthfully swear that my daughter has never been bullied into doing anything she did not want to do, so the Cinderella theory is out the door.

Perhaps she just likes these other people better, you say to yourself, hoping it is not the case, of course. In actual fact, that has nothing to do with it. I believe now that it is only a case of wishing to achieve somewhere that is unfamiliar, with someone who is unaware that, at home your room resembles the Somme.

There is an element of make believe in the matter, I must add. These kids do not see themselves as a problem; they see themselves still as your little girl, your best buddy, almost as though they imagine such things as being responsible and careful with pocket money, keeping your room clean, helping with the chores, all apply to someone else. Threats to punish all these insurrections only lead to a greater problem, I discovered; conflict and resentment sparking a deeper unhappiness not worth the sacrifice of getting the floors vacuumed or the windows cleaned.

Another very curious feature of teenage behaviour is that children who have been raised from a very early age to be helpful and responsible, polite and supportive, will go off the tracks as quickly as a child who has been ruined rotten and never taught any standards whatever! Most unfair � it makes you wonder why you bothered!

My experiences have mostly been of girls but I have been assured by friends that their boys are just as worrying, turning laconic, lazy and sullen.

It is true, though, that at some stage in their early twenties, these kids reform. The reformation is as mysterious as the departure from authority in the first place; it just happens, rather like Santa Clause. Just be grateful and try not to analyse things too closely. They all come home in the end � you just have to be patient until they do.

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.