Camp For Kids With Food Allergies

By Tarang V Bhargava

You children should be able to go to camp, spend time with their friends, and just have a glorious summer, but for some it can be difficult for a mother to allow a child to go off and have fun. For children with food allergies, especially multiple food allergies it can be extremely difficult for parents to feel comfortable sending their child away for a couple of days. When you are talking about camp for kids with food allergies it is important to understand some of the things a parent must think about, especially if your child is new to the food allergies he or she has.

First it is very important to explain to your child the ramifications of them eating any food they have not asked about. In other words they are going to need to ask how the food was prepared, with what the food was prepared, and even ask to check some of the ingredients of the food. Camps tend to be very regimented in the foods supplied. This means that it can be difficult to find camp for kids with food allergies that will caterer to them appropriately. In fact there may only be a few foods the child will be able to eat will at camp.

As a parent you need to alert the camp that your child has a food allergy or allergies. When you alert them of the allergies your child has they can then make adjustments for certain meals, like supplying something else for a night. You can also supply your child with appropriate foods and snacks to take with them to camp. Many of the camp for kids with food allergies will keep the food in the kitchen and allow the child to get something from those stores, like a snack during the day, when the other children are having their snack. This is a sure way to ensure that your child is safe.

You may also want to have your child carry an Epi- Pen or some form of epinephrine just in case. While the camps will have a doctor on hand or at least nearby it is important to make sure they will be safe if a reaction begins to occur. This will of course depend on the severity of the child's food allergies. Some children simply break out in hives and a couple of days later they are better, where as others can go into anaphylactic shock.

Read more articles about Food and drinks at http://www.foodndrinks.net

Tarang Bhargava has been earning through websites exploiting AdSense and affiliate marketing from the past six years! See income proof and learn the tips and tricks at http://www.iTarang.com and also get a Free AdSense Website!

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Sometimes "Helping" Doesn't Help at All

By Susanne Gaddis

Many times when family and friends try to "help" children (ages 13 and up) they are actually making it easier for them never to learn how to help themselves.

This baffling phenomenon is called "enabling," which takes many forms, all of which have the same effect -- allowing a person to avoid the consequences of his or her actions. This in turn allows children to continue merrily along their way, secure in the knowledge that no matter how much they mess up, somebody will always be there to rescue them from their mistakes.
What is the difference between helping and enabling?
Helping is doing something for someone that they are not capable of doing themselves.
Enabling is doing something for someone that they could, and should be doing themselves.

Simply: enabling creates an atmosphere in which the child can comfortably continue his/her unacceptable behavior or irresponsibility.
Are you being enabled?

Here are a few questions that might help determine whether or not someone in your life has enabled you:

1. Has a parent/guardian ever "called in sick" for you, lying about your symptoms?
2. Has someone ever accepted part of the blame for your actions or behavior?
3. Has an adult gotten you out of trouble even though they knew that you were to blame? Or are they always making excuses for your failings?
4. Has an adult in your life (parent, teacher, school administrator, guardian) allowed you to break rules because it was easier for them to let you do it than it was for them to make you do the right thing?
5. Has a girlfriend or boyfriend done your homework for you because they "love" you (is that person taking the tests for you too)?
6. Has a friend tried to match your bad behavior (like not doing homework or failing a test with you, or skipping school with you) in hopes of "strengthening" their relationship with you?
7. Has anyone in your life given you "one more chance" and then another, and another, until you realize that their chances are endless, and that you really do not have to respect their wishes or needs?
8. Has someone ever threatened to make you "do the right thing" but when you didn't, they never followed through and there were no consequences for your actions?
9. Is there someone in your life who you know you can manipulate to the point where they will let you get away with anything? (That person is the worst kind of enabler, because they are really just thinking only of themselves, and not about you.)

Of course, if you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you, at some point in time, have been enabled so that you could avoid your own responsibilities. Rather than "help" you, enablers have actually made it easier for you to become less responsible.

If you answered "yes" to most or all of these questions, you have not only been enabled, but your enablers have probably become major contributors to the growing and continuing problem of your lack of responsibility.

As long as you have your "enabling devices" in place, it is easy for you to continue to deny you have a problem -- since most of your problems are being "solved" by those around you. Only when you are forced to face the consequences of your own actions, will it finally begin to sink in how deep your problem of irresponsibility has become.

NOT enabling you is not an easy choice for your friends, family, or teachers. For example, if you don't bring a pencil to take a test that you knew about for a week or more, it's easier for a teacher to just give you a pencil than it is to watch you sit and not take a test. If the teacher does not give you a pencil, that teacher is making more work for themselves. He or she would have to document (make notes) about the event, maybe call home or schedule a parent conference about your irresponsibility, etc.-it's more work.

The people in your life who are willing to take the extra time for you, who are willing to lose your friendship to tell you the truth-these are the people that are looking out for you not for themselves.

Those kinds of choices are difficult. They require "detachment with love." But it is love. Unless you are allowed to face the consequences of your own actions, you will never realize just how much your irresponsibility has become a problem--to yourself and to those around you.

The person who is requiring you, or asking you, to read this article is not an enabler. This person is an example of someone who believes that, no matter how hard it is for them, they are helping you to learn about your problems by experiencing the consequences and by helping you learn how to make better choices for your own good.

Respect and Self-Respect come from helping those who help themselves.

"Do not enable my people. Rather, teach them how to do for themselves so that when you leave you will not have created an unhealthy dependence, even though well intentioned. This is of no help to us. In fact, the second state could become worse than the first." - Cardinal Napier, Archbishop of Durban, South Africa (2006).

Susanne Gaddis, PhD, known as the Communications Doctor, is an acknowledged communications expert who has been speaking and teaching the art of effective and positive communication through workshops, seminars, and keynote presentations across the United States since 1989. Past clients include: NASA, Oracle, Schlumberger, and the American Nurses Association. For free articles written by Dr. Gaddis, or to purchase her book Communication Booster Shots: Prescriptions for Effective Communication visit http://www.CommunicationDoctor.com or call 919-933-3237.

Shopping with Teenagers

By Helen Cox

As children grow up and become more independent there is little need for them to go everywhere with their parents anymore. However many parents still want their teenage children present whilst on shopping trips if not for the purchasing of goods but simply just for the company and involvement in their teenagers life.

Shopping with your teenage children is a great opportunity to talk to them about aspects of their life and to generally keep up-to-date with what is going on in their life. By planning a shopping trip it is a great opportunity to spend time together and enjoy each others company.

When you do plan a shopping trip with your teenager it is important that you set boundaries spending wise. If you don't have a large shopping budget then avoid 'power shopping' there is nothing worse than spending all day shopping only to come home empty handed. You should set a budget of the amount of money that you are intending on spending on certain items whilst shopping then if your teenager wants something that is out of your budget it will be up to them to pay the difference in order to get it.

Once your budget has been set and your teenage child knows what this budget is it is important that you don't back down. It the item costs too much then stand your ground and refuse to pay the full amount. You are the one who is earning the money so it is you who will have the final say as to whether a purchase is carried out. This is not only good for your bank account; it is also good for your teenager as they will learn to appreciate the value of money and drive home the fact that in order to be able to afford luxuries that you need to earn your money. Although this may cause a few frowns at the time your teenager will be more grateful for the products that they do receive and will make them want to earn enough money to be able to afford such things. Your teenager will grow a respect for the fact that you work to earn the money that pays for their things and they will earn a respect for money so that their spending habits will be controlled.

If you are out shopping for most of the day it is a good idea to stop for some lunch, which will make you both feel refreshed and allow you more of a chance to talk about things and spend quality time together.

One thing that you don't want to be present on your shopping trip is a bad mood. Teenagers are constantly going through various mood swings so avoiding experiencing one whilst out shopping is the best solution for everyone's sake. In order to conquer these mood swings you should be willing to come to a compromise that leaves you sticking to your rules and budget but leaves your teenage child satisfied. You should also try and avoid border line purchases. Before you go ahead and make a purchase you should ensure that what you are buying is what your teenager actually wants as "I've changed my mind" on the drive home will not be pleasant for anyone.

Enjoy the time that you can with your children whilst they are teenagers, it will bring you closer together, making these years easier on everyone.

Helen is the web master of Article Alley, home of all your Article Directory needs.

Please feel free to republish this article provided a working hyperlink remains to our site

Outlook on New Webkinz For 2008

By Joe Moz

Every year the Ganz company releases a variety of new Webkinz pets. Some of these pets go on to be retired shortly thereafter, others stick around for awhile. Post-retirement, some pets will appreciate in value considerably.

For 2008 there are a number of new Webkinz releases on the horizon, some already released into the market. This article will outline the known new releases as of the first quarter and forecast which Webkinz will be most in demand.

We have already seen some new releases hit the market for early 2008 including the highly anticipated seasonal Webkinz Love Frog. New for Valentine's Day, this February release will be very popular. If the Love Puppy is any indication, the Love Frog could become quite valuable in the future.

New webkinz that are already out or coming out soon include:

Love Frog
Schnauzer
Black and White Cheeky Dog
Black Poodle
Duck
Grey Arabian Horse
Grey Wolf
Himalayan Cat
Kangaroo
Pink and White Cat
Tie Dye Frog
Velvety Elephant

January also saw the release of the Webkinz figurines.

Expected New Webkinz releases for March include the Snake, Tiger, and Brown Dog.

Given the past price performance of the previously released "Cheeky" pets, it is expected that the Black and White Cheeky Dog will rise in value after retirement. Other plush that are predicted to remain in demand and see values go up are the Schnauzer, Kangaroo, and Pink and White Cat. These predictions are based on interest and resale performance following intial launch.

In conclusion, there are many new Webkinz in 2008 that should make it a great year for the Webkinz enthusiast.

Joe Moz writes for CuteCritterz.com, a rapidly growing website for finding deals on new Webkinz and retired Webkinz.

Do You Know The Best Toys For 4 Year Old Boys?

By Peter Craske

Introduction

Do you know the best toys for four year old boys? If your answer is no, then your not alone. Like many parents, in the past I have gone to my local toy store with some idea of what I am after for my son's birthday, almost certainly after prompting him for ideas only weeks before.

But are these the best toys that are on offer? What factors define how good a toy actually is? When I questioned my son about his choice of birthday toy it became clear that he had been influenced to a large extent the television!! How do you think you could make a better choice for your child? Having read a recent article I now try to buy toys for my son with the following two factors in mind. Let me explain.

First and foremost I try to ensure any toy I buy has some educational value. This very important as children are nearly always willing to learn new ideas and there can be no better way to do this than through play. A good toy for a 4 year old boy might be a wooden train set for example. This could then lead to a parent teaching the child more about trains through rides, steam train trips, general conversation and discussion about travel, etc., the learning possibilities are endless. Once you have got your child hooked on a particular topic you are away.

Secondly, I strongly believe toys should also have some kind of family bonding value if at all possible. We are so much of a computer generation these days that this kind of family social interaction has largely disappeared. One of the best toys that I have bought my son recently has been a model airplane. Again, this toy is educational but furthermore it has a second benefit. Whenever we want to play with it the whole family gets to go on a little outing to the park, which is great for "family bonding". Even the dog seems to sense where are going as soon as I get the plane out the toy cupboard!

Conclusion

To make the suggestions above workable, ask your child to suggest several different his best toys that he would like for his birthday/Christmas present. Then all you need to do is go down the list and choose the ones that you feel are the "best toys for four year old boys" in this case, because they fit the criteria of being educational and inspiring. If you can find a toy that involves of all of the family, all the better.

Learn more about best toys for 4 year old boys.

Kids and Teens - Let Kids Have Fun

By Rosalie Lynch

Did you know that some school districts are banning games during recess? Would you believe that touch football, soccer, tag and dodgeball have been "outlawed"? The reason the states give is: kids may get bruised, twist an ankle or even break a leg or an arm.

A "Tween" boy went to a boy scout meeting with a big bandage on his forehead. Of course, all of the other boys gathered around him and wanted to know what happened. The Tween boy was so proud in getting the attention of his peers and was more than happy to tell his story about the adventure he had and how he got hurt. The number one question from the other boys was "does it hurt" and the boy said "no".

The generation "Tweens" is probably the first generation that grew up with legally have to sit in carseats from day one of their adventure on this Earth; can not gain permission from parents to get on their bikes and run around their neighborhood; go outside and play with the other kids without one of the parents sitting out in the driveway watching the kids for their safety.

These kids can not even stand at the school bus stop without a teacher or a parent standing around them. You can not tell me that some of the childhood memories were taken away from them. I'm going to watch this generation for quite a few years to see what impact all of these safety procedures will make in their life as adults.

Rosalie Lynch is a Certified Life Coach who works with parents and kids in figuring out how to live together. You are invited to check out the blog "The Kids Speak Out" at http://www.uachieve.blogs.com/kids

Teaching Kids About Money

By Jenny Ford

Teaching kids about money isn't as complicated, or as difficult as we sometimes think. Kids can absorb incredibly complex ideas - think about the arcane rules of some of the computer games they play, for example!
You can break money ideas down into simple words, and use examples from everyday life.
When our girls started a rat-breeding business, they were paying interest on their start-up loan out of their pocket money. (The full story is at Cash-Smart Kids) Two of them wanted to pay back the money faster by repaying principal as well as paying interest, and one didn't. When you are teaching kids about money, situations like this are an opportunity to demonstrate money concepts.
We discussed the possibilities, and they all agreed that the one who didn't want to pay extra could become an employee instead of a business owner. This gave them the chance to explore the differences between owning a business and having a job.
Every time the cages were cleaned, the employee was paid $2, whether there was profit or not. But then, when there was profit to be distributed, the other two would get $20 or $30 each, and the employee would get nothing.
We explained as we went why things were different for owners compared with employees, and they all understood that it was fair. Even at age nine or ten, they could grasp the principles - the owner takes risk and does work for free now in the hopes of a big reward later, while the employee gets paid every time they work, but doesn't get to share the profits.
We compared each situation in their little enterprise with full-sized businesses they knew, so they understood that this is exactly what happens in the adult world.
Opportunities for teaching kids about money are everywhere. Accounting for their allowance money, attending a garage sale, buying a new sofa, and managing their cell phone expenditure can all provide important lessons. Free book to download - Finding The Right Niche For Your Cash-Smart Kid
Free email course - Get Started! How To Start A Money-Making Web Site For Your Child

Jenny Ford is an expert in educating children about business and wealth creation. She is one of the founders of Cash-Smart Kids.
She holds an Honours degree in Psychology, a Diploma in Training and Assessment Systems, and an Advanced Diploma in Business Management. She is the mother of three young entrepreneurs, all of whom started successful businesses when they were nine to twelve years old. Kids Money Articles Review by Jenny Ford

Action Tramps Climbing Frames

By Rob David Stone

Wooden climbing frames different to metal ones, in that they have an old fashioned look which goes well in any garden and contain many more features compared to metal climbing frames which generally only have a couple of swings, metal bars and plastic tubes which we may remember from being a child ourselves. On wooden climbing frames, similar to those you see in pub gardens there are so many features that parents have increasingly been looking at add-ons as there are so many to choose from.

Depending on price, depends on what features are included but even the cheapest wooden frame contains more fun than any games console or TV program could compete with. These includes wooden swings, commando climbing ropes, raised platforms, sandpits, wooden bridges and windy slides. All these activities are integrated into towers which are approved by the European Safety standards as the pine used to make the structures has preservative already applied upon assembly. As well as smooth planed, they have rounded edges and a very good reputation to not splinter or warp in rain and sun.

When a climbing frame is delivered to the customer it requires 2 or more people to assemble for safety reasons and ease or construction. Before buying, the garden should be measured to see what size climbing frame it can take. There are sizes for small and big gardens alike so size is not usually a issue. What needs to be remembered is that a area around the edge will be needed for safety and access, usually around 1.5 meters for the edge and 2.0 - 2.5 meters behind swings and ropes in case of feet getting caught on fences or to prevent anyone being struck if they happen to be walking behind.

Each part of the climbing frame comes flat packed, with predrilled holes and bolts already galvanised. A small range of tools is usually required as well as good light and a few hours to complete the assembly. Instructions are usually very detailed but easy to follow, with flat grounded required and the structure to be away from sharp objects, rubble and dirty so best to be placed on grass. The quality of these climbing frames is of the highest quality, and defiantly a case of you get what you pay for with no cheap alternatives. When it comes to outdoor toys for children, there certainly should be no cutting corner which is certainly not the case here either. All frames usually come with 10 years warranty and a shorter warranty for individual add-ons.

With the fun that children can have with wooden climbing frames, playhouses, trampolines and many more outdoor toys, they are a very good investment. The joy of seeing the youngsters running around while you sit back and make the most of the quiet indoors, also pays dividens. As well as the fact that many outdoor toys are designed to blend into the garden and built to last, they can be something which can be used throughout the generations to come.

For more information on wooden climbing frames, see our website at http://idealfun.co.uk/

Kids and Teens - Just How Smart Is Your Kid?

By Rosalie Lynch

This is very scary. If judged only by their IQ scores, kids today are smarter than any gereration since IQ testing began. We all think our kids and/or grandkids are the smartest kidd walking on this Earth. Believe it or not it now appears to be true. It is believe that this is attributed to: a richer intellectual environment; smaller families; testing dexterity and possibly genes. I used to ask my grandson "How did you get so smart?" and his answer was always "It's my brain, grandma".

My only concern is if the teachers are able to keep up with these intelligent kids. I have experienced some teachers that are lost when it comes to relating to kids in their classrooms (sorry teachers). I hate to categorize it this way, but it appears with some teachers the only way they know to relate to some of the kids in the classroom, who are completely bored with the average teaching that has been in place for generations, is to bully the student. At this point, it is the responsibility of the parent to check on the teachers to make sure their kids are being taught in the best way possible; considering our kids are getting smarter each and every day. Let's not, as adults, stay complacent and think kids today can be taught the same way we were taught.

One mom explained to me that she believes the teachers are only teaching the kids what they need to know in order to achieve high SAT scores to ensure state and federal financial support. That is truly a disappointment if indeed that is true. An easy answer for schools is to push the kids ahead in the "advanced" courses. Some kids are not mature enough to handle "advanced" courses even though their brains may be ready. As it turns out kids are struggling with "advanced" courses because they are not mature enough to plan their time; their concentration has not been developed to figure out how to get all of their school work completed; and the kids gets emotional about not being able to keep up.

Rosalie Lynch is a Certified Life Coach who works with parents and kids in figuring out how to live together. You are invited to check out the blog "The Kids Speak Out" at http://www.uachieve.blogs.com/kids

Teenagers And Driving - Who Should Pay For The Cost Of A Car For Your Teen?

By Connie Ragen Green

When your teenager begins driving, you may decide that it would be a good idea for them to have their own car. But first you must consider the cost of purchasing a car, and see if it fits into your budget.

You may have already discussed this issue as a family. Perhaps you have been planning for this day for several years and it is now time to make the purchase. Many people do not give this matter any thought at all until the time comes to decide what they should do.

Sit down with your teenager and have a frank discussion. Talk about the pros and cons of purchasing a car for them to drive. Get input from your teen and anyone else who is a decision maker in your family. If your teen has a job, they should have been putting money away to help with this expense. You may want to match them by paying for half of the cost of the car. There is also the matter of costs associated with owning a car. You must decide who will pay for gasoline, insurance and maintenance for the car. Then there is the issue of deicing what kind of car to buy. Your teen may have their eye on a very different make and model than you do.

Spend some time looking for a car together as a family once you have made the decision to actually buy one. Your teenager will want to have an active role in all of this, and will most likely be able to give you information about various types of cars. Make choosing the car a family event and you will have a better experience and enjoyable memories for years to come.

And now I invite you to join me for free weekly teleseminars that will teach you how to write, market, and sell your articles and ebooks to increase your visibility, credibility and passive income by visiting http://www.EbookWritingandMarketingSecrets.com

Kids and Teens - Listening To Kids Is Very Simple To Kids

By Rosalie Lynch

Ask kids what one of their problems is that bothers them the most they will tell you: "getting people to listen to me when I speak". This is not just your "run of the mill" listening like we adults listen to our spouse; listen to the clergy on Sunday morning; your employer and your friends--no, indeed.

Believe it or not, it seems to be a different kind of listening to kids.

I will explain it the best way that a kid explained it to me. One day she was hanging around her mom in the kitchen, who was very busy preparing the family dinner. The daughter was talking away to her mom and her mom was just shaking her head "yes" or "no" and making sounds once in a while as if she was listening to her daughter talk. The daughter said, "Mom, listen to me!" The mom explained "I am, honey". The kid said, "no you are not - I want you to listen to me with your eyes".

Get it? When kids want to talk to you, they want you to take the time to look into their eyes so they have your attention. Let me say, I have known some kids who do not know "when to stop talking"--they just go and on. Before we endorse this kid's philosophy, we also acknowledge mom's and dad's have to do more than one thing at the same time. Parents have to choose when to give all of the attention to their kid talking and choose other times listening while doing other things. However, when the kids in your life takes the time to talk to you and if you sense it is important to the kids take the time to "listen to them with your eyes".

Rosalie Lynch is a Certified Life Coach who works with parents and kids in figuring out how to live together. You are invited to check out the blog "The Kids Speak Out" at http://www.uachieve.blogs.com/kids

Boredom Busters

By Angela Lewis

Many children are counting the remaining days of school and many parents are wondering how they will keep their children busy for two and a half months. Having structured, educational, and safe activities can keep children engaged as well as very entertained. While sending children to day camps or overnight camps may be costly for many families' budgets, there are many other fun-filled activities to keep their minds occupied.

Start a journal
Have the children start a journal for the summer. They can record daily activities or just write down their thoughts and feelings. This will keep them writing all summer long.

Start a collection
Being a "collector" is part of growing up. Have your child start a new collection over the summer. Ideas for collections would be: pop bottle lids, key chains, neat rocks, or shells.

Host a neighborhood Olympics
Gather the neighborhood children around for a morning of fun and laughter. Organize different games such as the 3-legged race or a jump rope contest. Enter as individuals or as a family. Give out replica medals to the winners.

Have the kids make dinner
Have your children make the menu for dinner, then take them to the store and buy the ingredients, and help them prepare dinner. This could be a great learning experience while you teach your children about measuring and the do's and don'ts of cooking.

Make a time capsule
Capture the moment! Have your child find a shoebox and include memorabilia from this summer. Include pictures, menus to show prices, favorite toys, and letters to the future. Mark "Don't open until the year 2015" on the box and decorate the outside.

Make a collage
Have your children find different little items in their room that represent themselves and glue the items on an unused Styrofoam meat tray. McDonald's toys, colored rocks, or other objects of interest would be great to use. Make sure to tell them to write their name in bright colored markers somewhere on the tray.

Take a field trip to China
Visit China by going to http://www.chinavista.com/travel/virtualtours.html Take a virtual tour by perusing through the photos and engage in reading about China. Follow-up by preparing rice and eating with chopsticks. Read the book Lon Po Po (the Chinese version of Little Red Riding Hood) and compare and contrast the two books. Go to http://chineseculture.about.com/library/name/blname.htm and see how your name is written in Chinese.

Have a post card scavenger hunt
Write a letter to friends or family members around the country. Ask them to send a postcard from their city or town. See how many postcards you can collect.

Have a camp out
Go camping in your own back yard! Pitch a tent, tell campfire stories, and even build a small fire if at all possible. Don't forget the marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers. Invite neighborhood friends for added fun.

Join a library summer reading program
Pittsburg Public Library has a summer reading program just for kids. This is free-of-charge and offers incentives for reading books. In addition, they offer a story hour where young kids listen to stories and make crafts.

Go on a nature hike
There are many different places where you can take your kids on a nature hike and you don't even have to travel very far! Wilderness Park in Frontenac, Kansas has a beautiful nature trail that can be enjoyed by your family. For the families that have an infant or a toddler that wouldn't be able to walk the entire trail, this is for you, too. The trail is very stroller friendly.

Go on a picnic
Going on a picnic can be a lot of fun for the entire family. Picking a park that has equipment or a lake would add more to do for the kids. Bring along the fishing poles and worms!

Visit the local museum
Visiting the Crawford County Historical Museum can be a very educational field trip for the kids. Put together a scavenger hunt and have them find various artifacts throughout the tour.

This is just a beginning of what you can do with your children over the summer. It is very important to keep them learning throughout the summer. As we all know, learning can be fun!

Angela Martino-Lewis

Insuring Your Teenage Driver - How To Insure Your Teenager For Less Money

By Connie Ragen Green

Insuring your teenager to drive your car does not have to be a difficult process. This is something that should be discussed with your insurance agent before your teen even receives their driver's license. It is a good idea to sit down with your agent and discuss the different possibilities for adding your teenager to your auto insurance policy.

Many things will be taken into consideration by the insurance company. Even though each company has its own set of guidelines, there are many parts of the process that are common to all companies. When you have a licensed driver in your home the insurance company needs to get more information before adding them to the policy. The first thing they ask about is the driving record and age of the driver. Your teenager is most likely between the ages of sixteen and eighteen when they first start to drive. This fact is going to cost you some extra money.

Other questions that will come up are concerning the type of car your teen will be driving. This is why it is best to talk to your agent before you purchase a car for your teenager. They will rate the car according to the size of the engine, if it is considered to be a sports car, and if it is an automatic or manual transmission.

Find out if your insurance company gives a discount for higher grades in school or credit for having completed driver's education or other type of driving course. Your agent should be able to answer these questions for you when you meet with them.

And now I invite you to join me for free weekly teleseminars that will teach you how to write, market, and sell your articles and ebooks to increase your visibility, credibility and passive income by visiting http://www.EbookWritingandMarketingSecrets.com

Lego - Long Lasting Educational Toys

By Candy Law

As parents, we want the best for our children - a safe 'warm' home and society, a healthy balance diet and a challenging learning environment to make sure they get all the opportunity to grow up progressively.

Toys will be our children's first learning equipment. Learning in the early years are important, acquiring skill such as visual tracking, eye-hand coordination, shape & color recognition, motor skills and etc will be the foundation for future learning. While our children are growing, we would have bought many toys, educational or non-educational, but the main goal of playing with these toys is to provide lots of fun for them. They will unknowingly acquire many skills along the way. They learn best when they are having fun.

Choosing the right toys to encourage and motivate children learning is important and also quite difficult at times. What toys can we buy for them so they can have fun and also learn at the same time?

Poorly built and sub standard toys hardly stand a chance in the hands of curious and fun loving children these days. Lego toys are quality assured, common and well-known, long lasting, and readily available at local shops and online stores. They are the only educational toys I have seen in my house that last longer that anything else my children have.

Lego provides fresh ideas to children, stimulates them to be creative, they work as a team patiently and will be confident with what they have accomplished. Kids also tend to play with Lego over and over again, coming up with different designs and builds all the time. As long as we keep and maintain the interest in our children to play and learn, they will keep this momentum through the rest of their growing lives.

Lego will provide years of fun and learning activities for our children, and their children too!

Candy Law owns and promotes Cheeky Junior online toy shop that offers a wide range of very good priced Lego and quality educational toys in Australia.

Extracurricular Activities Can Help Your Teen Prepare for the Real World

By Jennifer Wasilewski

Involvement in academic and athletic extracurricular activities is a big part of your teen's highschool years. It gives them a chance to express them selves by participating in one of the various programs the school or your community offers. It's true that this is an excellent way to help teens make friends with like minded peers while learning valuable social skills. However, the benefits don't stop when they walk across the stage and receive their diploma. Many students will go on to enter the work place or further their education. It is on these places that the skills they learn will give them the edge they need to make their way in an adult world.

Team Work: One of the biggest things employers look for in job candidates is their willingness to work as a team. Team work is often emphasized in college and universities classrooms where professors know and therefore teach it's importance in the real world. What can prepare your son or daughter more about team work than actually being part of a team. Being part of a team helps them hone the skills necessary to interact with their peers in a respectful manner.

Goals: As a member of a sports team or club, your child will be responsible for meeting individual or group goals. For this reason, extracurricular activities is an excellent way to help your teen learn the fundamentals of goal building, something that is necessary in the work place. Goals help the individual keep site of where they are and where they would like to be.

Responsibilities: As an active member of a team or club, individuals are held responsible for things like attendance and participation. When a member doesn't respect their responsibilities they will face consequences much like an adult would in the work place. Failure to be responsible can get you benched or suspended from team activities and in the workplace it could get you fired. Students who learn to take their responsibility seriously will carry that into their careers.

Respect for Rules: Sure you may have rules that your son or daughter must follow but it's the outside world that really teaches them the importance of following rules. Rules, much like responsibilities, can make or break a persons career. When rules are not followed on the field it will result in penalties that will effect their play. Likewise, rules in the work place must be followed to make sure the weeks end bring a pay check and not a pink slip.

Conflict Resolution: When two or more people work together for a common purpose there are bound to be conflicts. Since each individual sees the world through their own eyes, not everyone will approach problems the same way. This is very true when it comes to extracurricular activities. While one student may feel a particular play is the best option, another student may believe there is a better way to reach the goal. Ultimately, for the team or club to succeed there will have to be a conflict resolution. This is a very important part of work place success and therefore learning it early on can save your teen from problems in the future.

Resume Building: Whether it's their college application or a job resume, extracurricular activities along with academic performance will put your teen at an advantage. To employers involvement in these shows the individual was able to balance work and play. In other words, they were able to take on various projects at the same time, something that is very important in the work force.

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Turning Childrens Chores Into Child's Play

By Ron Maiers

Does this sound familiar? You are not alone. This is a common question voiced by parents around the world. Unless something is done early on it only gets worse as they move into the teenage years. What can be done? You've tired nagging. You've tried grounding. You've even tried pleading, though you may not admit to it. Here are some ideas to help you motivate your child to keep their room tidy and clothes in the closet where they belong. By starting at an early age you can avoid the teenage disaster zones that have been foretold. Three great ways to motivate your tykes to be tidier are to give verbal encouragement, make it fun, and reward them for a job well done.

Studies have shown that kids respond more positively to words of encouragement instead of criticism. Think about the kind of encouragement you appreciate from your boss or co-workers and pay it forward to your kids. Praise them when they do remember to clean up or at least get something on a hanger. Remember to be sincere. Keep from going overboard and gushing praise; you risk creating the opposite effect. Encouragement can also include explaining the benefits of having a tidy room, such as being able to find toys, having space to play, and making it inviting for other kids to come over and enjoy.

Kids are more likely to participate in clean up if you make a game out of it. A great clean up game to play with younger kids is to have them clean up things in categories like colors, starts with, or sounds like. You will need to start out playing the games with them until the clean up becomes a habit. Make the closet a fun place. Decorate it with their favourite theme. Closet organizers help make sense out of the mayhem of clothing. Standard hangers may not fit your kids clothes, however many stores now carry children's hangers more suitable to a smaller garment. These also come in different colors or themes and make sorting clothes easier. Create colourful tags and label drawers and shelves for shirts, pants, and sweaters.

You and your child can have fun creating a progress chart. Hang the chart on the inside of their door so they see it before they leave their room. Each time they put away their clothes, hang up their shirt, or put dirty clothes in the hamper a sticker goes on the chart. The chart will help you and your child keep track of their progress and let them know how close they are to receiving their reward for a job well done. Everyone likes to receive gifts, but a well earned reward is a lot more enjoyable. Rewards don't always have to be toys. Other ideas might include a trip to the children's museum or science center, a night at the movies, or a slumber party on their tidy bedroom floor.

This may seem like a lot of time and effort on your part, but consider it an investment. In the long run you will have helped your child to develop lifelong organizational skills. Keeping a room clean doesn't always have to be a chore. Encourage and praise your kids when they do clean up, make it fun with games and decor, and help them chart their progress and reach their goal. You might even have fun too.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the President of Everything Hangers, a leading online provider of childrens hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.everythinghangers.com.

ADD and Troubled Teens

By Marcelina Hardy

Attention Deficient Disorder (ADD) and troubled teens is increasing in popularity. Over the years, more teenagers are diagnosed with ADD because research has shown the signs that we have missed. Many teens with ADD end up exhibiting deviant behavior because of the symptoms they experience from their behavior disorder.

Symptoms of ADD and Troubled Teens

Children and teenagers with ADD experience difficulties at home and in school. They deal with symptoms of this inattention disorder everyday which makes it hard for them to live a normal life. Symptoms associated with this inattention issue include being unable to focus for long periods of time, remembering information and organizing thoughts. When a child experiences these issues, they have difficulty staying on task and find following instructions challenging and uninteresting.
This inattention causes problems in school because teenagers are unable to follow through with schoolwork resulting in poor grades. They receive pressure from their teachers and parents who do not understand why they are falling behind. Since the teen is not receiving acceptance from the teacher or parent, he or she turns to peer groups who may cause the teen to engage in deviant behavior.

Impulsivity is another common problem with this disorder. Teenagers with ADD do not think before acting. Because of this, they may not make wise decisions and do whatever comes to mind. They may say things to others that are insensitive because they speak before they think about how it will affect others.

Peer groups will encourage the teen to take part in criminal and deviant behavior. Since the teenager is already experiencing impulsivity the teenager will follow through with the peers' demands without thinking it through. This leads to continued troubled teen behavior.

Treating the ADD symptoms in troubled teens is the first step in getting teens out of trouble.

Counseling and medication are available that will be able to treat the symptoms. Ask your healthcare professional about the possibility of the link between ADD and troubled teen behavior for your teen.

Marcelina Hardy is a freelance writer who specializes in relationships, adolescence, and mental illness. Visit http://WriterMLH.googlepages.com for information.

Webkinz Holiday Recipes

By Anthony Tripp

Do you plan on doing something special for your Webkinz this holiday season? I did. I got my kids to sit around the computer with me one morning and told them that their Webkinz were going to have a big Christmas Eve Party.

Next I got a Christmas tree and gathered all of their Webkinz together into one room with plans of making them some holiday food. But to my surprise there really aren't any Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa Webkinz Recipes. I was surprised because on Halloween, I treated my Webkinz to Halloweenog. I think for Christmas, I'm going to have to improvise.

Maybe I could start with something like Hot Cocoa. That's a festive holiday drink. But since I was set on making Webkinz Recipes maybe there was a Cocoa like recipe that I could try. I took a quick look at a list of recipes that I've been meaning to try and saw Hot Marshmallow. It's made with Marshmallows, Milk and a Chocolate Bar in the blender. Sounds like fancy hot cocoa to me. We went to the W. Shop and bought 5 Marshmallows, 5 Milks and 5 Chocolate Bars so we could make Hot Marshmallow for each Webkinz.

After my daughter clicked the blend button we saw that Hot Marshmallow looked more like a big meatloaf than a festive holiday drink. But everyone was happy when we fed it to the Webkinz and they said it was Mmmmm to to max!

Dead set on serving hot chocolaty drink, I tried again. Ah-ha, I found a recipe for Trippple Hot Chocolate. With three P's it's got to be good. So we loaded the blender with Chocolate Milk, Hot Cocoa and a Chocolate Bar. Yes, Trippple Hot Chocolate was perfect.

Now that the Webkinz had a hot drink, it was time for a hot meal. Zazzeloop Soup is pretty festive looking with it's little Christmas trees on top so we ran out to the W. Shop again to buy some Pizza, Lollipops and Tomato Soup. Zazzeloop Soup is a stove/grill/cauldron recipe but we decided to use the stove.

Voila, Zazzeloop Soup! Now we were on a roll. Most of the Webkinz' Hunger Meters were way up in the 90s. I think I even saw a few of them loosen their belts. Well, not really but I told the kids that anyway.

After watching a little Chef Gazpacho on the flat screen we decided the party was over. We had a real holiday get together with the kids' Grandma in a few hours so it was time to start getting ready. We walked each of the Webkinz back to their rooms and put them to bed. Our little holiday party made the Webkinz Happy, Healthy and maxed out their Hunger Meters. And I think that if my kids had Happy Meters, they would have been maxed out too.

Anthony Tripp had two kids who are big Webkinz fans and had to learn a lot about the lovable plush toys and their online virtual counterparts in order to answer their many, many questions. He's also sharing everything he learns including Webkinz Recipes, tips for earning KinzCash and much more at his Webkinz Blog, http://www.webkinztoday.com/

Retired Webkinz - The Complete List Revealed

By Goldman Stone

Does your local gift store still seem to have the same old Webkinz sitting on the shelf? You just may want to take a closer look once you've read this story.

Retired Webkinz Cheap: I was talking to a friend of mine the other day who is an avid ebay seller and she told me the most incredible account of a recent Webkinz purchase she had made. A few months back she walked into a local store and noticed the shopkeeper marking down a bunch Webkinz toys. The strange thing was that most of them were identical and the shopkeeper was marking everything down to get rid of them as they had these in back of the store for quite some time.

The shopkeeper commented that they just weren't selling many (although the store wasn't even advertising that they carried Webkinz) and they wanted to just get rid of them. What the shopkeeper didn't realize was that these were the retired Webkinz Cheeky Cat and Cheeky Dog!

In fact, there were nine of them total, and being an astute shopper my friend generously offered to by all of them for an additional bulk discount and take them off the shopkeepers hands. Flash forward a few months that $80 purchase turned into over $2,000 in sales on ebay! And after sharing this story with a few close friends, I'm finding that this scenario commonly replays itself around the country every day, so make sure to keep you eyes open for what's hot and you just may find yourself at the right place at the right time.

Here's the List of Retired (and Rare) Webkinz to Watch for:



Basset Hound

Brown Horse

Cheeky Cat

Cheeky Dog

Gold & White Cat

Gorilla

Gray & White Cat

Love Puppy

Pegasus

Sherbet Bunny

Unicorn

Tip: It's important to make sure that the code for the Webkinz you are buying has NOT been used. A Webkinz with a used tag code is not worth nearly as much! Plus, you need to be careful of flea market knock-off products too. Best bet is to buy from a legitimate trusted retailer, and if buying on ebay, someone with a solid level of good feedback selling Webkinz.

So next time you are at that little shop around the corner and you see that a bin full Webkinz, keep this list in mind, you just may find a diamond in the rough.

For more information check out Retired Webkinz for Sale or look them up on ebay.

Copyright Goldman Stone 2008. Please feel free to publish or redistribute this article as long as it is not modified and all URL's stay intact.

School Uniforms - Uniformity or Conformity?

By Jan Gamm

The recent hoo-ha raging in Germany over the introduction of experimental uniform policies in one or two German schools in Spandau sparks off yet another emotionally charged lesson in conformity; or non-conformity, depending on your point of view.

Basic objections of the average German parent seem to be founded in unpleasant reminders of the Nazi party regalia. This is an interesting departure from the American argument, which principally champions the right of pupils to dress like punk rockers, which evidently makes the average student feel more confident and boosts a sense of individuality.

I still think our students are smart enough to find out what pushes our parental buttons. They then proceed to push them mercilessly, in pursuit of freedom from woolly skirts and silly hats and who could blame them?

In the bad old days when students were expected to obey school regulations without question, such niceties as confidence boosting trainers and designer jewellery were considered to be somewhat off the menu so we all resolutely and bravely wore our navy blue gym knickers with pride.

As an ex-wearer of one of the most hateful uniform combinations possible, I feel I should point out that at no time did the chafing of my regulation flannel sports culottes incite a feeling of fascist revulsion. Neither did I care whether my school scarf undermined my human rights. My only motive was comfort and most of my uniform provided me with enough warmth and freedom of movement to provide that amply.

Whether uniforms are brought back into regulation or not, it is refreshing that our students feel they can object and argue so vigorously without fear of reprisal. I have no doubt that any untoward remark made to any of my ex headmistresses on the subject of uniform would have resulted in stern admonishment. However, it would be even more satisfying if such efforts were expended upon academic commitments both by pupils and parents, instead of the crusade to win the uniform debate.

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.

Technology for Teens

By Logan S

Modern teenagers are power technology users. Teens consume technology and electronics for hours upon hours.

Making the right decisions about which electronics and technologies to buy for teens is difficult. As with most purchases, cost of technology is also a big factor.

Computers and Laptops

As kids grow up and become teenagers, they require more and more technology. Schools assign teens homework that needs to be done on the computer. There has been an explosion in social networking sites, blogging, and instant messaging. Before you know it, the teen has taken over the family computer.

Should a teenager have his own computer? That decision is up to the teenager and his family. But once the decision to buy the teenager a computer of his own is made then the family should make sure that the system integrates well with the family's existing technology. The parents should know how to use the teens computer operating system.

The Technology of Music

Mp3 players come in all shapes and sizes and every teen seems to have one. But they are not all created equal. In order to pick the right music technology for your teen you should careful thought to the music service and type of music files your teen is going to use.

Apple's music service, called iTunes encodes all downloads in .aac extension and plays only AAC and mp3 files. An iPod can play these music files but some other players may not be able to.

Music files come in many formats so you need to ensure that the music player that you choose for your teen is compatible with the music files that you already have. If you have a digital music player of your own you will want to make sure that it plays the same type of music files as your teen's music player.

Gaming Systems

Between the Nintendo Wii, Playstation, Xbox and a variety of handheld devices, there is a lot of video game technology for your teen to choose from. This decision is largely one of personal preference. But to get the best value your teen should be satisfied with their decision for many years to come.

One key point to remember is that the newer versions of game systems are generally compatible with their older counterparts. Which means that a PlayStation 3 console can play PlayStation 2 games but not vice versa.

The Price of Technology

The latest technology can cost a bundle. So, it is important to set limits on how much your teen can spend on technology. One way to cut technology costs is to make sure that all family members are using the same technologies. Once you make the investment in the hardware then the family can share the add ons like software, games, and music (subject to licensing requirements and copyrights, of course).

However, the price of technology can be looked at as an investment in a teenager's overall education.

Please visit http://technology-for-teens.blogspot.com for more great information.

Choosing the Right Toy to Give Your Child

By Stephanie Foster

Shopping for kids can be a bit difficult sometimes. This is especially true if you get stuck shopping at the last minute, and what you thought you would buy isn't available. There are a few options to handle this kind of a situation. You can keep hunting all over town, check to see what is available online, or give your child a lesson in patience or not getting what he or she wants.

Driving all over town is often much too time consuming, not to mention plain exhausting. It's rarely your best choice these days, unless you can call a store and get them to promise to hold the toy for you should it be in stock at a distant location. This can be a bit risky, since the toys sometimes are not held, and you can drive a distance just to find out that it's gone.

Shopping online has its advantages. Auction websites often have toys available that you cannot find anywhere else. If the toy is too popular you may have to pay a premium price for it, but it can be worth it if this is what will make your child truly happy.

Giving your child a lesson in patience can be very much worthwhile if you know the item should be available again in a couple weeks or months. Few popular toys vanish permanently from the store shelves. It happens some of the time, but not so often that it's your only choice to pay a high price for a particular toy.

You can also give a lesson in how marketing can make a toy more seem interesting than it really is. This can be particularly effective if one of your child's friends gets the toy. Your child can find out first hand what someone else really thinks of it, not just right away but over a few weeks. This can be a great lesson in how marketing makes people perceive things. It probably won't stop the "I want's" but it gives you some ammunition against them.

But there is certainly something to be said for finding that hard to get toy. There's the light in your child's eye as they open the one present they really, truly wanted. That's a hard thing to give up sometimes, even when the lesson is good. The younger the child the harder the lesson can be to understand, and you have to use your judgement to decide if it's time for that kind of a lesson.

Stephanie Foster runs http://www.buypopulartoys.com/ as a resource to find some of the more popular toys that are hard to find. You can find toys such as the Nintendo Wii console at her site.

Child Development

By Jose' Rocha

This means that parents should constantly be teaching their children and ensuring they get the proper education because learning is a very important aspect of child development.

Child development covers the growth of a child all the way up until adolescence and this development is very important to society because of the cognitive, educational, and emotional development a child undergoes in order to be a productive member of society. Studying how a child develops is especially important since it results in the creation of developmentally appropriate programs within school systems. Even toy companies must know at what point children are developmentally at certain ages so that they can make their toys appropriate for the certain age groups. One can't expect a two year old to play video games with numbers and letters, but they can expect a 5 to 6 year old to successfully play the game.


These phases in which children are learning to do things such as read and write are considered milestones. Even walking is considered a milestone along with various phases in physical development and these milestones become a huge focus in the stages of child development. Accomplishments such as hand-eye coordination, talking, walking, and learning how to solve a problem are all milestones in child development that must be noted by parents.

When parents are aware of what the age-specific milestones are, they are able to keep track of the child's development and know that the child is either exceeding or meeting where they should be at specific points in their development. Some of the crucial parts of development that needs to be monitored are: problem-solving, social skills, patience, and creativity. Teaching these traits to children at a young age and practicing them frequently can result in proper development of these traits. If it is noticed that despite the teaching the child is not picking these necessary traits up, that may be indicative of a development delay, which is a common concern in child development.

If such a delay is occurring, it can be helped through early intervention in the form of therapy and delay. Although it may never be completely eradicated since a developmental delay is more or less a life-long disability. The good news is that the training and education opportunities are expanding as are the knowledge of those teaching these programs. There seems to have been an increase in those wanting to become involved with aiding those with developmental delays and helping them become functional members of society despite their disability.

So as you can see, child development is very important and knowing the phases of child development and their milestones is important for society to understand. Anytime there is a delay in activities such as the transfer of objects from one hand to the other at 6 months of age, for instance, there is need for further evaluation by the parents and this information should be presented to the baby's pediatrician. If other delays occur in development such as not crawling by 9 to 10 months, something may be going on that with early intervention can become less severe in the child's life.

Basically what it comes down to is educating parents on the stages of child development, what to look for to identify a developmental delay, and knowing what to do if there is one. Child development is very important to the child and society, so having the appropriate knowledge is very crucial in many ways.

Your child's development is important and here at child font, each lesson builds on skills from the previous lesson; home schooling has never looked brighter: Child Font - the art of reading and writing.

Stages of Play

By Viola Ramseyer

Children go through different stages of play as they grow and develop. Very young infants only have the ability to attend to one object at a time. Once an object is out of their sight, it is quickly forgotten. Infants play by themselves because they are so busy exploring and discovering their new world. Every new object or situation that is introduced is a new learning experience for the newborn. This very first stage of play is called "Solitary Play" or independent play. They are fully engaged in gathering information and storing it for further use. This stage of play lasts until some where around nine months. This is a very self centered time for the developing infant.

The second stage of play begins to ripen in slightly older children usually by the time a child is two years of age. "Parallel Play" is typical of this age child. This kind of play involves two or more children in the same room. They are interested in the same toys and both see the toy as belonging to them. Hence they maybe in the same area and play with similar toys, but they do not play together. They are playing along side each other simply because they are in the same area.

When children extend their knowledge and play experiences they move into "Associative Play". In this stage, three and four year old children begin playing together but it is a loosely organized fashion. The more mature child soon emerges as the leader or organizer in this stage of play. They see themselves as capable and able to tell others what to do, the younger child seldom questions this authority that the more mature child has cultivated.

Finally the child expands into "Cooperative Play" somewhere between the ages of four or five. Cooperative play takes place between two or more children as they grow and develop socially and emotionally. In cooperative play, children exchange ideas about the game or the toy they are playing with at that moment in time. Rules tend to still be very loosely constructed, but children know who is playing which role in their game. Play may last only a few minutes or it may stretch out for longer periods of time. Gradually they learn to respect the property rights of others. This is a clue that they are gaining social skills; at this same time they begin to understand that they need permission to play with certain materials and certain people. They are also more willing to share their toys for the sake of the game. Communication about the play is the critical point of cooperative play.

It is important to note that children differ widely according to birth order within their own families. Boys and girls develop in different areas at different stages of their life, so there is never complete adherence to any of these exact ages. Not all children move through the stages at the same rate, because children who have more life experiences tend to emerge as leaders or organizers at younger ages. Confidence, shyness, and other personality traits factor into these stages of play.

*Specialist in Early Childhood Development http://www.playfulwoodentoys.com

I'm Bored

By Jennifer Weir

What is there to do? We're bored! Sound familiar? Well, in our home these are foreign words. They are words that are not allowed to be uttered in front of an adult for fear it might come back to them in the form of some dreaded weed pulling or other house work. Well, these were words I have heard a little too often this summer from friends who have frequented our house. On one such occasion, one of the little treasures proceeded to tell me she NEEEDED a Nintendo DS because she gets so bored at home.

Needed?

She explained that there's nothing to do at home and after all a person could only watch so much tv. Seriously? You're 6! How is it possible that the world is so dull to you already that you need constant stimulation? How did these children become so jaded at such a young age. When I was a kid, especially at my grandma's house, you never said you were bored or asked to watch tv. You would wind up with a rag in one hand and Pledge in the other. Oh and by the way, you didn't get paid for it. Can you imagine the child abuse that went on?? How cruel and cold the world was for my generation.

As I thought about this interaction of needs and desires of 6 year olds, I was reminded of a batch e-mail that went out awhile back. It said something to the effect of those of us in my generation, born before 1980, were some of the most creative, inventive, and adventurous people the planet has known. Now, I realized that sounds a bit arrogant, but hear me out. As a whole, my generation tended to take risks. Remember sitting in the back of pick up trucks, all the way to San Francisco?

That one was for my mom. Remember no seat belts? Remember to cherry drop flips off the monkey bars over concrete? I imagine there were a few head injuries, but we weren't so fearful. I grew up in So. Cal, and we would spend hours at the beach. This is were I learned to swim. We would go and play in the water, my mom may have been in the water or not.

As I got older I am sure she hung out on the beach a little and swam a little, meaning there were times when I could go in the water by myself. My friends and I would go in, body surf and get out only to find ourselves four or five life-guard stations away from where we started. Can anyone relate? As I write this, I cringe to think about my little ones swimming alone at the beach. Mostly because of all the trash and needles they may encounter. I want them to be risk takers. I want them to have a lust for life and all that this life has to offer. As it is now one of my children is cautious to a fault. Maybe he will just be a conservative little adult. One of my other children on the other hand is a certified risk taker. She's frightening really. And, as always, the verdict is still out on tiny.

I realize I want my children to take risks, and to enjoy this life that God has given them. As I pray daily for our children, one of my prayers is they would use the wisdom God has given them in order to discern whether a risk is worth it. I sit here and try to imagine what that might be. Sky diving? Base jumping? Leaving everything and becoming a missionary in the deepest darkest places of the world? Who knows.

I pray they would not be conformed to the patterns of the world around them, playing mind numbing games for hours, or watching mindless tv for longer than that. Or worse yet, sitting around saying "I'm bored!" Being bored should be illegal. I can just imagine getting a ticket for uttering those dreadful words. Eventually, the penalty may be one couldn't buy video games, or movies, or pool toys again because they have allowed themselves to have a lack of imagination. Yes you heard me, I believe pool toys create a lack of imagination. I have only heard one time kids playing Marco Polo.

Maybe it's unsafe.

You know having your eyes closed and wandering around a pool. Who knows. In any case, the food for thought may be, are we raising namby pamby boring people who never think outside the box, therefore making this the safest yet dullest time the world has ever known? As a self proclaimed adventure girl, I shutter to think of such a tragedy!

When It Comes To Buying New Webkinz Toys, What Are The Different Types Out There?

By Neil Day

If you have been living under a rock for the past year, you might not have heard about the new Webkinz stuffed animal toys, and how they have become so popular among kids around the world lately. Kids love them because they are adorable and plush stuffed animals that they can play with. Due to this surge of popularity, many parents are now concerned with their children.

The most unique feature with these types of new Webkinz toys is that you get a code with each toy, where you can access the Webkinz world website online and you can play, bathe and feed your toy.

There are a lot of different types of new Webkinz critters to get. The most popular of them is the Black Bear, a cute little bear with black fur, as well as a brown face and brown ears. The Black Bear comes with a cave bed when you buy it. Its favorite food is the honeybee roast.

Another favorite is the Frog, green-colored on top while white on the bottom. You receive a lily pad water bed with its purchase. The favorite food of the Frog Webkinz is buggy jelly. The Golden Retriever is another popular one in thr range. A retriever treadmill comes with it and its favorite food is the marzipan bone. With the new Webkinz cow, a common black and white cow, you receive a milk truck. Its favorite food is candy grass.

Other types of new Webkinz animals to choose from are the White Terrier, Unicorn, Yellow Lab, Tree Frog, Spotted frog, Seal, Reindeer, Raccoon, Sherbet Bunny, Pug, Pig, Persian Cat, Penguin, Panda, Pegasus, Webkinz Love Puppy, Monkey, Lion, Leopard, Horse, Husky, Hippo, Gray and White Cat, Googles, Gorilla, Elephant, Chocolate Lab, Dalmatian, Curly Pink Poodle, Collie Dog, Cocker Spaniel, Clydesdale, Chihuahua, Cheeky Monkey, Cheeky Cat, Bulldog, Bullfrog, Black Stallion, Black Cat and the Arabian Horse.

All of these toys have their own different features as well as cute equipment. You can also play with them at the Webkinz World website. Some people love them so much that they constantly buy a lot of new Webkinz to complete their collection. But they may realize soon enough that it's quite a headache keeping up with and taking care of each one on the website. One is already even a lot of effort to take care of.

A great suggestion is to start with just one of the types of animals, and then try to see if you could manage them. You will know a lot about your new Webkinz toy and how to take care of them properly. Then you could start to get more toys as you move along. Don't rush, as you may have become too busy juggling your time between these very cute critters.

Before attempting to purchase any of the vast range of Webkinz stuffed animal toys available, you should decide which one you would want to get first. You could try to be unique, or you could ask your friends as well as your relatives what they got and what they recommend to you for your next new Webkinz purchase.

Want to know more about the new Webkinz animals you can now buy? Why is the Webkinz Polar Bear one of the best Webkinz toys produced yet? To find out more about the wonderful world of the new Webkinz 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.

The Simple Joy Of The Traditional Toy

By Gary Clay

As the years go by more and more people seem to be buying computer type toys for children. Traditional toys are considered somewhat old fashioned these days. Unfortunately, the age that the child will start with this piece of techno gadgetry would appear to be getting younger and younger. But at what cost?

Can you remember when you were that young and use to get down and dirty in the mud? Well I can. Many a warm summer's day was spent making mud pies or making pretend flower furniture for the fairies that I was convinced lived in our garden. So what happened? Well, sadly for the children, the world has gone techno crazy and many manufacturers are now aiming for the new and emerging market, the toddler. Take a moment and think about this. What do you looks more attractive? A child sitting in front of a TV or computer screen frantically pressing buttons in seemingly frenzied concentration, or a child sitting with dolly dressing and undressing it whilst having a long length discussion with it about what to wear to the next party etc? The choice is obvious.

Some traditional toy manufacturers have come up with innovative ways to lure back parents and the older generation to the world of 'real' toys. Some are educational (not a dirty word kids!) and help the child to learn whilst having fun. Surprisingly, some manufacturers have improved on the old wooden jigsaw puzzle. Gone are the days of the flat, sometimes bland, puzzle that used to cause endless hours of frustration and in it's place come the chunky, wooden jigsaws that piece together to make up into all kinds of interesting articles. These come in a variety of designs and provide endless hours of interesting and informative play for children (usually three years old).

Some jigsaw puzzles are in the form of a world map. Remember those geography lessons at school? Huge maps with tiny writing pinned up on dusty classroom walls, how uninspiring! Nowadays you can join in with the children and find out for yourselves where Chile is or Peru. All the pieces are marked with the country and there is no possibility of misplacing it 'a la' geography lesson style. These jigsaw puzzles also come in the form of individual countries such as France, Ireland or Great Britain. This well finished traditional toy can spur many a conversation between adult and child about where the country is, what grows there, how do we get there etc. Imagine having a jigsaw map of France before you embark on that road trip. The child will be able to tell you where you are going before you even set out!

It may be time to think twice about techno toys and wonder if it is the right thing for your child. Traditional toys will encourage individual thought and imagination and also teach the child to co-operate with others in play. This can only bode well for the future when the child has to intermingle with others.

Gary has a wealth of experience of Traditional Toys thanks to several years running the UK's favourite toy shop, Monkeyshine, the home of high quality children's toys. http://www.monkeyshine.co.uk

Kids Publish Instantly - Kids Can Publish Articles Too

By Kenton Verhoeff

When I first started writing, I wanted to do more than just write for class. My mom suggested I write articles about what interested me and publish them on EzineArticles. At first, I thought I'd have a hard time getting published, and it was a little difficult getting past "Mom the Editor." But, once I got past mom, it was pretty easy to get them published.

There were a few rejected articles at first, because I added links, misspelled links, or had a minor problem with an article, such as miscounting my bullet points, but in reality, it was all easy. And other people began to pickup my articles for publication. That was pretty awesome. At first I only had a Free Blog to send them to in my resource box, but then I got a regular website with my name on it.

I learned to write articles with:



high quality content (because ezine article rejects empty articles)



good grammar



accurate spelling



information about something other people would be interested in.



interactive links that showed value and information.

I wasn't sure what I could write about, but Mom helped me with that too. She suggested I write about what I do. I write, and I home school. I'm also interested in Komodo Dragons, so I created a free website about that. I included some of my other interests there, but I wanted my website to be more professional.

So I learned to write about important things, like:



education and what I was learning, but more importantly, what others could learn from me.



writing and how others could write too.



designing my website and how other kids could accomplish the same thing.



resources other people could use on their websites.



valuable information and content that other people would look for.

My website was simple, but ineffective at first, then I figured out I had a large audience, and that's when I started writing more articles, adding more to my website, and increasing the value of my links. So, for all of you out there who think just because you're twelve years old, you don't have anything of value to say, I've got news for you. Not only do you have something to say, but people want to read what you say, and they want to know more about what you're saying.

If you have something to say, write it into an article with some information about how others can accomplish their goals, write better articles, or achieve something important and write it down, in more than 250 words. If ezine articles thinks it isn't good enough, they'll reject it like your teacher at school and you can rewrite it. (The best part is, you don't flunk the class, you just rewrite your article.)

So, write articles and post them at EzineArticles.com and bring readers back to your website with a resource box that tells us about you.

Do you want to know what a resource box is? It's that blurb at the bottom of your article where you put your website link, your name, and some information about you, so people will click on your link and go back to your website.

Here, read mine:

Kenton Verhoeff home schools and sells his book "Corky the Happy Lizard" on his website at http://kentonverhoeff.com and you can learn how he does it by clicking on his link.

� 2007 - Kenton Verhoeff
All rights reserved.