Sunday, January 31, 2010
Science Day- Make a Rainbow
Science Day: Show your child how sunlight hitting a glass crystal can make a spectrum of colors. What you need: Glass crystal (from a chandler or if you buy one make sure it makes a rainbow first). Hang crystal on fishing line or string from a window rod. Best to place crystal where light comes in WELL. Sunlight will hit crystal and make pretty band of colors on your carpet or floor.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Movie Review
Movie Title: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Action-Adventure. Rated PG. I have three words for this movie. Fun. Exciting. Adventure. The whole family should enjoy it. The movie takes place in the 1940's during the time of Germany's Nazi rule. Good-looking archaeologist professor, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), is hired by the U.S. government to locate the Ark of the Covenant. Ruthless German Nazi's try to foil his plan, but Indiana's ingenuity vanquishes them.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Book Review- Grade one
From We Both Read. This is an excellent series of books for new readers. It gets parents involved in reading with their child. The parent reads one side of the book, their child the other. They have lots of hard and soft back books to choice from. I've seen We Both Read books in numerous libraries. You can also buy them online and at some books stores.
For grade one: "About Pets," by Sindy McKay. Color photographs of various pets with words. There are different pictures of pets, but more are of cute dogs than any other animal. A dog howling with his master. A dog getting a bath. A dog catching a freebie. A dog with a leash in its mouth looking out a window. A dog stealing a piece of bread from the kitchen counter. Since many children in America like to look at pictures of dogs I can see having more photos of them in the book.
For grade one: "About Pets," by Sindy McKay. Color photographs of various pets with words. There are different pictures of pets, but more are of cute dogs than any other animal. A dog howling with his master. A dog getting a bath. A dog catching a freebie. A dog with a leash in its mouth looking out a window. A dog stealing a piece of bread from the kitchen counter. Since many children in America like to look at pictures of dogs I can see having more photos of them in the book.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Home Tip- Plastic bags
Do you get plastic bags from your local grocery store? You can recycle the bags if your local store has a recycle bin for them (if not, go green and ask your store to start a recycle bin). Or you can use these plastic bags in small trash cans in your bathrooms and bedrooms. The plastic bags keep the trash cans clean (keeping gum and other yucky stuff from sticking to the can). But do not use plastic bags in bedrooms with children under the age of five. Tell your children the danger of plastic bags. If they are placed on a head it can suffocate a person/kid if air can't get in.
Need a place to put all your plastic bags? If you get milk in half gallon containers, save one. Wash it out really well and cut a big hole in its side. Put your plastic bags in this hole for easy access. Place masking tape around the hole's edges so you and your children don't cut yourselves when you put your hand in the container.
Need a place to put all your plastic bags? If you get milk in half gallon containers, save one. Wash it out really well and cut a big hole in its side. Put your plastic bags in this hole for easy access. Place masking tape around the hole's edges so you and your children don't cut yourselves when you put your hand in the container.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Movie Review
Movie Title: The Paleface. Comedy. Family movie. This is one of my favorite Bob Hope movies. I find it most humorous. The song Mr. Hope sings on the wagon train is a truly catchy, funny tune. The movie takes place in the Old West. Bob Hope plays a mild mannered dentist named Painless Peter Potter. He gets mixed up with a good looking gun slinger named Calamity Jane, played by Jane Russell (excellent casting choice). To gain a pardon for her wrong doing's Jane must work as a federal agent. She poses as a sweet young thing and gets Painless to marry her. Together they go on a wagon train westwards. My favorite part in the movie is when Painless sets out to meet a town bully for a show-down. He keeps getting the instructions he was given wrong. Kids should find this scene entertaining.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Article: Peer Pressure and Your Teenager
Article: Group Peer Pressure and your Teen
Sometimes teens get themselves in trouble by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. With the wrong kid or kids. Teen years can be an insecure time, fraught with pressure. Pressure to do well in school so one can get into the right college. Pressure to excel in sports or other activities. Pressure to fit in with peers. Pressure to have a boyfriend/girlfriend. Pressure to seem cool and in the "know" about things.
Peer pressure can be quite stressful. Actions your teen normally wouldn't consider if by himself/herself might be reconsidered in the presence of another teen or teens. This is why it's important to know your teen's friends. A teen that constantly hangs around friends who skip school and do drugs is at a higher risk of doing it himself/herself than a teen that has friends who excel in school and don't party hard. People tend to pick up habits, good and bad, from the individuals they regularly associate with. It could be a pattern of speech, the way they view the world around them, to what is morally and ethically acceptable and unacceptable. It could even be a new hobby they pick up. Does this ring a bell, "Please Mom, can I have a ________ because everybody else has one?!" Everybody else being, those in their circle of friends or in their school. Or the cool kids.
The need to be accepted is natural. But it can come with high costs for a teen. A teen might want his/her independence, but isn't able to handle it responsibly. Drinking (alcohol) and driving is an example. Another example is a teen that frequently socializes with other teens that steal. Even if he swears he's not doing it himself, and therefore gives this as reason as to why it's okay he hangs out with them, he's still at risk. Even if he doesn't think so. He's not thinking things through. If he's with these friends when there's a bust he could be in real trouble. What if one of his friends buddies puts something in his backpack so the buddy won't be caught with it. Your son now is up a creek. If your son wasn't mixing with this crowd he wouldn't be in the fix he now finds himself in. Teens need to know they need to be held accountable for picking certain friends.
This brings us to group mentality. It can be very strong. Especially if there is a charismatic leader in charge. Let's say your daughter really wants to fit in with the cool group at school. Let's also say she admires their leader. She might end up doing something mean to impress this leader. Also, if this group's mentality is that it's okay to do the things we do because we're superior, what is this teaching your daughter? That if you think you are superior your say counts more? Even if years later she regrets the mean things she did, she has still hurt people. If you catch your teen doing mean things call them on it. If they try the excuse, "But everyone else was doing it," remember it's an excuse, not a reasonable reason. If many people in a neighborhood steal from a local store when there is a disaster it still is wrong. And against the law.
If you find your teen's personality is changing for the worse have a talk with them. They might not want to talk with you but find out what's going on anyway. Have a relative who they are close to get the "411" as my teen niece calls it. Also, if your teen is normally easy going and cheerful, but has suddenly become aggressive and sullen, don't ignore it. Check it out. Are you going through a divorce and complaining to them about it? Are you working long hours now and hardly seeing them because you think it's okay because they're almost grown up? Stop. Rethink. They aren't adults. You are. You need to be the one they can reply on. Be there for your teen.
Find out what your teen is doing in school and after school. Find out what they're doing on the weekends and with who. And remember a busy teen is less likely to find time to get into mischief. If presently your teen is getting into trouble with friends from school talk to your teen's school counselor and get them involved in after school activities, charity work, or have them get a job. This way they have a chance to meet new friends who might have a better influence on them.
Sometimes teens get themselves in trouble by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. With the wrong kid or kids. Teen years can be an insecure time, fraught with pressure. Pressure to do well in school so one can get into the right college. Pressure to excel in sports or other activities. Pressure to fit in with peers. Pressure to have a boyfriend/girlfriend. Pressure to seem cool and in the "know" about things.
Peer pressure can be quite stressful. Actions your teen normally wouldn't consider if by himself/herself might be reconsidered in the presence of another teen or teens. This is why it's important to know your teen's friends. A teen that constantly hangs around friends who skip school and do drugs is at a higher risk of doing it himself/herself than a teen that has friends who excel in school and don't party hard. People tend to pick up habits, good and bad, from the individuals they regularly associate with. It could be a pattern of speech, the way they view the world around them, to what is morally and ethically acceptable and unacceptable. It could even be a new hobby they pick up. Does this ring a bell, "Please Mom, can I have a ________ because everybody else has one?!" Everybody else being, those in their circle of friends or in their school. Or the cool kids.
The need to be accepted is natural. But it can come with high costs for a teen. A teen might want his/her independence, but isn't able to handle it responsibly. Drinking (alcohol) and driving is an example. Another example is a teen that frequently socializes with other teens that steal. Even if he swears he's not doing it himself, and therefore gives this as reason as to why it's okay he hangs out with them, he's still at risk. Even if he doesn't think so. He's not thinking things through. If he's with these friends when there's a bust he could be in real trouble. What if one of his friends buddies puts something in his backpack so the buddy won't be caught with it. Your son now is up a creek. If your son wasn't mixing with this crowd he wouldn't be in the fix he now finds himself in. Teens need to know they need to be held accountable for picking certain friends.
This brings us to group mentality. It can be very strong. Especially if there is a charismatic leader in charge. Let's say your daughter really wants to fit in with the cool group at school. Let's also say she admires their leader. She might end up doing something mean to impress this leader. Also, if this group's mentality is that it's okay to do the things we do because we're superior, what is this teaching your daughter? That if you think you are superior your say counts more? Even if years later she regrets the mean things she did, she has still hurt people. If you catch your teen doing mean things call them on it. If they try the excuse, "But everyone else was doing it," remember it's an excuse, not a reasonable reason. If many people in a neighborhood steal from a local store when there is a disaster it still is wrong. And against the law.
If you find your teen's personality is changing for the worse have a talk with them. They might not want to talk with you but find out what's going on anyway. Have a relative who they are close to get the "411" as my teen niece calls it. Also, if your teen is normally easy going and cheerful, but has suddenly become aggressive and sullen, don't ignore it. Check it out. Are you going through a divorce and complaining to them about it? Are you working long hours now and hardly seeing them because you think it's okay because they're almost grown up? Stop. Rethink. They aren't adults. You are. You need to be the one they can reply on. Be there for your teen.
Find out what your teen is doing in school and after school. Find out what they're doing on the weekends and with who. And remember a busy teen is less likely to find time to get into mischief. If presently your teen is getting into trouble with friends from school talk to your teen's school counselor and get them involved in after school activities, charity work, or have them get a job. This way they have a chance to meet new friends who might have a better influence on them.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Book Review- chapter book for grade school readers
Sorry, due to an unfortunate event I had to be gone for a couple of weeks.
If your child liked "Holes" by Louis Sachar, they might enjoy another book by him, "Sideways Stories From Wayside School." Wayside School is different to say the least. It is thirty stories tall with only one classroom per story. Being in such an odd building sets the stage for some very strange and funny stories. There are thirty stories contained in the book. Each chapter tells the tale about the children and teachers who occupy the classroom on the top of the building. I give this book two thumbs up for clever creativity.
If your child liked "Holes" by Louis Sachar, they might enjoy another book by him, "Sideways Stories From Wayside School." Wayside School is different to say the least. It is thirty stories tall with only one classroom per story. Being in such an odd building sets the stage for some very strange and funny stories. There are thirty stories contained in the book. Each chapter tells the tale about the children and teachers who occupy the classroom on the top of the building. I give this book two thumbs up for clever creativity.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
