Science Day

Science Day: See how your mind can get confused by a simple word test. I've done this activity with several kids and it is one of their favorites.
What you will need: Two white sheets of computer paper. Four crayons: Red, yellow, purple, and blue. Stop watch or the use of a nearby clock.

Parents on the first sheet of paper write the word red with the red crayon, the word yellow with the yellow crayon, the word purple with the purple crayon, and the word blue with the blue crayon. On the other sheet of paper write the word yellow with the red crayon, the word red with the purple crayon, the word blue with the red crayon, and the word purple with blue crayon. Show your child the second sheet of paper first. Time how fast your child says the color of the word. They will most likely get confused by the color drawn being different than word written out. Time them again using the first sheet. They should say the colors quicker this time because the name of the color corresponds with its actual color.

Parenting Article- Talk to your child effectively.

What kind of voice do you use when talking to your child? This is a very important question. How you talk to your child speaks volumes. See how yelling at your child can backfire on you. Then learn how to talk to your child effectively.

Parents who are Yellers-
I believe some parents do not set out to be yellers. They either do it out of frustration or they are yellers because this is how their parents parented them. But parents do not need to scream at their child to get them to do something. First, you do not want to constantly scare the daylights out your child. And yelling does not equal obedience. But it can lead to defiance. Secondly, when you scream you are losing control. And parents should be in control. I had one parent who insisted to me when she screamed she was in control. And she maintained control of the situation (thus her child) by shouting. But if she felt in control why would she feel the need to shout? Additionally, a screamer can get more and more agitated and work themselves up to the point they make remarks which are not nice, not needed, and could make the situation worse. In a temper a parent might say things that later they will regret, like, "Why are you always doing dumb things?!" The child could take this as, "You are dumb in general, kid." Something to think about- If a parent shouts most of the time their child might feel they have to walk on eggshells around them. This can make the child feel tense and they will not respond well to what their parent has to say because they are in worry mode. Also, their self esteem could suffer.

Point to be made- When a parent or anyone starts flying off the handle they start losing their creditability. So ask yourself, do you tend to be calm and rational during discussions? Or do you often raise your voice quite loud to get your point made. If so try to be conscience of this. With your child, you want them to actually listen to you and take to heart what you are telling them. You want them to know that you have a sound point to make. To make sure information is taken in better by your child, impart what you have to say as calmly as you can. Do not shout it. State it. You can show how important something is to you by using a firm voice. Stop thinking you need to shout a request/comment to get your child to know how serious it is. If you shout often this tone of voice is now the norm, not an exception.

Now think about this- When you are emotionally in control/calm in a situation you are metaphorically being an anchor. Ships (families) without adequate anchors (rational parents) could end up in trouble in bad storms. Children like adults to be grounded. If their parent is grounded they feel safer and will take what they say more seriously and better. See the difference- You calmly say, "Cindy, do not move. There is a spider near you." Cindy's reaction should mimic yours. She remains calm because you are. So she does not move. But if you panic and yell, "CINDY, do not move! There is a spider!" She very well could move and get bit.

Another situation: Two parents and their toddlers are in a sandbox. Both boys try to taste sand. Parent A uses a firm tone of voice, "Tommy, do not eat the sand." This parent then calmly pours the sand out of his child's hand which is going towards the toddler's mouth. Tommy reaction- He goes on happily digging sand. Parent B's reaction to her son trying to eat sand. She angrily screams, "BILLY! DO NOT EAT THAT! Do not be dumb! Why do you always eat stuff I tell you not to!" She vehemently grabs Billy's hand and angrily shakes the sand out of it, scaring him. Billy's reaction- He starts crying.

Note these three things that can happen to parents who are habitual screamers.
(1) Not only are they not happy with the situation they are in with their child, but they can get pretty darn upset and angry about it.
(2) They expound more on how upset they are than a calm person will.
(3) Their physical reaction to the situation can be as violent as their voice.

If one just states what you want and not go into triad about it, it will have a better impact on your child. And less drama will enfold. Parents if you want less drama from your child do not first start it yourself. Screaming to you your child to do X can make for further drama. Crying, screaming, outbursts, etc.

Parting note- If you are a shouter or think you might be one, ask your spouse or friend how they see you reacting to situations. This could be a revelation to you. Maybe you did not realize that you freaked out as much as others think. If you want to shout less, practice calm talking. Out loud, in a room alone, practice how you want your voice to sound when you say X. I think once you start using a firm, strong tone of voice instead of shouting things you want done you will notice your children reacting differently to what you have to say.

Movie Review

Movie Title: Swiss Family Robinson. Disney classic. Rated G. Based on a book by Jonathan Wyss. Great family fun adventure. Due to an awful storm which destroys their boat, a Swiss family (two parents and three boys) get marooned on a deserted island. Necessity being the father of all inventions the family rigs some very impressive devices in their jungle tree house. Just as they are getting use to their new environment pirates show up. The two older boys must save a damsel in distress (actually they think she's a boy at first because she's dressed that way, which makes for great comedy). Kids should like the race the family has on exotic animals. The tree house devices for everyday living should delight them as well. I know I thought they were neat when I was a child.

Super Parenting Tip

Here's a wonderful idea! Get a plate that is different than what you normally serve dinner on. Once a week at dinner give this plate to someone in the family. The person with the special plate has the honor of having everyone around the table say something nice to them. It can be anything from: "You are terrific with dogs," to "I loved the way you took the trash out today without having me tell you to," to "You did a great job on your homework this week," to "You have a wonderful sense of humor. You make me laugh," etc. This promotes positive thinking, harmony, and good will. Use a plastic plate for young children. During the summer I've gotten cute plastic plates at dollar stores.

Movie Review

Movie Title: Nanny McPhee. Children-Magical. Based on the "Nurse Matilda" books by Christianna Brand. Movie is Rated PG, but personally I think it's pretty mild. Story takes place in England, but not in modern times. Poor widower Mr. Brown (Colin Firth) has a problem. His children won't behave. He has gone through so many nannies that he fears there is no one else to help him. In comes Nanny McPhee a no-nonsense nanny who makes it her mission to sets things right in Mr. Brown's household. Where other nannies have feared to tread Nanny McPhee bravery steps in. The Brown children suddenly start behaving. Little does Mr. Brown know that a small dose of magic is behind it. But he has other pressing matters on his mind. His rich aunt (great job done by Angela Lansbury) wants him to marry again. He won't get a penny if he doesn't marry by a certain deadline. But who will marry a man with so many mischievous kids? Watch and see. My favorite part in the movie is when Angela Lansbury's character, who can't see very well, talks to a donkey with a hat on thinking it's a young girl. Vibrant colors are used throughout the movie making it both childlike and surreal. Your children should enjoy the amusing pranks of the Brown children. I liked this movie so much I was willing to see it again.

Chapter book for younger readers:

"Bunnicula," by Deborah and James Howe. If you think the title sounds a little bit like Dracula, your right. In "Bunnicula" a family comes home with a bunny one wet and cold dreary night. The family's cat and dog are full of suspicion. Is this new critter with glittering eyes sinister? And just why is it sucking the juice out of carrots? The book is narrated by the family's dog. You get a dog's view on what's going on, which is pretty funny. " Bunnicula" is pure fun. It was one of my sister-in-law's favorite childhood books. Need I say more?

Movie Review

Movie Title: Doctor Dolittle. Based on the children's book by Hugh Lofting. There are two versions I know of. I prefer the earlier version. Rated G. The plot revolves around a doctor who talks to animals. After I saw this movie it made me think just what would my dog tell me if she could talk? Probably that she wants a better brand of dog food. And more dog treats. This movie explores things that are extraordinary. It broadens your creative mind by thinking about what if?

Synopsis: English doctor, Dr. Dolittle gets along better with animals than humans. He has a knack for learning their languages. With a boy and woman in tow he sets off to find the Great Pink Sea snail. These three heroic adventurers get captured by tribesmen who live on an island which is half of a whole one. (Later the two halfs connect.)

Book Review- Children's Poetry

In honor of Black History month I've picked "Pass It On, African-American Poetry For Children." It's a collection of poems from African-American poets. The poems were selected by Wade Hudson. Illustrations by Floyd Cooper. Some of the poems are themed around the everyday "going-ons" of children. Other poems are about the African-American experience. The book is worth exploring. Some poems are better than others.

Parenting Article about Writing Thank You Notes

Is it necessary for a child to write thank you notes? It depends. Did your ten-year-old receive a gift from their sister or grandma who they see everyday? In my opinion if your child receives presents for their birthday or for Christmas from close relatives, in their presence, and the gift is under ten dollars then it is not mandatory to write a note as long as they say "Thank you." However, it would be nice if your child wrote a thank you note to Grandma even if she lives with you. You should teach your child to write thank you notes. This is part of teaching your child about good manners. They should be grateful for gifts. Children, especially girls, who are taught to write thank you notes when they are young, are more likely to do so when they are older.

For special occasions, like a Confirmation or a Bar Mistfa, your child should write thank you notes to every person or each family who attends the ceremony, whether your child receives a gift or not. If a person takes time out of their day to be there for your child on this special day it should be noted. It might take time to write the notes, but your child can spilt up the writing task. Fifty notes can be done over five days.

Special occasions aside let us be practical. If you have a six-year-old and you gave them a birthday party where forty classmates showed up, it could be a daunting task for a young child to write that many individual thank you notes. Plus, you will need to find the addresses of all the classmates and mail them out. You could have your child write four notes a day for ten days and then give the notes out at school. But let us face it, at that age the thank you is really for the parent. And who knows if their friend will deliver the note to their parent. If you are in a time crunch and you have emails of all the students in the class you can have your daughter draw a picture of her birthday party. Scan this in the computer. Each afternoon for ten days have her type a simple note underneath the picture to each child. Sample: Evan, Thank you for the book on fairies. Lisa.

For young children you can write out on a paper what they want to say, first. When your child becomes a teenager you should not press the matter of having them write thank you notes for Christmas and birthday gifts that cost twenty-five dollars and under. The reason being most of their friends will not get upset if they do not receive a thank you note. Plus, they are old enough now to be responsible for their own actions on the matter. If they do not write a thank you note to Grandma or Uncle Harry in Florida your child might learn they might not get a gift from them next year. Sometimes a child needs to learn what will happen if they do not do something.

Home Tip- Save old socks

For dusting I find old socks perfect. They fit on your hand like a glove and it's easy to wipe dust away using them. Also, they can be washed and reused. For furniture polish I like orange oil best. It smells nice and gives your wood furniture a nice shine. If you can't find orange oil at your local hardware store ask an antique store. I've seen some stock it.

Movie Review

After reading this week's book watch the movie.
Movie Title: Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Children's 1971 version. Rated G. Gene Wilder does an excellent job portraying Willy Wonka, the eccentric owner of an English candy factory. He carries the film. When you first see the room with a chocolate waterfall, candy flowers and other eatable delights it's a child's dream come true. One brother of mine liked this movie so much when he was younger he saw it 6 times in a row. The newer version of this movie isn't for young kids. Heads of musical mechanic children explode in a bizarre sequence in the beginning.

1971 movie line: Willy Wonka sends shock waves around the world by putting five golden tickets inside the wrappings of his chocolate bars. Those who find a ticket will get a grand tour of his candy factory. Charlie, a poor but sweet boy living in small house with two parents and four grandparents, miraculously finds a golden ticket inside his chocolate bar. He is delighted beyond anything. Together with his Grandpa Joe, Charlie tours the magical candy factory. Along on the tour are four other children and their parents. Come along and see eatable trees and grass. Watch as the children go on a wild boat ride on a chocolate river. Meet singing Oompa-Loompas who like to comment on the behavior of their visitors. You'll see that Charlie and his Grandpa Joe are having a fine time, but is there a spy in their mists? And what does that have to do with Willie Wonka? If your child likes the movie have them read the book and visa versa.

Book Review- For 3rd to 6th graders

This week I've chosen "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," an absolutely A one children's book. Let's try something new this week. Read the book along with your child. Either have them read it to you at night or both of you can read part of it to each other. As you read this book you'll see it's a social commentary about parenting.

The author of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is an extremely imaginative writer. Who would ever dream up a chocolate factory with unusual rooms which are tended to by a group of small tribesmen called the Oompa-Loompas? Ronald Dahl that's who. His book is wonderfully unusual and his characters personalities are larger than life. Mixed together it makes an interesting story funny.

Basic story line: Mr. Wonka, an eccentric owner of a candy factory, puts a total of five golden tickets in his candy bars. The owners of these golden tickets get to have a tour of his top-secret chocolate factory. A kind boy named Charlie Bucket finds a golden ticket. He decides to take his grandfather with him on the factory tour. Joining them on the tour are four other kids and their parents. Meet Augustus, a boy who eats too much. Veruca, a spoiled brat that any other parent other than her's would be embarrassed to take in public. Violet, a girl who spends her time chewing gum as much as she can. And Mike Teavee, a boy who loves watching T.V. so much that he ends up…no I won't say anymore. Read the book!