Puppet Play

Usually, day care centers use art materials, clay dough or sand and water to allow kids to express themselves. But there is another better way to encourage kids to let go of their emotions, which is utilized by a lot of teachers nowadays including psychiatrists, and that is through the use of puppets. When kids are able to utilize their ideas, creativity and imagination, they are able to develop their sense of independence by being able to play alone and develop their social skills by imagining cooperatively with a playmate.

Puppets, as defined, are figures made to look like an animal or a person, having a body but with a hollow head, where a hand can enter and manipulate them. Sometimes, during a stage presentations or plays, puppets are attached to strings and their movements are also controlled by the hand while a person speaks in behalf of them.

Playing with puppets is what kids would always love doing. When kids are alone, and are playing with their puppets, they tend to speak of what is bugging in their minds and they are able to share to the puppet their truest emotions, especially if they are the ones who prefer to stay alone than be to with a friend. Puppets may come in a form of a mom, dad, babies, animals, fairy tale characters or other workers that most kids look up to. Puppets can also be dressed up with accessories or clothing to make it even more interesting for kids. And if you intend to own one for them, a puppet theater is also available which you can have in your own home.

Organizing the Junk Drawer

Everyone has at least one junk drawer and some have one in every room. It is where all the small items with no home end up. I see coupons, scissors, staples, paper clips, and old gum. I have seen it all. It does not have to be that way. You can actually have a functioning junk drawer.

Just like all the other organizing jobs we have done, our first step is to remove everything and place it on the counter or table. Take a good look at what you have and start arranging it in similar groups. For instance, desk items might include scissors, staplers, tape and glue. Kitchen items could include coupons, jar openers, and measuring spoon. Make sure you make a pile of items you do not want in the drawer such as toys or broken things.

Next, decide what you really want in the area. Are you using it for some desk supplies or an area for coupons? How many do you really need? If there ar 4 pair of scissors, do you need that many in this location? If not, redistribute or donate. Make sure you throw out any broken items or parts to something you no longer own. If the item has been there for over a year and you were not looking for it, throw it out. If it is a key and you do not know what it goes to and you have not been missing any, throw it out. Most junk drawers are just that because the items in them are unwanted or unknown. Make decisions on all of the items.

When you are finished with the decision making portion, you should have a more manageable amount of items to sort and organize. Organize them into piles that make sense to you. For instance, scissors, tape, and white out might all be together. You have your writing pieces all in one pile. Maybe that pile needs to be further reduced. Make sure all the pens work. If the pen is suppose to have a cap and does not, discard or donate it. I have never had a client that is short on pens. Get rid of some so you find a working pen when you need it.

Now it is time for the organizing back into the drawer. If you are purchasing some containers for the drawer, measure first. Make sure the items you purchase will fit. Drawer organizers come in an array of colors and types. You can shop at many stores to find the one that you like the most and will make your junk drawer organized so you can find the items.

For coupons, whether for stores, restaurants, or carryout, I recommend a separate organizer. If you use coupons for the grocery store frequently, separate them by department in the store such as food, cleaning, laundry, and pet food. For restaurants, pizza, and other types, maybe try January-December. Place the items in the month they expire, that way you do not have to go through them periodically to discard those you never used. Make sure it is located in a place you will look every time you venture out for lunch or dinner. Leave one slot for never expiring coupons. Some retailers offer that.

Want to Lose the Clutter? Find Out How to Declutter Your Home Fast

You have made the decision to get your household and junk sorted, but do you know how to declutter your home fast? Without too much stress and frustration?

Before you start, it is important to understand a bit of the "why" as well knowing the "how"... otherwise you face the prospect of it starting all over again.

So, why do we collect stuff?

Some reasons are: it is useful right now, it could come in handy one day, going to use it for a project (but never do it), someone gave it to me and I don't want to hurt their feelings, I wanted it, I collect these things... Are we trying to fill a gap, and if we are, what is the gap about?

Maybe there are other ways of coping with or resolving the underlying issues... just food for thought.

If you can address those issues then it will be much easier to declutter your home and it get it to stay that way.

Let's face it, there is only so much stuff that anyone can effectively use, and therefore, everything else is just junk. It is important to know this... if you do not use it, lose it! Having stuff you do not use lying around, only takes up space and resources.

Have you ever noticed how distracting, depressing, frustrating and downright tiring it is living in a cluttered home? Everywhere you look there is mess and disorder, and before you even do anything, you got tired just looking at it...

Here are some tips to get you started decluttering your home fast, and get it clean and tidy.

The most important tip is - Get Started!

Plan how you want your home to look, what you want to keep for your immediate use, and get on with it!

Get everything you need to do the job ready, so that once you start,you can just keep going till you have finished what you are doing. The fastest way to get your home decluttered is to focus and do not allow yourself to be distracted from the task at hand.

Tackle one room at a time. If you try to do the whole house, you will become distracted, and your energies will be diffused, and you will find it easy to lose track of your direction. This makes the job longer and harder than it has to be. So, make the job less stressful, by finishing one room at a time.

Clean the room first and pick everything up, so you can see the floor and move around the room unimpeded. Quickly sort your belongings into piles, of clothes, books, toys, and papers etc, so that you can go through each one more thoroughly later on. Try to handle each item only once, decide what you are doing with it, keep, store or toss, and put it there. With the items in the "toss" pile, decide if someone else can get some use out of it, and consider donating those useable goods to charity. The rest is to be binned.

Getting your home organized and decluttered can be quite a big project, and the way to get through it fast is to break it down into tasks that can be done easily in a day, morning, or afternoon, so that you can make quick progress. This speeds up the whole process and before you know it, your house is decluttered and looking like a million bucks!

Now your home is spacious, clean and organized, which makes it easy to enjoy and relax in. This has the dual advantage of being a healthier place to live and also a more creative place to be.

Getting rid of the junk and knowing that everything you have is used, and where it is, is a liberating experience, and will help you feel and be, much more productive and focused. It is also a place where you can come in and relax fully, not having to close your eyes so that you do not see the "work" in front of you continually waiting and needing to be done.

Sure, there will be some maintenance in keeping it clean and tidy, but this can be done very simply.

Now that you have learnt how to declutter your home, it is just a matter of keeping it that way...

Fun Counting and Math Games for Children

Whether you have a 2 year old who is just starting to learn numbers or a 10 year old that knows subtraction or addition, it is never too early or too late to learn about counting or math games. Children that are young benefit from games that teach them how to count objects and recognize numbers whereas older children benefit from games that help them learn how to add and subtract and build the basis for learning about algebra.

Aside from the obvious board games where you roll the dice and move your game piece a certain number of spaces, there are plenty of other counting games that you can play. Dominoes can keep kids busy for hours. I recently spent over 1 hour playing with dominoes with my two year old. We counted the numbers of dots. We counted the dominos as we stacked them or put them in or out of the container. We lined them up and counted them together. After they were all lined up, I let him push the first domino to make them all fall down.

Hide things in your house such as blocks, plastic eggs or marbles. Before you hide them, count them with your child. Then, they can go find them all. Once they have been found, they can count them again to make sure that they have all been found. Older kids can add or subtract to figure out how many they have left to find. In order to encourage sharing, have two or more children hunt the objects. At the end of the hunt, count the number in each kid's bucket. Then work together to make sure that everyone has the same amount in their bucket.

Drop objects in a bucket or plastic containers that are lined up next to each other. Count how many objects are in each bucket. Count the number of objects that did not make it into a container. Once again, take the opportunity to incorporate addition or subtraction with older children.

Young children love learning about eyes, ears, fingers, toes, etc. Count body parts together. For instance ask, "How many eyes does Mommy have?" or "How many fingers do you have?" Count familiar household items such as pets, shoes or pots and pans.

Children also love to eat snacks, so incorporate counting with snack time. Ask "How many Cheerios do you have?" or "How many Goldfish are in the blue cup? How many are in the red cup?" Count out snacks to make sure each child has the same amount. If one child has two more Cheerios than another one, teach them to give the other child one of their's so that they have the same amount.

Be creative in teaching your child to count. They love to count and learn, but they also want to have fun too. It is possible to incorporate both in daily activities. Lead by example and show them how you count things. You don't want to have them counting and reciting numbers all day long, but at the same time there are so many opportunities to help them learn their numbers. Work with your children to come up with your own fun games and counting activities.

Graduate Requires a Graduation Gift

Graduation, whether it's from kindergarten, high school, university, law or medical school, is an important and memorable achievement and one that should receive exclusive recognition. The test for close ones of the "honoree" is thinking of a graduation gift idea that is unique, original and individual for the graduate. With the wide diversity of graduation present ideas out there, discovering a really unusual graduation gift can be a daunting job. Gifts & Wishes would like to suggest the following four "outside the cap and gown" graduation gift ideas that will not only be unforgettable for the graduate, but are also exclusive, inventive and even personalized.

Think about a scrapbook keepsake as one of the creative graduation present ideas. Of course, you can obtain the simple route and purchase a watch, jewelry, photo frame and so on. Or you can get actually inventive with your graduation gift and create it detailed to your special graduate. A scrapbook that has images from the best parts of the graduate's years in school, his/her classmates and all the fun occasions - collected in a scrapbook in chronological sequence - will be like a journey down memory lane and turn out to be a graduation keepsake of memories to get pleasure from year to come.

Another option of creative graduation ideas is a homemade gift basket.

Homemade doesn't have to denote shoddy or tacky. It can mean exclusive, sensible, considerate and personalized. A wonderful homemade graduation gift idea is a homemade gift basket full with a diversity of goodies particular and exclusive to your graduate. Homemade gift baskets are wonderful because they can have a subject matter, be exceptional and you can combine and match the goodies. For instance, for the high school graduate on his or her route to college, your homemade gift basket could contain a "study night" topic and hold the graduate's much loved snacks, energy bars, eye drops, coffee, tea or other preferred beverages. Whatever you choose for a homemade gift idea, it will be exclusive, brilliant and personalized because it came from you.

The next creative graduation gift idea is a photo guest book. The advantage of personalizing a graduation gift is that it will be a unique gift created specially for the graduate. With the album photo guest book, the graduation festivity is caught for your graduate in images and handwritten emotions from family and friends in a wonderful album that he can seem at for years to come! These individualized keepsake albums are all the rage.

The last unique graduation gift idea is to put your graduate on a magazine cover. For a truly enjoyment and exclusive present idea, put the graduate's image on a magazine cover and "publicly" recognize him or her for their completion and success. It is a exceptional way to add totally personalized information to a gift that will put it apart from everything else. There are services out there that will in fact create an efficiently printed, full-color, individualized magazine cover for you. A magazine cover of the honored graduate can be viewed as a special graduation gift idea or as a graduation celebration favor.

Graduation For Kindergarten & Preschool Kindergarten Graduation Announcements, Invitations, Cards

Kindergarten - Just the word sound cute! Of course, it represents an environment for your four or five year old to discover the beautiful world around her. Preschool and kindergarten are meant to begin the educating of your growing kid. Kindergarten is meant to teach the kids how to share and care, make new friends and spend some time on their own, away from the warm cocoon of parents and home. Of course, it is meant to be a home away from home for the tiny tots. It is a great opportunity for them to learn new things on their own, ask questions and get the answers. It is a stepping-stone for future education.

This experience has long been the first day of school for children. But, experts say there's a lot kids need to know before the first bell rings. Preschool not only prepares kids for kindergarten, it can help lay a foundation that lasts a lifetime. While it provides important social skills and practices, such as standing in a line, sharing toys and following instructions, it also provides much more in the way of learning how to learn.

Graduating for these lil tots is a big deal. It's the official end of the 'baby' years as these little ones start their journey of becoming more independent by starting grade school. Because it's such a big deal, all our family and friends should know about the ceremony.

Let the lil kids open their cards and understand your message. There are lots of carefully selected wording ideas and cute wording verses that can easily be printed on invitations. Let the kids celebrate while you put them in the spotlight. Choose from a huge collection of inexpensive discount cards and thank you notes. There is something for everyone! Make them in style!

One of the most important things to include is a photo or picture of the graduate. People love seeing pictures of little ones and the lil student will be thrilled that they are the center of attention. A photo can be placed, and it's an especially nice touch if they are wearing a cap. Caps that they have made themselves out of construction paper are very cute and will show off the big day! Photo cards will provide that personal touch and will also provide the parents with a nice memento of the big day.

Another way to personalize announcements is to have photo confetti. This type of confetti simply consists of placing the child's photo on larger pieces of strong paper and mixing it in with regular confetti. The regular confetti can also be in the shape of balloons, stars, or any other fun shape. This will add a little more fun.

For those who are invited to attend the ceremony, invitations will also need to be sent. For these you can include the child's photo once again or you can place the class picture from that year on the front. Make sure that the child's name, school and date of the ceremony are clearly detailed.

A party after the kindergarten ceremony is a wonderful way to celebrate the graduate even further and give the child a sense that people realize what a big day this is for them! Children love being the center of attention! For this event, party invitations should be sent. Using confetti in these is a great idea, as it will add to the theme of the event.

Many people will bring or send gifts. Not only because the child has graduated but also because adults just love showering little kids with presents. Thank you cards will need to be sent. It's a very nice touch to have the child write these out themselves, even if it's only signing their name.

Graduation only happens once so it's important to mark the day with special cards. They will let everyone be aware that the child is really starting to grow up and it will also give the child even more reason to shine!

Why Recycle Kids Books

Asking your kids to give up their old story books, especially the ones they have outgrown, might be a difficult task. But if you teach them about what actually happens to their books and have them participate in helping you, it becomes very easy. Recycling books doesn't necessarily mean they are just thrown in the trash. Recycling books is easy and helps keep good books, even slightly tattered books in circulation.

First you will want to educate your child on the importance of recycling. Also, let them know that there are a lot of children out there who don't have books of their own. Help your child to understand that they are sharing their favorite stories with kids who would enjoy them just as much. Allow your child to help you find a local charity or church group that is excepting new and used articles.

Secondly, another cool way for kids to recycle their favorite books is to take them to second hand stores that will either purchase them or trade them for books that are more age appropriate. Trading old books for new ones can be a fun outing. If your child is an avid reader, monthly visits to a second hand store can be a reward.

Thirdly, tossing old books in the trash to clutter up landfills can be detrimental to a community. If a book is truly damaged and can't be giving to charity, sold at a garage sale or traded at a second hand bookstore, then teach your child to recycle the pages and the cardboard cover responsibly. Another option would be to create craft projects from torn pages of a book. Old pages can be used to make paper miche'. Cardboard book covers can be covered with fabric to make home made journals. Tattered pages can be placed in fireplaces to help get logs burning.

Recycling your child's old books can be a fun family event. Allowing your child to read the story one last time can take families down memory lane to when your child first learned to read. Time spent like that is precious and wouldn't it be nice if another family who is less fortunate, could have the same experience? I think so. Encouraging your family to recycle old or outgrown items is helpful to the community. Remember, waste not, want not. And the old cliche' another mans trash is another mans treasure.

Kids Back in School - Tips For Getting Organized

The kids are back in school but with the end of summer activities and the preparing for the new school year, the kids toys, closets, and playroom may be left in disarray. Here are some ideas for getting those belongings sorted, donated, sold, and all around organized before the winter holiday season.

Start small, sorting through the toys that are not age appropriate. Donate toys that are in good shape to a local homeless shelter or sell them at a local resale shop but get rid of the things that are too young for your children, or the things they never play with. Organize toys by theme, age group, or by who belongs to what. If toys are broken or contain parts that pose a choking hazard, get rid of them.

Next, designate where the toys will go. Have a place for things like crayons, books, craft materials, cars, dolls or games. Use baskets,boxes,or shelving to store and label so the kids know where to return things when they are done.

After the toys are under control and safely put away, it is time to face the dresser drawers. If you don't have much storage, consider hanging clothes for easier storage. Again, baskets in the closet can help sort and store, or canvas hanging bags work well too. The discount stores have fairly inexpensive ways to organize, it is just a matter of how you want to do it. Cardboard boxes covered in wrapping paper or contact paper will even hold things like coloring books and markers. Get creative and go for it.

Finally, when the drawers are in order and the bedroom closets are straightened, take a final inventory to see that what is left is safe, has all the pieces, and that the clothing is the right size for each child and each child has appropriate shoes, coats, mittens, and scarves for winter.

Get rid of things that no longer fit or will not be worn or used. Sell it, donate it, but clear it out. You will find that by getting rid of extra clutter and getting organized the new school year will begin with a fresh start and give the kids a new outlook too. Homework will be easier if they have a place ready to do it and can find their supplies, and playtime will be more pleasant if they have their toys within easy reach.

Whether you work all week and can only tackle one project at a time on the weekend, or you are home during the week when the kids are in school, involve the kids too. Let them help you organize their areas and decide what toys they want to donate to a good cause or maybe sell. Make it a family affair and enjoy working together to make your home safe and organized. Happy sorting....!

Jobs For 14 Year Olds That Pay Big - Make Money Fast!

There's nothing better as a 14 year old walking around with your own wad of cash. When you can stop begging your parents for a few bucks to buy video games or to just go out and have fun this summer, kids can have a level of freedom they never had before.

Making money when your a teenager can be tough. There's not a lot of places you can get hired at this age, and the jobs that are available don't pay all that well. Teenagers are stuck with dirty, messy jobs that no one else wants to do, and all for minimum wage.

That means you have to put in a lot of hours to make enough money to even be worth it.

But there's a secret to making a ton of cash that most kids don't even know about. There are companies online that will pay people to give their opinion. Just by filling out some information on either a movie trailer, your experience the last time you went to Best Buy, and what you think of the Nike brand, you can earn $50 or more a day.

The best part is that you don't even have to go anywhere or write anything out. You can give your opinion online and get paid right away. All you need is a PayPal account, which is free. Then you head over to sign up for the company that will pay you for giving your opinion. That's also free. You can fill out as many surveys as you like, which means you can make as much money as you like!

The Perpetrator's Mask?

Recently I was working with parent of a 4 year old who had been sexually abused by another family member devastating them and putting the families in conflict with each other. They both disclosed abuse histories in their childhoods as well. As they were describing how they felt and reacted when their child was tantruming or being defiant I had one of those defining moments. They felt victimized by their child's behavior! It was as though they were putting a perpetrator's mask on their child, triggering their intense feelings of powerlessness from their bottom trauma drawer. Whoa! I thought. I shared my observations and thoughts with them which at first took them aback. As they and I breathed into what I said they begin to make the connection. They saw how their own stress and not their child's behavior was what they needed to calm. Then they could focus on their child's needs and meet them, which would calm their child.

Later, as I reflected on this revelation it took me back in time when I was a foster parent. I think like most people we believed that love would make everything okay. From the beginning, our foster daughter challenged our beliefs about what works. At times she would act like this 'super responsible' person only to devolve into a 6'1" screaming, arm flailing, defiant 3 year old. I remembered how terrified I felt at those times though I remained calm on the outside and out of her reach. When things settled down I would go to my room shaken and unsure of what to do to help her. We used behavioral methods and accepted the advice of her therapists. Their advice worked for a while but did not stop the behaviors. In fact the older she got the worse the lying, stealing, sexual acting out became.

I was determined that I was going to do everything in my power to 'control' and 'intervene' in her behaviors. I was going to 'hold the line' so she wouldn't make the mistakes everyone believed she would. I held no line. I stopped her from nothing. One night, triggered, confused and overwhelmed I got into a corner in my room between the bed and the night stand. I was triggered in my trauma drawer and I put the mask of one of my perpetrators on her. I hated myself for feeling victimized, used up and defeated by a child. I learned later, there was so much I didn't know as a counselor and a mother.

After 5 years of doing what we thought would work and didn't and after learning about more lies she told us she needed to see her therapist. We had all made an agreement that her behavior was going to tell us if she wanted to stay or leave. The latest behaviors said she wanted to go. She was sent to another foster home. We didn't know about the Stress Model then. Our lack of understanding and those who were trying to help only perpetrated the original abandonment on her. That is not what we had in mind. Years later she contacted us and apologized for her behavior and wanted us to continue as her parents. We were grateful and said sure. However, we have not heard from her in many years. Since, then, I have had a major paradigm shift learning the Post stress model. I feel it is us and those who were working with her, who owe her the apology.

What's the Problem With Childhood Inoculations?

Taking Responsibility

Parents today are more savvy than in the past, and many are more than ready to take responsibility for their own education with regard to health matters and that includes childhood vaccines (and all vaccines).

The truth is, this is not a new concern. For decades there have been voices in the wilderness decrying the practice of vaccinations. The Poisoned Needle, by Eleanor McBean was written more than 50 years ago. However, such news rarely makes it to the front page. Nor do the many medical reports that have been issued through the years warning against the dangers of inoculations.

Do the Research

Today, thankfully, the "front page" has been replaced by Google, and concerned parents can find a rash of validated information online regarding the dangers of vaccines.

When one thinks of the number of vaccines that are now purported to be necessary for both children and adults, the figures become mind-boggling. Add to that the fact that:

1) these procedures are intricately tied to a billion-dollar industry,
2) statistics that show the effectiveness of vaccines are often deceiving and twisted and
3) each dose is loaded with a "witches brew" of harmful additives.

The facts reveal that vaccines across the board cause more harm than good. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP), established in 1986, has paid out over $1 billion in injury awards to date. Thousands of cases are pending, stuck in the federal bureaucracy. [NVICP, Health Resources and Services Administration. (Federal Government)] This is only the tip of the iceberg since the majority of cases never see the light of day.

After years of controversy the Centers for Disease Control finally admitted in 1996 that the polio vaccine used on millions in the 1950s may have contained the SV-40 monkey retrovirus (which causes cancer in laboratory animals). Whether or not this could ever be linked to our present onslaught of cancer will never be known. If the evidence ever did become conclusive, neither the vaccine industry, nor the cancer industry could stand to take the hit.

Additives

Another little known fact regarding childhood vaccines is the toxic additives that each dose contains. The medical community claims these additives are "relatively small" and are deemed "harmless." These include:

* Thimerosal (a mercury derivative)
* Ethylene glycol (antifreeze)
* Phenol (a disinfectant dye)
* Aluminum
* Benzethonium chloride (a disinfectant)
* Formaldehyde (a preservative and disinfectant)

I don't know about you, but I would pass if offered a "relatively small" dose of antifreeze.

If these facts are true, and they most certainly are, why does the practice of inoculating babies and school children continue? One reason that has already been cited is money. The vaccine industry brings in billions of dollars each year.

Fear Tactics

Another reason is due to fear tactics and pressure. Parents are made to feel "less-than" if they refuse to allow their children to be vaccinated. Because the procedures are touted as being highly effective in the prevention of disease then only a "bad and uncaring" parent would ever refuse.

Additionally, pediatricians often pressure parents into allowing childhood shots even after those parents voice their doubts. School administrators lead parents to believe that without shot records, the child will not be admitted into school.

This means that concerned parents must be well educated in this subject and able to hold their own if they choose to refuse vaccinations. In that same vein, parents will need to take a close look at the health and nutrition for their families to keep the family's health at optimum levels. I help my patients understand that a healthy body (which equals a high immune system) will on its own, ward off most diseases.

The Quick Fix

Americans are notorious for seeking the quick fix. This is acutely apparent in the skyrocketing popularity of over-the-counter drugs to treat a wide range of maladies. This quick-fix mentality bleeds over into the area of childhood vaccines. The promise of immediate and permanent protection is like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It also explains, in part, our willingness to subject our children and ourselves so willingly to vaccinations.

I often tell my clients, either you will be in charge of the health and well-being of yourself and your family, or you will abdicate that responsibility to another. Hopefully you will choose the former and avoid the latter.

How Fancy Toys For Kids Mold Characters

Kids have distinct individualities amid influence by ancestry. Regardless of social status, they share common interests on toys that vary from expensive types to fabricated or improvised ones.

Signature toys that command price belong to the moneyed people while the less fortunate kids make the best devise their young minds can manage to produce. This distinctive privilege to possess quality toys for kids against inability of many to own one invites innovation and imaginative output from the kids' sensitivity and awareness to creativity.

A young man narrated how his fondness of fancy toys harnessed his innovative potentials that stemmed from his desire to owning the type of toys deprived of him by poverty when he was a kid. Sneaking from the high perimeter concrete fence walling off the subdivision from the squatters' area where he grew up, he watched kids of the rich families play with their luxury toys flying by remote control.

The desire transformed into ambition minus the aid of formal education. The young man succeeded devising some flying toys for kids that he keeps for his own kids when he raises a family of his own. In altering our external existence and connection to it, we must know that even though most of the outside world is seemingly not in our control, we can control our habits pertaining to it by realigning our essential preferences that alter our genetics as well.

Consider the super hero characters seen from movies and televisions. Toy manufacturers virtually reproduce the characters in miniature sizes that draw outright market patronage contributory to the new trend of toy products. However, original and patented manufactured toys bearing price dominion limits distribution among the elites, hence local manufacturers produce similar yet lesser quality toys to cater affordability to the masses. As such, prices become insignificant but the prevailing trend of the new fashionable toys, generally distributed worldwide.

Survey showed that among the character building toys for kids are the following:
o Robots
o Toy planes, cars, and trucks
o Super hero characters
o Dolls of different identities
o Toys of animal kingdom
o Diminutive kitchen utensils

Our environment is one of the premises in our existence. Instead of learning the lessons life has given us, we play with it to adorn ourselves in it mostly. We can easily be misguided by this in our evolution process, and begin to believe we can survive without the environment, or create our own somehow. Maybe because we never get out of here until we get it right. We use up all the energy, but where does it go back but into the original dimension from whence it came for further utilization.

In this case, our true essence sits within our spirit power and our connections to the energy we use, transform, dispose of, and interact with, through all these states of consciousness. It would be critical to balance the whole process in order to learn what our real nature is, and possible realities beyond our assumption experienced.

Boot Camps For Troubled Teens

A boot camp does not have any specific meaning or definition. The phrase boot camp can refer to a very strict and highly structured facility to which parents would send their children who are highly defiant and out of control. Boot camps are generally for troubled teens who are not only unruly, but are also juveniles facing minor legal problems. As such, these boot camps were started by the juvenile justice system and are considered as alternatives to juvenile and youth authority camps. Boot camps for troubled teens normally last for a period of 21 days to 3 months. The demand for boot camps has grown tremendously in the past few years as they claim to treat teens with behavioral, emotional and psychological problems.

Boot camps have military-style facilities in order to transform a troubled teen into someone better behaved who follows rules. Thus, these camps have strict military discipline, fear of authority and rigorous physical training for children with different types of military exercises. Juveniles admitted to these camps are often very aggressive and do not listen to anybody, including their parents. At such times, it is advisable for parents to put them for boot camps during summer months as these camps are mainly designed to achieve compliance, control and obedience to authority. There are various tools such as physical hardship, as well as emotional and psychological trauma used in these camps, so as to break the opposition and defiance of the teens by keeping them under a certain pressure. Boot camps also include a number of psychological and corporal punishments such as threats, verbal abuse, intimidation, isolation, deprivation, loss of privileges, exhausting exercises and so on. These punishments may be regarded as harsh but they help to create quick changes in the outward behavior of troubled teens.

Most boot camps are state funded for teens who are already a part of the juvenile system. Though majority of the teens may often show tremendous signs of improvement for a few days or weeks after coming home from these camps, it is observed that most of them go back to their old behavior as the fear of authority is temporary and disappears after a certain point of time.

Vtech Kidizoom Plus Digital Camera - Blue

Product Details

Little ones will have a blast taking candid pics with their Kidizoom Camera. Kidizoom includes a connector cable to plug in and watch a picture slideshow or view the 5-minute movies they've created on any TV or PC. Fun photo-editing features allow kids to distort pictures or add silly frames. The camera also comes with three preschool games to keep the fun going. Requires 4 "AA" batteries, not included. Measures 11"L x 3"W x 8"H.

• 1.3 megapixels with 1.8" color screen
• Connector cables for TV or PC hook-up
• SD card slot for extra memory
• 16 MB internal memory that stores 200+ photos or up to 5 minutes of video
• Three preschool games for added fun

Rugged and easy to use, the Vtech Kidizoom Digital Camera is ready to document all your child's adventures. With two-eye viewing, grips designed to fit in little hands, and a built-in flash, this real digital camera can also shoot video. It also includes simple-to-use photo editing software so kids aged three and up can add creative touches to their images.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Real digital camera takes photos and videos The Bad: Lots of navigational buttons may confuse younger photographers In a Nutshell: This durable camera is a fun way to inspire creativity At a Glance Ages: 3 and up Requires: 4 AA Batteries; TV or computer with Windows 2000 or newer needed for some effect

Colorful and durable design can stand up to rough handling; includes two interchangeable faceplates. (shown in pink) View larger.

Large buttons, navigational joystick and 1.8-inch color screen make camera easy to operate. (shown in pink) View larger.

Get Ready to Show off Your Child's Photos
It's clear right out of the packaging that this camera was designed to stand up to tough play and rough handling. Bright blue rubber grips on each side make it easy for children to grasp the camera with both hands, and two-eye viewing make it easy to conceptualize a photo or a cool video. The camera even comes with two interchangeable faceplates, so your child can pick her favorite look.

Before your child starts taking photos, you'll need to use a Phillips screwdriver to insert four "AA" batteries in the grips of the camera. While the first few photos are being taken, you may want to set up the VTech Photo Editor on your computer. An intuitive installation wizard makes this process quick and easy. You'll need Windows 2000 SP3+/XP or newer to use this software. And don't despair if you're a Mac user. As long as you have Mac OS X 10.0 or above, you can still use the camera in mass storage mode.

Inspire Creative Development
Six buttons and a navigational joystick on the back of the camera let your child pick a mode and scroll through old photos. Between taking photos, shooting videos, and playing simple games on the 1.8-inch color screen, there's lots to do.

A built-in flash makes it easier to get well-lit pictures, especially if the subject of the photo is indoors. The flash does, however, often fire if you are trying to take a close-up shot, resulting in very bright, blown-out pictures. Inexperienced photographers may need to be reminded that the camera is not designed to focus on objects that are less than 1.5-feet from the camera. For super-sized fun, you can also link the camera to your television using the included A/V cable and view creative work on the big screen.

With 16MB of internal memory and an SD card slot so that you can add capacity if you need it, this camera lets kids collect lots of images. The included USB cable lets you upload the images to your computer. The VTech photo editor lets you or your child add cool frames to photos, stamp funny hats on people, and distort images. You can even run fun animations that makes the photo look like it is rotating or underwater.

The photo editor interface is easy to use, with big round buttons for kids to click on and drag-and-drop stamps. More advanced artists may be disappointed that there aren't more ways to creatively control output, but files from the Kidizoom can easily be edited in more advanced programs, too.

What's in the Box
Camera with 16MB internal memory, wrist strap, A/V cable, USB cable, two faceplates, and photo editing software on CD-ROM.

View larger.	View larger.	View larger.
Easy-to-use VTech photo editor lets you or your child add funny hats to pets and distort images.

Firefighter Birthday Party

FIREFIGHTER PARTY

What child doesn't look up to the brave firefighters? Let your birthday boy or girl get a chance to imitate their hero. You and your guests will put out fires, rescue babies and enjoy some refreshments when your work is done. What a hot party!

INVITATIONS

You will need white, red, and orange construction paper, glue and a red marker. Cut out orange and red construction paper in the shape of a fire. Glue them on the bottom of the invitation. Across the top write the words: Where's the Fire? It's at ____'s Firefighter Birthday Party. Include the date and time of the party, your address, and R.S.V.P. and your phone number.

DECORATIONS

Hang red and orange "fire" streamers from the ceiling. Use red plastic fire hats as place settings at the table. (You might be able to get these from a local fire station). Print the name of a different guest on each hat. The Fire Engine cake can be the centerpiece of the table.

Dalmatian Dog Place Mats

You will need black and white construction paper. Cut white construction paper into a large circle. Using a black marker, draw a face of a Dalmatian dog onto the paper. Cut out black ears and black spots to glue onto your dog's face. Put a small piece of pink paper for the tongue.

MENU

Serve "Fire House Dogs" (recipe below) with potato chips and a fruit plate. For the grand finale, serve "Put out the Fire Punch" and Fire Engine Cake.

Fire House Dogs

Use 2 packages of refrigerated crescent roll dough and 2 packages hot dogs. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Wrap each hot dog in a crescent roll and place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes. Serve with ketchup and mustard.

Put out the Fire Punch

Mix 2 liters of ginger ale with one pint of strawberry ice cream.

Fire Engine Cake

Bake a sheet cake using your favorite mix. Frost the cake with white icing. Using red cake decorator icing from a tube, draw the outline of a fire engine on the cake. Oreo cookies can be used for the wheels.

ACTIVITIES

Save the Baby

Time children as they race through the obstacle course to save a baby (doll). This can be set up in the backyard. Children can climb a ladder and go down a slide then climb through a tunnel (empty box set on its side) then they will use the hose to pretend to put the fire out before they save the baby. The little firefighter that completes the obstacle course in the shortest time will win a small prize.

Hot Potato

Have children stand in a circle. Set a kitchen timer for a minute or two. Use a stuffed Dalmatian dog to play the game of Hot Potato. Children will toss the animal around the circle until the timer goes off. The child holding the animal when the timer goes off must sit down. Continue playing until only one child is standing. Give a prize to the winner.

Stop, Drop and Roll

Divide the children into two teams. This game is to be played outside in a yard. An adult calls out "Fire, Fire. Stop, drop and roll." The first child from each team will lie on their side and roll down a hill until they get to a designated spot. They stand up and call out the same thing to their next team member, who then rolls down the hill. This continues until all of the children have finished the race. The first team to have all of their members down the hill wins the relay. This will also reinforce the important concept of stop, drop and roll.

Dalmatian Dog Mask

Copy a picture of a Dalmatian dog from coloring book pages onto thick paper. Have children color masks with crayons or markers. Help them cut the masks out. Be sure to cut out holes for the eyes. Punch a hole on each side of the mask with a hole puncher. Measure off two pieces of string that are eight inches long. Tie one piece of string through each hole. Place the mask over the child's face and tie behind their head. Children can pretend to be Dalmatian dogs.

FAVORS

Guests can take hoe the red plastic firefighter hats they wore during the party. Other ideas are squirt guns, fireball candy, and fire safety coloring books, which you can get from a fire station.

Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway - Sir Topham Hatt's Car

Product Details

Sir Topham Hatt's Car is a must-have for every little engineer's collection! Sir Topham Hatt is the director of the railway and is responsible for making sure the engines are always "right on time" and "really useful." Features convertible car styling and head moves up and down while car is in motion. Measures 1.75"L x 4.75"W x 4.75"H.

• Convertible styling
• Sir Topham Hatt moves up and down as the car is moving!
• Each character has a unique personality and job on Sodor
• Vehicles aid in developing fine motor skills, color identification and counting skills
• Handmade from REAL WOOD

Magnetic Lowercase Letters (Set Of 36Pc) - Affordable Gift for your Little One! Item #LMID-1097

Product Details

This adorable toy, ''Magnetic Letters'' by Megcos Toy Company LTD, will help you r little one learn English letters while offering hours and hours of fun as they arrange and rearrange these colorful letters on pretty much any metal surface: board, filing cabinet, or your fridge! Kids love to explore and learn new things - give them the right tools for it! Comes in a colorful box measuring 5.7 x 1.1 x 7.9 inches.Exciting and educational, this toy would make a cute gift for any child!

• Includes 36 pieces!
• This exciting toy is great for any child older than 3yo!
• Brand new, in original box, ships directly from our warehouse.
• Affordable gift for your little one!
• See item description below for further details.

Using Kindergarten Worksheets

Kindergarten Worksheets present an interesting way for kindergarten children to learn and reinforce basic concepts. Since children learn best by doing and since children get bored very easily, giving them well-designed, illustrated worksheets to do makes it easier and more fun for them to learn. Completing a worksheet also gives children a great sense of fulfillment.

How to use worksheets for best effect:

1. Give children worksheets appropriate to their level. Give an easy worksheet for a concept immediately after you teach that concept.

2. The worksheets should require a child to think just a little. If a child finds any activity too difficult, give him an easier one. It is important that the child doesn't get frustrated. Remember that different children have greatly varying levels of comprehension and pace of learning.

3. It will help if the worksheets are well-illustrated. Use of cartoon characters would make it more interesting for a child. Encapsulating common situations encountered at home, school, in the market place etc and using common objects known to children would make the worksheets more relevant.

4. Try to supplement each worksheet with a real-life activity. For example after a worksheet on counting, you can ask the child to pick out 3 biscuits and 2 carrots from many.

5. Remember, a child is learning many new things at once. A child of this age has an amazing capacity to learn many new things fast. He can also forget them equally fast. Doing many interesting worksheets with cartoons etc would be fun for him  and would help continually reinforce what is learnt.

6. Give positive feedback and encourage a child. His finer motor skills are just developing. Do not expect or try for perfection. Do not give any writing exercise too early i.e until he is fully comfortable with holding a pencil. Spend sufficient time and continually reinforce the learning in day-to-day situations. Most importantly, it should be fun for the teacher and the taught!

Smart Snacks Sorting Shapes Cupcakes

Product Details

Sort shapes with these fun cupcakes. They look good enough to eat, with yummy white frosting and colorful sprinkles. Great for developing fine motor skills and shape recognition, these 2-part cupcakes pull apart to reveal a hidden shape. Each shape fits tightly into the matching pan. Shapes include square, triangle, clover, half-moon and circle. Six cupcakes measure 2.5" x 2.25".

Awards:

• Honors Award Winner-National Parenting Publications Awards for Children's Resources (NAPPA-2003)

• Great for developing fine motor skills and shape recognition
• Shapes include square, triangle, clover, half-moon and circle
• Six colorful two-part cupcakes
• Each shape fits tightly into the matching pan
• Cupcakes measure 2.5" x 2.25"

KB Toys Coupons - Get Age Appropriate Toys on a Budget

Are you looking for the perfect gift for your two-year-old niece or nephew? Wonder if a train set is something a three-year-old can already appreciate? What toys can you give a six month old baby? Get an age appropriate gift the kid in your life will enjoy with KB coupons!

A lot of people think they can give kids just about anything. Going to the nth first birthday of your nth friends baby? Why not just give the kid another Mr. Potato Man or something. The truth of the matter is, buying children's gifts is much more serious than that. If you buy a child a gift that might not be appropriate for his or her stage in life, you risk their safety. The small parts in a Mr. Potato Man can be a choking hazard to a one year old, for example.

KB Toys is one company that seeks to address this dilemma. The mother company of brands like Toys 'R' Us and Babies 'R' Us, KB Toys puts tags on their products to inform buyers of which toys suit a particular age group. This way, you can shop easily and be sure you're getting the right thing!

You'll also be glad to know that KB Toys offers a lot of discounts on their website. They even have a whole page dedicated to coupons!

So, if you're going to a children's party and don't know what to get, go to a KB Toys store now. And don't forget to get some KB coupons!

Pillow Pets - Are You Getting Quality?

I recently bought one of the As seen on TV Pillow Animals, better known as Pillow pets. This is the first time that I have made a purchase by actually calling into an infomercial so I was a bit hesitant about the quality that I would be getting. I purchased the Buzzy Bee Animal Pillow in the small size. My best friend's daughter wanted one of these for the holidays so I figured what the heck Ill go for it. I purchased the small one for somewhere around 20 bucks and then waited to receive my order. I figured that it would take a while since it was around the holidays but shipping was actually really quick.

Quality?

I received the package and my biggest concern was the quality, but much to my surprise the quality is excellent. I figured with the inexpensive price tag I wasn't going to get much for my money but I was surprised. Not to mention that I did some recent research and learned that "My Pillow Pets" received the 2009 iParenting Media Excellent Product Award and the 2009 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Product Award. Not bad for a pillow!

What You Get

You can't imagine how soft these things are, I wish that I knew more toddlers because they make an excellent gift! Think a snuggy in the shape of an animal pillow, you can't go wrong. I would rate my whole experience with buying a Pillow Pet as a 9 out of 10. Fast shipping, good quality, great customer service!

Disney Princess 3 Bin Organizer with Roll Out Toy Box

Product Details

Delta Disney Princess 3 Tier Toy OrganizerThe Disney Princess 3 Tier Toy Organizer is a great storage and organizational piece for any room. Each tier serves its own function and fits in nicely with the look, feel, and purpose of the entire piece. The bottom tier is a roll-out toy box for storage. The middle tier contains 3 fully-printed bins with assorted designs. The top tier is an additional storage shelf for various smaller items. The die-cut back simply adds to the quality and function of t

• ¿ Disney Princess 3 Tier Toy Organizer
• ¿ Features 3 plastic storage bins, display shelf and roll out toy box
• ¿ Each tier serves its own function
• ¿ Adds an element of style to any room
• ¿ Some assembly required. Makes a great gift item

Fisher-Price High Five Sports Center

Product Details

Pick a sport, any sport. If your multi-talented athlete is not sure which sport he likes best, he can have it all with this all-in-one game station. It stokes your skills across five sports -- basketball, baseball, football, soccer and hockey. Best of all, it requires no conversion. Includes four balls and a hockey stick.

• Multiple sports outdoor game station
• Features basketball, baseball, football, soccer and hockey
• Kids can play all the top five sports in one and it requires no conversion
• Includes four balls and a hockey stick
• An easy way for children to experiment with different sports

LeapFrog Leapster L-Max Numbers on the Run

Product Details

Join Zero as he travels through three wacky, side-scrolling game worlds to help his number friends. Learn numbers, counting, addition and subtraction, and plug into the TV for even more learning fun! For use with the Leapster Learning System or Leapster L-Max Learning Game System, each sold separately.

• Interactive learning cartridge
• For use with the Leapster L-Max Learning Game System, sold separately
• Zero to play the hero and match each digit with the right number of Quidgits
• 3 wacky, side-scrolling game worlds
• Teaches counting to 100, addition, subtraction, and writing numbers from 0 to 100

A Review on Mattel Mindflex

As any astute person knows, just because a toy has a lot of hype surrounding it doesn't mean that it's actually worth anything. If you're considering purchasing the Mattel Mindflex game, we would like to invite you to read about actual user's reviews on the game, so you can make the best buying decision possible.

To begin with, as you know, the Mattel Mindflex has been touted as one of the must have toys in this holiday season.

Back at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2009, it raised many people's eyebrows. A game that solely uses the power of telekinesis (moving objects through one's mind) is certainly not something common, and it definitely has the "cool!" factor going for it. That being said, it also has a bit of an "unbelievable" factor.

People were shocked, delighted, and skeptical to hear about a ball moving solely through the power of their brain waves.

In case you're not familiar with how to use this game, here's a brief rundown: You put on a pair of stylish headsets, and focus 100% on moving a little foam ball through an obstacle course. The headset will work with your brain waves to move the ball in any direction your mind is pushing it in. Your brain waves are interpreted by the headset with the help of uniquely designed sensors located on its forehead and earlobes.

The signals are then converted into energy that is used to power a fan in the game set. This fan is used to lift the ball in the air. The more brain activity someone uses, the faster the fan spins, and the higher the ball levitates.

Once you figure out how to levitate the ball, you have to move on to actually moving it. You put the ball through a series of hurdles and obstacles in order to get to the end.

The ball won't move easily right away - you REALLY need to focus. If you lose your concentration at all, the ball will drop down and you'll need to start all over again.

The game comes with a complete manual that clearly explains how to build focus and how to use your attention to achieve the results you want. The Mind flex has been called the 'ultimate mental marathon' for good reason. As noted, if you're not concentrating hard enough when trying to move the ball, it will simply drop and you'll have to pick it up all over again. Even if you do win one course, you can raise the difficulty level for yourself. It's the ultimate mental exercise.

To Mattel's relief, when people tested it out at the convention, they fell in love with it. Rave reviews came in from tons of people, and it seems as if they won't stop.

The Mattel Mindflex has proven to be much different than the average hyped up toy. It has been in the spotlight for quite some time now, and it's only getting more and more rave reviews. We recommend that you see for yourself what all the commotion is about and pick up your own version today.

Melissa & Doug Precious Pearls Bead Set

Product Details

Weve redesigned our wooden bead sets with brighter, more vibrant colors and lots of fun new shapes to keep any creative kid happily occupied for hours!

• Our fabulous, colorful bead sets feature a wide variety of beads and stringing cords.
• Everything needed to make beautiful jewelry, decorative items and gifts!
• Choose from a diverse selection of plastic and wooden beads, in creatively designed, reusable storage cases!
• 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.9

The Tips to Get a Job For 15 Year Olds

Now many teens age 15 trying to get their first jobs but they find it's very difficult, they have applied to several dozen places and not one has called them. How to get a teen job easily? you should know the follow tips, which will help you to get a nice teen job.

Interest

As a young teen, you'd better find a job that you are interested in. For example, if you are interested in working with animals and hope to become a veterinarian.then you can try calling your local animal clinics vets offices humane societies and ask if they could arrange something for you, it may be paid under the table or volunteer work but if you got some experience this year, think how helpful that would be in finding some employment later.

Prohibited occupations

Don't break the law! The jobs and hours worked by young persons, 14 to 18 years of age are restricted under Federal and state laws. Check your state laws before getting your summer job.

This subpart shall apply to all occupations other than the following: (a) Manufacturing, mining, or processing occupations, including occupations requiring the performance of any duties in work rooms or work places where goods are manufactured, mined, or otherwise processed; (b) Occupations which involve the operation or tending of hoisting apparatus or of any power-driven machinery other than office machines;(c) The operation of motor vehicles or service as helpers on such vehicles;(d) Public messenger service;(e) Occupations which the Secretary of Labor may, pursuant to section 3(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act and Reorganization Plan No. 2, issued pursuant to the Reorganization Act of 1945, find and declare to be hazardous for the employment of minors between 16 and 18 years of age or detrimental to their health or well-being;(f) Occupations in connection with: (1) Transportation of persons or property by rail, highway, air, water, pipeline, or other means;(2) Warehousing and storage;(3) Communications and public utilities;(4) Construction (including demolition and repair).

Work Place

Many teens Age 15 work at: Blockbuster, Subway, Mcdonalds, Chick-fil-A, Publix,Coles,Target,K-Mart,Bi-Lo,Gas Station,Movie Theaters,Library,Pizza Places,Chuck E Cheese,Walmart,Mervyns , Six Flags . Go to try, if you are lucky, you will get a good job soon.

Job interview

For you, a 15-year-old kid,maybe,this is your first job interview and you want to make sure everything is perfect.Do you know what would be appropriate for you to wear at the interview?Usually, simple and clean is OK.

The questions they ask depend on the job you'll need a certain skill. But it's a good idea to have a resume ready (trust me, you can make one even if you don't think you've done anything). Once they see it, they'll use that to guide the interview questions and learn more about you.

Your Rights

For many jobs, payment for medical care if you get hurt or sick because of your job. You may also be entitled to lost wages.At least the Federal minimum wage of $4.75 (increases to $5.15 on 9/1/97) to most teens, after their first 90 days on the job. Many states have minimum wages which may be higher than the Federal wage, and lower wages may be allowed when workers receive tips from customers. (Call your state Department of Labor listed in the blue pages of your phone book for information on minimum wages in your state).

Keeping School Memories on Paper

Every summer, many will graduate from high school and into the real world of work, higher education and most importantly, making independent decisions which can be a challenge for the young adult. It is entry to the real growing pains that most hate to live through as it can be a period of experimentation and once in a while, painful real-life lessons learned. Though we can't go back in time literally, it is possible to re-visit "good" or "happier" times with a keepsake of childhood memories.

Senior scrapbook ideas can run the gamut, meaning that no two in the entire world should be identical. Some highlight moments starting from a child's first day of school up to high school graduation. Others may have a theme that reflects the child's interests such as art, sports, music or even science. A popular choice is to buy a name-brand scrapbook kit with arts and craft supplies, design templates and other cute trinkets. These can be found at mass discount retail chains as well as smaller crafts stores.

Another concept would be a time capsule theme that could include, but not be limited to-

o A "gallery" of your favorite (and not so favorite) teachers from kindergarten to 12th grade
o Pictures taken with friends they may have grown up with over the years
o Advertisements of toys or games that may have been the latest fad
o A list of favorite songs/movies/television shows
o Newspaper clippings that feature local or world events that have taken place over the years

There are also many software programs designed specifically for scrap booking or you could use desktop publishing software to scan and edit photos, add artistic touches or whatever fits. The upside to using this method is that senior scrapbook ideas can be saved to a compact disc, flash drive or other portable storage device. The downside is that it can be the most costl.

What makes a scrapbook so unique is that it does not require the use of expensive stationery, software or other materials to create their own memories that can be cherished in later years. Some people are just no-frills, bells and whistles personalities anyway so in this case, simplicity is best.

The most unique of senior scrapbook ideas is a written diary that recollects daily events in a person's life. This may seem boring or mundane to some but for those who really enjoy writing or placing their innermost thoughts on paper, this could be a hoot. It doesn't even have to be limited to actual day-to-day events; it could be the opinion of a 12-year-old on world matters, pop culture or a kaleidoscope of self-expression through creative writing and drawings. It can also be a funny way to see how a person's grammar and handwriting can gradually change over the years.

Remember that senior scrapbook ideas do not have to be limited to the latest trends not does it have to be beautiful but it should reflect that individual.