By Lance Winslow


Most would agree that positive mental attitude has power especially when it comes to kids playing youth sports. It would be very difficult to debate otherwise and I am sure you agree. Youth sports programs must work hard to constantly promote a positive attitude. This can be done through careful coaching and teaching kids respect for the game and integrity on the field.

Still, but there is truly no greater feeling than winning after you have worked hard to get there and played your heart out. Just ask the late Vince Lombardi, as it builds character to win, when you deserve it or if you lose but gave it every last ounce of your existence. This also develops a positive mental attitude that is re-enforced through the team and coach.

One gentleman that wishes to bring these great attitudes to youth sports is Charles Hellman, Founder of LuckySports. I believe this is noble: "LuckySports believes that youth sports should recognize a good coach and parental positive attitude and promote it until it becomes the industry standard for youth sports." and worthy. It's a great simple mission statement in and of itself, even without all the other lessons in his works.

If we can teach kids to do their best in sports, follow the rules, and build character, then our society will be so much more ahead in the future. The children are our future; they will soon be running things, sooner than we know. By promoting sports, fairness, and respect for the game with children and teens now, we will be building integrity into the next generation. Think on this.

By Bill Parsons


Kids love basketball. Whether kids are short or tall, old or young, have experience or no experience, they love to pick up the ball and give it a try. The goal may seem miles away, but they will try to make a basket and dribble around the court. Just as important as teaching kids the rules of the game, is teaching them how to be safe. When purchasing a basketball goal for your home, school, or community keep these safety tips in mind.

For basketball goals with a pole, purchase pole padding. Pole padding is a simple foam padding with a vinyl cover. The padding can be wrapped around the pole and closed with the attached velcro strip. Most padding fits poles up to 66" tall, but check your pole height to get the right fit. Typically padding is 1 ½" thick.

Padded poles protect kids from injury. It is easy to run into the pole when playing a game or chasing the ball. Injuries from colliding with a pole that isn't padded can range from bumps and bruises to concussions or broken bones. Adding pole padding can greatly reduce the chance of these types of injuries.

In addition to padding the pole on your basketball goal, you can also add a gusset pad. These pads are pyramid shaped and cover the base plates and bolts on an adjustable crank system. Gusset pads will help prevent foot injuries that can occur when players bump into the base plates. It will also protect players from being scratched or injured on any bolts.

Another item that you can add to your basketball system to help kids be safe is a ball retention net. This net attaches to the back of your system and stretches to the ground. When baskets are made or attempted, the balls retract off of the net and can roll back towards the player. This is a great way to prevent kids from running into the street or other people's yards after the ball. Adding something as simple as this gives kids a visual boundary.

For teenagers who are ready to start attempting slam dunks, the type of net you have on your basketball goal becomes a safety issue. Make sure you get an anti-whip net. Anti-whip nets are made of a specific type of nylon that won't tangle around hands or fingers. This helps protect player's hands from injuries that may occur when going in for a slam dunk.

Another safety issue for teenagers is the type of rim that you have. A flex rim gives when pressure is put on it. This spring loaded resistance protects both the player and the backboard. For teens who will be making more contact with the rim, a flex rim assures that the pressure they apply can be handled.

Teaching basketball to kids and teens is a fun and exciting experience, but safety is of the utmost importance. Keep kids and teens safe by adding some of this equipment to your basketball goal.

By Marianne Lewis


It is so important to teach children about money and to help them develop money management skills and financial habits that will last a lifetime. In today's world of rising debt and easy credit, it is crucial to start teaching children about money early and to prepare them to stand firmly on their feet later on in life.

So consider the following questions:

* What can you start doing to ensure that you are raising money savvy children?
* As they grow into young adults, will they spend within their means, avoid unnecessary debt and make informed and wise consumer decisions?

The fact is that children want to learn about money! Recent statistics show that "94% of youngsters believe it is important to know how to manage money, but only few say they are taught how to!"

Getting children in the habit of saving instead of over spending can, and should start early in their lives.

Here are 5 tips on how kids can be taught to set goals, plan, budget, save, invest and spend wisely:

* Teach by example: Children do learn by example, you will be giving your kids a very poor example to follow if you make frivolous purchases every time you have some extra money. So controlling your spending and sticking to a sensible budget and your children will learn to do the same. Be a good role model.
* Explain the difference between wants and needs: Help children know the difference between wanting stuff and having needs. And also the pleasure gained in saving and eventually spending on things they want.
* Teach the value of money: Take kids along on grocery shopping trips and talk about how to become savvy shopper and bargain hunters.
* Encourage kids to shop sensibly: The best way to reinforce what you teach your kids is to have them practice saving and spending. They would learn a lot quicker from spending decisions, whether good or not so good.
* Encourage kids to give: Teach kids about giving to charity, giving tithe and offering; and generally being aware of the needs of the less fortunate. And how their contributions, no matter how little can make a difference in the lives of others.

It is better to invest in teaching kids how to save, give and spend wisely NOW than to teach them how to GET OUT OF DEBT or deal with the consequences of the wrong financial decisions LATER on in life.

By Ryan Villogram


Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an art/sport that teaches discipline, self-defense, and get you into shape while having fun. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu also helps you release stress, control breathing rhythm, and gives you an overall great workout physically and mentally. It teaches you to train your body and mind. This sport is created where from the second you come across you opponent you automatically pay respect to them and then the same after the mach is over.

Kids and Teen need to be involved within a sport where they can interact with other kids there age and size so they can feel like they fit in. Kids and teens everyday are wandering around the streets looking to get into more trouble because they have nothing better to do. Well I think there is something for them to do. Brazilian JiuJitsu is a sport where you are able to open up and talk to other kids not feel any peer pressure at all because it is a martial art. Out there hanging around in the neighborhood not using your valuable time constructively will change once Brazilian JiuJitsu enters your life. This is an art to grow up with. You will pick up traits that will stick to you like glue for the rest of your life. Not just for the martial art side but for your everyday life, rather than 'chilling' with your 'friends' after school getting into trouble.

Brazilian JiuJitsu is something everyone will fall in love with, especially the kids and teens because it teaches so much valuable techniques for life and at the same time your getting in shape and your attitude toward school is better more and more. Brazilian JiuJitsu is also a competitive sport where you can train really hard and then go out and showcase your ability against other kids your age and size in front of a crowd of people that are cheering you on. You got adrenaline pumping and you just cannot wait to get out on that mat. Going hard against your opponent giving all you got and then in the end your hand is raised in victory is a feeling that will be life changing immediately. Most kids and teenagers do not have the opportunity to say to their selves' 'good job' because they worked for something real hard by putting a lot of heart and effort into it. That is the mindset that kids and teens will have once they begin Brazilian JiuJitsu. There confidence will build and they will shift there momentum of hard work over toward school work. All of those life changing experiences are in one sport and it is absolutely amazing, but it is all up to you to accomplish those things.

By Wray Hodgson


All children like stories and they love to glue and paint. Introducing your children to the exciting art of ship model building is a fun and rewarding experience. Cast Your Anchor has carefully designed options suitable for different age groups. Please note that age ranges are flexible. You know your child's interests and abilities best (go up or down dependant on their skill level).

Ages 4 to 8:

At this age, children are fascinated by being able to float what they built, so start with rowboats, sailboats or canoes using the bread and butter technique. This building technique allows for a water-resistant finished boat in about 2 hours for a cost of $4.95.
• Snap - glue - paint - float •

A second great option for this age group is the snap-together ship models. They can be built and rebuilt! They can also be glued for permanent display. We carry submarines, dragon boats, and cruise liners using this technique. Just remember that this type of model will not float.
• Snap - display - Re-snap •
Ages 6 to 12:

This is where the story of a ship really catches your child's interest. They can imagine themselves on the finished boat, sailing for far-off adventures. Start with a Titanic, a Pirate Ship, or a Mayflower in a Bottle. Introduced at this level is measurement and cutting of wood, as well simple rigging. In about 5 hours, your child can be exploring the new world with the Pilgrims or sailing the Caribbean with Captain Jack Sparrow
• Solid Hulls - Famous Ships - Excellent stories •

Another option at this level is the solid hull kit with deck superstructure. You can build them together or skilled children can build them alone with the occasional piece of advice from you. At this point, the model builder begins to fashion pieces of wood into recognizable parts of a ship. Our kits come complete with glue, sandpaper & paint. Build a Constitution, Viking Boat, Endeavour, Bounty or the Santa Maria.
• Tall Ships - Solid Hulls - Deck Superstructure •

Ages 12 to 17:

At this age teens are ready for something that challenges their abilities! There's no need for you to sit and supervise so you and your children can work on your individual projects at the same time. Suitable for the older first-time builder or the child ready to expand their skill set. Cast Your Anchor carries the Bluenose, the Union and the Bounty - the kits come with glue, sandpaper, paints AND basic tools. Plan to spend about 30 hours completing one of these kits.
• Tall Ships - Solid Hulls - Rigging - Fittings - Painting •

The next level of ships takes the younger or first-time modeler into the world of Plank-on-Frame. Build a false keel, bulkheads, and do the hull planking. These kits come with more authentic fittings and are designed to be a truer likeness of the real ship. If you want something smaller try a Doris or a Neelte Jacoba - it will take about 50-70 hours.
• Whalers - Schooners - Cloth Sails - Rigging - Fittings •

This is where the options of the Model Ship Building are blown wide open. Choose a tall ship, a schooner, a tugboat or canoe. Whatever your favorite boat or ship is - we are likely to have a kit. The kits at this level include the Bluenose II, a Peterboro canoe or the Santa Maria. You'll be making many parts of the deck superstructure, sometimes sewing your own sails or double-planking your hull. Pick up a mitre box and a hobby knife and use water-soluble glue to avoid worry over any mistakes. Prices start at $120 and build time varies by kit (up to 250 hours).
• ALL ships - Plank-on-Frame - Rigging - Fittings - Sails - Paint or Stain •

Remember that in ship model building there are no deadlines to meet. You can read about and try out different building techniques. It's always fun to examine the history of the ship you are building. Many things about the items on the deck are wonderful stories too, and we can often see in them the forerunners to many products still in use today.

Let Cast Your Anchor help you introduce your child to the joys of model ship building!

By William Allen Yap


Social networking sites are very popular among teens because this is gives them a sense of belonging. While many say that this is part of growing up, there are risks involved, which is why they should be cautions.

Since they are not kids anymore, they more or less know which information of themselves should be made public. It is okay to talk about their hobbies, their favorite band or sport but not post their phone number or address since someone might call them up or visit them at home.

They should only add friends that they know in real life like their classmates, teachers and family members.

So no one outside their friends will be able to read anything that they posted, it is best that this is set to private. Doing so will prevent people who are not in the friend's list from viewing their blogs or photos.

Before you post it, make sure that this is tasteful and not sexually provocative. You can make alterations using some programs to remove any identifying information.

They also should not post any plans like where they will be on the weekend to avoid meeting someone who could be a potential threat.

When they open an account, they should use a screen name and not their real name. It is also advisable not to mention their real age or gender as some sites require it.

The only way your teen can log into their account is to type in their username or email address and password. The password must never be shared to anyone even their friends.

Should they encounter any harassment or negative comments on their profile, it must be ignored and reported to the administrator.

The time may come that someone they meet online will want to meet them in person. It is probably okay to do so after knowing this person for some time and not after chatting with them only once.

When they do decide to meet, they should still exercise caution by telling someone where they are going and who they are meeting. They could even bring a friend along so they will feel safe. Should things go well without any incident, then there won't be any problems. But should the uneventful take place, they should be report this to the police and to the administrator so the one responsible for this will be punished.

While some teens may think that they are not given any privacy, parents who decide to put the computer in an open area like the kitchen or family room are actually doing them a favor. This will let the parents know what sites they visit, what content they have downloaded and monitor their surfing habits.

When the teen is logged into a social networking site or simply hanging out with friends, it is important that they just be themselves. This means not being bullied or pressured to do something they don't want to do or be something they aren't which can only be achieved of course by knowing their limits.

They should also stop chatting with someone who asks about their physical features or what is their attitude toward sex because the individual who is asking just wants to have sex which is a classic case of manipulation and not true friendship.

By Michelle Falla


After a long day at work, would it be nice to come home to a dinner table set with plates, drinks, napkins and forks? Or even better, how about walking into the smell of aromatic delight coming from your kitchen? It is possible to have your kids, prepare a meal with dad's supervision and with some initial teaching and training.

Children naturally love to explore, and cooking is the best way for them to become creative. Why? It teaches many skills including: confidence, creativity, math, science, reading, geography, nutrition, healthy eating habits, culture and organization. There is no other subject area or hobby that truly integrates so much richness. Try to think of one? If you look at school subjects, most things are taught in isolation. Not cooking. It is the best well rounded subject I know.

So how are you going to get your kids cooking? Just start them in the kitchen no matter how old they are. Let them mix, pour and help you with simple tasks. Spend time with your child in the kitchen, teach them that cooking is not only a great life skill, but that they can be creative and make things with so many ingredients. Laugh with them at messes and mistakes, and then teach them how to clean it up or fix their mistake. Here are some other suggestions to encourage an interest in cooking:

1) Plan a family night, where you and your child do the shopping for one meal, let your child pick out things and be involved in the process.

2) Have your child help you prepare food for a party, have a "kid friendly menu" for the kids attending the party and create a sign names the food and put your child's picture next to it with a heading "created by Chef___".

3) Praise your child for doing even the simplest task in the kitchen.

4) Enroll your child in a series of cooking classes (four minimum). One class is too short to really learn much, and the child may be shy at first. But by class four, watch out! Your child will want to take more classes.

5) Make cooking a priority in your house so that kids understand the value of food made from scratch.

6) Don't let your child see that you struggle in the kitchen. Relax, and try to have fun with food. Don't prepare "boxed foods", they are not fun or interesting.

As you teach your child the value of cooking, you will be able to step back and let your child prepare some fun treats for you. But don't forget the formal training first.......especially when you don't have the time. Take your child to a series of cooking classes or enroll your child in culinary camp, and then let him or her come home and cook what they learned in class for you. Above all, make cooking fun and pleasurable for your child. And always have an adult supervise the child in the kitchen for safety reasons.

When enrolling your child in a formal cooking class, look for these basic fundamental things that your child can learn: how to safely use a knife (depending on age), how to use appliances safely(depending on age), the difference between herbs and spices, how to bake cakes, cookies, breads, how flavors go together in a dish, measuring, mixing, folding, how to be organized and follow the recipe, how to make a basic dish from scratch, how to make soups and sauces, and how to clean up while they cook. Your child will surprise you, and you'll feel good that your child is learning a healthy skill that will last a lifetime. Formal cooking classes will give your child the confidence to come home and cook in your kitchen. Cooking: the best life skill to learn!

By Irina Webster


I have been ask this question so many times by lots of worried parents who think their child may have bulimia but don't know any of the warning signs.

If you are one of these parents then here is a list of things to look out for, I will start with simple things first:

1: Look for an excessive amount of food that is missing. Things like packets of biscuits you have just bought and they have disappeared overnight. Packets of sweets are gone without you even having one yourself. Look for easy accessible foods that seem to be gone faster than what is normal for your family use.

2: The child is starting to act unusual around meal times. Being a bit anxious and not wanting to eat certain food groups, or may play with their food. They may say they have eaten at a friends place but then start to raid the food cupboard for easy food soon after dinner.

3: You notice that the child may have lots of food rappers in their bedroom hidden under the bed or in their trash basket. Half eaten candy bars or potato crisp packets hidden in places that are unusual.

4: The child may start to miss family gatherings or not want to go out to events where they normally would have, like picnics or parties preferring to stay home. Even making excuses they feel ill or have a headache.

5: The child may start to do more exercise that they use to do. Go for long runs or bike rides and start to really push themselves to the extreme.

These are all little things but point to a change in the child's habits although you can't come to the conclusion that your child has bulimia from these alone. You need more concrete evidence to go with these before you can be sure.

Bulimics normally become very good at hiding their condition from family and friends. Bulimia has been described as secretive and sneaky and it most certainly is.

So you as a parent have to become just as sneaky if you suspect your child of this disorder.

Here are some more concrete things to look out for.

1: The child after finishing their meal disappears to the bathroom for a long time. This starts to become a habit and is a surefire clue to the child being bulimic.

2: You notice the smell of toothpaste on their breath when they come from the bathroom, or a sour smell on their breath.

3: You start to find laxatives in their bedroom or empty packets in their trash bin.

4: They start to become really edgy and anxious for no apparent reason and may start telling you to mind your own business if you say anything to them. They act out of character towards you.

5: They start to look sickly and feel the cold more that was normal for them. They may start having problems with their teeth or complain of a sore throat all the time.

6: They start to become obsessed with there weight and are looking at the bathroom scales all the time, or asking you if they look fat or looking in the mirror more that they use to do.

If you noticed a number of these symptoms together then there is a good chance your child may have Bulimia. But do not simply confront them as this can drive the child away or warn them you are on to them, so they may become even sneakier.

You should educate yourself first from people who have faced what you are facing now. One of the best educational information around on this subject is at www.mom-please-help.com written by a mother whose daughter nearly died from bulimia anorexia. She was able to save her daughter herself when all else had failed.

By Dr. Anca Martalog N.D.


Children are the pride and joy of their parents. They are the future and hope of our society. There is nothing more disturbing for parents than when their children become ill. Fortunately, kids are very vibrant and vital, so when it comes to a disease, they usually fight it much easier than adults would.

Homeopathy is one of the modalities used by naturopathic doctors to treat kids because it is one of the most gentle, simple and precise ways of addressing kids' health issues.

One of the most common challenges faced by parents today is the so-called bad behavior of their children. Some of the causes of behavioral problems in children are food allergies or sensitivities (such as sensitivities to food additives or to refined carbohydrates like sugar and/or sucrose, deficiencies - such as iron deficiency, which is the most common and heavy metal e.g., iron toxicity).

Other causes include lack of creativity in their day-to-day lives, emotions reflecting their parents' moods, strong will and early understanding reflected in their keen moral sense.

One way a parent can tell whether his/her children are experiencing behavioral problems is to start noticing the difference (if any) between how active and creative the children are allowed to be, compared to how much the children would actually like to be.

We start putting restrictions on kids at a very early age. They have to understand the rules of the "game" adults play ( a game called life) and have to obey them before they even understand these rules. This is why kids need (more so than adults) an outlet to make and express their own rules.

Some kids like to play a little longer than we think they should, some might enjoy a particular sport, while others are touched by music or any other kind or art.

Regardless of the type of hobby or activity they enjoy, parents should encourage their children to express their feelings. This encouragement inevitably helps balance any behavioral problems.

Another way parents can make a difference in their kids' behavior is diet. Avoiding overfeeding, keeping regular meals, cutting down milk (research shows too much milk is linked to violent behavior), eliminating toxins ( such as artificial flavoring, coloring and preservatives) and eliminating possible sources of food sensitivities are a few steps one can take toward improving their kids' diet.

Pay special attention to milk, peanuts and oranges in kids showing signs of malicious behavior.

When the behavioral problems are primarily emotional in origin, the parent should ask, "Who is rally feeling like this right now?" When family tensions run high, the children might pick up on somebody's emotion and act it out.

Once the emotion is returned to the owner ( who, by virtue of being an adult, can handle it differently), the children suddenly feel better.

Given the chance, kids are truly the pride of their parents and without behavioral problems.

By Geoff Morris


Acne, that dreaded teenage term, almost as part of the growing up process as kids pass the magical ten years and up into their teen's, will affect kids of both sexes with spots, pimples, blackheads, white heads, zits, and sometime deeper cysts on their face and neck. In the States alone, nearly 20 million kids are affected by acne at some point in their lives Small consolation of course, if a spot appears just before your first tentative date!

So - what is acne? Well, for such a common condition, many quack cures are around, and some of the can actually do more harm than good. So lets start by looking at what exactly acne is, and how it is formed. You may not realise it but everybody's skin consists of a matrix of tiny holes or pores. Out of each of these holes grows a hair follicle. Now nature, bless her, endowed each of these tiny hair follicles with a gland that secretes sebaceous oil. Oh great, now you know where all the grease comes from , but best of all, the production of this oil is not affected by what you eat, so you can still have your burger and fries with no regrets - just keep any extra grease away from your face.

However, in your kids and early teens, with all the changes going on in your body - of either sex - due to the growing up process, these little oil ducts start to get a bit over-excited, and pump far too much oil out. Now when this happens, a number of things can get out of control, and the pores can get clogged up with too much oil, dead skin cells, and this little mixture forms a perfect breeding ground for all of the different strains of bacteria that is all over your skin. Yuck!

As this little concoction grows, if the pore gets blocked, then all this grunge causes the skin to bulge and a 'white head' appears. If the pore blocks up, but doesn't seal, you will see the dark top of this stuff, which is known as a 'blackhead'. If the pore is sealed up, and so much stuff is produced that the skin lifts up a bit, then than causes a little red pimple. If this condition gets really bad, then the stuff gets deeper in the skin and can cause quite nasty looking and painful cysts.

So now you know a little bit more about what acne is, you can now understand what to try to do to reduce or even eliminate it. Bear in mind, that whatever you do you probably won't affect a cure overnight - probably weeks or month I am afraid.

Basically, skin hygiene is what its all about, coupled with a bit of common sense, but first of all, your skin is delicate, so don't, whatever you do, scrub you face. And secondly, do NOT pick or squeeze a zit, however tempting. You could cause infection, and could even cause a painful cyst to appear.

Always wash your face with soapy water morning and night, and use your fingers rather than a rough flannel.

With makeup and sun cream, try to go only for those that are not oil based, and last of all, do not think that exposure to lots of sun will cure acne - that can cause more damage in later years than you realise, so use the sun, but don't burn.

Best of all, enjoy life - you are young, and believe me, you will grow right out of acne (eventually).