Bullying is defined as aggressive behavior that manifests as a habitual occurrence, and is triggered by a perceived imbalance of power; it is commonly directed at victims who differ in race, religion, and sexuality. This behavior can involve any type of abuse including emotional abuse, verbal abuse, or physical abuse. Emotional and verbal abuse has always been difficult for authorities to recognize and act upon; today, the situation is further complicated by the use of the internet and the emergence of "cyber-bullying" or emotional and verbal harassment via IM, email, and other technology.

We are seeing more and more homosexual teens and young adults fall victim to bullying at school and the workplace. The media is displaying a growing number of stories about teenagers who are identifying themselves at homosexual being harassed at school and via the Internet about their sexuality; the stories we see on the news don't have the happy sit-com endings. It seems rare that the abusive behavior results in a moment of life-changing action. Instead, victims feel the impact of this harassment as depression, low self-esteem and self-worth, health problems, poor grades and performance, and suicidal thoughts. Unfortunately, the effects of bullying for any reason, including sexuality, are felt more commonly that many of us would like to believe. In fact, the statistics related to bullying in secondary schools alone in 2011 are staggering:

    * 1 out of 4 teenagers are bullied at school.
    * 9 out of 10 LGBT students are harassed at school or online.
    * 1 out of 5 school aged children admit to being a bully, or bullying someone.
    * 8 out of 10 occasions, an argument with a bully ends with physical violence.
    * In instances of bullying, adults intervene 4% of the time and peers intervene 11% of the time. 85% of these instances have no intervention.

Bullying doesn't end when we leave the playground. A large number of LGTB adults experience bullying in their day-to-day lives. Bullies still exist in both the social scene and the work place. Adult bullies attack their victims with verbal abuse and humiliation; it is still the same play to make them feel like they are the dominate person in the scenario, possessing power over another. Workplace bullying can come in many forms. Some of these include shouting at an employee or other verbal abuse, singling out an employee for unjustified criticism, excluding an employee from company activities, constantly ignoring an employee's contributions to projects, or language and action used with the intent to embarrass or humiliate a single employee repeatedly. Unfortunately, many feel that there is little that can be done to break this cycle of workplace aggression. Popular suggestions include working with supervisors to make others aware of the situation and trying to avoid confrontation.

If you find yourself, your teen, or someone you know involved with a bully as a result of their sexuality or other differences, consider these steps to cope with the problem:

   1. Talk to someone about your experiences: Being bullied at school or in the office can be a humiliating experience. That does not mean that you should keep the instance or instances to yourself. Talk to your friends, family, and other means of support about your experience. Discuss how you feel about the scenario, and how the bully's actions made you feel about yourself. Alerting people to your problem will help them keep better watch over you. If aware of the problems, your friends and family may be able to watch for signs of depression, and may also be able to help you avoid your bully in the future.

   2. Alert authorities about your problem: In the majority of situations, there is someone who is in the position to help you with your tormenter. If you are experiencing any form of harassment, you should alert the authorities at school, your HR representative or manager at work, the manager of a business you are visiting, or even the bouncer at a concert or club. Remember that it may not be possible for the authorities to take immediate action on your behalf, especially if you are only experiencing verbal abuse with no witnesses. However, alerting the people in a position to monitor these events may trigger them to keep a closer watch on the situation, accumulate evidence of the occurrences, and be ready to take action if the harassment continues. You should also remember that, if the harassment become violent, the law is often on your side.

   3. Be careful in situations where you can be harassed: Though it may seem unfair, often the best way to avoid being bullied is to avoid the bully. As adults, we are more able to walk away from situations where we may experience harassment. In occasions when this is not possible, a large group may be a deterrent for the bully; it is usually difficult for one person, even one who is aggressive, to face their victim when they are outnumbered.

   4. Be assertive and remember your rights: When faced with verbal and emotional harassment, sometimes a display of strength and assertiveness will work in your favor. Do not encourage a bully at school or in the workplace by fighting back with verbal barbs or physical violence. Instead, tell them to stop the behavior and leave you alone. Try not to show that their actions are bothering you; if they find that they are unable to break your spirits and dominate you, their harassment may stop.

In many instances, a victim of bullying may need more than a few simple tips and tools to handle the emotional stress of the harassment. If you or someone you are suffering from depression as a result of bullying behavior, you should seek professional help to begin coping with these issues. While family and friends may form a great support group for your day-to-day life, a counselor can help you work through feelings of low-self worth, depression, and suicidal thoughts that were triggered by the harassment.

Nancy Travers, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, specializes in all types of relationships; dating, existing relationships, family relationships, and relationships with friends and business relationships. She also helps her clients overcome anxiety and depression through talk therapy as well as through hypnosis. What sets her apart from many other counselors is that she has counseled in the gay/lesbian community for over 10 years. She also has experience counseling families with elder care issues. Nancy has been in practice for over 15 years and can provide you with the tools you need to approach dating and relationships with confidence. Visit her website at http://www.nancyscounselingcorner.com.

By Nancy Travers

Always show that you are interested in your child's spelling progress. Be positive; praise your child's efforts and attempts. If you are negative, your child will see themselves as a failure when it comes to spelling.

This will impact upon all of their writing. They simply won't want to write for fear of making spelling errors.

When your child is writing creatively, tell them not to worry about their spelling. Tell them that it is more important to get their ideas down on paper and offer to help them find and correct the errors later.

Good readers are generally good spellers. Encourage your child to read a variety of books. If your child is young, read to them as often as you can. Let the child watch the words as you read. Spelling for kids must be fun and the words should be achievable.

Get their eyes checked!

If your child is struggling with reading and spelling, then take them to an optometrist and get their eyes checked.

Sometimes you won't realise there is a problem until the work starts to become smaller and more information is placed on pages and boards. Usually this starts to happen when the child is around 9 years old. If they complain of headaches, this can be another indication that their eyesight may be a problem.

Some tips for improving your child's spelling.

Encourage your child to:
- read lots of different types of books
- make a list of new words they come across
- do cross-word puzzles
- close their eyes and picture the words in their head and write the words with their finger in the air
- spell words out loud and in their head
- highlight the tricky bits and learn the tricky part by repeating it

Try to make spelling for kids an interesting time. Play games with them and help them to examine the words they have to learn and you'll see your child's spelling skills improve dramatically.

These are just a few ideas from our Spelling DVD. It also covers the best method for learning a word, lots of other activities, mnemonics (memory tricks), most commonly used word list and demon word list, spelling rules, prefixes, suffixes, homonyms, synonyms, antonyms, anagrams, homophones and homographs. Yes, all those terms that confuse parents and children when they are doing spelling homework.

By Karen Campbell

"Børne Speigel" may be translated into "The Mirror for Children" and the book is set out to be a corrective mirror that points out the faults and lacks in young individuals. They are to obey, to be devout, to make sure that they are clean in body and soul, etc.. The main purpose is to teach the informative mind as much self-control and self-possession as possible. Something that is done by imposing shame on the child. It is shameful not to keep track of body and soul at all times. No lose limbs, so to speak, not even while sleeping. For instance, one should always sleep with one's mouth open and keep a straight, soldier-like posture in bed.

Niels Bredal had been a monk, but after the Reformation when Denmark turned from the Catholic faith to Protestantism (1536) he married and became a teacher. However, to me it's obvious that he brought much of the strict discipline of the monasteries with him into his new life. His book was inspired by writings of Erasmus of Rotterdam, but his monitions seem stricter and much more body oriented than most of what I have read by the famous Dutch thinker. His concern also goes to low levels like breaking wind.

Even Platon suggested that children should have their own literature. Fables and fairy tales far back used to be considered good educational readings for the children and so they were although most of it seems to have this didactic perspective that modern literature does not have anymore. However, only with educational authors like e.g. Niels Bredal does one find this extremely strict raised finger.

The first illustrated book for children, "Orbis Pictus" ("The World in Pictures") in Denmark was written by Comenius. It was published in 1658 and was a textbook, full of admonitions about good behavior and the wisdom of the time. Not until the 18th century children had books that set out to entertain as well as teach morals and the social values they were to adhere to as grown-ups.

By Else Cederborg

You can help your children to develop this essential skill and be setting goal kids. By increasing their awareness of some important elements, the results they can achieve will be extremely rewarding and help to inspire them to persevere with other goals as well. Goal setting kids are students who set goals and generally display motivation and commitment towards achieving them. They also tend to achieve better results than students who aren't goal setting kids.

The secret for children to be setting goal kids is to begin with setting short term goals that are realistic and possible to achieve. When success is reached, the feelings of pride and self achievement will motivate them to set other goals and have belief in their ability to achieve them. Once their confidence in being kids for setting their goal and using this strategy is developed, they will feel confident in setting bigger long term goals.

The following strategies for goal setting kids can be used as a guide to lead your child to success:
1. Set realistic short term goals.
2. Make a list of the actions you need to take so that you reach your goal.
3. Work hard and apply effort. Don't give up! Even if you fail at first, just keep trying.
4. If you really believe you can do it, you are likely to succeed!
5. Monitor your progress along the way (e.g. checklist of completed tasks).
6. When you reach your goal, feel proud of your success.

Parents and carers can play a crucial role in helping goal setting kids to achieve their goals and apply this strategy on a regular basis. By supporting your child when deciding on goals to set, encourage them to use the strategies above. Positive reinforcement and continual praise for their efforts is essential. This will motivate and inspire them to persevere. If a goal isn't achieved in the desired time frame, support your child in persisting even if it takes longer to achieve than first anticipated or hoped.

Be a good role model! This is also crucial to the success of setting goal kids. Children copy and are influenced by what they see and if you are applying the principles of goal setting and persisting with your goals, then they will do the same.

It's also very important for a child's achievements to be acknowledged and celebrated by their parents, family members or carers. This will give a further boost to the child's self esteem and confidence and encourage them to keep striving for success. So ensure celebration occurs when goals are reached, and that includes your goals as well as theirs. This type of success should be acknowledged and celebrated.

For further tips and helpful advice to assist your child in reaching their full potential at school, please visit our website blog. We also have several products available on our products page that will help you to help your child in many areas of their school work and homework.

• http://products.helpwithhomeworkforkids.com/
• Karen Campbell and Katrina Kahler
• Help With Homework For Kids: Homework Help/Goal Setting Kids

By Karen Campbell Co-Author: Katrina Kahler

To ensure success in creating a "to do list for children" assist your child in working through the following steps. This will guide them in developing the skills necessary so that this helpful strategy becomes a habit and an ongoing part of their daily routine.

To Do List For Children

1. Write down homework tasks first.
2. List any chores that have to be done.
3. List any after school activities.
4. Add some fun, free-time activities to your list.

When creating a "to do list for children" remember to...

Decide how much time is needed for each task and add this detail to your list.

Prioritise your tasks - do the harder or more important tasks first and save the easier and more enjoyable tasks until last. (This acts as encouragement to persevere with more difficult tasks and also as a reward when they are completed).

Break difficult tasks into smaller chunks and do a little bit each day e.g. large projects or assignments can be completed a little at a time rather than leaving it all to the last minute and trying to complete the whole task the night before.

Be sure to complete each task before starting a new one.

Cross off each task in your "to do list for children" as it is completed (this creates a great feeling of satisfaction).

Add any tasks that weren't completed, to your list for the following day.

Take pride in your "to do list for children" and the fact that you are becoming more organised and able to complete activities by the due date.

Parental support and guidance is needed when creating a "to do list for children." Assisting your child with developing this skill is essential in enabling them to adopt this habit and become successful in following through. Praise and positive reinforcement will always motivate children to apply effort and take pride in what they are doing. Parents and carers should also remember to be a positive role model and lead by example. When creating a "to do list for children," why not create a "to do list for parents" as well? This is a great way for the whole family to become more organised together!

Visit our website blog for further tips, strategies and advice on creating a "to do list for children" along with a variety of other organisational skills and useful strategies for success. To meet your child's educational needs, we also offer a wide range of products that will assist you in helping your child with school work and homework.

http://products.helpwithhomeworkforkids.com/

Karen Campbell and Katrina Kahler
Help With Homework For Kids: Homework Help/To Do List For Children

By Karen Campbell Co-Author: Katrina Kahler

That's why children's play tents can be a source of entertainment and fun for them. Some kids like keep things pretty even when they are roughing it up. It's a good thing that there are decidedly feminine versions of children's tents. Some of them have attractive green and white stripes, white buffalo checks, and pretty pink ticking. If that is not enough, some have fuchsia or pink flower appliques. Your little girl and her friends are going to enjoy spending an afternoon in these tents. In their feminine version of a tent, nobody could keep them from sharing stories, reading, and doing what girls do when they are together- having fun!

There are also play tents that have more masculine prints. Some have adorable retro rodeo print with yellow ticking and tan suede accents for that fun cowboy look. This is great if your kids don't have access to a tree house or the weather is not ideal for outdoor play. Boys will appreciate the privacy that a tent can give them. Just remember that some of these tents are meant for indoors. The weather is not always conducive for playing outside but indoor play tents make it possible for kids to go camping indoors!

Just like grown-ups, children appreciate their own space even when they are just playing. Give them their privacy and let them entertain themselves in their own world. Children's play tents are one those simple yet classic toys that will never go out of style. They can come in outdoor and indoor models that will ensure your children will be entertained all year long. Kids don't have to resort to upturned furniture, boxes, and bedding. Although this sort of imaginative play can be fun, they are not always safe for children. Those heavy pieces of furniture are accidents waiting to happen and your linens are in danger of being stained and ripped. Keep your kids safe with play tents instead. You will also appreciate the fact that your furniture will not be upturned and your bedding ripped.

By Coy Roberts

Boys never seem to get tired of adventure. Even if they are indoors, they will find a way to entertain themselves with exciting games. Most of the time, their bedrooms become adventure land itself. It's not a bad thing. In fact, it is good for them to be imaginative. Give them an extra push by providing them with fun furniture that will enhance their creativity. With just a bit of imagination, they can go on an adventure on their very own children's beds.

There are some remarkable beds out there. Would you believe there are bunk beds with tents and slides? Yes, you read it right. Some of them have tents and slides! Camping and sliding never lose their novelty. This is every little boys' dream bed. The tent goes over the bunk bed and it also has a hiding place below. The foot of the bed has a slide topped with a tower. The other end is a sturdy ladder that makes it safe to climb to the bed itself. The blue and green microfiber material of the tents makes this bunk bed truly a little boy's delight. Who says you can't go camping and sliding in your bed?

If you have a little athlete in your hands, encourage his physical prowess by surrounding him with everything sporty including his bed. There are also beds decorated with footballs, basketballs, baseballs, etc. both on the headboard and the footboard. The pop out design of these balls make a fun contrast to straight lines of the bed. For sure, your little boy will be dreaming of all sorts of games in this fun twin bed. Even if you don't understand sports yourself, you should encourage your kid's love for it.

Childhood is fleeting but I'm sure that you still remember those happy moments. That's why as adults, things we enjoyed as kids always make us smile. Make your own children enjoy being kids while they can. It's easy to do when they can go on an adventure even in their very own children's beds.

By Coy Roberts

Lying is considered to be one of the worst habits which a person develops. We all lie to one or the other at sometime during our life. The reasons for lying could be that we do not want to hurt the other or do not like doing a particular thing, which provokes us to lie. Whatever be the reason, lying is not a good habit and has to be stopped. Here are some tips which can help parents control lying.

1. A young mind can easily be affected by his/her surroundings. It is therefore important that parents do not at any time lie to anyone when the children are around. This just makes the child think that it is alright to lie and will not be able to judge the reason for your scolding.

2. Talk to the child if you think he/she has been lying to you. A talk can help solve and sort out the problem. Yelling, punishing gives a negative effect which will only put the child's feeling in a shell. A short story which can highlight the importance of saying the truth can help the child to understand why it is not good to lie.

3. If the child is still not giving up lying, parents can come up with indirect punishments to help them realize their mistakes. For example: not talking to the child for a day or two, no weekend outings (for everyone in the family), no play time etc.

4. Appreciating the child if he/she tells the truth is a motivating factor for the child to continue the same. Not only will it help build confidence, but will also reduce the fear of telling the truth.

5. Refrain from comparing one child with the other. It is seen in many houses that parents compare the child and this results in the child to start lying. Lying becomes an instinctive approach to put oneself on par with the other, which needs to be stopped.

6. Children lie about material possessions with their friends. Talking to the child about not lying about material possessions and encouraging him/her to feel happy about the things which the child has can help put a stop to their lying.

Many of the traits and behavioral instincts which the child develops are in the initial stages of growth. Parents need to spend more time with the child and help him/her pass through every hurdle successfully, thus helping them grow to be better people.

Log onto http://www.edurite.com/blog for many interesting articles.

By Pady N

According to CreditCards.com in July 2011 the average credit card debt per household in the US was $15,799. Bloomberg.com tells us that in 2010 foreclosures rose 81%, topping 2.3 Million last year.

Children follow the example of what we do without regard to what we say. So when the government borrows 40 cents of every dollar it spends year after year - what do we expect our children to do? The national debt has been over one trillion dollars since 1981. Republicans, Democrats, progressives and conservatives, every administration has increased the debt. As of this writing the figure is rapidly approaching 15 trillion. We all have learned by example, our children will be no different.

What's the point of all of this? In the times of greatest financial crises, the people who have zero debt and available money do VERY well. Winning in bad times does not take wealth, it takes 'liquidity.' Therefore it is up to parents and educators to make sure the future is brighter than the present, rather than darker.

So how do we go about teaching our young folk financial responsibility? It's easy, and that's the truth. Like anything else, when you start out learning the right way it is easy compared to trying to fix it after it's gone awry. Today our kids are computer whizzes because they have grown up with them. Those that grow up understanding financial reality will be whizzes at that too.

Start your child out with an understanding of where money comes from. Work! Or perhaps a better way of stating it is: providing a service in exchange for payment. Small service to few - small reward. Small service to many - big reward. Large service to few - fair reward. Large service to many - great reward. In the day to day that translates into our youth earning things/money as opposed to having parents just supply them with it all.

I was taught early on to save 10%, tithe 10%, and then live on what's left. Can you imagine the savings account you would have at retirement if you routinely saved 10% of every dollar you ever earned?

But telling your kids this stuff and teaching it to them are two very different things. A number of years ago Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad developed a terrific board game which actually teaches adults & children alike real life money principles. The game is called Cash Flow and is kind of pricey, but it is invaluable for what it does. Here's a tip: you can get it on eBay for about half of the retail price.

Additionally there is now a free online resource from Kiyosaki with 4 separate money teaching games for kids from K2 through 12th grade and has available parent/teacher guides & tips. It is a truly terrific resource. You will find them at RichKidSmartKid.com.

For those who would like a program to get young children (up to age 8) started right at home, there is a great series called Financial Fairy Tales which is very effective.

No matter how you choose to do it, start now! Save your child from the money struggles they are sure to experience if they don't learn how to manage their money and spending. You can boil everything you need to know about fiscal responsibility into one sentence: Live on less than you make.

Start them in the right direction now.

Christopher Stephenson has been Owner/Operator of several successful businesses, both online and brick & mortar. A popular author and speaker on positive attitude for success, he is retired from active business and committed to helping others.

Raising children while working and building a business simultaneously Christopher & his bride learned all there is to know about parenting - the hard way, it's called experience. An avid reader and 'consumer' of training seminars, personal coaching, private counseling and continuing education he has been led to help others by mentoring from personal experience.

This article and the report at http://RaiseYourChildRight.com have been prepared as an expression of that goal.

By Christopher Stephenson

The ABCs of Behavior Problems

When attempting to change a child's unwanted behaviors, many people want to jump right to punishment. It's almost a natural instinct: something bad occurs and it must be countered with a punishment. In some cases, this approach just doesn't work on its own. If you find yourself consistently punishing a child without any change in his or her behavior, try instead looking at their actions. The ABCs of behavior are Antecedent (what happens immediately before the behavior happens) Behavior (what happens) and Consequence (what happens in response to the behavior.)

The antecedent is a very important part of behavior. Knowing what will set off a behavior is incredibly valuable and can help prevent many problems before they ever start. Consider stopping to look for the antecedent if your child constantly repeats unwanted behaviors. It may save a lot of future trouble if the antecedent is easily controlled.

Finding the Right System

Variety is a great thing, however consistency is key when dealing with behavior. Find something that works and stick with it. Every child is different, and saying, "Time out will work," or "Rewarding good behavior is the best option,"will never work in every situation. One child may react well to positive reinforcement because they want to be rewarded for good behavior. Some children don't mind sitting in their rooms alone while others couldn't care less about getting gold stars. Some children just need a gentle reminder to behave, while others seem to lose all control of themselves. The key here is to know the child in question and find a system fitting their needs.

Consistency in Actions

Once you find a system of punishment or reward (or both) that works for a child, be consistent! Create a list of rules, rewards, and consequences. Let the child know that this is the way things are and you won't compromise. If you set a rule, follow it and make your child follow it. Do not deviate unless you find one of your new laws is ineffective. Think, if you will, of a traffic officer. A van in front of you is speeding, but the officer ignores it, but pulls you over for speeding and writes you a hefty fine. That's pretty infuriating. So say you've found a successful system to control your child's bad behavior and he's doing well, but then you stop reinforcing good behavior and punishing bad behavior, or one member of the family implements the rules and another lets the child run crazy. Be consistent.

Forming Partnerships

Finally, don't feel like you need to go at it alone. If you've received countless notes from school or daycare, try to get everyone on board to help. This includes school staff, childcare providers, family and friends. As mentioned above, everyone should be on the same page: same rules, rewards, and punishments. Of course, your child might have different consequences at school and home, but teachers and parents can work together to create a plan. For example, if a student behaves well in school, he may be praised or rewarded at home. If he or she misbehaves, the computer or favorite game might be locked up after school.

Larry McCullough is a 20 year Retired Devil Dog(Marine) who loves to surf and market the Internet. Owns several websites and love to help people. Love to workout and eat healthy, currently works at the USPS..http://www.6fig.com/

By Larry McCullough

Let's face it, there is nothing wrong in a child using their imagination. After all this is how great empires are started in the real world, with imagination. The mind can be a great driving force if it is allowed to run in a productive way. You wouldn't want to stop your child from using their imagination. I am sure Walt Disney used his imagination to get him as far as he did and most of us are all thankful for that.

A princess toddler bed is a long way from Disney World. Or is it? Bedroom furniture that helps a child use their mind for good and happy things is sure to bring the best out of the child. Just think, giving a child a bed of nails to sleep on. I don' think that would help keep your child's mind at its peak of happiness and may have a negative perception of life in general.

Maybe all that is pretty deep to get into when all I wanted to talk about was how much fun your child could have with a princess toddler bed. Well take your hand and lift your lower jaw back up in place and let's talk about how some of these princess beds are constructed.

Some of the more expensive ones such as the castles are made with hardwood and veneers. They can be quite extravagant and costly. Some of these are loft beds with slides and ladders. A virtual playground if you will. Others can be quite simplistic and made from simulated wood products at a rather lower cost. Actually some of the plastic types which have molded detail and different colors look pretty good and are very cheap. There really is something out there suiting most people's budget. Some of these children's beds have pillars or posts with little crowns on them and some have canopies to further the little princess life in more detail.

Until their real life shining knight comes into the picture it is up to you to keep them happy. Whether you are looking for a princess toddler bed that is low to the ground or higher up such as a loft bed, one of these little girl's beds will make your child quite happy. Their imagination can soar to great heights and be back on the ground again for dinner.

That's the great thing about the imagination. You little girl can leave you and go all over the world, even to a different time and still be there when you call out their name for lunch. Believe me, when they get older it won't be so easy. God bless a little girl's imagination and her princess toddler bed.

A Toddler bed will let you will know exactly where your little girl is even when they are very far away. Their imagination will allow them to stray far from home but be back again the moment you want them. Check out (http://toddlerbedprincess.com/) a Princess Toddler Bed today!

By Felicity Moss

The first experiment we will look is the popular question of "Does music affect plant life?" which has been casually asked for years. This project is quite simple to setup and recording the data is very easy. You will need three identical plants, two radios, two genres of music (rock and classical recommended) and that is it. Place the plants in a closed off room, make sure the plants get equal amounts of sunlight and water, then place the stereos approximately 6 inches from the plants. Every seven days record your findings, do this for one month.

The next science fair project idea is showing how model rockets work. This is a very simple task, and can be created with just a few main props. You will need a model rocket and model rocket engines. If you decide to show the model rocket in action it is important to make sure you have launch equipment. If you decide to purchase a model rocket kit you can show the assembly of the rocket, or you can purchase the parts and build your own. Explain how the fins are used for stabilizing the rocket, how the rocket engines propel the model rocket, and how the recovery system works. Not only are model rockets fun to build, everyone will love seeing it launch hundreds of feet into the air.

Our last science fair project tackles the growing plan to switch to renewable energies. Solar panels are popping up everywhere, and in some cases even on cars. This project shows how the angle of the sun rays affect the speed of the model solar car. You can purchase a solar car from many hobby shops and the size varies. The main point of the project is to show how the speed of the car is affected when power, from the sunlight, is not getting to the panels. Run the car down a small track and record your findings. After each run change the positions of the panels to see which direction offers the most power.

These are just a few science fair projects that can be considered. There are many websites and books out there that show a number of different projects you can do. So be creative and try something new. You never know what you may learn, or new hobby you may experience.

Nick

nick@321rockets.com
http://www.321Rockets.com

By Nick S Jakubowski

Empathy is defined as the ability to understand how another one is feeling. It's being able to put yourself in another's shoes. It means, you're aware that other people have feelings too, and react to certain situations in pretty much the same way you would. It's a learned skill which is borne out of constant practice.

When a child reaches preschool age, that's the best time to start teaching him the value of empathy. This is the age when a child begins to connect his emotions with the feelings of other people. He realizes that the world doesn't revolve entirely around him.

Whether we like it or not, we parents are our kids' best teachers of empathy. We may not hold a master's degree in empathy, but we are well-equipped to mentor our children in that department. We should go easy, though, and not ram it down their throats.

So, how do we exactly teach our kids empathy? We start with ourselves. Teaching by example always works, doesn't it? We show our kids that we care about how other people feel. We show them that we do not yell at the mailman or laugh at the old lady who tripped on the sidewalk.

Talk about hypothetical situations with your kid. Say things like, "How would you feel if you had a physical disability and couldn't hear, for instance?" Let your kid talk about his feelings and how he would react if other kids laughed at him for his impairment.

Read books about empathy to your child. There are tons of children's books out there with empathy as the theme. After reading with your kid, discuss how the characters showed empathy, and try relating the story to everyday life.

As sure as I look hot in this red tank top, so is empathy undoubtedly a skill children- and adults- should master. Children who are empathic tend to excel in school, in social situations, and in their careers as adults. Start them off young, and you'll be paving the way for a lifetime of success for your kids.

Find more articles like this on The Pepperrific Life --> http://pepperrific.com/

By Pepper Tan

I have a great discipline task with a NLP twist that makes it easy for you and useful for your child. Lets first have a quick chat about discipline.

I have one word for you - consistency. There are too many kids that I meet in my office or through parents whose only consistency is that there is no consistency. No consistency of rules, rewards, consequences, punishments, etc. Everyday they wake up its new rules. This can be very, very confusing for kids. Kids need rules, boundaries and consistency.

When I work with parents to increase their parenting skills consistency is the major downfall. During our conversations I might ask what kind of reward and consequence methods they use and a standard remark is "but that doesn't work for us". To me, that simply means whatever method may not have actually been used consistently. This may be because its too hard to implement or just not effective.

Whatever you do needs to be simple to implement, otherwise you will give up! Yes, YOU. Your child isn't going to do anything to help you ensure their consequences are fulfilled - that's the parents job. My favourite stories are ones that have a long list of 'you can't...' like this: "you (the child) can't watch TV, talk on the phone, use the computer, play games, have friends over, go to friends - nada, nothing. You're grounded for two weeks!" Two days into the grounding the child goes to the parent - I'm bored... parents response "go watch TV". Punishment over. Child - one point. Parent - nothin'. If its too hard to manage, maintain or sustain, it won't work.

Here is one of my top discipline/consequence methods that work for any kids 6-16. Here's how it works (some of you might remember this from school):

1. Buy your child a notebook (spiral, exercise, etc.) that is their very own. If you have more than one child, this means more than one book. One per = one child.

2. Choose a place in the house where your child can sit, undisturbed for 5-30 minutes (or more). This place should be in the open (not in their room) and not in a pre-anchored place (ie. Where the child always sits at the table is anchored for eating).

3. Explain this consequence to your children - here's an example:

From now on there is going to be a consistent consequence when you don't follow the rules of the family. I will give you one warning that you are not following the rules. If you continue, you will stop whatever you are doing, go and get your notebook and sit at the table and write x pages of lines. We will come up with the line together. While you write the lines, you will not speak, get up from your seat or do anything other than write. If you do speak, get up or anything other than write, that will add 1 page of lines. You will sit there until you are complete. When you write, all lines must be done in neat handwriting. If its not, you will redo the entire page. Once you are done, you will apologies with words and then you are free to continue your day. Do you have any questions?

4. A general rule is 1 page of lines (1 line per line) per year of age. So - 6 years old = 6 pages. Depending on the size of the book, you may want to amend this. Some families choose 20 lines per year of age (6 years old = 120 lines).

5. When you choose the line to write, keep it simple and positive based on what you want your child to learn and do in the future:
    * Not: I will not hit my brother.
    * Yes: I will treat my brother with respect.
    * No: I will not yell.
    * Yes: I will find better ways to express my anger.
    * No: I won't cheat on my homework.
    * Yes: I will do my own work the best that I can.

6. Make sure you and your entire family (and any care givers) know what the family rules are and that all responsible adults follow this consequence, consistently!

The feedback I have received from parents for this simple consequence has been wonderful. The ownership is given to the child. The sooner they complete the task (legibly), the sooner they can get back to playing or whatever the next thing is. I have some client who bring the notebooks with them everywhere and have the children doing this task in the car, at a restaurant, at families houses, etc.

What I love about this task is this:
    * It provides an instant 'time-out'
    * It is easy to manage - anyone can implement it (tell the babysitter!)
    * It can be done anywhere
    * It focuses on what you want to happen in the future

If this task consistently done, this might become one of your favourite consequences - it might not favour with your kids however!

Dr. Heidi Heron, PsyD holds her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and is one of the Principal NLP Trainers with the Worldwide Institutes of NLP. She runs a private Coaching Practice using the methodology of NLP and is a Counselling/Coaching Clinical Supervisor. Heidi has a passion for educating people to live the best life possible. Join her for an NLP Course in Denver, Sydney, Singapore, Malaysia or London. She is the co-author of 30 Days to NLP and co-developer of 7daynlp.com. You are welcome to email Heidi directly at heidi@nlpworldwide.com

For more more information please visit: http://www.nlpworldwide.com

By Heidi Heron

Listed here a handful of thoughts to get started:

Shopping

Nearly all children wish to check out the toy section every time they go to the store and may express their desire for a specific thing. Use those opportunities to help them learn to save money to get what they desire. Help them generate short - term savings goals to purchase toys and games and long term savings goals which are even further into the future.

Sporting Activities

If you're a father who's also a fan of sports you'll fully grasp taking part in sporting activities requires saving as well. I was usually advised as a kid that I needed to save my energy levels for the game. A lot of instances I was playing with pals, running around and using up energy levels while I had a game later in the exact same day. Saving energy lets you have more later to utilize whenever you play in your game. Saving money works exactly the same. Tell your little one to save money now so he or she are able to use it when they require it most later.

Savings Accounts

When kids start elementary school they normally might be exposed to computers. Help your kids set up an online savings account. Many of the best children's savings accounts happen to be developed specifically for kids to learn saving and money management. ING Orange4Kids does just that with regards to their Planet Orange interactive web based learning environment.

Outdoor Camping

Camping outdoors necessitates taking equipment and food. What occurs should your youngster wants to eat all of the treats the very first day? Most certainly, they wouldn't have any meals for the remainder of the camping trip. So, another terrific savings idea is to save food so it'll be around for later meals. If they spend all their dollars, as well as consume all their food, it will not be available when it is needed later.

Wastefulness

Until coached otherwise, children will generally be wasteful throughout the home. This could include leaving lights on in a room when they are not present in it, using an excessive amount of drinking water, as well as squandering food. This costs moms and dads a good deal of extra money. Nonetheless, there's a saving lesson in these instances. Dad can instruct children that there's only so much money around to cover these crucial items. Precisely what would occur if the money ran out? The money would be expended since the family failed to conserve. Link this specific lesson back to the savings account example stated previously. Ask your child: what might happen should you not have any savings to purchase something you needed? Certainly, you wouldn't be able to buy it.

Most definitely, these are just a handful of sensible daily ways dads can teach children about conserving money. As a parent, I am going to try to be much more conscience of these opportunities every day and hopefully impress the significance of saving into my children so they're well be prepared for future years.

What ideas do you have for the purpose of coaching your children about the significance of saving money?

And finally, visit http://www.bestchildrenssavingsaccountshq.com to find the best children's savings accounts and get tips to teach your children the importance of saving money.

By Jason R James

So how can we make the most of the great outdoors to enrich a child's learning?

Top Tips for creating an exciting outdoor learning environment.

    * Provide a digging area for both boys and girls. Along with a small area of bare soil to dig, provide spades, forks, wellies and waterproofs so that digging can occur at any time in any weather. To add interest you may hide a few old coins under the soil or a letter in a bottle, a shark's tooth or some 'treasure' to encourage your child to use their imagination and create exciting scenarios.

    * A wild area will encourage your child to interact with the fascinating world of insects. A couple of logs or rocks to tip up and look under, grasses as tall as themselves, colourful plants and dangling branches lend themselves to exploration and investigation. Add a magnifying glass, a microscope and binoculars. Dangle sparkly baubles from branches. Give your child a camera to be a wildlife photographer. Hide model insects in the grass and go for a bug hunt. How good is an insect's camouflage? How many colours can they see? Your child can identify insects using a simple visual guide then use a clipboard and pencil to tally up how many of each they find.

    * Go out in the rain with an umbrella and wellies. Experience the smells, colours and sounds of the rain falling on different surfaces. Encourage your child to ask questions; how do we get rain? Why are raindrops round? What if it rained for a week? Or not at all? Then help your child find the answer by talking, making connections between things such as dark clouds and rain and researching on the internet.

    * Make dens by providing sheets, long sticks or branches, thin rope and pegs. Making dens is not only great fun, it also encourages mathematical thinking. Your child will have to measure by looking, estimate how much string they will need or pegs, or how long the den will stay up. Your child will become aware of shape, size, area - how many people will fit inside the den? - weight - larger sticks are heavier to carry than smaller ones, comparison, and more. The den may then become a camp with a bowl of water for fishing using fishing rods made of twigs and more string. What can they fish for? There may be singing around a camp fire and the toasting of marshmallows in the evening.

    * Chalking with chunky chalks will develop your child's motor skills. Chalk secret maps, arrows to follow, pirate messages, labels and signs to underground tunnels (a small hole in the ground). Draw the monster/dinosaur/fairy living in the pond/under the shed next door. Use your imaginations. Children will write for a purpose, so make the purpose exciting.

    * Follow your child's imagination and try to enhance not impose. Take your child's idea and help them to fulfill its grandest vision. A large cardboard box has enormous versatility and can become anything; a ship, a castle, a wild animal or a TV screen. In fact, is there anything a cardboard box can't become?

If you do not have access to your own garden then take a cardboard box, a sheet, wellies, a spade and magnifying glass to the nearest park or beach. Luckily many props are surprisingly portable. Even a box can be flat packed and carried.

Time spent outdoors can be the most exciting and satisfying of a child's experience. Contact with the natural world is also beneficial for releasing stress, improving behaviour and social skills and developing sensory learning. Not to mention for the opportunity to play with their favourite playmate - you!

Carolyn Field author of 'I Am Me' a confidence building workbook for children.
Carolyn Field has been a teacher for over twenty years. She is also a qualified life coach and runs workshops for both children and adults covering topics such as goal setting, keeping motivated, dealing with setbacks and stepping comfortably out of comfort zones. Talking to children about their worries in an atmosphere of mutual trust and support is an important component in building confidence and self esteem. Carolyn Field's child friendly workbook for children is simple to use and designed to begin a dialogue with a child. and to work through a variety of confidence building activities, set achievable goals, engender a feeling of self reliance and raise self esteem.
http://www.helpyourchildiamme.co.uk

By Carolyn Field

Teens these days are under greater pressure than we were in our youth. By the time they get to 18 years old they have witness thousands of murders and a lot of violence on television and computer games. To a lot of of them, this stage of violence is the norm. The increase in separation has brought on anger because the children are caught in the middle of the struggle between mom and dad. If you've got a teenager with anger problems then you must take control of it, however in such a way that shows understanding without being arrogant.

Sadly, a good number of teens go through frustrations that drive them to vent anger toward individuals or things, breaking civil laws. This kind of behavior often results in confinement, or at the very least, intervention by mothers and fathers, lecturers, law enforcement officials, and juvenile specialists who try to coach children how to respond in age-appropriate ways. Adolescent anger management programs teach children separately or in peer groups how to identify harmful feelings, work through them in the proper type of ways, seek assistance when required, and practice more mature behaviours.

Adolescent anger management classes or group therapy will cover the same basic problems irrespective of where the instruction is given. Among the most vital problems to be addressed is helping a youngster to get better at handling problems. Role playing and examining actually situations for useful alternatives can assist young people look at situations in ways not thought of previously. Giving them resources for finding answers to specific dilemmas can go a long way towards defusing an angry spirit.

Teaching them to equally understand what issues send them ballistic is equally a key step in controlling harmful behaviours. Adults are usually able to recognize when they are entering choppy emotional waters and can either steer clear or identify anger triggers. Giving teenagers these same abilities are necessary for preserving a more balanced emotional life.

For lots of information on Anger Management Techniques, please visit Anger Management Classes to discover more about controlling your anger.--> http://www.angermanagementtechniquesclasses.com/sitemap.html

By Jasonnise Kerry

These come is many colours styles and designs. With so many options, there is likely a water bottle to match their current passion, be it Barbie, Batman or Elmo. Some come in stainless-steel for a little extra money and are commonly considered safer then the their plastic counterparts. Many personalized bottles come with simple prefabricated designs such as a butterfly for girls or a firetruck for boys. However there are water bottles that come with name kits. With these products the child can add there specific name to their personal bottle. A normal bottle would be forgotten or left at home on purpose. A brightly coloured personalized bottle, proudly boasting their actual name on it will be something they can happily carry around with them. This would greatly increase the odds of them taking in more water during the day. If they are excited about it, they are more likely to use it. The sugared beverage companies' entire market hinges on this concept. Make it fun and they will carry it with them.

Along with bottles there are also water bottle labels that you can purchase to add to your favourite bottle you might already own, or a special one you want to buy for the purpose of personalizing it.

Not only is drinking water very important for a child's body but having a form of self expression is also healthy for the psyche. In this culture we live in self expression is very important. With conformity being encouraged or sometimes forced, our voice sometimes feels lost in the sea of media. This is even more true for children growing up in this fast paced society that seems to be stuck on overdrive. With a personalized bottle or really any personalized idea they may have, it will be refreshing and reassuring as a individual to own something that isn't like everyone else. With the natural physical and metal benefits of drinking water, plus the fun and joy of having, making and carrying a personalized item, there are certainly many reasons to consider these products.

Amanda Lynx is a writer who specializes in toys and family activities. You can check out her latest website at Water Bottles With Logo Where she provides unbiased reviews and buying advice for a range of water bottle ideas including Personalized Water Bottle Labels and Personalized water bottles for kids. http://www.waterbottleswithlogo.org/personalized_water_bottle_labels.html

By Amanda Lynx

So you might ask why kids seem to be living in a different world. Actually, it is not the world they are living that makes them different from you; it is the attitude and the way they see life. Have you ever paused and asked this yourself this question, "What is the difference of my life before from my life now?"

As you can see, the life that these kids are having is not actually new to you. This is because you have been in that stage before and you know how it feels to be a kid. If you will think and analyze it closely, there are really no reasons for you to ask the question why they are having the best in their lives since you have also experienced it when you were at their ages.

This article will show you the many reasons why kids are having the best times in their lives and how you can also achieve it. Yes, you read it right. You can also have the best times in your life even if you are not a kid anymore.

First, take a close look at your kids. Why does it seem that the terms worries, fear, and problems are not in their vocabularies? This is because they know that you are always there beside them. They have the assurance that you will not let them down and you will always protect them regardless of the situation. This is what you call total dependence.

As you can see, your kids are not really worrying of the things that adults are facing for each day: foods, shelter, clothes, and stability in life. These things are not yet under the radar of these young people. The only thing that they are worrying about is who they will be playing with or if the weather will be sunny so they can play outside. These are the stuffs that most of the times occupy their minds.

Another thing that will be interesting for you to know is why these small children are full of positive thoughts and enthusiasm in life. This is because they are not exposed yet to the different problems and complexities of life. What they only see are the good things that life can offer them. They are not bothered by the bad things and you will not see them affected in any way.

Now to summarize this article-what makes the life of kids very different from yours? Is it their attitude? Or it is because the way you taught them to be?

To answer the questions above, one factor that really affects their life is the way their parents mold them. Why kids are having the best of their lives is actually the privilege of being a kid. Again, you should know and understand this matter since you too have walked and experienced the things they are currently enjoying. So if you want to experience this kind of life again, all you need to do is to view life within their perspective-positive and full of zest.

In order to understand our kids, we must look at life the way they do. There is always a reason why kids do this and do that. Come on, we've been kids before, we should know that.--> http://whykids.org/

By Dane Alexia

As children growing up in authoritarian household, we felt repressed in many ways. We were angry, and some of us rebelled whenever we could (and get away with it). When we got old enough to not be spanked anymore, we went wild and had fights with our parents. We said what we thought and came close to being kicked out of the house, more than once. Others were quiet and choose not to say anything, but inwardly vowed to never treat a child in that manner. We promised we would listen to our children. We would be open and totally loving. We'd give them independence that we ourselves longed for. And this, for the most part is what has happened with many parents raising children today. But there's a very big problem with this.

If you are not familiar with it, think about the last time you asked yourself "why does so and so never discipline her child? It's just crazy" or maybe that parent is you and that's why you've never heard it. If this is the case, you've at least asked yourself why you don't seem to be respected by your child.

The problem is that the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction. We are off kilter and out of balance. In struggling so hard to "not be like mom" we have let the situation get out of control, giving too much freedom too early to our children, and not enforcing strict values that our authoritarian parents forced on us without the explanation.

Some parents have found equilibrium after much frustration and sadness. Hopefully, by seeing the situation for what it is, you'll be able to correct before it gets out of control, and you begin going grey.

When my first child was born, I vowed I'd be the coolest mom on the block. I would be my child's best friend, I would explain everything to him, and I would give him that freedom that I had always longer for. When this spirited child was 3, I realized that in giving all this freedom, I was raising a tyrant, or rather, he was raising me as a perfect, albeit exhausted, servant. Spirited child are different, and that's why most of us get one... it's good for soul growth. But it also helps you step out of the box, because everything you thought would work, does not.

The solution for both spirited children and permissive parenting (where your children end up not respecting you because of your seeming lack of backbone) there is a wonderful balance to be had.

Of the four recognized parenting styles (authoritarian, authoritative - the one I am advocating, permissive and uninvolved) authoritative parenting leads to happy, capable and successful children.

What is authoritative parenting? It's democratic parenting with guidelines. It means you have general rules, but you listen to the input of your child. You adjust your rules when its befitting and you guide your children. You're nurturing and seek natural consequences rather than punishment, but you do hold your child accountable for their actions.

I see so many parents who just do not know where to turn. They feel like they have tried everything. The key to happy parenting, and happy children is connected, involved parenting. Guidelines need to be in place. You should have certain expectations for your children, but you should also be nurturing, involved in their lives and unconditionally loving. If you want your sanity, try setting some ground rules, and STICK TO THEM. If you want your children to have good friends, then teach them values that are so important to a balanced healthy lifestyle.

Consistency makes children feel safe. Once they feel safe, spontaneity is welcome. Don't feel like you have to give in to your child because you feel worn down when he doesn't get his way. No is no if it has to be (and sometimes it has to be no). Honor that, stay calm and say no. Your child might get angry, but eventually will come back to you and talk it out. Showing firmness when things are important to you will gain you more respect than giving in time after time.

It's come to my attention more than once recently that moms are losing friends over their children's behavior. There is something quite wrong with that scenario. Your children should be respectful to others and considerate just as you are respectful and considerate of others. If you do not address the issue, you might find yourself raising your child without many mama friends, and we all need that support. Take a look at your parenting style - are you:

Authoritarian - "Do as I say, not as I do" and "because I said so!"

Authoritative - Place limits but encourage independence; fair and consistent, allows child to express himself

Permissive - It's ok, Junior is just expressive himself as he's rude to a guest

Uninvolved - Thank goodness for video games, now I can have 10 hours of uninterrupted "me" time! Why did I ever have kids anyway?!

If you tend to fall into the Permissive category as so many of us do who have been parented in the authoritative style, take a good look at what truly serves your child. Permissive parented children tend to lack self-discipline. They often have poor social skills and are demanding of you and others which is why they are seldom invited to others homes more than once and you may be losing your friends over it. Believe it or not, children who are raised with such permissiveness are actually not that happy (although you might assume they would be with all that freedom). They lack the guidelines usually given by parents and therefore can have a tendency to feel internally out of control and insecure deep down.

Give yourself and your child a wonderful gift. Start laying down some guidelines and rules. Demand respect and show respect as well. Allow your child to express himself but not to the determent of others. There are many ways children can express themselves and this does not include being out of control or screaming at others at the top of their lungs (unless they are really little and still learning self-control) and even then it needs to be discussed.

So swing the pendulum back just a bit. There's no need to be the polar opposite of your authoritarian mother. You are your own person, you make your own choices. Do what works for your family and what allows your child to be happy, healthy and confident in who he is, while you enjoy parenting and come to know it as the beautiful spiritual journey that it is.

Mellisa Dormoy is the founder of ShambalaKids Relaxation CD's for kids and teens. Mellisa specializes in guided imagery and children and teen's self-esteem.

You can find more information about Mellisa and her work, including more articles and resources at http://www.ShambalaKids.com

By Mellisa Dormoy

Once you've decided that your daughter is ready for makeup, be the first one to take her to buy her first makeup. Even though she may want to do this with her friends, she will remember this when she is older and treasure this memory. Although she may be emotionally pulling away from you at times, remember that she still needs you.

Take her to the department store and help her pick out a few basic items. Foundation, blush, mascara and lipstick or gloss are good to start off with. If your daughter has good skin, she may not even need the foundation.

Help your daughter to choose a foundation that matches her skin tone. I cannot stress the importance of this! Don't let your little girl walk around with a thick line of foundation around her jaw. Have the sales lady teach her how to put on foundation properly. This is a skill that needs to be learned and, trust me, your daughter will thank you!

Find her a blush that is not too dark or bright. Remember, makeup is supposed to enhance her natural beauty, not cover it up. Buy her a good quality blush brush that can probably last her several years. Show her how to suck in her cheeks and apply the blush on her cheek bones. Teach her how to take care of her makeup and brushes. Mac has a good selection of brushes that last a really long time. A good blush brush will cost about $20.

When choosing the mascara, get a regular lengthening mascara. Thickening mascara tends to create more dramatic eyelashes. We are going for natural and young. Show her how to put on just a few strokes on each eye.

Next, help her pick out a lipstick or gloss that is sheer and natural. No lip liner is needed just yet. A good light pink color is suitable for a young girl. Try Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Baby Pink.

A girl just starting with makeup doesn't need much more than this. Let her wear these for a few months, and then you can get her one or two eye shadows. A pink or light gray color would be best. Hold out on the lip and eyeliners until she is about 16. Girls tend to use too much of this and end up looking way too sexy.

When going with your daughter to pick out makeup, remember to let her make some decisions in what to buy. Be reasonable with her, and let her feel that her opinion matters.

Once she finds a few items that she seems to be using regularly, consider buying those items wholesale. It will save you money and you and her can use the same make up. Buy whatever else you also use in bulk, and that will save you many trips to the department store.

When your teenage daughter is ready to wear makeup, teach her how to use it properly. Buying makeup in bulk will save you money, so consider getting wholesale cosmetics from a cosmetics wholesaler, such as wholesalefashionsquare.com.

By Ellen Tarnapolsky

Autumn is popularly known for the falling of leaves and the color orange scenery. Another most awaited event for this season is the autumn and fall collection that many fashion designers and fashion enthusiasts are patiently waiting for. If you have kids and you do not want them to be left out, following are some of the most coveted fashion accessories this summer that kids and the kids at heart will surely love:

Hoodies

Kids' hoodies today are not just comfy, they are fashionable as well. They come in different colors and styles. The basic colors that you can buy your little ones are black, white, gray and white. If you have fashionable and edgy kids, you can try other hues like yellow, pink and light green. Hoodies are functional that kids can use it to protect their head during a cool afternoon walk.

Leggings And Skinny Jeans

Leggings and skinny jeans are so trendy these days. Kids love it. It looks great with any footwear and for autumn, it is best paired with boots. Black leggings are very vogue. It can also blend well with any shirt. Moreover, leggings can be matched with short basic skirts or plaid skirts. Skinny jeans on the other hand are very functional. Like the leggings, a pair of skinny jeans can look great with any tops and footwear. Boots can also look great with skinny jeans. When buying skinny jeans for your child, do yourself and your kid a favor and buy removable stirrups. This is useful when tucking the jeans into the boots. They will prevent the jeans in place.

Black Boots Or Black Strappy Sandals

Finding a good pair of footwear for your kid is essential in any season. For autumn months, black boots or black strappy sandals are so chic. They can be matched with any colored stockings or leggings, whether the stockings have basic or striking colors. Don't be afraid to mix and match garments and accessories. For inspiration, you can browse at several fashionable magazines for kids.

Scarves

Scarves are also functional. They can protect the neck from draft and the windy weather. Today, scarves come in many wonderful designs and colors. Scarves can also be used as fashion belts or head bands. So investing in good quality scarves is not so bad after all.

Vintage Necklaces

Necklaces and other fancy jewelries can complete a basic wear. If your child is wearing a simple top, you can simply find her a nice vintage necklace from your local vintage or antiquity store. There are so many wonderful design that you can choose from. You can also buy online.

Oversize Bags

For your school age child, oversize bags are so trendy today. They are expedient and handy. Choose leather because this kind of material is very durable. They can sport these bags when going outdoors.

Hair Accessories

Hair accessories can vary from head bands to clip and hats. The designs are endless. Your child can play it simple or she can imitate how her favorite actresses in Gossip Girl dress.

Looking chic and fashionable is now easy. Your child can look great even without spending much. Be creative and mix and match dresses and fashion accessories.

By Sally R Mason

So, my top pre-school bedtime story-books, don't include any Beatrix Potter (beautifully illustrated but dull stories), Hungry Caterpillar (not even the illustrations are appealing), Winnie the Pooh (beautiful & clever stories but too wordy in my opinion - far better as a cartoon) or The Tiger Who Came to Tea (never did understand the big deal over this one) but instead includes books that me and my children love. In order to get on my list it has to appeal to the child and the adult as I feel strongly that if the adult doesn't love the book they won't read it with enthusiasm and gusto to engage the child fully. I expect a book to appeal on both content and illustrations - if it's not aesthetically appealing it likely won't even get picked off the shelf in the first place.

Narrowing it down to only 10 has been a challenge and I fully appreciate that this is taste based so not everyone will agree with me (and possibly some of you are already shocked that I don't like The Hungry Caterpillar!). However maybe, once you've thought about what would be on your list instead, you may be inspired to borrow or buy one of the books for the children in your life and give them a chance. Most of these authors are prolific and with very good reason - I've deliberately only chosen one book by each person but if you enjoy one why not explore the rest too.

These are in no particular order - that was just TOO hard!!!

Little Rabbit Foo Foo - Michael Rosen

My children absolutely adore this, they pick up so many details from the amusing illustrations and they often 'play' this book - one as the rabbit, the other as the fairy. My other favourite Michael Rosen in, probably predictably, 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt' and we love acting this one out, but I chose 'Little Rabbit Foo Foo' as more of a bedtime story and because it's not the obvious Michael Rosen.

Shark in the Park - Nick Sharratt

Nick Sharratt's bright illustrations are fabulous, especially for the very young and this peek-a-boo book is clever and amusing.

Room on the Broom - Julia Donaldson

Another amazing author with a huge repertoire to her name, Julia Donaldson is simply fantastic! People tend to choose The Gruffalo as being her best but, while I do adore Gruffalo too, I have a real soft spot for Room on the Broom. I also love Tabby McTat the Buskers Cat - all of her titles are worth a look and every kid's bookshelf should have at least one or two.

Each Peach Pear Plum - Janet & Allen Ahlberg

A true classic. Fun illustrations, sing song verse, things to spot - love it!

Is it Bedtime Wibbly Pig - Mick Inkpen

My kids adore this, Mick Inkpen's characters are cute and this story about bedtime procrastination will ring true to all parents out there!

Hairy MaClary's Bone - Lynley Dodd

You've probably noticed that I like 'poem' books and the Hairy MaClary series are probably the best examples there are. The rhymes trip of the tongue adding pace and excitement to the story and controlling the pace expertly. Again, I had to choose one and I think this is our household favourite.

Peace at Last - Jill Murphy

My son fell in love with this in nursery class so we got a copy and they still enjoy it - and as the wife of a snorer and a light sleeper I can relate to poor Mr Bear.

The Way Back Home - Oliver Jeffers

I adore Oliver Jeffers simple stories and charming illustrations and we have a selection of his books. They are all based around the same boy (simply called 'the boy') and gently and with humour cover subjects such as friendship, loneliness and co-operation. Simply charming for the adults and enjoyable for the children. The Way Back Home is my favourite because the kids love space at the moment!

Hungry Harry - Joanne Partis

Bright, cheerful illustrations and almost onomatopaeic language run through this little frog's hunt for dinner. Visually attractive and the perfect length/tone for a bedtime story.

The Hippo-not-amus - Tony & Jan Payne

A family favourite in our house, this funny, engaging tales covers the adventures of a little hippo who wants to be something more exciting. Great pictures and a funny, touching story.

So there you have it, my 10 favourites - what are yours?

By Jane Cowan