By Nicolas Breedloves

A playground is the place where a child learns his first lesson in social interaction. They spend time playing with other kids, having fun which is an essential part of their growth and development.

One of the best places for a child's overall development is playgrounds. Playing with playground equipment plays a role in their emotional, physical, social, psychological well-being. There are numerous amount of playground equipment that can be used in the playground, it is vital though that they are safe.

As good parents, you are always looking out for ways to keep your child fit and healthy, bold and confident and very balanced. You may consider various methods of instilling these qualities, such as guiding them through clubs that specialize in personality development, influencing them to join club activities etc. Yes these are great ways of contributing to your child's personality development; one the other hand, a simpler method can be used like letting your children play freely outdoors in a playground with safe playground equipment.

It will be in the best interest of your child if parents are on the lookout for playgrounds for sale; because as was previously mentioned playgrounds play a very essential role in children's overall development. Outdoor playing is not only fun for children; the activity also helps in building their social skills. In addition to playing they acquire knowledge of how to handle various situations arising between them. Such as learning how to share for example by taking turns on the swings or problem solving for instance by deciding among themselves the order they go down the slides. A playground also benefits parents because they don't have to stop them because most children enjoy playing outdoors and if given the chance, they will play all throughout the day.

So instead of searching for several schools or clubs, it will benefit parents greatly if they invest in a neighborhood playground that has various entertaining playground equipment. A lot of playground equipment is available like jungle gym, mazes; see saws, merry go rounds, spring riders, Funnel ball game, swing sets, sandbox playhouses, slides, monkey bars and much more. Numerous types of play structures that are being placed by joining different pieces together are becoming quite famous among children.

Children find playing with recreational playground equipment very enjoyable. However, they are not aware of the fact that their "fun" is helping to build their flexibility, physical coordination and strength. Running from place to place on the playground makes a healthy heart, balancing, swinging and climbing strengthens the shoulders, arms and legs. Playing also aids in treating overweight and obesity issues which are becoming more common in today's children. Also they develop motor and sensory skills.

The author of this article is currently working with Playgrounds.Net, a leading supplier of playgrounds for sale.

By Michael Ross Lewis

The teenage years are exhilarating, confusing, and sometimes embarrassing. Most of us remember the physical awkwardness that accompanies adolescence, the lack of coordination, the weight of peer pressure. And perhaps the memorable task, at least in the fifties in the West Texas town of Wichita Falls, is the difficulty of finding oneself in a world of changing roles and parental expectations.

In 1960, I was 6 foot 4 inch 15 year old who weighed 180 pounds, most of it in hands and feet. I couldn't walk across a room without bumping my knees or knocking over a lamp. My height ensured that my clumsiness was apparent to everyone, my school friends, adults and, most of all, teenage girls. Like many young men of that age, I sought anonymity, preferring to spend my time alone, reading books and listening to the radio.

But high school doesn't give you a choice. More than any other group, teenagers quickly discover those kids who are different, and that difference attracts attention. My size and passive nature were irresistible to teenage bullies, all looking to enhance their reputations by beating up the "big kid". The "code", you know, that unwritten, ambiguous set of rules that governs masculine behavior and relationships, required that I fight back, regardless of the size or age of my opponent. But my efforts were so inept, I invariably was beaten. My sophomore year in high school was truly the most miserable year of my life.

Then I discovered boxing.

The art of pugilism was practiced by the early Greeks and has always been present in the Olympic Games, both ancient and Modern. Two men, equally matched in weight, meet in a square ring, 20 ft by 20 ft, for the sole purpose of determining which of the two is the most physically fit, the most skilled, the most determined. Muscle against muscle, skill against skill, will against will, boxing strips away pretension to reveal man at his most physical core. Its participants come face to face with their innermost qualities and defects. There are no excuses, no false humility. "You can run, but you can't hide." Boxing's rewards sacrifice and dedication. It's not the winning or losing that molds a man, but the experience of facing one's fears.

That summer, I determined to become a boxer. I spent hours in the gym, learning and practicing the various punches - the left jab (since I was right handed), the right cross, the hook, the overhand lead. I learned to slip punches by moving my head from side to side and up and down, to block punches with my forearms, and to protect my chin by tucking it beneath my left shoulder. I hit the heavy bag for strength and the speed bag for coordination. I learned when to dance to get away and when to stand flat-footed for maximum power. I practiced three and four punch combinations of jabs, crosses and hooks. And I jumped rope and ran miles and miles to build up my stamina and strength.

In February of 1961, I registered in the regional Golden Gloves as an open heavy weight. I was barely sixteen years old.

Registration was held on Monday, with bouts to be held on Wednesday through Saturday. The Open class included anyone up to the age of 26 who weighed more than 176 lbs. There were two other heavyweights, the winner from the previous year - a 20 year old who shared the same trainer and with whom I spent countless hours sparring and a fellow from Oklahoma who I didn't know. I was fortunate enough to draw a bye the first round, waiting until the Saturday night finals to fight the winner of the preliminary to be held on Thursday evening.

The Golden Gloves are a big deal in Wichita Falls, second only to the Friday night football games of the Wichita Falls Coyotes, a perennial state champion. The bouts are covered live by the local radio station, and the fights received a full page in the sports sections of the two newspapers.

As a heavyweight in the glamour division of the tournament, I received a lion's share of publicity, as did the two other fighters. My life at school changed dramatically. No one teased me or made fun of my height or complexion; strangers stopped me in the halls to wish me luck, even the teachers seem to regard me with a new respect. Unbeknownst to them, however, I had second thoughts. After all, I'd never been the ring for real, I could barely make three rounds in practice where the coach stopped the bouts before any real action could occur, and I had the bad habit of dropping my left when I threw my right leaving me defenseless to a right cross. I'd been kidding myself, thinking I was a fighter. I was just a scared little kid, tired of being separate and alone who thought winning a boxing match would suddenly make him popular and respected.

Thursday night, I had a chance to see the third heavyweight in action, the guy from Oklahoma. He was 26 and looked 40. Balding, he had a sloping, neanderthal forehead and heavy eyebrows, crisscrossed with scars from previous bouts. Only 5'10", he weighed 240 pounds, most of it in his shoulders and chest. He'd been the state Golden Gloves champion of Oklahoma for the last three years and was fighting in Texas because he worked as a roughneck in the oilfields of Burkburnett. His training consisted of bar room brawls across North Texas and southern Oklahoma. The preliminary fight lasted exactly 1 minute and forty seconds before he knocked out his opponent. We were to fight two nights later in the finals.

I was scared to death, not just of the physical pain which I knew was sure to come, but of losing and being humiliated in front of the whole town. I considered withdrawing, pretending that I was sick and even thought about wrecking my car to avoid having to face him. That Friday and Saturday were the longest and shortest days of my life. Right up until the time I had to go to the arena, I held out hope that something would happen, to me or to him, to cancel the bout. Neither of my parents would go to the tournament to avoid seeing me get hurt, and I know, if asked, either of them would have made any excuse, no matter how feeble, to keep me home and safe.

The tournament was held in a local gym which held about 5,000 people. It was standing room only, and the excitement grew as bout after bout of smaller contestants ended. Our fight was the last of the evening and was anticipated because my opponent was expected to win the state championship. I sat alone in the dressing room, listening to the screams and groans of the crowd, wondering if I could even walk to the ring without throwing up or fainting.

When the time came to enter the ring, I ran through the crowd and climbed through the ropes - I knew that if I had to walk, I'd never make it. As I climbed through the ropes, I looked out to the faces. I recognized classmates and neighbors; I saw my little brother and my uncle. And a miracle happened. I heard the crowd cheer and stamp their feet. A chant, "Mic - Key", "Mic-key" started in one corner and spread throughout the building. I'll never forget that moment, it was like coming home after being lost, all the years of being apart and alone were spent away in that chant, that expression of acceptance. I knew, no matter what happened in that ring, that I was going to be all right.

I wish I could tell you I won that night and went on to become a state champion, that would make this a real Cinderella story. I lost, but I lasted the whole three rounds and I went on to box for the next three years. I even flirted with the idea of becoming a professional boxer, but good sense ultimately prevailed. Never-the-less, I believe boxing changed my life. On that night, thirty three years ago, in a dingy, smelly gym, I learned about hard work and dreams and facing one's fears. Its a lesson I've never forgotten.

Michael Lewis is a retired senior executive living in Dallas, Texas. Growing up in a West Texas town in the late 40s and 50s, Lewis was a product of Texas myths - the stoic cowboy who fought for justice, respected women, and was loyal to his friends. His stories recall a past that has slowly faded away as the population has grown more diversified and urbanized.

Lewis can be reached by email at lewis9609@gmail.com or through his personal website Lew's Clues.

By Louise M Evans

You can teach your child this skill in your own home.

Here is a little (easy to remember) pattern I like to use with the kids using the word S.T.R.O.N.G.

Say what you want

Talk using positive words

Repeat and Be firm

Only use I rather than U

Never Give Up

Get what you want... but be fair!

S = Say what you want

Be clear & Specific: Teach your child how to get to the point

This can be tricky for children as they get caught up with the emotions of the situation.

T= Talk using positive words

Teach your child to rephrase sentences using all positive words.

Avoiding Don't, No, Can't, Hate

R = Repeat and Be firm

Just because we gain the skills to be assertive certainly does not mean that we have the other persons attention and they take heed of our request. It could go un noticed for some time.

Example: A bully - A bully will not back down because they know their victim will back down and the bullying will continue. If the child repeats what they want chances are the bully will back down.

O = Only use 'I' statements

The 'You' word is a blaming word. An important skill to teach your children is to use 'I' rather than 'You'

If a child blames a bully it just causes a negative reaction.

If a child uses 'I' the bully will remain neutral and therefore avoid any added bullying.

Never Give Up

It may sound simple and easy but it can become tiring for a child to keep this up. So enormous encouragement is required.

Teach your child that not giving in is going to help with them getting what they want. Whether it is a bully needing to back down or just your child getting what they want in the play ground around other extra assertive peers.

Teach your child to expect that they will get results. They may not be instant but they will eventually get what they want if they just don't give up.

Get what you want... but be fair!

Once this skill is learnt they must be able to harness it and play by the rules. Children often go from one extreme to another so it is up to us as parents and educators to help them balance. A way to do this is to ask them to tell you when they have got what they want.

A good way to do this is write the end goal down and revisit it weekly to see how close they are. Once they have reached it teach them to put it in an imaginary box and put it away.

I personally believe that children already have the assertive skill in their family environment. It is just a case of showing them what assertive means, how it is displayed at home and how to implement it into the other areas of their life eg; school.

For example: If a child wants a lolly from the shop they use all the steps above

Say what you want - I want a lolly

Talk using positive words - I will be so happy if I could have a lolly

Repeat and Be firm - I want a lolly, I want a lolly, I want a lolly, I want a lolly, NOW!!!

Only use I statements - I need this lolly and I promise to be really good

Never Give Up - This is true right??

Get what you want... but be fair - Ok, please can I have the lolly after dinner if I eat all my vegetables...

Sound familiar??

http://www.selfesteemcentre.com.au
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Self-Esteem-Centre-For-Children/149205628445046
@selfesteem2012

By Paul S Grant

When talking about baby clothes and we mention a one of a kind item, we usually mean boutique toddler clothes that are made especially by seamstresses for the children. As parents, it is not unusual to buy items for their kids that are unique and beautiful. These are usually the ones we dress them up with when attending special occasions. Boutique toddler clothes are usually sold at a higher price range. Parents want the best for their children but what if you do not want to pay a very high cost for it? Here are some tips you can use to create your very own version of these clothes.

You may go on purchasing clothes from your favorite children's clothes store or maybe use old clothes that may be shorter but still fit. Just make sure to choose the best ones that are made of good quality. Aside from the clothes that you have picked out, try picking up some accessories like fur pieces, ribbons, patches and other clothing trims that are worth the purchase. If you get the chance and come across a fabric yardage that you really like, don't hold back. You can use this by cutting it into trims and patches for your boutique toddler clothes.

Start with something simple for your first boutique toddler clothes creation. You can take an overall that is already too short but could still fit your child and take a two inch piece of mirrored trim and sew bands on the bottom to make them longer. This way, it would fit your child perfectly, again. You can cut some of the mirrors from the trim and add them on the front. Now you have created the first step for your clothes project and at the same time added a more sporty look for your child. You may think this would not cut it as boutique toddler clothes but it actually does. If you've done it well, then it is of good quality and it's a one of a kind item that no one else in the neighborhood would have. Simple stuff.

If you want to be bold and brave on the other hand, you can cut off some of the elements from an existing piece of clothing and change it with something of your style, such as your own fabrics and trims and all that. One instance in making boutique toddler clothes would be to cut off a pair of pants to Capri-length and add ruffles that are brightly colored. Take a shirt, add patches of fabric and turn it into a dress plus matching trim to a pair of leggings. And viola! Boutique toddler clothes made from your own hard work, immortalized right in front of your eyes.

As parents, we have to be creative with a lot of things and you will come to realize how fun it is creating boutique toddler clothes. The next thing you know, you'll be recreating your child's old clothes and it will look as wonderful as any other boutique toddler clothes.

When talking about baby clothes and we mention a one of a kind item, we usually mean boutique toddler clothes that are made especially by seamstresses for the children.

By Bart Icles

Costume parties are made to be events that are both fun and enjoyable to everyone who is going to attend it. It is something that you should really get ready for if you want to make the most out of it because otherwise, it is useless for you to attend it. You should, of course, dress 2 notches or more higher than your usual get-up. The more surprising your outfit is, the better. It is a venue for you to live out your little adventures even for just a few hours.

Looking for the right costume might prove to be a daunting and at the same time, challenging task. You may be wondering what to wear and how to assemble to entire ensemble to make it look like something extraordinary or out of this world and, at the same time, flattering on you. Face it. Most people who love dressing up would like to look their best, so what should you do in order to look your best and yet, still make sure that you are wearing something that would suit the occasion?

You can never go wrong wearing a fairy tale princess inspired dress. More than anything else in the world, it is something that will help bring out the beauty of any woman who will don them. They make plain Janes look like they are straight out from a fairy tale book page and make just about anyone feel like a princess even for just a night. They can't help but make the person donning them feel magical and ethereal, to say the least.

Among the most popular of fairy tale princesses is Cinderella. Wearing something like she did in the ball while dancing with the prince is something that will transform just about any lady into a fairy tale princess in no time at all. But then, a ball dress like the one Cinderella wore during the ball can be really expensive. So, what should you do to get your own Cinderella dress without spending too much?

A good way to live out your little adventures by wearing a Cinderella dress is to go hunt for one in costume rental shops. Yes, they have them. They have just about anything and everything that you can imagine when it comes to costumes. If you have the money, though, buy yourself one. Who knows? They can come in handy from time to time.

You need not really spend a lot of money for Cinderella dresses and other similar costumes. But then, it really is up to you. If you want to avoid the hassle of having to assemble one, then you can also have one tailor made. No matter which way you go for in order to get one, it is guaranteed that it can make you look like a princess even just for the entire evening.

By Jorge Medina

As a parent, it is important that you take action to help your child if he is being bullied in school. In this article, we will give you some tips and guidelines on how to work with both your little one and his school to end any bullying that is taking place.

Working With Your Child

    Identify with your child. Allow him to express his emotions, whether it be anger or sadness. Listen to his concerns. Tell him that you are glad that he informed you of the situation rather than keeping his problems to himself. Let him know that the bully is the one at fault.

    Team up. Show your child that he is not fighting this battle alone, and that he will always have your support. Work together to solve the problem.

    Remain in close contact. Check in with him very frequently to find out how the situation is progressing.
    Teach your child to stand up for himself. Tell him to speak to the bully in a strong voice, telling the bully to back off and leave him alone. Let him practice defending himself verbally with you.

    Advise your child to get help from adults. Let him know that the school is on his side, and that he can always find an adult to help him in his cause. Help him figure out and practice what to say to such an adult.

Working With The School

    Establish lines of communication. Speak with the appropriate teacher, counselor, or principal. Set up an appointment if you have to. Tell the staff that he is being bullied so that they are aware of the situation.

    Review the school rules. Learn what policies against bullying and harassment of students are in place. Point to these rules when trying to get officials to help stop the bullying in school.

    Document instances of bullying. Write down a list of specific incidents in which your child was the victim of bullying. Showing a substantial, concrete list of cases will help convince the staff to help. Without such documentation, some less enthusiastic members of the staff may just ignore your requests, thinking that they are simply the inconsequential pleas of an overly concerned parent.

    Seek counseling for your child. Talk with the appropriate advisor or counselor. This person may be able to speak with and comfort him, possibly alleviating the stress he feels every day from being bullied.

    Check back in with the school frequently. Do not lose contact with the school after the first time you speak with them about the issue. Follow up with them every so often to ask how your little one is doing and whether the bullying has stopped yet. The more persistent you are, the more likely it is for them to take real action. Not all staff members may be thrilled to aid you in your case, so you will often have to do some pushing and nagging to get your points across.

Whichever of the above tips you choose to follow is up to you, but be sure to take some sort of action and be relentless in your efforts to help end the bullying in your little one's life. You can find more information and advice about bullying in schools on our website at http://www.bullystatistics.com. We wish you the best of luck in your quest to stop bullying.

By Alyssa Franklin

My daughter is galloping around the house yelling "sign-a-door" at the top of her lungs over and over. I'm slightly confused but not surprised at her antics. I'm quite used to her garbled English phrases and amusing sayings, but this is a new one even for me. I ask her what she is saying and she promptly holds out her chubby little hand in which she holds a small dinosaur. It's all I can do to keep from laughing.

Scenes like this one happen on a regular basis in my household. In fact, that one is tame. I think I have poison control on speed-dial. I don't know how many times my husband or I have been cleaning something that she has spilled on a chair, or couch, or pretty much every square inch of the house, and little do we suspect, but she has crept up on us and is tasting the detergent we are using.

Our little girl is beautiful, smart, and sweet, as well as obstinate, wily, and calculating. From the time she could walk, she was plotting ways to get what she wanted. Her favorite has always been to cause a distraction. For example, she will get into a shelf and pull out all the video games so that my husband or I will be getting after her and looking elsewhere. Meanwhile she is in the bathroom putting my mascara on in giant stripes across her face.

Taking care of her has been a full-time job and well worth it. I'm not complaining. I love the little thing more than I can say. However, it has been a real adjustment. Neither her brother nor her sister were this much work! It is amazing how different kids are. My son was a different kind of work. He was sick all the time with ear infections but other than that he was fairly easy going was great at entertaining himself. The middle child, always a snuggler, was even less work than the first.

This last little gem has been a real eye opener for me. I always thought those people you see in store with the misbehaving children just didn't know how to be parents- maybe they needed some parenting classes. Well, now here I am three times a mom with a two year old who likes to make uncouth noises and yell, "Toot" at the top of her lungs in the grocery store. I'm realizing I need to pluck myself in the same category as those "other" parents. I guess we all get our come-up-ens. Here's to all the parents out there dealing with the toddler stage of life. Cheers.

Alyssa Franklin writes about her experiences with her children. Like many parents of toddlers, she struggles daily to keep up with her daughter's curious mind and undauntable spirit. She likes to joke that it's a fulltime job just keeping her safe. One helpful resource for parents with rambunctious toddlers that Alyssa recommends is http://www.toddlerblues.info

By Mark C Van Berkel

Teddy bear clipart is very much in demand today, and not that hard to come by. And if you want it for free, then there are a lot to choose from, but you can't use it for commercial reasons. Many of the sites will allow you to put the images on your own personal website but don't want you charging people to put it on their sites, but don't charge people to use or download it. You won't be breaking any copyright infringement laws as long as you follow the site's rules.

You might want to consider buying clipart as well, but free is more fun if you can find what you need. There will be clipart from Spiderman, the newspaper boy, Angels, and anything else you can conjure up. The colors and styles are endless, and only your creativity and the artist will limit you.

Kids' Turn Central

One place that has tons of teddy bear clip art is kidsturncentral.com/clipart. Wendy Hogan of Kids Turn central, is the founder. Her site, made for children, has plenty of great pictures to choose from. The nice part is that hers are different than all the clip art you see on other websites.

Wendy has furnished clipart that has numbered bears, the alphabet bears as well, as well as punctuation bears. You can use these images to spell out words on your website, or even on an invitation. Some people are creative enough to use them to make wonderful invitations for parties. She also offers personalized clip art, but something like this would have to be specially ordered from her website.

Cartoon Clip Art World

There is a second place that is a great resource as well and it is called Cartoon Clip Art World at cartoonclipartworld.com. There is a lot of great images here, but not as big a selection as Kids Turn Central, but the images on this site are all free. You can add anything from bears to bumble bees from this site to help with your creative needs.

If you love wallpaper for screen savers you can find those on Cartoon Clip Art World as well. Most of the bear clip art is of the paws of a bear, flags made with bears, plus bear crossing signs, not just the entire image of a bear.

For creative souls that love teddy bear clip art, you should have no trouble finding what you need online. Either try the websites above, or search for some other sites that offer cute images. All over the web clip art is used, for crafts, and for scrap booking. The best is the free kind, so get as much free as you can by doing a proper search.

Looking for more Teddy Bear Clipart? Please click http://www.iloveyouletsmeet.com and visit Teddy Bears Paradise, it has everything Teddy Bear related and everything in between, from teddy bear designs to teddy bear reviews. It really is a Teddy Bears Paradise!

By Brenda L Hopkins

Prom night is one of the most important nights to some high school students. If you are one of the organizers or the coordinator of a school prom, it is advisable to have prom favors that will surely be remembered and appreciated by all students. You can save hundreds of dollars if you purchase favors in bulk or if you put all the materials together by yourself.

In choosing favors for the prom night, make sure that it is coordinated with the theme. For instance, the theme is a Casino or Las Vegas Night. The favors could be personalized dice in keychain or a deck of paying cards. If you have a blue moon or starlit romance theme, incorporate stars in the favors with personalized engraving.

This brief article with give six popular prom favors for you to consider for the prom night that you are organizing. Here are the top favors for a memorable prom night.

1) Set-up a photo booth in the entry way of the venue. Include fancy personalized frames where the students can easily put the captured picture. This is one great way to preserve the memory of a prom night.

2) Be loyal to the school. Add into the favors the school spirit. Use the logo, icon, mascot or the school's colors. For instance, a stuffed animal wearing a tuxedo or scarves with embroidered school's logo. The sense of pride and belonging will be felt by the students whenever they use it.

3) A memory booklet is another great way to remember the prom night. It keeps the glory days, good times, school days and help remember friends and teachers. There are many online sellers that offer customized memory booklets. However, if you want to minimize on costs, there are available publishing software that you can use to layout the memory booklets. All you have to do is bring it to a printing house for mass production.

4) Personalized tins with mints or candies. This favor can also serve as decorations in every table.

5) If you have plenty of time, you can document the prom night. Take pictures and videos of the event. Edit your footage. You can add captions and the prom songs. Make sure to customize as well the DVD labels and case.

6) Key chains or tags are another best way to remember the prom night. It is both functional and trendy. It can also incorporate pictures of the special night. There are different materials and varieties available in the market such as metal, plastic, glittered, acrylic and dog tags. It is guaranteed that this favor will be used by the prom participants especially when they go off to college.

Whatever favors you choose, it should match with the theme and must be gender-neutral. It must also indicate the venue and the date of the unforgettable prom night. Also, when you are deciding to what favors you would like to use, make sure it must be appropriate with the age. For instance, do not choose wine goblets or shot glasses. You do not want to get complaints from angry parents and school administrators.

Prom night is considered as the right of passage for most teenagers. One best way to remember one of the most important nights is having a remembrance. The fancy dresses will fade and corsage will be gone but the prom favors will forever remind the high school students of their prom night for the rest of their lives.

By Brenda L Hopkins

One of the most important events in the lives of most teenagers is their high school prom. The experience of finding a date, getting ready, dressing up in elegant attire, riding a limousine, and spending time with the special girl or boy is full of excitement.

If you have a son or daughter going to the prom or you are going to the prom, make it a memorable experience by giving a special prom gift. This brief article will give you top unique prom gift ideas to can consider.

1) A prom gift basket for the young lady with all the prom essentials is a good way to set the tone for the prom night. The fill the basket with emergency make-up kit, breath mints, extra stockings, perfume and hair accessories.

2) Prepare a home cooked-dinner for your date. Some proms do not include dinner. Instead of booking a dinner for two in a fancy restaurant, prepare a gourmet meal at home. Start with your date's favorite appetizer, salad, main course and end with a special dessert. Set the mood through setting-up a romantic table with candle light, background music, fine china and sparkling cider or grape juice. You can do this the afternoon before the prom night. Ask your mom to help you prepare the meal. Your date will surely appreciate the time and efforts you have devoted in preparing a sumptuous dinner.

3) If you are going to the prom night with your circle of friends, bring with you a video camera. Document the entire evening from preparations up to the limo ride after the prom. After the prom night, turn your footage in a customized video with captions and background music. Burn it on to a DVD with personalized label and case. You and your friends will surely remember one of the most unforgettable events in their lives.

4) A collage of memorabilia and pictures is another lovely gift. Take pictures during your prom night. Collect different items that will remind your date or friends about the prom night.

5) Any girl would love to receive a bouquet of flowers. However, a gardening kit is a unique way of giving a lovely young lady to remind her one of the most important nights of her life. She can grow her own plants or flowers which will continue to blossom. If you want to prepare your own kit, include a planter, seed packages, gardening tools and gloves.

6) Gift certificate is another great idea to give both the young man and young lady to help them prepare for the prom. For instance, a gift certificate for the young man is for a new tuxedo and wrist corsage. On the other hand, for the young lady, a gift certificate for a spa session, massage, pedicure, manicure, hair and make-up services.

7) An after prom night outfit is a good gift for the young couple. For instance, a statement shirt which says, "She/He is my prom date."

Break away from ordinary prom gifts and consider giving any of the unique items mentioned above. Give something that will be surely remembered and appreciated.

By Momina H Butt

ILO (International Labor Organization) published a report in August 2010 named "ILO Global Employment Trends for Youth 2010". The purpose of this report was to highlight the growing problems which young generation of the world is facing in these troubled times of economic crisis. The main points of the report are as follows:

- An enormous increase was noticed in the un-employment rate of youth. 81 million young people aged between 15 to 24 were unemployed at the end of 2009 which is a record marking an increase from 11.9% in 2007 to 13% in 2009.

- The adult unemployment rate is much less as compared to youth unemployment rate.

- The report also said that the recovery in the employment trends for youth was expected to take longer duration of time than adults with expectations that in only 2011 the unemployment trends for youth will decline to 12.6% which is unsatisfactory.

So the purposes of mentioning all this is to underline the difficulties, restlessness and pain which the present economic crisis has produced upon the young generation of the world.They are always the last preferred for any job and the first to be thrown out and there is always an additional mental strain in form of social burden and responsibilities. The condition is bad in underdeveloped countries but particularly is more negative in developed nations. So if you take all this from a youngster's point of view who needs work to pay his college fees hostel rent to buy books and fulfill other basic requirements of life he is trying but is not getting work or he has been thrown out of his job you can easily understand the strain through which the young man is passing.

Youngsters study day and night with a hope that one day all of their hard work will be rewarded they will stand upon their own feet and will be able to support not only themselves but also their families.They dream of utilizing all of the precious knowledge and skills which they have gained after years of hardships and toil and will prove themselves a responsible and productive part of society.After graduation when a young man or woman steps into real life and tries to get involve in work by applying for jobs in his/her particular fields but faces negligence again and again then one can easily guess that how much disappointing it is for a fresh,active and ambitious mind. Hopelessness and anger takes over and one feels that all those hardworking years of school and college have been wasted.

The worst effect of youth unemployment is the increase in crime rate.Longer periods of inactivity and financial needs forces young men and women to earn through wrong means and most end themselves in jail and a value treasure of youth resource is lost.

In my opinion young people are full of energy which if properly utilized can bring great positive social, cultural and ideological changes otherwise it just dissipates into the surroundings causing unnecessary heat which brings more harm than good. So the issue of youth unemployment needs to be addressed on immediate bases.

Remember that only a stronger youth can guarantee a stronger and a better world.