By GG Flower

Most of us are easily dazzled by the enormous number of styles and color options we are faced with when we head out to shop for our prom dress. There seems to be a never-ending racks of beautiful gowns, gorgeous accessories and glittering shoes and bags; it's a wonder we make it home with anything at all in our shopping bags.

Well, your confusion is nothing to feel bad about. Next to choosing your hairstyle, choosing the best color for your prom dress can be one of your biggest challenges, when you dress up for any special occasion. But with a few tips from a professional, you will be on your way to and from the dress shop in no time, armed with the truth about the best color palette for your prom gown and accessories.

There are just 3 steps that you need to master and you will always know which color to choose for your next clothing purchase, but especially so for your next prom dress! In this article, we will explore 3 things you need to know in order to choose the exact colors that suit you best.

Before we start in, I want you to bring to mind your favorite color. Is it pink? Blue? Whatever it is, keep it in your thoughts as we go through the steps. Your final result will be a color that you love and one that loves you!

Step 1 Hair Tone

Match your hair tone with the tone of your dress to create the illusion of elegance

I get a lot of prom girls asking me about the best way to create an elegant, formal look as they prepare for prom. One of the best pieces of advice that I can give to you today are these two statements:

- a prom dress in one color elongates the body, making you look slimmer. When we wear a lot of different colors, the eye has to jump all around to see all the colors.

- a prom dress in one color guarantees an elegant look, because monochrome, (one color or tone) actually makes you look sleeker than if you were to wear a bunch of different colors all at once.

When we wear just one or two colors, the eye can easily see the entire outfit without darting from color to color. When the eye is relaxed, it perceives the object (you!) as relaxed, serene and elegant.

What we now want to do is apply this tip to include our hair-tone. By matching the dress to our hair color, we have succeeded in elongated the body even more, since the eye is now including the hair color in the total look!

The ideal shade for your prom dress is one that matches your hair tone.Is your hair dark? Wear dark colors, it's that simple.

You can wear almost any color as long it is no darker than your hair color and no lighter than a medium shade of the that particular color. So ladies that have dark hair look great in the so-called jewel tones, like sapphire blue, emerald green, ruby-red, and garnet purples. The rich color of your dress should match the rich color of your hair, whether it is dark brown or deep black. The fact that your hair and dress are the same tone or shade, i.e. dark, will encourage the eye to perceive your silhouette as elongated and sleek.

For example, let's say your favorite color is blue and you have dark brown hair. You can wear any shade of blue, as long as it no darker than your hair and no lighter than a medium shade of blue.

If your hair is light, wear light colors that are no lighter than your hair and no darker than a medium shade of the color you chose.

Let's say your favorite color is pink. If you choose a prom dress in your favorite color, make sure it is no darker than a medium shade of pink and no lighter than your hair.

Finally, if your hair color is somewhere in between dark and light, you can wear any of medium tone colors; colors that are neither light nor dark.

When you choose your dress to include your hair tone, you will automatically look taller and more slender and definitely more elegant. And I would say that is the whole point of getting dressed up from prom, wouldn't you?

Now let's move on to the topic of skin tone.

Step 2 Skin tone

You also need to know which palette or set of colors is best suited to your skin tone as you develop your wardrobe and makeup kit around them.

A quick way to learn your skin tone is to recall the color of your skin when you are exposed to the sun.

If you tend to look pinkish after being in the sun, you will look especially fabulous wearing cool colors like blues, and purples. This is because these particular colors can actually camouflage the pink in your skin tone. Just be sure to match your dress to your hair tone, if you want a look that says: "elegant"!

On the other hand, if you tan to a golden brown when you are in the sun, you are going to going to want to choose any of the warm colors, like reds, and oranges. These colors will bring out the rosy blush in your skin tone. Again, choosing the warm colors in the same shade as your hair tone will make a huge difference in how you come across to others.

Step 3 Favorite Colors

Let's say your hair tone guides you to wear darker colors. Can you wear baby pink? Yes, you can, but it is a fact that you are not going to look that great in it because of what Mother Nature gave you. But you will look fabulous in fuchsia, and hot pinks. Don't you want to look great instead of bland?

Likewise, if you are a person with blonde hair who loves the color red but can't seem to pull it off because of your paleness, your red will be more of a creamy red, while your friends with black hair can wear ruby-red. You can wear every color you just have to find the best shade for your individuality.

So let's put it all together in these two examples; both girls chose pink as their favorite color, but each girl needs to wear a shade of pink that matches their hair tone.

Sandy (cool)

Favorite color: pink

Hair color: baby blonde

Skin tone: Sandy blushes easily, and burns when in the sun

Sandy's best color is a cool pale pinkish-lavender, which is the pale version of magenta

Cara (warm)

Favorite color: pink

Hair Color: dark brown

Skin tone: Cara tans easily to a golden brown

Cara's best color is a dark salmon, which is the dark version of peach

I know this sounds too simple, but believe me, no one who has used this method has ever chosen the wrong color for their prom dress. It's really just a matter of knowing your skin tone and how to match your hair for the perfect formal allure.

GG Flower, fashion editor at Shop 4 Prom has helped thousands of teens get ready for prom. Free Hairstyle Gallery and Prom Dress Directory.

Learn which colors to choose for your prom makeup just by signing up for "How to the Next Prom Queen", a free makeover program for any woman getting ready for any special occasion.

By John H Chartrand

After school programs along with standard academic programs such as technology, arts, and other areas are being reduced or done away with at a worrying rate. In Nova Scotia for example, the provincial government has just released brand-new budget cuts as of December 11, 2011. In Edmonton, the Catholic School Board reported that it will abolish hundreds of jobs effective September 2011. The list goes on. Educating our children should be our precedence, yet education is not viewed as a top priority by our governments.

Overwhelming are the quantity of subjects and programs that schools are forced to abolish as a result of budget cuts. For example, schools have reduced computer science courses and expect the classroom teacher to fill in the gap. If the teacher is computer illiterate, however, the students will remain computer uninstructed unless you consider being an authority at playing computer games as being computer savvy.

Another issue with school curricula is they are inclined to be out of date. Educators are tutoring the same old lessons that were educated decades previously. Our public education system just doesn't seem to meet modern requirements and are wasting cherished resources with programs that are no longer practical.

Thankfully, after school programs are becoming increasingly obtainable within the private sector that are educational, fun, and meet today's new demands for education. Some of these after school programs include: martial arts, acting programs taught by professional actors, music taught by experienced musicians, robotics, and other appealing programs that fulfill the individual child's enthusiasms and academic needs. These after school programs meet the need for modern skills and abilities that are required to compete in the world today.

Having said that, these outstanding after school programs and many others are mostly being supplied by the private industry. There is a fee involved; however, the cost is well worth the quality of education being offered by well-qualified people in their vocation. Parents do not have to race out and enroll their child in every after school program obtainable, rather they can choose one or two, if their budget allows, that bests fills the requirements and enthusiasms of their child.

After school programs are becoming more popular with good reason, and there are many being provided. A good way to commence looking is by browsing the Internet. Just type into the your favorite search engine's search box the activity or program you want to uncover and include the location such as the city or town where you live.

John Chartrand is the founder of Ottawa Robotics Academy in Ottawa, Ontario. John has been a certified professional teacher for over 15 years teaching technology and computers at all grade levels. For information on Robotics for Kids visit: Ottawa Robotics Academy

By Esther Chum

What are your best childhood memories? Is it of fun and games in school? Is it of loving times with Mom and Dad? Memories have great power over us. Memories of good times can sustain us throughout our lives, especially during periods of great turmoil. Unhappy memories, too, have a strong hold on our emotions and actions long after the event.

Childhood memories are the first memories we make. They can be like pleasant dreams which bring a smile to our face or nightmares from which we wish we could awaken. As parents, we can influence the type of memories our children will have of their childhood years. We can fill their memories with laughter, loving words and family togetherness. Or we can fill it with constant admonitions, criticisms and frequent quarrels.

We can never be sure of what kind of memories we will remember. Which events will stand out? Think of your strongest memories. Is it of major occasions like vacations and birthdays? Or is it of the smallest incidents - a conversation, shared laughter, a goodnight kiss? Knowing that memories can be formed at any time, we must be more aware of what happens during everyday interactions. Your child's childhood memories will likely be made of the quiet moments when you are enjoying each other's company or the quarrels you had.

School takes up a large bulk of the childhood years. When children start school, it is all too easy for parents to get caught up in the competition for grades. In an effort to make sure our children do not fall behind their peers, we nag them to do their homework, nag them to stop playing so much and maybe send them for tons of enrichment classes. What we often forget to do though is take the time to listen to them; to discuss current affairs so they understand what is going on in the community; or to just let them know that you value them beyond their grades in school.

Yes, school and grades are important. But what is more crucial is that your children enjoy their childhood. We can learn academic subjects throughout our life. We only have a few short years to enjoy our childhood. Your children's childhood memories should be of more than just studying, studying and more studying. They should remember the parties they had; the silly, childish fun they had with their friends or the loving family outings they enjoyed with cousins, aunts and uncles.

In school, our children have to learn to face myriad situations. They may face strict teachers, indifferent teachers, bullies, fair-weather friends and a competitive learning environment. How they cope and what kind of memories they form depends on their attitude towards their situation. If they view it as a challenge which they are capable of overcoming, then they will have happy childhood memories of school. If they see it as insurmountable difficulties, then they will form nightmarish childhood memories which they hate to remember.

We can help them develop the right attitude so they form happy childhood memories. Being aware of our influence is half the battle won. Take the time to make sure your child has wonderful childhood memories.

What are your own childhood memories?

Esther Chum loves writing and helping kids with their school work. Get INSTANT access to effective tips on helping your child to succeed in school and love school from this *FREE* ebook http://www.kidstudyguide.com/loveschool/

By Shelby Strong

It is troubling and disheartening to see girls and women being bombarded with images and attitudes of immodesty, and immorality. This destruction of female self-worth begins at a shockingly young age. Not only does this cause young girls to believe they have to look a certain way to be accepted and liked it teaches boys a lack female respect.

At times, parents may feel that the job of teaching their children the value of modesty and virtue is overwhelming and perhaps even impossible. However, through patience and persistence parents can indeed teach their children how to respect themselves and others through their appearance and their actions. This will result in your girls growing in to happier more confident women who demand the respect of others.

It is never too early to start stressing the importance of suitable dress. You may think that because your little girl doesn't have hips and breasts is shouldn't matter what she wears. But, remember that her current body shape is only temporary. Before you know it she will have turned into a young woman. It will be much easier for her to understand and appreciate moderate dress if those values were instilled when she was a child. By setting the standard at a young age, your daughter will continue to know and appreciate the importance of dressing appropriately as she grows and matures.

Parents need to lead by example. Keep in mind that your daughter has been watching you her whole life. You may not realize it but she looks up to you and expects you to set the example for her actions and behaviors. This includes the way you dress. By showing her that you value your body by wearing appropriate clothes you are setting a precedent for her future wardrobe ideals.

Teach your child to be a leader rather than a follower. No doubt, her friends and acquaintances will be sporting the latest fashions, including some scantily clad apparel, but that doesn't mean she has to. She doesn't have to look to her friends for fashion ideas--help her blaze her own trail and set her own fashion trends. This will teach her confidence in her choices and decisions. Her independent attitude will win the respect of those around her and will help her steer clear of dangerous pitfalls including those of sexual compromise.

Monitor what your daughter watches, listens to, and participates in and help her steer clear of inappropriate material. The media would have every little girl believe that in order to be a true princess she needs to flaunt her body by dressing immodestly, buying the most expensive name brands, and participate in worldly and immoral behaviors. However, you can show your daughters that true happiness comes from practicing appropriate, practical, and quality behaviors. By avoiding music, movies, and peer groups that degrade womanhood and demean motherhood, your young child will have a healthier attitude about herself and her role in the world as a strong and confidant woman.

Parents have their work cut out for them when it comes to teaching young women how vital it is to respect themselves, their bodies, and their self-worth. The world has bombarded them with ideas that would have them believe that frugality, modesty, and virtuous living are old fashioned and even unacceptable. However, parents are ultimately responsible to teach them correct principles of decency and virtuosity that can help them enjoy the happiness associated with self-respect and the appreciation that accompanies these principles.

Shelby is the mother of 3 kids and lives in Orem, Utah. When not chasing a baby or driving kids to dance and swimming lessons, she is at the office educating people about the benefits of pretend play. She owns an online toy store boutique at https://www.playfullyeverafter.com/ and sells everything from Little Adventures and Disney brand princess dresses to backpacks and quality puzzles and toys. Check out her blog as she often gives away free products. Her Amazon store has free shipping and so does her website. If you would like to read more articles from Shelby please subscribe to her feed here http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Shelby_Strong

By Esmeralda Carvalho

Bullying is a real concern and increasingly a problem that most schools are addressing albeit, some more effectively than others. Bullying is affecting all levels of education, from public to private schools, from kindergarten to high school.

Children or youth who claim to be bullied say it's because they are overweight, underweight, are short, or are extremely shy, a large percentage claim it's because they are gay or lesbian or are perceived to be. Suicide rates among teens and even younger children are on the rise, much of the cause can be attributed to bullying related to the fear of homosexuality or simply, homophobia.

Children and youth who bully are not secure individuals, to bully they must feel insecure in some way. Some children put themselves down on a regular basis, emulating what they see adults doing. Often it is at home within their families that they feel most insecure. When parents tease their kids, put them down by calling them "stupid", or by saying "you can't do anything right", they are in fact putting that child down, and in a sense bullying their own children. They may take the position that they are the authority and therefore can use their power as they see fit. However, being a parent does not give anyone the right to mistreat a child. No one owns anyone else. Once a child is born, he or she becomes an autonomous individual, with a unique sense of self and self expression.

When children feel judged by their parents they feel a sense of great injustice. As many children have no healthy outlet to express those feelings of injustice, they become angry and often take that anger to the school yard; either leading them to become bullies or to become the bullied.

The teaching of morals and values in the home can have a serious impact on children and youth. If the family's values center around not accepting homosexuals, teasing overweight people, or talking negatively about people of different racial and cultural backgrounds, then in effect, that is educating the child, however prejudicially. Children are engrained with family values from a young age, they grow up and integrate these values into their psyche as if these are shared by everyone. When others don't reflect the same values, these children can become angry and resentful. Negative messages, even when normalized in the home resonate injustice in a profound way to the child. The signs can be withdrawal form school activities, extreme shyness, mild to severe depression, ADHD type symptoms, outbursts, fighting and bullying behaviour, either as victim or victimizer.

The question 'If mom and dad hate gays, do they hate me too,?" will inevitable arise in the child's mind.

Curbing negative talk, avoiding racial, homophobic and other types of slurs will definitely improve your child's mental health. In the long run, children will end up respecting their parents more when their parents show respect for themselves and others. Beginning a trend of positive reinforcement in the home that will bring back health and wellbeing is key.

Bullying can also be a direct result of your child's repressed homosexual nature. Parents are not always aware of what is really going on in their child's mind. The child could be feeling that he or she is gay or lesbian, but have no one to talk to about it. Repression of feelings can lead to depression or suicide, as well as to bulling. Read: Straight Parents, Gay Children: Keeping Families Together by Robert A. Bernstein. Talk about gays and lesbians directly, mention cases in the news, give your child a book about it, for example: It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living.

Steps to take to ensure your child doesn't become a bully or get bullied:

• Begin to improve your own level of self-confidence and sense of compassion. Start a journal and track your negative thinking. Begin to write daily affirmations that are positive and inspiring.

• Read up on the issues that most disturb you, if homosexuality is one, read up on it.

• Build your own self-respect, read The Monk Who Sold His Farari, or similar books on self-improvement.

• Stop yourself from making judgmental and offensive comments, especially in front of your children. If you do make them, apologize immediately and try not to say them again. It shows your child you have self-respect, even though you can make mistakes.

• Do not offend your child, if you do, apologize and rephrase the sentence to mean the exact opposite. For example, if you say "You can't do anything right", change to - "You do most everything well, next time you'll do this better too." Read the book "How to Talk so Kids Will Listen & Listen so Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish.

• Go to the library and choose books to read to your children that address inclusiveness and promote team spirit. Ask the librarian to help you. If you do not read to your children, begin now, it's never too late.

The Bully

If your child has been singled out as a bully, make sure there are consequences and that you implement them to the fullest. Consequences should not be based on punishment, rather they should have the intent to educate your child.

Here are some ideas:

• Have your child (if old enough) volunteer at a center for disadvantaged youth

- Volunteer at a local LGBT community centre

- Volunteer at a crisis phone hotline to give others support

• Write a letter on bullying and its harms. Then send it off to the injured child

• Write a story on the harmful effects on bullying, help them edit it and have it published in the school's newsletter

The Bullied

• Make time every night to talk to your child alone and ask him or her about their day

• Probe by asking what happened during the day, ask about their friends. If they don't have any, it's a cause for concern.

- Asking questions during your special time alone will help your child open up and show him or her that you care.

- Listen intently, without trying to resolve the problem, help them come up with their own solutions.

• Let your child express his or her pain, anger and frustration in a physical way. Punch a pillow, scream outside, let them release that tension somehow.

• Ask them to draw or write down what they are feeling (regarding a bullying incident) and how they could resolve it.

• Brain storm with your child how to resolve the problem, create a list and have it posted somewhere in your child's room

Many of the points mentioned in the Bullied and the Bully can be interchanged. If a child is bullying, he needs to talk about pent up anger and find an outlet for it. Be there to help your child through it.

Implementing some of these strategies will help you and your children become healthier and more secure. Bullying is not a private matter, it is one that affects children, schools and families. Help your children heal from whatever ails them. They will be grateful to you in the long run and you will feel proud of them and yourself.

Esmeralda Carvalho is a writer for Lesbian Mom Today, http://www.lesbianmomtoday.com/ a website for lesbian moms and their families to connect, talk about parenting, family, relationship, healthy living, films, travel and events.

She has an Honours BA in Sociology and Psychology, has founded a lesbian/gay association and has chaired various committees on lesbian/gay issues, parenting and health.

By Billy Oatey

Metal detecting is a wonderful hobby for children and an excellent learning opportunity. But where to begin when starting out with a hobby never tried before? A few simple preparations and precautions will make the introduction to the fascinating world of treasure hunting much easier. Use these 5 tips to help you get started.

1. Buy the Right Kids Metal Detector

Many people equate the price of a metal detector with its ability to find treasure. In many cases this may be true, but not always. The temptation is often to spend more money on a metal detector than you have and sometimes that additional cost may not provide a significant enough functional improvement to justify the extra money. So consider carefully based upon a balance of budget and needs. This is especially important when purchasing a children's metal detector, since you want to find a rugged and reasonably low cost unit, but still have something that the child can use. If the unit is so inexpensive that it cannot find any metal, the child won't play with the toy for long. On the other hand you might be reluctant to let a younger child play with a very expensive locator. Electronic treasure hunting devices, like almost all other electronic devices, are breakable if you abuse them enough.

A number of different websites publish reviews of various metal detectors and those can go a long way toward helping make a decision and saving money that otherwise might be better spent on accessories such as digging tools and bags.

2. Learn to Use Your Metal Detector

A kids metal detector should be fairly simple and easy to operate. Even so, it is important to learn to use the metal detector yourself so that you understand what the gauges, readouts, and sounds mean and can help your child learn to use the metal detector efficiently. Different manufacturers will use different methods of signaling the operator when an item of particular interest has been passed over by the search coil. Beginners can usually pick these signals up fairly easily, but to become really proficient with the metal detector expect to spend some time practicing. Time spent learning to use the metal detector can be an important parent-child bonding time during which everyone can have a good time.

3. Metal Detecting Accessories

When considering accessories it is important to think about the area or location where the metal detector will be used. Hard soils and rocks will require different digging tools than soft sandy soils or mud.

For beach searching, a sand scoop is very helpful. The same item would not be of much use at all when working in most backyards. For working in the backyard a probe, garden trowel, or one of the newer digging tools specifically designed for treasure hunting is highly useful. One unfortunate accident that occurs frequently to beginners is to damage the object you have found while trying to dig it up. Often, in the excitement that comes when the metal detector beeps beginners may begin digging rapidly and without considering what may lie beneath the ground. In most cases a minor scratch or 2 on a found object may not make much difference. But if the object is jewelry or something fragile, it could easily be damaged by the wrong digging tool and technique. So consider carefully which tool will be used for which soil type, and remember to dig slowly and carefully that you can replace the side without leaving any marks. These 2 steps should help avoid damaging any treasure found before it is dug up.

A small box or pouch for carrying found items is very useful. Scuba divers frequently carry mesh "goodie" bags to bring back things that they find while diving, and such an item might be useful for treasure hunting with a metal detector at the beach as long as the mesh in the bag was small enough to prevent small items from falling out.

One very handy accessory is a carrying case for the metal detector. This can keep a metal detector clean and free from dust when stored in a closet waiting for use, and it can also help carry some of the other accessories necessary for the hobby.

4. Learn How to Research

One easy method is to visit the local historical society, Museum, or library. These places often have a wealth of information about the location of old buildings, factories, stores, homes, schools and other places where people may have congregated in the past. Generally, places where people have congregated are places where you will find treasures lost.

Children may find researching is as easy as asking neighbors questions. Often, longtime residents of the area may remember the locations of stores, houses, or parks that are no longer in existence. These can be great places to treasure hunt just remember to ask permission. Consider starting with neighbors and family members, and ask them to reminisce about things they remember the community from years ago.

5. Ask Permission

There are many places that are open to metal detecting, but whenever you are searching a location that is off your own property, it is wise to seek permission to search. In many cases this is as easy as asking the property owner or the person in charge. For the most part, people will allow you to search as long as you are not destroying lawns or flower beds. So be prepared to carefully remove and replace sod when searching on someone else's lawn, on public land, or in a community park. The idea is to remove the side so carefully but afterward no one knows that you have even been there. Sometimes public parks will have limitations or restrictions on metal detecting and these are often in reaction to hobbyists who have misused the park by not properly refilling holes, so it is always a good idea to check the rules specific to that park before beginning to dig.

A kids metal detector is a great gift, and metal detecting itself is an enjoyable hobby for both young and old alike. With a little research, a little practice, and little luck, almost anyone can be successful. You only need to find the right kids metal detector and the right place to search to turn almost any kid into an adventurer.

Billy Oatey invites you to visit his blog kids metal detectors for even more tips for young treasure hunters. http://discovermetaldetecting.com

By Casper A Labuschagne

Raising and educating children in our modern society are complex and challenging. However, it is not something that parents can ignore. Once you are a parent, you have a responsibility towards your child that is beyond food, shelter and love.

The point to realize is that your child starts life with a clean slate, so to speak, and you, as parents, are the most important teachers in your child's life. Most parents understand and accept the fact that they are responsible for raising their children and many parents, particularly those who await the birth of their first-born, plan every detail ahead of the baby's birth. They read books on the subject, seek the best medical care, and prepare the child's room. Everything is in place when the baby is born, and these parents are ready to raise the child to the best of their abilities.

However, many parents do not realize that "raising" a child is not the same as "educating" a child. Most parents love their children and provide them safe and loving homes. This takes care of the first and most important aspect of early childhood development, establishment of a bond with your child. But this is just the first step. A properly defined and implemented development plan is necessary to build on this bond. Otherwise there is no guarantee that actual education will take place. The next step is to define a development plan to make sure you cover the following developmental areas.

(1) Your child's vocabulary

(2) Your child's fine motor muscles

(3) Your child's large motor muscles

(4) Your child's imagination

(5) Your child's social skills

An example of a plan to develop all five areas is as follows:

(1) Vocabulary: read the same nursery rhyme or fairy tale on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to your child. On Thursday, do not read the story, but ask your child to tell you the story. This will show you how much your child has learned and if there are words and/or concepts your child did not understand.

(2) Imagination: On Thursday, also ask your child to draw a character from the story.

(3) Fine motor muscles: On Friday, read the story again and let your child color in a coloring picture.

(4), (5) Large motor skills and social skills: on Saturday, pay Grandma a visit or go on a field trip to the mall.

Creating a development plan is easy. Just use a calendar and decide what to do each day. This is such a simple step, but it really sets you up to succeed. Remember that we are discussing 2-year old kids here: the plan is not complicated.

At this age, the most important thing is to read stories to your child. This takes just 20 minutes a day! Most parents do such reading with their children in any case. Few parents however, read with a specific purpose in mind.

With your child's development in mind, you will read to your child with the specific goal to develop your child's vocabulary. You will include assessment days to assess what your child has learned. Most importantly, developing this plan ensures that you develop all areas adequately.

Conclusion

For best results, treat your child's education as a project. But incorporate into this project fun and laughter so that learning becomes "play" for your child. Create a properly defined development plan that will cover all aspects of early childhood development, and then implement the plan by doing a little each day.

By Jade Jennison

Whether you are a child, boy or girl, or even if you are an adult, you never tire of Winnie the Pooh and the rest of his gang. Entering the magical world of these cartoons will keep children entertained for hours with the bright, bold colours and cute characters, and you can bring some of this magic to their bedroom.

The first ever book about Winnie the Pooh was published in 1926, so it has been around for over 80 years and is still massively popular today! Back when it first began Pooh was very much the main character but over the years and more recently, the other characters have become more popular and even starred in their own movies and in 2005 a new character was introduced, so even after all these years they are trying to bring in new ideas to this famous 'family'.

Children are full of energy and never stop, some days you just cannot keep up with them, but as soon as you turn the TV on and put on their favourite cartoon the madness stops as they stare engagingly and get lost in a fantasy land. Winnie the Pooh has spread across a wide range of products for children, from books to drinking cups and everything in between, and every child has their own favourite character, my personal favourite is Eeyore, even though he looks a bit down sometimes!

Christmas time is most children's favourite time of year, filled with joy and excitement and the anticipation of running downstairs to see exactly what Santa has left behind! Every year from kids being little, family buy them countless amounts of toys and they end up usually more interested in the big cardboard box that it came in, then by the time they get round to playing with all these new toys they have a new favourite character. Winnie the Pooh will never go out of fashion and children will love them for many years to come, so even if they do not appreciate something like a Winnie the Pooh rug on Christmas morning and push it over to one side, they will appreciate and cherish it for a long time to come afterwards.

Another great thing about Winnie the Pooh is both genders will love it equally, your little girl will love the cute cuddly characters such as Piglet and Eeyore and the bright coloured flowers that surround the forest, and your little boy will loved the interesting adventures that take place in the wood and are bound to have Tigger as his favourite! The products made for kid's bedrooms are not in just pink and blue they are a mixture of all the colours of the rainbow, so if your little boy and girl share a bedroom you will not have the hassle and problems of separating the room off for one side to be princesses and one side to be tractors.

If you want to bring these characters out of the big screen and into your home there are many household objects that can be transformed by Pooh, and a favourite choice is a pretty children's rug to put across the floor, and turn your child's dull, crayon covered carpet into a little piece of Ashdown Forest!

Jade Jennison is an enthusiastic writer in subject matter including children and babies in such areas that enhances their ability to grow. The websites recommended by Jade have been thoroughly researched and come highly acclaimed from direct experience. Take a look at Mail Order Rugs for the best Winnie the Pooh rugs to add character to your children's bedrooms.

By Ben C Stidham

There are some ideas that help run events without adding extra effort. As the common saying goes "those who don't plan, plan to fail". Youth group activities is no exception to that rule. After spending a lot of time creating value added team building exercises, it has become apparent that planning is one of the most important keys to success. After all, planning is probably the most time intensive part of the process, but the rewards can be tremendous.

Think about all the different team building activity ideas that you have already used with students. Then start to consider all the youth group activities that you have seen others create and implement. Many of the team bonding ideas were probably developed with thought and consideration to the audience in mind. That is not to say that off the cuff spontaneous and fun indoor team building games aren't important, but the most interesting and long-lasting ones have some plans and preparation involved.

Recently, there have been numerous public speakers that have just started their adventure of providing relevant data at conferences on the subjects they know best. They continuously bring up that attending and speaking at these events requires upfront thought about what the topic will be and often times also includes the various practices to ensure that the presentation goes without any major hang ups.

It is important to consider this when you are teaching youth and teenagers. Kids are looking for some level of structure in their lives. With fragmented families and churches or schools that may not be teaching them to the detail they need, it is critical that they get a good amount of support and structural activities through other areas. Their friends may also be a source of their influence, and if the friends may be leading lives that are unhealthy, it is possible that their pressure may be affecting the others.

Children still have a mindset that is able to be molded in positive and moral ways. Using this opportunity to teach youngsters is a best practice and encouraged. Preparation for youth group activities should begin several of days before the activity. This provides lead time to think through possible alternatives or develop your schedule so that it meets the most effective and wide audience possible.

Teenagers especially may have other things on their mind such as how to fit in the group appropriately. Involving some of the teens in preparation may give them more of a feeling of usefulness and a belonging to the group. It is important to have positive role models in youth leader positions and those leaders should be peers to the kids. As a role model, they also can help build up the event and participate in many ideas that create a welcome atmosphere.

Beginning early and planning through youth group activities has benefits in developing the upcoming generations. There are many things that you can develop early in the week that will best manage a useful and rewarding time. Meetings are usually time sensitive and providing the most value is smart organizational skills.

What if you haven't spent anytime planning for a youth group event? I know how difficult it can be to try and create special events that bring together young adults in a meaningful way, but if you really want to make a big impact at your place of work you'll need to learn a single method that works amazingly well. This method is simple to pick up and it doesn't take much practice, you can read how to do it in my free report here: Important Youth Group Activities Message. Don't give up on trying to have a positive influence on kids, it's NOT impossible to raise them the right way. Learn more ways to incorporate Youth Group Activities in your schedule by clicking the link.

By Vaiv Jais

You must be amazed to know that the baby care products contribute towards a million dollar industry. Numerous manufacturers around the world supply products like baby soaps, baby skin creams, baby shampoos, baby powders and baby diapers to the market. However, it is equally surprising to know that many of these products need to be discarded.

Many research works and studies have thrown light on the harmful ingredients and materials that have been used in some of these products. If you have a baby product store, you must consider it as a responsibility to supply safe baby products to the parents. Here is a discussion about baby care products that actually help in taking good care of the young ones.

No Talcum for Baby Rash

Few years back, talcum powders were quite popular among parents to cure baby rash caused by the use of baby diapers. However, many of these products have been found to cause respiratory issues. It is suggested to buy powders that contain natural and herbal ingredients as they are free from side-effects and take better care of the baby skin.

Shampoos with Healthy Scents

Shampoos that contain synthetic scents are no more worthy for the health of the little ones. These products are actually allergic to the soft and sensitive skin of the babies. You must choose baby shampoos that contain natural components for producing scents. Going further, unscented shampoos are also available in the market if you are not too inclined towards scents.

Aloe Vera Soaps

Aloe Vera is no hidden secret when it comes to the maintenance of skin health. The baby care product manufacturers have started using this wonderful natural ingredient in organic baby soaps. Aloe is also used in other baby care products like skin creams and in remedies used for treating rash caused by baby diapers.

Natural Oils and Moisturizers

A number of baby oils and baby moisturizers few years back used mineral oil as the main ingredient. The oil has been proved to be harmful for health, particularly for baby skin. As a result, the focus has been shifted to prepare products using natural oils like those obtained from chamomile and sunflower.

Organic Cotton Diapers

The baby diapers prepared from synthetic materials are slowly being withdrawn from the lists of baby care products. These diapers have been held responsible for causing discomfort to babies and pollution to the environment. You should look for baby diapers that are made from certified organic cotton and other such organic materials.

Check for Chemicals to Avoid

Certain chemicals used in baby products have been declared as unsafe. These include octinoxate, polyethylene glycols, triclosan, ceteareth and diethyl phthalates among many others. You should always check for the ingredients before choosing baby care products to avoid choosing products containing these harmful chemicals.

There are organic baby care product manufacturers around the world that can be easily found on the internet using business directories. Obtaining safe baby products from them should bring more customers to your store.

Author has wide knowledge of B2B Marketplace and Business industries. View details of companies which are involved in production of baby care products like baby diapers in India at online products directory, Catalogs.indiaMART.com

By Dana S Johnson

Any mother of a boy will tell you that there are certain things with little boys that don't need to be taught. First is the mimicking of motorized vehicular sounds. The lip buzzing-low rumble of a dump truck or the light hum of a race car is inherent within a boy's genetic make-up. With a little age the talent of turning anything into a gun comes forward. It doesn't matter if the parents are wanna-be hippies or card carrying NRA members, boys don't need an introduction to guns. It is completely within a boy's nature to shoot the cat with his doughnut if that's all he has at his disposal. My boys are 5 and 6 years old. Recently I discovered more machismo is lurking under the surface of their "Y" chromosomes. Apparently boys, like men, can't help but spout off football statistics.

My family was recently riding in the mini-van when my youngest decided it would be fun goad his father. He began chanting, "Packers BOOOO, Vikings Rule!" Needless to say this got our attention. Turning off on to a less traveled street, for fear that someone may hear our little traitor, we confronted him about this new allegiance. When asked why he didn't like the Packers he began by saying, "I don't like the Packers. They lost 40 sacks in 2 minutes. I mean, what kind of a team loses 40 sacks in 2 minutes?"

My husband, defending his green and gold, came back stating that the Vikings and the Packers each won eleven games. To this my son said, "So, in like 5 days the Packers are going to lose 150 points. Then the Vikings will be the winner and they have NEVER lost 40 sacks in 2 minutes."

Resorting to complete male undermining, my husband then said, "Well, you must want to be a girl because the Vikings wear purple and isn't purple a girl color?"

My son replied, "I was just kidding Daddy, I really do like the Packers."

Observing this male interaction was fascinating. As a woman I have never understood the ability to remember all of those worthless stats. How is it husbands everywhere can remember the number of sacks an obscure defensive end has, but can't remember his own wedding anniversary date? Batting averages over birthdays and victories over vacations...it all completely baffles me.

Looking to the future in my all male household, I am trying to prepare for what's to come. Will the lighting of noxious rectal gases come before or after the first hole in the wall? Should I be ready for girls calling or athlete's foot? How many days should I go before I remind all three of them that they forgot my birthday? Is there a way to block ESPN on one's TV?

I now understand how the phrase, "Boy oh Boy...."got its connotation. I've never heard someone say "Girl oh Girl." There must be a reason.

Dana Johnson is a spunky mother of two trying to figure it all out. Running her own business, volunteering at school, trying to keep the family unit clean and fed, and finding time for her are just some of the challenges Dana faces. Like most moms she is tired, underappreciated and overworked. But in her truly unique style, Dana is the first to laugh at the mishaps of life and loves to write about the humorous side of Mom-dom.

A native cheese-head, whose passions include mt. biking, whitewater kayaking, cross-country skiing, reading and writing, Dana has performed some stand-up comedy and storytelling in the Milwaukee area and hopes to one day find the time to write a book. She currently resides in Waukesha with her husband Charlie and her two little boys and runs her own company, http://www.openleafexcursions.com. She also moderates a community forum on which people can share and discover places in the outdoors. http://www.adventuregroove.com

By Jennifer Little

Very young children idolize their parents, because parents provide everything for them. Parents seem to know everything and are omnipotent. Older children rarely think about choosing a role model. What they do think about are "heroes", the fantastic beings with superhuman powers who rescue or save those in trouble. Pre-teens and adolescents think about the seemingly superhuman possibilities among sports, movie and music stars, because they envision the glamor, media hype and luxurious lifestyles that exist only in the child's fantasies.

Fantasy role models are just that: fantasies. They are not people who can function in the world with the more limited talents or skills the rest of us have. Role models are people we can hope to emulate, to pattern our lives after, to mimic at times when we hope to gain similar skills. The rich and famous are insulated from the "daily grind" of having to pay rent, utilities, costs for food, clothing and transportation.

The problem is that most children or adolescents consciously choose their role models. Typically, children either grow up to be just like one of their parents or determined to be totally unlike either or both of their parents. Their parent or parents become the role models of what they refuse to be like. Unfortunately, most children and teenagers are limited in people who could be role models for them. They are in contact with family members, neighbors, and school personnel.

Children and adolescents learn to develop the social skills to fit in with others. Adults become people to remove as influences from their lives. Wise adolescents begin to think about careers they might want to have as an adult. They find people in those occupations and talk with them, find out what the educational requirements are, the specific demands and skills for the career, and opportunities that may be similar in nature. They learn about how well their interests and skills fit with those particular jobs.

Many adolescents and young adults will observe those who are socially skilled, well-liked by peers and adults, and mimic their mode of dress, speech patterns, and/or interests. By seeming to copy those individuals, they are actually "trying on" skills to determine whether or not those skills "fit" with them as individuals.

Those who do not emulate others or think about possible career options will struggle when they leave high school and/or college. They do not have any goals, so there is nothing for them to work toward achieving. They waste time and resources. While this may not seem important to someone 16, 20 or 25 years of age, it becomes important later (when they are 30 or 35 years of age) if they have not early-on achieved some of the foundational steps for acquiring a job with potential for advancement into a career that can support them well.

Role models are more than "heroes". They are people who show us the skills and know-how of achieving responsible lives, performing work to benefit others as well as earn a living. They are people who demonstrate what is possible for us, individually and as sub-groups in society. They are people who teach us how to solve problems that can seem insurmountable, how to make good decisions, and live productive lives surrounded by others whom we value, love and respect.

Role models are people who give others hope of overcoming obstacles in their lives and achieve goals they set or modified so they could achieve them. The sooner children or adolescents determine who their role models are, the less time they waste and the sooner they can meet all the requirements for the goals they establish for themselves.

Jennifer Little, Ph.D.

All children can succeed in school. Parents can help their children by teaching the foundational skills that schools presume children have. Without the foundation for schools' academic instruction, children needlessly struggle and/or fail. Their future becomes affected because they then believe they are less than others, not able to succeed or achieve or provide for themselves or their families. Visit http://parentsteachkids.com to learn how to directly help your child and http://easyschoolsuccess.com to learn what is needed for education reform efforts to be successful.

By Kathy Pavone

Are your children bored or watching too much TV? Would you prefer them to be learning and using their imagination and having more fun then you could ever imagine? Your answer may be a fun one. Help them enjoy activity and imagination again with ride on toys. Fostering development and confidence with these toys will help your children advance now and into the future. Imaginative play will allow your children to be the race car driver or fireman they wish to grow up to be. The play of today for our little ones always translates to the business of their future. Lend a hand for their dreams to begin.

I am reminded of a time when my three daughters were small. For Christmas one year the oldest one received a scooter and the other two had a toy they could sit and push with their feet all around the house. They pretended they were a train and their track was around the dining room table through the kitchen then into the living room. They made many stops to drop off a doll and pick up another passenger somewhere along the line. They were the cutest things. Their imaginations went wild. Every day was a different trip, they went shopping, or to the movies, to a friend's house, on a picnic, to the library, a tea party or any number of other exotic places to visit. It was a long winter with lots of snow, so we were in the house for what seemed a very long time.

By the time the weather was nice enough to go out and play the girls were very proficient with their Ride on Toys. It was amazing to see how much their coordination and balance had improved and how safe I felt they were with all the practice they had in the house that winter. This type of play also increased their desire to play outdoors and in later years kept them fit and very active. I think I enjoyed watching them as much as they enjoyed riding them.

Now my children are grown and I see confident young people who have grown up with all the wonder of the imaginations and adventures of an active, sport filled life. Now they have their own child which makes me a grandmother and what a thrill this new adventure is for me! Getting the opportunity to see my granddaughter playing with her toys, using her imagination and going into her dreams for the future brings joy to my world. With all of this she is being physically active and mentally alert. It can't get any better than that. The utter excitement and happiness I see on her face as well as the memory of the same from my children years ago is just priceless."

Kathy Pavone is the author and can provide you with the coolest kids on the block and the happiest faces that you will cherish for years to come. Visit [http://myrideontoyshop.com] for top quality and great prices for battery powered ride on toys [http://myrideontoyshop.com], scooters and skateboards.

By Dan Irwin

One central lesson that all children need to learn has to do with organization, and one of the best places to start is with their closet. Indeed, as parents, we are continuously trying to teach our children life teachings that they can take with them as they grow up. A kid's closet organizer can help your child stay organized and help parents experience not as much stress during those crazy school mornings where your child is now able to find what they want, when they want it, in their closet.

If you're like most, you may think that your child's room simply doesn't have enough closet space. Often these are reach-in closets (as opposed to the larger walk-in closets) that contain only a rod and shelf. Unless you are able to knock out walls to increase the size of your kid's closet (not an option for the majority of parents), you need to look for another solution.

The solution to this problem is frequently as simple as adding an organizing system to your child's closet. Many organizers have the potential to actually double the amount of usable storage space.

You can buy a kids closet organizer at home improvement stores such as Lowe's and Home Depot in addition to selected larger discount department stores such as Walmart. You can usually purchase whole kits as well as individual components. Before purchasing any closet organizing items, be sure to carefully measure the size of your child's closet and evaluate you and your child's closet organization goals.

Closet organizing systems come in different materials and styles.g. plastic coated wire, laminates, and solid wood. In addition, you can add components such as shelves, drawers, shoe racks, and baskets to better suit your storage requirements and budget.

Due to its affordability, perhaps the most popular organizing option for a kid's closet is the wire style. Wire systems are usually composed of open lattice type shelves and metal brackets. They also let your child quickly and effortlessly find items in their closet, a good feature if you or your child is pressed for time.

To keep your children in the process of organizing their closet, you should be sure to include him or her in the planning and installation of their closet organizing system. Permitting your child to take an active role in the preparation and installation processes can be a worthy learning experience. They are more apt to be happy with the eventual outcome and will actually make use of, and therefore benefit from, their newly organized closet for possibly years to come. Your child can still take part in the design, even if you hire someone to do the installation.

It might be a slight exaggeration to state that regaining control of your closet can be a life changing event. Nevertheless, the benefits that can be realized, especially when it comes to a kids closet organizer, can be tremendous. After working on your child's closet, if you haven't already done so, you will probably want to start work on organizing your own closet.

If you found the information in this article about kids closet organizers useful, you should consult our main site where you can find more resources about closet organizing systems.

By Bob Pardue

Having a Good Teen Modeling Portfolio is Essential

Whether you're just a beginning teen model or you have gotten started a bit, it's important to have a good portfolio to show to those potentially interested in the way that you look. A portfolio is important because it can help you to offer those modeling agencies and casting directors exactly what you look like in a photo. So, this is why you need to have a good portfolio which shows your good angles as best as possible. The teen modeling portfolio tips below are surely going to help you show them what you've got.

• Always take photos of your good side

Isn't it obvious that this tip is already important? Most models usually like to put all of their angles in their portfolios, including thee bad sides. The trick is to showcase some of your most beautiful pictures, so that they see the most beautiful part of you as best as possible. Try to incorporate many pictures with all of them showing your most beautiful angles; however, try not to hide any part of your face, as I'm pretty sure they want to see exactly what you look like on every angle.

• Create a variety of photos

Most models will usually create a portfolio of all the same kids of photos, and over and over again you will see their same good-girl face the whole time. When you show those casting directors your look and poses, you want them to be mesmerized or shocked at how good looking you are, so you want to incorporate lots of different photos and poses inside. For example, make sure that you have a full body head shot, face, upper body, at the park, and basically any angle that you feel should be shown. Try not to forget about the main head shots that need to be taken, but it's important for you to know that casting directors do want something different and they're always in need of new models.

• Teen modeling portfolio tips

On your pictures, make sure that you wear different kinds of clothing. Casting directors want to see you look good in all sorts of clothing, so you want to have a variety of clothing on; from ordinary jeans to some of the highest quality pants. So, try to always have different clothes on inside of your pictures in your portfolio. Try to wear only a little bit of makeup on, so that the agencies can see how you look naturally on camera and not always having so much makeup on.

Modeling is a pretty tough job, and the best way to land more of those jobs is to simply create a good portfolio to show to everybody. The truth is that modeling is tough, but with the right look and connections, you can easily get your first set of jobs in a short amount of time. In the end, you'd be pretty shocked at how much jobs you can get if you have a good portfolio to rely on. So, don't be afraid to really work hard for that photo shoot of yours.

Learn some important information about the necessity of a teen modeling portfolio by visiting bobpardue.com.

By Ben C Stidham

The stresses of becoming a new teacher can be rough especially if you are just starting out in this new career field. Youth group activities is an important part of the process of developing a positive status among your students. There are some best practices that you might want to learn early on that can really help aid in the process of teaching. First, take a seat and consider the various options of team building activity ideas that could meet the needs of your group or audience. Next, develop a thorough course of action to establish youth group activities as an important element to your overall teaching strategy. If you have been blessed with jr. high or high school students, you probably already know that the best schools in the world do not prepare you for the challenges of instructing teenagers in a way that is good and beneficial for their lives.

You have to understand that teenagers can be very difficult to handle. Parents can attest to this, since they spend a good deal of time during the developmental years with their own children. It takes a lot of courage, determination, and a whole lot of commitment to completely fill this challenging duty that happens to be yours. It is how you deal with these kids is the key to being a great high school teacher, educator or mentor. That is why you must know a couple of youth group activities that can effectively melt the ice within the group. Team bonding ideas are the foundation to a valuable education and interpersonal relationships that young people will carry with them into adulthood.

Many of the most traditional instructors and school officials fail to fully comprehend the importance of youth group activities, mainly because a lot of them believe that they are just useless group games and therefore are not effective in educating our youth today. They may also believe that team bonding ideas are not the ideal method for instructing kids on how to be themselves in different situations. But the truth is that youth group activities have been one of the most influential methods to establish team building ideas and environments within this age group without feeling like you are forcing them into something they do not want to do. One of the key benefits to outdoor or indoor team building activities for youth is that teenagers will probably begin to enjoy your subjects more because the activities are fun and exciting, not boring and cumbersome like traditional educational methods can sometimes be.

Understanding youth group activities may seem to have elements that many educators find too relaxed, but it does help benefit children by giving them certain skills they can use for the rest of their lives. The youth ministry games that are taught often come with good messages and a moral lesson. Additionally, you can capture their attention on a certain subject and hold it there for a period of time that may have seemed unattainable before. Ultimately, you are presenting an opportunity that can open their eyes to see how fun their class can be without prodding them to become involved. This may also help to avoid the one thing that many parents and teachers fear among kids... rebellion. Team building activity ideas are really an encouraging and entertaining way to teach and develop their skills in all the right ways. Try it out and see for yourself if this will work for your situation. Best of luck!

What if you are running out of ideas for events?

I know how difficult it can be to try and create special events that bring together young adults in a meaningful way, but if you really want to make a big impact at your place of work you'll need to learn a single method that works amazingly well. This method is simple to pick up and it doesn't take much practice, you can read how to do it in my free report here: Planning Youth Group Activities.

Don't give up on kids, it's NOT impossible to raise them the right way. Learn more ways to incorporate Youth Group Activities in your schedule by clicking the link.

By Karin Steyn

Trust is like money. It's so difficult to earn, easy to waste and no matter how much you have, it's just never enough.

For you, as a teenager, trust may seem to be a complicated word. Your parents are not always willing to trust you, which can cause a lot of tension between you. When they don't trust you, you may feel disappointed, angry and rebellious.

It's impossible for you to be the perfect teenager and child. You're going to make mistakes, whether you want to or not. But when it comes to trust, you need to understand something. The degree to which your parents give you their trust needs to match the degree to which you prove yourself trustworthy.

You need to ask yourself if your pattern of behaviour is worthy of their trust. Look at your track record. Have you been honest about where you've been going and what you've been doing in the past? Have you been in trouble because of your dishonesty? If you want their trust, you have to conduct yourself honestly and responsibly.

When you behave irresponsibly, your parents will definitely be disappointed in you. You will lose their trust because of the way you have behaved. The saying 'Actions speak louder than words' is true. It's not what you say to your parents that make them believe in you, but what you do.

When you have done something wrong, your parents should allow you to bear the consequences. If they don't, you will always think that there's an easy way out of trouble. You will grow up thinking that someone, somewhere, will bail you out (no matter what), clean up the mess and cover your mistakes. Will this honestly make you a better person?

It's not easy being a parent. Some parents have already lost the battle in raising their children. More and more parents turn to alcohol for life's problems and their children seem to follow suit.

A lot of parents worry about their children being alone in the company with the opposite sex. Others don't care. There are parents who are involved in illicit affairs. They go to strip clubs and bars and get up to all sorts of mischief themselves. As role models they have surely failed. They give their children too much money and the result is that teenagers today cannot distinguish between their needs and wants.

Life in itself is as complicated as we make it. You either have the desire to be good or you have the desire to be rebellious. Choose your path today. Decide whether or not you want to make a difference, not only in your life, but in the lives of your parents and friends. Then, work towards regaining your parents trust. Build up a record of trustworthy and responsible behaviour. Here are a few things to consider:

    Listen to your parents.
    If your parents give you chores, finish them.
    Keep your room clean.
    Be punctual for meals (those where you are expected).
    Do your homework and assignments, and get good results at school.
    Be financially responsible: don't abuse what is given to you or ask for more than you need.
    Admit making mistakes.
    Apologise when you have made a mistake.
    Be honest and speak the truth.
    If they allow you to go somewhere, commit to meet their curfew.

The important thing to remember is that while you may not be happy in your circumstances now, things eventually change. Sometimes they change for the better and sometimes things seem to get worse. Your attitude, at all times, is what carries you through. The way you think about your circumstances, your life and your parents makes a difference.

http://www.infomania.co.za
http://www.karinsteyn.co.za

By Celeste C Simmons

Basic Child Psychology teaches us that children need interaction with others to develop social skills, speech and listening skills. Conversing and boding through play with their peers, teachers and parents all contributes to a deeper understanding of the world and creates thought systems and processes that will help them later in life.

So what about outdoor play? How does that help a developing child? Since social development is so important, maybe we don't need to spend too much time on outdoor play, and switch our focus to indoor activities that promote social skills.

Here is what outdoor playing gives the developing child:

Physical development

For a three year old, motor skills are something they aren't good at yet, but it is something they will need if they ever want to play sports or be good at P.E. class. At age three, taking a child to a play ground or getting a swing set in your back yard is something they will greatly benefit from. Taking the time to let them play and climb will benefit their strength and coordination, and you will see it improving from week to week.

You'll get to experience the "Hey, look what I can do! " excitement, and it's fun to watch them progress at physical play. Motor skills development increases coordination, and at age 6 or 7 this increase in coordination will be shown in their confidence level. The statement of "Look what I can do" changes by them saying "I can do that too!" with the confident child.

Strength building isn't just for boys. Girls need it too! Parents should give their daughter an advantage with the life-view that she can do anything she sets her mind to. Letting her play outside and increase her physical agility and coordination helps that confidence.

Team Play and Group Play

A second lesson from the playground is that it teaches kids to get along with each other. At a public playground or school play area, kids must take turns, play together, get along and be friendly to each other. The playground is where all the social skills you've taught them come out and reveal themselves. If a child is selfish or won't share, you'll see it on the playground. If they are bullying other children, you will see that too. Children can also be perfect angels, and play with everyone in harmony, and that makes a parent proud!

Be sure to take the time to go to the playground on the weekends, or get a backyard play set for your children so that they can enjoy it every day! The lessons they learn will be used for a lifetime.

Celeste Simmons is a full time copywriter and published author. Her lates book is for ages 8-13 "The Adventures of Booger Malone" and is out at all E-book stores.

By Sheri Oz

Normal Childhood Sexuality

It is recognized that sexuality is a normal part of human life from birth until old age. The meaning of sexuality changes over the life cycle, however, and it is important to understand these differences.

Babies and toddlers, for example, are very interested in their bodies and in sensations derived from touch. Even though they may laugh and enjoy the touch to their genitals that occurs naturally when bathing them or changing their diapers, this does not mean that young children want sex as adults use that word. Similarly, the fact that an infant boy may get an erection does not mean that he experiences the erection sexually as does a grown man.

When young children undress together and look at each others genitals, this is usually not a sexual activity in adult terms. It is childhood curiosity.

Adults need to recognize that children are curious about their bodies just as they are curious about just about everything else. And it is helpful if parents think carefully about the kind of sexuality education they want to provide their children and learn enough about it to be able to talk openly and confidently about this subject that embarrasses just about every person in the world.

Normal Childhood Sexual Play

Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between normal sexual play and pathological sexual play. But if we use the proper words to describe the activity, then it may be easier for us to tell the difference.

As described above for infants, a child's curiosity about the human body is not sexual in the sense that adult interest in the human body can be.

Abusive or pathological behaviour is not sexual for either adults or children. Rape is violence committed using the sex organs - it is not sexual behaviour. Similarly, sexual abuse of minors is violence using the sex organs or sexual response as weapons; it is not sexual behaviour. This is true even where no pain or physical aggression is applied.

Keeping this in mind should make it easier for us to see the differences between childhood behaviour focused on curiousity and exploration in contrast with childhood behaviour that is violent and has control as its main feature.

- The curious child is not obsessive about the behaviour and can stop more easily when asked to than when the behaviour is pathological.
- The curious child explores many aspects of life and is not focused mainly on sexual themes.
- The curious child asks questions when given the opportunity and does not hide his/her interest with excessive shame or secretive behaviours.

Therefore, there may be a problem if children:
- exhibit sexual behaviour or sexual knowledge that is inappropriate for their age
- compulsively engage in a behaviour even after having been told it is inappropriate (for example, masturbating in public, french kissing others)
- lie about their behaviour or their interests
- force others to do things against their will

Where to Turn for Help

If you want to know if the behaviour you see constitutes a symptom of problems that require professional help, you can refer to an international directory of phone numbers of organizations providing consultation in issues concerning child welfare.

Sheri Oz is an Israeli expert in the field of Childhood Sexual Abuse. In addition to lecturing at international conferences, she has published numerous clinical articles and position papers and one book. For over 25 years she served as therapist for sex abuse victims and clinical supervisor for other therapists wanting to learn from her. Today, she is concentrating on teaching and writing.
Sheri Oz published a guide for therapists and survivors, written together with a former client, a book entitled Overcoming Childhood Sexual Trauma. See a collection of all of Sheri's articles.

By Brenda L Hopkins

Prom is one of the most exciting nights in a high school senior's life before graduation. The fancy invitations, dresses, and tuxedos all come together to play a role in this big night. The decoration have been made the food has been prepared and the DJ is going to rock and it's all to make this one night the best it can be. So the favors need to reflect the excitement that has been building for weeks leading up to this big night.

As a school event, the favors need to be not only inexpensive but in good taste. Most schools have only a small amount allocated for these items. This being said they still need to be exciting and unique, something that the teenagers will want to take home to commemorate this event. Many schools rely on the old standby of a champagne glass with the date on it. I say think outside the box be bold.

Why not a key chain with the class of 2012 engraved on it or the date of the prom? Even something engraved on it to remind them to be safe when they drive such as "If you must drink and drive, drink Pepsi." Or "Drinking and driving: there are stupider things, but it's a very short list" both are great ideas to remind them every time they get in the car to be safe. This will be not only a memento of a great night but a practical item that they can use for many years to come.

Another unique favor idea is an engraved photo album this to can be personalized to include the date and the theme of the prom such as "Class of 2012 A Night to Remember". What a great way for them to take pictures of their classmate to college with them.

Perhaps something a little more on the edible side is what you have been craving. Then why not an engraved shot glass or coffee mug filled with candy or even tastier how about a block of fudge. Can you just see the eyes of the students light up when they see a sweet block of fudge? Yum my mouth is watering already. These can be easily personalized with the date and school colors to match. And make a tasty favor that won't soon be forgotten.

Thinking outside the box is a great way to come up with some really unique favors that will stand out for years to come. Perhaps your school mascot is a dog then maybe a neat way to show some school pride and create a great favor at the same time is a dog tag with the class year on it. This same idea will work if you're a lion, a tiger, or even a bear. A simple paw print is all you need.

So forget the champagne glasses of yester year collecting dust on shelves all over the USA and think outside the box for a great favor the teenagers really want to take home.

By Billy Oatey

Perhaps one of the most popular places for metal detecting is at the beach. This is the first location that comes to mind for many hobbyists and many people use it as their main hunting location. The beach is actually a good location when treasure hunting with children because: holes are usually very easy to fill, the ground is relatively free of obstructions, and if the kids get tired of searching for coins they can always play in the water. Add that beaches often hide a large number of lost items, many of these may look like junk to adults but are marvelous treasure to children, and it is obvious that beaches are a great place for kids with metal detectors.

Beaches, and especially larger beaches, will often have a number of people with metal detectors working on them every day. This does not mean that there are no treasures left to find. One of the great things about metal detecting as a hobby is that no one ever seems to find every last bit of lost or buried material. A simple difference in the brand, model, settings, or even the speed that the search coil is swung can cause one hobbyist to walk right past something quite valuable while another will literally feel like they have stumbled over it. It is very common to hear treasure hunters say that they followed behind someone using a very expensive metal detector and still found treasures. The potential for a find is always there and just like the kids who catch large fish on their toy rods, kids can easily find valuables with their detectors.

If beach hunting with your kids is your goal, it is wise to look for a detector that has a waterproof search coil because it gives you the ability to search right to the water's edge, or even into very shallow water. Most modern metal detectors come with waterproof coils, but it is better to carefully read the manufacturer's description rather than be surprised. Of course, a waterproof search coil does not mean the entire metal detector is waterproof. Truly waterproof metal detectors can be used fully submerged and are often purchased by scuba divers when searching wreck sites. These machines typically cost considerably more because it is expensive to produce the waterproof cases and because there is a much lower demand for this type of detector. A basic waterproof search coil, however, will suffice for most individuals who simply want to hunt along the water's edge or in a few inches to a foot or so of water. Like any other electronic device a metal detector's electrically powered components may be damaged if they get wet. So whenever working near water, it is best to take extra precautions to keep the electronics dry.

There are two types of beaches that most people think of: those on the ocean and those on lakes. Ocean beaches have high and low tides and folks who are unfamiliar with searching on a seashore beach will need to spend a little time learning when the tides are high and low in the area they intend to search. A low tide can expose much more area where items may have been lost. Beaches on lakes do not offer this high-low water line or are so minimally affected that it isn't noticeable, and so searching these freshwater shores is much more straightforward since the water level will vary little from day to night but may fluctuate widely with the season.

Another consideration is that droughts in many cases can cause water levels to drop in inland lakes. This provides a much larger area that can be worked with metal detectors. Many times this exposes opportunities for treasure hunting when no opportunities existed before. All lakes have something on the bottom to share, but man-made lakes can be especially interesting since these were often created at the expense of farmsteads, homes, and sometimes entire towns. It is not uncommon to read about some of these man-made (and occasionally natural,) lakes that have dried up due to drought and exposed old buildings and even entire small towns and villages. These types of opportunities can be a lot of fun for kids, but they need to be carefully supervised in such situations to prevent injuries.

Safety is always a concern and children need to be taught caution when digging since occasionally there may be broken glass or sharp pieces of metal in the area. This is a standard beach precaution, but it is a bit more important when the kids are actively seeking buried objects and have no way of knowing what those objects are before digging. Treasure hunting is safe when practiced properly, and being careful when digging is a basic precaution when hunting on a beach, park, or abandoned homestead.

When working beaches and waterfront areas, it is important to pay attention to where people move from and to. Is there a path that people generally take from the beach to restrooms, a concession stand, or the parking lot? These types of paths often provide excellent places for treasure hunting since these are the places where people are, and it is people who lose the very small treasures that we often seek to follow. Also consider hunting in the parking lots themselves, and at smaller rural boat launches, consider working down the sides of the road near the access point. Occasionally, there may be so many people wanting to use the site that some may be forced to park their vehicles on the edges of the road and walk up to the access.

Remember, treasure is found where people regularly are and where they have been. Sometimes that latter category is hard to figure out, but you can bet that wherever there is water and an easy way to it people will have been there.

A kids metal detector is a great beach toy as long as you remember to keep it dry and use it safely. Beaches offer excellent opportunities for treasure hunting and even if it appears that the beach has many people with metal detectors working on it, there will still be opportunities for kids and adults to find coins, jewelry, and other small items.

Billy Oatey invites you to visit his blog kids metal detectors for even more tips for young treasure hunters. http://discovermetaldetecting.com