Ask a child what their favorite part of a story they have ever heard is and they aren't going to tell you that it was the pretty trees outside of grandma's house or the way the birds chirped in the background, "are they?". "No, not at all!" Their most favorite part of all is going to be the character that they identified with the most. Even children as young as two have a favorite character from a story they have read or heard. This is...more
Are you a parent who is interested in providing safe, stimulating play for your baby? Perhaps you should have a look at the FisherPrice Jumperoo line of baby jumpers.You've almost certainly heard the name Fisher-Price, but did you know that this toymaker has been manufacturing toys and other baby items since 1930? The company has always emphasized safety, ingenuity, intrinsic play value, strong construction, action, and good value for the...more
What does it take to write a children's book? You have made the decision and have the ideas but what do you do now? Wouldn't it be nice to have inside knowledge about the world of children's writing It would make things a lot easier for you if you can understand what is involved and what it takes to compile a successful story for children.There is specific criteria involved with children's writing, as with any specialized industry, that you should know before you get started. You wouldn't let a first time driver drive without giving him lessons first now would you. So it is right to say it would benefit you in the long run, to be equip with the skills necessary to be successful at writing stories for children.Here are the 8 ways you can kick-start your children's writing career.1. It takes action to make your book happen. Set yourself goals and work towards them. Taking action everyday will help you to achieve your goals.2. Have the right attitude. Positive thoughts like "I will be a great writer" and "I will be published by the end of the year" are the right thoughts to be having at the beginning of your writing career.3. Do your research. Sometimes...more
Gordon Brown and the Labor government continue to push childcare vouchers to make sure that working families continue to have the resources made available to them to make their lives better. Brown is facing criticism over the idea of taxing these vouchers in order to pay for nurseries in the country. This is a real catch 22 situation for Brown...more
It may be cold and wintry but don't let that stop you having fun outside with the kids. Fresh air and exercise is good for everyone but the right equipment can make all the difference to getting out and about in winter with your children.There's no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing and if the children are warm and dry then...more
Author: John HennebergerMusic is very much a part of our lives. It touches us in many ways and evokes various emotional, cognitive, and physical responses. Music can convey many themes and ideas. Music communicates with us in terms of our own thoughts and feelings. The early Greeks believed that certain modes (scales) or tonalities elicited specific emotions.Let’s visit two of the most commonly heard scales in Western music (the major and minor tonal systems) and the responses that these scales may elicit from the listener. To readily hear a major scale, play from C to the next C using only the white keys of a piano. To hear a minor scale, play from A to A using only the white keys.For the child, the difference between major and minor is a difference of mood. Major scales tend to increase feelings of happiness and joy. Minor scales are more somber and tend to dampen one’s spirits. Children often describe songs in major as sounding bright or cheerful. They describe minor as sad or spooky. While teaching music to young children, I discovered that they can sing songs in a major tonality more easily than songs in a minor tonality. It may be due to the interval relationships within...more
Most people are aware of the dangers of smoking, yet despite awareness of the harmful effects of smoking on their personal health, many smokers cannot seem to quit. They rationalize their habit by thinking that they are only affecting themselves if...more
Dealing with toddlers may not be as easy as it seems as tantrums in toddlers are among the challenges of most parents, as it is in this stage that your little one may be testing your patience. Your toddlers may have their own rules, they won't...more
Toddlers can be fun as they start to be curious about the many things surrounding them. When your child ages one to three years old, they tend to become interested in many things and they start to imitate you. Thus, it is important at this stage to...more
One of the challenging tasks in parenting is to deal with the behaviors of toddlers. Toddlers often have tantrums and these can become frustrating and stressful for parents. However, you need to understand that this behavior is perfectly normal as...more
Adolescence can be an awkward and uncomfortable time. A person's body always seems to be changing. It's either too fat or too gangly, too flat or too round. There always seems to be something wrong with it. It of course doesn't...more
Recently, a parent shared with me that her daughter rarely tells her anything that she learns at school. This is not an uncommon phenomenon. It happens daily with children preschool through college. As parents, we have invested a lot (blood,...more