family tips and article

Every child loves a bedtime story. Good stories inspire the imagination and create a sense of drama and suspense. Stories are as old as the bible and as new as the latest published book.

There are many different type of bedtime stories, but the best ones are stories that moms and dads can read to their children a story that grandparents can share with their grandchildren. Every good story invites the reader to ask the question, “What’s coming next?” So, too, a good bedtime story intrigues readers, helps them sleep well, and gets them excited to greet a new day when they wake up.

Today, many people live in fear. Boys and girls are caught up in this negative way of thinking because the stories they hear are filled with violence and terrorism that destroy human relationships. These stories feed upon misunderstanding, intolerance, and hatred–lumbering along like dinosaurs that trample millions in the wake of their steps to make a world of fear, anxiety, and darkness. It is time for the light of a new day—a day of understanding, peace, and love in our world. It is time to respect the dignity of every person whose unique differences make creation what God intended it to be. May we wake up to a new day when we celebrate the riches of our diversity.

A brand new book, The Rainbow Chronicles: A Bedtime Story for a New Day offers a positive alternative. Dads and sons, moms and daughters can read this book and make the story grow into something beautiful. Our world needs old and young people to share their beauty and join with the grandeur of all people. Our world needs the positive examples of adults to be role models who inspire young people to live joy-filled, positive lives. Our world needs the faith, prayers, and effort of young people to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, like petals of the dark-purple tulips, so that future generations will wake up to a better day.

Each of us is called to be a dwelling place for the Rainbow’s End. Each of us is invited to welcome the Throne of the Almighty into our hearts. No matter what belief system, physical appearance, gender, age, family background, race, or ethnic heritage, whether married or single, I encourage you to make a difference for good in the way you and your family touch the lives of others through loving actions.

So, what is coming next? More dinosaurs or more flowers? A desert or a garden? In many ways, it’s up to you! Make sure to buy, read and act on this book. May you bring the Rainbow’s End home to yourself, your family, neighborhood, and community, your place of worship, and yes, to the ends of our earth. May you strive to help others write The Rainbow Chronicles in their lives. May the breath of the Almighty, the Holy Spirit, always whisper love in and through you.

The No Child Left Behind Act is a landmark education reform law that is already improving academic performance across the land. One of its chief aims is to close the troubling achievement gap that separates many disadvantaged, disabled and minority students from their peers.

To do this, it measures student performance and focuses extra resources and attention on those most in danger of falling behind. But what about the schools themselves?

Under No Child Left Behind, schools that receive federal funds to help teach and prepare educationally disadvantaged children must make what is called “Adequate Yearly Progress” in reading, language arts and mathematics. These clearly defined benchmark goals, which will be raised over time, have been put in place by each of the 50 states based upon what is appropriate for their local school districts.

If a school does not reach its annual goals, it is given extra assistance and another chance. If it again does not succeed the following year, the school is deemed “in need of improvement.” Extra resources are provided to the school, and new options and choices are provided to its students and parents.

As states release their lists of schools that underperformed over the last school year, parents should be alert to their school’s status. They may be eligible for free tutoring or after-school classes for their children, or entitled to choose another public school that better meets their needs.

Parents of children in schools deemed “in need of improvement” should contact their local school officials to find out if their children are eligible for these and other services.

If a school continues to underperform for five or more years in a row, school officials must develop and implement a two-year plan to turn around the school. The local school district will ensure that the school receives needed technical assistance as it develops and implements its improvement plan.

Parents who get involved – by enforcing attendance, supervising homework and setting academic goals – are less likely to see their children left behind in school. Ways that parents can help their child’s school succeed include:

* Attending parent-teacher meetings to address academic or discipline problems.

* Participating in school board meetings.

* Volunteering to serve during school hours or in extracurricular activities.

* Encouraging other parents to become involved.

* Tapping into community or private-sector resources.

* Learning about No Child Left Behind and how it can benefit their child.

Why would anyone buy backpacks for young children? Your toddler will feel important if she has her own backpack to take with her to Grandma’s house for an overnight visit. My two-year old twin nephews who were being potty trained, wanted “back backs” to carry their own lunches for a trip to the zoo.

I bought them Bob the Builder and Elmo When I took them for an overnight visit, they insisted on bringing their packs with big boy “drawers”. For kids two to five years old a backpack with their favorite cartoon, storybook, or movie character, makes a great birthday present. Fill them with a toy, storybook and a tee shirt with images of the character, and maybe add a bit of candy and a fast food gift certificate.

The child will love it. Put some books, and a few quiet toys in your daughter’s Dora The Explorer backpack to keep her occupied while waiting in the doctor’s office. Going on a long car trip? Let the kids choose some handheld games, books, pencil, paper, coloring book and crayons to amuse them selves in the car.

Backpacks for young children can help to ease the apprehension of going to nursery school, if they can feel like big kids because they save their very own school bag, like their big brothers and sister. You can use these kiddie backpacks to start teaching the kids how to properly wear and lift a backpack so that when they go to elementary school, they will already have good habits.

There are some really cute backpacks available for the little ones. You can get Winnie the Pooh, Barbie, Yu-Gi-Oh, Power Puff Girls, Sponge Bob, Finding Nemo , Blues Clues, and Hello Kitty to name just a few of the Character backpacks we have found. You can also get backpacks that look like lions, ladybugs, giraffes, cows, frogs, turtles, puppies, kittens, elephants and horses, the list goes on and on.

Maybe your son can bring his “lovey” to school in his backpack, but check with the nursery school first. Some don’t want book bags and some don’t allow “loveys”. It is usually 1st grade before the kids need book bags. Before buying a backpack check with the school., some schools require see through bags, which make it easier to spot contraband like weapons or drugs.

Mesh bags are more durable than the vinyl see- through backpacks, and not that much more expensive. Now is the time to teach your kids backpack safety. Do not permit them to take items like radios, CD players and hand-held games to school. Not only may they be confiscated by the school but they add unnecessary weight to the load your child has to carry every day.

Teach them the proper way to lift and carry a backpack. At this age your child probably doesn’t require a serious backpack with the extra padding and waist and chest straps. That wont be  needed until maybe third grade. Young children pre-school to !st grade probably don’t need a backpack at all, but if they want one cute animal or character bags will serve them just fine. Consider backpacks for young children, as a learning experience for both of you.

For most of us, our first father is God. A large majority of the world considers God as their father; or rather call God as their father. God is father to all in such believing families. What about biological fathers? How does one become a good father? What are the yardsticks by which we measure the goodness of a father?

This is a subject for discussion and application of thought. Who is the final judge about the goodness of the father? The mother? The children? The society? What qualities should a man possess to be called a good father? These questions generate a bigger debate.

Can a mother judge her husband about his goodness as a father? That judgment can depend on so many probabilities. What are her yardsticks? How was her father? What are her beliefs? Do these beliefs match those of her husband? How much does she love her husband and her children? If it comes to taking sides, whose side will she take? Will it be a well thought-out decision or one colored by many other factors?

Can the father judge his own goodness? What may be correct according to him, may be wrong according to her children? The man carries his psychological baggage and many times may be prejudging and expecting responses. Generation gap plays a bigger role. As the world progresses, priorities, tastes, values, everything undergoes change. Therefore a man himself cannot pronounce himself as a good father. Children will contest that, if he does not accept their beliefs. Which child will call his father a good father, if the father has set ideas about partying, relationships, studies, etc.

Can the children judge their father? That is difficult to believe. The children surely wish for a father who not only agrees with their ideas, but supports them in all possible ways in enjoying life. What if a child is such that he believes that enjoying life is more important than studying for examinations?

If we think more about this subject, it will result into more confusion. What is to be thought about fatherhood and how does one become a good father? The best way out might be to accept the generation gap, listen to children before giving orders, have a fair debate on all important issues, and tell children exactly about values that will decide the final action. After doing all this, one should simply do one’s duty and leave the rest to prayers. And before attempting to become a good father, one should first become a good man. A drug addict can never become a good father, nor a habitual liar.

I recently celebrated my fifth Mother’s Day. My family spent the day together doing simple fun things. I was perfectly content with my day and the gift my son made for me himself but later that evening as I watched the news (actual several news shows at once as my husband controlled the remote) I listened to several interviews with mothers in various walks of life and I started to wonder what our world would be like if mothers, all mothers, were given more power to control the world. I was no longer content. I know I have a wishlist and I despair of seeing my wishes come true.

Peace has to top any mother’s wishlist. My son is only 5 but I have already suffered through sending beloved nephews off to war and war zones. I cannot imagine sending my child to war. No mother wants to. I imagine if mothers made world policy then we would see much less war. I don’t believe there are many people who desire war but if the women who actually gave life also had the final say in when it would be spent I think there would be a lot less war.

Plenty for all has to quickly follow the wish for peace as it the unequal division of the world’s wealth that so often causes problems in the world. When there is little hope to achieve or a constant struggle to maintain the basic necessities of life then people will be driven to extremes. Our world has a tremendous bounty of food and water and other resources. Modern technology has created tremendous advances in health care. Yet there are mothers who cannot provide food, shelter, clothing, care, or protection for their children.

Understanding would likely resolve the conflicts with the first two wishes. Mothers of all races and creeds share far more in terms of priority and experience than they differ in ideology and culture. No matter where, when or what we worship our prayers contain similar wishes, hopes, and fears for our children and that is an essentially human bond that could serve as a foundation for others. How much conflict and war in our world has simply been caused by not understanding? How much peace would we achieve by finding ways to bridge over those misunderstandings with common wishes? I think with better understanding would also come more tolerance for those differences that now separate us.

I will stop with these three wishes as three is a magical number. Perhaps if enough mothers share my wishes then they will indeed come true. I can only hope that my future Mothers Days will see more peace, plenty and understanding and less war, want, and intolerance.

If you don’t think you have enough family time, remember- creating time is a choice. I encourage you to choose wisely by following these six tips:

1. Discover the power of 15 minutes. You can find at least 15 minutes in your day to spend with your family. It might be cuddle time with your children, or time to read to them or speak with them, or take a walk with your partner, or
cook a meal together. Those 15 minutes with you being fully present with your family really count.

2. Have a weekly family night. Each week schedule a family night—one hour or longer. Start with less time and build up. One family member selects what the family will do. You each take turns. This week you may pick dinner out. Next week your son may choose a family video or your daughter a special family game, or a TV show, or walk, or shop—it really doesn’t matter as long as you all do it together and you don’t break the date. This is quality time to be together and
enjoy each other and an event.

3. Plan a monthly 24-hour recovery day. Plan one day a month where you do no work. You don’t think about work, talk about work, or do work— no cell phone, pager, email, or paperwork—nothing work related. Simply spend the day with your family. You don’t have to do anything special, just be together and experience being a family. Recovery days are appointments you never break. You’ll be replenished and renewed.

4. Share positive aspects. At dinner time, or any together time, share things you appreciate about each family member. Tell the others what you appreciate. Be focused on what is working and what is good about each person. Really feel how much you appreciate them and how joyful you are for who they are. This is a great way to feel connected, appreciated, and to amp up your energy and love.

5. Lunch and listen. Make a lunch date with your partner or your kids or both and grab a bite together. Catch up, and really tune in deeply and listen with your heart to what they have to say. Focus on them and on hearing them and learning more about them. You’ll feel closer.

6. Make family a priority. If it were your last day on earth, what would you do? Be with your loved ones. Plan to be with your family and plan your time. Ask yourself “What am I missing?” Add that to your life. Make your family a first priority, and think about what you can gain from your time.

Choosy mothers choose Jif. But what do choosy kids choose? “Automobiles and electronics,” says Mark Snyder, senior vice president of brand management for Holiday Inn. “Children very much get to participate in making those purchasing decisions.” Let’s face it. Anyone who has ever stood in a checkout line in the supermarket knows that kids have always had a say in purchasing toys, food and other smallish items. What’s new is how far that influence now stretches—and how advertisers are reacting.

Let’s look at one tool the grocery industry uses to influence kids and ultimately to get parents to buy foodstuff at their location. This tool is beginning to be used by smart marketers in other industries as we’ll detail. The tool – a kiddie ride.

Every grocer wants to create a carnival type atmosphere to attract kids and their grocery-buying parents. Kiddie rides provide a great way to attract kids and their money-spending parents. Most every parent can tell you which grocery stores have kiddie rides because their kids alert them to the fact, and of course, which grocery store is the kid going to want to shop at when tagging along with Mom or Dad. Of course, the one with the kiddie ride.

Let’s look at some other industries that are taking a page from the grocers of America and utilizing kiddie rides in their marketing efforts.

Pulte Homes knows that part of selling houses is selling the kids. “We always make sure we are marketing to the children,” says Deborah Blake, the company′s vice president of marketing for Arizona and Nevada. “We want the kids to say, ‘I have to live here,’ as the parents are driving by the model homes.” A fun and novel way to make a model home stand out to children is to have a kiddie ride in the living room. The stone fireplace may, or may not, stand out in the children’s minds. A kiddie ride sure will, though.

A very different example of the kiddie ride as a marketing tool is in the lobby of a pediatric doctor. Whether the doctor is checking a child’s teeth or their warts, it is really hard for a doctor to differentiate himself from another doctor in the mind of his layman clients. One way to differentiate a practice is to create a fun carnival environment in the lobby with a kiddie ride. The kids, and parents for that matter, probably won’t remember the dull office visit, but they most certainly will remember and want to return to the fun lobby. This is to say nothing of a doctor offering a “magic” token to operate the ride as good behavior during an examination. Think of the time a doctor could save over the course of the year if just one minute was shaved off each exam because of good behavior.

“What a great motivational tool our kiddie ride has been in our doctors office,” said Linda Day of Pediatric and Teenage Dentistry in West Virginia. “The kids look forward to their office visits because they know an exciting ride is waiting for them at the end.”

Another great example of the kiddie ride as a marketing tool is at a car dealership. When a family with children walks onto the lot, instead of immediately taking them to the vehicles the salesperson takes the family to the kiddie ride. Out of his or her own pocket he pulls out a quarter to treat the young kids to a “free” ride. This harkens back to psychologist Robert Cialdini’s seminal book “Influence”, and his examination of the “click” and “whirr” of reciprocation. The salesperson has given the kids a free ride, now the parents will reciprocate giving the saleperson their time and attention, and quite possibly, the opportunity to match any offer of a competing dealership. This is to say nothing of the fact that the dealership with the kiddie ride will stand out in the children’s minds and probably get talked about at the supper table.

While they were created originally as vending machines, the real earning power today of a kiddie ride isn’t in how many quarters are in the coin box each week, but in how effectively marketers can use this classic amusement ride to build goodwill with kids and their money-spending parents.

As soon as possible, you should start a bedtime routine with your baby. You can start when the baby is six to eight weeks old, and your baby will surely reap benefits from the early routine setup. Establishing a stipulated system will make your baby appreciable of the consistent pattern. The baby will be comfortable knowing beforehand what is it follow next. This would facilitate better and faster sleep for your baby. Even without your presence in the house, make an attempt to maintain the routine of the baby. And when you try to settle down your baby in a new place, the routine will ease the baby.

Some tips that you can involve in organizing the routine of the baby are giving your baby a bath, helping him to get into pajamas, telling stories, or playing a game. Select activities that soothe the mind rather than those that excite the mind, because they would help your baby to fall asleep faster.

Keeping track of a baby by following a bedtime routine is beneficial to both the parents and the baby. At the fag end of the day, the routine gives an opportunity for the child and the parent to create a special bond between them. Following are a few ideas worth a try:

At times you should allow the baby to let his stored energy to escape before you settle him down. Two good ways to do so are bouncing in a bouncer or on a knee or having a ride on a horse. When the excitement is done with, change into an activity that is quieting and relaxing. Follow this only when your little one goes to sleep effortlessly during bedtime, or it might be too much excitement for him.

Bath is a bedtime routine that is calming. A warm bath cleans the baby and makes him relax. You can try an aromatherapy bath by putting some scented lavender oil into the warm water. But then again if you see that your baby cannot adjust with a bath at night and feels uncomfortable and cannot go to sleep, then it would be prudent to strike it out from the list of bedtime routines.

Indulging in some quiet playing games can bring some fun moments to the bedtime ritual, like a floor game, stacking blocks, or peek-a-boo.

One of the most famous bedtime routine that almost all parents do is reading stories to the baby at night. This ritual has many benefits – it introduces your baby to the new world where he would grow up to be through a huge vocabulary and is a step towards acquiring skills of language.

Singing is another idea. Sing a popular song and let the process grow into a tradition in your family. By and by your baby will understand that when the song ends its time for him to get some shut-eye.

On the way to the bed, bid good night to inanimate objects in the house like favorite toys and other items. You can also include pets and other family members – this way your baby will get acquainted with the various things in the house and would begin to understand and identify things by their names. Leave out no stuffed toy because they would be his childhood playmates for sometime.

A host of other activities could be included in your bedtime routine. Indulge yourself and the baby with the fun methods and let them be a great time for the two of you.

If your theme is based on a T.V. show or movie, be sure to read through the story for ideas. Blue loves to find clues. The traditional Scavenger Hunt becomes Blue’s Treasure Hunt. You might also want to play theme music at the party and read a short version of the original story. All are great birthday party games that will make the day memorable. These suggestions are from kids domain. Most of these games are good for almost any party with kids – and they’re not just for birthdays!

1. Pin the _Something_ on _Something_

Traditionally pin the tail on the donkey, this game can be changed to fit any theme. In this game, blindfolded guests try to stick a paper ‘tail’ onto a poster of a donkey. You can take a piece of poster board and draw anything with something missing – a nose on a clown or animal, the TY heart on a beanie baby, a spaceship in an outer space scene, and one year we gave Yoda (Star Wars) his staff. Just be sure to include an outline of where the object needs to land.

2. Bean Bag Toss

You can make an easy Bean Bag Toss using a double layer of poster board glued together and a large box. Use the large box as a base, and attach the poster board to one side of it. Before attaching the poster board, paint a design on it, allowing for one or more holes. Kids always have a lot of fun throwing bean bags. They’re easy to make from fabric scraps if you sew. This
should be included in your file of inexpensive and creative birthday party games.

3. Pinata

This is a game that requires room and good supervision. The children are blindfolded (or not, if they are young and don’t want to be) and they take a stick and try to break a hanging container that has candies and other small goodies in it. (Colorful Band-Aids are popular among preschoolers). To make one, you can do something as simple as decorating a paper grocery bag with paints or crepe paper and then gluing and taping the top shut once the treats are inside. Run a string along the top edge before shutting the bag. You can also make a fancier one using a balloon and paper mache. The fun thing is that these can be decorated to match any theme. This is just one of the many birthday party games that can be adapted to the ages of the attendees.

4. Make a Bracelet/Necklace

This activity can be an activity the children can go to between other activities, or the main focus. A big bag of pony beads, some elastic cord, scissors and an adult to help when needed, and they can make their own jewelry. Be sure to supervise this one, so that necklaces and bracelets are not made too tight.

5. Go on a Treasure Hunt

These are some treasure hunt ideas: You can scatter coins in the lawn and let the kids hunt for them, much like an Easter egg hunt. You can hide each child’s goodie bag and then give that child a piece of paper with a hint for finding it – it could be a simple map drawing for a young child, a word or two, or a riddle for older children. You can also let the children do a paper clue based hunt as a group – with the goodie bag for the youngest being the first found, along with the clue to the next goodie bag, and so on.

6. Guess How Many

This is an old favorite on the birthday party games list. Fill a jar with candy. Have children write their name on a small piece of paper and their guess as to how many candies are in the jar. The child who guesses the right number, or comes closest, gets a sucker. The candy in the jar is then divided among the children. A variation would be that the winner takes the jar of candy home to share with their family.

7. Make Place Cards or Placemats

This activity could be as complex or simple as you want – children can decorate 3ҵ cards or construction paper with a variety of stickers, cut outs (use an old beanie baby magazine for a source of a hundred or more beanie pictures, a pokemon magazine for pokemon), crayons, and colored pencils. If you have enough help to cover the placemats after they’re done with clear contact paper, they will last a long time.

8. Who Am I?

When the children come through the door tape a farm animal or item/object to their backs. Through the course of the party they may ask each other yes and no questions about what they are. Explain that the first question they may want to ask is “Am I an animal or an object?” At the end of the party each child takes a turn saying what they think they are. Suggestions: cow, pig, sheep…pitchfork, saddle, horseshoe, hay, milk, barn, tractor, etc. This is another one of very popular birthday party games.

9. Button, Button, Who’s got the Button

A child is chosen to be “it” and hides her eyes as a button is given to a child to hide in his lap or behind his back. “It” then has three chances to guess which child has the item. (All children hide their hands in their laps/behind their backs like they have it.) For animal themes, select an item that goes with the animal. If you’re doing a character theme like Cinderella it would be “Slipper, Slipper, Who’s got the Slipper”.

A child’s rocking horse is a toy for your child in the shape of a horse mounted on rockers. The rockers are essentially springs, which enable a child to rock and ride. The rocking movement entices many a child. It is also popular as a hobbyhorse. These riding toys give your child the illusion of riding a real horse and therefore are a favorite with most children.

Although only a small horse, a child’s rocking horse is strong enough for your child to sit and ride. It is in the shape of a typical horse with a head, legs, back, and tail. However, the hooves are along the bottom with curved bow type joints. These joints are similar to those commonly found in a rocking chair. These provide a forward and backward movement and allow your child to rock on the horse.

The child’s rocking horse also has proper footrests or straps which serve as stirrups. Your child can place its feet firmly into these stirrups. There are normally two handles at the sides of the horse, coming from the head portion. Your child can hold on to these handles for a firm grip while rocking on the toy.

The earliest known child’s rocking horse dates back to the middle Ages. Although initially such horses were for knights to practice jostling, later, Germany made such wooden horses as children’s toys in late 17th century or early 18th century. Nevertheless, only the rich could afford such toys for their children.

However, the scene changed later and the child’s rocking horse was present in almost every house all over the world. It is now so common that these toys are often in the attic even after the children outgrow such toys. The newer ones are also available in plastic rather than wooden. Despite the popularity of other toys like Barbie dolls, computer games, and robots, children find the simple rocking horse as enticing as ever.

Some of the child’s rocking horse also has real horsehair manes. Most of them are padded sufficiently to make them comfortable for your child to sit and rock. Some have reins and cloth saddles too. Colors of today’s rocking horses are now far from being the traditional grey or brown. You can choose from an array of bright and vibrant colors. Other accessories are also available in leather, fabric, and similar others.

Innovative models of the child’s rocking horse include the rocking horse toilet. This toy serves the dual-purpose of being a child’s toy and helps you teach basic toilet etiquette to your child. Prices for such toys range from $200 to $3,500 depending on your choice of the toy. However, always keep a watchful eye on children younger than four years while riding this horse.