Entertain Your Kids With Puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles are one of the many toys you can give out to your kids. Putting pieces together is a good exercise for the brain, especially when it involves a logical way of putting it. The more difficult the puzzle is, the more challenging it can be.

More and more puzzles are being sold out in the market. The puzzles come in different forms. Even toddlers can enjoy puzzles when they come into different sizes and shapes. For adults, crossword puzzles are popular. It's easy to have this because even at the back of newspapers on their entertainment sections or in magazines, they come for free.

But what you can enjoy the most are jigsaw puzzles. As a little kid, these puzzles have been my passion. These can vary depending on the number of pieces they have. They can even come double-sided to make the puzzle even more challenging for the kids. They can either be two or three-dimensional. Nowadays, graphics have advanced. So the designs you see, when you are out looking for these toys, can be so exciting to look at. It's for everybody, may it be for adults or for kids. These are the toys that you will surely love because they can be both entertaining and educational.

Jigsaw puzzles are easy to find. So if you're out doing shopping for home supplies, you can take a quick detour to the toys department and just grab one. If you are a busy mom, looking for the perfect toys, puzzles are everywhere online and it can be easily delivered to you. Do a search over the internet about them and thousands of links will surely direct you to the best toy manufacturers all over the globe. The good thing about shopping online is that you get to see all the possible varieties a puzzle could have. It will be very easy for you to read the features and component of these toys. So you can make sure it is really safe for your kids' use.

Everywhere you go, you can count on these puzzles to entertain you. When you're busy cooking and your little ones start to seek attention, you can use this as temporary diversion. They can crimp on your living room, and give them the space to just put the jigsaw puzzles together. Give them a challenge to complete the task before they eat lunch or dinner. And it is a good time for you to complete your chores without worrying where your kids have gone. This way you can get busy and you just know where to find your little ones.

There are lots of ways to give fun to your kids. Even as simple as giving tender loving care can make their lives colorful. Simple toys can be simple gifts and you won't regret a thing if you choose to give the best things in life for your kids. Nurture them with toys and you can even love you even more, even just for a jigsaw puzzle.

By Rachel Nunez

For more tips and information about Jigsaw puzzles, check out http://www.thekidstoystore.com/jigsawpuzzles.html.

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How Can I Promote Safety to Kids Fond of Ride-On Toys?

The stage when young children begin requesting for their own set of wheels can indeed be stressful for a parent. It's not just the cost involve but the danger that goes with playing ride-on kids' toys.

As parents and guardians, the only thing we can do is to make sure to lessen the possibilities of accidents. There is only so much that we can control when it comes to children's behavior and safety.

We can help choose the right ride-on toy for them by making sure to:

1. Buy a ride-on toy according to the manufacturer's age and weight recommendations.

2. Carefully check for potential hazards on the bike, tricycle, or scooter like sharp edges or points and any small parts that can be potential choking hazards to young kids.

We should also promote proper gear when biking or scooting. Proper gear includes helmets, kneepads, and elbow pads. We should demonstrate how to properly wear a helmet - flat atop their heads and not tilted back at an angle but at least two finger widths above the eyebrows. We should also make sure that the helmet snugly fits the child's head, his line of vision is not obstructed, the chin strap fits well, and that the buckle stays fastened.

We should choose a helmet that was tested to be safe; they should come with labels stating that they met the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's mandatory safety standard. Bike helmets for children ages 1 to 5 will cover most of their heads to give them more protection.

When buying tricycles for kids, it is best to add a tall flag at the back portion so they will be clearly visible to motorists in case the child plays near cars or on streets.

We should also encourage the kids to wear shoes at all times when biking or scooting. We should also remind them to keep a lookout for bumpy roads or gaps between patio stones that could trap a tire or for sharp road obstacles like rocks that can puncture the tires of the ride-on toy.

Here are extra reminders for older children who go biking or scooting outside their homes:

1. Use your bikes or scooter during daytime only.

2. Always ride on sidewalks, paved-off roads, and smooth surfaces. Stay away from vehicles, sand, loose gravel, water, dirt, and even leaves that can cause you to lose control of the bike.

3. Do not ride your bike or scooter near a swimming pool, steps, hills, roadways, or inclines.

4. Check the traffic before crossing streets, obey traffic signs and signals, and give cars and pedestrians the right-of-way.

5. Check the brakes of the toy before using it.

6. Wear clothing in attractive colors so motorists can easily spot you on streets.

7. Ride on the right side of the street, and be very careful when turning left in areas where there are also motorists.

Kids do need adult supervision when they play with ride-on toys, but since we can't always be there to watch over them, the next best thing is to make sure they understand the danger involved in the activities and equip them with knowledge on how to take safety measures.

By Rachel Nunez

For more tips and information about outdoor toys, check out http://www.thekidstoystore.com/rideontoys.html.

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The Timeless Appeal of Dinosaurs

Please pardon the pun in the title, but it's true, dinosaurs have a "timeless" appeal. As far back as the 19th Century, kids have been literally obsessing over the great beasts of the past. Kids have always loved dinosaurs, but it may be doubly true ever since Jurassic Park came out. And with more Jurassic Park movies on the way, it looks like Dinomania isn't going to be over any time soon.

The appeal, for most kids, usually comes down to one of a couple of things.

Many kids are just in awe when they think about the fact that the world is actually millions of years old, that great lizards ruled the planet for thousands of those years. Dinosaurs are the closest thing we've ever had to dragons, and it really is cool that they really, actually used to exist.

That's probably the most common reason for kids who love dinosaurs. But let's be honest, some kids just want to ride on the back of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, ordering their pet to stomp the school to the ground.

Whichever of these describes your kid, there are plenty of dinosaur themed toys available for all ages...

Mega Bloks Plasma Dinosaurs

Mega Bloks, the company known for their Legos like brick building sets, have also released a line of dinosaur toys which are actually customizable. These are perfect for slightly older kids, allowing kids to piece together arms and legs and armour and other accessories to their liking, creating all new prehistoric creations (yes, that's an oxymoron, but you get the idea).

Bestever Stuffed Dinosaurs

For babies and toddlers, Bestever has a line of stuffed animal dinosaurs available. These plush dolls are soft to the touch, with surprisingly intricate detail. For example, the Stegosaur actually has about a dozen separate scales on his back.

ImagiNext Dinosaurs

More action-oriented toys, ImagiNext combines dinosaurs with medieval fantasy elements. Many of the dinosaurs come with miniature human (or almost-human) warriors to ride on the back of the dinosaurs and do battle... Yeah, that's kind of ridiculous, but remember when we mentioned the kids who fantasize about having a pet dinosaur to stomp on the school? Where there ya go!

Teddy and Friends Dinosaurs

These ones are perfect for the youngest children. Completely soft and plush, these stuffed animals have a more cuddly, charming design (on the off chance that Bestever's are too scary for your baby), with big happy eyes, and are soft to the touch.

Lego Stegosaurus

For the most creative kids, you have the Lego Creator Stegosaurus. This is for kids willing to piece together the entire thing from scratch. What this toy provides is more customizability than the Mega Bloks dinos. Since the Stegosaur and the other Lego dinosaurs are built from regular Lego bricks, it's not hard for kids to piece them together however they like. You can only do so much with the Mega Bloks toys, but with Legos,

Basically, if you think back to your favourite toys as a kid, not many of them are still popular today. Howdy Doody? GI Joe? He-Man? Just try talking to kids about those guys today, they won't have a clue what you're talking about. Dinosaurs, on the other hand, the awe-inspiring kings of the past, are always going to have plenty of appeal for every new generation of kids.

By Chang Lim

Yogee.com.au is a leading Australian online toy store. Visit yogee.com.au for a wide selection of Kids Toys at discounted prices. To save money on your next purchase, please visit Toys.

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Are We Failing Our Children?

Headlines such as "A-levels - Highest pass rate ever!"

- Items on the news reporting a dramatic rise in A-grades achieved.

Do you find yourself wondering why, if these are true, young people today seem to be obsessed with computer games and mobile phone technology; why they don't, in general, choose to read books; why literacy and numeracy standards have fallen to a worrying level?

If today's education system is so superior to anything that went before, why can't we see evidence of it when we look around us in society?

As a priority, we need to consider whether today's education system is in actual fact failing our children.

Let's ask first, what is 'education'? ...

Is it 'learning'? I would argue that most of our learning, throughout our lives, happens outside school. But in order for your learning to be accepted and valued in today's society, you need a recognised piece of paper to 'prove' you have studied.

Much government literature and guidelines for student teachers defines education as teaching children to think for themselves, and to enjoy learning and acquiring knowledge for its own sake. But once you get into the system, it is obvious that it is only results that count. And children are encouraged to be able to reproduce facts in order to pass examinations or assignments.

So this is not encouraging the love of learning but the love of diplomas and certificates etc to show potential employers.

I would suggest that this strategy is also an attempt to boost schools' ratings in league tables, arguably due to New Labour's strategy of performance-related funding!

The British education system has become a production line, solely concerned with the end product. Children are taught the art of doing well in assessments. Meaningful understanding becomes of secondary importance. So are we merely force-feeding our children with facts for the benefit of league tables and the achievement of government targets?

In charge of schools and colleges today are many managers with no background in education, only in business. This 'marketisation of education' has become more important than the actual process of learning.

It must be remembered just what education is really about or for. The students` interests must be put before political agendas. And true understanding and a love of learning must be put before targets and financial considerations.

If not, we will indeed fail our children.

By Shirley Heelas

Shirley Heelas is a part-time lecturer and Honours graduate in Psychology, and a mother of two. Visit her website at: http://www.freespiritscafe.com

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Teen Motivation 101 - The Secret of My Success

The secret of my success really isn't a secret at all. When I say success, I am not talking about money, status, or power. I am speaking about fulfilling a dream or accomplishing a goal. Anyone who has achieved any amount of success knows that it comes from a combination of factors. I like to think it results from applying the three C's, equally as potent and essential as the vitamin: confidence, courage, and commitment.

What does confidence have to do with being successful? Everything. Whether you intend to or not, you leave an impression everywhere you go. When you lack confidence, everyone can see it in your facial expression, your body language, and the way you carry yourself. If you do not believe that you are talented, intelligent, capable, valuable, or worthwhile, it will be hard to convince someone else that you are. However, when you have a positive self-image, people take notice right away. The way you view yourself is the way others will view you, as well.

When I began teaching high school, I was not sure what to expect. I did not go to college with the intent of becoming a teacher. Therefore, I had not taken any education courses or had any formal training in teaching. During my interview, the vice principal commented on the firmness of my handshake. I did not give him a wimpy, wet noodle handshake. I gave him a solid shake and looked him directly in the eyes. He was impressed! He told me that my handshake sent a strong message-confidence. The first day I entered my classroom, I knew I would need to show the same level of confidence. I stood in front of my students determined not to let them break me. After two weeks, I realized two fundamental truths that have helped me throughout my teaching career. First, I will also be older and wiser than the students I teach. No matter how intelligent they are, wisdom comes from experience. Second, I am the expert in my classroom. Once you see yourself as a wise, old, expert, confidence comes easily.

Courage, however, does not always come as effortlessly. Poet, Edgar A. Guest, says "[c]ourage must come from the soul within." It is often referred to as guts, nerve, or boldness. I believe confidence and courage are a package deal. In my experience, if you are confident in your ability, you are more willing to take the risk. Whenever you are pursing your dream, there is always a risk involved. There is always going to be the chance that you will fail. However, there is always the possibility that you will succeed. The only way to find out what will happen is to actually do it. Taking action is the major difference between those who live out their dream and those who talk about it. Those who live out their dream may have felt afraid, but they did not let fear stop them from moving forward. In the end, the important question you must ask yourself is: Am I more afraid of never seeing my dream become a reality than I am of trying to make it a reality?

Surprisingly, sometimes the sweetest success often comes after many failures. Of course, it feels good to get it right the first time. However, there is often an important lesson to be learned in the process of attaining success. Many people never learn the lesson because they never start the journey or they give up too early in the process. For instance, between junior high and high school, I tried out for cheerleading three times before I made it. After practicing with some girls who were on the squad, I finally learned how to do the moves correctly and made it. From that experience, I learned that asking for help can make a huge difference. I believe that the level of commitment you have will determine your level of success. If at first you don't succeed, don't stop until you do! The only goals in my life I did not accomplish are the goals I gave up on. In contrast, the most significant accomplishments in my life required me to commit a tremendous amount of time, effort, and sacrifice. With every endeavor, I have gained more confidence, become more courageous, and learned the value of persevering.

Be confident in who you are, bold in your actions, and committed to your goals. Whether you fail or succeed is a decision that you make. You have a choice. Choose to succeed!

By Asiah Wolfolk-Manning

Asiah Wolfolk-Manning, J.D.

Youth Motivational Speaker

http://www.asiahunlimited.com

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16 Red Flags That Your Teen Needs Counseling

A variety of behavioral and emotional problems afflict teenage youngsters. For example, some of them seem to have great difficulty following rules and behaving in socially acceptable ways.

They are often viewed by other children, adults or social agencies as bad apples, bipolar, ADHD or troublemakers. If your teenager exhibits some of the following behaviors, you should consider counseling for him or her:

1. Hostile or violent behavior toward people or animals,

2. The use of threatening, bullying or intimidating behavior,

3. The starting of fights,

4. Carries a dangerous weapon that could cause serious harm to others.g. a bat, brick, broken bottle, knife or gun),

5. Behaves cruelly, physically or emotionally, to either people or animals,

6. Steals,

7. Highly aggressive or demanding sexually,

8. Destroys property,

9. Sets fires, intending to cause damage,

10. Is deceitful,

11. Has broken into a building, house, or car belonging to someone else,

12. Lies to avoid responsibilities,

13. Shoplifts,

14. Often stays out at night, despite your objections,

15. Has run away from home,

16. Has been truant.

If your child has exhibited any of these behaviors, you should seek a comprehensive evaluation of him by a psychologist. He or she may also have parallel conditions such as a mood disorder, anxiety, PTSD, a substance abuse problem, ADHD, or a thought disorder, all of which should also be evaluated.

Your youngster is likely to have ongoing problems if he or she fails to receive early and comprehensive counseling. Without it, he or she will continue to be unable to adapt to the demands of adulthood.

Unfortunately, he or she will continue to be at high risk for having problems with relationships, school, effective socialization and even maintaining a job. If your kid relishes the breaking of laws and behaves dangerously, numerous factors may be contributing, including brain damage, history of child abuse, genetics, persistent academic failure and/or traumatic life experiences.

Treatment of your son or daughter can be complex and challenging. However, it can be provided in a variety of different settings depending on the severity of the behavior.

Counseling with these kids can be very challenging because they often have an uncooperative attitude and a fear and distrust of adults and other authority figures. In developing a comprehensive treatment plan, a child and adolescent psychologist will likely use information gleaned from your child, your family members, his or her teachers and other behavioral specialists in order to understand the causes of his or her problems.

Counseling and psychotherapy is usually necessary to help your child in appropriately expressing and controlling anger; special education programs may also be needed if he or she has any learning disabilities.

You will probably need expert help in carrying out any special management or educational programs that may be prescribed for use at home or in his or her school. Besides counseling, treatment may also include medication if your youngster has difficulty paying attention, managing his or her impulses or coping with high levels of depression or anxiety.

Treatment may not be brief since establishing new attitudes and behavior patterns for him or her will take time. However, early treatment offers your child a better chance for considerable improvement and hope for a more successful future.

By Dr Michael Shery

Dr Shery is in Cary, IL, near Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Huntley and Barrington. He's an expert psychologist with 30 years experience, provides day, evening and Saturday appts and accepts all local insurance plans. Call 1 847 516 0899 and make an appt or learn more about counseling at: http://www.carypsychology.com

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The Homework Routine That Works

At the beginning of the school year you set the rule: Homework gets finished as soon as you get home from school. But by October, that rule doesn't seem to be as hard and fast as it was in August.

If you don't rein in the lax homework routine, before you know it you'll be hearing those panicked cries at 7:30 a.m. that homework isn't finished. Or worse yet, you'll get the dreaded phone call from the teacher notifying you that your little angel hasn't been turning in her homework. Heaven forbid you don't find out about the missed assignments until you attend parent/teacher conferences!

No worries. The problem doesn't usually lie with formatting a good routine; rather it's with enforcing the routine. If you're fortunate enough to be home with your child after school, it is a little easier to ensure the homework routine is maintained. If you don't see your child for an hour or so after he's been home, you can still follow through.

The rules should be simple enough to leave no room for misunderstandings.

1. Grab an after school snack then start homework.
2. TV stays off until all homework is finished and reviewed for completeness.
3. No extracurricular activity until all homework has been completed.

Number three tends to be a difficult one for parents to enforce. We tend to over book our children's schedule. Number three, no extracurricular activity until all homework has been completed, means just that. It doesn't mean the rule can be relaxed if junior has tae kwon do after school or if Suzy has gymnastics. It doesn't mean its ok to take a pass on number three on days when Johnnie has T-ball practice.

Perhaps you decided that you paid good money for lessons and Suzy, Junior and Johnnie will participate. Okay, but what kind of example is that setting? How about if you take your child to the activity, but she must sit out until the homework has been finished. Then she's welcome to join the other kids on the balance beam.

Remember you still have dinner and a bedtime routine too. Children should worry about being children, not about juggling schedules. Make sure your child has a snack so that his stomach's growling won't be a distraction. After homework is finished he can enjoy what little time is left in the evening. If you stick to rules one, two and three above, you're on track for a great school year!

By Melanie Ropp

Melanie @ http://yourbarefootbooks.blogspot.com

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What Types of Camps Are Right For Kids?

Camps. Have you ever noticed how many different meanings one word can have? For example, there is the military training camp, a boot camp and even a training camp. Or perhaps the word reminds you of times where you used to play cowboys in the neighborhood and pretended to sit around a campfire. It may even remind you of some of the great times you and your family had when you went camping at some remote lake.

The purpose for setting up a camp can be for different reasons also. Some may be done strictly for pleasure, like summer camp or camping with the family. There are also some that are for training purposes, much like a military boot camp, and sometimes it is necessary to camp in certain areas to carry on research.

Have your kids expressed an interest in going to camp in the summer? There are many, many different types of summer camps for kids and usually several of them will fit your needs. Studies have indicated that children in the 6 to 10 age group will adjust much quicker to camp, as opposed to an older child.

You may also be under the impression that your child and a friend going at the same time may make it easier for them. However, usually the opposite is true. If it is their first time at camp, then they are likely to stick together and resist the idea of making new friends. Or sometimes one child will be more outgoing, making new friends while the other becomes more shy or withdrawn.

If you have a child with a specific interest or hobby, then many summer camp programs include a specialty camp. If your child enjoys tennis, then a tennis camp may be perfect. There are computer camps for the techie in your family, or perhaps an art camp for your budding Picasso.

Of course, depending on the child's age there will other options available to you. There are also programs available for children with special needs. These types of programs can really be something special for your child and can give them a great sense of accomplishment.

Of course, as with anything that involves your child, you will want to be sure that the any of the camps that you are considering have great references, and you will want to spend some time with the director, either on the phone or in person. First, you will want to make sure that the director's methods and philosophy complement your own parenting style. You will want to ask about the counselor/camper ratio, as well as what type of training the staff and the director have been through.

For the director, The American Camp Association suggests the following minimum requirements: a bachelor's degree, complete in-service training within the past three years and at least 16 weeks of camp administrative experience before assuming a director's role. In the end there is only one happy camper to worry about, and that is your own.

By Mike Selvon

Mike Selvon's portal will expand your knowledge on camps trip. Visit us and leave a comment at our camping sites blog where a free gift awaits you.

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