Dot to Dots Teach Children Counting Skills in Fun Way

Dot to dot puzzles, a classic activity many of us remember from our own childhood, is still a favorite of teachers and parents hoping to encourage kids to work on their counting and small motor skills. And, of course, the kids love them, too.

The development of fine motor skills is important for academic success, and working dot-to-dots puzzles gives children a chance to practice gripping a pencil correctly and understand how numbers work in sequence. Besides being a fun process, dot to dots offer a reward in the form a completed picture that can be colored in and displayed.

Dot to dots may be worked in pencil, with crayon or even pen. But when working dot to dots, as in life, mistakes can happen, so using a pencil with an eraser can avoid frustration, especially with the littlest kids, or junior perfectionists.

After first introducing children to dot to dots, you may want to offer a little supervision. Encourage kids to seek out the next number in the sequence. It's best to draw a straight, even line from one dot to the other, and don't forget to connect that final dot or the image won't be complete! At the same time, don't insist that everything be "just so." Kids need to be able to experiment and be creative, even if it means coloring outside the lines.

Dot to dots have many variations, and some are worked using letter sequences alphabetically rather than numbers while some spell words. The skill level needed ranges from preschool-age on up. Sometimes, it's immediately obvious what the picture is, while other designs will keep you guessing almost until the final line is drawn.

Highly portable, dot to dots, like coloring pages, are great for travel. They'll keep kids busy and guessing for a fair amount of time. Be sure to provide a good pencil and plenty of crayons.

Dot to dots are such a proven favorite that there are now versions available for adults as well as online dot-to-dot activities. The Internet makes it especially handy to instantly download and print dot-to-dot puzzles, often for free.

Whether you're just looking for a fun activity or you're looking for ways to build fine motor skills (where the small muscle movements work in coordination with the eyes), it's easy to "connect the dots" and see why dot to dot puzzles and activities are a great choice for home or school.

Copyright 2008 by Kevin Savetz.

By Kevin Savetz

Kevin Savetz is creator of http://www.DotToDots.net a site with more than 125 children's dot-to-dot puzzles and activities to download and print for free. Another of his web sites offers thousands of free printable coloring pages.

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How to Write a Letter From Santa (That the Kids Will Love)

Parents, grandparents, other relatives and friends can give the big guy a hand by writing a letter from "Santa" themselves, or by customizing a letter found on the Internet or in print.

You don't have to be a professional writer, or even know Santa personally, to write a letter in his name. Following are a few tips on how to write and present a keepsake letter from Santa to the special child in your life.

First, decide what type of "voice" you want Santa to present in the letter. Do you want a short note or a long letter? Would you like Santa to reference the birth of Christ? Perhaps you'd like to mix things up a bit and have the letter be from Mrs. Claus, Rudolph the reindeer or elves.

Santa has a good sense of humor, so don't hesitate to include a couple of little jokes, such as, "I hope my reindeer didn't wake you up landing on the roof." However, with the possible exception of older children who can take a joke, a Santa letter is not the time to scold a child or throw out threats, such as no presents if children are "naughty."

Include specifics in the letter from Santa, but don't go overboard. (Santa comes with a little "mystery," and kids know this.) Children love to hear that Santa enjoyed the cookies they left, or that he remembers them from the shopping center. Praise for a child's accomplishments (working hard at school, patience with siblings, etc.) during the year could be nice to add. If the child wrote a letter, Santa should acknowledge that he got it and perhaps answer any questions posed in the letter.

Most importantly, write from the heart. If you're having trouble getting started, take a look at an existing letter from Santa and customize it to suit your family. You might want to mention the family pets, or alleviate concerns about not having a chimney. Mention how Santa is looking forward to the visit, even though the child will be fast asleep.

"Santa" might want to remind children to get to bed early on Christmas Eve, and to remember that the holiday is about love, family or whatever your family's belief system is.

Whether handwriting, typing or printing the letter from Santa, it's best to use quality, holiday-themed stationery. Stationery and letterhead is available to print for free online. Be sure to "sign" the letter as Santa, Santa Claus or S. Claus.

Once you have the letter from Santa written, you can send it to the child in the mail or just leave it out on Christmas Eve after the children are asleep. You could set it by the cookies that were left for Santa (be sure to take a bite out of a cookie!). Or, roll the letter up like a scroll, tie with a ribbon and place it in a Christmas stocking.

Whatever letter style or delivery method you choose, don't stress! Any child will be thrilled to get a personal letter from Santa.

Copyright 2008 by Kevin Savetz

By Kevin Savetz

Kevin Savetz is the creator of a site with more than 20 printable letters to Santa to instantly download and print, as well as Free Letterhead Templates.net, which offers full-color Christmas stationery and other letterhead.

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Suggestions That Give Teens Some Earning Power

Often teens find that the allowance their parents give them is just not quite enough for them to do all the things they want to do. Unfortunately, the law limits how much work a minor teen can do. So what are their options for earning some extra money?

Following are a few suggestions for teens looking for a way to earn a bit of extra money to supplement what their parents are able to give them:

1. Child care. If there are younger children in the family teenagers can practice at home helping out with the younger ones or being responsible for them while the parents are away. In time, they can branch out and offer the babysitting services to neighbors and friends. The teen, with a little parental input and direction, can determine what ages they feel they can care for and how many children then can watch at a time.

2. Yard work. Again this training can start at home with them caring for the family's yard. Yard care is hard work and most adults like the time or the desire to do it. It is a job that most are happy to pay someone else to do. With the right equipment, this could be a very lucrative business.

3. Caring for older or infirm ones. There may be some in your neighborhood who are older or have health problems that limit what they can do. A teenager can offer services such as house cleaning, collecting the mail, shopping, and a host of other tasks. Parents can sit down with their teens and help them come up with a fee schedule which determines how much they will charge for different job.

4. Dog sitting. A lot of adults work long hours and do not have time to properly house break a new dog, play with them or take them for walks. Since most school age teens arrive home much earlier than working adults this could be a service that many would appreciate.

If you have a family dog maybe your teen has already been responsible for baths or nail trimming. They can offer to perform these pet care services as well.

5. Work in retail. Most stores are willing to hire young people. Teens can earn a little extra money and get a percentage off their purchases.

By W. M. Blake

Are you trying to find credit card debt assistance? Visit the Debt Reduction Academy, where you can claim your free 5 day mini course "Operation Money-Find: How To Find Money To Start Paying Off Your Debt This Month". Grab your copy now at http://www.debtreductionacademy.com/minicourse.php

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Getting Kids Back Into Books

With all the technology aimed at children these days it's pretty hard to get them back to the basics of childhood. They have their X-Boxes, their Playstations, their all singing, all dancing mobile phones that do everything apart from wash the dishes (because kids don't know what that means) and ask them to read a book they will look at you like you have two heads.

Of course, reading is an essential part of education that you simply cannot get by without and reading your brief on an X-Box campaign just doesn't seem to be enough. The trouble is that using these electronic games might well be challenging to the problem solving part of the game but never stretch the imagination.

The imagination is not only something that can make life more interesting but can be useful as you go through life to push you into new discoveries and learning. If we don't nurture this when we are young then it's hard to use it when we are older.

Reading books creates images in the brain that can be carried throughout life. It activates a totally different part of the grey matter than any other exercise would. But when children are so into their electrical gadgets, how do you encourage them to take an interest in books? How do you convince them of the wealth of knowledge to be gained from reading books on every subject under the sun?

Well, in order to get round this, manufacturers are bringing out 'e-readers'. These look similar to a small, hand held computer and look just like any other electronic gadget that the kids love. They are back lit in a slightly different way to computers in that there is no glare and the page resembles real paper.

There is also the advantage that the font size can be changed to suit. They can download a whole plethora of titles in many genre's and Waterstones book store are now working on getting all their titles onto e-books.

E-readers are, of course, not just for the young. Adults will find them very useful in that you can store a massive range of books on something that fits neatly in your pocket. Imagine the ease at which you could carry your favourite book around with you - pop it out while waiting in a doctors waiting room, on a train journey - in fact, anywhere.

Sometimes it can be difficult to source a particular book you are looking for and often the popular ones will be out of stock but being able to download one from the internet means that you will no longer have to wait for it.

As e-readers become ever more popular, it is possible that libraries will see less and less visitors. Speaking personally, I will be buying an e-reader for the convenience but I know it will never replace the other aspects that make me enjoy reading a book. The smell and feel of a book and the feel of physically turning a page in anticipation all add to the pleasure of reading a book but what's more important is the knowledge contained within and the use of one's imagination. Both these aspects accompany an e-reader so I guess we will get used to them.

I guess this is one of those new-fangled things that quickly becomes part of everyday life.

By Shaun Parker

Shaun Parker is a leading educational expert with many years of experience in the technological industry. Find out more about e-readers at http://www.pixelar.co.uk

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Money Values For Kids

"My nine-year old son is always asking me for the latest video game, shoes, or DVD, with no thought about the cost of these things. I know I spoiled him when he was younger by buying too many toys and clothes for him. Now I'm worried that he'll grow up without a clue how to manage money and live within his means. What can I do to teach him about money?"

Just like many adults, today's children are riding high on the massive wave of consumerism that's taking over our society. It's easy for them to succumb to peer pressure and feel that they are not 'with it' if they don't have the latest gear- Heelies, Crocs, flip phone, Playstation Portable, IPod, and more.

What can parents do to combat all these negative spending influences? Our challenge as care-givers is to substitute positive values that teach children about money - how to earn it, keep it, and make it grow. To be successful in re-programming our kids, we must first be good role models by practicing successful money management too.

You can start your kids on the road to being wealthy, well-adjusted adults by imparting the practical values inherent in the money rules below. Let's look at three key laws which will show children what money is really worth.

1. Money is earned

Many times, children don't see the connection between work and money. They see their parents heading to the ATM, where by magic, money appears; and they receive gifts upon demand without having to expend any energy to get it. You can change this by having a family discussion about working to earn money. If they are old enough, show your children your pay slip and your budget. Explain to them how each dollar you earn goes towards expenses or saving for the future. Let them make the link between your long hours at the office and the money that they wish to spend frivolously.

Encourage their entrepreneurial spirit by helping them to look for opportunities to earn extra money. One client recounted when she was only six years old, in response to her father's talks about making money, she tried to sell oranges to her friends at school for profit. When she realized that her schoolmates were not interested in the whole oranges, she had the bright idea to sell them in quarters. This time she was successful, and actually made more money than she would have if she had sold them whole. Today, she is still involved in entrepreneurial ventures, thanks to her early money programming.

2. Money can multiply

Hand in hand with a discussion about working for money, should be a lesson about money working for you. Explain to your children that they can earn interest (more money) when they put away some of their money in the bank. An easy way to do this is to have them save coins in a piggy bank and when it's full, match their savings by giving them 'interest'. Open bank or credit union accounts as soon as they have accumulated enough savings and let them keep their bank books so that they can see the interest being added to their accounts.

Download a savings calculator online which your children can use to play around with different savings amounts, interest rates and time periods to see how fast their money can grow. You can explain that this is called the magic of compounding. The value being taught is that there is a reward when you defer spending and instead choose to invest. By putting away a little of what you had planned to spend now, you will have much more to enjoy in the future.

3. Money should be shared

Heavy consumerism brings a 'me-first' attitude in our children, where they are only concerned with all the goodies they want. Encourage an early spirit of philanthropy by asking them to donate a toy or item of clothing for every new one they receive. Have them actually take their donations to a children's home where they can give them to the less fortunate children. Help them to realize how lucky they are and how to be content with what they already have.

Read stories of the good works of wealthy people like Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates, and our own Jamaican philanthropists such as Ferdinand Mahfood, who have made a big difference in the lives of many people around the world. This will also help them to understand that we all have a duty to assist each other in society.

© Cherryl Hanson Simpson

By Cherryl Hanson-Simpson

Cherryl is a financial columnist, consultant and coach. See more of her work at http://www.financiallyfreenetwork.com and http://www.financiallysmartonline.com Contact Cherryl.

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Bullying at School Can Be Solved by Coordinated Teacher Student Effort

It's one of those subjects that is difficult to quantify. Ask anyone who ever attended school if they witnessed bullying and you will always hear a yes, to some degree. Ask educators today and some will tell you that not only does it exist, it is getting more vicious. In spite of all the efforts to educate, and expect good treatments between students, the fact remains: bullying is common.

The triggers for bullies are generally shallow and petty, revolving around appearance and dress. But to school age kids, the reasons, however inconsequential they seem, don't matter. Bullying has very real consequences for the victim: dread, fear, insecurity, and a sense of injustice.

A bully looks for is someone to make him feel big and powerful. He initially looks for someone who looks helpless. All bullies are counting on the victim to give them what they want -- to be upset, to cry, to show fear, or to act angry. Instead, the best way for someone to protect himself is to simply NOT react. Ignore him, walk away, or tell him to stop. Period.

The other main thing a bully looks for is someone who is alone. The best way to avoid bullying is to stick together with other students. The common bully does not want to attract attention, so if you make eye contact, tell him to leave you alone, and stay with some others students, you can often avoid confrontations.

Another way to feel more confident is to know some self defense moves, although actually practicing them on campus is likely to bring on more trouble than the bully himself. But the simple matter of boosting your self respect and confidence could be enough to keep the bully at bay. In most student situations, an adult is not present or the bullying takes place off campus. Knowing some simple ways to defend yourself can instill a sense of calm, self control, and non threatening inner power which is often enough to make a bully think twice before instigating a power play.

When bullying starts, it's often with a casual rude remark, name calling, and criticizing in a petty way. Before reacting physically, or with emotion, it's always best to laugh and walk away. By simply and effectively tossing off the comment, the bully is denied the very thing he wanted - control and power over another person.

The one fact which may come as a surprise to the person bearing the burden of the bullying is that he or she is not the only one to feel helpless, angry, and scared. The potent and socially devastating effects of bullying are that everyone feels this way when they see it. You are not alone, nor is anyone else. Bullying affects everyone, but if no one says or does anything about it, everyone feels isolated from one another.

More and more schools are adopting a "no bullying" policy, along with education about how kids can handle it together. Aside from stricter repercussions for bullying (and that's up to the adults in the schools), students are encouraged to act together confronting bullying if they see it when an adult is not around. By encouraging kids to act, and by educating them on the truth of how it affects everyone in the school, students are free to speak out and stand up the bully. That takes courage, admittedly.

The sad fact is that most bullies become hated and despised by high school. They tend to be the ones with very few friends; no one trusts them or wants to associate with them after they hit their teenage years. Most bullies become loners and are often the ones who turn to criminal behavior before they are even adults.

The bully is a problem in many schools, indeed, but by training kids in how to deal with one, and encouraging strong peer relationships as a means of dealing with the bullies, most schools can deal with the problems before they peak in violence. Further means of ridding schools of the threats, requires adults to take the problem seriously when it occurs, assuring the victims that their strong, peaceful means of combating bullying will be upheld with stricter consequences if the problems continue. An adult/child solution is almost always an effective means of thwarting bullies.

By Armando Toral

Armando Toral is a 3rd. degree Black Belt in Aikijutsu and creator of the Useful Self Defense Video Series, to get your free access to watch a sample video go to:
http://www.usefulselfdefense.com

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Kids and the Inauguration - Sharing the Day

The January 20 inauguration of Barack Obama offers parents and teachers an opportunity to witness history together with their kids. Politics aside, help children understand the significance and connect to the moment. Talk with them:

- Discuss how a person becomes president

- Find photos of inauguration events

- Read parts of past inauguration speeches

Talk over key questions:

- What are the president's responsibilities ?

- Why do we say our political process is by the people , and why is this important?

- Why is this election historic and what were some of the events that paved the way ?

Keep things simple and age-appropriate. Find a site that talks about Barack Obama's life when he was a child. What prepared him to be president? What should he do once in office?

Visit the PBS Webpage that enables kids to send a message to the president, teaching them that everyone can participate in the discussion: http://pbskids.org/speakout/

Watch the coverage together. On Inauguration Day, Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 8 p.m., vignettes featuring footage of the President-Elect's Oath of Office, will air on Nickelodeon, The N and Nicktoons Networks.

Kids are interested in the election, with the Internet allowing them to learn and participate in new ways. Nickelodeon polled kids this fall on their election choice, with a record-breaking 2.2 million kids participating. Nickelodeon has held a Kids' Vote every election year since 1988, and kids have now correctly predicted the winner in five out of the last six U.S. presidential campaigns. This year, they did correctly pick Barack Obama's win.

By N. Elizabeth Burdette

N. Elizabeth Burdette shares ideas for parents at http://withkids.wordpress.com, and is co-owner, LB Toys, http://www.lbtoys.com

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Choosing the Right Toys For Your Kids

Kids normally love to play. But as a parent, you should know that when they are playing, you can also make use of this time to educate and teach them about the important matters. This is why buying educational toys would help your child in improving their knowledge and behavior while they are still able to enjoy and play.

We are past our childhood and when parenthood is reached, you should now know better about the importance of playing and how it can contribute to child's development. Playing is the means where a child can think about things that matter in his life. He can also try assuming responsibilities and act as a grown up. During this time, you can aid them by giving the safe and educational toys.

Children can play with anything. They can make use of any material that is within their reach. When you give him toys, they can play with it in any manner that they want. Thus, if you want to hone and develop the skills of your child, then you should choose the right toys that they should play with. When you do this, you will be able to help your child's development and you can also ensure that the time that your child spent for playing had been worthwhile.

There are many kinds of toys that a parent can buy. The market has already manufactured different types and you can make use of this option to get the best for your child. Most parents would prefer buying the educational toys over other kinds because they can be more helpful in honing the skills of their children. You should also consider this option if you aim to make your child more developed mentally and physically.

Now that you know the benefits of having educational toys, you should start finding these kinds in the market. There are many stores that sell them but you should also know more about what you are looking for. You should know that the educational toys are the ones that your children can enjoy. They are still toys but your children are not only playing since they also learn a lot of things while they are playing. Your child can learn the things that would be useful for them in the future. They can be in any form and the lessons can be so simple.

To ensure that your child is learning through the use of the toys, you will have to guide them. You should be present while they are playing so that you can also be their teacher when they want to know how their toy works. Also, you should make sure that the child is enjoying the toy so that his interest would be kept and he will continue playing with the educational toys that you bought.

When you are able to do this, your child's development can improve in lots of ways. Thus, the benefits that you can get from the simple educational toys can be more than how much it is worth.

By Rachel Nunez

For more tips and information about educational toys, check out http://www.thekidstoystore.com/science-kits.html.

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