Leadership Training - 5 Benefits Youth Gain From Leadership Training

Are you considering developing or supporting a leadership program for youth? Forge full steam ahead because there's nothing to lose and everything to gain. Leadership training maximizes the potential, productivity, and results of youth. It's a win-win!

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn." Likewise, sowing a solid leadership training program into the lives of teenagers reaps a harvest of leaders for life. You'll offer youth the opportunity to gain these five benefits from one powerful seed.

1. Youth develop key skills.

Youth develop skills in communications, critical thinking, leadership, problem solving, and human relations. Leaders need these skills to be effective in their roles. At the same time, youth learn about character, values, and ethics. Where would any leader be without them?

2. Youth build confidence.

Leadership training inspires teenagers to dream more, to do more, and to become more. Everything begins with confidence and a good leadership training program helps each young person discover that he or she has the potential to lead. This potential gets nurtured through learning activities, special projects, internships, and community service.

Think about it. Who does not want to be thought of as a leader? That's why the best leadership training programs are inclusive. They include the average and often overlooked, not just straight A students.

3. Youth receive current, cutting edge techniques, strategies and solutions.

Youth receive current information on leadership challenges, the traits of leaders, what it takes to lead, motivating others, how to resolve conflict, dealing with difficult people, effective presentation skills, etiquette, practical money skills and more.

4. Youth gain experience through service learning projects.

According to Donald H. McGannon, "Leadership is action, not position." Hence, service learning projects provide action and valuable experience. Youth explore real issues as they work with leaders in the nonprofit sector, business, and government. At the same time they build relationships with mentors who serve as positive role models.

5. Youth get positive results.

"If you don't know where you're going any road will get you there...if you don't know where you're going no road will get you there. A solid youth leadership program sets teenagers on the right path - one paved with opportunity. It positions youth for ongoing positive results. Skills are developed, information is imparted, and experience is gained.

By Stephanie Harbin

Bonus Benefit: You're invited to visit http://www.squidoo.com/leadership-training-1 to get a FREE special report on how to develop a leadership training program that packs a wallop. Stephanie Harbin is a trainer, consultant, and motivational speaker. Since 2002 she has delivered the Back to Basics Leadership Program to teenagers in a variety of settings and formats.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_Harbin

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Summer Camps - The New Age Learning Solution

Everyone is talking about summer camps these days. Summer camps not only keep kids engaged during vacation, but also provide them the opportunity to learn new skills and explore new avenues. There is no better way to make your child independent than through a summer camp. It is a time when kids learn to be on their own, overcome their fears, and learn about their weaknesses. Summer camps provide a comfortable and nurturing environment to ensure that kids feel 'at home'. Some of the most common benefits of summer camps are as follows:

• Boost self-esteem and confidence - During residential summer camps, kids learn a lot about themselves. In this period, they realize their interests, strengths, weaknesses, and learn ways to deal with them. They also learn to shoulder new responsibilities and start feeling good about themselves.

• Learn respect for self and others - Being able to accomplish goals in a safe environment, children learn to believe in themselves and their abilities. Due to group living, children learn to work together as a team to attain common goals and accept new challenges. They also learn to respect others in the group for the hard work they put in.

• Develop tolerance - In summer camps, children live together in a group situation with others belonging to different race, religion or beliefs. They understand that despite these differences, they are all the same. This kind of tolerance in early childhood turns them into better human beings as they grow.

There is a multitude of summer camps available these days, each unique in their own way. From one day camps to two weeks long residential camps, you can choose a summer camp that best meets your child's needs. While most camps are general interest camps that offer a potpourri of recreational and educational activities, others are more specific focusing on a particular activity or interest.

No matter which summer camp interests you, make sure that you talk to the camp organizers to know about their philosophies and their staff to camper ratio. You may visit the American Camp Association website to find a camp in your area or go for reputable camps that offer diverse camps for kids of various age groups in sixty different locations in the United States and Canada.

So, find a suitable summer camp for your child today to prepare him for a better tomorrow.

By Donna Pianka

Donna Pinaka loves to write about kids and their activities. Summer camps are becoming major resources for children's education and learning among concerning parents. For more information visit the blog http://www.internaldrive.com/blog-news.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donna_Pianka

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Snowy Or Rainy Day Activities For Tweens and Teens

Picture this. It's a blustery, rainy day with nothing to do, or a snowy winter one where the kids are home from school (and you're home, too!). You're trying to think of some interesting snowy or rainy day activities geared to your tween or teen so that you can spend an enjoyable day together. Meanwhile, your tween or teen may be thrilled because to them it means a day of lazily hanging out on the couch, mindlessly watching tv or a movie while munching chips, or the opportunity to spend the day online or texting with friends incessantly. If you have other plans for them and would like to take advantage of this togetherness to spend some quality time with your tween or teen, then you need to come up with some interesting snowy or rainy day activities that they think will be fun and that won't make them want to roll their eyes at you. Although they may love the opportunity to "plug-in" on a lazy day like this, you can connect with them if you offer up some fun activities that will engage your tween or teen and will get them to want to hang out with you instead. Maybe if you're lucky, you'll even get in a decent conversation or two in the process!

Below are a handful of snowy or rainy day activities for tweens and teens. They can be enjoyed as a family or can be used to pass the time indoors with friends or siblings. These activities are geared to older kids and can be a great source of amusement for both parents and teens alike.

10 Snowy or Rainy Day Activities for Tweens and Teens:

1. Do a jigsaw puzzle. Chances are it's been awhile since you've all sat down and worked on a jigsaw puzzle together, but this can be a great diversion for the whole family, and provides opportunities for meaningful conversation.

2. Play a card game. Gone may be the days of playing "Go Fish" with your kids, but there are many other challenging card games to play with older kids. Engage them in a game of texas hold 'em, gin rummy, or another card game of choice and the time will fly by.

3. Sing karaoke. This may be a completely embarrassing activity for your teen or tween to enjoy when their friends are around (and if you ever sang in front of their friends, they'd surely cringe!), but when hanging out together at home on a rainy day, this can be a great source of fun and laughs.

4. Make a scrapbook. Take the opportunity to go through old pictures and put them into a scrapbook. If you don't have all the materials needed to make and decorate the book, then spend the day organizing and selecting photos to put in the book and enjoy reminiscing about old memories. If you have digital photos, there are some great online digital scrapbooking sites, like Shutterfly, where you can make a beautiful scrapbook, complete with custom pages and journaling, in no time.

5. Make a video together. Plan it out together and record away. Kids are so into videos today that it could be fun to make a family video. You can recreate a talk show and conduct interviews, try your hand at a game show or act out a comedy. Either way, you'll have a chance to get creative and have a memento of your day spent together.

6. Make a house of cards. Remember the days when your kids could be entertained for hours with blocks or legos? Well, they may not be willing to break out the blocks these days, but the challenge of trying to build a house of cards could certainly bring out the architect in any teen.

7. Devise a mystery sound game. See how keen everyone's sense of hearing is by having one person or group go around the house and record various sounds heard around the house. This can easily be done even with a cell phone if you don't have a tape recorder. Then try to guess what the sounds are.

8. Have a dance party. Let loose and get some exercise, too! Take turns choosing music to dance to so you can both enjoy each other's selections and maybe teach each other a few moves in the process.

9. Play challenging word, number, or trivia games. Games like Rummikub, Scrabble, Upwords, Trivial Pursuit and more are always fun to revisit, so if you have a few games lying around the house, dust them off and challenge each other to a game or two.

10. Plan a meal with items from the pantry. Get creative together and put everyone's cooking skills to the test. Older kids love to eat and can have a great time trying to concoct a new recipe based on what's available in the pantry or fridge. And you'll get out of having to figure out what's for dinner!

These snowy or rainy day activities can be a great way to spend a memorable day indoors with your tween or teen. Hopefully you'll have so much fun that you'll all be looking forward to the next time you're stuck in the house due to a rainy or snowy day!

By Andrea Spenser

Andrea Spenser uncovers many useful tips about saving time, saving money, saving energy, and saving your sanity at her website http://www.ShortcutSleuth.com. She strives to help people work smarter, rather than harder, and provides advice on making the best use of our valuable personal resources.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrea_Spenser

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Top 5 Bakugan Toys

This holiday season, Bakugan toys were at the top of almost every child's wish list. Stores could not keep them in stock and many parents were forced to pay a premium to purchase them on eBay to ensure their children received the ones they wanted so dearly.

Below you will find the latest list for the top 5 Bakugan toys of this season.

1. Bakugan Battle Brawlers battle pack - the pack contains 6 random bakugan marbles and 6 gate cards and 6 ability cards. This is enough for two children to play the official game.

2. Bakugan Battle Brawlers starter pack - this pack contains 3 random marbles and 3 gate cards and 3 ability cards. This is enough bakugan toys for one child to play the official game.

3. Bakugan Battle Brawlers booster pack - this pack contains just one bakugan marble and 1 gate card and 1 ability card. You are able to see which type on bakugan you are getting in this type of pack.

4. Bakugan Battle Brawlers bakutin - this collectible storage tin contains 2 exclusive marbles and 5 of each card type. The tin has 2 storage trays with enough room to hold 18 marbles and about 50 cards.

5. Bakugan Battle Brawlers Arena - This is the official "arena" for the battle game.

These toys are hard to find and when a store does get them in stock they tend to sell out very quickly. There seems to be no slowing down for the excitement over all of the bakugan toys. The above are easily the top 5 most wanted toys. Make sure to check your local stores often to avoid paying higher secondary market prices.

By Ernie B

Ernie B is part of a father son team that loves to play and collect Bakugan toys. You can get more information on Bakugan Toys at their website http://www.BakuganBuzz.com. Bakugan Buzz includes all the latest news and information on Bakugan as well as an active forum community.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ernie_B

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Playing Doctor For Children 4 to 6 Years Old

It is lovely to see children playing doctor and they will even start when only 4 to 6 years old. By that time they will have seen real doctors in the surgery when they go for check-ups and if any of their siblings are younger than them, they will have also most likely visited their mother in hospital during the confinement.

Playing doctor is a time-held tradition amongst kids. Nobody knows how long playing doctor goes back in time but we would think that for as long as mothers and children have been looked after by nurses and medics they will quite naturally have been playing this game.

Playing hospital is just as much fun as playing doctor or any other role playing game, but it also gives a child who loves dolls the opportunity to set up imaginative situations where the child has complete control to work out some simply daily tasks like eating, washing the doll, and of course playing out a doctor's visit possibly along the lines of a recent visit to the child to the clinic, or watching someone else in the family.

Playing doctor is for kids, and doctor play is simply fun isn't it? Playing doctor when there is no authority is also nice for the child as they can take an adult role and one which they will look up to the Doctor figure as a role model.

Playing animal doctor is also something that kids do when they have a family dog or cat. They will lean over the animal to use their make-believe stethoscope It's a natural parallel for exploration.

Kids know what a doctor is, they know what it's like to go get a checkup from a doctor. They can give their doll a pretend tablet of medicine, and mock the doll if the doll supposedly does not take the medicine, and this allows the child to distress the situation many have experienced when asked to take medicine which they don't like the taste of. Parents watching may see themselves imitated by the child when playing doctor and find this highly amusing to watch.

Playing doctor can be made challenging, for the child if the parent gets involved and plays with them.

In additional to traditional imaginative games of which playing doctor is just one example, the new computer role playing types of game are becoming increasingly popular with children. Of course all these games need to be very adaptable to cater for all skill levels, but the newly selectable difficulty levels it one particular game are known to make the game much more accessible to the average player than it once was. In fact, if playing the game with a child you can bump down the difficulty for a tough operation and then raise it back up very quickly for the next one.

Girls will always be more willing to play hospital games, like playing doctor than boys, interestingly these sorts of games both act as indicators of maturity. Girls know, even without slogans, that they will do better than boys in school and are well loved by teachers for their achievements. Is it the role playing games they play like doctor games which help them later on.

Valerie Walkerdine, a British sociologist and feminist, points out that the image of the supergirl that "Girls rule" and "girl power" suggest sets up an opposing image of the girl of color or from a low-income family who is the other and not given the opportunities to achieve superwoman status. Girls still tend to be friends with girls and boys with boys. Boys will have fewer friends, but their friendships last.

Girls will also play much more intellectually demanding computer games. Of course, in one of the most popular games of this type, the players just have to wait for the doctor role and procedure to come up again randomly since there is no way to choose anything to play in this so called Zoo Hospital. Nowadays the players really feel like they are performing real surgeries, making the award winning game more fun than ever!

By Steve D Evans

Steve Evans runs a top web site in which he includes a wide range of subjects for Kids to Teens. We recommend a visit. Why not click through using the following link now! Back to school advice for teens.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_D_Evans

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Virtual Pet Adoption Websites Online

If you are a parent or you have a little one in your life, I'm sure you are always looking for new discoveries and new toys to buy them. Recently I was online looking for something I heard about called a Virtual Pet Adoption or VPA. Honestly at first I knew nothing about these little guys or even what they were, but I was looking for something fun and creative for my little cousin so I thought I would give it a try. I found a few dozen sites on the right virtual pet adoption I was looking for (the others were live pets you could adopt from around the world for a fee) and it sounds really sweet and like a really cute idea!

Here is how it works; you can find a virtual pet website online and you can adopt that pet and do other things with them such as activities, dress them, feed them, you can even send them to school or get them a job! Before all of that however, you will need to register with the virtual pet adoption website and "choose" your animal, these animals include every day domestics such as kitties and puppies on up to other things like monkeys, frogs, lions and rabbits among other animals.

Once you pick the animal you want, you can then do whatever you want with the pet. Just to try this out and see how it worked and to make sure it wouldn't be too hard for my cousin, I adopted a frog named George. I even got to pick what color I wanted him to be so I was a little adventurous and picked a poison dart frog which was aptly colored orange and blue!

On a lot of these sites you won't just play with your animal and dress it, you will also need to feed it, take it for walks and take care of it when it's sick. This really is a superb idea for children that aren't allowed to have real pets or aren't old enough to take care of their own kitty or puppy just yet.

This site isn't just about "play" though, it's also a good chance for the children in your life to get a taste of responsibility as well! This is a nice change from a lot of the other games available online because children can actually learn something from this idea! If you want an outlet to keep your kids busy, think about virtual pet adoption since playing with a pet online will keep your child busy for a long time and you won't have to clean up the mess created by a live pet. I don't know about your little ones, but this sounds like a fantastic idea for my cousin!

By Kristi Ambrose

This author is a HUGE fan of Virtual Pet Adoption

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristi_Ambrose

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Cheap FX Lightsabers - Learn How to Make a Lightsaber For Yourself Easily

To truly feel like at Jedi Knight from the Star Wars movies and to save money then have you considered purchasing one of the Star Wars FX Lightsaber kits. Certainly if you are looking for Cheap FX Lightsabers then you cannot go wrong with purchasing one of these kits. This is one way of really feeling as if you are a true Jedi Knight because just like them you can build your own.

Although you may not see it in the movies every true Jedi knight is required to build their own Lightsaber. However, being able to get hold of the Adegan Crystal which powers your Lightsaber is somewhat difficult, certainly you wonít be able to walk in Wal-Mart and get what you need. But luckily for you there is a great cheap alternative being the Star Wars FX Lightsaber kit.

There are Lightsabers are available that have already been constructed but along with costing a tidy sum, they probably wonít make you feel as if you are a true Jedi knight. However, with the kits not only can you make a Lightsaber for a lot less but you can also customize to you. In fact as you assemble yours the parts that you use are based on those what you will actually see on the movie screen so it will look just as awesome as those used by Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker.

In every kit to build your own Star Wars FX Lightsabers you will find it has a saber unit, a compartment in which the batteries are held to power it. It also comes with 3 metal pommels along with 3 plastic handles, 3 plastic switches, 3 upper sections made from plastic and 3 emitter housings. Finally there are 6 screws which allow you to connect all the parts mentioned together. But just as with the other more expensive models these kits come with a number of great features and below we look at what these are.

1. A blade that glows and lights up in the same power up and down way as the ones in the movies. However you need to be aware that the light that glows from them is not as bright as that in the other Star Wars FX Lightsabers.

2. Again just as with the more expensive ready constructed FX Lightsabers this come with authentic sound effects which have been digitally recorded from the movies.

3. As with the constructed models of the Lightsabers these kits have four motion sensors in the hilt which control the various sound effects such as the power up and down, clash, and idle hum that they produce.

4. The blade is very sturdy and becomes permanently attached to the hilt but as assembly takes place you have the choice of over 1,000 different combinations. This allows you to create a Lightsaber that is truly perfect for you.

5. Finally the blade is tri-colored so you have the opportunity to switch between having either a red, blue or green one. Which unlike the more expensive models this kit allows you to take on the many different characters roles. So with the cheap FX Lightsabers kits you can have the opportunity to either play the villain of the movies Darth Vader or the heroes such as Luke Skywalker. So this really is the ultimate in all the FX Lightsabers now available.

By Robert M Doyle

Now that you have found out that building your very own FX Lightsaber is a very easy and cheap option with the FX Lightsaber construction kit, click on the following link to find out where you can buy one below the recommended price. http://scifimemorabilia.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_M_Doyle

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Free Typing Games For Kids - Is it Advisable to Download One For Your Kids?

A lot of parents are not sure whether there are any cons to download free typing games for their kids. Honestly, if you are considering helping your kids to learn proper typing techniques and not just for fun only, then I would advise you to consider getting a paid version of this type of program.

Reasons being free program usually do not have a user friendly step by step guide to get your kids started. Moreover, there may be a lot of advertisements which will distract your kids' attention when they are learning to type. This in turn will defeat the purposes of typing games and hence will affect their learning progress.

Another weakness of free typing games for kids is lack of proper finger placement guide. As you may be aware, kids have to be trained in terms of hand placement when they start learning this important skill. Knowing where to put their fingers on the keyboard is the foundation of touch typing. Without this basic training, your kids are wasting their time because they are just playing with the keyboards.

Other than the above, some of the free programs also do not cover the whole keyboard, i.e. they cover only the main keyboard without covering the number pad. As it is common to use symbol, therefore it could be a setback of not knowing how to switch between the main keyboard and the number pad when they are typing.

Having reviewed the cons of downloading free typing games for kids, it is obvious that parents should consider buying a licensed version which contain comprehensive learning guide for their kids.

By Gary Goh

Kids typing games help kids to improve their typing skills and techniques. It has never been easier for kids to learn typing. Check out how to select an appropriate typing games for kids so that they can master this valuable skill within shortest possible time.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Goh

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So What is This Bakugan and How Do You Play?

So what is this Toy? Much like Pokemon, Bakugan features both a cartoon show and a competitive card game, with many accessories to accompany it. The show can be seen on Cartoon Network and features the cards and marble characters that are portrayed as beings from another dimension. Bakugan is quickly becoming the latest hit in character battle games. It has been selling quickly in toy stores across the North America, and was named one of the top toys of 2008 by some magazines. Bakugan marble-like spheres magnetically morph into powerful Bakugan warriors when they roll onto the metal Gate Cards! Use strategy to place your metal Gate Cards effectively as each card affects the battle differently. Master your precision shooting skills to roll your Bakugan into battle and win! What are the kids saying? Eight-year-old Kole Kramer and his brother, Carson, 9, have been hooked on Bakugan ever since a friend this fall showed them how a magnetic card activated a closed sphere, which opened and transformed itself into his small Bakugan Battle Brawler warrior. "We said, 'COOL!'," Carson says to his friend. "He showed us lots of wild battles. I told our mom and dad about it and when we got some I said, 'Kole, do you want to battle me?' What the parents are saying? These non-electronic toys give her kids a chance to use their imaginations and have fun together. Besides, she values the toys as incentives.

How Do You Play?

Step 1: Choose your 3 bakugan. This is probably one of the most important steps because you need to decide what bakugan you will be using the entire game. You may want to use bakugan if you have their character card or if their printed g-power is really high. Also, you may want to use bakugan who have the right g-power to work with your command cards.

Step 2: Choosing your gate cards. You shouldn't choose more then 5 gate cards because it gets confusing and it takes a long time to play the game. Now gate cards you might want to choose are character cards that show the bakugan character you are using because then on that card the printed g-power of that character is doubled. Other cards you might want to choose are cards that subtract g's from your opponent. It is always easy to fight an opponent who has low g-power. Also you want to choose cards that boost your overall g-power as well that are always good. Now if you have any command cards in which you can set a trap with you will probably want to use those but make sure to check to see exactly what they do otherwise you might lose the battle.

Step 3: Know how to calculate g-power. When I calculate g-power in a battle I always start by noting the bakugan's printed g-power. Then I add to that number any bonus they got from the gate card, and then lastly, I add any ability card boosts and then repeat the process for my opponent. Important: Once that battle is over the bakugan's g-power return to their normal printed g-power and do not stay at the power level that was gained in the battle.

Step 4: Begin the brawl. The youngest person goes first so they would start by saying field open, but this part is usually said in unison so for simulation purposes. "Field Open", in unison. Then the youngest player starts you off by setting down a gate card and shooting a bakugan. However, this part since it is the first turn is also usually done in unison. Make sure to say the names of your bakugan when they stand. "Gate card set bakugan brawl", in unison. "Haos terrorclaw stand", says haos brawler. "Darkus fear ripper stand", says darkus brawler. Now the battling really begins in the next round and the youngest person actually starts. "Gate card set, bakugan brawl haos mantris stand", said the haos brawler. Now you can have up to four players at a time in the brawl no more. In this battle, however, there will be only two brawlers. Now it is the darkus brawler's turn. "Gate card set, bakugan brawl darkus reaper stand", said the darkus brawler. Now the darkus brawler set down another gate card but didn't shoot his bakugan onto it. This move is perfectly legal but in every turn you have to shoot a bakugan unless you have no more bakugan left to shoot then you can call a stay and not do anything. Now since darkus reaper had to role somewhere let's find out the outcome: he rolled onto the haos brawler's gate card so now we are in a real battle.

Step 5: Doing battle on a character card. Now it is time to really do battle. Now that two bakugan that don't belong to you are on the same gate card there is a battle. So the owner of the gate card would say gate card open. "Gate card open", said the Haos brawler, "Character activate". The reason the haos brawler said, "character activate" is because this was Mantris's character card which means his printed g-power is doubled. But, what is its printed g-power? To solve that problem, after the gate card is open both players who have bakugan on the card say battle begin! If you had a bakupod it would say mantris starting g-power is... But, since you don't since they don't exist you have to say battle begin (in unison), bakugan's name, and their printed g-power (starting g-power). "Battle begins" both brawlers say, "Mantris starts battle with 350 gs" says haos brawler. "Reaper starts battle with 370 gs", says darkus brawler. Then whoever has the advantage gets to say advantage and then their bakugan's name. "Advantage Reaper," says darkus brawler. It is at this point that the final boost is added and the person who owns the gate card says, "Gate card boost activate" and the final g-power is added. "Gate card boost activate," says the haos brawler. This enables any character abilities to activate and the other boosts and subtractions that are listed on the left side of the gate card. Then you would list the final g-total by saying your bakugan's total gs. "Power boost recognized mantris now at 750 gs," says the Haos brawler. This is because when the character card boost was activated, mantris gained 350 gs because the printed g-power was doubled since it is mantris's character. That puts him at 700 gs. Then another 50 is added from the boosts that are on the side. "Power boost recognized reaper now at 550 gs", says the darkus brawler.

This is because reaper didn't get the boost from the character and instead just got the side boost which was 180 gs not to shabby if you ask me. Now there is one final step that can change the out come of the whole battle ABILITY CARDS!!! Ability cards are special cards that allow you to help yourself in a battle when it appears that you can't win with the gate card and bakugan alone. So if you're using an ability card you would say, "Ability card activate" and then the name of the ability card then explain what it does. "Ability card activate", Darkus Unison brawler says. Darkus Unison is an ability card that allows you to shoot another bakugan onto a gate card either from the field in your used or unused pile, but only if it is undefeated. Now, I just made that card up because I needed to show you how ability cards can change the whole battle. So now the gs of darkus fear ripper and darkus reaper are combined so then you say the following: "Darkus Fear Ripper enters battle at 320 gs" says the darkus brawler "power boost recognized total g-power at 870 gs". This puts the darkus brawler ahead by 120 gs. "Advantage Reaper and Fear Ripper" says the darkus brawler. Now the battle is over because the haos team didn't want to use any abilities so the darkus team wins and mantris is defeated and cannot be used again this brawl. Fear Ripper and Reaper can be used again. It is now the Darkus brawler's turn because he won the battle. Calculate HSP.

Step 6: Continuing the brawl. Now it is the darkus brawler's turn, since he won't say the same thing you did last time. "Gate card set, bakugan brawl darkus laser man stand". Now it's the Haos brawler's turn. "Bakugan brawl haos tuskor stand". Haos Tuskor stood on Darkus laserman's card so there is yet another battle.

Step 7: Battling on a command card. As usual the brawler who owns the card would say gate card open. "Gate card open command card activate triple battle" said the Darkus brawler. Now the reason that the darkus brawler said command card activate was because that this wasn't a character card it was a command card. A command card is a card that lets you do different things that normally you wouldn't be able to do. You say command card activate and then the name of the command card in order for it to activate you also have to explain what it does. "The triple battle gate card allows me to shoot another bakugan onto the gate card so your haos tuskor is toast!" said the darkus brawler. "Bakugan brawl, darkus reaper stand" said the darkus brawler. So now once again the haos brawler is going up against 2 bakugan on the same gate card. "Battle commence", brawlers say in unison.

"Haos tuskor starts at 330 gs" says the Haos brawler. "Darkus laserman and reaper start at 720 gs" says the darkus brawler. "Gate card boost activate" said the darkust brawler. "Power boost recognized tuskor now at 400 gs" says the Haos brawler. "Power boost recognized darkus bakugan now at 1120 gs" says the darkus brawler. Also, I forgot to mention, that when your two bakugan have the same attribute on a gate card their bonus doubles. If they are different attributes, then each Bakugan receive their own separate bonuses. Once again, the Haos brawler has failed to mach the g power of the darkus brawler and tuskor is out of the game. Since there were 3 bakugan in the battle that is 300 HSP and this time no boost from the card. The way you can tell is that the HSP points you can gain from the card are listed in the bottom right hand corner of the card. If nothing is there, there is no HSP bonus.

Step 8: The final step. Since the darkus brawler won again he gets to go first. "Gate card set, bakugan brawl darkus laserman stand", says the darkus brawler. "Call back Bakugan brawl, Haos terrorclaw stand", says the haos brawler. Now the reason that the haos brawler said, "call back" first is because terrorclaw was already on the field, so he brought him back to shoot him again. Now, terror claw stood on reapers card. This is a regular gate card brawl. "Gate card open" says the darkus brawler. "Terrorclaw enters battle at 370 gs", says the haos brawler. "Reaper enters battle with 370 gs", says the darkus brawler. "Gate card boost activate", says the darkus brawler. "Power boost recognized, terrorclaw is now at 500 gs", says the haos brawler. "Power boost recognized, reaper now at 500gs", says the darkus brawler. "Ability card activate Bright light", says the Haos brawler "bright light is an ability card that allows me to boost my haos attributive bakugan by 80 gs." "Ability card activate sword of death", says the darkus brawler. Sword of death ability allows me to decrease your bakugan by 180 gs and increase mine by the same number. "Power change recognized terrorclaw now at 400gs", says the Haos brawler. "Power change recognized reaper now at 680gs," says the darkus brawler. The darkus brawler wins and has a final score of 900 HSP while the haos brawler has zero.

Final Step: Don't stop yet. There is one more thing. Calculators, paper, and pencils are all very help full when it comes to calculating g power and hsp and recording it. I find it much simpler when you can just punch in the numbers on the calculator or on paper instead of doing it all in your head. So are you ready to heed the call to Brawl? Let the brawl begin!

After the battle is over you calculate the HSP holosector points. The way you do this is the winner adds up 100 points for each bakuan that was in the battle; in this case it is 300 points. Then you add up how many points you earned from the card sometimes you don't get card points and sometimes you do. Let's say that on the mantris card the winner gets 100 bonus HSP so that means that the darkus brawler would get 400 hsp from that battle.

By Doug Janchik

About Doug Janchik: He's been Bakugan brawling with three of his kids since his first Bakugan Starter Pack purchase a year ago. They all love the different characters and the various outcomes in the brawls. Here's the best place to buy your favorite Bakugan Starter Pack and get more info http://www.squidoo.com/Bakugan-Starter-Pack-2

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Typing Games For Kids

There are many types of typing games for kids due to its high demand. This is because it has become an important skill to learn in school in view of the frequent use of computer keyboard. To be able to type fluidly would definitely enable kids to complete their school assignments within shortest possible time. Therefore, it is not surprising to see that some schools have already included typing as part of their school subject.

Kids' typing skill and techniques can be improved tremendously by learning how to type using typing games that are purposely designed for kids. These online games for kids are popular nowadays due to its fun and entertaining features which make typing for kids an enjoyable learning process. Otherwise, it could be a boring exercise due to its repetitious nature. It is generally agreed that a good online learning games should contain interactive and entertaining features in order to be effective.

When choosing typing games for kids, parents and teachers have to bear in mind that these games have to be user friendly and easy to understand. In addition, the layout of the games must be near, clear and organized. It would be good that certain timed typing tests are included in the games so that to assess the effectiveness of the learning process in particular in terms of speed and accuracy. It would be difficult to keep track of kids' learning progress without testing.

In view of the above, it is vital for kids to learn typing using online typing games because it is believed that proper training in this field would be an asset to the kids in their future working life.

By Gary Goh

Typing games for kids help improve kids typing skills and techniques. Check out online free typing games and make your kids' typing practice an enjoyable learning experience!

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Parenting Teens - What to Expect - What Works

No one has ever said that raising a teenager was easy. However it is tempting for some to think their family is immune to these problems. You tell yourself, my teen will never break curfew, talk back, or get a tattoo.

Teens are hard-wired to be a pain in the neck. Youth is a time of rapid change both physically and mentally. In many ways teens desire to fire their parents then re-hire them years later but much more in the capacity of a consultant.

This doesn't mean you should simply throw in the towel. If you have the right tools you can troubleshoot the problems as they arise in a peaceful way.

One moment you find your child can't live without you. The next you are treated like garbage and everything you say is disregarded. If you are careful to pay attention to what is happening you will find that strangely you have seen this behavior before. Remember when this same child was a toddler and you frequently heard the word, "no!" and now a roll of the eyes and the word, "Whatever".

It is difficult for many parents when this change happens. The teen years become a separating and individualizing phase for a teen. During this process many teens focus on friends while other teens feel they have to reject parents in a search for their own identity. It is important to remember that if your teen rejects you it is not entirely your fault.

Some parents make big mistakes by returning rejection for rejection. Teens ultimately know they need their parents even though they may refuse to admit it. The ups and downs experienced by parents are much like the emotional roller coaster ride the teen is enduring. It is important for a parent to hang on and weather this teenage rebellion. The phase generally passes by the time the child is 17 years old.

By Kevin Tingey

Kevin is a veteran police officer with over 12 years experience. He has served in many different capacities including Field Training officer, SWAT operator, DARE instructor, Taser Instructor, Detective and School Resource officer.

You are invited to visit: http://myteensuccess.blogspot.com/

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Improving Communication With Your Teenager

Maintaining effective communication with your teenager can be a challenge to say the least! Teens are often prepared to disagree and argue with their parents on almost every topic. This is due to their wanting to gain independence from their parents which is part of their normal developmental process. That being said, being on the receiving end of this constant arguing is not fun and can create a lot of worry for parents. Generally, parents want to stay connected to their teens but find that communicating with them, even around the most simple things, can be quite a challenge. Below are some tips to assist parents who may be struggling with communicating effectively with their teens.

1. Model for your teens what you expect from them. If you don't want them to yell at you, you cannot yell at them. They will not respond to the old saying, "do as I say, not as I do". They will resent the double standard and will likely yell even more.

2. Use "Door Openers", not "Door Slammers". Door Openers are phrases and words which are open ended and allow your teenager to share their thoughts and feelings on a subject. For example: "Do you want to talk about it?", "What do you think about this?", "I think you may be able to help us out with this, what are your ideas?" These phrases let your teen know you value what they think and does not send them the message that you are trying to control them. Door Slammers are phrases and words that shut down conversations and make teenagers feel powerless or unimportant. For example: "That is none of your business", "I don't care what your friends are able to do", "Don't come crying to me when you mess this up", "We are not going to talk about this again". These phrases and words generally come out during times of frustration (and are very normal so don't feel bad if you have used them) but generally create more tension and frustration for teens who are already feeling confused and powerless in their lives.

3. Don't just walk away from your teenager. If they did something that has really upset you and you feel you cannot have a productive conversation in the moment, let them know that you are upset but that you would like to speak with them about whatever happened in a little while - don't just walk away and leave them uncertain about what is going on.

4. Using Active Listening with them will increase the chances they will use it with you. By actively listening you are letting your teenager know that you are interested in what they have to say and that they are important. In order to do this, you should stop doing anything else that you are doing and focus on your teenager. You should really listen to what they are saying and not be thinking about your response to them or thinking about what is for dinner. They will know the difference and will know when you have truly turned into what they are saying. By modeling this skill for them they will feel important and may also learn how to use active listening themselves.

5. Make it a point to have positive communication and conversations with your teenager. This may initially seems bazaar but it is important. What often happens is that teens withdraw and decrease their overall communication with their parents during the teenage years. This is normal, however, it often results in a decrease of positive conversations and interactions. What happens is that the positive conversations do not take place so that parents are only really sitting down and talking with their teenager when absolutely necessary which is often around things that are problematic. Not having these positive communications makes having the difficult conversations even more difficult. Good opportunities for these positive conversations are when driving in the car or during an event that your teen enjoys (playing basketball, going to get a manicure, etc).

6. Avoid talking too much or lecturing too much. Your teenager will tune you out if you go on too long or until you get the response you are looking for from them. The reality is that you may never get the response you want so it is better to just say what you need to say clearly, listen to their response and do not keep repeating yourself. Teens report that they become very good at tuning out adults who go on and on and that they hear what is said initially, they may just choose not to agree with it.

The above tips are fairly easy to implement and can help increase the overall positive communication you have with your teenager. Changing the way you behave and interact can significantly impact the way your teenager interacts with you.

© 2009 Elite Life Coaching

By Karen Vincent

For more information on Life Coaching or coaching for parents please visit http://elite-life-coaching.com or email Karen@elite-life-coaching.com.

My name is Karen Vincent. I am a Certified Life Coach as well as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a Masters Degree from Boston University. I have worked with teenagers / adolescents and their parents for the last 15 years in a variety of settings, including outpatient therapy, specialized schools, and in the home.

I have developed and conducted numerous parenting classes and support workshops specific to parents of teens. I have also created and presented training for professional staff including teachers, therapists and counselors who work with adolescents in Massachusetts, Connecticut and in New York City.

In my work, I partner with parents (usually through phone calls) who are experiencing difficulties in connecting with their teenage children and who are struggling to manage social, emotional or behavioral issues which arise during the teenage years. Through working with me, parents are able to:

• work through any self doubt they are having about their parenting
• develop action plans for addressing their areas of concern
• develop new ways of parenting their teens effectively
• discover new ways of connecting effectively with their teens
• eliminate sleepless nights and worries while Restoring Peace of Mind During the Teenage Years

Please call for a free Coaching Consultation: 508-261-7087

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Bakugan Battle Brawlers - An Introduction

Bakugan is nothing but toys, developed from the Japanese Anime series. Bakugan Battle Brawlers have become an international craze among children. If you have a youngster of about five years old, then I am sure they would have known about Bakugan. Children will sure love and enjoy playing such games. Playing Bakugan brawlers will enable your child with fun and excitements, at the same time develop their imagination strategies and math while playing.

Where to buy and how to get started?

Bakugan Battle Brawlers will be available in gift shops, toy shops and in many online stores and websites. The first step to begin is to buy the Bakugan starter kit. The basic kit consists of 6 Bakugan Battle Brawlers, 8 magnetic gate cards and instruction manuals for the player. The Bakugan Battle Brawlers kit comes with a variety of colors and characters such as Gorem, Falconeer, Skyress, Serpenoid, Siege and many more.

How to battle with Bakugan Battle Brawlers?

It is very easy and exciting to start playing the Bakugan Battle. All you need is two players, at least three Bakugan Brawlers and three magnetic cards. More brawlers and cards can also be used but both players must have the same number of brawlers and cards. At the beginning of battle play, the brawler is rolled over the metal playing cards. The Bakugan sphere automatically opens when it correctly touches the metal playing cards that have some points and special abilities in it. By doing this the player’s point values on the cards are combined for final result. Finally the player with more number of point values is the winner of the game.

Different types of Bakugan cards

Three different types of Bakugan cards are used in the game. They are character cards, command cards and normal cards. The character card consists of Bakugan name on them. When the Bakugan Brawler is correctly rolled over the matching character card then their points are doubled. The command card has some instructions on them which indicate some actions. The action varies from each command card. Normal cards have sector bubbles in it, which indicates the points you gain or lose depending on the attributes of Bakugan.

Creating the battle Field

A battle field is created by placing the cards face down to form a rectangular shape. When played between two players, they both have to place their cards down to form the battle area. Then the shooting spot some distance away from the battle field have to be selected by the players.

Start Battle

Players have to decide among themselves to start the battle first. Players roll their brawlers from their shooting spot to acquire points. They have to play as long as they have a Bakugans in their hands.

Finally the Bakugan Battle Brawler is an ultimate game to keep your child entertained at the same time, improve their math and creativity.

By Jian Chew

For more information or questions about Bakugan Battle Brawlers, go to Bakugan website.

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Teach and Inspire Youths Using Subjects That Interest Them

We must use every opportunity to teach young people life lessons using subjects that interest them. This is thinking outside of the box, which will pay off with their enthusiasm to learn.

Instead of being rigid and insisting we use our old teaching formats, we have to open our hearts and minds. Too often we try to ram lessons down young people's throats from our perspectives, or use outdated tools we learned from books which become lectures that turn kids off. It's much better to go into their world and use subjects which hold their attention to teach life lessons.

How? First by trusting our inner wisdom. We should put down our teaching crutches and communicate with young people from the heart. This means listening to them. They will tell you what is most important to them.

One way to teach young people life lessons is through sports. Athletes are like rock stars to young people. Look at the millions of dollars of endorsement deals they get to sell products to our youth. .

Even if a young person doesn't like sports, you can still use the Super Bowl as a platform to teach since it has been all over the news. Using current events is a good way to get their attention.

Here is a life lesson you can use from Super Bowl XLIII to help young people achieve their goals:

All of the players on both teams, the Cardinals and the Steelers wore helmets with the initials GU printed on the back in the Super Bowl. GU stands for the late Gene Upshaw, the Hall of Fame guard who during a quarter century as union head helped get NFL players free agency and the riches that came with it being a free agent.

In 1968, two young football rookies, Art Shell and Gene Upshaw, became best friends when they met at the Oakland Raiders training camp. They would visualize their dreams and share them with one another. Upshaw hoped one day to be a politician, Shell wanted to be a football coach, and they both longed to be elected to the Football Hall of Fame.

By 1987, their dreams started becoming reality. Upshaw, who by then was the executive director of the NFL Players Association, was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Later that year, it was Shell's turn. He became the NFL's first African American head coach in 64 years when he was named coach of the Los Angeles Raiders.

When Shell heard the news, he called Gene, who was elated, "I can't believe it, Gene," he said. "All those plans we made years ago have actually come true."

In his 15 seasons as a Raider player, 1968-82, Shell was named All-Pro three times and played in eight Pro Bowls, more than any other Raider ever. Like his friend Gene, he was also elected to the Hall of Fame.

Life Lesson: Visualize Your Goals

If you lectured young people on how to achieve goals using visualization, it wouldn't be nearly as effective as giving them an example of how someone famous used it in their life.

Using the powerful tool of visualization was one of the keys to Shell and Upshaw's tremendous success. They held pictures in their minds of what they wanted to become. They used their imaginations, worked hard, and dedicated themselves to creating an image of what they desired to manifest. Their dreams didn't materialize instantly, but they still continued to focus on those images and eventually the came true.

All successful people picture in their minds what they want to become, then work diligently to achieve their dreams. Because mind is creative, the universe brings you what you hold in your mind good or bad.

The life lesson to teach young people is: Choose to hold what you want to happen in your life, and let go of everything else.

By Walter H. Jackson

If you want to effectively communicate with youth and to inspire them, it's important to know how they perceive you. I invite you to visit http://www.sportingtherightattitude.net/inspire.htm to learn how you can help young adults become successful. Walter Jackson, keynote speaker, behavioral consultant, and author of "Sporting the Right Attitude: Lessons Learned in a Troubled Family.

http://www.SportingtheRightAttitude.net
Lessons Learned in a Troubled Family, an inspirational book for young adults.

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6 Years Old and Their Toys

You have to choose a toy for your kid that is appropriate for the toddlers as well as safe for them. The six year old children are at a point of their entry into the elementary school and have advanced beyond many nursery activities. For example, when you consider the case of your toddler who is 6 years old, they gain considerable knowledge in the field of fields of arts and crafts. You will sometimes feel tired of being scolded by the tiny child when you try to supervise them in this field! It is always recommended that you always supervise children when they use the scissors or any sharp objects.

The motor skills of the six years old are quite advanced and this faculty makes them enjoy many other toys that they previously couldn't experience. The following are the guidelines which will help you choose toys for 6 year olds.

Arts and crafts: When you are selecting arts and craft products, make sure that the toys are non-toxic. The six year olds are gradually developing their writing skills and have a fascination for crayons, scissor, and glue. They greatly enhance the motor skills and augments skills of writing.

Building blocks: You can also bring for them some concrete toys which will enhance their knowledge. You can bring some building blocks which are suitable for the six year old child. They may be wooden blocks, Lincoln logs, or legos; the children like to build with these blocks while making use of their accessories.

Sing, Spell, Read: Actually at the age of 6 years reading, writing, and phonics skills are being introduced to the child. Therefore, educational games such as Sing, Spell, Read, and Write are an indeed helpful for the mental development of the child. Along with these you can also find some other essential games like educational toys, memory and sequencing games which also yields a lot of benefit.

Imaginative toys: You can also bring for your kids the imaginative toys. They are essential for the mental development of the child. The creative development can be encouraged by allowing them to play with puppets. A puppet theater allows the child to immerse itself into the imaginative world and have a splendid time.

Age appropriate puzzles are also ideal for the 6 year old child. These puzzles selected by their age level will help your child to advance in their skills; later on they may move on to more complex puzzles. Puzzles are also a great way to give them a lot of fun and entertainment.

By Orson Dixon

At ebeanstalk, we carry a unique selection of 6 year old toys through toys for 7 year olds. Our collection of educational & learning toys for babies, infants & toddlers from 100+ manufacturers will truly match your child's development.

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An Excuse to Try Some Toys!

Having children in the family is great - there's no doubt that being surrounded by younger people can give you an extra bit of zip in life. It can also give you a great excuse to try some of the interesting new toys that have appeared in the last few years!

You needn't feel guilty about playing with toys and games - most of us do it! Some games and electronics have clearly been designed to appeal to a wide spectrum of ages. The Nintendo Wii has been a good example of this.

You'll probably find as many adults playing on the Wii as children. Indeed, the games console seems to have been marketed as something to be used by all the family.

I recently got my hands on a helicopter battle game called Sky Challenger. The packaging stated that it was for those aged 8 and upwards. Since I fitted into the recommended age bracket, I thought I'd give it a go - just for research purposes, as I'm sure you'll understand!

If you've not seen these games in the shops then you may not be familiar with the concept. Basically the box contains two remote controlled helicopters. The ones that I purchased were relatively small (just a few inches in length), although there are larger alternatives available.

Made of a lightweight material, they can be used indoors. Flying a radio controlled helicopter can be great fun and having two opens up far more possibilities, particularly when you realise that they have the ability to shoot each other out of the air!

If you're a worried parent who was thinking of buying these for their kids then don't worry - this isn't quite as dramatic as it sounds.

When you shoot your opponent's helicopter what you are effectively doing is briefly jamming the signal between their helicopter and their controller. As you might imagine, this causes them to lose control of their machine.

There's a real art to keeping the helicopter in the air once it's been shot at. It's practically impossible on some occasions, particularly if you were flying close to the floor.

One thing that I would say is that this is a game best played in a large room. I found the helicopters quite difficult to operate at some points in time and really needed plenty of space, without any obstructions.

There's no doubt that the game is great fun though. It was so good, in fact, that I may even let the kids have a go!

By Keith Barrett

More on Sky Challenger helicopters is available online, as discussed by Keith Barrett. This article may be used by any website publisher, though this resource box must always be included in full.

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