Christmas Toy Shopping Online - 10 Reasons
March 5, 2010
Christmas Toy Shopping Online - 10 Reasons
by: Paul Harvey
With the Christmas season approaching, here are 10 reasons to do your toy shopping online.
1. Child free. Trying to shop for the Christmas presents with your children in tow does not really work. Why not shop on the Internet when they are in bed or busy with something else?
2. Crowd free. Avoid the hustle and bustle of the High Street, trying to get a pushchair around a cramped and busy shop.
3. 24/7 shopping. The Internet is open for shopping at all hours. With the exception of a couple of large supermarkets, why tie yourself to when your local toy shops are open?
4. Range of toys available. You can find pretty much every toy available on the Internet. It’s a great way to find unusual and different ideas when you get stuck in the rut of buying the same type of present year after year - after all, our niche is wooden toys (www.in2play.co.uk) and we stock some very hard to find items. A surefire way of getting away from the cloned High Streets and malls we live with today.
Gaming: Parental Guidelines
February 18, 2010
Gaming: Parental Guidelines
by: Paul Wilson
Children spend at least 13 to 30 hours a week gaming. Most computer games are violent and aggressive and do little to inculcate moral values. Studies indicate that gaming results in aggressiveness and violent responses in children. And, children are less concerned and helpful towards their peers and families. They become socially stunted.
The onus of minimizing the effects and ensuring that children receive a rounded upbringing falls on parents. It is important to introduce character building activities and to censor games, ensuring suitability.
• Study guidelines established by the Entertainment Software Board. They indicate suitability for different age groups. Read the content label which will summarize the game, this will serve as an appropriateness guideline.
• Know your child. If you find any signs of being unsettled withdraw games that cause this change in behavior. Introduce games that titillate the imagination and make use of the mind. Avoid violence and aggression.
• Visit www.ESRB.com this provides game ratings as well as reviews.
• Rent a game and play it yourself. First hand knowledge will serve you well.
• Communicate with other parents. You will glean the trends, know the popularity.
ADHD / Hyperactivity
February 4, 2010
ADHD / Hyperactivity
by: Jan Greeff
SCRUTINIZING HYPERACTIVITY
Introduction
In past centuries the health of children was mainly threatened by ignorance of basic hygiene, inadequate sanitation, contaminated water, poor nutrition and infectious diseases. Epidemics of cholera and other water borne diseases contributed to the death of thousands of children. Scarlet fever, measles, whooping cough, diphtheria and typhoid did the same. Identification of harmful bacteria and development of methods of immunisation resulted to a large extent in the eradication of infectious diseases. With the advent of modernisation conditions such as hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder and other learning disabilities as well as an increase in chronic illnesses such as asthma, eczema, etc. have been seen. This brochure attempts to summarise observations concerning hyperactivity, and its treatment from a dietetic viewpoint. The information, advice and recommendations are of a general nature and are not specific to the particular circumstances of an individual.
Hyperactivity in history
Tips To Follow Before You Make An Online Student Credit Card Application
January 21, 2010
Tips To Follow Before You Make An Online Student Credit Card Application
by: Jeff Brown
Students - Do you know what your credit card is truly costing you and how you can save money by making an online student credit card application for a card with a lower interest rate?
Many students take out a student credit card without being aware of the hidden fees that many credit card companies are charging. In fact, if you don’t keep close tabs on your credit card, you may end up paying hundreds of extra dollars per year—without ever really knowing it!
And if like most students money is tight and you’re trying to live to a budget, those hidden fees can add up! Let’s take a look at some of the most common credit card fees, and then talk about how you can avoid them.
Grace Periods
In the past, we could always count on grace periods before we ever had to start paying interest. For example, if we charged our card to the limit, and could get it paid off before the grace period expired, then it would be like a free loan—we wouldn’t have to pay any interest.
Irish Baby Names - History and Origin
January 6, 2010
Irish Baby Names - History and Origin
by: John Lynch
The meaning of baby names of irish origin lies
hundreds of years back in the Irish gaelic language
of the ancient Celts who migrated from Central Europe
before the foundation of the Roman Empire.
The Celts Dominant
Those Celts who came to Britain, France and Ireland
were dominant for a long period. With the spread of
the Roman Empire, the Celts gradually were pushed back
into North Western France (modern Brittany with its
distinct Breton language), Western Britain (Cornwall
and Wales), Northern Britain (Isle of Man and Scotland),
and the island of Ireland which was never conquered by
the Romans.
As a result of Ireland’s separate development from Roman
influence, the gaelic language and way of life was much
less diluted than in Scotland or Wales. Again the influence
of the Anglo-Normans and later the English was less in
Ireland because of the difficulty of establishing control
in the country other than a few coastal towns such as
Influencial People
December 22, 2009
Influencial People
by: Renee Canali
Each of us has been fortunate enough to have had someone in our lives have a positive affect on us. Some of us remember a teacher that made a difference at a critical time. Some had parents, grandparents or other relatives to lean on. For others, it may have been a rabbi or pastor. We had the fortunate experience of someone supporting us in just the right way at just the right time.
As fortunate as we have been to have had at least one person to influence us in our lives, I wonder what influence we have had on other people. Are we conscious of how we relate to others and what affect our interactions have had on the other person? Or is most of our focus on how the other person is affecting us?
You don’t have to be a “person of influence” to be influential. In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they’ve taught me.” Scott Adams, American Cartoonist
7 Safety Tips For School Kids
December 8, 2009
7 Safety Tips For School Kids
by: Janet Booth
Travelling to and from school is often not very safe. However, there are some simple rules that can help to make the school journeys safer, ensuring peace of mind for both children and parents.
1. Waiting for the school bus in the mornings, while traffic is at it busiest, requires a degree of commonsense. Try to have a safe place for children to wait at away from the street and heavy traffic.
2. Don’t let children move close to the school bus until it has come to a complete stop and the driver has signalled that it is safe to board.
3. At the end of the school day when children leave the bus, instruct your child to move away from the vehicle at least a dozen large strides to a point where the driver can clearly see them. This helps the driver and keeps the child safe as well.
4. Instruct your child to keep a close eye on all traffic near to the school bus. The law has some special protection measures for school buses, but car drivers are only human, and they can and often do make mistakes.
Drivers Education for Teens
November 24, 2009
Drivers Education for Teens
by: Wesley Smith
Virtually every teenager will do it; take a drivers education course to obtain their learners permit and eventually an unrestricted drivers license. Most states have requirements that must be met for a teen to get their learners permit.
What is a learners permit?
A learners permit is a special permit issued by a State Department of Motor Vehicles (often referred to as DMV, but some states have varying titles) office for teenagers to begin “behind the wheel” drivers education training. For many states, the average age you can apply for a learners permit is 15. However, there are a few states where you can apply as early as 14 and as late as 16 years of age. Different states have different requirements. For example, there are a few states that have no formal requirements, where as most require initial written testing of driving basics. Six to eight hours of classroom (or approved home training course) is typically required.
Drivers Education Training
Unique Gifts for Mom
November 9, 2009
Unique Gifts for Mom
by: Rick Chapo
Ah, what to buy for beloved mom for Christmas. Here’s a list of unique gifts for mom that are sure to make her smile.
Unique Gifts for Mom
Okay, she is probably tired of getting bubble bath and so on. This year, you need to get her a unique gift. And here we go
1. Terry Velour Spa Wrap - In the bathroom theme, but so much more, the Terry Velour Spa Wrap is a great unique gift. The wrap is super soft, warm and is put on when getting out of the shower or bath. It has a velcro strap to ensure a snug fit and is a definite keeper with moms. You can expect to pay $40 for this unique gift.
2. Shiitake Mushroom Log - If mom likes to cook, she is going to love this very unique gift. The Shiitake Mushroom Log is exactly what it says, a wooden log on which she can grow gourmet Shiitake mushrooms for years. The log comes with instructions and starts producing mushrooms within 10 to 20 days. After the first crop, the log will continue to produce mushrooms every 8 weeks or so for years. A very unique gift that shows you put some effort into finding her a gift. The Shiitake Mushroom Log will set you back roughly $40
Barbie Dolls - Where Did They Come From?
October 26, 2009
Barbie Dolls - Where Did They Come From?
by: Barbara White
Dear Santa, Please can I have a Barbie doll for Christmas?
Barbie dolls have probably been on Christmas wish lists for several generations of girls. In fact Barbie has become a household name for many years. Who created the first concept of the Barbie doll?
The story started with the birth of Ruth Mosko in Denver Colarado in 1916. Ruth married Elliot Handler in 1938. Elliot Handler and his business partner Harold ‘Matt” Matson formed the company Mattel. The name was created by a combination of their names ‘Matt-Ell”. Mattel originally manufactured picture frames, but after making dolls furniture from scraps decided to focus on toy manufacturing for which Mattel is now famous.
Ruth Handler noticed that her young daughter Barbara was more interested in playing with adult dolls, than the baby dolls that were available at that time. While traveling in Europe she saw a German doll called ‘Lilli’ which she bought for her daughter. The original ‘Lilli’ doll was not a children’s toy, but a joke style gift for men.
