How to Speak with Signs to Your Baby

Infants often use nonverbal gestures to communicate with their parents. Recent research has shown that very young children have the ability to understand language on a pre-verbal level. However, since their vocal abilities are not fully developed, they are unable to express their needs and desires.

Across the world, parents and teachers are increasingly teaching their infants sign language to help them indicate basic common needs such as hunger, thirst, tiredness, etc.

Some common myths associated with sign language are:

• Teaching sign language is time consuming. On the contrary, just a few sessions every day are sufficient to equip your baby with the necessary vocabulary.

• Children who sign are not intelligent. Research has found the opposite to be true. Babies that learned how to sign scored higher in IQ tests compared to babies that did not.

• Children who sign learn to speak later than others do. Again, this is not proven. In fact, some researchers believe that children who signed as babies tend to have richer vocabularies as they grow up.

Tips for teaching your baby sign language:

• Use a commonly accepted sign language such as the American Sign Language (ASL). The advantage of doing so is that other people, including babysitters and daycare employees, can communicate with your baby in your absence.

• Start with basic objects and actions such as "blanket," "more please," "food," and "water."

• Repetition and consistency are extremely important. Use the same set of gestures for the same objects. Repeat them regularly.

• Use positive association techniques. A "Good job!" or any other form of praise is important to help the child view sign language as a nice thing to do.

• Use a lot of eye contact.

• Avoid teaching the child too many words in too short a time.


by : chart

Names For Your Dashing Boy

Were you waiting desperately for having a baby boy? We know how excited you will be to have him with you on trekking and summer camps! We know how his Mom will feel proud when he will secure a gold medal in football and proudly present to her! No doubt, since birth, you want him to have the best of everything. Just to see him smile, you can climb Everest even. And all this joy starts with naming your baby. You are searching virtually every source and want to ensure that you have chosen the best name for him.
This is why we are here to present to you some of the popular baby boy names starting from "L". We have also included the origins of the names and their meanings. This will enable to choose the name that fits in your tradition and also in your culture. Also you can choose a name that has a great meaning and will make your son beloved of all. Whatever are your criteria for choosing the name, we are sure this list will be of much help to you. Let's see the names now-

LABAN white (Hebrew)

LABHRUINN laurel (Gaelic)

LABIB intelligent (Arabian)

LABIB sensible; intelligent (Arabic)

LABID meaning unknown (Arabic)

LACH lives near water (English)

LACHLANN from Scandinavia (Gaelic)

LACO famous ruler (Czechoslovakian)

LADD attendant (English)

LADISLAV meaning unknown (Czechoslovakian)

LADON myth name (dragon of Hera) (Greek)

LAERTES myth name (father of Odysseus) (Greek)

Imagine your son being called Laco! It was the name of the famous ruler from Czechoslovakia. No doubt, the name will bring laurels to your son. Let him live like a king. The myth names like Ladon and Laertes are also popular. The parents are the initiators of good life for their children. Let this initiation start with choosing a good name. Your son will definitely thank you for that!



About the Author
Zander Smith

Halloween Party Ideas -Get Prepared for Halloween

The first thing you need to make the best Halloween party is atmosphere ,you will need to get creative and deck your house out to make it look spooky, so that when your guests arrive they get a tingle down their spine!
If you dust a lot and your house does not have any of its own cobwebs you can make some of your own to hang from the corners of your ceiling, you can even hang some toy hairy spiders from them to make them even more spooky! The old favourite is to have some decorated pumpkins lying around your home which will really give the impression of Halloween.

You will want to have some spooky music playing as well, have the lights down low and play the theme music to the exorcist,that will really give people the heebie jeebies! but you don't want all the music to be creepy and scary, you need to have fun as well and what better song to play at Halloween than the monster mash!

The next thing you want to plan for is the food, apart from the usual snacks like pizza and sandwiches and nibbles, you will need to make some spooky horrible looking food as well just for fun, there are tons of Halloween recipe ideas on the internet, you will be amazed at some of the things you can do to make your food look gory and frightening!

You will of course want everyone to dress up as there favourite spooky Halloween character,the old favourites being dracula, frankenstein, the wolf man and of course witches.

Last but not least you will want to have some fun spooky activities to play to keep everyone in a spooktastic mood! You could hold a séance if your nerves will hold out, or maybe you could have a tarot card reading, there are so many fun and frightening games you can play at Halloween.

If you get all these things right you will have a Halloween party that no one will forget and probably no one will be able to top!



About the Author
If you are stuck for ideas and do not know how to go about half of these Halloween ideas, then go to my blog for some spooktastic Halloween tips! http://www.halloweentips.blogspot.com

Ideas of healthy food in children's rooms

We should consider so many important factors in decorating a child's room.
We should consider safety and ecology-friendly concerns. We should think ahead and choose the best mattress for child's tender spine. With regards to the bed, chair, cupboard and table we should give preference to strong and child-friendly furniture for kiddies' rooms. So each and every piece of new furniture should undergo our test whether it is strong enough and child-friendly.

Children are fountains of energy! And we must remember that children's rooms are not only for sleeping, but for active life, games, fun and even sport... we should foresee so many factors. For example, walls: kids might draw pictures on it. So walls should be easily washable. Some parents prefer wall-papered, reasoning that they are more economical and ecological.

Other parents prefer glossy-paper-walls, since they are stronger, and can be washed and even painted several times. There are so many variations, each family should choose according to their own taste. As long as the colours are eye-friendly for a little person.

It has been scientifically proven that the children develop better if the walls are in pastel colours. It is even influencing the health of the children - they get sick less often, are less stressful and more productive with their homework. While bright colours and large figures, on the contrary, will bring tiredness and neuroses. Since a child's room is a private space of your little ones where they should rest from the emotions of the day, the colours of the walls in children's rooms should NOT be too bright.

If pastel tones seem to you too dull and not attractive, then you can choose good accessories, such as teddy bears, colourful lamps, hanging elements or paintings. When decorating, we should take notes of recent research and scientific recommendations. For example, posters and images from cartoons and modern movies should be avoided since it might have a negative effect on the child' development. Much better and healthy for the body and for the mind to choose images of nature: for example, fruits - bright, natural multicolours, they will perfectly bring a huge difference into children's world.

Moreover, fruits can introduce a child to the alphabet and healthy food. Each fruit can contain a smiling face. A very interesting idea that has been shared with me is how to make a child good friends with fruits from the very tender age. Very easy and creative: with the help of magical and healthy fairtytales. It should be narrated to the little one on a daily basis. Preferably it should be an individual story on each fruit that is a part of the room's decoration. The fairytale should, in an easy and entertaining form, explain to the child about the fruit's life-story and health benefits. The main aim of this methodology is to introduce little ones to the world of nature and to develop in children the love for healthy food. Besides, the child will feel very comfortable in his room, being amongst good friends - fruits, as these stories will live in his imagination for years.

When choosing the furniture, parents generally are divided into two groups. The first group declares that independence is above all. They are prepared to change furniture every 2-3 years, be it pedestals, shelves, beds, tables etc.

The second group of parents prefer long-term things. Everything - be it furniture or clothing need to be chosen for several years. ,For example, longer sleeves and trousers pipes are normally bought up oversize and rolled up. Always having an excuse that today everything is too expensive and child can wear the same shoes 2-3 years if they put in it extra pair of thick socks.

Anyway, again, it depends on an individual's preference and choice but a professionals would recommend a golden middle road. Bed and chair - these are the two main items that should really be changed relevant to the child's growth. A tiny tot requires a small cozy bed,a bigger child would prefer a bed with many shelves where he or she could store toys and accessories. The teenager needs a good bed suitable for an grown-up, relevant to his new 'adult' status at school, college or home. The chair should be chosen just as carefully, preferably according to the child's taste. If a child's elbows are at table-height, then you can be sure that this chair is appropriate for him.

A bookshelf is a essential part of a child's room and should be very functional. When a child is still small, the bookshelves can be used for his clothing, later it will be an ideal place for keeping his toys, then books. There will never be enough books as long as they are beneficial for child's mind and heart. We should always be very careful in choosing the right literature for your little treasure.

Let your little one to have the world of good books full of knowledge, kindness, good morals, the world of fairytales and wise stories, that are being narrated by loving parents.

Even the most advanced and exclusive interior without kind words can be replaced by the loving atmosphere created by caring and affectionate parents.



About the Author
Lilia is widely known by parents and educators for her innovative tips and helpful ideas. To discover the methodology that was eagerly embraced by thousands of teachers and parents around the world visit => Children World of Kindness http://www.kindbook.com To read and share healthy recipes => http://www.kindbook.com/healthyrecepies.htm

Tips for Bowling Party Supplies

Put the bumpers up! It's time to bowl! Bowling parties are a great theme for kids. You have rented the bowling alley, now it's time to choose some bowling party supplies.
INVITATIONS and THANK YOU CARDS

Every bowling party invitation has to have a bowling pin and a bowling ball on it! You choose the color of the paper and the ball. You can even choose invitations with goofy looking people on them. Your thank you cards should match your invitations and both come in sets of eight.

DECORATIONS

Decorations are important for your bowling party, we have banners, streamers, balloons, table centerpieces and of course a pinata. The bowling party supplies are actually limited compared to most other party themes. Possibly due to the reason it's the party is being held in a public place and is still open to other patrons at the same time as your party.

PLATES, CUPS, NAPKINS

Your plates, cups, napkins, plastic wear, and other necessities all come in the traditional package of 8. Your again limited to bowling balls and pins. The same theme is on the table clothes and goody bags.

PARTY FAVORS

Your bowling party supplies offer a much larger selection when it comes to the party favors. You can choose from:

* Bowling water games (handheld game that uses water to guide the little ball down the isle.) * Plastic bowling trophies make great gifts for the winner (s) as well as nice party favors. * A stuffed bowling ball that can be autographed by the guest is an item to have as a special memory of the party. Brightly colored bowling ball shaped pens, rubber bracelets, lanyards, bowling pin key chains, tattoos, mini ping pong bowling game, stickers, action bowling figurines, stuffed bowling ball or pin, plastic mini and full size bowling set for a game at home.

The Glow in the dark bowling package is filled with great bowling party supplies, for a few games of midnight bowling.

Bowling parties are great even though the bowling party supplies are very limited in the sense that you may need to get creative with your decorating skills if you are looking for a transformation in to a total bowling experience!



About the Author
Qing Gu is a party planning expert, freelancer, and owner of a few websites about celebrating holidays and special occasions. Here you can get more ideas from these creative bowling party supplies. You can also find more great ideas for bowling birthday party for your kids.

What to do with a Terminal or sick Child

Nothing breaks a heart like a terminal illness for a child. I lived through this nightmare personally and my empathy goes for the parents as much as the children. FEAR overwhelms Parents preventing them from functioning normally and constricting their very life force. This is an all too real in your face experience with no escape.
Fear in this situation serves no purpose. It both stands in the way of creative thoughts as well as interfering in the flow of love that the child should be experiencing at this time. Naturally no one asks for the fear, yet it comes with an army of its own to invade the peace of mind one normally has.

You can not fight fear and win, you can only change the battle ground. You can only fight another fight... a more productive fight. Fear is real most would argue, but truthfully it is an illusion. It is an illusion of what could be. Of what could be lost. But what if this battle against an illusionary army could be directed toward the source of your fear. Then, at least your actions carry strength, at least your bombs will actually explode in the face of your enemy.

Your child is sick, your child has been diagnosed as terminal. You listen to the doctors, the specialist's, you feel a loss of power because you do not understand medicine well enough to troubleshoot with the doctor about what can be done, or so you believe. A feeling of helplessness overwhelms you. No matter how brave of a face you put on, your child knows your pain, your child feels your pain.

While you fight the battle of fear, your child is fighting a battle for his life while feeling empathy for you, the parents. Doesn't it make more sense to turn from this fear, find some anger and attack this problem in the best effective way possible? Of course it does. STOP fighting the battle of what if... and begin to fight the battle of right now!

Everyday in the world, millions of people get well from some illness, every single day. Every single day events that are called miracles happen, every single day. If you want to be in this category, then fight for it. This article is not religious in nature, but if you are religious then by all means pray. When you are not praying this is what you need to do.

The body has trillions of individual cells, each operating on its own agenda. In a healthy body these cells work in harmony with their own destinies. In other words, when things are operating as they are wired to operate, everything is fine. When the body has illness or dis-ease, then something has caused a set of cells to malfunction. Besides modern medicine how can one correct this imbalance? First by understanding the influence the mind has over the body. If you think of eating a lemon, your mouth will water. If you think of being eaten by a tiger, your heart would race. If you are a happy person, it has been proven you have a much better immune system. Biorhythm is a science where people can control their own heart rate and blood pressure with thought.

Understanding that thought carries huge and powerful influences on the body, it is your job to work with your child to work with his body. Talk to him or her about the trillions of cells in their body. There are different cells to do different jobs, just like different solders in the army. Your child is the General of these solders. Have your child close their eyes and imagine this story as you explain to them.

Imagine a million-trillion solders you have in your body. Some are wearing green, some are wearing yellow, some are wearing red. These solders are very proud to work for you, and they love you very much too. I want you to think about them for a minute, visualize them and send them your love. Now I want you to be aware of the solders. Try to feel them in your body, from your toes to your head. Have your child think of the area of sickness, be that blood, lungs, whatever. Think about those little solders there fighting, and tell them that you love them so much and you know they have been working very hard. Tell them you are sorry you have not talked to them before, but now you will always listen to them. Then say, we are sending more solders to help you fight your battle, and you will win, do not worry. Have your child think, visualize sending these solders to that area, and these solders are happy and strong. Have your child visualize that area heating up with love and action. If you are religious now say a prayer to yourself, not begging, simply stating you send healing energy now from the source through my body and into my child. You are making a statement, not a request. Command the energy to move into your child. Finish this exercise with anything you can find to instigate laughter with your child. Do this exercise everyday with your child. At other times of the day, you visualize a healing cloud of light wrapped around your child. Visualize a balloon of love that you feel up, with love for your child and send mentally to your child's bed to wrap around him or her. If your child is too young to understand your words, then send the healing energy from you to him or her.

The body is influenced from the mind, PERIOD. It is even influenced from other peoples minds - sympathy pregnancy - as an example. Do not wallow in the fear you have, instead turn to the love of your child and share it. Fight with your mind, and your childs mind. Do not ever sit by your child in fear. If fear is present, find the love and work with it. Acknowledge your childs own power to influence and heal his or her body. Teach them how to use it. If finding the love is seems too big of a step from fear, then find anger! Use anger to talk to those solders! But by all means, talk to your childs solders sending them love and intent to get well.

Some Wives Tales And Pregnancy

It's all great to hear advice during your pregnancy, especially unwelcome advice. I'm sure you've been told by one person or another how to live. Am I right? It only gets worse the further along in your pregnancy you are. Someone will want to tell you that you shouldn't bend, or walk a certain way, not to pick up a baby in case you hurt the one in your stomach or put yourself in labor. As the pregnancy gets closer to the due date you'll be told many different home remedies of how to put yourself in labor. Got a headache? Someone can tell you exactly what to drink to get rid of it without any medication, remember it is important to ask a doctor before trying to take something you've never tried before doing it. But the most fun I have during the course of the 9-10 months stretch is hearing all the wives tales, also known as myths.
I'm pretty sure you aren't going to even care at this point what sex the baby is, all you want is for the morning sickness to stop. You may even be counting down the days until the first trimester is over. Chances are if you morning sickness someone is bound to tell you what sex of the baby is. One wives tale is if you are having severe morning sickness is a sign you are having a girl.

Here's a wives tale that is a lot of fun and you can test it on everyone in your household. Take a thin piece of string or your hair, slide your ring down it, hold it above your belly and let the ring dangle above it. If the rings spins in a circle it is a boy, but if it goes from one side to the other, it is a girl. Once you've tried it out on your tummy, get someone in your house and do it above their hand. Does the ring spin in a circle above your husband's hand? Hmm, is it really and old wives tale or is there really something to it?

Many women claim to suffer from bouts of heartburn during the pregnancy, according to the old wives tell this would mean your baby will be born with a head full of hair. Right before the end of your first trimester your doctor will listen to your baby's heart rate, this is to make sure the baby is doing alright. The wives tale goes, if the heart rate is high it is a girl and a low one is a boy.

Ever have someone tell you that you are carrying high or low and wonder what that really means? Basically if you are carrying your baby low it is closer to your abdomen, a high baby is closer to your chest. Look at yourself in the mirror. How is your baby sitting? The old tale says that if you are carrying high it is a girl, carrying low is a boy.

Wives tales can be a lot of fun but keep in mind these aren't fact. Don't go preparing your child's room just because one of these told you, you were going to have a girl.



About the Author
To learn about first signs of pregnancy and bleeding during pregnancy, visit Pregnancy Facts

Teaching Parents the most important thing to do

This is the only thing a Parent needs to know.
It's Obvious that our culture had become obsessed with teaching Teens how to be successful in corporate America. Kids are exposed to so much information now in school with the advent of the computer and the information age. Of course education is important, and striving for higher goals is not in of its self a bad thing.

But a life of excelling in education and spelling bees does not assure a productive and happy individual. Being successful in life can only be accomplished by a person who knows how to think, how to place value on self, on responsibility and never placing the outcome of the race before the journey of the race.

Research has shown that most people who win the lottery will eventually wind up in worse shape than they were before they won. This is simply because no amount of money will change the way a person thinks or his priorities. Then of course we have powerful and "successful" CEO's who become power hungry and obsessed with money and public standing who wind up destroying a company along with the investors life savings.

These things can happen when a person is not raised with the fundamental building blocks that create a happy and well balanced person. Sure, they learned all the academic information they needed, but they were never taught how to place value on the most important part of being alive.

Living in America, the most rewarding country of all, Teens are still neglected from learning these principles. They go to school, some go to church, they watch extremely adult programming on TV and also they watch their parents and others reactions to life situations. Through all of this, still they do not get direct understanding of how powerful their mind and thoughts are. They learn reactions from others, never being taught that each reaction should be a choice and not a habitual response.

Kids and Parents these days really have their hands full more so than ever. Its no longer possible to shield a kid from the negatives of the world. If a kid is not aware of these things, the day will come when they become exposed to them on their own. There may be a silver lining to that however, as honesty is really the best policy.

Even the best parents however may not have a priority to teach kids these principles simply because they were not raised with them their selves; even as they may have a loving and supportive home which is very important, they may not be teaching their kids how to react out of choice rather than habitual reactions.

Just as an example, perhaps a kid notices how a parent opens a bill then becomes upset that the bill has been raised. The parent may go on a mini tyrant about how they are getting ripped off, how can they afford it ect. Well kids learn everything from example. Usually a kid will emulate that of the same sex parent. Therefore a kid learns through repetition how to react to that situation. This is of course an obvious condition, since most kids will eventually take on the same political side of the parents, the same religion, etc. Kids learn by the parents example. The parent is in fact just continuing that example set by their own parent years and years ago.

So, what is wrong with a person becoming irate when they open yet another higher bill? Well that is a very interesting question and a very important one as well. Surly we can all justify that this situation should justify a pouting reaction. After all something beyond my control happened to me, taking something I value away from me. This makes me angry and when I get angry everyone will know about it! Now I feel helpless for I have no control, so I will get angry and try to scare the hell out of this bill! Subconsciously I remember my parents doing this and that's how I'm supposed to react.

And of course this reaction is not just limited to opening the monthly bills, but I also use this when I'm issued extra work at my company. And you better believe I'm going to get pissed when I get pulled over for going 85 miles and hour on my way to work! If I'm having a particularly challenging week, I may find myself in a pissed off state for most of the day. Now I've developed a certain look in my eyes, and if I cut my eyes to you with this certain death stare, you have better have only good news for me. ha ha.

Well part of being an adult is that we do not let our selves become angry because we simply did not get our way. After all, we tell our kids this all the time. Its just implied that they do what we say, not what we do! Unfortunately we never got direct instructions on how to actually live this way ourselves. Let me just address the serious negatives to this situation starting from the end state. I have become shielded in a mood of discomfort. I dwell on each situation that is causing me distress. In fact, I go through them all one by one and as if that wasn't fun enough, I do it again. Maybe if I think about this long enough I will find some loop hold that will set me free from this hideous cycle of self condemnation.

Living in this bubble of self inflicted discomfort, now I'm oblivious to other things in my life. I haven't even noticed that my son cleaned up his room. I haven't noticed that the roses in the back yard have begun blooming. My mood is tense, my heart rate is high. My awareness is now limited to only the negatives I'm dwelling on. People can easily sense that I'm in no mood for conversation and my sense of humor is fast asleep on me now. After numerous cycles or repeating the same thoughts through my head, now I'm creating a whole new cycle of interesting thoughts. I'm thinking about my retirement now and I wonder if I will have enough to retire with. Then I think, "holy cow, who's worried about retirement when I have kids who need to go to college". Then a stray thought pops into my head, "I wonder if my boss will consider me for a promotion this year? I doubt it, with my luck I'll probably get fired".

Its just simply a universal law that "like attracts like". This principle is not limited to only physical matter, but is also quite valid with a persons own thoughts and experiences. In the example above we have all taken a turn on that ride. You don't need to be a philosopher, a priest or a rocket scientist to see how this principle works. Taking this a step farther we all know someone who is the doom and gloom type of person, and this person will truly have what seems to be one unlucky experience after another. And my personal favorite (not really) is the complainer. This person never ever has anything go right for them; for them life is one long day of one disaster after another. And if you will notice, a few minutes with this person will become infectious. You will suddenly find your own self participating in this disrespect for life trying to top his next complaint with your own. After you manage to pull yourself away from this spiritual vampire, you will find yourself feeling drained, and certainly not happy.

So why do we choose to jump into this bubble of discomfort? It can be such a habitual reaction that we may find ourselves in it before we knew what hit us. It was certainly not something that was forced on us. We voluntarily jumped into it with a sense of familiarity that almost felt like home. It happened so quickly that we didn't even notice it was actually a choice that we made.

At any moment we find ourselves in, in-life, there are an infinite number of things we can think about. Certainly there is a world full of negative things all over the planet that we can choose to think about if we decide too. On the other hand, at any one moment there is a whole world of positive things that exist in that moment that we can think about. Why is that statement so important?

Simply because that is all you have. What you think about is responsible for your experience of each moment and for your whole life experience; your relationships, your memories, your contemplation of the future, all of this is done inside your own head and heart. The KEY is of course CHOICE! In a sense, just for arguments sake, nothing exists outside of a person. Sure our eyes and ears say something is over there. But our experience of that is always and forever, inside us.

This becomes important for you to understand because you have to teach your kids that no experience on the "outside" of them can cause them any harm unless they choose for it to do so. Naturally I'm not speaking of physical dangers, but experiences.

Suppose your Teen starts a new school, in a new state. His first day maybe he finds out that the other kids don't dress like he does. Maybe they don't even talk about the same things as he is used too. Your kid fits in fine where he comes from, but is clearly an outsider at this new school. Some of the older kids tease him, he doesn't feel like he can make friends with these strange kids. Naturally he does what all kids do and becomes upset and he jumps into his bubble of discomfort.

Looking at the big picture how is it possible that this situation causes him harm or discomfort? This situation is completely on the outside of him. In a sense its not much different than watching a new TV show. He is experiencing something new as an observer. His attention is focused on what his new surroundings are, the new people, the new conversations, and even the teasing. Unfortunately he doesn't yet understand that outward experiences have no power to change his mood UNLESS he allows it to do so. Once again in that moment the world is full of experience, and memories. There are great ones, and negative ones. The ones that a person gets in tune with are the ones that they CHOOSE!

Don't you think that our kids need to know that they are not victims to whatever crosses their minds? That they are not victims to things they observe. The most powerful magic that they possess is the ability control what and how they think! What they choose to think about is what they choose to feel. A person should go through life feeling GOOD! A kid should be well informed and taught how to use the most powerful computer on earth, their brains! Once again, I'm not talking about algebra or compound sentences, I'm talking about the foundation of the mind.

In the earlier example of opening the bill, a parent who going to set an example of power and confidence may do something like this. Open the bill, look at it, and set it down. And that's about it!

That's because in his mind, he knows that sacrificing even a minute on being upset and angry is just ridiculous. In the big picture he knows that the whole world is set up on a system of giving and receiving energy. The symbol for this is of course money. He understands that the electricity is something that he wants, something that he needs, and something that really if he had too, would pay twice as much for it as he does. He knows the electric company has a lot of employees and a lot of expenses themselves. When he makes his payment, he is contributing to the whole community for a service that he requests to have. More than that, a 2 percent increase is basically nothing in the big picture of life.

More than that, he keeps the positive attitude that he CHOSE to expereince. No outward force of discomfort invaded his mind and emotions. He did not sacrifice one moment of what he wanted for the chance to pitch a temper tantrum. He sees things in the big picture. He chooses to see the best in people and circumstances. He understands that the quality of his journey through life has nothing to so with opening envelopes or checks for that matter. It is simply, a state of mind.

There is a magical aspect to this that actually goes much farther than just avoiding the temper tantrum. Wise men and women throughout history have tried to tell us in as many ways as they could about these principles.

The magical aspect is that "like attracts like". A positive attitude not only saves the moment, but goes out to save future moments too. That is called the law of attraction. When a person decides to choose positive experiences the universe will began to provide more and more of them for you to experience. These situations are sometimes called luck. Sometimes they are called blessings from God.

I have purposely avoided addressing religious theologies, as there are so many of them and so many different views. And whatever your theology is, just relate these principles to that of your creator. These principles do exist; they were made into the fabric of the whole system just as the planets and forces of nature.

Some famous quotes that reflect these principles; "Cast your bread upon the waters and in many days it returns" "Spirit is the Life, Mind is the builder, the physical is the result" "Live by the sword, die by the sword" "Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at will change"

These are just a few of countless quotes that are simple ways of explaining how our thoughts DO influence experiences they we actually create.What a person believes and expects about the world are key to how this person's life unfolds. Have you noticed that the world is EXACTLY how you believe it is? Think about that. That is a very powerful statement! It is both true for you, and your kids.

In short, always stretch for a better feeling thought than where you are. Teach your kids to do the same. The road to happiness is in choosing how to feel, not reacting to how to feel.

If you want to drive to another state, you may use a road map for directions. When you drive through life, your directions to happiness are your emotions. When you feel bad, you are going the wrong way. Find a better feeling thought, find relief, then you will be headed back in the right direction. The best thing you can do to Parent your kids is to teach them how to use this magical roadmap of life!




About the Author
Author, Baboo Says - a Life Manual for Kids. http://www.baboosays.com

To Relocate Or Not To Relocate

"We're moving to Finland," says my husband. "What? When? How?" say I. "We don't want to move out of the country," scream my children. "Wait, let me get on my breathing machine," says my mother. "Don't do it," says my father-in-law. But my husband can't help but get excited.
"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity," he says. "I'll be too old to get another offer like this if I wait until the kids graduate from high school. And I know this stuff. I'm good at it and I won't have to learn anything new."

I couldn't believe it. He was seriously considering a move to Finland--a country we know absolutely nothing about. After being out of work for nearly two years, the $75,000 yearly salary seemed too good to pass up. It would mean getting back to where we were before we left his secure job in California and ventured out to start a new life. It would mean no more financial juggling. It would mean that I wouldn't have to work so hard and it would mean I could go back to enjoying the role of mother and part-time business woman. And besides, we've always talked about working overseas and traveling the globe.

But could we really pack up and move to Finland? Had the offer been for Italy, Rome, France, Germany, Hawaii, or even the Bahamas, I probably would've jumped on the band wagon with him. But Finland? We can't even stand the cold of Wisconsin. And then there were our kids to consider.

After a long family discussion with the kids, I'm happy to report that my husband has turned down the offer. Sure, it was a great opportunity. Yes, the pay was excellent. And the benefits were great, too. But my husband decided that no amount of money would be worth uprooting our kids from their grandparents to move to a country they didn't want to be in.

Now if a job in the United States would just open up, we could relieve some of the financial stress and I could start enjoying "family time" again.

What To Do When You Decide To Relocate Taking the time to determine if relocating your family is the right decision is more than just dollar and cents. Moving to a new place can be a heart wrenching experience for children. In fact, it can be just as hard on parents as you leave behind close family, friends, familiar activities, and the life you've grown to love. But sometimes, moving is the only solution to keeping peace in the house or staying financially afloat.

Answer these questions before you decide to relocate your family across town or across state:

1. Are you moving to better your family life or to afford more luxuries?

2. Will moving give you better health insurance or take your insurance away?

3. Will you lose the money you put into your retirement account or can it be transferred?

4. Are you moving because of a job promotion, because there are no jobs in your area, or because you are changing careers?

5. Have you discussed what the move would mean to your spouse and his/her career?

6. Have you discussed the move with your children and given them a say in the decision?

7. Have you made a list of pros and cons with regards to your new job and new location? Do the pros outweigh the cons?

Once you've answered the above questions, you can help prepare your children for the move by getting your children involved in the process from the start:

1. Tell your children why you are planning to move.

2. Ask your children about their concerns. Address their fears, worries, and anger with an open-mind.

3. Show your children a map of the town they'll be relocating to.

4. Order an apartment guide or home owner's guide and let your children pick out their dream home and then narrow it down by what you can afford to pay for rent or mortgage payments.

5. Order tourist information and show your children all the fun things there are to do in the area.

6. Order the local paper and read the good stuff to your children, but keep the negatives to yourself. Knowing the good and bad about a town is essential from a parent's point of view, but not the best way to ease a child's mind.

7. Take a mini-vacation to the area you plan to relocate to. Let your children see and experience the area first-hand. Let them discuss the pros and cons of the new area and don't be afraid to agree with any of their cons. It's important that you don't paint a flawless picture because no place is perfect.



About the Author
Alyice Edrich is the author of several highly praised e-books designed to help you work from home. To discover how you can earn $50 in two hours or up to $10K in your spare time visit her store: http://thedabblingmum.com/ebookstore

Important Swimming Pool Safety Tips For Children

As Summer draws near and the amount of daylight grows, the activity that grows more prevalent in many people's minds, especially many children's minds, is swimming.
We seem to be instinctively drawn back to the water from which our most distant ancestors came (and perhaps this is a key to unlocking the door on the mystery of why dolphins so love human beings).

However--we land-lubber human beings no longer have gills or fins. And contrary to a commonly held myth, swimming is not second nature to us (infant water therapy notwithstanding). So, as much fun as swimming in the water can be for us, it can also be deadly.

Statistically, a home with a back yard pool is more dangerous, more potentially deadly, to children than a home in which the parents keep a locked gun cabinet. Each year, there are more children who die by drowning in swimming pools than there are who die because of a gun accident.

There are certain vitally important safety measures that adults should make sure they practice with children whenever there is a swimming pool or a beach, a lake, etc where children are playing in the water.

First and foremost, no children under the age of 14 should ever be left alone near the water. Not for a second. It takes only a split second for a child to fall into a pool, hit her head on the edge on the way in, and die in a matter of minutes, or to have something very similar happen just as quickly and tragically. If you have to go somewhere, all young children need to go with you.

Another thing to do is be wary of pools bearing toys. Even if it isn't your own back yard pool, but one close by your home, pay special attention to small children going into the pool to play with the toys. Always keep your pool toy free when you're not there, and encourage your neighbors to do the same.

Also keep your pool fenced in, and make sure the fence is locked and is too tall for small children to climb over. Children have little sense of the dangers of pools and won't think to ask for adult supervision.

Teach your children to swim, or have them taught, from the earliest possible age. Ignore their protests if they put up resistance. They will thank you later, and it could very well save their lives one day.

Children also need to be taught never to swim alone. They should always have at least one friend with them whenever they are going swimming. First aid kits and life-savers should always be close by the pool. If you are swimming at a place such as a lake, take first aid kits and life-savers with you. As a parent, learn CPR.

However, even more safety can be afforded to children who are going swimming, or boating or fishing on a boat, with the use of one of the best water safety inventions ever devised--the life jacket or safety vest.

At Avendales, there is a wide array of Coast Guard approved safety vests and related water safety items that are offered to give children added protection in or near the water.

Their Finis Swim Vest can be adjusted by adding or removing foam layers that alter the buoyancy. The vest also acts to keep children upright in the water. The large life vest for children is designed to promote floating on one's back, one of the safest positions to take in the water.

Their Sprint Children Therapy Wet Suit was especially designed to be worn by autistic children to keep them safe while they, too, enjoy the water and the sunlight. The Swim-Tee Trainer is a tank top swimming suit with a heavy duty inflatable inner tube designed for small children just learning to swim. This trainer promotes self-confidence in the water while providing a very high degree of safety.

The Spring Duck Mat is used to provide safety and support for water therapy rehabilitation or water aerobics.

Avendales offers a Water Sports Helmet to be used with such water sports as tubing, water skiing, and wake boarding. The impact resistant outer shell adds much more protection to potentially dangerous but exciting sports.



About the Author
You can find these children' approved safety products and many other pool fun toys, lounges and other accessories at Avendales.com in their Swim Shop department.

Family Health- Parents - Kids Have Stress Too

Do you remember searching for four leaf clovers in the grass when you were a kid? Making dandelion necklace? Building forts with old cardboard boxes? What will your kids remember? Sitting in the back of a minivan? Ordering dinner at drive -thru? Being shuttled from activity? More importantly, how will it affect their mental and physical health?
Emergency doctors are noticing more and more children coming into emergency rooms with racing hearts, sweating, feeling like they're going to die, etc... all adult symptoms of anxiety and stress.

Common children stressors include: problems at home or school, parental conflicts, family money problems, health problems, changes to routine, distressing world events, and social problems, such as teasing and bullying.

Children often say "the morning rush hour stresses me": I have to eat quickly, I have to get dressed fast, brush my teeth quickly, then pack my stuff!....

Academic stress or competitive sports can be healthy for children but it depends on how children manage the stressors and their sense of control. "If the stress is something over which they have no control, and that could be anything from a certain disaster to problems in the family, the results can be long-term physical and psychological health effects.

Signs that a child might be experiencing undue stress are: • Recurring headaches, tummy aches or neck pain • Increased irritability, sadness, panic, anger • Trouble relaxing or sleeping • Lethargy, daydreaming, withdrawal from activities • Excessive energy or restlessness • Reverting to less mature behaviour • Nail biting, hair twisting, thumb sucking or sighing deeply • Friend trouble • Behavioural problems, such as biting, kicking, poor listening, restlessness, acting out, impulsiveness, poor school performance, whining, crying, and fighting.

Although there's more research regarding the health effects of stress on adults, there's no reason children wouldn't experience similar effects.

What parents can do is often too simple, but due to their own stressors and busy lives, it often becomes challenging or pushed to the side:

1. Stop, look, and listen! This is one of the most effective and simplest strategies: really look at the child and seeing what they are doing, whether it's darting eyes or raised shoulders.... and really listening to their concerns while a connection is established.

2. Help kids cope: the best defence against stress is a healthy balanced lifestyle that includes physical activity, quiet time and relaxation techniques, with a primary emphasis on affectionate parents who are good listeners.

3. Be a good role model. Parents are terrible stress models for kids. "Where's the balance that we're modelling for kids as we answer cell phone calls in the middle of soccer games or we bring briefcase of work on holidays?

Helping children gain a sense of control through effective problem solving and decision making are great strategies for stress management. But it's important that parents first emulate the behaviour. Many professionals encourage parents to share their mistakes and challenges with their kids; this is an excellent and efficient way to teach them to problem solve when, for example they hear " I blew it at work today and this is what I'm going to do to retrace my steps"

4. Play with your kids: Above all, parents need to play with their kids. "Get to know your kids and let them get to know you." It's the only way parents can determine if stress is a problem in their child's life.

Some of the most important nutrients to help children cope with stress are the ones that strengthen the adrenal glands (stress glands):

• Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)-helps the adrenals function adequately • Vitamin C-is vital for proper functioning of the adrenals • L-Tyrosine (amino acid)-relieves excess stress put on the glands raw adrenal extract (adrenal glandular)-helps rebuild and repair the glands • Coenzyme Q10-carries oxygen to the glands • Multi vitamin-mineral complex-contains nutrients needed for correct functioning of the body

Naturopathic medicine offers many other therapies for reducing stress caused by the begining of school, such as: botanical medicine, acupuncture and chinese medicine,homeopathy,etc.

And now I'd like to invite you to learn more how naturopathy can help your child recover from stress and anxiety by offering you a free access to my upcoming Tele-seminar on natural kids health: for details, go here: http://www.doctoranca.com From: Dr. Anca Martalog, N.D -http://www.telehealthsecrets.com



About the Author
Dr.Anca Martalog,N.D., survivors’ coach, is a Naturopathic Doctor in private practice in Richmond Hill, Canada, since 1995. As a stroke survivor and a Naturopathic Dr., she holds the secret to overcoming adversity naturally. She also deliver coaching programs thru teleweb training sessions to cancer, stroke and heart disease survivors, who are interested in learning how to live their life to the fullest, at their maximum Energy level, in best

US Government Recall Agencies

There are many government agencies that have some limited form of product recall responsibilities, such as the Coast Guard's responsibility for certain marine-product recalls like floatation devices, and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) jurisdiction over recalls involving harm to the environment. However, the bulk of recalls in the United States goes through one of four government agencies: Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This article aims to inform consumers about which agency to contact when they have a complaint to make about a product, and how to go about contacting the agency.
Food Recalls

Both the FDA and USDA are responsible for foods, but each has its own jurisdictions. If you have a complaint to make about meat, poultry, dairy and egg products, the USDA should be informed right away. See the end of this article for contact information on all agencies. For all other food products (i.e. canned goods, fruit & veggies, processed foods, snacks, restaurant food, etcetera...) you should contact the FDA.

Pharmaceutical Drugs, Over-The-Counter Drugs and Health Supplements

The FDA is in charge or regulating these, although their ability to regulate health supplements and 'herbal remedies' is somewhat limited at present. It is very important that you contact the FDA in the event of an unexpected side effect from any drug or health supplement so they can investigate quickly in order to save others from similar - or worse - reactions.

Cars, Trucks, Vans, SUVs, ATVs and Motorcycles

Most things with an engine and four-wheels are covered by the NHTSA, although certain ATVs and motorbikes may also be covered by the CPSC. In general, if it is legal to drive it on the street you should contact the USDA. If it is a motorized toy or recreational vehicle, contact the CPSC.

Auto parts, Tires, Infant Car Seats and Vehicle Accessories

If it is directly related to the automobile, such as a part or tires, contact the NHTSA. Infant car seats and most non-essential automobile accessories are handled by the CPSC.

Toys, Electronics, Furniture, Clothes, Etcetera...

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has the most to worry about in terms of overall products. Just about everything you can think of that was not covered in one of the above paragraphs is handled by the CPSC.

How To Contact Each Agency

FDA - www.fda.gov 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville MD 20857-0001 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332)

USDA - www.usda.gov 1400 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, DC 20250

CPSC - www.cpsc.gov 4330 East West Highway Bethesda, MD 20814

NHTSA - www.nhtsa.gov NHTSA Office of Defects Investigations/CRD NVS-216 1200 New Jersey Ave SE Washington, DC 20590

Learn More

History of the USDA http://www.usrecallnews.com/2008/06/history-of-the-u-s-department-of-agriculture-usda.html

History of the FDA http://www.usrecallnews.com/2008/06/history-of-the-food-and-drug-administration-fda.html

History of the CPSC http://www.usrecallnews.com/2008/05/us-consumer-product-safety-commission-cpsc.html

History of the NHTSA http://www.usrecallnews.com/2008/06/history-of-the-u-s-national-highway-traffic-safety-administration-nhtsa.html



About the Author
Everett Sizemore is an online copywriter with content interests in yoga, consumer safety and green living.

Halloween Decoration Ideas | Great outdoor spookynite Halloween decoration ideas for your home

Halloween Decoration Ideas | Great outdoor spookynite Halloween decoration ideas for your home

There are a number of Halloween decoration ideas for the frugal available on the internet, and in books and magazines. Individuals who are frugal simply take the resources that the have and maximize them in order to get the best and most use possible. If you want to save money, and have a blast decorating the inside and outside of your home this Halloween, there are many different ways that you can do so.


Here, we will look into a few Halloween decoration ideas that you may find interesting. One of the first things that you can do is gather some basic cardboard egg cartons and create many different "spiders" to hang in and around the home. This is very easy to do. Below I will detail the steps required to make this type of decoration.


The first thing that you will need to do is take the bottom part of the egg carton and cut out sections of three egg compartments at a time. The middle of the three sections will act as the "head" and "body" of the spider. Now, on the other two sides, you will need to cut strips so that you have four "legs" on either side of the body.


Once you have succeeded in this part of the project, you will want to take some black spray paint and completely color the entire "spider". You should allow about an hour for this project to dry. Then, you will want to add a pair of those little eyes that move around that can purchased in your local craft department for about a buck a piece. Once this has been completed, simply thread in some basic fishing line or thread and add a hook on the top to hang these spooky spiders in various locations around your home.


Now, did you know that there are many Halloween decoration ideas where you can use all those burned out light bulbs that accumulate during the year? That's right! Take about four different bulbs and then get a pot of dirt ready that you can stick the bulbs in. Now, get some craft paint of different colors. Color the bulbs orange and then once that dries, create a "Jack O' Lantern" type face on each. Simple stick the little bulbs down into the pot. This should be short of a long, rectangular shaped one.


Then, take some spray webbing and spray in between each bulb and maybe even on some of the bulbs. That's just a couple of the many Halloween decoration ideas out there for the frugal! Just look around the house and be as creative as possible!



About the Author
Daryl Plaza is a regular contributor to www.Spookynite.com supplying you with all the information and resources you need to know about Halloween nite.

TV Technology Good Or Bad

Television viewing has sure come a long way through the years. I remember as a child we had one TV in the living room and we could get 4 channels. Two, four, five and twelve. My dad was lucky though as he did have a remote, well actually 4 of them. My mother, my sister, my brother and I. I remember it all so well as he would lay on the couch with the TV Guide in hand and holler for whoever happened to be the closest at the time to change the channel.
With only 4 channels there wasn't near the variety as there is today, but we didn't know any different. With only one TV in the house it was a pretty simple formula deciding what we watched. It was whatever my dad wanted to watch. If he was at work or gone somewhere then we got to watch what we wanted, if it wasn't on at the same time as The Young and The Restless. Mom can't miss her soaps. Of course us kids got addicted to the soap operas too because if we wanted to watch TV, that's what we watched. When I had the TV to myself I liked to watch The Brady Bunch, Gilligan's Island and The Facts Of Life.

Watching evening TV with my dad was to suffer through To Tell The Truth which for a kid was the most boring game show on the planet. No spinning wheels, flashing lights or pretty assistants. You had 3 panelists asking questions to try and figure out which one of the 3 contestants was telling the truth and which 2 weren't. Boring! Other shows I can remember watching were Gunsmoke, Hee-Haw, Laugh-In, Sonny & Cher, Starsky & Hutch, Charlie's Angels, The 6 Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, Baretta, Columbo and football.

It was a good TV night if they happened to have an Elvis special on or a beauty pageant. I dreaded the nights that the President was speaking because he was on every channel we had!

Today my mom and dad have satellite TV, a remote (lucky for him as us kids eventually all moved out) and more channels than than they could ever want. My dad still lays on the couch and watches TV, my mom still watches her soaps (luckily for her my dad got addicted to them too) and everything worked out just fine. Technology is a good thing.

Check this out for a great alternative to TV viewing. Watch 12,000 TV Channels For Free.



About the Author
Liz Morgan is an experienced channel changer and has nightmares about To Tell The Truth TV marathons.

If you have a TV hog in your family, check this out Watch 12,000 Channels Free On Your PC.

Considering Bunk Bed Plans

Building a bunk bed is undoubtably a very intimidating and daunting task. If you thought assembling together a premanufactured bunk bed was difficult, think about how hard it would be to have to drill every hole, cut accurate measurements, and then have to put it all together after sanding the wood and finishing it! Yes, I am warning you now that it is a very hard task! It takes dedicated work and patience to build something like this. Are you still up for it? Good! Once you finish building a bunk bed for your children, it is a very rewarding outcome. You not only saved money but you also just gave your kids the best present!
So how exactly do you go about building your own bunk bed? Well your first step is to find a plan that you can work with. A bunk bed plan is typically a layout and instructional manual which will list out all the parts you will need and exact size measurements of each piece. For example, you may need an X number of Y feet long A x B size wood. The list should be pretty straight forward and now you can go do your shopping!

So you came back with some lumber! You’re one step closer to finishing it! Lay out all your wood pieces that are cut precisely in accordance to the measurements you have from the plan. Familiarize yourself with the pieces. Recognize what pieces go where and lay out your pieces by one step at a time. It will make it much easier for you!

So putting together the pieces of wood can be the most difficult part. Some plans may actually not come with step by step instructions on how to put the bed together so this is up to you! My only word of advice that I have is that you should do this one step at a time. Take a deep breath and put together one piece at a time. This will test your patience and you will need to focus very closely on the details!

So after hours and hours of dedicated work, you may have what looks to be a completed bunk bed. Your bunk bed plan may neglect this part but sanding, finishing, and painting your bunk bed is a step you should never neglect! You definitely do not want your kids to be sleeping on a bed with splintering pieces! Make sure all exposed wood is finished and sanded down smoothly.

Hopefully this guide will give you a boost of confidence in building your own bunk bed. Yes it is a lot of work but following the right steps will make it much easier for you.



About the Author
This article was written by Chris Kim, the editor for BunkBedsPedia. You can go to BunkBedsPedia to see more articles related to bunk beds.

Holliday Cheer With Christmas Decorations

When the end of November rolls around, the Christmas season blasts off. Towns begin their festivities, stores give specials on just about everything they're selling, and many people go shopping for ornaments. Besides the traditional yuletide tree, there are a wide variety of various decorations that you can put up to get into the spirt of Christmas. Not all of them have to be bought - you can create a number yourself to save some money. Either way you go about getting them, Christmas decorations are an essential part of the holiday season.
Every single year, people design new and creative Christmas decorations. These can often be used simply around the house wherever you have room, but some are designed specifically for a Christmas tree or to be hung from doorways, to name a few. In fact, you can probably find Christmas ornaments for every single space in your home if you want to. Remember that house in your neighborhood with its entire yard filled up with Christmas lights and lit figures? You too can get these Christmas decorations for your own house on the cheap. You can purchase each of them for a few dollars at a wide variety of stores during the holiday season, from Boscovs to Wal-Mart. If you want to make your own, visit a craft store and binge on crafting materials. No matter what you pick up, you'll likely be able to throw something neat and creative together for Christmas.

One of the best parts about Christmas ornaments is that there are so many of them, thousands have been designed for each part of your home, from the front lawn to inside. By giving you a huge number of versatile options, Christmas ornaments allow you to decorate your home how you want to. If you want to deck your house out in Christmas cheer, you'll never have to deal with getting stuck with what's left. You'll always be able to find that perfect ornament that you simply can't live without.

Save Some Money

If you're an arts and crafts kind of person, then you can save lots of money if you design your own Christmas decorations. homemade Christmas decorations can be a lot of fun too, and you'll feel as if they're more of an accomplishment if you make them yourself as opposed to buying them, giving them more nostalgic value over the years. Some easy suggestions for make-your-own Christmas decorations include creating your own reeves and using modeling clay to make your own Christmas figurines. The cost of the materials to make these decorations will be much less than if you buy them in stores already made, so you'll be having a thrifty Christmas season as well as having more fun.

If you want to get into the mood for Christmas, then you'll want to fill up your house with Christmas decorations. They aren't very expensive, and you can find them in just about any story in the weeks leading up to Christmas. You can probably get some great deals on them right after Christmas if you want to save up for the following Christmas. The best way to get into the Christmas spirit isn't with presents or wishing for snow. Christmas decorations ensure that every year, you'll be surrounded with Christmas cheer.



About the Author
Christmas Decorations presents various and inspiring ideas of how to redecorate your home and yard for Christmas to get into the real Christmas Spirit. Creating your handmade Christmas decorations by own design is cheap and brings the whole family together.

Should We Be Concerned About the Apparent Violence of Our Children

Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley
Two incidents in the United States in recent days have caused me to wonder if we should be more concerned about the apparent violence among our children.

In one incident, six teenage girls lured an apparent cheerleader squad member to a friend's home and then brutally gang attacked her with a vicious 30-minute beating in retaliation for some remarks she apparently made about them online. Two teenage boys helped the beating along by serving as lookouts.

Upon her arrival, the victim was struck in the head several times and then had her head slammed into a wall, knocking her unconscious. She awoke on a couch surrounded by the six girls who proceeded, one at a time, to beat her senseless while using several video cameras to record the beating for posting on YouTube online.

The victim suffered a concussion, damage to her left eye and left ear, and numerous bruises. The six female suspects were all charged with felony battery and false imprisonment.

The county sheriff described the beating as a "pack mentality" with "animalistic behavior". These are supposedly cheerleaders at a school and at least the victim has been described as an honor student.

While all the facts are not in and the legal process will play itself out, it does appear certain that the attackers were immature, self-centered, self-absorbed young teenage girls, far more concerned about protecting their image and stature (as sorry as it is) than acting like civilized members of society.

This is an extreme and pathetic example of how some of our young girls resolve their frustrations today. They beat each other up in their viciousness and stupidity and then pride themselves on how clever they are to videotape the event for posting on the Internet.

No amount of protestations by their parents that they are bright, competent, sensitive, caring, mature young women can erase their abhorrent and intolerable behavior. It goes without saying that the two young men who served as lookouts are no better.

The second incident involved a college fast-pitch softball game wherein an opposing player hit her first-ever home run with two runners on base and, when passing and missing first base on her trip around the bases, she abruptly stopped to go back and collapsed with a knee injury.

It was a close game, and if she could not touch all bases on her way home, she would be declared out. She was injured so badly she could not even stand up. Her teammates could not help her or she would be declared out. A pinch runner could have been called in and the homer would then only count as a single.

In a stunning display of understanding, compassion and sportsmanship, the opposing team's first baseman and shortstop came over the picked up the injured player, carefully carrying her around the bases and lowering her at each base so she could touch all of the bases and have her home run count.

"You deserve it," said the first baseman, "you hit it over the fence."

There was not a dry eye among the injured player's teammates when she reached home base in the arms of her opponents. The injured player's coach, a 14-year coaching veteran, called the act of sportsmanship "unbelievable."

The injured player's team would go on to win the game 4-2, and eliminate the opposing team, which lost its chance at a conference title and advancing to the playoffs. One of America's greatest sportswriters said it best: "When the One Great Scorer comes to write against your name, He marks, not that you won or lost, but how you played the game."

Both sets of young women in both incidents had a choice to make. The difference between the two choices is clear: you can choose to be self-centered or other-centered.

The low self-image, low self-esteem and low self-confidence level of the six girls who brutally attacked their friend with intent to harm her did not allow them to think of anyone else. Their fragile egos were so harmed by some apparent criticism that they needed to beat their teammate senseless and then post video on the Internet to recover any sense of self-worth.

The fact that some of our youngsters today cannot handle adversity is disturbing. While spending time behind bars before they were released into the custody of their parents, they joked about whether they would make cheerleading practice the next day. The fact that they apparently showed no remorse is even more disturbing. It is one thing to make a terrible mistake; it is another to think it is so funny it becomes evil.

The six teenage girls who brutally beat up their friend have some lessons in life to learn, and perhaps their parents as well. Here are eight lessons they could consider:

1) If you lack the will for change, there is no one who can show you the way.

2) When you blame others, you give up your power to change.

3) Your own thoughts and feelings are the cause of all your problems, not the world or the people in it.

4) The day you start taking responsibility for your actions, and become accountable for your actions, is the day you will start to mature as an adult.

5) What you think about me is none of my business. What is most important is what I think about myself.

6) Always remember that no matter what anyone is saying to you from the outside, the most important conversation is the one you are having with yourself on the inside.

7) Develop some character. Adversity does not build character, it reveals it.

8) Develop some integrity. Integrity is what you do in the dark when no one can see you, and even more so when you stand to profit by doing the wrong thing.



About the Author
Read some of my outrageous Social Commentary on other hot topics, including: "Facts About the Second Most Controversial Topic in America - The First Is Abortion" "So Why Should I Subsidize Any Banks Because of Their Greed and Incompetence?" "A Disturbing Trend in Our Society - The Lack of Trust in Our Institutions" Find my Blog at: http://www.edbagleyblog.com http://www.edbagleyblog.com/LessonsinLife.html

Making Money Ideas For Your Kids

School's out and kids have time and now money. My kids are grown but I remember when they were young and seemed to want for everything in the world (Of course they still do). I think I was asked every day for some spending money. So is it your obligation as a parent to give them money or to give them ideas on how to earn money?
I think if you give them money you are just creating some negative habits. That not only affects you but also your kids for the rest of their lives. There are not too many programs in the world that will just hand out money. At some point your children are going to have to learn how to earn money. If you can give them some ideas when they are kids, it not only will help their self-esteem but it will also develop some entrepreneur habits.

The first thing you need to do is just to come up with some ideas for your kids to earn money. This does not have to be an everyday job and keep in mind if they are young this should be fun.

So hear are some ideas for your kids to make money:

Selling Lemonade or Kool-Aid

You see it every year. Some young kids on a corner or in your neighbor hood selling lemonade. It always makes me smile. I think I drank more than I ever sold.

Delivering Sale Bills Door to Door

This is what I did as a kid. My dad owned a store and for we would deliver his sales brochures door to door for a penny a piece. Not a ton of money but my friends and I loved it. Of course in today's world you might have to be careful here.

Mowing Lawns

I know there are big businesses doing this but many neighbors will hire neighborhood kids to mow their lawns.

Car Wash

Many schools do this as a fund raiser but maybe you can organize your kids and their friends to have a car wash. Expect to get wet.

Bake Sale

This can be done separately or maybe you could combine it with you lemonade stand.

Babysitting

This is an old time favorite and I think in some communities the schools might have a class on babysitting. I would check it out.

Dog Walking or Pet Care

This also has become big business but in many households where there are two income workers they have pets that need care.

Allowance

Of course this can also seem like a handout. I would just make sure that there are chores involved so the kids feel like they are earning the money not being given the money.

These are a few ideas and of course there are many more ways that kids can earn money. If you have ideas please click on comments and write down some ideas. I would appreciate it and many readers would appreciate it.

I hope this helps and good luck making money.



About the Author
Mark Nelson is the creator and owner of http://www.financialhat.com The goal of this site is to educate parents how to teach their children about money and also to teach people how to build their wealth for their own financial independence. If you would like more information on how to build your wealth please go to his website and download his free e-book.

Six Cheap Family Vacations

Cheap family vacations? Is that even possible anymore with the price of gasoline and everything else going up? Yes, relatively speaking. There are a number of ways to cut the costs. Here are six examples to get you thinking.
1. Vacation With Family Or Friends

If you have any family or friends in nice places, this may be the time to visit, especially if they are within driving distance. Apart from the costs to drive there, most of the other expenses will be for things that you would be spending money on in any case. If you and a friend both live in an interesting place, you might even swap houses for a week. If a friend has a cabin on a lake that you can borrow, that works as well.

2. Camping Vacations

If your kids like a bit of adventure and outdoor living, a camping trip can still be an affordable vacation. Just keep it closer to home to keep the travel costs down. There are beaches on the great lakes where you can camp for free, for example. The kids can swim and explore the woods every day. National forests are often free to camp in for up to two weeks. Find one with interesting sights and activities nearby. Borrow the tents and other equipment from friends if you can only afford a really cheap vacation. Bring your laptop computer and a few movies for rainy nights.

3. Hiking Vacations

Equipping you, your spouse and all the kids for a backpacking trip may not be practical. On the other hand there are many areas of the country where hotels are cheap and near hiking trails. One of them may be near you. Plan for interesting destinations, like waterfalls, caves and lakes. The kids probably won't tolerate just walking and taking in the view.

4. Amusement Parks

They may want to go to Disneyland or Six Flags, but they'll be happy with anyplace that has exciting rides if that is all you can afford. There are many amusement parks that have both roller coasters and water parks but don't cost as much as the more famous ones. Find one that is within a couple hours of you and buy a weekend pass for the family. Check hotel rates first to be sure that you don't lose in accommodations what you gained in proximity and cheap gate prices.

5. National Parks

National parks charge by the vehicle, not by the person, and The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free to enter. List the three national parks nearest you, and look to see what they offer. Then look at the hotel rates in the towns within an hour's drive of the entrances to choose the most economical family vacation destination.

6. Family Vacations At the Beach

You can camp on the ocean in Florida for $24 per night. You can camp on some beaches of the Great Lakes for free. The hotels along Highway 2 in Michigan's Upper Peninsula are as cheap as $50 in September (and that's when Lake Michigan is actually at its warmest). Take a metal detector, so when the kids get tired of swimming and building sand castles they can hunt for treasure. There are also numerous cheap campgrounds on the beaches of Lakes Michigan, Superior, and Huron. You'll find these in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and in Ontario, Canada. Family vacations at the beach will usually be enjoyed and remembered by all.



About the Author
Copyright Steve Gillman. Get the free Travel Secrets Ebook, as well as travel stories and tips, at http://www.everythingabouttravel.com

Why It's Okay To Have More Than One Designer Handbag

You may wonder why anyone would even question the idea of not having more than one designer handbag. Shouldn’t everyone have multiple? If you can’t imagine wearing your day purse out with your night purse, than you know exactly where I am coming from, but if you are the conservative type of woman who has a practical classic black handbag, then you may want to listen up!



There are several designer handbags created by well known designers who each specialize in unique, high quality and fun designs, but each designer’s bag may not always “go” with everything you are wearing. The classic Coach purse for example, is an excellent handbag to wear while running errands, taking to a sporting event or girl’s luncheon or church. The Coach purse is a well made bag that compliments most outfits and is neutral on a conservative level as far as design. What about when you are going out clubbing with your girlfriends? What designer handbag, clutch or designer wallet is really best? That is where the party girl side of you comes out and says, “pish posh” to conservative purses, you need to bring out the snakeskin Prada clutch or the metal and leather Dolce and Gabbana handbag! Your entourage will definitely take notice that you are not wearing your brown, conservative Coach purse out with your black mini skirt and black leather boots.



It’s okay to have more than one designer handbag especially if you are in a specific industry that requires you looking your best. For example, all of these jobs would demand that you have two or three designer handbags.



Designer Handbag Retail Salesperson
A Woman in Sales Who Entertains Her Clients
A Woman in the Fashion Industry
A Woman who Works in Entertainment Industry


All of these jobs require a woman to have an excellent appearance, be fashion conscious and be considered “in-the know” as far as designers and handbags go. You may be thinking, sure, I’d love to have ten designer handbags, all by different designers and in different colors and sizes but thinking about the current economy and what a designer handbag’s price tag can fetch for, how could anyone be expected to have several, let alone ten! That is were the shop-a-holic gets her smarts! Shopping for designer bags through a designer outlet or through a discount retailer or even shopping for a vintage handbag is perfectly acceptable and very chic!



A woman’s handbag is essentially an extension of her arm, an extension of who she is so therefore- no matter what handbag you decide to get, know that it needs to be what you like and what represents you first. There are several designer handbag designers who create several lines of styles, from the classic bag to the sassy night time bag nd not all of them will set you back $2000. If you look in the right spots, whether your local thrift store or one of the online designer bag outlets, you can get thousand dollar designer handbags for a fraction of the cost! You don’t just have one side of you, why should you have just one bag?





About the Author

About the author : Melissa Peterman is a web content producer for Innuity. For more information about getting an affordable Coach purse go to Designer Direct Outlet

5 Great Unique Newborn Gifts Ideas

When looking for a unique gift for newborn, we can all hit the proverbial brick wall sometimes. After all, it is not always easy to come up with unique and novel baby gift items. Or is it? Actually, there are a plenty of unique gifts out there. Let's have a look at five of the most popular gifts for newborn.
Baby Baskets. Newborn baby gift baskets are a outstanding way to surprise and delight a new Mother to be. The concept of a baby basket is not new, but what makes this sort of gift basket unique is the variety of items that you can put in them. Whether you want a basket of toiletries, toys or even baby food products you will be able to find a baby basket that fits the mold. To make a really unique basket, you can decide to personalize it. The best way to personalize the gift basket is to embroider the initials of the newborn's name, on the items you put in the basket. You can fill the basket with personalized clothes, towels, bibs, blankets and more.

Personalized Clothes. Imagine getting a little baby t-shirt, embroidered with "Sandy - our little angle". Clothes are not necessarily unique, but if you add personalized images or wording, the clothes become special. There is much variety in personalized baby clothes. You can choose from shirts, pants, gowns, bodysuits, bathrobes and more.

Baby Footprint. A footprint of the baby is one of the most unique gifts. It is truly capturing the baby's first memories, forever. This gift will be a joy for every mother. You can buy a complete baby footprint kit, that can be easily used at home. You can also enhance your baby footprint kit with a photograph of the baby, a little poem, special frame and even a pair of newborn socks for the baby's foots.

Jewelry. What is so unique about jewelry? Well, probably the fact that most do not think of giving jewelry as a baby gift! Yet, there are many great jewelry items such as bracelets, pendants and lockets that are specifically designed for newborns.

Custom Books, CDs and DVDs. Many companies make fiction stories on a variety of formats that can weave a newborn name into the role of the story's hero or heroine. These are fun gift items that are always a great source of amusement.

The world of unique newborn gift items is really wide open and there are truly amazing gifts available that will put a big smile on the face of any mother and baby. Sometimes it seems difficult to find a truly unique gift for a newborn. But actually, it doesn't have to be so difficult, as all one needs is a few ideas and the whole process becomes much easier.



About the Author
My name is Michell Smith, I write articles about children and babies. Please visit my website: http://www.unique-gift-newborn.com

Children's Audio Books - For Education and Entertainment

The ever popular children's genre has been around for a long time, and is extremely popular with children from all age groups and from all over the world. Even those children that cannot read, can still enjoy stories via children's audio books. In any case, narrated stories have always been a popular past time for growing children, and children's audio books allows them that experience in the comfort of their own home, or even on the road!
The early history of children's audio books saw them produced strictly on cassette tapes. As our technology advanced, the cassette tapes soon gave rise to the ever popular compact disc (CD). But, what really gave children's audio books a real push forward was the introduction of digital audio books - those that could be downloaded from the Internet, to a favorite MP3 player, such as iPod. The selection of mediums (cassettes, CD, digital download) gives children the ability to enjoy a range of children's audio books more than ever before.

Now that children's audio books have grown in popularity, we're starting to see an increase in available titles, published alongside regular paperback and hardcover editions. In most cases, you can expect to find many popular children's audio books, such as the Harry Potter series, in major books stores and retailers. But fret not - even if a particular item isn't available in stores, simply hop online to an audio book site like AudioBookGeek.com, and download a limitless selection of children's audio books to your child's MP3 player! Selections can be downloaded to an MP3 player (or your computer) in a matter of minutes.

Children's audio books aren't simply for entertainment anymore - they can be extremely valuable teaching tools too. If you're child is learning to read, then making use of children's audio books alongside a printed book will allow them to follow the words as they are narrated - helping them make the connection between spoken and written words. But it doesn't stop there. Children will be much more likely to gain important knowledge from audio books, simply because the audio books are more stimulating than a typical classroom setting.

And don't worry, the narrative quality of professionally published audio books are outstanding. We're not talking computer synthesized voices here, but actual human narrators, some of which have won awards for their ability to draw a reader in with his or her story telling abilities. Some popular narrators include: Ron McLarty, Scott Brick, George Guidall, Frank Muller, and even Stephen King himself. This is just a small list of the talented voices used in narrating a story. And believe me when I say that the narrator can make or break a story, based on his or her talents!

Can you possibly think of some other ways that your child might enjoy, or benefit, from listening to children's audio books? There are numerous applications, but let's not forget one very important one: listening simply for the sheer enjoyment of it all!



About the Author
AudioBookGeek.com provides visitors with free audio book downloads, including children's audio books, from various sources on the Internet. They also list frequent specials and discounts, so that you can enjoy your audio books while taking it easy on your bank account!

Teaching Sign language to Babies.

Has your baby ever became frustrated and upset, simply because he or she could just not efficiently communicate to you what was bothering him? This is a dilemma many parents are forced to deal with almost daily. But how can it be avoided? Teaching your Infant American Sign Language may be the awnser. Not only will it end both yours and your baby's frustration, It can benefit them throughout their whole lives, and finally contrary to popular belief Learning sign language can actually accelerate the speed at which your baby learns to speak.


Imagine spending a full year surrounded by people speaking a completely foreign language that you do not understand. Frustrating Huh? This is the world your baby lives in. Unfortunately for your baby, he or she not only has to learn the individual words, but also how to form the sounds as well. However a babies accelerated learning ability makes learning sign language a quick and simple answer. Imagine how simply it would be to soothe your baby, if you could simply ask them what they want or need. Leaving you with more quality time with your child.

By teaching American Sign language at this tender age, you are giving a gift to your child that will forever benefit them. American Sign language is recognized as the third most understood language today. Which looks great on any college or job application throughout their lives, Don't you agree? Studies have also shown that infants who are taught sign language not only have a higher IQ than those who are left to there own devices, It increases both their creative and spatial brain activity. This creative brain activity if not activated at this tender age, it is generally never nurtured once the child enters into the school years.

American Sign language will greatly reduce the time it takes for your child to learn a verbal language. Language is a conceptual idea, teaching sign language gives your child the building blocks needed to Learn a multitude of languages. By no longer having to pair words to events, or objects, they can learn verbal skills at a much faster rate than the average child. They have already learned and are fluently building sentences. Making speaking and learning to read much easier and efficient throughout their lives.

American Sign language is an effective way to both minimize the stress and frustration in your family, caused by lack of communication It also provides multiple life long benefits for your child. Gives them both control and security in a world of chaos and confusion and Finally opens doors to thousands of people they once could have never communicated with. With this said, Shouldn't all children be given this advanced leap in life?



About the Author
For more information and how to teach your baby sign language I would highly suggest Sign Language For Babies and Beyond!

Games For Music Education

Have you ever thought of adapting traditional games that children already love to music?
The benefits of learning through playing games are enormous. Games help to inspire,motivate and learn much quicker and with much more fun.

In order to become sucessful at music, most people think that you need to sit at the piano every time you practice for a half an hour each day. This is a myth and is simply not true.

If you want your children to be great at music and therefore able to receive the full benefits of music at a young age, then it is important to mix up music practice at home and make it just as fun as any other fun activity you do at home.

Here are three examples of traditional well known games and instructions, you could play in your next home practice session with your children to help make practice more inspiring, varied and fun!

Musical Go Fish

Materials To make: 1) You will need to make 8 cards of the same size with different musical symbols or notation on each.

2) A printer or photocopier - print out two copies of the cards so you have 16 cards in total.

Objective: The rules are based on the classic version of "Go Fish".

To match same cards to make a pair. Pairs are placed in front of each player until there are none remaining in their hand. The first player to match all of their own cards and place them in front of them is the winner!

Preparation: Deal five cards to each player (can use more or less if desired to make game shorter or longer). Extra cards go in the middle face down on a pile.

Directions: Player 1 asks player 2 of their choice if they have one of their cards. Player 2 either passes over the card or if they don't have it says "GO FISH!". If the result is "GO Fish!" then player 1 picks up a card from middle pile. Every player has a turn until someone matches all cards in their hand and "Goes Out".

Musical Snakes and Ladders

Object: To get to the top before anyone else.

Preparation: 1)Make musical dice for the level you require.

2) Find a traditional snakes and ladders game board, or make up your own based on the traditional version. Place the game board in the middle of the playing area.

Each player needs a counter or button.

Directions: All counters are to be placed at the start. Each player in turn rolls dice, add the number of beats together and moves accordingly.

You can play the game with more than one dice if you would prefer the game to move faster.

There will be ladders to climb and snakes to fall down in the process of playing the game. This is a fun game of luck and skill!

Musical Snap

Preparation: 1)You will need to make a deck of 48 cards. Make 12 cards using musical pitches and / or notation and photocopy the four times.

Object: Two matching cards in a row wins the snap.The player with the most cards wins!

How To Play: Divide the playing cards up equally between players have two cards face up to start off two piles in the middle. Each player takes in turn to place their card on top of one of the two piles in the middle, until the two piles match. When a match is spotted, the first player to put their hand over the entire pile and call out snap, wins the card deck. The player with the most cards in the end wins!



About the Author
Janice Tuck is a mother, Music Teacher and joint owner of The Fun Music Company. She is committed in providing educators and parents with fun, relevant and inspiring educational resources and materials. To download a free collection of music resources, just visit http://www.funmusiccompany.info

Playing Games As A Family

Not that many families play games together anymore. It seems like life is too busy for that. When games are played they are usually video games. Some families still have game nights where they play board games or card games. But what about outdoor games? Backyard games used to be a staple of society. This was especially true for backyard parties, barbecues, and other types of get-togethers like birthday parties and family reunions. You could bring back this tradition with your family and help younger and older members bond and make some memories. If you decide to do this, though, you have to decide what kind of games you are going to play so that everyone can participate. One of the best games to play is the Cornhole game. Some people call it the bean bag game or the bean bag toss, but no matter what name you choose, the Cornhole game is something that everyone can enjoy.
Unlike Frisbee or badminton that sometimes require some strenuous physical exertion, and unlike horseshoes which can be too heavy for a young child or an elderly or ill person to throw, the Cornhole bags are very soft and lightweight and the game is not difficult. Soft cloth bags filled with dried corn, dried beans or plastic pellets are tossed at a board with a hole in it. The object of the game is to get the bags through the hole. Originally these bags were all filled with dried corn � hence the Cornhole name. Now the filling has sometimes changed but the goal of the game and the ease of playing it has not. This ease is part of the reason that so many people like the game. The rules are so very simple that almost anyone can understand them. Young children can play. Elderly grandparents and other relatives can play. Even many disabled or handicapped people can play. Because there are so many individuals who are able to play the game, it is one of the best choices for family fun.

Games like the Cornhole game can help to bring a family much closer. This is important for a lot of people today because of the fast pace of life. As people get older they seem to be more interested in staying close to their families. The way that society is today, however, seems to be somewhat prohibitive of that. People are often spread out across the country and the world, and some people are just not interested in staying close to others. The people who are interested in remaining close are sometimes not able to do that because of economic constraints and other issues. Families who are committed to staying close to one another can do so by making just a little extra effort. Committing themselves to their families is not always easy because it takes time and effort, but playing the Cornhole game at family gatherings is a simple and easy way to help keep this commitment alive and well.



About the Author
Dave Roth operates a site which sells cornhole games. In addition to free building dimensions and game rules, the site also carries discount cornhole bags boards.

Protecting Children From Drugs

The sponsors of a medical cannabis initiative appearing on South Dakota's ballot in November are suing the state Attorney General over his misleading summary of the initiative, apparently designed to encourage a negative reaction in voters. The AG must write a neutral summary of each state ballot initiative. In this case, his first act was to rename the measure.
"An act to provide safe access to medical marijuana for certain qualified persons," became "An Initiative to authorize marijuana use for adults and children with specified medical conditions." August 2006

It's curious that the greatest - or at least the loudest - love for children is proclaimed by those who display a general distrust of progress and freedom.

Groups seeking to control individual behaviour, undermine civil rights or impose a moral code on society will frequently broadcast their own sincere desire to protect young folk from real or imaginary threats, habitually invoking 'the children' to justify each new restriction.

If the safety of children is at stake, who could possibly object to laws that curtail privacy, individual choice and basic liberty?

The need to protect the young is biological, a basic principle of survival seen in most animals. In people, the instinct is more refined; it applies to our species in general and is not limited to our own children. Because it is a rational decision based on a powerful unconscious imperative, the protective urge can be irrational in its expression and has a long and unfortunate tradition of being used to manipulate people.

As cannabis becomes more tolerated, propaganda has shifted from its traditional attack on the plant to a coordinated attempt to defend prohibition. Naturally, 'protecting the children' is the central theme of efforts to justify the unjustifiable.

- Dope-smoking dads double risk of cot death - Marijuana may cause pregnancies to fail - Why teenagers should steer clear of cannabis - Alarming rise in number of child cannabis victims

It's tempting to see this as a tactic of last resort - a laughable ploy to demonise cannabis and "re-brand" it as specifically threatening to children. Perhaps the campaign to scare adults about their own use of cannabis has finally been abandoned, as it is clearly contradicted by reality?

Even so, the tactic of shifting the focus to 'the children' and playing on parents' anxieties is abhorrent. It exploits children for propaganda and is effective in distracting attention from more significant threats to the health of young people.

One example is the disturbing push to control children's mood and behaviour with powerful psychiatric drugs such as Prozac and other SSRIs, which are designed to alter levels of serotonin in the brain.

This trend endangers young people as much as it enriches drug manufacturers and its scope is unprecedented - the numbers of children being medicated, the absurdly young ages at which they're diagnosed as depressed or mentally unbalanced and the potency of the psychotropic drugs they're prescribed.

European doctors have received strong warnings against prescribing SSRIs to children, but the practice has not been banned. In the US, the country with most strident anti-cannabis propaganda and the loudest devotion to protecting 'the children', the practice of drugging the young in order to regulate their behaviour is both an industry and an epidemic.

Currently, 2% of US children aged 6-16 are taking SSRIs and up to 10% are on stimulants such as Ritalin. Despite the FDA ordering "black boxes " for SSRI packaging - the most severe class of safety warnings - around 9 million prescriptions were written for US children in 2005, with under-fives the fastest-growing segment of children using antidepressants.

An estimated 17 million children worldwide are prescribed some form of behaviour-modifying drug. Worldwide sales of antidepressants to all age-groups reached more than $19.5 billion in 2002.

For one example of media misdirection regarding children, drugs and mental health, consider the following facts:

1. Cannabis is a powerful, effective, low-risk medicine that provides relief for an enormous range of conditions and improves quality of life for millions of people. It has an unparalleled safety record, having been used safely for thousands of years. Cannabis is effective in its natural form and can grow virtually anywhere with minimal effort, making it potentially free for anyone.

2. Conversely, the trend of medicating the young with powerful psychiatric drugs is highly profitable and unique in history. The idea of moderating children's mood or behaviour with pharmaceuticals would have been unthinkable a generation ago, yet today it is presented as a normal solution by large sections of the media.

Rather than a hypothetical and unproven risk of altering brain chemistry in sensitive individuals, as is said of cannabis, SSRIs are specifically designed to change brain chemistry in order to modify mood and behaviour.

3. The sudden increase in prohibitionist propaganda associating cannabis with danger to children amounts to a co-ordinated media campaign. The obvious intention is to heighten fears that cannabis may cause schizophrenia, depression, suicidal thoughts or general unspecified mental illness in children, despite the usual lack of evidence. The fragile, developing chemical structure of young brains is frequently mentioned, as are false claims about massive increases in cannabis potency.

'Adolescents are at highest risk for marijuana addiction ... marijuana use has been linked with depression and suicidal thoughts, in addition to schizophrenia...marijuana use among teens doubles the risk of developing depression and triples the incidence of suicidal thoughts' - DEA Website -

4. SSRIs have repeatedly been found to pose significant risks to the mental and physical health of children.

* 2005 - The European Medicines Agency concluded SSRIs should not be used in children and adolescents ... suicide-related behaviour (suicide attempt and suicidal thoughts), and hostility (aggression and anger) were more frequently observed in children and adolescents treated with SSRIs.

* The FDA has admitted that children who use SSRIs are 180 percent more likely to have suicidal tendencies.

* British Journal of Psychiatry reports that Prozac creates "the highest risk of deliberate self-harm."

A century of attempting to prove the dangers of cannabis has yielded no results but vague hypotheses with no relation to the real world. Whatever alarming conclusions are suggested, cannabis is very widely used in most countries and causes few discernable health problems. Within a few years of their introduction, SSRIs have raised serious concerns all over the world.

Yet cannabis is relentlessly presented as a major threat to the mental health of children, while psychoactive drugs designed to change brain function are promoted as a solution.

Any sane person will agree that children should not take drugs, whether legal or illegal, but, in the mainstream media, the principle does not seem to apply to drugs made by certain powerful interests.

It is not surprising that prohibitionists exploit the need to protect children. What is unbelievable is that dire warnings about the effect of 'drugs' on developing brains can coexist in the media with the promotion of mind-altering pharmaceuticals for those same sacred children. This demonstrates either an enormous logical disconnect or an effective and coordinated campaign of diversion and misinformation.



About the Author
The author is a Cannabis enthusiast who is committed to promote the environmental and social benefits of Cannabis in general and Medicinal Marijuana in particular. Please follow the link for more information on Cannabis and Hemp.