Because trouble comes in all sizes.
Thinkfun has a well deserved reputation for developing addictively fun games that build reasoning and creative thinking skills. I’ve had the opportunity to review several of their games over the years including Zingo: Sight Words, Roll & Play, Snack Attack! and Chocolate Fix. This year at the 2013 New York Toy Fair, I was introduced to ThinkFun’s latest game for toddlers called Hello Sunshine!
As a parent, you attempt to respond appropriately to your children’s behavior. In a NY Times article titled “Train a Parent, Spare a Child” by Bruce Feller, the topic of modifying a child’s behavior without resorting to bribes is addressed by several Parenting experts. You may ask “Was there any consensus to be found in their opinions?” In short, no. In fact, some even condoned the occasional bribe. Go figure.
David Bowie’s latest single “Where Are We Now?” is a haunting introspective song sure to evoke a palpable emotional response from listeners around the world. At least that’s what happened to me.
Becoming a parent can be an overwhelming experience filled with a range of emotions swinging wildly from sheer joy to deep depression. Fatherhood, in particular, often arrives unexpectedly even to those who have planned for it with their significant other. You may be asking “why the traumatic reaction to a predetermined choice?” I’d respond with the question “how can one prepare for an experience so uniquely personal in nature?”
I’ve often wondered about the value of teaching children the practice of making wishes. In essence, a child is begging the universe to fulfill one of his desires whether or not he’s actually been proactive in the pursuit of his goal. it also removes all accountability since by the nature of a wish, there are no strings attached to the wish maker. To me, that’s a recipe for a lifetime of disappointment. In most cases, wishing is for suckers.
Generally speaking, the generosity bestowed upon children during Christmas time warms the heart. For many a gift giver, viewing the faces of children light up as they unwrap presents makes the bumpy road experienced during holiday shopping seem all but a distant memory. Yet for parents, the aftermath of Christmas means managing the sheer tonnage of new toys battling for already limited space in one’s home.
My 7th graders are more than twice as old as incoming kindergarteners this fall and, in some ways, a world apart. Even so, you’d be surprised to learn how alike they are when it comes to the start of school!
I’ve never been a fan of commercially driven holidays such as Mother’s Day. Add in the layers of guilt associated with not acknowledging your Mom and you have the makings of an enormous last minute spending spree. How else can one explain paying over $100 to purchase and ship a bouquet of flowers? Yet there we are, credit card in hand, grateful to pay inflated prices allowing us to lift the crushing weight of guilt from our shoulders. It all seems so unnecessary. Especially when most mothers would much rather have a hug or some other genuine expression of love. So how do we reclaim the day from commercial entities and return it back its rightful place as a family oriented occasion? I’ve come up with a few suggestions.
The image of the swashbuckling adventurous Pirate has always struck a chord with kids of all ages. In recent years, Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” has fueled a renewed interest in the genre. A singalong book, “Portside Pirates”, aims to captivate young audiences with a vividly illustrated and engagingly sung tale across the deep blue sea.