by Tracey T. Serebin
Whether you are expecting your first child or your second, as you are gearing up for the arrival of this little bundle of joy, ... Read more
Making Field Trips Possible Despite Budget Cuts
Education budgets are being cut nationwide, forcing schools across the country to eliminate valuable programs such as field trips. According to a recent report by the A... Read more
Tips for Simplifying Back-to-School
From Wanda Urbanska, Simple Living expert and author of The Heart of Simple Living: 7 Paths to a Better Life
• Commit to a successful school year. Sit ... Read more
What does being ready for elementary school really mean? It used to mean starting the first day of school with all the supplies on the list, but now we know so much more about how young children's brains develop. More and more parents are aware of the positive effects of a high quality early childhood education for their child's success. This knowledge has also led to extra emphasis on acquiring academic skills. Experts suggest parents take a step back and look for programs with a balanced approach to school readiness.
We hear often from parents, "I'd love for my son/daughter to get accepted to their dream school...but I'm very nervous about how to pay for it."
Even if you're in a more comfortable income bracket, scholarships can go a long way to making the college-going years less of a financial burden. Here are our top tips on getting started:
The parents of young athletes know that while sports equipment and apparel can be quite expensive, it rarely gets used long enough to need replacing. Instead, most of these items are outgrown and, unless they can be handed down to a younger sibling, much of the cost is wasted. There are, however, many options that parents may take advantage of in order to keep these costs under control. These range from the straightforward, like using Finishline Coupons, to the more creative, like forming an equipment co-op within a team c
... Continue reading Winning Savings on Sports Apparel and Equipment.
Biggest Bully Apologizes
By Helice "Sparky" Bridges
Founder and CEO
Difference Makers International
"The deepest desire in the human spirit is the craving to be acknowledged."
-William James, Father of American Psychology
DID YOU KNOW?
• Children who bully are more likely to come from home situations in which there is little warmth and little positive adult attention.
• Two out of three teens are verbally or physically assaulted every year.
• A victim of bullying is twice as likely to take his or her life compared to someone who is not a victim.
-Source: Mental Health S
... Continue reading Biggest Bully Apologizes.
Scholarships for Student Athletes
High school student athletes now have the chance to score some extra cash for college. The National Milk Mustache "got milk?" Campaign, in partnership with USA Today, is announcing the call for entries for the 14th annual Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (Sammy) Award program. The Sammy Awards recognize 25 outstanding high school senior student athletes who represent excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership and include lowfat milk in their daily routines.
The Sammy scholarship rewards exceptional student athletes by helping to offset some of the costs associated with college
... Continue reading Scholarships for Student Athletes.
Teenage Girls & Social Networks
The Girl Scouts of America recently conducted a survey of more than 1000 girls nationwide, between the ages of 14-17, to examine their behavior on and perceptions of social networking. The study found that:
"...increased exposure to social media puts teenage girls in a confusing situation where a girl's image is not always what it seems, as nearly 74 percent of girls agree that most girls use social networking sites to make themselves "cooler than they really are." The survey finds that girls downplay several positive characteristics of themselves online, most prominently th
... Continue reading Teenage Girls & Social Networks.
Checklist for Choosing a Safe Day Care
By Madonna Behen
Finding the right day-care center requires a balance of many practical issues: location, cost, hours of operation. And you of course also want a nurturing staff. "But bottom line, your child's health and safety is what matters the most," says Patricia Skinner, executive director of the Capital District Child Care Council, a resource and referral agency serving six counties in the Albany, N.Y., region. "After all, it doesn't matter how stellar the caregiver's interactions are if there's broken glass on the playground," she says. Checklist for Choosing a Safe Day Care.
