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this is a test Posted On 2009-07-18 , 8:01 AM [ This Blog Is Viewable By Friends Only ]
Children having their own cell phones Posted On 2009-07-15 , 7:32 PM I was at the pool the other day and fell into a conversation with some moms from the neighborhood. They were talking about giving their kids cell phones. I had always been opposed to it, but I have to admit that one mom's argument definitely changed my point of view! One of the moms (Jane) gave both her kids (ages 6 & 9) a cell phone. Yes, yes - I can hear the gasps of alarm now, but suspend judgement for a few minutes and listen to her back story. She is a working mom. With her kids in a very active summer camp this year, she felt her kids needed a cell phone and that they were mature enough NOT to use it for idle chit chat but to save it for emergencies. She explained that it gave her peace of mind. Flash forward to me! My 6 year old Is going to summer camp for the first time ever this year. Everyday they leave "home base" to go to the beach or a park and there is a weekly field trip to various local museums/zoos/aquariums, etc. After speaking with Jane, I realized that it might not be such a bad idea for my daughter to have an emergency cell phone with pre-set emergency numbers -- just in case. My husband and I took a lit of time and "prepped" my daughter for this momentous occasion (she was of course thrilled beyond words)! It has been two weeks now and I am glad to report that she has acted very responsibly with her phone and it truly is an emergency phone. Moral of the story is that no one answer will fit all. In my case and in Jane's case, our kids were in a situation that warranted a cell phone. I'm so glad to have heard Jane's point of view! Long Island Suburban Mom comment
Comic Books and Your Beginner Reader Posted On 2009-07-14 , 8:11 PM My daughter is a beginner reader. She is going into 1st Grade in the fall. This summer I have introduced her to comic books as an introduction to an art form I am an avid fan of. I am now a big fan of using comic books to encourage kids to start reading. If you have a child who is not crazy about reading books -- try introducing some of these comics to them. They will not see it as "reading" -- it will just seem like something fun to do! There are wonderful comic book lines geared especially for young readers that are high in humour and low in violence. And they encourage kids to learn skills beyond reading. For example, I buy backing boards and plastic sheets for my daughter's comic books and I teach her how to care for them -- it gives her a sense of responsibility and teaches her how to take care of her comic books. Also, it is a great tool for developing the imagination -- we act out the different parts and try to continue the storyline after the comic book is over. Here are a few of the ones that I particularly enjoy: Tiny Titans by DC Comics These are great because they are short vignettes as opposed to one big storyline. The tiny titans are little kid versions of superheroes we know (Wonder Girl; Robin; AquaLad; Kid Flash, etc.) and some we don't! (Starfire; Beast Boy; Cyborg). The art is amazing -- very hip and fresh! This is the best introduction to comic books hands down! SuperGirl - Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade by DC Comics This is best for readers in the 1st and 2nd grade. This is a continuity series -- stories continue from one issue to the next. This is a Girl Power book and should entice reluctant readers! Filled with action and humour, this is a real winner! DC Super Friends by DC Comics This is a great unisex Comic Book series that will appeal to readers in the 1st-3rd grade. It is definitely a good guys vs bad guys book -- but there are a lot of laughs to balance the mild violence. The super heroes are very recognizable, but are drawn to appeal to a younger audience -- very Saturday morning cartoon like as opposed to a realistic style. What I also like about this series is that they tend to be self-contained, so you don't need to purchase the issue before or after to get a full story. Featuring our favorite all-time characters like Batman; Superman; Wonder Woman; Green Lantern; Flash and Aquaman. Marvel Super Hero Squad by Marvel Comics Very similar to the premise of DC Super Friends except that that there are no real storylines. The content tends to take the format of numerous "comic strips" and one-page illustrations (or as I like to call them Comic One-Liners). Again, a great introduction to the world of comic books. Just like DC Super Friends, the characters in this book are not drawn "realistically" they are mini-childlike versions of their grown-up counterparts. You will see popular characters like Wolverine; Captain America; Iron Man; Thor; The Hulk and others. This is also a self-contained book and not a continuity series. I hope this has piqued your interest and that you explore this new avenue of literature for your kids. Unfortunately, most of these comic books are only available at specialty comic stores. So please make a special trip to your local comic store -- but call them first to make sure they carry these titles. Would love to hear from you so please feel free to comment! Sincerely, Suburban Mom comment
Family Game Night Posted On 2008-07-22 , 6:23 PM Dear Reader, I just thought I'd share some of my thoughts on "Family Game Night". It has become our habit, after dinner, to play a board game as a family before starting the evening ritual of bath, book & bed. It has truly become a special time for our family. Not only is it a great learning experience for our daughter, but it is also a wonderful way for us to unwind and bond and relax with her. Amazingly, we also learn quite a bit when we play with her! Just to back-up a bit, I read a few years ago in an article in the NY Times how European families tend to play board games instead of watching tv after dinner. I thought that was a great idea! So I printed out the article and enclosed it in the gifts I gave out that Christmas (which were mostly popular European board games mentioned in the article). They were a big hit! So now, after dinner we play a board game. We visit the classics (chutes and ladders; candyland, etc.), we play card games (go fish, old maid, etc.) and we also play some more obscure games. Once a month, I get all my daughter's cousins together for pizza at the house and game night. This new tradition not only promotes closeness in my immediate family, but has now also become a great extended family tradition! Let me just describe some of these games for you, just in case you want to check them out! Kids on Stage: A very simple charades that simply requires you to act out the clue from one of three categories (animal, object, or an action). Hands down, this is my daughter's favorite game! She gets such a kick out of pretending to be different animals or brushing her teeth or trying to mimic a table! It is also fun for adults. Zingo: A twist on bingo -- you basically have to fill every box on your card with a zingo chip -- frankly, I enjoy sliding the zingo chip holder to reveal the new chips! Its a lot of fun and no reading required. Technically, this is not "one" game, but I have to give props to one of my favorite children's goods manufacturers, EEBOO and their "Miniature Playing Card Library" (volume 1 & volume 2). The illustrations are beyond adorable and put twists on classic card games such as "Old Maid", "Crazy Eights", "Hearts", "Farmer in the Dell", etc. Just how *CUTE and ADORABLE* are these cards? Let me just say one thing -- the cards in the "Go Fish" game are in the shape of (you guessed it!) little fish! 'Nuff said! Blokus: This is highly addictive and good for grown-ups and kids starting at age 7. This is a strategy game that has essentially three rules and no reading required. This is so highly addictive that I feel I must warn you -- play at your own risk! You may never want to stop playing! :) Apples to Apples: Another terrific game good for both kids and grown-ups! Besides encouraging vocabulary and complex thinking in your kids, this is the kind of game that teaches you about how your kids think and helps you gain insight into their personalities. And its tons of fun and is guaranteed to have you laughing up a storm! Whew! I'm tired! Enough of this blog for tonight! I'll try and revisit this topic again soon with more game recommendations. I hope you all give this new tradition a try and give your tv sets a break! Please feel free to send me your comments and recommendations! Long Island Suburban Mom comment
Kindergarten Screening Posted On 2008-06-12 , 6:54 PM KINDERGARTEN SCREENING My 5-year old just went through Kindergarten screening. It was a little nerve wracking! We didn't quite know what to expect and, as much as I'd like to think I'm not a crazy, pushy obsessive mom - there's always that little voice inside your head that can't help but whisper "maybe she's a genius!". We get to the school and my little girl is always a little shy when in a new situation. She takes a good 15-20 minutes to warm up to a new place and new people. The guidance counselor came out to meet us and my little girl did not want to go into the testing room alone, so I asked if I could go in with her and the counselor said yes - then she made a comment about how some kids her age are "stage y". Of course, my inner "crazy mom" starts freaking out about this (what's stage y!?! is it good?!? is it bad!?! -- what the heck is stage y and what does it mean for my kid!). All the while hoping my "calm mom" face is on! Our school district had three psychiatrists/psychologists (still not quite sure what the difference is!) that tested things like colors and shapes, phonics, basic knowledge such as body parts, name, birthday, etc. They also tested for motor skills like throwing and catching, hopping and skipping. They checked out her writing and cutting skills and also had her build different shapes with blocks. She did great! I was so proud of her! Afterwards, we went out for a celebration breakfast and I kept telling her how proud I was of her and how great she did. By the time the last piece of pancake went down into her little belly, she was glowing with pride and a sense of accomplishment! We had called all her grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and other various family friends to let them know the good news! Even the waitress at the diner (who knows my daughter well) gave her praise and congratulations. My daughter is now extremely excited to start kindergarten in the fall! by: Long Island Suburban Mom comment
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