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this is a test
Posted On 2009-07-18 , 8:01 AM
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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
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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
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| July 2009 | Page 1 Of 1 | |