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Helping Your Shy Child Come Out of His Shell

Posted on May 15, 2013 by admin

Every child is different. Some are naturally outgoing and social. Others are shy and reserved. No matter what your child’s temperament is, as a parent you try and honor those traits. Honoring your child’s uniqueness doesn’t mean you shouldn’t help him learn to balance out his natural traits. For a bookworm child, a parent might want to encourage a love for outdoor play. For a child with a rough and tumble approach to life, a parent might want to encourage a more gentle way of engaging others. Here are a few ideas for parents with a shy child who want to encourage more comfort in social situations.

Embrace your child’s shyness. Being shy isn’t a defect or deficit. Make sure your child knows that there isn’t anything wrong with him simply because he’s shy. Emphasize the idea that his shyness is just one part of who he is. Children who feel this trait really gets in the way of them making friends or feeling comfortable in different social situations can come to believe that they’re fundamentally flawed. By celebrating every part of your child, you let him know that there’s nothing that needs to be fixed.

Let your child know that everyone is shy at different times. By sharing stories from your own life and from the lives of famous people your child admires, you can show him that everyone faces situations where they feel and act shy. You can also share how you overcame it and how the situation turned out. Knowing that he’s not alone in how he feels can be a huge comfort to your child. It can also give him the courage he needs to face challenging situations.

Have realistic expectations. A shy child can learn to manage his feelings and actions and get more comfortable in social situations. However, he’ll never be able to change his temperament nor should he be expected to. Make sure your expectations of how your child can change are realistic and honor your child’s natural temperament. It’s important that you encourage your child to work through the challenges he faces in being shy. It’s equally important that you understand your shy child will never become an extroverted, social butterfly.

Allow your child to feel whatever he feels. It’s often a parent’s impulse to try and talk a troubled child out of his feelings. You don’t want your shy child to feel left out, like he doesn’t have any real friends or like he just isn’t capable of having fun like the rest of his classmates. So you might try and lessen his pain by trying to convince him that it’s not all that bad or that what he’s feeling will quickly pass. However, when you don’t acknowledge how your child really feels, it just makes him feel worse. In fact, it often makes him feel more disconnected because he feels misunderstood by everyone around him. Instead, give him permission to truly feel whatever he feels. Let him know that you’re there to support him.

Role play different scenarios. Helping your child figure out what he’ll say and do in different situations will help him build confidence and move outside his social comfort zone. Even with children as young as 4 or 5, helping a child find the right words to say to start a conversation or to ask to join a group game can be a huge help. As children get older, role plays can successfully tackle more complex issues. When a child has the opportunity to practice moving through a situation successfully, he’s more likely to accomplish that in real life. Role plays not only help him practice his words and actions, they allow him to learn how to manage his feelings. Understanding that he can feel anxious and still act in a positive way will pave the way for him to move out of shyness.

Encourage your child to strengthen his social skills. Your child will be presented with opportunities every day to practice new social skills. Encourage him to take advantage of those opportunities. It might be as simple as saying hi to a child on the playground or offering to share a toy in the sandbox. Small steps will build his confidence and lead up to bigger and bigger moves. He won’t be successful with every attempt. Those moments are just as important as the successes because they’ll help build your child’s resiliency.

Having a shy child can be challenging. As a parent you want your child to always feel comfortable in whatever situation he may find himself. With some support from you, your child can find new ways to come out of his shell.

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How to Expand Your Picky Eater’s Palate

Posted on May 14, 2013 by admin

Children are notorious for being picky eaters. Sometimes they grow out of these habits, and other times they carry them into their teens or even adulthood. A picky eater can lead a difficult and frustrating life for epicurean parents, so try nipping it in the bud early on by using these methods.

First, Rule Out Allergies

Before you get too upset that your child never wants to eat her vegetables, make sure she doesn’t have a serious allergy to the food you want her to eat. She might not be able to express why she does not like the food. Perhaps it gave her an upset stomach or made her feel uncomfortable the last time she tried the dish, but she isn’t quite able to express that yet. Check with your doctor on the most common food allergies for kids and continue from there.

Don’t Force It

Yes, it’s important for your child to get enough vitamins and protein to grow up healthy and strong, but it’s not the end of the world if he doesn’t eat everything that’s on his plate at each and every meal. If you try to force him to eat something, it will just increase his dislike of the food. Do you remember when you were his age and your mom made you eat those green beans? Maybe that’s why you still don’t like them to this day. No one likes every food they’re introduced to, and kids are no exception.  Don’t create a more difficult situation by making your child eat something he really can’t stomach.

Avoid Bribes

Just like you don’t want to force-feed your child, you really don’t want to bribe him to eat. A bribe is a quick fix to a long-term problem, and can cause some problematic attitudes towards food as he gets older. Chances are, the unhealthy snack foods you use as a bribe are doing more damage than if your child simply didn’t eat that side of rice. Think twice before resorting to a bribe; it may seem like the easy way out, but when in life is the easy way the right way?

Turn It Into a Game

Kids love games more than almost anything else. Their imaginations are constantly running, so fuel that line of creativity with a few dinnertime games. If you turn dinner into an adventure, he might be more interested in picking up that broccoli and tasting it than if you were to threaten him with no dinner at all. Another fun game for kids that often works is the dare. This works best if another child in the family initiates it. For example, your daughter says, “I dare you to eat your broccoli.” Your son responds with, “I’ll eat my broccoli if you eat your chicken.” Your kids are eating the food they claim to hate because they want to see their sibling squirm.

Keep in Mind That Their Palates are Different From Yours

Remember, a child’s taste buds are not as developed as your own. For instance, they are more sensitive to spicy foods. If something is too spicy or the flavors are too complex, they might not take to it very well. So, dull down your foods next time and try again.

Remember That Everything Takes Time

Even with playing games and turning dinner into an adventure, it will take time before your child picks up that new food and decides to give it a taste. Change is scary for kids. As babies, they ate the same foods day in and day out. Now as young children, they know certain foods are good and are leery of any that look, taste or feel different. With that in mind, try to have patience with your child. He will get the hang of it soon enough, and hopefully by the time he’s a bit older, he’ll be comfortable enough with trying new foods that it won’t be a problem if the school lunch is something he’s never had before.

Prepare Meals Together

One way to get your child to expand her palate is to have her help you make dinner. She can help choose what side dish will go with the meal, and have a hand in making it. She’ll be proud of her creation and want to see how it turned out. Part of this process should include choices. Give your child a few options for what side will go with burgers tonight. Keep all of the options healthy and tell her those are the only choices. She will choose which one sounds most appealing to her and will have no excuse not to eat it when dinner is served.

One or all of these can help your child become a less picky eater. Getting your children involved in the process or allowing them to have fun with eating can change their mindset. Half of why they won’t touch certain foods is the events surrounding the last time they were made to eat it. Turn the situation into something positive and you’ll notice a difference in the long run.

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18 Blogs Explaining How to Create a Puppet Theater

Posted on May 6, 2013 by admin

Puppets and puppet theaters have been providing entertainment for people of all ages for thousands of years.  Kids especially love to put on puppet shows for friends and family members, and you can easily help your child assemble a theater and puppets out of items you have around the house. In these 18 blog entries you will learn how to assemble a puppet theater several different ways, make puppets out of materials that you have around the house and even create shadow puppets.

Stage Creation

You can make a puppet theater out of anything from a shoe box to a tension rod and fabric, depending on how big you want to make the theater and the size of your puppets. Or you can do it in reverse, making the theater first and then assembling puppets to fit the stage. It’s all about using what you already have and getting creative with your kids.  These six blog entries will show you how to make different types of theaters.

Puppets

Puppets can be made using anything from a marker and your own hand to paper that you fold into different shapes.  These six blog articles will help you make stick puppets, sock puppets and many other types of puppets.  Just use your imagination and get crafting.

Shadow Puppets

Shadow puppets are wonderful for camping trips with kids. Shadows can be scary for some kids at night, but by making shadows into something fun you can help ease their fears. Anyone can make a simple shadow with their hand, but if you want to take it a step further check out these six blog posts and learn more elaborate shadows.

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30 Blogs with the Best Questions to Ask a Babysitter Before You Hire Her

Posted on May 2, 2013 by admin

Finding the right babysitter or nanny for your children can be difficult. Understandably, you want to make sure that your children are safe and their needs are being fulfilled. Asking potential babysitters the right questions will help you create a shortlist that will help you locate the perfect babysitter for you. No one list of questions will suit everyone, so it is best to create a checklist that specifically matches your family’s needs. In these 30 blogs you will find lists of questions and information that will aid you in your search for a babysitter.

Standard Babysitter Questions

When hiring a babysitter, you want to cover every base possible. There are standard questions which will apply to every family, so it is a good idea to start off by asking those. This is a great way to get all the information you need in an ordered and succinct way. These five blogs list a number of common questions that you can ask your prospective babysitters.

Opinion and Fact Checking Questions

In addition to asking specific questions, it is important to get childcare and disciplinary opinions from potential babysitters. By asking open ended questions, you will have the opportunity to cross check previous answers to ensure that the facts add up. A candidate’s answers to those questions can also prompt you to ask questions that may not have occurred to you otherwise. The questioning techniques in these five blogs are ideal for interviewing babysitters.

Attitude and Personality

Finding out about your potential babysitters’ attitude and personality will give you a better idea of whether or not they are a match for your family. You don’t want your babysitter to clash with you or your children, so asking some of the questions set forth by these five bloggers can really be of assistance when it comes to avoiding personality conflicts.

Pay and Benefits

The varying ages of babysitters, from teenagers to adults, can make pay and benefits a minefield to negotiate. Without asking your potential babysitter what she expects in terms of compensation, you have no way of knowing what your obligations are as an employer. The information in these five blogs will help you ask the right questions, helping you stay on the right side of the law and pay your babysitter a fair and appropriate wage.

Baby and Child, Health and Safety

You want to know that your children are safe and well-protected when they’re under the care of a babysitter. If you have children with health issues, you will also want to know that your babysitter is capable of looking after them. Health and safety questions can cover a broad range of subjects, which makes it difficult to cover everything without a bit of assistance. Read these five blogs for ideas on questions you can ask, which will highlight how much knowledge a potential babysitter has of health and safety.

Background Checks

Background checks are an important part of hiring a babysitter, regardless of whether it is a casual or long-term professional position. There are a number of ways that you can perform background checks, but by asking the right questions of potential babysitters, you can make a shortlist of candidates before performing official checks. These give blogs will give you an idea of the sort of information you will want to know, so you can do your own research with your potential babysitters.

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How to Plan Your First Family Vacation with Kids

Posted on April 30, 2013 by admin

Whether you’re planning your first vacation after becoming a parent or are bringing your kids along on your getaway for the first time, it will come as no surprise that planning a trip with the whole family is a bit different from the child-free jaunts of a childless couple. That’s not to say that it’s impossible, though. Taking a vacation with your children doesn’t have to be a stressful experience, especially if you take the needs of your pint-sized travelers into consideration during the planning phase.

Choose Your Destination Carefully

When it comes to planning a family vacation that includes little ones, one of the most important facets of the situation is choosing a destination. The right vacation destination will make for a memorable, enjoyable experience that you’ll be eager to repeat, while choosing a locale that isn’t well-suited to visiting youngsters will almost certainly be a recipe for disaster. Make sure that there are plenty of attractions that will interest your kids, and that the individual needs of your family are taken into account.

Weigh the Pros and Cons of Your Transportation Options

Driving long distances with a car full of kids can be a bit frustrating, but so can navigating an airport with kids in tow. You’ll want to think carefully about not only where you’re going, but how you’ll get there. For large families, driving may be more economical than flying, even when you take soaring fuel costs into account. Trains often take longer to arrive at their destination than a car, but many have private sleeping quarters available and include the cost of all meals in the dining car with the price of those quarters which makes up for the increased costs. You’ll have the option of pulling a car over to let restless kids stretch their legs or to accommodate a rumbling tummy, while you’re stuck in the air for the duration of a flight if your child decides mid-trip that she doesn’t like flying. Opting for air travel can shave days off of your transportation time, though. You should consider all of your travel options, the pros and cons of each and the individual needs of your kids as you make the choice.

Splurge on Lodgings

It may seem like a waste of money to spring for a suite when everyone will fit in a double room, but you’ll be forced to go to bed early with your kids to avoid waking them. Such tight quarters doesn’t allow much room for privacy, and a crowded hotel room can cause older kids to fight like cats and dogs when they get restless. In the long run, you’ll probably enjoy your vacation much more if the lodgings are roomy enough to accommodate everyone’s needs.

Don’t Overcrowd Your Schedule

When you’re in a new and exciting city for a relatively short period of time, wanting to take in all of the sights is normal. It’s also a recipe for disaster if the schedule is too tightly crammed. Kids tire out easily, get irritable if they’re hungry and will already be out of sorts after such an abrupt departure from their normal routine. Make sure that you leave plenty of room for naps, meals and quiet downtime in your daily schedule, as you won’t be able to enjoy your full schedule when everyone is crying.

Consider Child Care

The main objective of planning a family vacation is usually spending time together as a family, but there’s nothing wrong with slipping away to enjoy a bit of grown-up entertainment. Provided, of course, that you have access to high-quality childcare. Some resorts offer babysitting services, and many local nanny agencies will provide temporary childcare to families visiting the area. If you have a nanny on the payroll, bringing her along for the ride may also be a smart move. Before you leave home, however, you’ll want to have an idea of how you’d handle the childcare situation if the desire to experience nightlife or a meal that doesn’t include macaroni and cheese strikes.

Leave Plenty of Room for Diversions

Space in your suitcase or carry-on may be at a premium, but it’s better to jettison an extra outfit or two in order to make room for a portable DVD player, handheld video game or small toys than to have those things on hand while your bored, restless child complains relentlessly. Kids need diversions during long drives and flights, so make sure that you bring along enough options to provide them with some variety.

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What Kids Can Plant to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden

Posted on April 29, 2013 by admin

Getting kids interested in nature, gardening and the natural sciences can help spark their natural curiosity and provide them with hobbies or interests that they carry for a lifetime. The key to fostering that interest is to get them involved in the process of gardening, and to make that garden exciting. In addition to watching their plants grow, seeing their little garden patch become a haven for graceful butterflies can almost guarantee that they’ll love spending time outside. These planting tips will attract butterflies to the garden, which will in turn attract your children away from the television and into the great outdoors.

Host Plants to Attract Caterpillars

In order to attract butterflies to your garden, you’ll need to first ensure that there are a sufficient number of host plants to attract and support caterpillar activity. Choosing and planting these plants is not only necessary for the success of your child’s butterfly garden, but also a great opportunity to teach youngsters about metamorphosis and the butterfly life cycle.

Because caterpillars are small and not able to travel far in order to find the food they need to survive, it’s a good idea to locate host plants near the nectar-rich flowers that will attract female butterflies. Keep in mind that the caterpillars will eat the leaves of these plants, and their activity will be evident. While leaves that have been visibly affected by caterpillars aren’t the most aesthetically pleasing sight, those holes are proof that the caterpillars in your garden are thriving. Looking for signs of caterpillar activity can be an exciting part of the process for your child.

Alfalfa, clover, sunflowers, milkweed, hollyhock and nettle are all attractive to caterpillars, as are herbs like dill and parsley. The leafy tops of carrots are a particular favorite of the black swallowtail.

Nectar Plants for Adult Butterflies

Adult butterflies feed off of the nectar of flowering plants, so an ample supply of these plants is important. Butterflies are most active in mid to late summer, so plants that flower at this time are especially well suited to the support of butterfly activity.

Plants like Butterfly Bush and Butterfly Weed are thus named because of their appeal to butterflies. Zinnia, Bergamot, Bloodflower, Day Lily, Black-Eyed Susan, Purple Coneflower, Heliotrope, Tansy, Garlic Chives and Blue Cardinal Flowers are known to attract butterflies as well.

Butterfly Gardening by Zone

While there are some plants that are almost universally supportive of butterflies, the most effective way to create a garden with your child that will be filled with the showy creatures is to do your homework regarding the types of butterfly that are native to your area. Native flowering plants are generally the best choices, as the relationship between local plants and local butterflies is inherently symbiotic.

Creating a Suitable Habitat for Butterflies

Helping your child to select and plant things that will attract butterflies and support caterpillar activity is important, but so is creating an environment that’s suitable as a habitat for those butterflies once they’ve arrived. Insecticides will kill any caterpillars that feed on affected leaves, so it’s best to nix insecticide in your little one’s butterfly garden. Butterflies also need flat rocks for resting, orientation and warming, and a bit of coarse, wet sand for puddling.

With a bit of effort and attention, you and your child can help to support butterfly life in your garden. Keep in mind that the plants will need to be tended, a job that might be a bit too difficult for young children to manage on their own. To increase the odds of heavy butterfly population in your child’s garden and to allow for greater observation of the butterfly life cycle, you might want to consider raising butterflies specifically for release in the garden after they’ve emerged from their cocoons. Butterfly kits are commercially available for just this purpose.

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30 Blogs with the Best Eco-Friendly Kids Crafts

Posted on April 25, 2013 by admin

Arts and crafts are great ways to encourage creativity and imagination in children. What’s more, children can learn how to recycle and reuse materials while crafting, which nurtures and promotes eco-awareness. In addition to items from around the home, children can use natural items from the world around them for fun and environmentally-friendly crafts projects. There are also many practical applications for arts and crafts, which will help your child develop real-world skills. These 30 blogs have ideas for eco-friendly arts and crafts that are ideal for children of all ages.

Flowers and Arrangements

Kids can use recycled materials to create beautiful and, sometimes, realistic flower arrangements. These craftworks can be used as decoration, ornaments or company for your real flowers and plants. This is an excellent way to get your kids interested in nature and gardening, too. These five blogs have ideas for endless crafting fun, with faux-flowers, floral arrangements and trees.

Cardboard Boxes, Tubes and Paper Crafts

Among the most abundant materials available in the home, cardboard boxes, tubes and paper are ideal for recycling crafts. There is virtually no limit to the masterpieces your kids can create with these easily pliable materials, and making something fun keeps them out of the garbage. Encourage your kids’ imaginations with cardboard vehicles, houses, toys and much more, and watch their creativity flourish and grow. These five blogs contain all the hints and tips your kids will need for getting started on a crafts project today.

Holiday and Celebratory Crafts

Get your kids in the holiday spirit with some seasonal arts and crafts. No matter what the occasion, your kids will have a blast creating celebratory artwork to add to the festivities. Seasonal crafts also present the perfect opportunity to teach your kids the history and origins of the holiday in a fun and interactive way. Then there are all the creative and free gifts your kids can make using only recyclable materials and their crafting skills. In these five blogs you will find creative ideas for specific holidays; all of which you can adapt to any occasion.

Toys and Games

As most parents can testify, kids have a funny habit of neglecting new toys in order to play with the box or wrapping. With that in mind, crafting toys from recyclable materials is sure to be a winner. However, boxes and wrapping paper are far from the only materials that your kids can use to craft toys. As long as an item is safe and reusable, it’s something that your kids can use to create a variety of different new toys and games. Read these five blogs with your kids, and see what sort of toys and games you can come up with.

Practical, Recycling Crafts

One of the greatest things about crafting is the potential for creating practical and handy household items. Your kids will feel like they’re really making a contribution to the home by taking their creativity to whole new levels with innovative arts and crafts. Besides which, you will save a fortune with the neat inventions that your kids come up with. These five blogs look at ways to reuse items in a creative and practical way.

Nature’s Crafts

The natural world is full of eco-friendly materials for arts and crafts, and the benefits of using such materials are numerous. Using natural materials in a responsible way is good for the environment. You don’t have to purchase anything, and all materials are biodegradable, obviously. Nature crafts also encourage kids to go outside, interact with the environment and learn about the natural world. The authors of these five blogs specialize in bringing nature and crafts together.

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10 of the Best Role Models for Young Boys

Posted on April 23, 2013 by admin

When sports heroes are exposed as users of performance-enhancing drugs or serial adulterers, it’s difficult to reconcile their antics with their assumed position as a role model to today’s generation of young boys. These ten men may not have multimillion-dollar endorsements or the adoration of a legion of devoted fans, but they do exhibit qualities that make them great role models for young men.

  1. Nick Vujicic – “It’s a lie to think you’re not good enough. It’s a lie to think you’re not worth anything.” This Serbian-Australian motivational speaker and evangelist suffers from a disorder that caused him to be born without all four of his limbs. After coming to terms with his condition, he formed a non-profit organization, Life Without Limbs, dedicated to helping others find hope and meaning in life.
  2. Eamon Sullivan – “At the end of the day, we did the best we could. That’s all we could ask for.” The fastest swimmer in history after breaking the world record in 50-meter freestyle at the 2008 NSW Open Championships, Eamon Sullivan has persevered in his sport despite being sidelined several times with injuries and illnesses. Part of the 2012 Australian Olympic swim team that was plagued with allegations of substance abuse, bullying and hazing, Sullivan stepped out to publicly decry bullying in all its forms.
  3. Albert Einstein – “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” A theoretical physicist that pioneered the concept of relativity, Albert Einstein is a strong role model for boys not only because of his many accomplishments, but also his acceptance of the inevitable nature of failure and the importance of persevering in spite of it.
  4. Abraham Lincoln – “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.” If there’s one theme that characterizes Abraham Lincoln’s life, it was an absolute refusal to give up. That, paired with his vision of an America free from slavery, makes him one of the greatest Presidents in American history, as well as one of the most inspirational figures.
  5. Stephen Hawking – “It is no good getting furious if you get stuck. What I do is keep thinking about the problem, but work on something else. Sometimes it is years before I see the way forward.” One of the most celebrated scientific figures of his generation, Stephen Hawking has written books, experienced weightlessness, been honored as a pioneer in scientific research and made incredible discoveries in his lifetime. He’s also managed to live a full, celebrated life with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
  6. Bill Gates – “I really had a lot of dreams when I was a kid, and I think a great deal of that grew out of the fact that I had a chance to read a lot.” Bill Gates might be most well-known for his achievements in technology and innovation, but his determination to give away his staggering wealth through charitable donations in his lifetime is what sets him apart from other media moguls of his generation. Few examples of such blatant generosity exist in the world today, which is why Bill Gates makes such an excellent role model for young men.
  7. Winston Churchill – “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” In the midst of the greatest global conflict of all time, Winston Churchill’s staunch optimism and penchant for inspiring speeches maintained the morale of the British people until the Allied Forces emerged on the other side of World War II, victorious. His belief in the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of perseverance are the legacy he left behind; one that today’s boys would do well to examine.
  8. Sean Swarner – “The human body can survive for about thirty days without food. The human condition can sustain itself for about three days without water, but no human alive can survive for more than thirty seconds without hope, because without hope we truly have nothing.” The fact that Sean Swarner completed the Seven Peak Challenge of climbing the highest mountain on every continent is reason enough to view him as a strong role model. The fact that he did so after being the only person in the world to survive both Hodgkin’s Disease and Askin’s sarcoma elevates him to an entirely different level of role models altogether.
  9. William Kamkwamba – “Don’t insult me today just because I’m poor, you don’t know what my future holds!” When Malawian teenager William Kamkwamba’s parents could no longer afford to send him to school, he turned to his local library to assuage his thirst for knowledge. He was then inspired to build a windmill to generate power for his village after reading a book on energy, though the resources available to him were limited. With scrap parts and trees, William created a functional windmill that powered his village and later when on to speak at global science conferences.
  10. Dad – No matter how many sports stars fall from grace or public figures find themselves mired in a reputation-ruining scandal, there’s one role model that boys will never stop looking up to: Dad.

While it’s certainly troubling to be forced to explain the fall from grace of a once-great athlete or public figure, these moments can actually serve as effective and timely talking points if they’re approached correctly. For instance, a boy that’s athletically ambitious and determined to succeed might benefit from a frank discussion about how the discovery of performing-enhancing substance use ruined Lance Armstrong’s career and reputation forever. Don’t shy away from the difficult situations, as they are the ones that your sons stand to learn the most from.

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10 of the Best Role Models for Young Girls

Posted on April 11, 2013 by admin

In a pop culture landscape awash with midriff-baring songbirds whose lyrical content sends a questionable message to young girls and child actresses who grow into very public disasters, it isn’t always easy to find quality female role models for your daughters. These ten women may not be hitting the Billboard 100 or releasing a summer blockbuster any time soon, but their lives and messages are timeless sources of inspiration for women and girls everywhere.

  1. Amelia Earhart – “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.” Though her story ultimately ended in tragedy, Amelia Earhart was a trailblazing pioneer for women everywhere, even those who will never sit in the cockpit of an airplane. The first woman to fly across the Atlantic solo and an avid supporter of women’s rights, Amelia Earhart was an early feminist and a strong, brave woman.
  2. Nancy Drew – “I just know that any time I undertake a case, I’m apt to run into some kind of a trap.” Girl sleuth extraordinaire, Nancy Drew tooled around River Heights and the surrounding areas, solving mysteries and fearlessly forging ahead with her two best friends, Bess and George. Never mind that Bess was a bit pudgy and George bore a boy’s name, the trio solved crimes with the ultimate can-do, girl-power attitude.
  3. Marie Curie – “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” As more educators and parents attempt to foster an interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) classes among young girls, the historic figure of Marie Curie emerges as an unlikely, yet timely, role model. The first woman to receive the Nobel Prize and the first person ever to win the award in two separate categories, Curie helped to develop the first X-ray machine at a time when women were still struggling for the right to vote.
  4. Anne Frank – “Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.” Anne Frank may seem like a morbid role model, but her unyielding optimism in the face of one of history’s greatest horrors makes her an incredibly inspirational figure for young girls.
  5. Rosa Parks – “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.” With a single quiet refusal heard around the country during a time of great political unrest, Rosa Parks gave women of color a voice that couldn’t be drowned out by the shouting of those who would deny everyone equal rights.
  6. Hillary Rodham Clinton – “It is past time for women to take their rightful place, side by side with men, in the rooms where the fates of peoples, where their children’s and grandchildren’s fates, are decided.” Emerging from a high-profile turn as First Lady of the United States to begin a successful political career of her own, Hilary Rodham Clinton may be a polarizing figure, but there’s no doubt that she’s an inspirational one for girls with budding political aspirations of their own.
  7. Carly Fleischmann – “I guess what I’m saying is there’s always going to be something wrong with the world; it’s what we do about it that counts.” Autism is becoming more and more prevalent, with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating that one in 88 children has an autism spectrum disorder. Carly Fleischmann is one such child, one who was believed to be severely mentally challenged as well as autistic because of her inability to verbally communicate. When Carly learned to type, she was able to show what a deeply intelligent, caring girl she truly is. Establishing charities like The Six Degree Project to raise autism awareness, Carly is truly a role model for young girls everywhere.
  8. Isadora Duncan – “You were wild here once. Don’t let them tame you.” Known as the mother of modern dance, Isadora Duncan refused to let others dictate the way she expressed herself through her art form, and effectively influenced generations of dancers that came after her. She’s a strong influence for girls, showing the importance of adhering to your ideals in the face of adversity and never, ever backing down.
  9. Lucille Ball – “One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’t pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.” A spitfire comedienne and an iconic part of the television landscape, Lucille Ball was more than just a wildly successful and beloved actress; she eventually became the first woman to head up a major television studio.
  10. Mom – No matter how you slice it, there’s no greater influence on a young girl than her mom. From mimicking Mom’s behavior deliberately to unconscious adoption of her mannerisms, a girl will spend much of her life emulating her mother in some way or another.

Talking to your daughters about why they should think twice about following in the footsteps of a starlet or pop princess isn’t always easy. Girls, especially tween and teens, aren’t always receptive to statements that they perceive as criticism. Rather than foisting books or articles about these ten women on them after demeaning the pop idols they look up to, find ways to work these women into conversation as important figures. You may be surprised at how much their interest is piqued when you’re not forcing them to drop the Katy Perry record in favor of a book about Marie Curie.

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How to Choose the Best First Student Guitar

Posted on April 8, 2013 by admin

Learning to play a musical instrument allows your child to strengthen a wide range of their auditory skills, benefiting her throughout her adult life if she continues to play. Some of those benefits will extend into adulthood even years after her last lesson. Kids that learn to play music tend to score higher on the SAT Reasoning test than their peers who did not take music lessons, according to evidence published by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. Your child may be entertaining fantasies of rock super-stardom when she picks up her first guitar, but you’ll know that she’s actively improving her mind and her future with every chord she learns. For your child to reap all of these benefits, however, she’ll have to stick with her guitar lessons, and a big part of ensuring that she does is finding the right guitar.

Keep Your Child’s Musical Preferences in Mind

In the world of acoustic guitars, there are two different types: classical and steel-stringed. Classical guitars are strung with nylon strings, and boast a wider fingerboard with a smaller body than their steel-stringed counterparts. Those nylon strings are softer and easier for your child’s smaller fingers to manage, but they create a much mellower sound and will not lead as quickly to the callous formation that allows seasoned guitarists to play without hurting their fingers. Kids that favor classical music or the softer sounds of folk music may prefer a classical guitar over one with steel strings. Rock, pop and country music sounds, however, come from steel-stringed acoustic guitars. Before you start searching for a student guitar, you and your child will need to decide which is better suited to her tastes and preferences.

Hold Off on More Exotic Instruments

Twelve-string guitars have a full-bodied sound that veteran players love, but they’re too much for a beginner to handle. An acoustic bass, dobro, mandolin or banjo might be an exotic break from the norm for your beginning guitarist, but they’re more difficult to learn than a standard guitar. As your child learns the basics of music and stringed instruments, you may want to consider allowing her to branch into these exciting choices. Until she’s got a bit of experience under her belt, though, it’s best to stick with a standard guitar.

Think Twice Before you Purchase an Electric Guitar

A child with a fondness for rock ‘n’ roll will almost certainly beg for her very own electric guitar, but they’re not ideal choices for beginners. Electric guitars are far easier to play than acoustic ones, so your child won’t have to press the strings as hard or focus on fretting new chords the same way. While this sounds like a bonus on the surface, you’re actually doing your child a disservice by starting her out with an electric guitar because she won’t be building up the strength her fingers would gain from an acoustic guitar. Switching over to an acoustic guitar later will be more difficult and frustrating if her tastes change, and could be discouraging. It’s better to start with a more challenging instrument first, as strange as that may initially sound.

Remember That Used Guitars Aren’t Always a Bargain

Kids are notorious for having a fleeting interest in dozens of activities before they settle on the one they truly love, so it can be tempting to purchase a bargain-basement or second-hand starter guitar until you’re sure that she’ll be sticking with the guitar lessons. Tuning keys can rust, necks can warp and other damages can occur over time, making an old guitar difficult for a child to manage properly. New guitars that are manufactured and assembled cheaply will often cost you more in repairs than the ticket price, so it’s best to consider your child’s student guitar an investment and purchase accordingly. That doesn’t mean that you have to buy a top-of-the-line model, as there are high-quality student guitars on the market that won’t break the bank. You’re just very likely to be better off with a guitar you’ve purchased from a reputable dealer than a pawn-shop special or a battered instrument you found through classified ads.

Keep the Size of the Student in Mind

In order for your child to truly enjoy her music lessons, she’ll need to be able to progress at a steady rate and handle her guitar with minimal struggle. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that her student guitar is the right size and scale for her frame. Depending on her age and height, she may need anywhere from a 1/4-size instrument to a full-size. Your child’s instructor is usually the best source of information regarding guitar size, and can give you recommendations when it comes to choosing the perfect model for your student.

When the discordant sounds of a beginning guitarist fill your house and threaten to drive you to distraction, remember that you’re fostering more than ideas of fame and fortune.

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