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The RC Car: The Latest Rage Among Boys

2012-12-13T21:21:00.000-08:00

I have yet to meet a boy or a man who says that he is not fond of cars. Boys get attracted to cars even before they learn to talk or walk. Young boys take pride to flaunt their collection. They are very passionate about their cars and would not trade them for anything in the world. My son loves to buy toy cars of all shapes and sizes. Most of them are battery operated. The modern kids have become very smart and look for the best when it comes to selecting their toys. My son has been pestering me to buy him a new RC car.

I have promised to gift him one for his upcoming birthday. I decided to have a look at online stores. I was amazed to find a whole range of fascinating machines. These are not only stylish but also make use of the latest technology. I had never imagined a toy which would be making use of the Android system. Yes, that's right! I found this amazing RC car called HappyCow Infrared Ray IR Racer which is controlled by the Android system. It is a white-colored four wheeler which runs for 5-7 minutes after being charged for about 45 minutes. The remote control is effective up to 10 meters. This would cost $23.17 approximately.

Another one worth mentioning here is a SanDiamond 3D-15A RC car. This operates on 100m Aj-polymer battery. It can be easily charged via USB cable. The control range is about 20 meters. It runs for 15 minutes. The size of this ebony black sedan is 115x75x50 mm. The package includes a transmitter and a USB cable. The approximate cost is $25.56. An instruction manual is also given so that one can easily understand the method of operating it. This car is definitely going to be loved by the teenagers.

If you are looking for a simple RC car then you must have a look at 5 channel alloy mini remote control car. It is red in color and priced at $18.89 approximately. It operates on NI-MH 2.4 Volt battery. The charging time required is just 5 minutes. It has a decent remote control range of 6-20 meters.

The remote controlled cars can be easily bought online from various trusted web sites. The shipping is free of cost. I have placed an order and eagerly waiting for the consignment to arrive. I am sure my kids are going to love their new arrival.

It has now become very easy for a child to drag you to your laptop and with a few clicks illuminate the monitor with displays of RC toys and RC cars on various online stores.

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What You Put Into Your Child Now Is What Society Will Reap Later

2012-12-13T17:03:00.000-08:00

Not only can a baby learn a new language also musical and artistic abilities, muscular coordination, moral values and the values of life, knowing the difference between what is right and wrong. They learn from those in thrir environment, by listening, watching and interacting.

There is a correct timetable for this learning to come, for the best results, and that time is during the formative years. This process begins at birth. ("and before, I talked to my daughter when she was in my womb") It's bonding. Mothers looks lovingly into her baby's eyes, talks to the baby, kisses and hugs the baby. Maternal instincts are stirred as baby looks at mom and feels safe and secure in her arms. If the mother nurses the child this creates a deep bond. This is the beginning of a child's personality development in feeling loved, safe, secure,and confident. As an adult they will carry these traits with them and in turn others will feel that way with them.

While the mother may be more affectionate in a softer way the father may tickle the child throw them up in the air and be a little more physical. This balances the child, both mother and father play the key role in the bond that will last a lifetime. With lot's of hugs and kisses from both parents before kindergarten, this child is more likely to develop successful friendships, marriages and careers in the future.

Also, hold your child while rocking in a rocking chair. Read to them as they feel secure on your lap. Talk to your child and listen to what they are saying, teach them what's right and wrong, and make sure that what you are teaching them is how you are living because they are inclined to copy what you do. Don't be a hypocrite, children get confused by this. Children are very curious and ask a lot of why's, don't get irritated, this is their time to grow, do your best to explain why the sky is blue, why are your eyes so big? Why do they have to take a nap. Keep your explanation simple and clear, make it fun.

Many parents have to work to earn a living to take care of their children, so can you both of you put forth the effort to spend time with your children? Don't put in a few hours with your child because you feel guilty, really do your best to spend quantity time (and quality) find the time during the formative years or be prepared to reap a generation gap when they become a teenager.

Not only can this be damaging to the child but also the parents as they miss out on enjoying their child as they grow up. They now look to their peers for advice and fun. When they get older and the parent tries to spend time with them out of guilt, they now draw away and a huge gap is formed, the child no longer trust the parents.

So spending pieces of time that have real meaning, are truly important, going camping, bike riding, discussing a book, going over a test, when they tell you they got an A in school do you ask them why they did not get an A+? Be encouraging to your child, but don't let them have their way in everything, the child that is given everything and has no discipline turns into a selfish, demanding, uncaring adult. If you practice what you preach and teach from infancy between what is right and wrong, your child will have those values in their hearts for the rest of their lives, if you are a hypocrite, a liar, and show no affection or very little to your child your child will also carry those values into the future.

The kind of adult you want your child to become depends much on you. So when they look into your eyes what do they see? Someone that is loving and kind and there for them, or a person that's flaky, selfish and there when it is convenient for them? in children and youth over the past two decades. We lose some ten thousand teenagers a year over drug related abuse, that does not include those that are injured and maimed. One in four teen-agers drinks to excess every two weeks and we have two million alcoholic teenagers.

"Teenage girls in America get pregnant at the rate of one million per year, twice the rate of the next Western country, England. Suicide has tripled among teenagers in the last 20 years, and between five and six thousand teen-agers take their own lives each year. "Why?" they feel unloved, misunderstood, alone and unwanted. It takes time and energy to love a child, ask yourself? ("what kind of adult am I raising?") Years ago Robert Keeshan, broadcaster to children as Captain Kangaroo, warned of the consequences of withholding your time from your children. He said: "A small child waits, thumb in mouth, doll in hand with some impatience, the arrival home of a parent. She wishes to relate some small sandbox experience. She is excited to share the thrill she has known that day. The time comes, the parent arrives. Beaten down by the stresses of the workplace the parent so often says to the child, 'not now honey. I'm busy, go watch television.' Years go by and the child grows. We give her toys and clothes, the latest cell phone, designer clothes. But we do not give her what she wants most, our time. She's fourteen, her eyes are glassy, she's into something. 'honey, what's happening? Talk to me, talk to me.' Too late. Love has passed by...

"When we say to a child, 'Not now, later.' When we say, 'Go watch TV.' When we fail to give our young people the one thing they require of us, our time. When we fail to love a child. We are not uncaring. We are simply too busy to love a child. In the future perhaps that child will turn into an adult that is too busy to love a child. Even worse perhaps they will be too busy to love even themselves.

I have years of experience with children in the foster care system and of course my own and over the years I have learned that children feel love when they have boundaries set for them. For books about child rearing.

http://www.belindawhitmore.ws/

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Help Your Baby Learn To Walk

2012-12-13T12:48:00.000-08:00

One thing you may notice very quickly about your baby is that once they can start to hold themselves upright, everything they learn seems to happen in leaps and bounds eventually culminating in trying to walk. Your baby when carried on your hip will often seem like their head is on a swivel, they are attracted to lights, different sounds and bright colours for the most part, and so using aids that incorporate these factors is very helpful.

Children are constantly learning and one of the hardest things to get down pat is physical coordination. Before babies learn to walk they first crawl and then they start to pull themselves up using furniture and other supports. This is absolutely the perfect time to start helping them learn to walk. One of the best ways initially is simply helping them to step away from furniture by holding onto your hands, this works to help them realize that they are not limited to walls and furniture. Your baby at this stage knows how to step but most likely will not watch where they are going, indiscriminately stepping on obstacles and trip hazards. One way to combat this is by using a walker, not the sort of walker they sit in as these aren't true aids in learning to walk, they don't put your baby in a real walking posture.

The type of walker you need is one that has a good easy grip handle and has the rear wheels level with or behind where your baby's feet would be. This is a must as the wider and further back the rear wheels reach the more stable the walker is. I mentioned earlier that babies are attracted to bright colours and interesting sounds, so finding a walker which has these attributes is definitely a must. Your baby will be so much more interested in using a walker that is brightly coloured. Some walkers even click or have a ball filled marbles which spins all of which also provide an interesting sound. Babies find this particularly interesting because they learn to associate the movement with sound and this helps with cause and effect awareness as well.

There are so many brands of walkers available with all different sorts of bells and whistles. One thing that most toy companies all incorporate into their walkers is bright colours, so with that being a given, you just need to decide on what other features you like the most. Do you want a noisy walker or a quiet one, do you want a walker that can turn into a wagon for later on or maybe you want a walker with an activity panel that has buttons and lights and electronic sounds. Whatever type of walker you are after you can be assured there is one that will suit. It really is just a matter of personal choice.

Want to find some great walkers, have a look at some baby walker review pages. One of the best walkers that I could personally recommend would be amongst the Fisher Price Walker range, They have a range of great walkers to suit many different personal choice options. See the link below for more great information and photos of one great Fisher Price Walker in action.

http://www.squidoo.com/fisher-price-walker

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Educational Computer Games for Kids Provide New Aspects to Learning

2012-12-13T09:12:00.000-08:00

Learning should be fun for kids of all ages, which is why choosing proper educational computer games for kids is a good choice for any child. Whether you have a preschooler, kindergartner or child in elementary school, there are a variety of games kids can play online that can enhance what they learn in the classroom on a daily basis. Not every child learns the same way, which is why providing enhancements at home can help your child thrive both in and out of school. It is the perfect way to take the pressure off your child and allow him to learn in a fun, engaging way.

Preschool
Children in preschool are just starting to grasp the basic concepts of numbers, letters and colors. Learning in the classroom can make any child feel overwhelmed, especially if the concepts don't come easily to them. Whether you want to prepare your child before he enters preschool or you want to provide extra help during the school year, educational computer games for kids make it easy to provide the extra support he may need.

Kindergarten
In kindergarten, the concepts are more complex. Children begin to learn about ordinal numbers, skip counting, vowels, compound words and even science concepts, such as life cycles and the weather. There is a lot of information and new learning experiences children ages five to six are expected to take in. Rather than cramming your child full of this information at school and expecting him to remember it, you can supplement with online games that reinforce the concepts and even make learning fun.

Elementary School
The older kids get, the more difficult the subjects in school become. By second grade, concepts, such as fractions, multiplication and division, are introduced. If your child hasn't fully grasped the basic concepts yet, it can be overwhelming for them. Rather than make them feel uncomfortable, you can provide learning at their own pace in the comfort of their own home with educational computer games for kids.

When you are searching for the right games for your kids, take into consideration their learning abilities and subjects with which they need help. There are a variety of subjects and types of games kids can play at their own pace, making it possible to enhance their learning. Educational computer games for kids make it possible to help students without making them feel pressured or overwhelmed, all while having fun.

For interactive educational computer games for kids, visit the website of Turtle Diary or call 1-347-903-7605.

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Radiate As Your Beautiful Self With Three Practices

2012-12-13T05:16:00.000-08:00

Have you been in love before?

I am referring to the type of love that takes your breath away. People can bring this feeling to you and so can activities. Some people call it "the zone."

Have you been there before?

Can you bring yourself back to that place and time right now?

This is when you radiate. The glow of your skin and the shine in your eyes can be found when you feel love and when you get into the zone. This is when you are the most beautiful.

Do you want to get there again?

Check out these three beautiful tips to help you radiate on command.

The First Practice to Radiate

Radiating is when you are shining your light into the world. We can absolutely control this; it is at our command. One great way to radiate right away is to notice when someone else is radiating. Babies constantly radiate as they have yet to learn how to dim their own light. Watch a baby with a silent mind and you will naturally begin to radiate. When you notice someone who is radiating, compliment their beauty and this will magnify right back to you.

The Second Practice to Radiate

Your diet and exercise affect how you radiate. Eating raw foods, salads and grains, will increase your light. Engaging in a regular exercise program will get your blood flowing and increase the brightness of your light. It takes a commitment to instill new habits with regards to diet, and having someone who will commit with you can help tremendously.

The Third Practice to Radiate

Engage in what you love. This can be a hobby or your work. When you lose track of time, you are in the right activity. Your goal is to find the flow and enjoy the moment. When you are in this moment, you radiate a pure light and glow.

The people who you find attractive are radiating a brighter light than you. This is why they are so attractive. When we increase the light we radiate, we will find that our work becomes easier and more people arrive to help us when we need it. It allows us to build amazing relationships when we love life and let our light shine.

Changes may need to be made in your life and, quite honestly, you may have to develop great amounts of courage to get yourself into something new. You may find yourself in a job right now and constantly be saying "Well, I am lucky to have one." And this is true for you. You are lucky and yet, what are you missing? What is it that you would rather be doing, which would really allow you to feel great?

This is what we must be doing right now if we ever want to tackle the life's challenges. We must find what we can engage in, which will allow us to radiate so bright that other people are attracted to and affected by us. When we radiate brightly, someone else radiates more brightly too.

Take back your radiating self and engage full heartedly in life. Remember this acronym for R.A.D.I.A.T.E.

Real

Action

Decides

True

Energy

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He invites you to take advantage of an amazing offer for the Relationship Building System online at http://www.rulesoftheroadforteens.com/.

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Ensure Your Baby's Comfort by Opting for First-Rate Strollers

2012-12-13T01:05:00.000-08:00

For every parent buying baby products and accessories at large is a very critical decision. No parent desires to settle down for a baby item that is anything less than the best. While shopping for any baby product or accessory, the primary goal of every parent is to ensure their baby's comfort. The situation is no different in case of baby strollers.

In the market, you are likely to come across a large number of baby strollers, each of which is differentiated from the other on the basis of its size and variety. However, all said and done, there are thick chances of at least one such stroller being available in the market that happens to best match your baby's individual needs and requirements.

A good deal of advantages are known to be associated with a stroller. However, one basic constructive advantage related to baby strollers is nothing, but the fact that it makes it easy and convenient for the parent to move about with their baby. This is because strollers eliminate the need of having to carry your baby constantly, which ultimately helps you to do away with issues such as backache.

Out of the variety of strollers that are available in the market, one of the strollers that is known to be priced nominally is none other than the umbrella stroller. Hence, we can easily conclude that the strollers is absolutely pocket-friendly. Apart from this, the umbrella strollers are also known to be quite light in weight, which is exactly why they are considered to be absolutely easy to carry and handle.

Apart from this, the market is known to boast baby strollers that tend to possess diverse designs. In recent times, you can easily get your hands on a wide spectrum of strollers that tend to project designs right from the very simple and effortless ones to the ones that are sophisticated and classy. Similarly, you can easily find sporty and rugged strollers in the market.

Before investing in a stroller, there are a number of parameters that you need to take into consideration in order to make sure that you don't end up buying a stroller that your baby is uncomfortable with. First and foremost, you need to pay sufficient attention on the safety parameter. Secondly, you need to pay heed on the type of wheels that a particular stroller makes use of. Similarly, you also need to get yourself acquainted with the features possessed by a particular stroller, in order to figure out whether or not they are compatible with your baby's individual needs. Last, but not the least you also need to make out whether or not the baby stroller is easy to transport and store.

All said and done, it is crucial for you to take into consideration the above mentioned parameters before zeroing down on a baby stroller.

The author is a part of the Lusso _LusKids Inc, which happens to be a retail store that is located in North Vancouver, Canada. Lusso Kids Inc is an online retailer known to specialize in distinguished and chic children's furniture, clothing as well as shoes. You can buy baby accessories such as strollers, double strollers, cribs and other furniture at large at the most competitive prices only from this particular online retailer.

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How To Handle Your Child's Reactions To Media Coverage Of Natural Disasters

2012-12-12T21:59:00.000-08:00

When the news of a threatening natural events such as recent coverage of hurricane Sandy occupy the central space in our media, it becomes virtually impossible to shield our children from learning about this. Some of the children are predisposed to anxious reactions and will pick on any topic that implies danger to them and their loved ones. Others will only react strongly to a new unfamiliar situation. In any case, the parents play a pivotal role in mediating children's reactions and turning this event into a learning experience that will strengthen their child's resilience to life's adversities.

It is important to understand that in some cases children do not even know what the words such as "hurricane" mean to their personal lives. They figure it out from observing the world around them. If they hear the word in the news and conversations many times and notice that their parents react to it with worry and fear, they will realize that this is something very big and scary. While there is no reason to shield your children completely from the news, try to limit the number of times they are exposed to such information. In fact, it is a good idea to tell your child about a hurricane and about how the family is going to prepare for it. It is better for children to hear this information from the parents who can discuss it with them and address any feelings the child might have about it. It will also prepare the child for the actual experience of the hurricane, if they get exposed to it.

However, the most important thing the parents can do is to control their own emotional reaction. If a child sees a parent who is calm and confident while talking about or preparing for the storm, they will feel safe and confident themselves. The parents need to show confidence that they can cope with their own and their children's feelings in any new situation.

While some children will tell about their worries and ask many questions, others will not express it verbally, but might show their feelings through oppositional behavior, negative mood, or anxious acting, such as being clingy to their parents, checking things over and over again, refusing to leave the house, etc. If the child talks openly about her fears, you can discuss what events might happen in your area and how you plan to cope with them. You can even practise some of the possible situations. For example, to show the child what it will be like without electricity, you might turn off the lights in one of the rooms and show how you will use the flashlight and candles instead. You can also tell the child that this has already happened before and everything was okay. This preparation will inoculate the child in case they will be exposed to the actual hurricane experience and will make them feel prepared in anticipation of it.

It is highly important to validate the child's thoughts and feelings without trying to change them. Kids have the right to feel what they feel. Simply validating their feelings will have a great soothing effect. Then, try to normalize the child's experience and reactions by saying that many kids and adults feel this way. Give examples from your own life of how you were afraid of something but were able to cope with your feelings. Give examples like that from the child's life too. Explain that what scares the child right now is just thoughts and thoughts are not the truth, they are just ideas and images in our brain. You can practise successful coping by asking the child to close their eyes and imagine various situations related to the event and their calm reaction to them. For example: " I hear about hurricane and I feel calm", "I feel strong winds and I feel calm", " I go to bed and I feel calm", etc. Help them feel the calmness at the physical level, use their imagination. This exercise should be repeated 2-3 times a day. Each time acknowledge their success; comment on how you noticed that they looked much calmer and stayed in control much better. During this period it is a good idea to redirect children's attention by playing games, having fun and spending time together as a family.

These simple steps will give you and your child the sense of being in control and will build their ability to cope with other anxiety-provoking events in the future.

About the Author: Dr. Tali Shenfield holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Toronto and is licensed by the College of Psychologists of Ontario. Dr. Shenfield is accredited by the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology and is a member of the Canadian Psychological Association. Dr. Shenfield lectured at the University of Toronto and worked at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto District School Board, York Catholic District School Board, and the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre, providing clinical and psycho-educational services to a wide range of clients. She is the Clinical Director of Child Psychology Center and provides supervision and oversight to other psychologists and psychotherapists.

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Exactly What Is Early Childhood Education And How Can It Benefit Your Child?

2012-12-12T17:27:00.000-08:00

A holistic early childhood education is particularly essential to the early development of a child. Since birth, a young child has been learning bits of life skills such as communication, eating manners, respect for others, as well as some other fundamental habits. However, at a certain age the little one has to be introduced to more and deeper learning outside the home environment.

The formal coaching of a child by individuals other than the caregivers as well as in an environment away from home is what makes up early childhood education. This sort of formal schooling usually occurs when the child is at the age of around three to four years right up till he or she reaches about 8 years old. This phase of life as well as formal education of the kid is exceedingly significant as this is basically the one which shapes the young mind, and gets him or her ready for the tough world outside.

3 Vital Benefits Of Early Childhood Education

1. Promote Learning Process

Studies have shown that children have superb learning capability when they are within their early childhood. This is probably because of their inquisitive nature and also desire to seek out new things. As they will respond proactively to what they see, hear and get in contact with, sending little children for early education will help to foster this learning process.

Many of the aspects of teaching a child occur through play. This is a result of the belief that children understand knowledge better when it is shown through play, whether it is drama, art or music. This is to satisfy the natural curiosity in kids and their tendency to understand better when 'make-believe' scenarios are utilized to teach knowledge.

For the reason that preschool teachers are trained in helping young ones in their learning process and will be in a position to create the correct environment for learning to occur, these kids will feel safe and not intimidated when they try new things at school.

2. Encourages Interaction

It is crucial for little ones to learn the way to communicate effectively with individuals close to them. Their messages have to be spoken out and their listeners must know what they are saying. To get this done correctly, they need to understand how to express themselves plainly as well as to be able to follow instructions given. To master such interaction expertise, small children need to go to a school or learning center in which they have a great many other boys and girls to get along with.

3. Builds Teamwork

As older individuals, we know that group interaction is critical because it can help an individual greatly in his interpersonal and working life. However, it will be rather challenging for small children to learn the skills of working together without the chance to mix with friends of their age and in a stress-free environment.

Unless the child has several siblings of approximately the same age group as well as a mother or father that can be home to offer the right learning experience for them, they are better off learning how to work together as a team in a formal environment. At a preschool, there is also the suitable materials and also skilled experts to teach the little ones the right way to put in effort to finish a designated job as a team.

Nowadays, most countries around the world have very stringent guidelines with anybody preparing to run a child care center or kindergarten. All of them are required to have undergone the required qualifications with recognized organizations as well as the relevant authorities.

As such, busy parents will have a peace of mind when they start their young children to early childhood education which you now know how critical it is towards the advancement of these boys and girls. It is at this age group that a little one can easily be influenced and molded to the proper paths. Lack of holistic formal education could result in the child absorbing detrimental and damaging information in the long run.

You can learn more great tips on early childhood education by visiting the website link we have revealed to you directly below.

Earlychildhoodeducationx.com is a site that is dedicated to sharing with you tips and advice on educating young children. To get the insider scoop on early childhood education, then click here to gain access.

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Tips For Introducing A Toddler or Older Sibling To The New Baby

2012-12-12T13:24:00.000-08:00

My 2-and-a-half year old daughter fell instantly in love with my newborn son. After months of declaring, "Me no share cars with boy!" the moment she set eyes on him, she accepted him in to our family. Introducing the new baby to our toddler was easy. I will never forget the moment.

I was watching the mandatory "shaken baby" video in the hospital when they told me my husband and daughter had arrived. I literally ran from the room (much to the surprise of the two c-section moms who witnessed it!) to spot my daughter with her face pressed up against my son's clear plastic bassinet. She paused from gazing at her brother to look at me.

"Your baby?" she asked.

Before I could reply, she asked, "My baby?"

Then, her voice got even higher pitched as she declared, "OUR baby!"

No problems here. It wasn't until her brother began to crawl and steal her toys that sibling rivalry began.

Nonetheless, like many moms, I was concerned about introducing a newborn baby to a toddler. Here are some tips I picked up along the way.

1. Keep the first meeting private, with no other visitors. - Jill DeLuca, a teacher from Long Island, NY, had two preschool age sons when she gave birth to a third son. "I made sure other family wasn't around when my two oldest were there so they could bond with the baby without a ton of visitors."

Melissa Mazzarella of Holbrook, NY, agrees, "We took our two older boys in first to see the baby before anyone else had a chance. They loved having a private meal in the hospital room with the new baby, as it was an adventure."

2. Use analogies your toddler understands. - If you have pets at home, explain that the new baby is helpless and needs to be treated very gently, like your dog or cat.

3. At the hospital, let your toddler touch and hug the baby as much as he or she wants. - Hospital staff might cringe, but your kids will be sharing toys, food and germs very soon, anyway. If your toddler has an interest in their new sibling, let them show affection openly.

4. Make your toddler feel important. - Empower your toddler by giving him or her big brother or big sister jobs like helping to open presents for the baby or handing you diapers and wipes. The novelty may wear off and your toddler may not want to help all the time -- that's okay, too.

5. Let your older child play Mommy or Daddy, too. - When she was expecting her third son, Mazzarella gave her two older boys dolls to pretend to pamper and feed. Preparation is key. Mazzarella read books on welcoming a new baby and prepared her sons for the day by explaining that the new baby would be here "soon." Experts say that since preschoolers don't have a good concept of time, you can wait until the second or third trimester to tell them about the baby.

6. Bring an activity to keep your toddler busy in the hospital. - Toddlers and preschoolers have short attention spans and while everyone else might enjoy fawning over the baby for hours, young children want to move on to the next activity quickly. We didn't think to bring toys to the hospital, but we used the wifi connection to find "Wow, Wow Wubbzy" episodes, which kept my daughter from running up and down the maternity ward halls.

7. Bring a gift from the new baby to your first child. - Jill DeLuca was one step ahead of me, and did bring toys to keep the older siblings busy. Better yet, she had her oldest children pick out toys to bring as a gift to the baby, and then the baby gave them a gift, too. "To this day, my oldest still talks about the presents his little brothers gave him."

Stork Baby Gift Baskets specializes in new baby gifts but also offers a wonderful selection of gifts for the new big brother or big sister. Visit us to view our full line of fun and cute sibling gifts to make them feel special too!

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Antique Wooden Toys Maintenance and Restoration Tips

2012-12-12T09:40:00.000-08:00

For many of those who collect and fancy them, antique wooden toys are actually considered treasures, and they should be treated as priced possessions in general. These creations are made in order to entertain, animate, and provide fun not just for children and kids, but also adults who have make the collection of the same as a hobby.

Antique wooden toys have been a source of fun and recreation for many centuries. Because of their long history, they've evolved into several different varieties as well. For instance, the older days saw the popularity of collectibles like German dolls, cars and other rolling toys with turning wheels, and others. In the modern versions meanwhile, there are wooden Disney characters and pop culture wooden figures primarily used for marketing and advertising. But whatever the type is, the fact remains that antique wooden toys are a great option to collect.

In the process of maintaining and restoring antique wooden toys, you have to consider these basic but very helpful tips:

- Try to look inside your wooden toy, be it a figure, doll, or anything and determine if there is an old string device. In order to do this, you need to pull back cautiously and slowly on the head while looking down into the inside body of the toy. You will likely find a hollow space inside. Majority of antique wooden toys are jointed and this means that the limbs and parts are likely movable. This is because they are commonly made with a certain rubber coil mechanism. Hence, you need to see if you toy contains a coil or rubber band as well.

- Now next thing you do is pull on joints gently and slowly, just like what you did earlier. You have to do this in order to see if the string or cord is loose. As you are doing the same, you can as well look inside and find if there is any kind of frays situated in the rubber band or cord edge of the toy. Now in order to restring, you can use a pair of pliers and utilize something like a thick rubber band or cord string. In doing so, you have to start from the bottom. However, keep in mind that this can only be done with small toys a couple of inches in height. But with most original antique wooden toys, you may have to consult and get help from a professional toy restorer or an expert since they probably have better tools than you do. Put in mind as well that if the doll is restrung too tight, there's a chance that the parts will be damaged in the process. So the best thing to do is still ask for help from an expert in toy restoration.

- Aside from restoration, it is also your job to maintain and clean your antique wooden toys for the purpose of keeping their value intact. You can look for professional and expert advice online or even in your local toy restoration shop to find out how you can effectively clean and maintain your collection.

Did you find this article helpful? You can learn more about toy collecting from Katie Parker where you learn popular toy collectable and how to make money out of them. For years of experience practicing her passion in toy collecting, Katie Parker has become an expert in taking good care of antique wooden toys and practice strategies to turn toys into a money making business.

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This School Year Can Be Different

2012-12-12T04:46:00.000-08:00

What would you like to be different this year? This is a very important question to think about. You really can strategize and set a new tone for the year.

If you don't have a plan you are going to default into the same old struggles and challenges.

Are you looking forward to this year or are you dreading it?

When you don't have a plan it's easy to fall into a state of "dread."

You think of how grouchy your daughter is in the mornings when you try to wake her up for school?You think of her blowing off her school work.You remember the arguments over ridiculous things like taking the dishes out of her room and putting them into the sink.You anticipate all the drama around setting limits with her friends and boyfriend.You are exhausted thinking about all the shuttling you're going to do every day.You dread your daughter being so busy and gone all the time.

Here's a secret.

If you are not intentional about what you want, you are going to default into what you don't want.

6 Ways to Create the Year You Want

1. Write down everything you dread and turn it around and write what you do want.

Here are some examples:

I dread always reminding her to do her homework and it turning into a big argument.

I want her to take responsibility for her homework.

I dread all the drama with her friends.

I want her to be at peace with her friends.

2. Expect this year to be different

Start turning things around by expecting what you want. It's easy to expect the negative experiences, because of your past experience. The result of this is that you give up on your hopes and expectations that things could be different. It feels realistic to think there is always going to be a struggle with homework or she is always going to be a drama queen. It's also realistic that things could change this year.

If you believed things could change, what would you want?

Example: I want to trust my daughter would get her homework done. I want to have a better relationship with my daughter. I want there to be peace in the home.

3. Write "My Dream Year" and have fun

What I would like you to do is pretend that it is May 2012. You are writing a letter to a dear friend and telling her what a wonderful year you have had with your daughter. Or this could be your Christmas news letter where you brag about your daughter. Again have fun with this. Hopefully by now you are clearer about what you want for the next year.

Example: Dear Jane, (my best friend) this has been the best year ever. I have really enjoyed my time with Sara my 15 year old daughter. She has really grown up. Somewhere in September she decided that she wants good grades. I don't have to nag her every night to do her homework. I walk into the kitchen and she shows me her completed homework and her high scores on her tests.

I am so happy for Sara. She has a whole new set of friends. She is not hanging out with the party kids anymore. Sara is especially close to her bff Jill. I love Jill. She comes over to the house all the time. Jill is calm, and is a brilliant girl. Sara is in a good mood around Jill, and because of her, Sara is trying harder in school.

Write details. This will help you believe it.

Read it and imagine that is true. Enjoy the good feelings.

4. Write a prayer for your daughter

Many times our prayers for our daughters are focused on keeping them from disaster.

God help her not die on the road. Don't let her get pregnant. Help her not fail out of school. Please don't let her get a tattoo of her boyfriend's name.

Write a prayer similar to the "Dream Year."

Thank you God that Sara is responsible. Thank you that she has figured out she is smart and therefore she is working hard. Thank you that she has learned to calm down and not lose it over little things. Thank you that Sara and I have a close relationship and I enjoy her so much.

5. Identify where you need help

Many of you know what you want but you don't know how to get there. First of all identify where you are and where you need help.

I don't know how to talk to my daughter about homework.My daughter has a hot temper. I don't know how to handle that.I don't feel close to my daughter but I want too.I want reassurance I am doing the right thing.I obsess about my daughter all the time.I want more peace in the home and I don't know what to do about it.How do I help my daughter have a good future?

6. Get Support

So many mothers feel isolated. You are trying to do the right thing but you question yourself.

You don't have to do it alone. You can build a team of support around you and your daughter.

If you need help you can contact me. I have individual coaching programs designed for your personal needs and my 7 week program Power Your Parenting: How to Reconnect With Your Teenage Daughter and Reclaim Your Life.

You can join my community of awesome moms on my Facebook Page by clicking 'Like' at https://www.facebook.com/poweryourparenting

Don't settle for just trying to 'make it' through the year. Expect this to be the best year you have ever had with your daughter.

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What to Do If Your Child Doesn't Like School

2012-12-12T01:40:00.000-08:00

Growing up in my time, there really was no choice as to whether you liked school or not. It simply was not an option. School was mandatory and you simply went without complaining about it. No questions asked. Today's generation is far more sensitive, or perhaps today's parents are far more attentive to their children. When you really think about it, there is no reason for a child not to like school. The purpose of school is to educate children, teach them proper values and create a safe and comfortable environment that allows them to be themselves and thrive as an individual. This should be both fun and entertaining. So when your child complains to you that they don't like school, you should have a little red flag coming up in your mind. The first thing to do is to get the real story from your child. You will then need to communicate openly with the child's teacher and finally find a solution that is suitable for everyone.

Firstly, when your child begins to complain that he does not like school or would rather not go to school, you should never dismiss their statement as nonsense. It is imperative that you look deeper into what situation may be triggering such a bold statement. It is of the utmost importance that you set time aside to talk to your child and truly listen to what he has to say. This exercise is not about convincing him that school is important and that there really is no reason for him not to like school. Nor is it about telling him that there really isn't any choice involved when it comes to school and education. The key here is to ask as many questions as possible in a non offensive and comprehensive way in order to get your child to tell you what is really bothering them about going to school.

Next, you will need to start speaking with your child's teacher. Again, your mission is to get to the real reason your child suddenly does not like school, so don't go in accusing the teacher of not paying enough attention to your child. You really need to get the teacher's help. Keep in mind that teachers might have up to 25 or even 30 children they need to be watching out for and they cannot possibly concentrate on teaching your child the appropriate curriculum if they are busy acting as the behavior police. The teacher may however have noticed a particular event taking place or a change in your child's behavior that can give you clues as to what may be bothering your child. It's also very possible that the teacher may not have noticed anything and if this is the case, you want to make the teacher aware of your child's complaint about school and what he has told you so far. This will allow the teacher to keep a closer eye on your child and be able to report any changes or events.

Finally, when you have a good idea of what may be going on that is bothering your child or preventing him from enjoying school the way it should be enjoyed by any child, it is time to get your hamster wheel turning and find a solution to the issue. This may be a simple adjustment or it may involve more work and cooperation from many people. Whatever the solution, it must be suitable for the situation and everyone that is involved. You must be flexible in finding your solution. It is by cooperating with the people who are involved with your child on a daily basis that you will be able to achieve a positive outcome to the situation.

School is a pleasant environment that every child deserves to have the opportunity of enjoying to the fullest. However, life is not perfect and often times certain situations may arise that will make your child dislike being at school. As a parent it is your job to get the whole story from your child and then speak to his teacher in order to find a good solution that will allow for a better outlook for your child. As a parent this is a small investment of time and effort that will bring you the peace of mind of knowing your child is comfortable at school and is performing to his greatest potential.

Life doesn't come with an instruction manual. You do the best with what you have and what you know. The more you know, the better you can do and the more you can have. We empower women (and men) to take charge of their lives and live on their own terms, not on someone else's watch. See what we are all about at http://www.smartwomenpress.com/

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Lay a Solid Foundation of Learning With First Grade Educational Games

2012-12-11T20:55:00.000-08:00

First grade is an important transitional year for many children. At this point, they are leaving behind the play-centered learning of preschool and kindergarten and moving on to a stricter learning environment they will spend a majority of their time in for the coming years. However, parents and teachers can still use first grade educational games to keep learning fun so you can set a more solid foundation for the rest of the schooling years.

Video Games

Your children love to play video games. However, it is important to restrict the amount of time spent playing games that have no educational value. This doesn't mean you can't allow your child to play games online. Instead, it means you need to focus on finding educational video games that will help reinforce the information your child is learning in school, helping him more firmly grasp the concepts so he can succeed in his new environment.

Puzzles

Puzzles are a great way for you to help your child's important critical thinking skills. First grade educational games that incorporate puzzles of some type will challenge your child to really think about the problem and how to best solve it. The type of thinking required to solve puzzles is different than the way children think for other aspects of school. Exercising their brain with these puzzles is important to their long-term success for this reason.

Other Activities

In some cases, online educational game sites offer additional activities that can be used in the classroom or at home to supplement the learning at school. These activities may be science experiments you can perform together or worksheets you can print up for your child to complete. Children learn by so many methods it is important to be able to offer a variety of methods to your child to ensure his success.

First grade educational games are the perfect way to make sure your child transitions well to the more rigorous curriculum that comes after preschool and kindergarten. Finding a website that provides video games, puzzles and other activities will allow you to supplement your child's education and make sure he is fully grasping the important concepts he needs to move forward through his school years successfully. First grade is the perfect time to set the foundation your child needs in the years to come. With the help of online games, you can make sure learning is still fun.

Learn more about the ways you can use first grade educational games to set a solid foundation for learning, visit the Turtle Diary website or call 1-347-903-7605.

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Demeaning Words That Hurt

2012-12-11T15:59:00.000-08:00

Do you remember the negative adjectives that were used to describe you when you were a child? Do you remember the hurt they caused, who they came from and the effect they had on your self-esteem, your dreams or the person you turned out to be as an adult?

Most adults who have experienced such demeaning events in their childhood holds those experiences somewhere in their subconscious mind, waiting to resurface to take them back to that place, time, person and pain that may have accompanied the dreadful event.

The memories of these instances of verbal abuse can be triggered by seeing children suffering the same fate you did as a child, and these memories can be as painful as the first time they took place. They can also bring back the feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy.

As parents we need to know that trying to raise our children by using demeaning words does not create better adults and that quiet, reserved and docile children are not necessarily good children, but most likely ones with poor image of themselves and who they are compared to others.

We also need to realize that as parents and adults we have to take drastic measures to prevent this from happening to our children. It's difficult for some parent to realize the damage that the wrong words can cause to innocent and fragile children. We use degrading words too often to address our children, believing somehow that if they are demeaned that they becomes smarter, better, and more responsible and respectable children, when in fact it does the complete opposite.

Children who are continuously called by demeaning names such as stupid or good-for-nothing usually react in a violent fashion, not against the adult perpetuating the insults, but against other children. It is quite possible that by verbally abusing our children we ourselves help create abuser.

In response to abusive situations, children might also become timid, fearful, and affected with low self-esteem or in some cases they might create characters to fit the words used to describe them, or the image they think the parent has of them as children.

If we want to create a better society in which our children and subsequently or grandchildren can grow-up and be productive citizen of the world, we have to pay attention to the way we talk to them, the way we raise them and the words we used to describe them.

We need to expand our vocabulary to include words that uplift, encourage and express love; children who hear words such as smart, intelligent and love to describe them usually turns out to be that way because he or she believes that if an adult, especially a parent, uses these words to describe him or her, then it must be true, so they work at making these adjective used to describe them true.

Positive words used to describe our children helps built confidence, and self-esteem and children with high self-esteem are less like to fail socially and academically and are most likely to foster healthy and productive relationships as adults.

Please encourage your children by using words that uplift them and increase their sense of value. A safe, secure and productive future depends on the children we raise today; so raise them well and show them love.

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I Killed Three Teenage Girls Who Were Texting While Walking

2012-12-11T12:14:00.000-08:00

Three girls texting while walking.

The sound of metal on bone was horrific. Three young bodies, probably weighing no more than 100 lbs. each, flew in different directions. The girl that hit my windshield was the worst of all. The blood splattered across the cracked safety glass, and the once blonde hair turned red as her body rolled off my hood.

I screamed at the moment of impact. "No..No... No!!"

My world was torn apart in an instant. The sounds were terrifying. Bone hitting pavement; cars screeching; pedestrians screaming... I couldn't nail down the thoughts in my head much less what I was feelings. Horror, panic, anger, shock most of all. Trying to reckon with the reality of what just happened was impossible. I began praying "Dear God, let them be okay, please don't make this real". I was begging as I flung open my car door.

Were they dead? Injured? How badly? I could barely stand as I stepped out of my car. I didn't want to see the carnage in front of me.

Three girls... the lives they were to lead were no more. The life I thought I would lead was now stained; marred by this accident. The lives of parents, brothers, sisters, the innocent bystanders and eye witnesses, the other kids and classmates following behind the girls... all changed forever.

Sit down and absorb that. Try and imagine the feelings if you ever had to say "I killed three teenage girls who were busy texting and walked right into traffic."

This scenario was not a reality, but damn close. The only difference is I didn't hit them.

Four times in the last 6 months, a group of girls walked off the curb and into oncoming traffic. Each instant involved three girls. Each instant they were busy texting, shoulder to shoulder, focused only on the 3"x5" rectangular screen in their hands. And each time, I played out the above scenario as I saw them stepping off the curb.

I thank God I was the one they walked in front of. I drive constantly for work, often around schools, and I'm acutely aware of kids and what I perceive to be an epidemic and addiction to texting. I think "What if I had been a driver who was so proactive?"

Let's compound the problem even more: "What if I was a driver texting at the moment these girls stepped off the curb?" The reality is there would be twelve dead or seriously injured young girls.

Could you live with that?

According to Margaret Haywood in her article Road Trauma: Dealing with loss and grief:

"Nowhere is the ripple effect of loss and grief felt as strongly as in the area of road trauma. It is often acknowledged that for every road death, an average of thirteen people are significantly affected; family and close friends, other parties to the accident, witnesses, service providers, and often where there is a multiple tragedy - whole communities."

Texting has become a horrible addiction in my opinion. Not just drivers texting, but pedestrians texting while walking as well.

Most people are aware of the video of the woman who was texting while walking and walked right into the mall pond. You can view that video here: http://youtu.be/NGJB9EG-E4o

You can hear the people laughing, and I joined in when I first saw the video. I thought it humorous but pathetic. Not so much so when it's three kids texting while walking in front of oncoming traffic.

Now I watch this video and think of that pond as an oncoming car.

ABC news did a short piece on texting while walking accidents that you can watch here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/texting-while-walking_n_1717864.html

We can't help but laugh at the guy texting while walking right into an oncoming bear, but stretch the imagination out five seconds more, and it becomes a horrific scene.

Though I often thing the government is getting too big, I can't help but agree with cities that something needs to be done about texting while walking. It should start with the parents, but unfortunately too many parents themselves are bad role models concerning texting - texting while walking, while eating, in the movies, while driving...

I watched a video of someone rant against the texting fines in Philadelphia. I found his arguments lame, self serving and simplistic.

Texting has become an epidemic and an addiction. I think about the 13 year olds like my daughter who are growing up with texting being second nature. Thousands of texts sent per month - they instinctively know where the keys are. It is habit; it is instinct to reach for the phone now. They are being conditioned.

So what happens when these 13 year olds, who have already formed a habit of texting while walking, start to drive?

Think about that scenario.

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Green Activities for Kids

2012-12-11T07:39:00.000-08:00

Children play an important part in safeguarding the environment for future generations. Just as local businesses impact local communities as well as the international community so too can kids impact the earth. Their actions can have an impact at home, in school, in their local community, and worldwide.

School's out for the summer, but it does not mean that educational activities have to stop. There are a lot of great green activities that you can introduce to your child.

Observing the Great Outdoors!

One great activity for kids and parents is to take a walk on the beach, in the woods, or in a park.
Needed Materials Recyclable bag, Paint, Crayons, Glue, Scissors, Smock, Pen or paper, Construction paper, Ruler, and a Large sheet of paper Needed Skills
Communication, observation, and motor skills Grade Level
This activity is great for younger kids and can be completed by those as young as K-1st grade and lower ages. Before you go, have your child think of all the things you might see on your walk. Make a chart listing items you might see as the headings, using the ruler to draw lines in between items. Take your recyclable bag with you on your walk and make it a scavenger hunt, placing all found items in the bag. Try to find everything on the chart. Remember to only take items that are on the ground or dead. Use this as an opportunity to get your child talking about nature and making observations, about colors, textures, smells, etc. Once you get back home have your child lay out everything they found. Get your child to place everything into categories (for instance rocks, sticks, leaves, etc.) these should match the items on the chart. Ask for observations on the things they found. Have children place at least one of the items you found underneath each item on the chart you've started. With the rest of the items have your child create an artwork that depicts the environment you explored. Let it dry and prominently display their work. Recycle the items after you are finished with them. You can also schedule a field trip to a nature museum to reinforce what your child has learned.

Get up, get out, and get environmental!

Read a book in the backyard, Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. My child and I love this book. He loves it because he likes Dr. Seuss and I love it because it teaches about the perils of not taking care of the environment.
Needed Materials The Lorax and a comfortable place to sit.Needed Skills
Communication, reading, observation, problem solving, and storytelling Grade Level
This activity is great for younger kids in 2nd or 3rd grade as well as lower ages. Go in the backyard and find a comfortable place in the shade for you and your child to sit and read. Take turns reading from The Lorax. Ask questions about the story and ask for observations. Some sample questions may be: Why did the Once-ler use all the Truffula trees? Why wouldn't the Once-ler listen to the Lorax? What are ways that thneeds could be made without destroying the Truffula trees? What are thneeds that we have such as clothes)? How can we consume less thneeds (buy recycled goods, etc.)? Have your child rewrite The Lorax and come up with an alternative ending in which the Truffula trees are saved.

Get Trashy!

Create trash art.
Needed Materials Construction paper, glue, tape, scissors, old magazines, markers or crayons, paint, glitter, and clean trash that can be made into art. Needed Skills
Motor skills, communication, and creativity Grade Level
This activity is great for younger kids in 2nd or 3rd grade as well as lower ages. Look around the house for items that can be recycled to make art (like empty jelly jars or shoe boxes). Have your child create a sculpture or whatever type of work of art they want. Have your child make observations about the type of materials they used and whether they can be recycled. Ask what else they use in their daily lives that can be recycled. Make observations about your child's creation and have them explain it to you. Let it dry and prominently display the artwork. When you are finished with the artwork recycle whatever you can.

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Adult Bouncy Castles to Let You Relive Your Childhood Days

2012-12-11T02:55:00.000-08:00

With the change in the lifestyles of people and their mode of living, the scopes for entertainment have also turned out to be diverse. The cities are brimming with shopping malls and multiplexes spread all over them, with the purpose of entertaining people and providing them with some relaxation from their otherwise busy and hectic schedule. However, such materialized pleasures often fail to generate the kind of uninhibited fun that each of us had in our childhood. If you are dying for some real pleasure that actually provides you with a vent to give away all the tiredness and exhaustion, consider playing in the bouncy castles. You might be wondering as to how it might at all be possible to use the inflatable play structures that are exclusively for the children. It is time that you get rid of this misconception and realize that bouncy castles are meant as much for the adults as they are for children. In fact, getting in contact with the companies, manufacturing and offering the attractive castles will let you come across the excellent adult bounce houses.

What can be a better way of welcoming the approaching winters than by organizing for a party right at your place? Apart from planning the items to be served in the lunch or dinner and the overall decor of the place, you can certainly hire an adult bouncy castle and let yourself as well as others to relive those early, childhood days. You can go for the sumo suits or the bungee jumps, which are simply irresistible. These are not only fun- generating but also provide opportunities for having some real adventure.

With respect to adventure- offering adult bouncy castles, the latest play structure, manufactured by an Italian artist needs special mention. This particular adult only bouncy castle has an amazing cloud- like structure with different levels, distinguished by thin, clear films. It is fun walking on the giant bubbles that can even make you lose all sense of direction. Alongside being aware of the safety aspects, one must keep in mind the space requirements for the castle is about 65ft tall.

Adult bouncy castles are emerging as the most sought after play structures in parties and social gathering. They are coming about as the newest and the most innovative source of entertainment for adults, who always look forward to moments of extreme pleasure and enjoyment with friends and family members.

Operating as a bouncy castle hire Coventry Company, we put up castles of different varieties for our customers. You can get the bouncy castle hire bounceroos units at cost- effective rates from us.

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Why 'The Youth Coach?'

2012-12-10T23:05:00.000-08:00

Where I spent the Millennium's turn - Buddhist Peace Pagoda, Thailand

Back in 1992, after graduating in psychology and management studies from Leeds University I had a long, hard think about what kind of work I actually wanted to do.

I had a very strong sense of wanting to work with children and young people and help them in some way. I also knew I DIDN'T want to be a teacher or social worker because the admin., bureaucracy and stress involved (even back then) just didn't seem like what I wanted to be part of.

So my 'foot-in-the-door' was as a teaching assistant at a Leeds primary school, along with providing respite care for the family of an autistic boy and some unqualified youth work. I went on to be a 'houseparent' at a residential special school, an 'inclusion officer' supporting excluded pupils back into education and an individual support worker for social services, working 1-1 with kids at risk of being placed in care.

By the turn of the century I was getting frustrated... with "the system" and with the attitudes of many of the disaffected teenagers I was trying to support. I took a career break, went travelling for several months and returned with a more positive outlook and a strong wish to be a writer for young people.

From 2001 to 2006 I was employed as a 'learning mentor' at a primary school in South Leeds, which gradually opened my eyes to the value of doing positive personal development work with kids at an early point in their lives. Over five years I got to know almost all the children in the school by name. I ran reading groups, circle times, I.C.T. sessions, gardening, football and other after-school clubs all of which gave them a chance to socialise and express themselves.I saw how they responded to praise and encouragement, how they enjoyed the status of being given small jobs and responsibilities, how they thrived through speaking and listening games which nurtured their confidence and social skills.

For personal reasons (I'll tell you later on) I moved back to my hometown of Wolverhampton in 2007 and found work as a participation officer' with the city council, offering support to 75 primary schools across the city with setting up and developing their children's school councils. This was a great experience because it brought me into contact with more able and confident children, rather than the predominantly 'challenging' or 'underachieving' pupils I'd worked with previously.

I visited schools, helped set up projects (such as charity fundraising or internet-safety campaigns) and held termly city-wide conferences for school councillors from across the city to get together and talk about issues that were important to them.

I was pretty gutted when coalition cuts meant the funding was withdrawn from that project and I was made redundant in Spring 2011. But I soon realised that it was now time to really use all the experience I had gained, re-focus on my writing endeavours and find the new approach to enhancing young people's learning and development that I felt certain was needed.

After a few months of study and research I came across the concept of 'life coaching' or 'success coaching' which has become a big business in America over recent years, especially in the private sector. That fit perfectly with the service I felt I wanted to provide - and that's what led to the concept of 'Youth Coaching.'

So a 'Youth Coach' is someone who offers positive guidance, support and inspiration to kids. Someone who talks to young people (rather than at them), who listens and responds to young people's reality. Someone who helps children to believe in themselves and the power of their potential.

But while I have a wealth of material waiting to be shared and discussed, the process of turning my words and ideas into a marketable and successful enterprise is still in development, so this blog will be a record of my progress.

I don't claim to have 'all the answers' and nor would I claim that youth coaching will be a substitute for teaching in schools. But what is clear to me is that something definitely isn't working in the current education system.

Many teachers are demoralised, the curriculum seems heavily focused on exams at the expense of skills and development, and thousands of children are still coming out of a decade attending school with nothing to show for it but a negative, demoralised attitude.

I believe that it isn't the children who have failed at school - it is the schools which have failed the children. And we can't carry on thinking that this state of affairs is acceptable: there MUST be a better way!

Thanks for reading! Comments, support (and constructive criticism) are all welcome...

See you next time,

Joe

A 'Youth Coach' is someone who offers positive guidance, support and inspiration to kids. Someone who talks to young people (rather than at them), who listens and responds to young people's reality. Someone who helps children to believe in themselves and the power of their potential.

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Back to the Routine: Is It Working For You?

2012-12-10T20:00:00.000-08:00

The streets were bustling this morning. Mothers and fathers were holding hands with their little ones as they walked to the neighborhood elementary school. The cross guards were busy directing traffic, while parents, children and dogs cross the street.

It is the first day of school.

My daughter set her alarm at 6 am, and was up on time. (Yay!) I take that as a miracle, since this is a shock for my daughters "sleeping in" system. She had already picked out her outfit for the first day of school. She was ready and we were off and running. I drove her to school in the normal way and everything seemed pretty routine, except that today is her first day as a junior in High School.

I came back to the house and it was quiet. I drank a cup of coffee and enjoyed the silence Big Time. It's been a great summer and I have had a blast with my daughter but I am doing the happy dance that school has started. My daughter was getting bored and I was ready to get back to my routine.

For many mothers the first day of school is a happy day. You get your time and space back. You can relax because you know your daughter is back in her structured routine and you can get back to yours.

But before you jump head first into your 'school year' routine, make sure it is a routine you want.

It's easy to fall into routines that are not working for you. You may be aware of some routines and not be conscious of others. Because the fall semester is busy, it's easy to go on automatic pilot and just push through all the things you have to do. This does not make for an enjoyable year.

Now is a great time to create a new routine that benefits you and your family!

4 Ways to Create a Routine You Want

1. Decide you are in charge.

Are you in charge of your daily or weekly routines?

Ask yourself these questions. Who created this routine? Is this a routine I want?

Many times a routine gets created by someone else in your family. As one of my clients said, "It feels like everyone else is driving my life."

Be aware of-

Who is driving my life?What are the routines in my life?Are they working for me?

Take charge of creating new routines that work for everyone in the family including you.

You can still consider everyone needs in the family, and not sacrifice yourself.

2. What do you want for this year?

Routines help you create the life you want. For example, let's look at the morning routine.

Ask yourself what do you really want for the mornings? How do you want them to go?

You might say... I want my mornings to be peaceful. I want to be prepared. I want to be centered. I want to be loving towards my daughter.

No mother would say... I want to get in a huge argument with my daughter. I want to get angry. I want to be stressed and impatient.

Once you know what you want, you can create a routine that makes that possible.

3. What is not working?

Ask yourself what is not working? Let's revisit the morning routine.

Think about your morning routine. What is not working? Here is another way to look at this.

What morning pattern is not working?

When my daughter was 12, I was in a pattern of briefing my daughter about her day on the way to school. Though I had good intentions, this was a terrible time to try to talk with her. She was nervous about school and would snap at me. My automatic behavior would try to push her to answer my questions about homework or whatever. This made for a very unpleasant drive to school.

4. What would you like to change?

Look at your morning routine objectively. It helps when you don't take things personally.

Many, many mothers get in power struggles with their daughters in the morning. One huge reason for this is that your daughter is not a morning person. There are developmental reasons why your daughter wants to sleep later. There have been many sleep studies on teens that recommend that school should start at a later time because of their physiology.

Knowing that it is not personal, allows you to detach from the struggle. Now it's time to create a new strategy by changing your routine.

Going back to my situation with my daughter, I realized that what I wanted more than briefing my daughter before school was to enjoy her and be at peace. For this to happen I needed to change my routine or pattern. The new pattern was that we listened to music on the way to school. This calmed her down and allowed us to have a peaceful goodbye. Later, when I picked her up from school, she would rattle on and on without me having to probe.

This week spend 30 minutes and ask yourself these 4 questions. Create a new routine this school year where everyone wins.

Colleen O'Grady encourages and empowers women to live their highest and best life. From her coaching programs to her one of a kind therapy sessions, she has helped hundreds of women and teenage girls uncover their true purpose in life, create more happiness, and move to a place of inner peace. Colleen knows that everyone can create this kind of life.

Colleen O'Grady is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist. Her private practice in Houston, Texas has been active for over 20 years. As an approved supervisor on a state and national level, Colleen is sought after to train master-level therapists, psychology and psychiatry residents throughout Houston. Colleen has created innovative coaching programs to give people practical tools for moving forward while also standing on a strong foundation of therapeutic practice.

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How Ethnic Dolls Impact Children's Self-Esteem

2012-12-10T15:35:00.000-08:00

The need for dolls that depict ethnic or multicultural features is essential is today's society. Earlier this year, The Census Bureau released estimates on the U.S. population's growth in 2011, finding that racial and ethnic minorities made up more than half of all children born in the country, totaling 50.4%. With this kind of statistic, one would think there would be more products specifically catering to these demographics, but that is not the case. Don't' get me wrong, there are products in the marketplace that cater to the ethnic demographic - hair care is a prime example. Hair care products are made for specific hair textures and it is a fact that African-American hair is different from other ethnicities.

For ethnic and multicultural children, there lies a bigger issue. Outside of hair care, what products are made for them? Seeing this gap in product offerings, some companies have developed multicultural products. One that comes to mind is a doll. When I was a kid in the 70s and 80s, finding an African-American doll was almost impossible! I only remember the infant African-American Cabbage Patch Doll, but I was in my teens by the time it hit the shelves. My mother purchased it simply because it was black doll. Over time and from the demand from ethnic consumers, major companies came out with ethnic dolls.

During my childhood, I realized that the non-black dolls I was playing with was no reflection of me. They didn't have my hair, my nose, no hips whatsoever. The image of the mainstream doll was engrained in my mind as what a girl should look like. So, just imagine if you have that thought and you fail at what you think you should look like! Growing up, my self-esteem was low. I didn't like the way I looked (I was a fat kid) and always dreamed of getting a "new nose" when I became of legal age to do so. This was my thinking back in the 80s! Can you imagine what children's thoughts are these days with all of the negative imagery they're exposed to?

Companies that produce multicultural dolls must "get it right". By that I mean, the dolls must really illustrate one's ethnicity and cultural imagery. There is an appreciation for the "thought" (for mainstream companies that make black dolls), there's always the un-appreciation of the execution. A major flaw in most mainstream black dolls is that it has "Pocahontas-type" hair! No one in my family or any of my friends have hair down their back. Another flaw is the type of message that the mainstream black dolls are sending to children. One doll, that I've recently seen on shelf, actually has four interchangeable weaves and also comes with a baby! Words alone cannot express the disappointment and the offensive nature of this doll. What is the message that is being conveyed to young black children with this doll?

Coming from a corporate marketing background, I'm appalled that the doll actually reached the launch status. What kind of research was done with black consumers? Was it face-to-face or an online survey? What was the educational background of the consumers? Were they parents? What were the questions asked that led to this doll being produced? Did the consumers actually see a mock-up (graphics and messaging) during the research? I could go on and on! Digressing for a moment, most importantly, were there any African-Americans on the marketing and product development team? I mean, any African-American could have told you that this "black doll with weaves and a baby" had the potential to be offensive. A five-minute conversation vs. millions of dollars to launch? Well, we know the answer to that question.

I'm taking such strong stance against this doll because I know how doll images can shape the mind of a young child. It shaped mine for many years. There needs to be more positive imagery out there for multicultural youth. African-Americans are not the only demographic suffering from this! When's the last time, or even, when was the first time, you saw an Asian doll? Or, an Asian on any product? Same thing for Latinos - is their culture being captured in the best light? There's already backlash from the Latino community about the new "Princess" character recently introduced. The princess, who looks like a redheaded Caucasian girl to me, is supposedly of Hispanic descent.

Because mainstream companies are not getting it right, entrepreneurs have taken the doll market by storm. There are companies such as Dolls Like Me, Trinity Designs, Pattycake Doll Company - just to name a few, who provide dolls of ethnic descent. Unfortunately, I didn't create a doll to shape the self-esteem of multicultural children, but I did create a line of composition notebooks. I saw a need and instead of complaining about it, I did something about it! I encourage others to do the same.

For a FREE copy of "5 Ways to Boost Children's Self-Esteem Overnight" email pam@imagesofculture.com.

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Should Parents Tell Their Kids About Santa

2012-12-10T10:57:00.000-08:00

I love Santa Claus. Nevertheless, I sympathize with parents who have chosen not to do the Santa thing. You can love what Santa stands for without having to say that he is real.

Basically I have no problem with parents having Santa bring toys, as long as they feel comfortable with it. On the other hand, I don't disagree with parents who choose not to tell their kids Santa is real.

There are important principles involved and also some subtleties.

At our house, when my son was little, we did not do the Santa thing. We celebrated Christmas with a small Christmas tree with ornaments, we exchanged presents, had Christmas stockings, listened to Christmas music, and had Christmas dinner.

We definitely talked about Santa, and my son became familiar with who Santa is and what he does. We read "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" and listened to "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer."

When I myself was a boy - my mom did do the Santa thing. When I was very small, I remember putting out a plate with cookies and a glass of milk for Santa, so he could enjoy them when he stopped by our house.

In the morning when I awoke, I dashed to the living room to see if Santa had come. One Christmas there was a brand new shiny bicycle near the tree. Santa had brought it, and he also filled the stockings.

At the same time, there were many other gifts and each was from someone in the family. Before Christmas I went shopping with mom to get her something, and then there were gifts from grandma and so on. So it was like a hybrid thing. there was Santa who brought things, and we also gave each other gifts. It was like the best of both worlds!

Somehow is I grew, I began to suspect that mom was actually Santa, and then I knew that it was mom who was getting me things and putting them under the tree. You know how it is with kids: one day they are living in their magical wonderful world of make believe, and then they are more interested in their friends, and then they are all grown up.

So here is what I think. Parents can go either way--tell their kids about Santa or not have Santa. In other words, do what you feel comfortable with and enjoy. Whatever you do, Santa or no Santa, if you do it with a good spirit, you will be fine.

I can enjoy the niceties of Christmas without forgetting the reason for the season. I love Christmas and all the trappings and I always will.

Here is an analogy to help explain my position. I have a stuffed animal at home and his name is Mr. Brown Bear. He is a very nice. He is kind and thoughtful. He loves looking out the window at the flowers. He is also working on his Ph.D in History. I know he is not real, but I still love him anyway.

Mr. Brown Bear is excited that my son is studying at a university because Mr. Brown Bear says he can work on his doctoral thesis more easily with all the research facilities and library near the school.

Is Mr. Brown Bear a real bear? No, of course not. But do I love and respect Mr. Brown Bear? Absolutely.

Should my son sit down with me one day and say "Dad, it's all a lie. Mr. Brown Bear is just a stuffed animal." No, because he knows that what I really love is what Mr. Brown Bear stands for.

Part of me is innocent and I love what is innocent and I also love to be playful. Ultimately it is what is innocent and good that I love, and so I honor and cherish good wherever I see it: in a child's eyes, in a good man or a good woman, in the Lone Ranger, in Mr. Brown Bear, or in Santa Claus.

If you don't want to do Santa, I have no problem with your decision. Remember, when my son was little, we did not do Santa either.

Whatever you do, just keep it light hearted. Remember that children live in a magical world. Honor their innocence. Be patient with them. Be patient with yourself. Merry Christmas, love and kisses!

Dr. Roland Trujillo, author and parenting expert, is founder and director of the Center for Common Sense Counseling. He is the author of 14 books including: My Daughter does not Want to Clean Her Room: A Handbook for Parents and Kids and Santa's Take on Parenting: Secrets from the North Pole.
Roland is host of the Ask Roland Show which airs on KCAA Radio 1060 AM in Riverside/San Bernardino, CA.
Roland is the author of dozens of articles, many of which are available free online, on the topics of positive parenting, improving marriage and relationships, exceptional fatherhood, successful single parenting, emotional well being and spiritual recovery.
Roland currently devotes his time to speaking and writing about positive parenting, discovering and maintaining emotional health, and building loving relationships. For more information, visit http://coachroland.blogspot.com/

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Personalized Drawstring Backpacks for Kids and Teens

2012-12-10T06:25:00.000-08:00

While carrying books can be quite a task for kids and teens, this is a burden that can be eased when they use drawstring backpacks because a backpack is fun for them. It is easy to make drawstring backpacks with bright colors and unique features that will be more attractive to kids and teens and because of this, it is easy to get kids to carry them. This is why personalized drawstring backpacks can be fun and exciting for kinds and teens.

Drawstring backpacks for kids and teens are very important for school, for outdoor activities and for outings and because kids prefer these backpacks, they are very ideal when personalized. In most cases, kids will start using these backpacks even before there are of school going age. They use the backpacks to carry their own things around wherever they go and by the time they start going to school, they are very used to the backpacks and these bags become quite preferable to them as compared to other bags.

Drawstring backpacks can be personalized to the desire of the kid or the teen with the name, school, year and anything else and are very popular with kids. While embroidery is the most favored for designing the backpacks, printing can also be done and personalized imprinting or engraving is possible. Because personalized drawstring backpacks are already very popular, it is easy to use them very effectively for promotional purposes as well thus making them walking billboards for any company and making them great marketing tools for many companies.

Kids and teenagers love trendy stuff and while there's quite a vast selection to choose from, what will work for them is a drawstring backpack that they find comfy and what's currently in vogue. For the girls, bags in pink with flowery decorations will be appropriate while the boys will prefer their traditional blue. The boys might also prefer the themed backpacks that have their favorite hero or their preferred game. Fun color combinations, polka dots or the freakish out of the ordinary type of bags that kids and teenagers love to have.

Every parent will want more for their child as far as a new drawstring backpack is concerned. If your child is starting school at the beginning of the year, a personalized one will do fine. When getting a personalized bag for your child, consider that they are growing every year and with their growth they will want to change many things including the bags that they use. Kids and teens personalized drawstring backpacks are wonderful for all occasions including gifting during birthdays.

The backpacks are available in many themes too including Spider-Man, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Ben 10, Military canvas backpacks, and many more. Some backpacks have a place for a hidden name tag which makes it impossible for strangers to see your child's name although this makes it possible for the bag to still be identified. Most of the backpacks are convenient for books and a snack while at the same time they are lovely for using in the outdoors and for any other activities. The issue of personalization comes in when you want your kid's backpack to be special and unique and also when a company decides to give school going kid's drawstring backpacks as giveaway gifts for the company's promotional purposes.

Personalized Drawstring Backpacks are one of the hottest promotional items on the market right now, due to the high demand by today's youth. Unlike boring promotional items, these Promotional Backpacks all kids and teens a comfortable, stylish solution to their schooling needs. By customizing them, they are walking billboards for your company that everyone will love!

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How to Buy Winter Shoes for Kids

2012-12-10T03:24:00.000-08:00

Buying a pair of winter shoes for the kids that are both comfortable and fashionable can be quite a formidable task for the parents. Children are usually quite fussy about what they wear. Moreover, there is so much variety available now-a-days that finding the right pair can be quite cumbersome. Prices are also an issue as not everybody can afford expensive shoes. There is no need to fester over the budget or spend too much time trying to find the "perfect" pair. Let us discuss a few tips that you should consider and these will help you in satisfying the choosiest of parents or children. The things you need to keep in mind while buying winter shoes for kids are as follows:

Magazines are a good place to start looking for perfect winter shoes for kids. They can give you some valuable insight into what's hot and what's not in the world of kids' winter footwear. Look for articles that are children oriented. This is very important as you need to consider those styles and designs that are appropriate for children. This way you can make sure that fashion is not a hindrance anymore.

Sunday is the best time for shopping for kids' shoes. A lot of stores provide special discounts and sales on the weekends. Many people get great value for their money by taking advantage of such sales. You will be able to get all the quality that you crave without having to spend a lot of money. The stores are mostly looking to clear some stock through these sales and this provides an excellent opportunity to you to save money. Make sure that the pieces are free from any defect as this is one of the main reasons for the sales in the first place.

Get the proper shoe size. This might be a bit tricky as children usually go through a growth spurt when they are young and it might be difficult keeping in touch with their current sizes. Last year's shoes will never fit in the feet of your kid. It might be a good idea if you get a pair which has a little space for your child's feet to grow in. Also, make sure not to make a wild guess about how much their sizes have changed. Get their feet properly measured and take your kids to stores if you are buying your shoes from some nearby shoe store.

Make sure that your children get the chance to properly try on the shoes. You can never be sure as to how a certain pair will fare if it is not tried on. Give them some time to walk and get a good feel of the shoe. Let them be the judge of how a pair fits and whether it meets the required criteria.

The choices differ with the children. Some have issues about the hardness of the soles while some thrive in them. It's all about what they think is the best for them. The shoes should also have a proper amount of insulation and you are set. You can't stop the children from going out but you can make sure that they have the proper footwear to protect their tiny little feet from the extremities of the weather.

Now that you've discovered the wonderful qualities of this shoes, you might also want to check out the minor issues some parents have had with the Kids Shoes or check out other cool Shoes Shed at ShoesShed.com!

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What To Do About Bullying

2012-12-09T22:51:00.000-08:00

The bullying problem is rampant in our schools and in our society. Our young people suffer on either end of this spectrum. Whether they are bullying or being bullied they suffer from unhealthy relationships with others and with themselves. It results in poor self esteem, inflated, destructive egos and occasionally, tragically we even hear about suicide being the result of this behavior.

Adults seem helpless or ineffective in dealing with this problem. Schools tend to take a"hands-off" blindfolded approach to this very serious issue. Indeed, once it is full blown there are few options. When children have already become bullies, they have been lost to the influence of their elders in many instances. They have shut down, stopped listening, and are making up their own rules. And those rules are cruel and unjust, preying on less powerful personalities than their own. Bullies have often learned to be great deceivers - being able to pull the wool over the eyes of parents and teachers and acting in ways they are expected to behave at times when they are visible. Once on their own and with their peers this behavior changes and the adults in their lives cannot imagine where this "other" child came from or who she is.

It is a disturbing and confusing phenomena and the best way to deal with it is to be pro-active.

First of all, what is the cause of bullying? If we begin at the beginning, pre-school or older toddler age, and observe how children treat each other we may find a clue. Very young children often bully each other. They grab toys they want, they punch and hit and fight when they don't get their way and they don't care a smidgeon about the feelings of the other child.

Older bullies act in exactly the same way. Immaturity is the mark of a bully. The lack of being able to see how his behavior affects his victim and the lack of caring that it hurts is characteristic. Why bother to learn to talk if you're bigger and can just grab what you want or push others around to get whatever you want.

Let's look at young children again for an answer to the reason for this aggression. In the case of pre-schoolers we can see that the reason behind their behavior is twofold: 1. an egocentric personality and 2. A lack of communication skills. This is also true of older bullies.

The key then, is to strike before these bad behaviors are established, and to change them early on. Very young children are impressionable and can learn to change destructive behaviors more easily and quickly. Even though preschool aged children are by nature egocentric, they can learn to understand that other children have feelings much like their own. They learn this as we communicate with them and help them to solve problems in their everyday lives. Instead of punishing them for grabbing a toy or hitting another child, we talk about what to do instead. We communicate with each other what it is we need and how we can meet those needs. We let the children be a part of this process and help establish solutions. We treat conflict matter of factly and focus on solving the problem instead of focusing on the destructive behavior.

Say that two children are fighting over a ball. Instead of the adult taking that ball away and putting them in time out or some other punishment, we sit down with the children. We let each child tell his or her part of the problem and what happened. Then the children suggest how they can solve the problem. We facilitate that conversation. We accept their solutions (as long as they are doable!) and support their process as they carry it out.

The result: a world that contains people who can communicate and solve problems with each other. A world where we understand and care. A world where mature adults can live in peace with each other and bullies are a small minority once again.

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Family Fun On The Water

2012-12-09T19:15:00.000-08:00

Today's family is generally cut down to almost "no time." Parents are working longer hours, kids and teens attention is being consumed by social media, television and even texting entire conversations. The distractions are all around us. Heck, I remember when I was younger we actually had to get on our bikes and ride to visit friends and then we talked with them using our voice.

Times have changed, but not all of it has been for the better. Families need more alternatives to spending time together than just "friending" each other on the internet and "posting" about the days events. Without interaction together it is difficult to really know a person.

Luckily there is a great way to solve this issue. Spend time together without electronic distractions, get to know one another and get bodies in motion for exercise. It's called paddle sports. Quite commonly known as kayaking, canoeing, and the growing popular stand up paddleboards, or SUP's.

Throughout the world we are blessed with many rivers, lakes and other bodies of water that are there for the exploring. Not to mention the natural beauty Mother Nature is willing to share. The type of scenery is only found via watercraft.

Sure, boating is great too, but it has some major disadvantages. It cost money for gas, insurance, docking and so forth. It is also very difficult to get into those little nooks and crannies of nature. Using a kayak, or canoe doesn't require any extra money. Only a paddle and some human power.

This outdoor water sport is taking off like a rocket to the moon. Parents, kids, teens of all ages are falling in love with paddle sports the world over.

By using a lightweight vessel and an oar people can paddle and explore things that cannot be seen unless on the water. It doesn't require a big vehicle to tow, it can even be done with a small vehicle with the right trailer.

Kayak trailers specially built to be lightweight, yet carry several paddle sport boating vessels can be purchased to accommodate many kayaks and canoes and still be pulled behind a small car. Imagine this, the entire family, some friends all getting together and spending the whole day on the water, or at the park and just getting to know each other and spending time without texting, or emailing. This is all possible.

So come on people. Gather the troops, get your friends together, get the children out of the house and enjoy mother nature. You have a world to explore, it's time to get going!

Indian Head Trailers specializes in custom kayak and canoe trailers. Lightweight and strong. Capable of carrying two, or up to 12 kayaks at one time. Also comes with optional bicycle rack and storage box. The best part is they are completely manufactured in the USA. Built on American Pride.
http://www.indianheadtrailers.com/

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