Christmas Piano - Let Kids Have a Jolly Time

Children love playing the happy tunes of the Christmas season. This is the time of the year to let your children play the songs they love to hear, and they will love music even more.

I know you have probably heard that Christmas song so many times before. But it’s new to your young child in piano! So let him or her play the Twelve Days of Christmas one more time. Believe it or not, this is part of the learning process for kids. My son was about 8 years old when the movie Home Alone came out, and he really enjoyed it. He must have played “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” on the piano about a gazillion times. We loved hearing it every timewell almost every time.

Here’s how you can take advantage of your child’s holiday-music exuberance. Introduce your child to more brand new holiday experiences. Take them to see a Christmas Musical or Ballet. Then continue to expose your child to valuable musical experiences throughout the year. This will broaden their appreciation for music and the study of music. In this way when their piano teacher introduces them to another great piece of music, instead of saying, “I’ve never heard that before. I’m not sure if I like it.” They’ll say, “Oh wow! I’ve heard that song before when my family went to see”

Children love to play the tunes they have already heard and can associate positive experiences with. Familiarity is comforting to children. It makes learning a new piece of music easier for them. The best way to broaden your child’s musical repertoire is to expand their musical experience. The more exposure they have to music, the more comfortable they will be with learning new pieces.

Here’s a great way to get the most out of your child’s enthusiasm for music this holiday season and throughout the year. Put season tickets to the Performing Arts such as the Symphony, the Ballet, or your local Children’s Theatre in their Christmas stocking! You’ll be giving them a gift that will keep on giving through the year - and for a lifetime.

For great home piano activities parents can use to help children ages 5 to 11 develop their musical talent, visit Piano Adventure Bears Music Education Resources You’ll find a treasure box filled with piano resources to create an exciting musical adventure for your child - right in your own home! Visit their website and subscribe to their f’ree internet newsletter so you can download f’ree piano sheet music and mp3s of original piano compositions.

These exciting stories, games, piano lessons, and inspirational gifts feature the Piano Adventure Bears, Mrs. Treble Beary and her new piano student, Albeart Littlebud. Young students follow along with Albeart to learn what piano lessons are all about in a fun way that kids readily understand appreciate. Click here to visit PianoAdventureBears.com For a wealth of information about piano lessons, visit tallypiano.com

Google Earth to Piano - Find the Music

To unearth keyboard treasure and access musical potential, imagine a globe of the earth, or download the Googleearth program on your computer. Find the northern hemisphere, the southern hemisphere, and the equator. Now locate your city or town by typing your address in the find box and clicking on search. Watch as the view of the earth narrows as the locator flies across the globe to your home town, one location on the earth.

Now visualize the grand staff of the piano. There is a top staff for the high notes, a bottom staff for the low notes, and in between the two staves is some white space where you will find a note with a short line through it - Middle C. This is the equator of Piano Land. Can you find the North Pole of Piano Land? Sure you can. It’s the highest note on the piano keyboard. The South Pole is the lowest note on the piano. There are 8 C’s on a full size, 88-key piano, but only one of these is Middle C. Just as your home town is one location on the globe, each line or space on the Grand Staff is one specific key on the piano. So you see, the Grand Staff is actually a map of the piano keyboard.

To unearth a great source of keyboard treasure, begin visualizing the keyboard while reading notes. Without this connection many students who can read notes fairly well still can’t find them on the piano. That’s why note reading books or notespellers can be ineffective. To overcome this learning gap students need to visualize the keyboard by keeping their eyes on the music, not always looking down at their hands, once they have the hand position. This simple, down-to-earth habit of keeping eyes on the music makes learning scales, chords, memorizing music, music theory, and note reading much easier. A keyboard in the imagination is a powerful tool. Piano students have a world of musical treasure waiting to be discovered - Google it, by keeping your eyes on the music!

To learn the best way to share the gift of music with children visit Amazon.com with this link Piano Adventure Stories for Children My exciting Piano Adventure stores for children ages 5 to 11 feature the loveable characters, Mrs. Treble Beary and her passionate, new piano student, Albeart Littlebud. In these beautifully illustrted, inspirational stories children follow along with Albeart to Mrs. Treble Beary’s piano studio in Musical Acres Forest. Here they learn what piano lessons are all about in a fun way that kids readily understand and appreciate! Piano students laugh and giggle while reading “Little Bear’s Musical Garden” and “Little Bear’s Piano Goals.”

For a wealth of f’ree information and piano music online visit Piano Adventure Bears Music Education Resources Don’t Wait to Share the Gift of Music!

Bob the Builder Party Supplies, Decorations, and Favors for Kids Parties

The preschooler’s television show called Bob the Builder is lots of fun to use as a possible party theme for your small child. Boys and girls are interested in the television show, which exposes them to the possibilities in creating and building objects and buildings. There are also an unbelievable number of party supplies available with the Bob the Builder theme or a similar construction theme. You are certain to find something suitable for your child’s next party.

Bob the builder plates are distinctive and easy to find in the crowd because of their square shape. You’ll also notice that Bob the Builder himself is usually displayed on the front busy working on some construction project. This is the same with Bob the Builder napkins, cups and tablecloths which are plastic to give some protection to the table in case of spills.

Be sure to send out appropriately themed Bob the Builder invitations to your child’s neighbors and friends. Make certain to include date, time, address and good directions for the parents.

Door prizes at the party can be fun plastic construction hats. You’ll find that there both pink and yellow ones available for the kids to pick out their favorite. Another fun prize is an inflatable hammer for the kids to pretend they are doing construction work with.

Bob the Builder is also popular in sticker form. Place mini dots of Bob the Builder inside themed loot bags. You can fill these loot bags with candy too or special Bob the Builder Blowouts for lots of noisemaking at your party. For the guest of honor get a Bob the Builder Sticker Album with a plastic carrying case.

As a special activity you can look for a construction themed pi

Why are There so Many Fat Kids

I can remember when there was only one “chubby” kid per class. Now one in three, by my informal survey and the government’s official tally, would be eligible for this form of verbal abuse. Actually, one child in ten is considered morbidly obese and the other two in ten just obese or overweight.

It’s not just the couch potato, chip-munching, remote controlled kids with the problem. I see plenty of active, fat kids at the baseball games, soccer tournaments and swim races. Many have normal weight parents who are active themselves in sports.

So what are the causes? You’re probably going to blame the fast food industry, cars, and a lack of physical education classes for our children living on the edge of medical self-destruction. Initially I even fell prey to that logic as a family practice physician and former P.E. teacher/coach. But when I really thought about these excuses I realized the causes are still the same as they were forty years ago when I ballooned into tent dresses.

After all, didn’t we have cakes, pies, and Twinkies to eat in the fifties and sixties? Ice cream and potato chips aren’t new. Plus, people used real cream, butter, and sugar in all the treats. I’ve ridden in cars my whole life. I can remember my brother falling out of the car at 50 mph on our way to Grandma’s Sunday dinner of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and cherry pie. Of course that was before seat belts came along.

Here is the real secret to all the “husky” kids circling around the last piece of pizza. They are emotionally empty, not their stomachs. Families are spread out or absent. Children are left to fend for themselves for meals and entertainment. They get bored, stressed out, and use food as a comfort just like adults. Often, parents are in denial that a problem even exists. My 50 lb. weight gain during the later stages of my mother’s illness and eventual death was no accident. It just wasn’t discussed.

Kids get shuttled from one home to another. Different rules, different environments. Especially with the divorce rate at 50% the so-called blended family requires much adapting by the child. Extended families don’t live nearby. Frequent job transfers, larger homes, and two car payments force both parents to work full time. The idea of sacrificing, saving, and delayed gratification went the way of the fifties and sixties.

With so much work and so many bills parents often arrive home emotionally drained. It is easier to let kids eat whatever they want, watch whatever they want, and listen to whatever they want. It takes more energy to be a parent enforcing rules and boundaries. The average father spends 20 minutes a day interacting with his child. Instead of picnics at the park, hiking, and shooting baskets, families opt for a video and pizza. Sometimes that is the only meal of the week together!

So what can we do? Treat the problem, not the symptom. Each child needs to feel valued. If you ask them whether they would rather have a new car or spend more time with you, the answer will be evident. Listen to your child more, talk less. Be quick to praise, slow to criticize. Regular family meetings promote feelings of belonging and connection. Everyone has a voice. Eat meals together on a regular basis. Preparing them as a team puts fewer demands on any one person and encourages communication.

Look inward, not outward to help solve a weight problem. Seek professional help early before medical problems and poor body image take hold. Your kids deserve it.

Author: Katherine A Martin, D.O. - Board Certified Family Practice Physician. Medical Coaching and Consulting. Health for the whole person. Visit my web site at http://www.DO-Medicine.com

Olive Drab Duck - Arts And Crafts With Your Kids!

A paper mache olive drab duck will make a great birthday and/or celebration pi

Are Moldy Schools Destroying Our Kids

Mold is a big issue these days. One reason is the damage it does to lungs and immune systems. And who does it damage the most? Kids and senior citizens.

Well, let’s just talk about kids right now. And let’s narrow our conversation to the school systems. Why? Because kids spend up to 8 hours a day there, breathing in whatever is floating around in the air.

Let’s talk about schools now.

Every year, somewhere in the USA schools are being closed down
because of mold. Why are so many schools moldy?

The main cause of any mold problem is ultimately water. Something is too wet.

Now if a building floods, we just dry it out and that usually stops mold from growing, right? Well, if you get the building totally dry within 48 hours the answer is yes. That’s the time it takes for most mold spores to start growing actual mold colonies. Most of the time it takes bureaucrats 48 hours to find out there has been a flood. Then there are committees to decide how to dry the building. And then there are bids
to get the lowest cost.

So drying isn’t enough. Takes too long. Mold is growing and it can continue to grow after the building is dried. All it needs now is moisture in the air.

Speaking of air, we also have to consider air conditioners. Most schools use air conditioners that are bought cheap and maintained by the lowest bidder.. Air conditioners that aren’t maintained properly sweat and the moisture can cause mold growth.

Also associated with maintenance is changing air filters. Many times this isn’t done due to school budgets. Filters cost money. Not a lot of money, but money. Some schools don’t change there A/C filters until someone from the state comes to inspect.

Then there are carpets. Carpets are moldy. Kids spill food, milk, and glue onto carpets. They throw up on carpets. These things feed mold. Teachers make kids sleep on the floor at nap time.Their faces are pressed into the moldy carpets. Results: sick kids.

But the ultimate reason for moldy schools is politics. This applies to everything mentioned above, ie carpets, filters and drying.

Schools have to report to taxpayers. That’s YOU. If a school board member says to you the taxpayer, “We can spend the money on books, football uniforms or healthy air.” What are you going to say? Most people want things they can see and touch and point to.

So if you want healthy kids with strong lungs and good immune systems, the responsibility is in your hands. Go to school board meetings, talk to the radio and tv stations.If you need ammunition, tell the politicians that mold free schools win more games in sports. Championship teams are something
that can be pointed to like books.

For 30 years, Dr Graham has been helping people treat and
prevent disease by showing them how to live in a clean
environment.
http://tennesseemold.com/ebooks.shtml
DrGraham@themoldlab.com
http://www.GrandPaGraham.com for free newsletter

Kids’ Bunk Beds How to Keep Your Child Safe

Kids’ bunk beds are by far the most common types of bunk beds. Bunk beds were created for more functional, adult-oriented sleeping purposes, and one recognizable example of these bunk beds is the kind used in the military. The rise in popularity of kids bunk beds is due to their ability to combine entertainment with functionality - they get kids excited to go to sleep.

For many children, bunk beds are exciting. Many small children desperately want a “big kid bed,” especially those who recently graduated from a crib. Bunk beds have the advantage of allowing children to sleep above or below a sibling, and they are also a fun play space.

For all their fun and entertainment, however, bunk beds also come with significant safety risks. There is a need to educate parents about the risks associated with buying a bunk bed. The major safety risk is injuries resulting from kids falling from their beds, which usually occurs when kids are playing haphazardly and/or are left unsupervised for an extended period of time.

There are several ways to keep kids bunk beds safe. First and foremost, it is absolutely critical to maintain side guardrails on all sides of the upper bed. These guardrails must be secure in the event that children move around or roll during their sleep. In addition, another simple precaution is to not to allow children under the age of six to sleep in the upper bunk. In addition, ladder safety is very important. You should consider teaching your kids how to safely use the ladder of the bed, and warning them that horseplay on the ladder or upper bunk will not be tolerated. Finally, in rooms with kids’ bunk beds, night lights should be used to provide additional security in case the child in the top bunk wakes up during the night and has to exit the bed.

To be sure, your kids will love you for getting them a bunk bed. More than ever before, they will be excited to play in their rooms and go to bed at night. If you follow this advice for safety precautions and instructions on how to purchase a quality bed, kids’ bunk beds will also satisfy the needs of parents.

E Bunk Beds is dedicated to providing comprehensive background and product information on various types of bunk beds. E-BunkBeds.com presents an accessible interface where users can determine what bunk bed products are best for them.

Christmas Gifts to Last a Lifetime

Do you know what you are giving to the children on you Christmas list? Will it be Harry Potter books, the latest computer games, or some new clothes?

Over the summer, I spent some time thinking about the Christmas days from my childhood. What made them special, and what did I remember most. From these thoughts came an idea for a new page on our website to let visitors share the best loved gift from their childhood.

I had expected lots of stories about the wonders of a specific toy (the Barbie with the sparkles on her dress or the remote control car the won every race). Isn’t that the sort of gift hyped by the commercials at this time of the year? The kids themselves join the craze insisting on getting the one toy that is in short supply. Can you remember trying to find a Cabbage Patch doll or a Furby the year they were hot? Do you think that gift is the one your child will remember most 30 or 40 years from now?

The visitors who have sent in stories about their own ‘best loved gifts’ wouldn’t agree. The gift that is remembered is the message of love from the adult who found the time to create a special memory for their child. Each of the stories include a ‘thing’, but what is important is ‘where did my mom find time to make all the doll clothes?’, ‘I loved horseback riding with my Dad.’, or ‘how did my mom smile and let us open the rest of our presents at 4am’.

The gift that counts is time. The kids know time is what is important. That’s why they want you to spend weeks trying to find the most difficult to buy toy this year. You will be spending your time on something they want. It’s amazing that we have time to search all over the city for a toy, but so often are too busy to spend the same number of hours doing something your child wants to do. Why not turn it around this year? Spend the time with your child, instead of driving to 5 different toy stores.

Tips for finding the perfect Christmas gift for a child.

1) Think about the good times you’ve spent with your child. When did you both have the most fun? Was it making a cake for his mother’s birthday, or the time you took her to the fair? Has your child ever mentioned a favorite day you spent together? What does he or she really like to do?

2) What can you do build on that time? You could get some cartoon character cake pans, cake mixes and a promise to make a cake on the first Saturday of each month. How about getting a book of tickets to a movie theatre and agree to go to let you child pick the movie (even if you hate going to scary movies and your child loves them)? Give a birding book to a nature lover and then take your child out bird spotting. What about lunch for two in a fancy restaurant for a little girl who likes to dress-up? A sports enthusiast would love tickets to go with you to see his or her favorite team play.

3) Don’t fall into the trap of giving items off a list. Children will often be momentarily thrilled with the latest and greatest toy. If the gift involves more of your money than your time, it will probably be forgotten in the same amount of time you spent to buy it!

Yes, it will take time to think of the right gift, and it will take more time to actually follow through and enjoy the gift together. Take a moment and really think about what else you could be doing with that time. How many answers are really more important than making the time to show a child you love them?

If you looking for more ideas, check out our Best Loved Gifts page (http://www.ckah.com/remgifts.html). You may find the perfect gift idea waiting for you in a story sent in by one of our visitors.

By the way, these tips work great for your best friend, favorite aunt or anyone else you want to give a birthday, Christmas, or Hannukah gift.

The End

Christine Nicholls loves being mommy to Katherine (9y) and Duncan (6y). Her company, Creative Kids at Home (http://www.ckah.com) encourages kids to have fun while being creative, and best of all, they get the excitement of getting personally addressed packages in the mail. Check for free online library of kids crafts and activities.

Costumes And Ideas For Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner and preparations are in full swing all over the country.

Yards are being decorated with all the colors of fall, the scarecrows are coming out of the sheds and here and there we might already see huge spiders hanging. Resting in their cob webs hanging from trees in peoples front yards.

We all know what this mean. The scariest night of the year is almost here. The kids already know what they want. Pumpkins scarier than the neighbors Lanterns and costumes you would not even begin to dream of.

Wait a minute, isn’t that what Halloween night is all about? Candy, kids and costumes. It sure is, and guess what? A cool costume is a must, your kids will agree with that.

The question then is how you get away with getting them a cool costume for a reasonable price? Have you ever considered making them yourself? With some help and guidance it is not as hard as you think it is.

For kids, Halloween is all about costumes and pumpkins, even all the candy has to come second to this. Why not get a book with Halloween ideas and have your kids go thru it with you, that way they become a part of it all from the very beginning.

In other words, they will have a say in how their costumes, pumpkins and your Halloween decorations should be. Doing it yourself gives such a satisfaction.

Tell you what, you are running out of time. All you have is less than a month to get ready. Each day is a day lost if you are not prepared, so get some great ideas together and get started.

Along with costumes, there are also a lot of ideas out there when it comes to anything that has to do with Halloween. Such as: pumpkin carving, pumpkin recipes, Halloween decorations, treats and even cool ideas for trick and treaters.

Trick or Treat?

Happy Halloween.

Halloween ideas for both adults and children can be found at: www.costumecrow.com

About The Author
Hege Crowton is establishing her self as an expert copywriter.
She is known for doing in-depth research before writing her articles.
Many of her articles are posted on www.EzineCrow.com
and she also does a lot of writing for www.Crowsites.com

Copyright 2005 www.CostumeCrow.com

Kids on Nutrition

If you have small children it is very important that you keep a close consideration about the nutrients that they are ingesting since it will be a major issue in their development as they become adults. Kids on nutrition programs have shown that they can become much more successful because of different factors that alter their conditions such as learning abilities and stamina levels which are sufficient for their concentration and physical effort. Kids nutrition is a very important aspect of the development of any human being, it is important that we start learning about the different nutrition elements so that each and every single one of us can achieve a healthier way of life.

Many people do not understand the importance of having kids on nutrition programs, but it is a major aspect in your children’s health. Without nutrition programs kids may suffer from different health problems that will definitely hamper their development during their lives, they may experience a whole lot of situations that could later develop into serious problems or conditions that would require medical attention for their support. One of the major problems that we encounter in kids without the sufficient education on nutrition is fat kids.

Having kids on nutrition programs will definitely lower the possibility of having fat kids, and this is not only a visual problem that may damage your kid in a psychological level but it is also a major issue when talking about health since having overweight problems since childhood might develop into very serious health problems when a person reaches adulthood. You should seriously start considering about kids nutrition since it will help them to acquire a better way of life and a healthier state of mind and body that will allow them to acquire an excellent way of life which they would remember the rest of their lives.

Having kids on nutrition programs is not a difficulty at all, you only need to measure the quantities of food that they eat depending on the kind of meals that they are ingesting, you should lower fats and you should encourage them to ingest more proteins and vitamins. Kids nutrition is a very important aspect of everyone’s life and it has become one of the most popular methods of control for fat kids, you could check many of them surfing the Internet or otherwise you could attend a professional nutritionist for information on how to control your kits weight. It is also very important to have kids on nutrition programs since it is the only possible way that you may have for controlling all of the different problems that develop based on bad nutrition habits.

Cheeck out Dean’s wesite for more info about outdoor summer camps and also visit my children’s summercamps blog