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9 Ways To Teach Entrepreneurship To Your Children

November 14, 2011 By

Photo Courtesy D Sharon PruittThis world as it is now is the result of great entrepreneurship by world leaders and global business leaders. We owe our present level of development to these visionaries. As such, it is our duty to teach our children the immense value of entrepreneurship, in order that they may carry on the legacy. Here are several ways to inspire entrepreneurial thinking in your kids.

1.    Encourage Them To Brainstorm

Whenever your kids have issues, encourage them to bring those issues to the ‘family boardroom’. Here the child can present the issue, and work with the other kids and the family elders to find a solution. Brainstorming and picking other people’s brains for workable ideas that can be sculpted into possible solutions is a major aspect of entrepreneur thinking.

2.    Encourage Them To Make Money

Offer your kids limited pocket money. Your kids will have to manage their expenses within the given allowance, or come up with ideas on how they can make extra money. Let your kids bring their ideas to you; encourage your kids to find positive, legal and possible solutions to their money problems. For example, they can hold a garage sale of their old toys and earn that way. Or, they could offer to mow lawns in the neighborhood, babysit, run errands, set up a lemonade stand and so on.

3.    Find Your Child’s Passion

Not all children will find it easy to learn how to market their strategies, interface with other people and successfully execute a home entrepreneurship endeavor. So it’s important to find your child’s passion and encourage him or her to be entrepreneurial using their given skills, talents and passion. If your child has a green thumb, teach the child how to grow herbs and sell them for money. If your child has a creative bent of mind, encourage the child to make caricatures of friends and sell them, or create artistic and useful objects for money. [Read more...]

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The Benefits of Preschool: A Case Study on Chicago Pre-K

November 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Studies have shown that children enrolled in preschool are more likely to have higher test scores, better socialization skills, less grade repetition and need for Special Ed., higher graduation rates, increased earnings, less crime, and less teen pregnancy, abortion and smoking. In terms of numbers, children who participated in a preschool program are substantially less likely to have ever been on welfare as an adult—41%, compared to just 20% of those who were not involved in preschool programs—and nearly three times as likely to own a home (36% vs. 13% of non-preschool-educated people).

With today’s stagnant job market, it isn’t unusual for workers to accept job offers that require a move. For those with children, this can often be a difficult decision to make. Parents want to be sure they are making a choice that is not only beneficial to them and their professional aspirations, but to their children’s continued growth and overall well-being. [Read more...]

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Thinking in the Future Tense: How to Make Long Term Financial Plans Now that you have a Newborn

November 2, 2011 By

As a parent to young children you’ll find yourself thinking ahead to them growing up and reaching different milestones: taking their first steps, the first day of school, and going to high school. As your child enters high-school your pleasant daydreams will begin to downshift to a feeling of uneasiness and anxiety as the expensive reality of exponentially rising tuition costs begins to sink in.

The reality is that if you have an infant or a toddler the best chance you have to be able to pay for their tuition after they leave high-school will be if you start saving now.   By the time your toddler graduates from highschool many of your investments in the old ‘college fund’ will have matured to the point where they will either make a huge dent in your child’s college loans, or cover the nut.  Unfortunately there is a perfect storm brewing: in a time of unemployment, marginal employment and economic turmoil, people are seeing their savings wiped out or severely reduced.  Meanwhile tuition costs continue to rise. [Read more...]

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5 Fun Halloween Activities for Toddlers

October 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Fall is a great time of year for going on hayrides, decorating for a Halloween party, and creating costumes for the big night. My favorite holiday has long been Halloween, and I’m so glad I have children with whom I can share all the fun. Here are some activities we’ve enjoyed in the past; some which we’ve made annual traditions.

1. Movie time

My siblings and I always liked watching Halloween-themed movies when I was a kid, a custom that has been passed down to the next generation. My sisters and their children usually come to my house in early October and we have a cookie decorating party. When we’re done cutting out pumpkin shapes and decorating ghosts, we slide the cookies into one of my wall ovens (I cook a lot in my spare time) and start our movie marathon. Some of our favorite movies are “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and “Monsters, Inc.” I’m glad all the kids are young now; I have the perfect excuse for avoiding scary movies that they may someday request we watch.

2. Pumpkin funAs you might guess, one of our standard activities is carving pumpkins. Really, since the kids are still toddlers, we spend more time drawing designs that the adults cut out, but the kids still really enjoy seeing the finished product. Sometimes we cut the tops off the pumpkins and let the kids scoop out all the seeds, which we then prepare for roasting. They have license to get messy and we end up with a tasty treat for our movie time. We also play around with glitter and paint, which results in pumpkins which look great on display on the front porch and show off the children's personalities.3. CraftingFor those who are too young to carve pumpkins, we usually end up drawing pictures, coloring Halloween-themed cutouts, and drawing monster faces on orange balloons that we later inflate with helium for our annual party. We usually let the kids just make whatever they want, which has resulted in great drawings of movie characters (the characters from Monsters, Inc. seem to be especially popular), decorations (orange-and-black garlands are super easy to make), and even Halloween stories about dastardly candy thieves.Jack-o-lantern (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

4. Haunted houses

We love visiting haunted houses (during kid-friendly, lights-on hours) and going on hayrides at a local farm. The latter presents a great chance to pick out the pumpkins that we later decorate and is a great family tradition that I’m glad the kids all enjoy. We also get fall treats, like cider, and make a day of it, usually ending up at someone’s home for pumpkin soup and other fall treats.

5. Costuming

It seems like my family and I spend the entire year deciding what to be for Halloween the next year. Needless to say, by the time Halloween actually rolls around, we’re all pretty excited to get dressed up. The little kids love having their faces painted as all sorts of characters, including Spiderman and The Hulk. Our face painting ‘party’ starts pretty early in the afternoon, as we head out for trick-or-treating before the evening gets too late. It’s great to see the littler kids wearing costumes their siblings wore in years past and to take lots of photos that usually get posted to Facebook for everyone to later enjoy.

Options abound for Halloween fun ideas and I’m happy that my family is as excited about the holiday as I am. Whether we’re watching movies, baking cookies, or headed to a pumpkin patch, we have a great time, from toddler to adult.

Anita Vance, who blogs on behalf of Sears and other prestigious brands, enjoys spending quality time in the kitchen with her family and keeping up with the latest innovations in home appliances.

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How to Decorate Your Baby’s Nursery on a Budget

August 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

As loving parents, we all want what’s best for our babies.  We want them to have a bright, colorful room, which inspires creativity, as well as all the latest smart toys, which encourages education.  We also want them to be well-protected, and so we carpet everything and put foam on every sharp corner and even build a pen around the entire nursery—locking out all danger.

Of course, you have to consider the cost of all this “inspiration” and “protection.”  Intellicot baby cribs and diamond encrusted Barbie dolls don’t come cheap, after-all.

So for those of us on a budget, but still want the very best nursery for our young ones, here are a few ideas that won’t break the bank:

 

Change the Wall Color

It’s the easiest way to change the look and feel of a room.  And you don’t need to use paint, either.  Paint usually leaves an awful, chemical smell that lingers for days after you’ve painted the room, and paint also includes chemicals that can be prove harmful—and even deadly—to your babies delicate respiratory system.  Instead of painting, we recommend brightening up the room with wall graphic stickers or even repurposing artwork that you have around the house.  It’s safer for your baby and the environment. [Read more...]

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What does Bach do to your baby’s brain?

August 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The thought of it seemed ridiculous. Putting headphones onto my stomach and feeding classical music through my uterus for my unborn child? It seemed like a crazy idea at first, but if there was even the slightest chance that this “Mozart Effect” actually did help the development of my baby’s brain, then I figured why not give it a shot. So, after five months of my pregnancy, when the fetus develops the ability to hear, I became one of “those” pregnant women. I looked through quality home theater systems, and after purchasing one, let the calming melodies of Bach, my personal favorite, resonate throughout the house. And, yes, I even did the whole headphones on the stomach thing. But after a while I was beginning to feel a little silly doing all of this. I mean, was there really a point to this? Does the Mozart Effect really work?

While researching for the potential benefits of listening to classical music while pregnant I came across one major roadblock: there has been no medical evidence to prove that listening to classical music actually improves the intellectual development of the baby. My heart dropped. With all the hype that I’ve heard about the positive effects that this would have on the child, I was expecting some sort of research to back it up. But it seemed as though finding that proof would be fruitless.

I started to feel as though all of those Bach listening sessions had gone to waste. But after doing a little more digging, it seems as though there are some benefits after all. While there is no proof that listening to classical music will actually stimulate the baby’s intellectual development, there is evidence to support that the baby, if exposed to the music enough, will recognize the music after they are born and will often be calmed by the sounds of the music. [Read more...]

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Cool Study Zones for Kids

August 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Back to school time is upon us, and you want to do all you can to help your kids succeed academically. One of the best things parents can do for their children is to set up an adequate study zone for them. Just like adults, having the right space, furniture, and supplies will increase productivity; let them help furnish it, and they will view it as their own private space.

Carve out space: Find a spot in the house where your child will have peace and quiet, but is also close enough to ask you for help if he needs it. This can be a space in the kitchen or family room, or in his bedroom; but make sure it’s roomy enough to spread out all of the books and other things needed. It is probably best that there is no television playing or cell phones ringing during designated study time. [Read more...]

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Cool Wall Peel Stickers: For kids

July 19, 2011 By
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Stickr Train from Butch & harold

Want to decorate a room for your special girl or boy without spending all day painting stars and rainbows?  Try a wall sticker.  They’re fun.  They’re exciting.  And, most importantly, they’re removable. [Read more...]

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How to Get a Guardian Bond for Minors or the Mentally Disabled

July 7, 2011 By
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Getting a Guardian Bond

If you’re looking to become the legal guardian of a minor or mentally disabled person, you’ll first need a guardian bond.

How to Get a Guardian Bond

1. Find out the bond type and amount owed. The courts should have this information. For reference, the amount is usually twice the annual earnings (or total assets) of the minor or disabled person.
2. Find an insurance agent who has experience writing bonds. Beware of insurance agents from name brand companies or with only home and auto insurance experience. Ask your attorney for suggestions.
3. Pick your agent.
4. Apply. Create an application with your agent. For small bond amounts, you’ll only need the basics: your name, date of birth, home address, and reason for the bond. For large amounts, the court may ask for a complete financial statement of your assets and liabilities as well as a personal credit report. [Read more...]

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My Toddler Won’t Eat Anything! Coping with Picky Eaters & Fussy Kids

March 17, 2011 By
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So you have the world’s pickiest eater and you are worried that he or she is super skinny! Well here are a few tips that will help your picky eater:

  • Your child has managed to make it this far. Remember your idea of not eating anything and what they actually eat are completely different. So what if your child only eats 7 items. Feed them those 7 items. If your child likes macaroni and cheese, than that’s what you serve. By using those books such as “Deceptively Delicious” and the “Sneaky Chef” you can find ways to puree other ingredients into the foods they like without them knowing. You can also try mixing other veggies, meats, and fruits into items that they like. This might encourage them to try new things. Also no one says that their has to be certain foods that we eat for breakfast lunch and dinner. If your child likes Rice and Beans at every meal, than have it for breakfast! At least it’s something in their stomach!

    • [Read more...]

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Traveling With Kids? Tips on Keeping Your Sanity…

July 30, 2010 By
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So, you are ready for your grand adventure… your first trip as a family. Whether by land, sea, or air, just the thought of traveling with young children can be daunting! Rest assured, with a little pre-planning your traveling nightmares will disappear!

Here are some simple tips that can make traveling with young children easier:

[Read more...]

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What We Don’t Know… Stats About the American Education Situation

July 23, 2010 By
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Here is a great collection of stats that prove we need to focus our efforts on the next generation instead of the war machine.

What We Don't Know

By: eLearners.com

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US vs the World – Very Interesting Information…

June 18, 2010 By
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US vs the World
By: eLearners.com

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Parental Separation Anxiety

February 18, 2010 By
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Photo Courtesy limaoscarjuliet

Photo Courtesy limaoscarjuliet

As the school year closes, parents often think about what’s next for their children. For many, that next step is Nursery School, 2 day Toddler classes, or Step Up Classes. This can be a nerve wracking decision as you wonder, is my child ready? How will my young child, who has never been left, cope? What should I do?

The first thing to know is that separation is a normal process that every child goes through. Children express their anxiety about being away from their parents and caregivers in many different ways. Some cry, cling, act out in class and at home, or separate well initially, and then cry a few weeks later. Adults going through separation from their children may be anxious, nervous, and even cry when they leave that very first day. Parents do not like to see their children upset, and this can often illicit responses in you, that you didn’t even know you were capable of.

Remember, this is a normal and important part of development. Children need to learn that it is alright to be away from their parents, and they are safe in other environments. Children also need to understand how to self-soothe. This is something that we work on during the time when they are infants, and keep working on throughout the child’s life. Once a child has learned to trust their teachers, and have understood that they are in a safe environment, they will begin to adjust to whatever classroom environment you have chosen for them.

This leads to the question of what class is right for my child? This is a very personal choice. No one knows your child better than you, and every child is different. As a mother of two boys who both started school at the age of two, their separation was night and day. My oldest son, Logan, cried for two months straight. I wish there had been a Step Up program for him, as I believe it would have been less traumatic for him. Step Up and 2 day Toddler classes, offered by Early Childhood, allow children to slowly separate in the classroom. The class meets two or three days a week, depending on the age of the child. Parents enter the classroom and help their children feel safe in their new environment. As the semester progresses, the teachers give advance notice when the next “Step Up” towards separation will take place.  Parents and caregivers slowly work their way out of the classroom. Though parents and caregivers remain right outside the classrooms, the children inside the classrooms begin to rely on the teachers to tend to their needs. [Read more...]

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Last Minute Shopping for your Kids in a Tough Economy

December 18, 2009 By
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Santa Claus (in Kobe Japan)
Image via Wikipedia

Here are some quick shopping tips when prices are high and the budget is low

For Infants, Babies and Toddlers:

Please remember toddlers have no concept of price and what they want! You could give them a shopping bag and they would play for hours! It does not make you any less of a parent because they own no leap frog toys! Try sticking with old fashioned toys like shape rings, wooden clocks, spinning wheels, board books, large puzzles, shape sorters, anything that has cause and effect sounds or lights!

For Preschool and School age Children:

Science experiments, Leggos, Kineks, Cars, Trucks, Planes, Barbies, dolls, are all reasonably priced. Does she really need Barbies Dream house when you can afford a cheaper doll house but place 4 barbies in it? Same with the fellas. They don’t need the super duper Monster truck for $150 dollars when you can get 40 hot wheels for  $10. Remember at the preschool age children will love whatever you give them. [Read more...]

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