http://interestalert.com/brand/siteia.shtml?Story=st/wk/08200000aaa0112d.ap&Sys=doctordebi&Filter=Top%20Stories&Fid=TOPSTRYS
Poll: Family Ties Key to Youth Happiness
By JOCELYN NOVECK and TREVOR TOMPSON
Associated Press Writers
So you're between the ages of 13 and 24. What makes you happy? A worried, weary parent might imagine the answer to sound something like this: Sex, drugs, a little rock 'n' roll. Maybe some cash, or at least the car keys.
Turns out the real answer is quite different. Spending time with family was the top answer to that open-ended question, according to an extensive survey - more than 100 questions asked of 1,280 people ages 13-24 - conducted by The Associated Press and MTV on the nature of happiness among America's young people.
Next was spending time with friends, followed by time with a significant other. And even better for parents: Nearly three-quarters of young people say their relationship with their parents makes them happy.
'They're my foundation,' says Kristiana St. John, 17, a high-school student from Queens in New York. 'My mom tells me that even if I do something stupid, she's still going to love me no matter what. Just knowing that makes me feel very happy and blessed.'
Other results are more disconcerting. While most young people are happy overall with the way their lives are going, there are racial differences: the poll shows whites to be happier, across economic categories, than blacks and Hispanics. A lot of young people feel stress, particularly those from the middle class, and females more than males.
You might think money would be clearly tied to a general sense of happiness. But almost no one said 'money' when asked what makes them happy, though people with the highest family incomes are generally happier with life. However, having highly educated parents is a stronger predictor of happiness than income.
And sex? Yes, we were getting to that. Being sexually active actually leads to less happiness among 13-17 year olds, according to the survey. If you're 18 to 24, sex might lead to more happiness in the moment, but not in general.
From the body to the soul: Close to half say religion and spirituality are very important. And more than half say they believe there is a higher power that has an influence over things that make them happy. Beyond religion, simply belonging to an organized religious group makes people happier.
And parents, here's some more for you: Most young people in school say it makes them happy. Overwhelmingly, young people think marriage would make them happy and want to be married some day. Most also want to have kids.
Finally, when asked to name their heroes, nearly half of respondents mentioned one or both of their parents. The winner, by a nose: Mom.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
BASKETBALL FUN
This is the latest thing my boys love doing when we are at the mall. I really don't mind because aside from they are having loads of fun, they are practicing their shots and exercising as well. So it really is a win-win for everyone. They usually play 5 times in this slot game and by the time they are done, they are pretty exhausted from laughing and throwing those basketballs. =D
Oops! To the right, Kuya!
Whee! This is fun!
Ready, set, go!
One at a time, guys!
Ethan, it's your turn!
Whee! This is fun!
Final score: 270. Not bad, right? =D
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
STREET SAFETY
http://www.todaysparent.com/preschool/healthsafety/article.jsp?content=20070608_151833_4988&page=1
Pedestrian Safety
Keep your preschooler safe around cars
By Teresa Pitman
When Tyler was a toddler, you could pick him up and carry him across the road if he didn’t want to hold your hand. Now that he’s five, he’s pretty heavy to carry — plus he thinks having to hold Mommy’s hand is embarrassing. Is he old enough to cross the street on his own now?
Not according to Philip Groff, director of research and evaluation at Smartrisk. “For three- and four-year-olds, being struck by a car is the third-leading cause of injuries. By the time kids are five, it’s number one. It is a big problem — more than 4,000 children are hit by motor vehicles each year in Canada.”
Linda Ward, program coordinator at SafeKids Canada, says we need to understand what is going on with preschoolers in developmental terms. Even the brightest preschooler is not capable of judging how far away a car is or how quickly it is moving. They also aren’t good at evaluating their own abilities (most will happily tell you that they can run “super-fast”). So they’re likely to dart out in front of a car, even if they see it coming, because they think they have enough time to cross safely.
Cautionary steps
So what do you do to keep your preschooler safe around cars?
Staying in touch — literally
“Supervision is the key,” says Groff. Stick close if your children are playing anywhere near the road. When you are walking together, holding hands should be the rule. “More than an arm’s length away isn’t really supervision,” Groff adds. “They can dart into the road so quickly.”
Your preschooler won’t hold your hand? You may need to hold his arm or wrist. Or your hands aren’t free? Waterloo, Ont., mother of three Kat Murphy says: “Before we cross the road, I announce, ‘Grab a part!’ and my son will say, ‘I have the diaper bag’ or ‘I have a baby leg,’ and off we go. Another thing we do, if my hands are free, is hold hands and skip across the street. Much more fun!”
Parking lot cautions
Parking lots pose special risks. Groff points out that cars are often backing up, and the rows of cars can block the driver’s view, making small preschoolers hard to see. In addition, parents are often preoccupied with loading groceries or other tasks.
“You should always buckle your child into his car seat first, then put the shopping in the trunk,” says Ward. Finally, treat the parking lot as a road — insist on holding hands or staying close as you walk through.
Playing it safe
Many injuries, Ward says, happen when children are playing in an area where there are no sidewalks and no boundaries between the play area and the road. Seek out a safer location if the parks around your home don’t qualify. Consider lobbying your municipality about adding sidewalks or fences if these aren’t present where your children play.
Environmental hazards
More young children are injured by cars when it’s dusk or getting dark, and if it is raining or snowing. So pay special attention during those times.
Ward adds, “Preschoolers are so small and cars so big; when the two collide, the children’s injuries tend to be serious. So it is well worth the extra effort it takes to keep them safe.”
Pedestrian Safety
Keep your preschooler safe around cars
By Teresa Pitman
When Tyler was a toddler, you could pick him up and carry him across the road if he didn’t want to hold your hand. Now that he’s five, he’s pretty heavy to carry — plus he thinks having to hold Mommy’s hand is embarrassing. Is he old enough to cross the street on his own now?
Not according to Philip Groff, director of research and evaluation at Smartrisk. “For three- and four-year-olds, being struck by a car is the third-leading cause of injuries. By the time kids are five, it’s number one. It is a big problem — more than 4,000 children are hit by motor vehicles each year in Canada.”
Linda Ward, program coordinator at SafeKids Canada, says we need to understand what is going on with preschoolers in developmental terms. Even the brightest preschooler is not capable of judging how far away a car is or how quickly it is moving. They also aren’t good at evaluating their own abilities (most will happily tell you that they can run “super-fast”). So they’re likely to dart out in front of a car, even if they see it coming, because they think they have enough time to cross safely.
Cautionary steps
So what do you do to keep your preschooler safe around cars?
Staying in touch — literally
“Supervision is the key,” says Groff. Stick close if your children are playing anywhere near the road. When you are walking together, holding hands should be the rule. “More than an arm’s length away isn’t really supervision,” Groff adds. “They can dart into the road so quickly.”
Your preschooler won’t hold your hand? You may need to hold his arm or wrist. Or your hands aren’t free? Waterloo, Ont., mother of three Kat Murphy says: “Before we cross the road, I announce, ‘Grab a part!’ and my son will say, ‘I have the diaper bag’ or ‘I have a baby leg,’ and off we go. Another thing we do, if my hands are free, is hold hands and skip across the street. Much more fun!”
Parking lot cautions
Parking lots pose special risks. Groff points out that cars are often backing up, and the rows of cars can block the driver’s view, making small preschoolers hard to see. In addition, parents are often preoccupied with loading groceries or other tasks.
“You should always buckle your child into his car seat first, then put the shopping in the trunk,” says Ward. Finally, treat the parking lot as a road — insist on holding hands or staying close as you walk through.
Playing it safe
Many injuries, Ward says, happen when children are playing in an area where there are no sidewalks and no boundaries between the play area and the road. Seek out a safer location if the parks around your home don’t qualify. Consider lobbying your municipality about adding sidewalks or fences if these aren’t present where your children play.
Environmental hazards
More young children are injured by cars when it’s dusk or getting dark, and if it is raining or snowing. So pay special attention during those times.
Ward adds, “Preschoolers are so small and cars so big; when the two collide, the children’s injuries tend to be serious. So it is well worth the extra effort it takes to keep them safe.”
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
MAKING SNOWFLAKES
After watching an episode of Blue's Clues, we decided to copy a scene there where kids made some snowflakes using white paper. Since we had some scratch paper we thought of using those. Nikki cut the paper carefully but he needed my help in cutting the folded areas because they were a bit thick. Even if the activity lasted for only a few minutes, Nikki still had fun and I was glad. =D
Snip, snip.
Opening the snowflake.
A unique snowflake!
Wow! This one is pretty!
Snip, snip.
Opening the snowflake.
Wonderful creation.
A unique snowflake!
One more...
Wow! This one is pretty!
Nikki and his snowflakes. He wants to show them to his dad. =D
Monday, September 24, 2007
SORTING COLLECTIONS
I got this from Peep and The Big Wide World, one of Nikki's favorite shows. =D
Sorting Collections
Children are natural collectors. Sorting and categorizing a favorite collection is a great learning activity and a lot of fun. (If your child doesn't already have a collection, encourage him or her to gather items while you are out and about in the world. Shells and rocks are durable collectables and can be rearranged and sorted in many different ways — by size, shape, color, and texture, just to name a few. If found collectables aren't an option, dried beans and seeds from the grocery store, building blocks, and other small toys work well too.)
Together, observe each item in the collection closely and encourage your child to describe its color, shape, pattern, and texture. Try categorizing by one characteristic; putting all the smooth shells together, regardless of color or size, or all the blue shells together, regardless of size or texture. You can sort small things in empty egg cartons or muffin tins. Bigger things can be sorted in larger containers, like shoeboxes. As an extension activity, you and your child can create a permanent display of the collection, making labels to describe the categories.
Sorting Collections
Children are natural collectors. Sorting and categorizing a favorite collection is a great learning activity and a lot of fun. (If your child doesn't already have a collection, encourage him or her to gather items while you are out and about in the world. Shells and rocks are durable collectables and can be rearranged and sorted in many different ways — by size, shape, color, and texture, just to name a few. If found collectables aren't an option, dried beans and seeds from the grocery store, building blocks, and other small toys work well too.)
Together, observe each item in the collection closely and encourage your child to describe its color, shape, pattern, and texture. Try categorizing by one characteristic; putting all the smooth shells together, regardless of color or size, or all the blue shells together, regardless of size or texture. You can sort small things in empty egg cartons or muffin tins. Bigger things can be sorted in larger containers, like shoeboxes. As an extension activity, you and your child can create a permanent display of the collection, making labels to describe the categories.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
TIE-DYE
Nikki had a lot of fun with this tie-dye activity. Nikki is not really into arts and crafts so I let him try things that would be easy yet interesting for him. Since I did some tie-dye before, I thought of introducing the activity to him. I decided to use the color red because it's really bright. We also made use of 2 of their house sandos so we really did not spend for this lesson. =D
Here are some photos:
The materials: Shirts, colored dye, rubber bands, vat of hot water over the stove.
Nikki thinks of a design and Mommy attaches the rubber bands to the shirts.
Nikki wets the shirts thoroughly.
Nikki puts some colored dye in the hot water.
The shirts are added to the bye bath and Nikki stirs the shirts.
After several minutes, the shirts are removed and allowed to cool slightly.
After rinsing thoroughly, the rubbers bands are removed and voila!! tie-dye shirts!! This one is Nikki's.
This one is Ethan's.
Mommy put them in hangers to let them dry.
Here are some photos:
The materials: Shirts, colored dye, rubber bands, vat of hot water over the stove.
Nikki thinks of a design and Mommy attaches the rubber bands to the shirts.
Nikki wets the shirts thoroughly.
Nikki puts some colored dye in the hot water.
The shirts are added to the bye bath and Nikki stirs the shirts.
After several minutes, the shirts are removed and allowed to cool slightly.
After rinsing thoroughly, the rubbers bands are removed and voila!! tie-dye shirts!! This one is Nikki's.
This one is Ethan's.
Mommy put them in hangers to let them dry.
"New" shirts for the boys!! =D
Saturday, September 22, 2007
NIKKI'S SCORE
I did a multiple intelligence checklist on Nikki and this is how he fared:
YOUR CHILD'S TALENTS:
Linguistic 7
Logical-Mathematical 3
Spacial 3
Bodily-Kinesthetic 2
Musical 4
Interpersonal 3
Intrapersonal 4
Naturalistic 4
Hopefully, there will be some improvements as we continue with our lessons... =D
YOUR CHILD'S TALENTS:
Linguistic 7
Logical-Mathematical 3
Spacial 3
Bodily-Kinesthetic 2
Musical 4
Interpersonal 3
Intrapersonal 4
Naturalistic 4
Hopefully, there will be some improvements as we continue with our lessons... =D
Friday, September 21, 2007
WORKSHEETS
How to properly write questions...
Introduction to punctuation marks: period and question mark.
Learning sentences and how to write lowercase letters.
Learning sentences and how to write lowercase letters.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
DRAWINGS
Here are some of Ethan's drawings. I always find them so cute!
Spider.
Ethan says this one is a millipede. And I thought it was a Christmas tree! =D
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