So, this is part two of my discussion of whether school projects are good or bad for students.  For those of you who haven’t read the first part, here is a brief summary: projects are very good for students, although they do have some negative aspects.  If you want to read it, here is the link.

Now, this part focuses on a specific aspect of projects: large portions of parental help and whether it is right or wrong. Based on my past experiences, I feel it is far more wrong than right.  But, I shall try not to be biased and list the pros and cons. (more…)

Tweet This Post

This year in physics class, I have had a plethora of projects to do.  I made an egg-safety chamber, a catapult, a propeller powered car, a mousetrap powered car, and a bottle rocket.  So, I figured, “Why not write an article on the pros and cons of school projects?”  And guess what?  I wrote one!

First of all, I am going to list the pros, just to build up your little spirits and then crush them with the cons. (more…)

Tweet This Post

Not too many years ago, parents might have had trouble keeping their kids entertained (and not climbing on the walls) when it was raining outside. With all of today’s electronics, a rainy day does not seem to present itself as a problem anymore. Children have computer games, board games, video games, movies, and many more fun activities. The problem is, none of these activities really keep a kid active. Here are some activities you can do outside when it’s raining: (more…)

Tweet This Post

When Thanksgiving arrives, there tends to be a flurry of action, chopping, mixing, baking, and more, for the adults.  But what about the kids?  Sure, some assistance from your little helpers is appreciated, but when the kitchen becomes full and a little too warm, you may be seeking alternate entertainment for your kids.

Rather than sending them to a screen for entertainment, how about a craft that will keep them busy and amused? (more…)

Tweet This Post

Do you have a child with a birthday that falls in the autumn? Here are some party ideas that work wonderfully in the autumn for many ages:

Pumpkin picking and decorating: Get a few parents to help you carpool the children to a nearby farm. Then, let them each pick out a pumpkin of their own. (To avoid spending too much, mention a maximum weight or show them an example of the perfect size.) At home, have some decorating supplies (paint, glitter, glue, googly eyes), and you’ll have many decorated pumpkins that can double as party favors. Older kids could try carving the pumpkins, too.

Corn maze: Search online for a nearby corn maze. Depending on the number of invitees there are, you can split the party into smaller groups and make it a competition, but it helps to keep everyone a winner.

• Root beer making: One of my favorite birthday parties was when my parents took a group of friends and me to Incredibrew, and we made our very own root beer! We got to design the labels ourselves, and each friend got a pack of four to take home and enjoy.
• Autumn-related mini-games: To supplement a party, you could fill a jar with candy corn and allow the guests to make a guess when they enter. Whoever makes the closet guess wins the jar! You also could have a contest to see how many words each child can make from P-U-M-P-K-I-N P-I-E or S-C-A-R-E-C-R-O-W. How about a round of pin-the-nose on the jack-o-lantern or pin-the-stem on the apple? And don’t forget the classic, bobbing for apples, but make sure the apples are sized relative to the guests. It may be impossible for a 5-year-old to pick up the same apple that would be the perfect challenge for a child that is a few years older.
• Costume party: Last but not least, if the birthday is close enough to Halloween one of the greatest sources of fun can be when the guests show up in costumes. Let them have a fashion show or a story-telling contest about their characters!

Tweet This Post