I’m not a big fan of video games. In general, they are counter to socialization and imagination. They’re borderline addictive. I’ve seen kids get so wrapped up in Halo that they lost all sense of time and what was going on around them.
And so I was less than enthusiastic when my sister gave her favorite nephews a Wii for Christmas. As far as video games go, this thing is fantastic. This is not like other game systems that involve only staring at a screen while flailing one’s thumbs at super-sonic speed. (more…)
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It’s Christmastime again! But, unfortunately, along with Christmas come the bad and corny gifts given to teens worldwide! Behold, the article that shall stop that.
So, first I shall list my top five worst gifts.
1. Socks: Most teens do not want socks. We would rather buy them than receive them as a present. (Yes, even if they have cute puppies or menacing skulls.) Don’t believe me? Consumer Reports discovered that socks were the most offensive and disappointing gifts that people received in 2005! (more…)
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Chess is a game of concentration and strategy. There is no luck, no chance roll of the dice. It teaches children valuable skills in critical thinking, planning ahead, and sportsmanship. And from a grown-up’s perspective, it’s a lot more fun than playing Pokémon cards or Sorry.
Here are some of the steps that I found helpful in teaching my son to play chess: (more…)
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Tonight, I am going to my middle school’s first dance of the year, and I’m so excited. Earlier, I was talking with my mom, and we were talking about what I would consider the dos and don’ts (mainly don’ts) for parents of middle schoolers going to dances, and I decided that you should know, too. (more…)
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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!
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