Posts Tagged ‘kids’
There has always been societal scrutiny over advertising and its impact on the morals and standards of the general public. None more so than when it comes to children and young people. Parents, the Advertising Standards Agency and the government are concerned and rightly so. If kids are being exposed to sexual and consumerist imagery which rob them of being children, then I defy anyone to agree that this should be addressed. But there could be a conflict of interest in this wide-eyed concern for our children’s safety.
Two main issues arise when considering children and advertising. Number one, advertising directed at children and its impact on their perceptions of the world. You may have heard of ‘pester power,’ the monopolisation of parental wallets by demanding eight-year-olds with a penchant for the latest Furby. This is all very well for the globalised toy market, but psychologists have argued that children may be developing an unhealthy fixation with consumerist gains and in some cases creating stress and feelings of inadequacy within families, as more focus is placed on what children can purchase to ‘make them happy.’
However, the generational shift in childhood perceptions must also be taken into account, as must the impact of childhood socialisation by parents, peers and authoritative sources of knowledge such as the education system. Can it really be assumed that advertising is shaping our children’s view of the world incorrectly, or is it that the world reflected back to them acts as a small piece of their internal ‘jigsaw puzzle’ of experiences? The answer probably lies somewhere in the middle. And is it really all that bad out there? John Lewis and Dove (to name but a few) have released ads and campaigns with uplifting, positive and moral messages in recent months.
The growing number of adverts aimed at young children urging them to buy products and replace new toys with expensive releases is putting needless pressure on households experiencing an economic squeeze. Parents should have the right to decide what their children can and can’t buy, and the focus on ‘pester power’ can be damaging to children whos parents can’t afford the latest gadget. Even more worrying is the normalisation of adverts depicting sexualised imagery and absurd female standards of beauty and appearance. Why should our little girls and boys feel inadequate?
Protection of our children is paramount. That’s why the ASA exists and that’s why regulation, not censorship of the advertising industry must be closely observed. Young Children‘s lives are in the hands of parents, families, friends, teachers, youth workers, aspirational figures and cartoon characters, all with the power to shape their potential. Freedom of choice, freedom of expression and freedom of speech. The most important lessons for making sure the kids are alright.
Don’t miss these fantastic childrens wall murals.
One of the most frequently recommended kinds of summer camps are traditional camps, especially if your child is new to camping. Traditional camps offer a wide variety of familiar activities that focus on fun, , teamwork, and noncompetetive learning. Unlike most summer schools, camps offer opportunities for growth free of stress and pressure for higher measured achievement.
Specialty camps such as academic adventure camps provide opportunities for high school students to learn academic topics in a camp setting. The good thing about academic adventure camps is that they also offer travel programs and possible college credit after completing the program.
Going to an Environmental Summer Camp can help the camper find a different approach to science when ideas are explored in a structured way surrounded by nature.
Tech summer camps offer technology education where adolescents can develop different skills in graphic design, web design, game creation, programming languages, robot building and others.
Art camps and performing art resident camps are best for Children who love the arts. These camps offer programs in visual art, theater, music, dance, circus art, speech and debate and others.
Experts say independence should be established slowly and in an environment where the price of mistakes is not high. This way, your child can learn different skills such as caring for others, working hard to meet goals, making good decisions, searching for information they need to make the right choices and being responsible for his or her own actions. These skills cannot be learned or developed instantly – your child needs a variety of experienced activities in order to learn.
Choosing the right summer camp for your child can be quite difficult but the rewards are priceless. A free website, www.summercampadvice.com, is designed purely for the purpose of helping parents and campers choose the best possible summer camp. This user-friendly site has comprehensive guidance information and questions to ask the directors and staff of any given camp when you contact or meet them.
Learn more about Kids Summer Camps. Stop by Swift Nature Camp site where you can find out all about Summer Children’s Camps and what it can do for you.
Camp is as important as school in a child’s development. Through activities and play, children learn a wide range of skills and develop physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually. Children learn by doing, living, and experiencing things for themselves with out parental intervention. It’s one thing to do things at home, but quite another to to be independent and do them for yourself.
The benefits of camp are worth every penny. Yet Private resident camps are expensive. When trying to determine how to save some money for summer camp, consider the following cost saving ideas.Save Money on Summer Camp
Families that in the past have sent their children to private upper end overnight camps, especially on the east coast, are now looking at alternatives that might be far less expensive. One suggestion is to look in the midwest for a camp that might offer very similar activity programs at a cost 25-30% less than the equivalent east coast camp.
For many you may need to change your private camps look to alternative programs that might be similar to what you have done in the past yet less expensive. This is just a matter of shopping on the internet for price. See Swift Nature Camp as a wonderful value camp.Outdoors Summer Camp
Parents can also choose a less expensive overnight camp program, such as a YMCA or a even a church program. These summer camps can save sometimes half compared to a private camp.
Don’t forget your local areas park districts. Many offer some form of day summer camp. These are usually the most cost effective, however, day camps generally do not offer the same opportunities as that of an overnight summer camp.
Summer camps do have discounts and campership programs, but seldom are these programs FREE. Each summer camp decides how to run their own discount program, so it is important to ask the camp director how to become a part of their particular program and see if it will help make camp affordable for you.
The ACA -American Camp Association recommends: * Parents should ask whether the camp participates in income-eligible subsidy programs, for instance through Title XX. * A Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account allows parents to be reimbursed on a pre-tax basis for child care or adult dependent care expenses for qualified dependents that are necessary to allow parents to work, look for work, or to attend school full time. Visit the FSA Feds Web site for more information. * In certain circumstances, day care expenses, including transportation by a care provider, may be considered dependent care services and paid with pre-tax dollars. Visit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for more information. * Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit: The IRS allows an income tax credit of up to $6,000 of dependent care expenses if you have two or more dependents (up to $3,000 for one dependent). The amount of the credit is based on your adjusted gross income and applies only to your federal taxes. This applies to qualifying day camp expenses as well. Visit the FSA Feds Web site for more information.
Remember, all camps are not created equal and cost is often reflected in quality of programs. It is imperative that you do your homework to ensure a quality experience for your child. One areas where camps cut costs is staffing. Some camps use volunteers while others have paid staff. Look at counselor-to-camper ratios to determine how many campers are sleeping in each cabin with how many Children. What age are the counselors? If they are not over 18, parents should be wary.
Search out the total cost of the camp. This should include not only tuition, but transportation, camp store, spending money, laundry, off-site trips, and uniforms (if required). Ask about how deposits and if it is refundable. When are fees due?
Safety is the most important area of any Summer Camp. Regardless of cost, you want to ensure that your child will be safe and will return home at the end of the program. One way to make sure your selected camp is safe is to verify that the camp is an accredited member of the American Camp Association. The ACA ensures that over 300 standards are met in their accreditation process.
Lastly, It is important to try to remember what it is like being a kid. Summers are long! The experiences at summer camp create a lifetime of memories. Many adults fondly recall their camp days. Do what you must, but don’t let this summer pass your child by without a summer camp experience.
Swift Nature Camp, a non-competitive, traditional coed Overnight Summer Camp. Boys and Girls Ages 6-15 enjoy nature, animals and science along with traditional camping activities. Mention this article and save $200 Nature Summer Camp
There has been a steady increase in childhood obesity in the United States and it continues to baffle and confound professionals of every stripe. Of course, it doesn’t help matters that almost all liquid beverages (and even solid foods) sold within the United States contain high levels of high fructose corn syrup. But that can keep for another time. What makes childhood obesity sad is that the kids who suffer from it seem like they haven’t been given a fair shot at life and that’s terrible. These kids already suffer from a bunch of problems ranging from back pain to arthritis to Type II diabetes and, of course, bullying. There is much more to this sad state of affairs, and we will mention just a few in this article.
Hypertension and high blood pressure are almost a given in obese people no matter how old they are. Some severe medical conditions don’t appear in obese Children but others still do. High blood pressure is one of the problems that is often seen in kids who are severely overweight or suffer from obesity. Obviously there is physical stress that gets put on the body when a person has excess weight but there is significant psychological stress as well. Obese kids are regularly abused both physically and verbally by their classmates. So all of that adds up to a chronically high stress situation which also contributes to the formation of high blood pressure.
One of the oldest expressions around is that kids and children can be cruel to each other. It’s probable that most of us have had to deal with this particular truism at some point in our youths. Obese children are often the target for intense bullying and extraordinary levels of teasing and verbal humiliation. Is it any wonder, then, how these kids can get through all of those years of school and keep their sanity intact. We all know the possible consequences of such chronic abuse. The constant verbal assaults will have a tremendous impact in areas such as self esteem, confidence and the list goes on.
Researchers still don’t know if there is a direct correlation between obesity and early onset puberty which is more common in girls than in boys. Obviously, though, there is also some common sense in looking at what we already know. For example, we know that kids who are obese and overweight grow faster and enter puberty earlier. This still, though, requires a clearer determination of causality than currently exists. While this is obviously not a really serious threat to the health of obesity related conditions there are definitely issues that can be related to the early onset of puberty.
You can probably guess that there is a serious social stigma that gets assigned to obese kids and teenagers. Even just going to school each day has to be a terrible experience. The effects of chronic teasing, comments and even bullying will certainly cause life-long psychological scars or even severe damage. Each person will react in his or her own way to this. The ripple effects from this can be large and serious and it is important to get obese teens and kids and adults into counseling so that they can properly deal with the effects of these kinds of things. The serious issue of obesity in young children and teens is one that will actually effect everybody. You should also look at it from the point of view of how much it costs society. Obese kids will usually become obese adults, and there are costs associated with medical, lost time from work, etc. This means that it is really a problem for society as a whole though few people grasp that.
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One of the best ways you can make your Nerf gaming activities more interesting is by adding a sniper rifle to the mix. Nerf sniper rifle products can be very entertaining products to play with. These products are also the largest Nerf guns available on the market today.
Also, there are two different Nerf sniper rifles on the market. In order to choose the best one, you may want to take into consideration your personal preferences. Each sniper rifle provides unique features that you may find beneficial when in combat scenarios with your friends. The Nerf N-Strike Long Strike CS-6 is a great sniper rifle product for anyone who is looking to maintain fairly versatile capabilities within their combat activities.
This product is great, because it not only looks fairly realistic, but it also comes with a railing to help you line up your shots too. Many people feel that the best aspect of this type of product is the fact that it can shoot Nerf darts up to 35 feet. When you can hit targets accurately from up to 35 feet away, and in some cases even greater distances, you can be certain that you will be able to have a large amount of fun when you are playing with your Nerf products.
The other Nerf product you can purchase today is known as the Nerf N-Strike Longshot CS-6. This product sells for the same price as the other sniper rifle on the market, but it does have a few features that you may want to take into consideration before you make a purchase.
You should keep in mind that this product is slightly bulkier than the other sniper rifle though. Also, the structural design of this product is not as realistic as the other sniper rifle being produced. Beyond these characteristics, this product is basically the exact same product as the other sniper rifle on the market.
Whether you are looking to become an expert marksman, or you are simply looking to have a gun that is fairly versatile for Nerf dart combat, you will definitely receive a great deal of enjoyment from using the Nerf sniper rifles that are currently being produced.
With the release of the new Nerf Longstrike, there are now 2 sniper style Nerf guns available to buy – but which is the best? You can see which we picked here at the home for Nerf gun fans – Nerf Gun Sniper.
Do love Nerf guns? Then you’ll love the Nerf Vulcan. The Vulcan is a Nerf gun that puts the others to shame and looks like something that is straight out of Rambo. If you’re a serious Nerf collector or someone who just loves the thrill of peppering friends with foam darts, then the Vulcan is one of the best guns to add to your collection. This gun features some pretty impressive things that will win any competition in a matter of minutes. Read on to learn more.
The Vulcan is a tripod style automatic, rapid fire gun. It comes with a folding tripod, detachable ammunition box, carry handle, charging bolt, and switch near the trigger for choosing single or multi-shot. The gun comes with a belt that feeds ammunition as it is shot from the gun automatically. What his roughly translates into is sending a rain of Nerf foam darts onto your enemies and winning the game in virtually no time at all.
After shooting and reviewing one of these myself, I definitely feel comfortable rating it as one of the coolest toy guns out there due to the fact that it has a belt fed ammunition and a fold-able tripod. If you’re interested in adding a great piece to your Nerf collection or surprising a younger Nerf fan in your family, this is the gun to go with. It can be found at certain retail stores like Wal-Mart or Toys R’ Us but is best found online where the prices are much lower and you can check out pictures to make sure it would be appropriate for whomever you purchase it for.
Nothing is perfect however. Some complaints that I have about this model is that sometimes it jams. Nothing is more frustrating than having a war and then having it jam on you. It usually happens when you are running with it. Basically it works best when you hold it still and shoot, and don’t run and shoot. Another complaint I hear is that it is too heavy. This isn’t a problem for an adult, but for a kid I can see why it would be hard for them to carry. This is probably why there is a tripod so it can be set down and used like a turret.
If in the future Hasbro releases another model similar to this one, I hope it doesn’t jam as frequently. Even with the jamming issue, I still think this is one worth buying!
Fint out more about the awesome Nerf N-Strike Vulcan at the hottest Nerf gun website.
The next big thing in the market of Nerf missions is the new Nerf Spectre Rev-5. This is an air blasting gun, which uses advanced pressure technology to allow a safe weapon that can still do some pretty impressive things. The Nerf Spectre Rev-5 is appropriate for all level of player and it is very easy to use.
The first feature distinguishing this gun from other similar pieces on the market today is the five dart rotating barrel. This gun can hold five shots at once, allowing more time between reloads. The rotating barrel allows for consecutive shooting, which can come in very handy when missions see you facing an ambush by multiple players.
Other guns advertise that they are the best because they have a lot of power. Some guns have the pressure power to shoot one large dart hundreds of feet into the air. This can be good in certain situations, but they are very rare. The majority of game play will require a short shooting weapon.
The Spectre Rev-5 is also customizable, coming with two attachments to add precision to your gun. The first attachment is a barrel extension. This piece, which looks like a silencer, can also be attached to other N-strike nerf guns allowing a more precise shot every time.
The second attachment is a folding stock. The folding stock attaches to the end of the gun, fitting into the shooter’s shoulder crook and asking as a little arm rest. This keeps the arm steady when holding the blaster, allowing for the best aim with the best precision. Other features include those accessories that you can purchase separately, such as the light scope, nerf flip clip
The new Nerf Spectre Rev-5 is available now, but only at a Walmart store in the toy section. It is not recommended that anyone under six use this weapon. The Nerf Spectre Rev-5 is easy to use, accurate, customizable, and appropriate for all levels of player.
Find more on this awesome blaster here – Nerf N-Strike Spectre Rev5. There you can find everything on Nerf Guns, including popular Nerf Gun Accessories. Take a gander!
See which of your friends is fastest and sharpest with Nerf games of accuracy and speed. Try a dose of target training with the extra reward of exciting sound effects. Nerf Quick Blast, Nerf Disc Shooter, and Tech Target each offer you several ways to play and can be found on-line or at a number of toy shops.
The Quick Blast game contains four games in a single bundle. Participants can use their nerf blasters to blast away card targets of robots. On the other hand, please parents using the claim that, truly, the game is about mathematics with a Nerf-style game of twenty-one.
The set includes numerous parts. You will get 9 targets with stands. There is a deck of cards and a couple blasters. Four darts plus a game mat are also provided for four methods of play.
Tech Target is actually three games in one tailored for little ones over six years of age. Mind you, this in no way stops grown guys from enjoying a few hours of Nerf shoot-out. The idea is to take aim and fire darts at a board in a duel with your competition. The board is electric and will keep score, so results are always honest and impartial no matter what dad says.
Try to be first from ninety-nine to zero. Blast at the board to turn off a sound effect. Go for a top score in this colorful adaptation of darts with its own sound effects.
Impacting targets on a board may appear hard, but can you imagine if the board was moving? This is the major idea behind the Disc Shot. Shoot for a moving target, challenging buddies to beat your current high score or take it on yourself by aiming to overcome your own personal best.
Gamers use a handheld remote launcher with variable height for shots at different angles. Set the launcher for countdown then fire when you are prepared. Opponents can also play this game at night thanks to a two-sided disk: yellow on one, black on the reverse side.
For more great toys like the one’s above, check out this site – Nerf Toy Guns For Sale.
Today’s young folks of Illinois people are enjoying less and less time outdoors. As parents we know we can have a profound impact on the lives of your offspring. It is your responsibility to introducing your kids to the outdoors for the first time. They may have environmental knowledge about Illinois outdoors which you may enhance or you may just make it a play date. These outside experiences might even awaken a passion for the outdoors that will stay with them forever. The first step is to take a little time for planning, it goes a long way towards a successful and safe outdoor trip. An outdoor field trip is a great educational experience for all involved. So enjoy your time with your kids.
Illinois has many state parks, natural areas, conservation areas, recreation areas, and fish and wildlife areas. You’ll find information on camping, hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, state park lodges and resorts, interpretive programs and hundreds of great ideas for places to visit and things to do in outdoor Illinois. Its best to visit dnr.state.il.us
Did you know that Illinois has adopted may natural elements here a few: Illinois State Tree – white oak Illinois State Bird – cardinal Illinois State Fish – bluegill Illinois State Animal – white-tailed deer Illinois State Insect – monarch butterfly
In Illinois here are just a few spots to think about going someday:
1)Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve Downers Grove at jct. Hwy. 34 (Ogden Road) & Belmont Road Belmont Prairie is a high quality remnant of the dry to wet prairies typical of the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division. The preserve is located within the Valparaiso Moranic System on the Keenyville drift which was formed over 12,000 years ago. For the most part, the upper north and east sections of the area contain moderately well to well drained soils. But soils on the lower slopes and in scattered pockets throughout the area are poorly drained. The dry-mesic prairie has a high forb diversity and low percentage of grass cover. The dominant species are porcupine grass and Canada blue-joint grass. The small wet-mesic and wet prairie contain moisture-loving species such as cordgrass, sedges, and blue-joint grass. A few wildlife species known to occur here are garter snake, fox snake, and meadow vole. The area was protected from development in the early 2)1970′s by cooperative efforts of The Nature Conservancy and the Belmont Prairie Preservation Association. One-third of the area was preserved through a gift by Alfred and Margo Dupree of Downers Grove.
2) Ferson’s Creek Nature Preserve Kane County Location and Access: From the jct of Rt. 64 and Rt. 31 in the center of downtown St. Charles, head north on Rt. 31 for 0.75 mile. The preserve is on the east side of Rt. 31 on the banks of the Fox River. Ferson’s Creek Fen is a wetland ecosystem situated along the west bank of the Fox River. The preserve lies on a glacial outwash terrace and alluvial stream bed. Two natural communities featured here are sedge meadows and wet floodplain forests. Occupying the core of the natural area, sedge meadows are the prevalent community and range from undisturbed, very high quality portions to segments of moderate quality. Scattered in small “cameo-like” areas of the sedge meadows are the characteristic calciophilic species such as fringed gentian, grass-of-parnassus, Kalm’s lobelia, turtlehead and marsh wild timothy. Small bedstraw, great St. John’s wort and northern fringed orchid are found in the sedge meadows. Wild rice is located on the edge of the marshy sedge meadow and the floodplain forest. The preserve provides nesting habitat for prothonotary warblers, blue-gray gnatcatchers, common yellowthroats and swamp sparrows. Excellent bird watching opportunities occur during spring migration. Purple loosestrife, glossy buckthorn and native brushy species are serious problems here. A volunteer stewardship group, active for the past six years, is working closely with the Park District to address the management concerns.
3) Baker’s Lake Nature Preserve Cook County Hwy. 14 southeast about 1 mile. The nature preserve is south of Hillside Avenue and southwest of Hwy. 14. Baker’s Lake Nature Preserve is a 209 acre area containing a 112 acre lake with an island and a stand of mature open-grown oaks. The area provides visitors with an example of a nature preserve which was dedicated primarily to protect a breeding area for rare and endangered birds rather than for its plant communities. The preserve protects a rookery for 4 species of colonial nesting birds; black-crowned night heron, great egret, double crested cormorant and great blue heron. The area also supports common moorhen, yellow-headed blackbird, and black tern. Other species, especially waterfowl, are present during migration.
OK, you’re not an outdoorsy folk but you know you Children need to get outside. No problem their are many outdoor programs, classes and Illinois Summer Camps available in and around your home.
Thinking of a Summer Camps try SummerCampAdvice.com
Swift Nature Camp is a Coed Summer Camp for boys and girls ages 6-15. Our focus is to blend traditional camp programs with that of a Science Summer Camp to promote a better appreciation for nature.
Early childhood days training is critical for just a child’s growth. Luckily, the education process which is currently available hasn’t ever been better. Thus, I’ve decided to put the next few paragraphs together to discuss a tiny little regarding the childhood advancement method which is now in place.
Value Of Good Teachers
It is vital that a great accomplished mentor is the person who teaches our kids. The latest training method is focused around the skills of course instructors, professionals as well as assistants. In order to turn into a early childhood educator you will need to endure a rigorous method in college to get accredited to teach youngsters. It isn’t out of the ordinary to check out instructors with certifications within mathematics, science, literature or any other common subjects to generally be an early childhood educator. Normally, you have to have a bachelor’s college degree to become a teacher.
In relation to Early Childhood Development
ECE learning will be based upon the ability of kids to adopt fresh info in. In many international locations “early childhood” entails the child’s very first nine years. They’re going to move through preschool as well as kindergarden in this time. It’s at present of a Children‘s lifestyle that the chemistry of the brain builds up rapidly. Abilities like running, communicating, experiencing and moral fundamentals are in place at this point.
Value Of Father and mother
Numerous studies have shown that parents of a nipper are important thus to their progress. The frequency of which have you seen someone take after their folks? The same principle can be applied below with babies except for a more complete level. What a child endures together with his/her oldsters in the initial few years of his/her lifestyle can form who they are for the rest of their lives.
Conclusion
As we discussed, a child’s improvement is just not some thing to be taken lightly. Consequently, just be on the lookout for useful web pages, applications or another type which can help you within your pursuit for developing your youngster. All the best .!
It is important that you learn about the early childhood education curriculum if you want to be an early childhood educator. Stop by our site at www.earlychildhoodeducations.com.