National Child Passenger Safety Week

National Child Passenger Safety Week occurs each year during the week of Valentine’s Day, bringing public attention to the importance of safely transporting children. This year, the focus of National Child Passenger Safety Week is on booster seats.

Reading Is Fundamental - website

Reading Is Fundamental, UK is an initiative of the National Literacy Trust that helps children and young people (aged 0 to 19) to realise their potential by motivating them to read.
We promote the fun of reading, the importance of book choice and the benefits to families of having books at home. Our projects provide motivational activities, opportunities for family and community involvement, and free books for children to choose and keep.

Safer internet day

Safer Internet Day
Safer Internet Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the right of every child to enjoy safe and rewarding Internet experiences. It represents an effort by a global community of awareness-raising partners to promote a safer Internet for all of its users, especially young people.  NetAlert is coordinating Safer Internet Day events in Australia and is working closely with the organising body, InSafe.  The main activity for the day is an international blogathon.  With over 30 countries participating on the day, we hope you can join us for this truly international activity.

Mind rewind - brain works in reverse

When faced with a new learning task, our brains replay events in reverse, much like a video on rewind, a new study suggests.This type of reverse-replay is also used in artificial intelligence research to help computers make decisions. The finding could explain why we learn tasks more easily if we take frequent study breaks: the pauses between sessions give our brains time to review information.  

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How to give to your community

The new Giving Bikes page is just the latest in a series of improvements made to the Australian Giving Centre, which is supported by our alliance partner Westpac. The Giving Centre now has information on just about everything you need to know when it comes to giving to your community: from giving money and time, to giving organs and blood, to giving blankets, clothes and furniture, land, computers, and mobile phones. It’s online at www.ourcommunity.com.au/giving

Safer internet day Safer internet day provides an opportunity to celebrate the right of every child to enjoy safe and rewarding internet eperiences. It repreents an effort by a global community of awareness-raising partners to promote a safer internet for all of its users, especially young people. Netalert is coordinating events in Australia and is working closely with the organising body Insafe. the main actiity for the day is an international blogathon. With over 30 countries participating on the day, we hope yu can join us in this truly international activity.

Blogging safety

Blogs, Blogging and Bloggers - Online Diaries and Journals
Blogs have opened a new path to creative freedom and self-expression for many young people.  Technorati, a blog tracking site, estimates there are 24.8 million, with 70,000 new blogs created every day.  In this feature article, we’ll look at the blogging phenomenon, what blogs are and what are their benefits.  We’ll then explain what parents should know about the safety risks associated with blogging and what steps can be taken to ensure blogging is a fun and rewarding activity for the whole family.

National Youth Week: Just add you

National Youth Week  1-9 April 2006
NYW is a joint Australian Government, State, Territory and Local Government initiative.
The Australian Government Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA), in collaboration with the Departments responsible for youth affairs in each State and Territory, coordinate NYW.
NYW aims to encourage young people to:
share ideas
attend live events
have their voices heard on issues of concern to them showcase their talents

celebrate their contribution to the community
take part in competitions, and
have fun!
Find out more

Paying children to go to school?

And for Perfect Attendance, Johnny Gets... a Car - New York Times
"I was at first taken a little aback by the idea: we're going to pay kids to come to school?" said the principal, Morton Orlov II. "But then I thought perfect attendance is not such a bad behavior to reward. We are sort of putting our money where our mouth is."
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The Norman Lindsay Festival of Children's literature

Saturday and Sunday 25th and 26th March 2006Norman Lindsay Gallery 14 Norman Lindsay Crescent Springwood, Blue Mountains NSW Featuring:  Andrew Daddo, Kim Gamble, James Roy, Mark Macleod, EmilyRodda, John Hockney, Bruce Whatley and Suzanne Gervay. 
There are workshops for adults and children included in the cost of admission. For more information and to download a copy of the registration form visit the NSW Branch of the National Trust's website : http://nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/

Cooee!! Aussie books

Get lost in Aussie books
Cooee! website live all year
www.connectqld.org.au/cooeeThe Cooee! family summer reading club 2005/6 was developed by the State Library of Queensland in collaboration with Qld Public Libraries to engage children and young people in the discovery of great Australian books, reading, writing and art activities during the summer holidays.  The program was conducted in public libraries throughout Queensland and via the interactive website www.connectqld.org.au/cooeeThe website will remain online for use in schools as curriculum support.In levels 1, 2, & 3 you can access:
Choose your own adventure stories by Queensland authors Jill Morris, Rebecca Johnson, Anita Bell, Josie Montano and Pat Flynn
What happens next? Continuous stories by Narelle Oliver
Book Reviews
Activity sheets
In the ‘for the whole family’ section you will find: Reading Compass – young readers can match a book to their interests
Transcripts of online chats with Andy Griffiths and Meme McDonald
Pirate Plunge fun interactive game

Celebrity readers
…..and test your own knowledge of Aussie books, play the adult book quiz.

Cooee! Aussie books

Get lost in Aussie books
Cooee! website live all year
www.connectqld.org.au/cooeeThe Cooee! family summer reading club 2005/6 was developed by the State Library of Queensland in collaboration with Qld Public Libraries to engage children and young people in the discovery of great Australian books, reading, writing and art activities during the summer holidays.  The program was conducted in public libraries throughout Queensland and via the interactive website www.connectqld.org.au/cooeeThe website will remain online for use in schools as curriculum support.In levels 1, 2, & 3 you can access: Choose your own adventure stories by Queensland authors Jill Morris, Rebecca Johnson, Anita Bell, Josie Montano and Pat FlynnWhat happens next? Continuous stories by Narelle OliverBook Reviews Activity sheets In the ‘for the whole family’ section you will find: Reading Compass – young readers can match a book to their interestsTranscripts of online chats with Andy Griffiths and Meme McDonaldPirate Plunge fun interactive gameA-Z: know your libraryCelebrity readers …..and test your own knowledge of Aussie books, play the adult book quiz.

Earthworks

"Earthworks is a new interactive game aimed at children to encourage them to be more aware of sustainability issues and the environment. The game was commissioned by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and funded by the EDF."

Gravity Tractor as Asteroid mover

Gravity Tractor as Asteroid Mover A huge spacecraft could use its gravity to keep an asteroid from hitting Earth. Read more