Bookrapt - Children's Literature Seminar

Bookrapt presents its 26th Annual Children's Literature Seminar(Bookrapt is the new name for the Bay of Plenty Children's Literature Association)

The 2006 seminar showcases local talent. Some of New Zealand's (in fact the world's) best known and loved authors and illustrators live in the Bay of Plenty.

Last year'sseminar was a sell out success (just like Eric Clapton at the MissionEstate!) so be in quick to secure a place. The Seminar will take place on Saturday August 5 2006 at the Tauranga Intermediate School Library from 8.45 a.m. and should wind up around 2.15 p.m.

Speakers:

LynleyDodd,

Sherryl Jordan,

Phyllis Johnston,

Jean Bennett,

Angie Belcher,

KimWesterskov

and Debbie Tipuna.

(Wow what a line up!)

The programme will also feature the official launch of the new name Bookrapt so come and celebrate with us!

Seminar cost is $25 for members, $30 for non-members.

(Membership costs $20)

For a full seminar programme and enrolment form please contact Lois Rout on 07 578 4956 Email: lois.rout at xtra dot co dot nz Fax 07 578 4953

children's books

ConsumerLab.com

ConsumerLab.com, is the leading provider of independent test results and information to help consumers and healthcare professionals evaluate health, wellness, and nutrition products. It publishes results of its tests at www.consumerlab.com — which receives nearly 2 million visits per year

families

Should You Take Your Baby Along On Your Bicycle??

(Via the Play Library Blog)

"If you love biking, you may be particularly eager to have your young child enjoy it with you. Don't be in too big a hurry to share the experience with your child.

In fact, NEVER carry a child under the age of 1 on your bicycle, either in a bicycle seat, a child trailer or any other carrier," warns Debra Holtzman, an internationally recognized safety and health expert and the author of the new book, "The Safe Baby: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Home Safety (Sentient Publications, 2005).

" A baby does not have sufficient neck strength to support the weight of a helmet or to control head movement during a sudden stop. A one year old who can sit well when unsupported will have neck strong enough to support a lightweight helmet; at that point he can be carried in a child trailer or a rear-mounted seat.

Debra Holtzman's offers a checklist of suggestions to help keep young children safe: >> More

parenting

Video Game Facts

This site looks at what video games are out there at the moment and explains exactly what's in them and who they are suitable for. Also features a range of tips for parents who want to control the content and amount of gaming their kids get up to.

Visit the site

video games, families

Found Money: Surprising Ways to Save

Looking for money? Check your car, your mortgage - your child?

With minimal attention and effort, I bet you can reduce your typical costs by at least 10 to 15 percent -- maybe even a lot more.

This stuff is not about making any major life changes. The truth is that you may well be needlessly tossing away a bucket of money each year, simply by being a bit careless here and there.

With that in mind, here are some simple and surprising ways to save.

>> more

family

Tech creates a bubble for kids

" ...you've got a generation that doesn't have the same concept of privacy and personal boundaries as generations before," Verhaagen says.

"They're tuned out in some ways to the social graces around them and the people in their lives, in their physical realm, and tuned in to the people they're with virtually," says psychologist and sociologist Sherry Turkle of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge.

On top of that, young people don't care as much about making a good impression as their parents and grandparents did growing up, says Jean Twenge, an associate professor of psychology at San Diego State University."

>> more

social skills, kids

The downside of Google

There may be some information here you can use to remind family members about checking the accuracy of information they find on the internet ... Stephen Pritchard

Back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth, journalists seeking enlightenment and chasing a deadline relied on their dogeared contacts books to find experts, spokesmen and pundits. Today, we still reach for those phone numbers, but we also have an infinitely more powerful aid in our research - the internet.Search engines such as Google find acres of instant information and more 'experts' than you can shake a stick at, but every computer screen should carry the warning: 'Beware: all is not as it seems.' Read on …

families

Storytime online

This website uses online streaming video to feature Screen Actors Guild members reading childen's books aloud.

There are actiities to use and these can be downloaded.

visit Storyline online

children's books, read aloud

All New Square Foot Gardening (Paperback) by Mel Bartholomew ...anyone, anywhere can enjoy a Square Foot garden. Children, adults with limited mobility, even complete novices can achieve spectacular results. I've rarely seen a more reader-friendly book! It comes complete with layout pages, very consise planting guides, even planting time tables for your area and the amount of time you can store your seeds! If you have never gardened before or started a garden that eventually left you frustrated, then this is the book for you! I just think that you should check your area for agricultural grade vermiculite before you buy the book. But once that little snafu is over, you are going to be amazed at how brilliant and easy this book makes successful gardening. I highly recommend this method for busy people and parents like myself. It is wonderfully easy to maintain, makes loads of produce, and looks very attractive. Two green thumbs way, way up. More reviews from amazon where the book is selling for $13.59 gardening, families

'Safe' social networking sites emerge

Companies launch more secure, educational alternatives to MySpace and Friendster

Amid rising concerns over popular social networking sites, a new crop of "safe" sites is currently emerging. These "safe" sites hope to limit the dangers associate with other sties, such as talking to predators and revealing too much personal information. In addition, these safer sites aim to develop in users a proper online skill set--one that incorporates elements of online safety as well as proper behavior in virtual communities. Read on ...

internet safety, social networking, parenting

Business profs rethinking ethics classes

By CATHERINE TSAI

Last fall, Bentley College management professor Tony Buono taught a class on corporate scandals with colleagues pitching in from finance, accounting and even the philosophy department. The four picked through the cases of Enron, WorldCom, Tyco and Shell.

At the end of the semester, the number of students in a simulated trading room who were caught in misconduct or misusing information for insider trading was significantly higher than at the beginning. The students said, "You taught us how to do it," Buono recalled.

Read the whole article

ethics, families

Calorie Restriction May Prevent Alzheimer's Through Promotion Of Longevity Program In The Brain

A recent study directed by Mount Sinai School of Medicine suggests that experimental dietary regimens might calm or even reverse symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The study, which appears in the July 2006 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, is the first to show that restricting caloric intake, specifically carbohydrates, may prevent AD by triggering activity in the brain associated with longevity.

Read on ...

nutrition

More U.S. Teens Are Shunning Risky Behaviors (Risky health behaviors -- such as unsafe motor vehicle use, sexual activity, and tobacco and alcohol use -- are on the decline among American youth. Read on ... teenagers, families

What is your Parenting style?

Everyone has their own parenting style - what's your parenting style?

Take this fun quiz to discover your style, and learn some fun tips on parenting.

Visit the quiz

parenting, families

How to be a Better Parent

By: Joseph Then

Being a parent is one of the most important jobs anyone can have. It takes a lot of work and determination to be a loving and supportive parent to any child. There are a few things that you can do to become a better parent and produce happier and healthier children. Some of the following tips will help you through some very tough situations with any child. Read on ...

parenting

Strict Parenting Can Produce Overweight Kids

Your parenting style affects your child's weight and whether she will be overweight by first grade, a new study found.

"Children of authoritarian parents had five times the risk of being overweight compared to children of authoritative [a more diplomatic style] mothers," said Dr. Kyung Rhee, a clinical instructor and research fellow at Boston University School of Medicine and the study's lead author. Read on ...

parenting

Resources for Families website update

I have just updated the Resources for Families Web pages

Helping with homework

Parenting

Family nutrition

And you can read the latest Resources for Families Ezine online

family, homework, nutrition, parenting