October 29, 2008
Confucius say...
"If you plan for one year, plant rice. If you plan for ten years, plant trees. If you plan for one hundred years, educate children." -- Confucius (c. 551-479 BC), Chinese philosopher
October 28, 2008
October 24, 2008
Welcome new Pearls
Paul F. of NJ sponsored by Lisa S.
and CONGRATS to these Rocket Starters:
Level 3 $99 kit refunded to Nancy D
Level 2 2nd $50 coupon to Anita J
Level 1 $50 coupon to Sally D, Lisa G, Michele S, Debra D, Sarah D, Cheri C, Laura G, Teresa G
and CONGRATS to these Rocket Starters:
Level 3 $99 kit refunded to Nancy D
Level 2 2nd $50 coupon to Anita J
Level 1 $50 coupon to Sally D, Lisa G, Michele S, Debra D, Sarah D, Cheri C, Laura G, Teresa G
October 19, 2008
Letters, we get letters
Jillian asks: "What advice would you give me for raising our children to be responsible, respectful, be good with money, etc...anything to ensure my husband and I are raising decent citizens...Of course we want our kids to be happy - but more than that, we want them to be good, productive members of society...not the spoiled, lazy brats we all hear about on the news every night...we never want them to feel entitled."
Answer: You're right to ask this question while your children are young, for that's when it's easiest to have your advice be absorbed. Here are some of the things that we did when our son was young:
When we saw a homeless person, we explained to our child that some people have less and need help from others.
When we learned that our son's best friend at school lived in a shelter, we reached out to his mom and invited the child to dinner at a cool restaurant to expose him to a part of life he may not have otherwise seen. In this case, it was our child who had reached out first.
We were brought up to be responsible with money, so it was natural for us to teach that. There was a piggy bank to put small coins in. Monetary gifts still go into a "college fund," and every thank you note expresses that's what the gift will someday be spent on. We provide all he needs so that he can save his money from little jobs like dog walking, cat sitting, helping a graphic designer. Now he has a toy "vault" that he keeps his treasures in (great grandpa's medal from WWI, an ivory elephant from grandma's adventures in India, and his money). Periodically he brings us his accumulated savings, which we invest for him.
As our son matured, and began asking questions about money, the environment, the law, right and wrong, that sort of stuff, we were available to talk things through and explain, never infantilizing.
I guess my best advice is to be the kindest, most respectful, gracious parents you can be and your children will see you as their role models. It is apparent to us that our son grasped what we showed him and ran with it. After all, we are our children's first and most important teachers, don't you agree?
Answer: You're right to ask this question while your children are young, for that's when it's easiest to have your advice be absorbed. Here are some of the things that we did when our son was young:
When we saw a homeless person, we explained to our child that some people have less and need help from others.
When we learned that our son's best friend at school lived in a shelter, we reached out to his mom and invited the child to dinner at a cool restaurant to expose him to a part of life he may not have otherwise seen. In this case, it was our child who had reached out first.
We were brought up to be responsible with money, so it was natural for us to teach that. There was a piggy bank to put small coins in. Monetary gifts still go into a "college fund," and every thank you note expresses that's what the gift will someday be spent on. We provide all he needs so that he can save his money from little jobs like dog walking, cat sitting, helping a graphic designer. Now he has a toy "vault" that he keeps his treasures in (great grandpa's medal from WWI, an ivory elephant from grandma's adventures in India, and his money). Periodically he brings us his accumulated savings, which we invest for him.
As our son matured, and began asking questions about money, the environment, the law, right and wrong, that sort of stuff, we were available to talk things through and explain, never infantilizing.
I guess my best advice is to be the kindest, most respectful, gracious parents you can be and your children will see you as their role models. It is apparent to us that our son grasped what we showed him and ran with it. After all, we are our children's first and most important teachers, don't you agree?
October 18, 2008
From Russia with Love
"The soul is healed by being with children." --Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881), Russian novelist
October 13, 2008
Suze Orman to speak at Discovery Toys convention
Suze Orman is coming to Convention 2009!Suze has been called “a force in the world of personal finance” and a “one-woman financial advice powerhouse” by USA Today. AND, she is speaking at our Discovery Toys Convention in Denver!
Pearson Foundation President, Mark Nieker, says:
"Research shows that the ability to read is a key factor in a child's success in school and that the strongest indicator of future reading ability is the number of books children have at home. Statistics tell us that children in low-income communities have from no books at all to just three at home, versus 50 books in the households of their middle and high-income peers."
October 10, 2008
October 06, 2008
Loving a child
"Loving a child doesn't mean giving in to all his whims; to love him is to bring out the best in him, to teach him to love what is difficult."
-Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979) French musician & teacher
-Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979) French musician & teacher
October 05, 2008
Spoiling Children
"Never fear spoiling children by making them too happy. Happiness is the atmosphere in which all good affections grow."
-Thomas Bray (1656-1730), British clergyman & philanthropist
-Thomas Bray (1656-1730), British clergyman & philanthropist
Famous New Yorkers suggest these kids books
Caroline Kennedy
The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes by DuBose Heyward
Caddie Woodlawn, by Carol Ryrie Brink
The Search for Delicious, by Natalie Babbitt
Little Woman, by Louisa May Alcott
Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor
Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City
Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes
Charles Schumer, New York Senator
All the Kings Men, by Robert Penn Warren
The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
An American Tragedy, by Theodore Dreiser
A Farewell to Arms, by Ernest Hemingway
The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes by DuBose Heyward
Caddie Woodlawn, by Carol Ryrie Brink
The Search for Delicious, by Natalie Babbitt
Little Woman, by Louisa May Alcott
Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor
Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City
Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes
Charles Schumer, New York Senator
All the Kings Men, by Robert Penn Warren
The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
An American Tragedy, by Theodore Dreiser
A Farewell to Arms, by Ernest Hemingway
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