Children and activity involvement

I thought I would make a post about children's activity within the community or extra cirricular activities. The children I babysit for are VERY VERY active. I thought I would try and find out information about how much is too much for children?

The kids I babysit for are constantly busy. Both children attend piano lessons once a week, both children have two kinds of dance classes (Seth and Meagan have hip-hop) and Megan has ballet as well along with Sophie, they also and lastly have golf lessons that they take. I take both Seth and Megan on Tuesday/Thursdays.

I remember when I was young I took up piano, basketball, volleyball, and I even got into girl scouts. BUT, I took all these different things once for each year.

Along with being back in school, many children are returning to sports, clubs or other extracurricular activities. The trend for parents to get and keep their children involved in enriching activities seems to be growing and that’s great. Activities can give a child added self-confidence, discipline, social skills, and values along with whatever skills he or she is learning. But some experts warn that some parents can overdo it and get their children involved in too many activities. Children can suffer from burnout if they don’t have time to eat and rest properly, keep up with their studies, or have enough time to “just be a kid”.

Ella Enchanted

I think we should have watched the movie that was recently on abc family! Luckily, Meghan (the little girl I babysit for) wanted to watch the movie. She thought it was funny because my name is Mandy, just like the cook.

I thought I would make an entry because I am rather confused on what to think about with similarities and such:

Evil is clearly characterized in Ella Enchanted by Dame Olga, but goodness is a more murky issue. Mandy, Ella's fairy godmother should be a force for good. But unlike Cinderella's traditional fairy godmother, who appears with the answers to her godchild's difficulties, Mandy refuses to rescue Ella with her magic wand. She fears even a small alteration of natural events could have disastrous consequences. Lucinda, the other supernatural character, should be a dark force. But her curses stemmed from good intentions, not from anything sinister. Though she should be Ella's enemy because of the curse, it is her magic, not Mandy's, that creates Ella's pumpkin, its attendants, her crown, and jewels. Likewise, Prince Charmont's character is more shaded than Cinderella's charming Prince. Charmont is a dutiful, obedient prince and will be a good ruler like Cinderella's hero. But Ella's intended is capable of bad temper, taking revenge, and abusing his authority as Heir Apparent—all of which he nobly confesses.

Young Princesses Around the World

My little Meghan told me to read this. It was one of her first chapter books. Now I know why she is obsessed with me being a princess and is convinced that my boyfriend is my "prince charming" who will wisk me away!

The book is based on a true story of Elizabeth the I in England, which I find rather interesting! England is trying to teach her golden pony to jump over a stone wall, but no matter what she tries, he won't budge! after seeking advice from people in the kingdom, the princess finally asks her father; King Henry VIII for help. Of course, in the end.... he jumps!!!

I believe this is a wonderful children's story for girls who love the medevil times of young princesses. As I kept reading the book, I couldn't help myself but keep thinking of how my sister would have LOVED this book while she was young.

It also teaches young girls about Queen Elizabeth and Henry VII (even though this stuff really wasn't all true, OBVIOUSLY)

The Author of "The Stinky Cheese Man"

I couldn't help but didn't want to wait until the end of the year to talk about this. Jon Scieszka, is an amazing author. I can't help but still feel honored that I had the chance to meet him when I was in elementary school. His book "The Stinky Cheese Man" was by far my most favorite book all around. I had his book and he autographed it! I wish I could go back home to San Antonio and find it and bring it to our literature class when we finally discuss this book.

I wanted to research a little and find out why he wrote these books, here is what I found:

write books because I love to make kids laugh. I knew Lane Smith (illustrator of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs!, The Stinky Cheese Man and Squids Will Be Squids) would do a great job because we like a lot of the same cartoons and books and ideas. And we laugh at each other's bad jokes all of the time. Our audience is hardcore silly kids, and there are a lot of 'em out there! My motto in writing is: "Never underestimate the intelligence of your audience." Kids can be silly and smart!


I believe they are such great stories, just because its not like your "typical" fairy tale! :)

Veggie Tales

I thought I would do a little research on "Veggie Tales" Since it is such a huge hype right now with young children! Why is it so popular?!!

If it sounds too strange to be true, then you haven't seen Veggie Tales. Selling more than 25 million copies, this fresh franchise created for Christians has served up many crisp productions while keeping their promise of, "Sunday morning values, with Saturday morning fun."

The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown is a like a tossed salad of Silly Songs With Larry. a short musical interlude not originally intended to be a standard episodic feature, but has become one due to popular demand. Reminiscent of campfire sing-a-long fare, audiences everywhere can now count down the top ten tunes, thanks to an Internet survey conducted with their most faithful fans. Because this is a compilation effort, there isn't an overriding moral, although a mild reminder of the importance of honesty is included.

One critic reflects her view: "Veggie Tales dish up wholesome humor in an inoffensive manner for all who hold similar values. I've only found two negative side effects: The catchy jingles rattle around in your head, surfacing at the most embarrassing moments (like when you start singing the menu at a Chinese restaurant), and my children's sassy response when asked why they haven't finished their chores. Covering one eye they quip: We are the pirates that don't do anything. We just stay at home and lie around, and if you ask us to do anything... We'll just tell you... We don't do anything!"

Dogs going to Heaven

My children's dog died... and I thought I would show them this story to help them believe that all dogs DO go to heaven!!! It really helped and they were so surpised about the story!

Heaven

An old man and his dog were walking down this dirt road with fences on both sides, they came to a gate in the fence and looked in, it was nice grassy, woody areas, just what a 'huntin' dog and man would like, but, it had a sign saying 'no trespassing' so they walked on.

Next they came to a beautiful gate with a person in white robes standing there. "welcome to Heaven" he said. The old man was happy and started in with his dog following him. The gatekeeper stopped him. "Dogs aren't allowed, I'm sorry but he can't come with you."

"What kind of Heaven won't allow dogs? If He can't come in, then I will stay out with him. He's been my faithful companion all his life, I can't desert him now."

"Suit yourself, but I have to warn you, the Devil's on this road and he'll try to sweet talk you into his area, he'll promise you anything, but, the dog can't go there either. If you wont leave the dog, you'll spend Eternity on this road."

So the old man and dog went on.

They came to a rundown fence with a gap in it, no gate, just a hole. Another old man was inside. "'Scuse me Sir, my dog and I are getting mighty tired, mind if we come in and sit in the shade for awhile?"

"Of course, there's some cold water under that tree over there. Make yourselves comfortable"

"You're sure my dog can come in? The man down the road said dogs weren't allowed anywhere."

"Would you come in if you had to leave the dog?"

"No sir, that's why I didn't go to Heaven, he said the dog couldn't come in. We'll be spending Eternity on this road, and a glass of cold water and some shade would be mighty fine right about now. But, I won't come in if my buddy here cant come too, and that's final."
The man smiled a big smile and said "Welcome to Heaven."

"You mean this is Heaven? Dogs ARE allowed? How come that fellow down the road said they weren't?"

"That was the Devil and he gets all the people who are willing to give up a life long companion for a comfortable place to stay. They soon find out their mistake, but, then it's too late. The dogs come here, the fickle people stay there. GOD wouldn't allow dogs to be banned from Heaven. After all, HE created them to be man's companions in life, why would he separate them in death?"

Author Unknown

Book List

TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT PREVIOUS ENTRIES ON MY OLD BLOG: http://mandynicolemeyer.blogspot.com/

FIRST OFF: I have changed journals due to Blogger.com's insufficient information about using "Google." I want to express that it took me about a week to finally hear back a reply from the website manager team which did NOT answer my question. So, unfortunately, I had to start over with a new journal.

BOOK LIST:


Book List
Book 1:
"Oh, the Places You'll Go!"
by Dr. Seuss
Picture Book: Yes
Date Posted: 1/22/08


Book 2:
"Eat Your Peas, Louise!"
by Pegeen Show
Picture Book: Yes
Date Posted: 1/24/08

Book 3:
"Blubber"
by Judy Blume
Picture Book: No
Date Posted: 1/26/08

Book 4:
"Pollyanna"
by Eleanor Hodgman Porter
Picture Book: No
Date posted: 2/21/08

Book 5:
"Young Princesses Around the World"
by Joan Holub
Picture Book: No
Date Posted: 3/21/08


Book 6:
"Flight of the Genie"
Tony Abbot
Picture Book: No
Date posted: 4/15/08

Book 7:
"Jack & Jill and Big Dog Bill"
by Martha Weston
Picture book: Yes
Date posted: 4/17/08


Book 8:
"Catcher in the Rye"
by J. D. Salinger
Picture Book: No
Date Posted: 4/18/08

Book 9:
"Barbie-Q"
by Sandra Cisnero's
Picture book: No
Date posted: 4/22/08

Book 10:
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"
by Mark Twain
Picture book? No
Date Posted: 4/27/08