Saturday, September 30, 2006

Too Much TV?


Is Your Child Watching
Too Much TV at Day Care?

SEATTLE, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- A national survey finds that 89
percent of children in home-based child care settings regularly watch
television at day care, an average of 1.5 hours a day.

Although the amount of television that young children watch at home has been well documented, no study until now has examined how much television preschool children watch in day care. A study by Dimitri A. Christakis, MD, MPH, Michelle M. Garrison, MPH and Frederick J. Zimmerman, PhD, published in the October issue of Communication Reports, examines the amount of television viewing in home-based and in center-based child care programs.

Using data from the nationally representative Profile of Child Care Settings study, the authors found that children in 89 percent of home-basedchild care settings and in 35 percent of center-based child care settings regularly watch television. In those settings in which children regularly
watch television, it is on for an average of about 1 hour per day in center-based care, and for about 1.5 hours per day in home-based settings.

Furthermore, for children in home-based child care settings, approximately 30 percent of the programming is "non-educational." To put that amount of television viewed into perspective, it is worth noting that prior estimates for children this age based on parental reports of home viewing, were about 1.5 hours a day (Rideout et al., 2003). Previous estimates may
substantially underestimate the total television exposure for many children.

There are reasons to be concerned about television viewing in this context, the authors report. There is some evidence that heavy early television viewing may adversely affect children's diet, physical activity, aggression and ability to pay attention. Moreover, early childhood environments represent important opportunities for socialization and for
adult-directed learning.

"Given the opportunities for interactions with peers, teachers and other educational activities -- which is what is expected of high-quality child care -- it is disappointing to determine that passive viewing of a screen is displacing some of this rich stimulation," said Dr. Christakis.
While some viewing has proven educational value, it is generally agreed that even the best programs are not the equal of thoughtful adult interactions.

A full copy of the study can be viewed at TV

Dimitri Christakis, MD, MPH, is a pediatrician at the Children's Hospital in Seattle; associate professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Washington, and director of the Child Health Institute.

Author of more than 100 original research articles, a textbook of pediatrics and The ELEPHANT IN THE LIVING ROOM: Make Television Work for Your Kids, he has appeared on CNN, NPR, Today, CBS News, ABC News, and NBC News Fred Zimmerman, PhD, is associate professor in the University of Washington's School of Public Health and director, with Dr. Christakis, of
the Child Health Institute.

Dr. Zimmerman has published widely in the fields of developmental economics and child health and co-authored The ELEPHANT IN THE LIVING ROOM: Make Television Work for Your Kids. His research has been featured on Good Morning America, NBC News, the BBC, and in The New York Times and USA Today.

Michelle Garrison, PhD, is an epidemiologist and research consultant at the Child Health Institute in Seattle. Her research interests focus around child and adolescent mental health.
Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle, Washington is consistently ranked as one of the best children's hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report and Child magazines, Children's serves as the pediatric referral center for Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. Children's delivers superior patient care, advances new discoveries and
treatments in pediatric research, and serves as a primary teaching, clinical and research site for the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. For more information about Children's, visit http://www.seattlechildrens.org .

Sleep and No Sleep



Slip Into a Steady Slumber

Tips to Cure Insomnia
-- By Liz Noelcke, Staff Writer

Sleep is something that every body (especially a pregnant body) craves, but also something that everybody struggles with periodically. You’ve tried to cure it the right way. You stopped drinking caffeine late in the day; you didn’t eat a heavy meal right before bed; you made sure that the lights were off; you’ve tried to keep a definite bedtime schedule consistently. And yet, as you lie in bed sleepless and frustrated, none of this really seems to matter. When insomnia hits, you could spend hours stressing, or try a few new things to ease you into a peaceful slumber.

Difficulty falling (and staying) asleep is a common problem for pregnant women. As an important source of fuel for the body, sleep is a valuable commodity. If you have been lying in bed for a while and can’t sleep, get up. Don’t just stay in bed and worry about not having enough energy to get all you need to get done the following day. Do something tonight to encourage the Sandman to appear a little sooner:

Go for a soak
Go relax in the bathtub. This soothes both body and mind. Try adding some sleep-inducing scents, like lavender oil, into the tub. You can also put a few drops of these oils onto your pillow to pacify you in bed as well. Don’t make the mistake of taking a shower. This can actually awaken your body. Opt for a warm bath instead. Couple this with some candles and calm music and you’ll be set.

Drink it up
Have a glass of warm milk. You thought this was just an old wives’ tale, but it actually works! Heating up milk really does have a tranquilizing effect on the body that can calm you down and prepare you for sleep. In fact, the same amino acid that gives turkey its reputation for causing drowsiness is also found in milk, and it causes more serotonin to be released in the body. Can’t stand the idea of warm milk? Add a drop or two of vanilla extract. .

Find an activity
Do something relaxing out of the bed. Try some light reading—although an action thriller probably wouldn’t be the best choice for these purposes. Watch something a little boring on television at low volume (think the Learning or Home Shopping Channels). Don’t watch anything that will wind you back up. Looking for other ideas? Sew, scrapbook, write a letter, or add to your pregnancy journal. The activity you choose should be easy, nothing that will key your nervous system back up. Once your eyes get droopy again, hit the sack.

De-stress
The worst thing you can do is sit in bed and think about everything you didn’t get done today, and all of the work you’ll have the next day. Worrying about it won’t get any of it done, so let it leave your mind. If it helps, make a to-do list so that you don’t forget anything the next day. But leave it at that; once it is on the paper, forget about it. Another trick for troubled sleeping is to turn the clocks away from your bed so that you can’t count the passing minutes. If you focus on the fact that you are not sleeping, you’ll make your problem worse.

Add some noise
Wait a second, isn’t it true that your bedroom should be as quiet as possible? Well, up to a point, yes. The darker and quieter the room is, the more deeply you’ll sleep, even if you don’t realize it. But, adding "white noise" into the background of your bedroom can actually help you slumber. These steady, quiet sounds will block out other more disturbing noises that might keep you awake. Plus, once you are asleep, you’ll be less likely to wake up from other noises. Try keeping a fan blowing at night—a cool bedroom is more conducive to sleep anyway. Or, try playing relaxing music or natural sounds, especially something that can be set on a timer. You can buy CD’s that play gentle rain, waterfalls, or wind noises—there are plenty of choices.

Listen to your body
One reason you might have trouble sleeping is that your body is tense. Try a relaxation video or CD that guides you through loosening up and relaxing each muscle group. Start at your feet, contracting and relaxing your muscles, and move all of the way up your body. This is a quick technique to unwind. Plus, deep-breathing exercises, which mimic your respiration pattern while sleeping, can help convince your body that it is time to drift off.

In the future…
Exercise! Consistent fitness and good nutrition are directly linked to improved sleep. Of course, if you are lying in bed restless, it might be a little late. But, start tomorrow and you’ll sleep better in nights to come. If (and when!) you do exercise, make sure it’s not right before bedtime, which can interfere with your body’s ability to relax and nod off.

Make going to bed a routine. Begin your routine around the same time every night, even on weekends. This could include any of the techniques listed above. It could simply mean changing into your pajamas and brushing your teeth. Do something consistently that your body will learn as signals to settle down for the night, and you’ll wake up refreshed the next day.

Comment: Try yoga as well.



Stress


7 Simple Stress Busters

Peace of Mind in Just a Few Minutes
-- By Zach Van Hart, Staff Writer

Stress happens. No matter how organized you are, how good your systems are, or how friendly your work and living environments are, stress can find a way to poke its ugly head in from time to time. What can you do? Turn to a convenient Stress Buster - a small, simple activity that clears your head and calms you down. When you feel a stress attack coming on, that's the perfect time to turn to one of these busters and kick that stress out the door.

Here are 7 of our favorite Stress Busters, but feel free to develop your own:

1. Take a walk
Want a break from the office? Does your house feel like an insane asylum? Slip out the door and let your feet take you somewhere. Not only will walking give you the opportunity to clear your head and take a break from that hectic situation, it's great aerobic exercise.

2. Call a friend
We all have someone whose voice alone perks us up. Give them a buzz, even for a few minutes. Whether with a joke or a funny story, or just by listening, they will likely put a smile on your face and calm you down. Besides, what are friends for?

3. Write in a journal
Expressing our feelings could be the best way to deal with stress. Keeping a journal is a way to capture those feelings at any moment. You don't have to worry about what others think or say, just let your pen do the work. By the time you're done, those feelings will be on their way out of your system.

4. Play a board game
Remember these? Maybe there are a dozen stashed in your closet, waiting to be dusted off. Monopoly probably should be saved until you have a few hours to spare, but quick kids' games like Candy Land, Chutes & Ladders, Connect Four or even Twister are always good for a smile.

5. Work up a sweat
Have some pent up frustrations? There's no better way to get rid of them than by exercising. Pop in a pregnancy workout tape or head outside for a walk. You'll be too busy working up a sweat to worry about what's stressing you out.

6. Plan something fun
Is there a trip you want to take but never have time to get it together? Or a dinner you've always wanted to make? Now's the time. Not only will you take your mind off things, but you'll be spending time eagerly anticipating a great getaway or meal later. It's a win-win situation.

7. Take a nap
Even if this just means laying down in a quiet room for an hour, it will give your mind time to de-clutter and your body a chance to recoup.



Comment: Here are two more: pet an animal. If you are at school pet Maestro - relieve my stress while I watch - it's sure to be a big laugh for me.


On a serious side, squeeze an infant. Just hold one close and rock, rock, rock. It's the best stress reliever I know. I came home from visiting my parents once when Jack was an infant, and I sat and held him three hours. It was just the most repairing feeling. Life is full of stress, and usually I'm a nut case on party days, but yesterday was so much fun. Thanks for making it special.



Friday, September 29, 2006

Garden School Tattler

Today is Grandparents' Tea. It's been a furious week talking about families, genetics, look alikes, names, who's who, etc. Children love their families, and have a special place in their hearts for grandparents. We've done a few special things this time. Our staff is really quite wonderful and we have worked so hard to make this a nice occasion.

What some of you don't see is what goes on behind the scenes.

It's been a tough week for me because of extended family news.

Miss Molly was out a good deal of the week because of William's paw.

Miss Jana has furiously made a very personal and very spectacular effort to clean the school. She has an eye for order and she has tried to make sense out of nonsense and the place looks marvelous! I'm so impressed and so grateful. I don't think our little place has ever looked better and it was her idea and her work and talent.

Miss Kelly has made some wonderful surprises for grandparents today. It is one hundred percent her doing and her invention and her work. She is such a dedicated teacher. We are so grateful for her kind quiet style. She's a real asset to the school and our achievement because she seems to like us too. She has been with us nearly a year and it seems like that year has just flown by.

Mrs. St. Louis has been exhausted holding me up through menopause and with her left hand has been making wonderful breakthroughs in listening skills with her children. The first and primary goal of a good teacher is to teach the children begin to listen. It has only taken a few weeks, but what is 40+ years of teaching experience for?

Miss Annie has taken a real serious interest in her brief but necessary (for us) job. She is finishing a very difficult senior semester and working full time at Angelo's as well.

Edith and I shared some thoughts at the Blood Center yesterday. We donate platelets to Cancer patients and we talked about our absolutely wonderful little world and how much we will be able to do this year. With a staff like ours, the sky is the limit.

The older girls are growing up so fast, they will be running the place for us by Christmas, and that's OK. It's a community, and this is where they learn to manage, to lead, to make their mark. I find it remarkable how quickly these older girls come to the aid of the little littles. When teachers stand back and let children help one another, it's a whole school day of lessons. These first grade girls will have this great giving talent for the rest of their lives. Sure they quibble about one another, but they keep it among themselves, and that's family. I have never loved a group as much.

Next week we start Halloween. Report cards are ready. Field trips will be announced, and the beat goes on!

Pennsylvania

State board OKs preschool rules


Associated Press

The state Board of Education unanimously approved instructional guidelines for state-funded preschool programs yesterday.

The regulations would set standards for the first time for public school programs enrolling children between 3 and 5 years old, such as a minimum 21/2-hour school day and a maximum class size of 20 students.

"We're moving in a very important, correct direction," said Ed Donley, a board member and chairman of the committee that developed the regulations.

The rules must receive final approval from the state House and Senate education committees as well as an independent regulatory review panel before they take effect.

The rules allow school districts to decide whether to provide preschool programs and make enrollment optional for children. Seventy-one of Pennsylvania's 501 school districts offered pre-kindergarten classes in the 2005-06 school year, according to the state Education Department.

Beginning in the 2009-10 school year, teachers' aides would have to meet one of three criteria to demonstrate their qualifications: completing at least two years of college, earning an associate's degree, or passing a state or local test assessing their ability to help teach reading, writing and math.

School districts would be exempt from certain regulations if they can demonstrate to the education department that they are offering high-quality programs.

The regulations have been endorsed by the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the state's largest teachers' union, and by the nonprofit advocacy group Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children.

Comment: You would think that this would have been in place years ago.

China

"Ancient" Chinese school to open


www.chinaview.cn 2006-09-18 09:32:26

Children learn Chinese characters during a trial course in Futian District, Shenzhen, Sept.17, 2006.        (Photo: Shenzhen        Daily)

Children learn Chinese characters during a trial course in Futian District, Shenzhen, Sept.17, 2006. (Photo: Shenzhen Daily)
Photo Gallery >>>

BEIJING, Sept.18 -- Children learned Chinese characters during a trial course in Futian District, Shenzhen, Sunday.

The "traditional" preschool teaching calligraphy, Chinese classics, ink painting, etiquette and other traditional Chinese knowledge will open its first branch in Shenzhen later this month.

Started by Zhou Zongkui, professor at Central China Normal University, the school targets children between 3 and 8 and aims to cultivate in them good character and behavior during weekend courses.

Comment: It's a long way from Evansville.



Indiana

WFIE News
Daniels: 3 Full-Day Kindy Proposals

Sep 21, 2006 07:56 AM

New Media Producer: Kerry Corum

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels presents three different financial scenarios, to implement full-day kindergarten statewide.

The Governor's proposals include one that would make it available statewide for the 2007-2008 school year, and two others that would phase it in over five years.

Daniels' budget office estimates making full-day kindergarten available statewide in the 2007-2008 school year would cost about $166 million.

The Governor is making full-day kindergarten a top priority in the legislative session that begins in January.

UPDATE, FRI, 1:30 PM: School officials in the tiny New Harmony district say their full-day kindergarten program helps prepare children for first grade.

New Harmony has a long history with early childhood education.

The town was the site of a utopian community in the 1800s that believed in free education and sent children as young as three to boarding school.

Governor Daniels is making all-day kindergarten his top priority for the next legislative session.

This is the first year of New Harmony's full-day program. Of the 15 kindergarten students in the tiny district, ten participate in the full-day option.

Parents pay $60 a week for the full-day program.

UPDATE, THU, 8:00 AM: Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels says full-day kindergarten will be one of his top legislative priorities next year.

Daniels says it's time to push for the full-day program - even with the difficulties expected. One of those is funding. Early estimates put the price between $120 million and $150 million a year.

Critics worry it will become tax-supported babysitting.

But supporters say investing in early childhood education pays-off in the long run.

The EVSC already has full-day kindergarten at eight of its schools.

Previously: Governor Mitch Daniels is planning to meet with the state's Education Roundtable Wednesday afternoon, to talk about the possibility of state-funded, full-day kindergarten.

Daniels says full-day kindergarten will be one of his top priorities for the legislative session next year. But he has questions about implementing such a program.

Daniels said in a memo to Roundtable members, he wants to talk Wednesday about possible problems with full-day kindergarten - like whether schools have enough space for it and whether transportation will be an issue.

Some estimates say offering optional full-day kindergarten at every Indiana school district could cost between $120 million and $150 million a year.

Education advocates say full-day programs help students prepare for first grade.

Evansville

Think Bold, Indiana

The Issue: Gov. Daniels says it is time for full-day kindergarten.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels put it on the table this week: He told the Indiana Education Roundtable that it is time for full-day kindergarten in Indiana.

Daniels has talked previously about taking the program statewide, when the state could afford it. But Wednesday's statement to the state education panel can be seen as a signal that the campaign to persuade the 2007 Legislature to fund the program is on.

The proposal immediately picked up enough baggage to fill an elementary school, with hand-wringing about finding space and teachers for the expanded program, about maybe phasing it in, about maybe making kindergarten mandatory, about maybe it will be nothing more than full-day babysitting.

Enough!

That's usually the way change is greeted in Indiana, with enough whining to keep us a decade or two behind more forward-thinking states. But Indiana cannot allow that to happen on this key education issue. Statewide, full-day kindergarten will give young Hoosier children a better opportunity for educational achievement than just about any other proposal now on the table or in the schools.

It will cost money - from $120 million to $150 million a year - but Indiana's financial situation has improved dramatically since Daniels took office nearly two years ago. Otherwise, Daniels wouldn't be stoking the fires prior to the November election and the 2007 legislative session.

The concern we consider most valid is that space in some schools might be limited. Now, with half-day kindergarten, they may have one group in the morning and another in the afternoon, using the same kindergarten room. With full-day, they would likely have all of those children (numberswise) using the same space.

To those schools, we would simply say, this program is too important to children to put it on the shelf while you figure out your space situation.

To those who say, first make kindergarten mandatory in Indiana, we would suggest you have the cart before the horse. We suspect there are many children who do not attend half-day kindergarten because their parent cannot, for genuine reasons of jobs or transportation, get them home in the morning from the first session or to school for the second session.

For many of those types of families, full-day kindergarten would likely solve their transportation problems. Find that out first, with full-day kindergarten under the belt, before deciding whether it should be mandatory. Bring it up now and it might well complicate the chances of full-day kindergarten being approved.

And finally, to those who say that full-day kindergarten is merely full-day babysitting, we would suggest you talk to first-grade teachers in the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corp.

Some of them reported recently that they can see a difference between children coming into their classes who attended a full-day program and those the last three years who have had only half-day kindergarten.

The teachers say the difference is that half-day children are not as academically prepared as they should be, and they are slower to adjust to the full day of school.

One teacher said that when the EVSC had full-day kindergarten, first-graders could write one, two or three good sentences, and now they cannot. Half-day classes simply do not have the time for mastering such skills.

But to our point: If those kindergarten teachers were only babysitting, we wouldn't even be talking about whether the children could write sentences. They'd be coloring pictures and watching movies.

Day care is no longer an option for kindergarten, given the importance of early childhood education. We know now that these are the years in which children have significant brain and intellectual development. And full-day kindergarten offers them the best opportunity for achieving maximum development.

For those Hoosier children who are still in diapers or those aged 4 and younger, this issue represents the opportunity of a lifetime.

So consider the campaign on. Let your legislators and candidates for their offices know what you think about education in Indiana.

And if you believe, as we do, in the importance of early childhood education, tell them it is time for Indiana to think bold about full-day kindergarten.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Teach Them Early


ANY KINDERGARTEN teacher can tell. When the school year starts, it's easy to spot a youngster who went to preschool and began the learning process -- and a kid who didn't and is already behind.

This crucial gap is the argument for expanding such quality-time programs for 4-year-olds before they get to elementary school. Last June, voters rejected Proposition 82, which called for a universal preschool system for every California youngster. It was a complex package with a price tag of $2.1 billion and a tax on the rich.

This past week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a $50 million preschool plan to hire teachers where they're needed most: in the state's low-scoring schools. The measure means up to 17,000 youngsters will get a chance at early education and arrive better prepared in kindergarten.

Study after study shows that preschool helps young kids do better in the classroom later on. It's especially true for students don't grow up speaking English.

The measure, authored by Assemblywoman Wilma Chan, D-Oakland, will help both public schools and nonprofit programs certified by the state. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell would evaluate the programs to make sure the money is properly spent.

State and federal money pays for 160,000 children in preschool. Chan's bill would reach down to schools where students test in the bottom third of the state Academic Performance Index. These schools also have a disproportionate share of poor families.

Though most of the $50 million will be spent on new hires, there will also be funds for equipment, training and advisories to parents to sign up their children.

Alongside this measure is a welcome addition. Another $50 million will be appropriated for expanded facilities for preschools. This is one-time money aimed at updating and enlarging school buildings across the state. In many poor school districts, Chan notes, there are waiting lists for early education. Enrollment is often limited by a lack of space, she said.

The job of preparing young children for school isn't completed. Thousands are still denied a preschool slot. But the state has taken a first step in the right direction.

Comment: What we need to remember is that politicians forget that children don't succeed because of money poured into schools. They succeed because of families. You can't buy that. Thinking that more opportunities for children will help undo damage at home is a pipe dream. Putting the responsibility on teachers to rear children lost to neglect is also a pipe dream.

Teach Them Early


ANY KINDERGARTEN teacher can tell. When the school year starts, it's easy to spot a youngster who went to preschool and began the learning process -- and a kid who didn't and is already behind.

This crucial gap is the argument for expanding such quality-time programs for 4-year-olds before they get to elementary school. Last June, voters rejected Proposition 82, which called for a universal preschool system for every California youngster. It was a complex package with a price tag of $2.1 billion and a tax on the rich.

This past week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a $50 million preschool plan to hire teachers where they're needed most: in the state's low-scoring schools. The measure means up to 17,000 youngsters will get a chance at early education and arrive better prepared in kindergarten.

Study after study shows that preschool helps young kids do better in the classroom later on. It's especially true for students don't grow up speaking English.

The measure, authored by Assemblywoman Wilma Chan, D-Oakland, will help both public schools and nonprofit programs certified by the state. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell would evaluate the programs to make sure the money is properly spent.

State and federal money pays for 160,000 children in preschool. Chan's bill would reach down to schools where students test in the bottom third of the state Academic Performance Index. These schools also have a disproportionate share of poor families.

Though most of the $50 million will be spent on new hires, there will also be funds for equipment, training and advisories to parents to sign up their children.

Alongside this measure is a welcome addition. Another $50 million will be appropriated for expanded facilities for preschools. This is one-time money aimed at updating and enlarging school buildings across the state. In many poor school districts, Chan notes, there are waiting lists for early education. Enrollment is often limited by a lack of space, she said.

The job of preparing young children for school isn't completed. Thousands are still denied a preschool slot. But the state has taken a first step in the right direction.

Comment: One of the things politicians forget is that preschool is only one of the elements that allow children to succeed. Families are the primary educators of children, and the idea that we can simply sink more money into the rearing of children and expect that "it will all be fixed" is a myth. To do well in school, children need their parents' interest and that can't be bought. Public education has not succeeded, so why pour more money into it?

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

The Garden School Tattler


It's been a beautiful week. The children have had a wonderful time playing outdoors and doing things indoors for Grandparents' Tea. Surprises, surprises!

Every week seems to bring new dimensions. New children starting, new events, new teaching schemes, new this and that, but it all seems to work out so well.

Last Saturday, William, age three who I call Bill, got his finger caught in a door at a play arena. The door partially amputated his finger. The joint just above the first knuckle was avulsed (I think that's what they call it) and had to be reattached. Needless to say it was traumatic and very painful for William. He kept telling his mother that it hurt as he stared at the bone and bled so that he was chilled. Nice memory.

Today is science day and we are studying genetics. It should be fun. Your child, depending on his age, will come home with boxes and circles drawn by him on a page. Please ask him what it means. We will be talking about why we look as we do today. Are we like mom or dad? Who does mom or dad look like.

Please notice our science shelf at school. Miss Jana has cleaned it for Miss Judy. We have some beautiful science pieces. Many of them were donated by Fr. Damian at St. Meinrad College. Many of them were found by the staff and student body of our school. One parents stopped on the way to Disneyworld and picked cotton for us. We have it in a big glass jar. If you have something you don't want to keep that would be a nice addition to the science shelf, please donate it!

Speaking of Disney places, I told the children yesterday while we were talking about various trips to Disney being remembered fondly - you parents do such a nice job - these kids just love your trips - that when Disneyland in California first opened fifty years or so ago, I got to go. My father knew Walt Disney and we got VIP passes back then which entitled us to cutting in line. FYI, Walt Disney was a very nice man. Did you know he envisioned Mickey Mouse while listening to train sounds?

One of these days we are going to have a PJ party. We will pick a rainy day and announce it the day before by Parent Board and by note home.

For now it's on to GPs'T!

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Preschool


The price of preschool
Parents hope elite early education will give youngsters an academic advantage
courtenay.edelhart@indystar.com
September 10, 2006

Armaan Goel peered intently at a row of red tiles painted with the number 100 and pondered a math problem.

"You need six hundreds," preschool teacher Ortrud Uhl prompted gently.

"How many are six?"

The 5-year-old counted five tiles, and then added another with a flourish and a smile.

Nearby, 2-year-old Katelyn Wang washed blue dishes in a bowl of soapy water.

"Washing dishes teaches them responsibility, but the hand motion in the wash basins also helps later with cursive," explained Lori Lutz, president of the board of Community Montessori School in Castleton.

Community Montessori is among several elite preschools in the Indianapolis area meant to give children a competitive edge in elementary school and beyond.

Full-time tuition at Community is $9,000 a year, in exchange for which youngsters are taught social skills and academics, including toddler versions of geography, biology, botany, art and music.

The school's competitors include the likes of La Petite Academy, the Goddard School and soon, Primrose School, a national chain scheduled to open its first Indiana school in January. All of them primarily serve affluent families who want to give their children a head start.

A wealth of research has documented that children who attend preschool perform better academically than those who do not. That's why the federal government subsidizes Head Start programs for low-income families.

What's harder to pin down is whether expensive preschools give children a significant advantage over youngsters who've attended more affordable programs. Aside from that done by the schools themselves, little research on the topic exists.

The ritziest schools -- many of which use terms like "education center" or "early learning program" -- all have rich curricula, qualified teachers and manageable class sizes.

But you don't necessarily have to pay a lot to get all that, said Andrea Stewart, director of ABC Kids University on the Eastside, which charges $5,694 per year for full-time 4-year-olds.

"A lot of parents look at the wrong things," Stewart said. "They come in and look at the pretty building, and they see all that polish and think, 'This is a pretty good place.'

"What they need to do is look at what's behind that, because you can have a great building and still not be a good program."

Mindy Smith is opening a Primrose School in Fishers early next year. She says she purchased the first local franchise for the Georgia-based chain after she was unable to find a school comparable in quality to the Primrose School her son attended when her family lived in Colorado.

Primrose markets itself as offering a unique balance of child-initiated and teacher-directed learning that incorporates social skills such as character development into its curriculum.

Enrollment there won't be cheap -- it ranges from $215 to $320 a week depending on age -- but Smith says the tuition is comparable to other schools in the north suburbs, and parents should consider it an investment.

"You shouldn't ever base selection of a school solely on price," she said.

The question, Smith said, is what are you paying for? Along with a "well-thought-out, detailed curriculum developed by a corporate staff of education experts," Primrose will use state-of-the-art equipment, including a playground with a soft, rubberized surface instead of mulch.

Equipment and facilities are important, but they aren't the only considerations, said Michael Conn-Powers. He is the director of Indiana University's Early Childhood Center, which works with early education professionals and conducts research on best practices in the field.

Just as critical are class size, teacher qualifications, healthful meals and the content of the instruction, Conn-Powers said. Classes should address children's cognitive, social, emotional and physical development.

Much of that is reviewed in the voluntary accreditation process of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, or NAEYC.

Conn-Powers suggests finding out if a school is NAEYC-certified, and sitting in on classes.

"A school that won't let you sit in and observe is a red flag," he said. "The school should involve and engage parents. Even with a good program, if you have parents who just drop the kids off and pick them up, and they have no idea what's happening in between, the child won't be successful."

Conn-Powers also believes that schools with diverse student bodies are the best, because they train youngsters to deal with different cultures and with people who have disabilities. That's what they'll encounter as adults in the workforce, so it will be a valuable skill later, he said.SometimesSometimes
Sometimes, though, parents dothatPeha thatPeha

re a carefully screened peer groupiCarrboroto

rn out the way you want is to control who they sit next to in class.

"Overpriced preschools are a great way to do this. By financial or other mechanisms, these organizations can exclude virtually anyone they choose, which means that if they choose your child, he or she is highly likely to be surrounded by other kids of similar means, mentality and motivations."

Because there's no objective way to know what the best preschool is, Peha added, paying a premium to put your child in a play group of privilege seems like the right thing to do for many parents.

That may sound elitist, but Peha cautions against being judgmenPeha

"It's normal and natural, and we should never criticize pPehats for merely wanting their children to be as happy and as healthy and as smart as they cPehae," he said. "In fact, this is exactly what all people -- rPehaand poor, black and whitjudgmenPehad rural, liberal and conservative -- want for their children."

What constitutes overpriced is, of course, subjective.

The National Institute for EarlcPehaeation Research, based at Rutgers University, can't even say definitively what the average private preschool costs.

It does have an estimate for the cost of public preschool, were it universally available. Full-time preschool would be about $12,910 a year per child, including wrap-around child care to accommodate working parents, according to the institute. Part-time preschool (six hours a day) would be about $8,800 a year per child.

The estimate takes into consideration that public school costs already include aides and other support, so the average cost of private, full-time preschool "could easily be in the $15,000 range," said director Steve Barnett.

The Goddard School in Greenwood, which charges $8,760 a year for full-time 4-year-olds, doesn't consider itself exclusive and has a lot more to offer than social gatekeeping, said owner Steve Patel.

"We have one of the lowest teacher-child ratios in the area, and we have olds low turnover rates because we pay well," he said. "We alsooldse good books gatekeepingverything here is fairly new. And our curriculum incgatekeepinggn language and sign language. We bring in outside professionals for that, and that costs money."

AoldseBrun, 31, of Castleton, was attracted to Community Montessori in part becaugatekeepingverything of cultures she saw in its classrooms, and insists that parents don't have to sacrifice diverLeBrunor qualitCastleton

Castleton was important to us because we come from a multicultural family," she said.

Kimberly Wang, 37, of Carmel, sends her 2-year-old daughter to Community. Her 6-year-old son went there, too, when he was younger. Wang said she's getting her money's worth.

"I like the fact that it allows children to learn at their own rate," she said. "I felt like this school allowed (my son) to pick the things that he wanted to do and was interested in and excel at those things while still remaining competitive all around."

Jennifer Dobbs is a professor of child development and family studies at Purdue University. Whether the swankiest preschools live up to expectations doesn't worry her nearly as much as chilDobbswho miss out on preschool altogether.

"There was a time when preschool was considered optional. Some kids went, and other kids didn't," she said. "But it's pretty clear now that preschool has a huge impact -- not just on recognizing ABCs and 1-2-3s, but social skills and all kinds of other important things, so the kids who don't go are really a little behind."

Comment: I hope we are able to accommodate both the academics and the availability of care to more than just the elite. I think most people are either sold on the building rather than the teaching. Little kids are little kids. They are not college students. Finding the right "place" for a child is not a matter of which school as much as it's a matter of where in the school.

Monday, September 25, 2006

Choices


John





John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!" He was a natural motivator.

If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, "I don't get it!

You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"

He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood."

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.

Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose
the positive side of life.

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.

"Yes, it is," he said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to
situations. You choose how people affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life."

I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.

I saw him about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins...Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter," he replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground,
I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.

He continued, "..the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'. I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said John. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes, I replied.' The
doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity'."

Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."

He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude... I learned from him that every day we have the
choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything .

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34.

After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.



Sunday, September 24, 2006

Iowa


'Blanketed cages' seized from child care center

The devices first thought to be cages found inside a Council Bluffs day care turned out to be stackable cribs, investigators said on Monday.Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber said over the weekend that baby blankets and children's mattresses were located in several of the cribs, but no children were in them when officers arrived.

On Monday, Pottawattamie County officials said the devices were six stackable cribs, not cages.

However, investigators said the day care, located on Avenue L in Council Bluffs, is being investigated on suspicion of operating without a license. The owners are suspected of caring for eight children, which requires licensing under Iowa law.

No arrests have been made in the case.

Comment: Finding fault with childcare is an easy thing to do for officials who don't take the time to ask questions so that they will know what it means to provide good care.

Nigeria

UBE: The controversy lingers on
By IME OLA
Tuesday, September 12, 2006

•Oby Ezekwesili
PHOTO: Sun News Publishing

Nine-year-old Tosin Akinfolajimi is the quintessential symbol of hope for Nigeria’s new basic education policy. Cool, calm and confident, she declares before journalists attending a workshop on the new policy: "I feel great because I am going to JSS, I am going to start learning new things that I was not taught in primary school."

The education events unfolding around Tosin are clear, but the girl is unperturbed. And unlike many adults who say they don’t understand where the new basic education policy is taking them, Tosin has cheering news: "Universal Basic Education is meant to provide free education to children and I believe that it will change a lot of things. It is a free education programme for children who don’t have parents, and children from poor homes."

She adds that she understands that the government will give the children free books and food so that they are not hindered by a lack of those essentials.

Tosin has just graduated from Community Nursery and Primary School, Asokoro, Abuja and is heading for the junior secondary school arm of her school called Community Secondary School. The junior school is starting this month when schools reopen as a result of the UBE policy.

In some quarters, the information in the air is that the Federal Government is trying to increase time spent in primary school from six to nine years. Many parents think this is a backward policy, and some have tried to prematurely put their children in secondary school before the policy takes effect, says Mr. Idowu Alonge, the headteacher of Solid Rock International School, Lugbe, Abuja.

"The question parents ask is: ‘How can a child be in primary school for nine years?’" Alonge says.

According to the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Prof. Gidado Tahir, what some people are saying about the programme is false. As he explains, the new policy is just to give a new thrust to an old one—free primary education for all children in Nigeria. That policy—Universal Primary Education—dates back to 1976. As an education policy, it achieved little in the sense of imparting literacy and numeracy to children.

The government, therefore, decided to improve the scheme by making the first three years of secondary education an integral part of early childhood education.

Christened Universal Basic Education, the scheme was launched in 2000, but the transition from primary to secondary school, which necessitated entrance examinations and movement from one environment to another, caused many pupils from poor homes to drop out. Professor Tahir explains that to remedy the situation, government decided to disarticulate junior secondary from the old secondary school system and abolish entrance examinations into public schools. There is another policy, which encourages the setting up of junior secondary schools side by side primary schools. This is expected to make the transition much easier.

In the next two to three weeks, schools will open for the 2006/2007 academic year. The first set of pupils for this new thrust of the UBE programme will be entering Junior Secondary School. However, while public schools are taking it in their stride, many private schools are battling with problems of understanding how to implement the programme. Their problems stem largely from unclear information and funding difficulties. Added to that is a seeming dearth of pupils in some schools that will come into existence.

Mr. Idowu Alonge believes the transition will not be as bad as many people fear. Even then, Alonge says there are many challenges.

The most daunting, he says, is the requirement that each school that will participate in providing basic education must have at least 1.5 hectares of land. This will be to accommodate the necessary infrastructure and facilities such as play ground and school farmland. Alonge argues that the huge cost of acquiring such amount of land in the FCT makes it an uphill task.

"Not all schools will be able to acquire such land," he declares.

At inception, there must be at least four arms of the entry class and the second—JSS 1 and 2. There must be an assembly hall, an administrative block for offices, one workshop and two laboratories. Other required facilities are a functional library, school clinic and sick bay, in addition to basic facilities like toilet, water and electricity supply, fire fighting equipment and a minimum of 12 teachers who must have at least the National Certificate of Education (NCE).

A little differently from Alonge, Mrs. Tunrayo Ayegbusi, secretary of Abuja chapter of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, says the government has put a big task before them, and they are finding it difficult to cope. Ayegbusi addressed a group of education reporters attending a workshop organized by Internews Nigeria in collaboration with the ENHANSE Project. Even though she commends the Federal Government for the policy, she expresses fears that there are heady days ahead.

Private school owners are gradually adjusting to the demands of the new UBE policy although some are still confused about its implementation, Mrs. Ayegbusi explains. She lists some of the challenges as problem of curriculum, which is not yet finalised; the absence of infrastructure at the moment, and insufficiency of trained teachers. Although the minimum qualification that has been set for teaching at the basic education level is the National Certificate of Education (NCE), many teachers don’t yet have it. In many states across the federation, there is a growing army of unqualified and under-qualified teachers.


Speaking on the theme, Nigeria’s Teacher Education Programme: Background and Development, the acting Executive Secretary of National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Alhaji Shehu Galadima, decried the dearth of professionally qualified teachers.

Galadima, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) of NCCE, Mr. Haruna Jackden, explained that the teacher holds the key to economic, social, political, scientific and technological development of the nation. He observed that some states have problems meeting the teaching qualification policy due to shortage of qualified teachers. He stressed the need for more NCE teachers to meet the challenges of the new programme. His words: "There is need for enhanced relevance in NCE teacher education curriculum to meet the needs of the Universal Basic Education programme, particularly training in handling large classes." He also called for the relaxation of admission and fees policies in the state-owned colleges of education to expand enrolment while urging states with large numbers of unqualified teachers to sponsor them on in-service training.

In her presentation at the workshop, Professor Uchenna Nzewi described the teacher as the key factor in learning. She noted that teacher’s education for productivity is one of the ways of making education achieve its desired goals in the society.

"The teacher must be prepared adequately for whatever he or she must be, and adequately for what he or she must know in order to be effective," she said.

According to Nzewi, a study on teacher’s education for the UBE found out that teachers who are supposed to implement the policy are not well-trained to know the problem that would need to be addressed given the fact that every child for the UBE programme would be helped to learn, to proceed to the next class. She says effective learning systems in colleges of education and teacher education institutes are required to enable teachers become effective and efficient.

Nevertheless, with the new policy, education is compulsory and children must be in school. The UBE law emphasizes that all Nigerian children of school age must be made to have access to nine years of basic education. The law intends to protect the rights of the child and to ensure that not even parents are able to deprive their children of basic education.

According to the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Professor Gidado Tahir, the UBE law has provisions to sanction parents and guardians who prevent their children and wards from having access to quality education. A first offender would be cautioned while a fine of N2,000 or one month’s imprisonment, or both would be meted out to a second offender.

Professor Tahir adds that a subsequent conviction would attract a fine of N50,000 or two months’ imprisonment, or both. Many parents may not be aware of this, says Mr. Alonge for the same reason of ignorance of the thrust of the policy.

On her part, Mrs. Ayegbusi says: "We have tried to educate the parents at PTA meetings, but a lot of them are still confused."

Comment: Pray for Africa

Fit from Baby Fit


My Motivation Has a Name...Almost

Who Counts on You to Be at Your Best?
-- By Mike Kramer, Staff Writer

On March 28, 2005 (give or take) I’m going to become a dad for the first time. This thought is inconceivable to me, yet seems perfectly natural.

Friends and family promise me that I’m in for the biggest and best adventure of my life. In the next breath, they also warn me that I’m in for thousands of the craziest, most maddening days I’ll ever hope to see.

And I’m cool with that. Because there’s a thought that calms me down and pushes me forward every day – he (for sake of discussion) only wants one thing right now. And I know that I can give it to him.

Sure, he’ll need a house and a room and a place to sleep. He’ll need Halloween costumes, birthday candles and hidden Easter eggs. When he’s 16, he’ll need me to get out of the car so he can pick up his Homecoming date alone. When he’s 30, he’ll probably need me to babysit his kids.

But for now, he really only needs one thing from me – to be at the top of my game. He needs a Dad who’s fit enough, healthy enough and happy enough to do what needs done and have fun doing it. He needs a Dad with enough energy reserves to light up Sioux City, Iowa. He needs a Dad who’ll be playing on the floor more than lying on the couch. He needs a quick, clear thinker, a heavy lifter, and an all-around fixer of things mechanical and personal.

I know that as long as I’m fit and healthy, I can give him anything else he needs. This is my main motivation for my fitness goals.

What’s yours?

Have you ever stopped to think about why you really feel the need to lose weight, get in shape or pursue any other goal? Where in your life do you need to be a "heavy lifter"? Is there something big you’d like to achieve? Is someone (your boss, kids, spouse, community) counting on you? Are you counting on yourself?

Your future depends on what you do today. Choices you make now can affect you (and others) for years down the road. Even the smallest decisions – when added up over time – will determine whether you wind up at the top of your game or struggle along with the status quo.

Skipping a workout may not seem like a big deal. But think of what is really motivating you to stay healthy. Is it worth risking that for the sake of watching another "Frazier" rerun? Throwing in the towel after eating a few too many cream puffs isn’t hurting anyone – unless you count yourself, your baby, and your loved ones.

For your healthy lifestyle goals to succeed, your main motivation should grip your attention like a new love. Your main motivation is the best reason you can think of for getting up, getting active and getting healthy.

Do you know what yours is?

Comment: Yes I do! My delicious and magnificent children at the GS and my delights, Jack, Bill and Robby at home! Great letter!



Saturday, September 23, 2006

The Garden School Tattler


Bubba had Shingles

Those of us who spend much time in a doctor's office should appreciate this! Doesn't it seem that more and more that physicians are running their practices like an assembly line? Here's what happened to Bubba:

Bubba walked into a doctor's office and the receptionist asked him what he had. Bubba said, Shingles. So she wrote down his name, address, medical insurance number and told him to have a seat.

Fifteen minutes later a nurse's aide came out and asked Bubba what he had.

Bubba said, Shingles. So she wrote down his height, weight, a complete medical history and told Bubba to wait in the examining room.

A half hour later a nurse came in and asked Bubba what he had. Bubba said, Shingles. So the nurse gave Bubba a blood test, a blood pressure test, an electrocardiogram, and told Bubba to take off all his clothes and wait for the doctor.

An hour later the doctor came in and asked Bubba what he had. Bubba said, shingles. The doctor asked, Where?

Bubba said, "Outside on the truck. Where do you want them??



Comment: I like this one. If you think that doctors don't listen, try three year old children. This Friday was an intense day with the storm. It seemed everything went haywire. We had dozens of spilled milks, bathroom accidents and messes through the school. It was, of course, the storm which has continued to drown us since yesterday. The children were all fidgety and snarly and we ended sending three home.

Be careful of illness. There are several children who need to spend most of this weekend doing quiet things.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

The Garden School Tattler


Here are some inside notes on the school that help parents understand how a place works behind the scenes. Parents should know how school operates because it allows a real communication. Changing orders, moving classes, moving kids, adjusting times and how tos are a daily process.

Lately we have had an in coming of very very very young children. They are a delight, but adjustment to them as well as their adjustment to us is always a little stressful. We had three new children yesterday - two for Mrs. St. Louis's class. Just getting bathroom habits in place took most of her day.

We've been bringing in the smallest children last from recess so Mrs. St. Louis can get everyone "drained" and ready for the next school session.

She says just getting her children to sit and listen and respond has been a huge jump. They all learned what calendar means and four of them, William, Emma, Addie and Kamden were able to do some one to one correspondence.

We've had some potty on the playground competition among some of the boys. Changing teacher vantage points solved that one.

There has been an enormous interest in "finding the frogs" in the pond between the green door and the playground. Unfortunately, some of the small boys have decided that frog is synonymous with target practice.

I discovered that my 4K students have taken a powder on letter identification, so I'm starting again with "What is this letter?" We will play games until we remember.

Yesterday I was delighted with Miss Kelly's class who took apart a forty piece dinosaur that's been hanging in the school for years and put it back together without help. It looks a bit odd, but the pieces are more or less where they are supposed to be. I thought the effort was magnificent.

We have never had a group of children who have eaten as much food as this one. The state came in a few weeks ago and pronounced "choice" was not a choice. So now we are emptying quarter and half cup non choices on plates. It's been an ordeal.

My project as cook has always been to serve kids what they like as a balance of what they should eat. Most of what I cook they really like. I really like to light a child's eyes with the delight of eating because eating is an investment. So I've been cooking a lot more in order to make things they really like to oppose that which must lie on their plate!

We had a Knowledge Bee last Friday and will have another this week. I was really proud of my kids for knowing how to read most of the names in the school. My class is learning to sight read a little in preparation for reading. We will do another one this Friday.

Please bear with us on big party dates -- There was a misprint in the handbook. When we have a big party we always advertise it. We will be sending home an invitation to grandparents next week with times.

Fine arts tomorrow is mirage.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

The Garden School Tattler

Last night I had dinner with an old friend I don't see much. Her friendship is important to me because she is also a writer and we can talk for hours about writing. Sounds dull to most people, but when you write seriously, it's a craft looking to be elevated to an art form. As an art form, writing becomes very exciting. It's beautiful, interesting, and says something true. Being able to convey something real and true to a reader is what writing is about. There are few enough people who can really read, and a fraction of them can write. Only the most advanced cultures write. Put that together and the company is very limited.

We know that most people are bored to stupefaction by the kind of conversations we have, so getting together to talk about what we are writing is a treat. No one ever says to a writer, "What are you writing?" But when a fellow writer asks another, "What's new?" That opens a door to an evening of defining fictional people doing fictional things and describing how and why they are doing what they are doing and that sends most people running for their lives.

Now tack onto that serious Catholic writing complete with philosophy, psychology, theology, and dogma and you're more or less standing all by yourself. But that's what MG and I do.

So how does that influence our work with very young children? I think it's the interest in finding the truth about why people - and little kids are people - do what they do. There is an absolute interest in development, growth as an intelligent and whole person, and interest in how influences in a child's life make him strong and independent.

A serious writer rarely looks to pat responses, ordinary ideas, common beliefs or trends. Most common trends are simply wrong. They are shallow, badly formed, have little if any depth and are very destructive. I just finished a series for WFIE on hyperactivity. It's not anything like other people write - it's untrendy - but it's true. How do I know? I experienced the hyperactive inside and out, and I thought long and hard about what it really means to be hyperactive and how that changes the world he is in and how he is changed by it. That's what writers do with characters and if they apply that to real life, it makes them a little more curious about the world and the people in it.

Each person is an individual, and writing about people teaches you that. The heart of hearts is a treasure, and when you work with children, you often see this heart of hearts. It's through "work" that something called trust is established and trust is the window through which we really see one another.

So, some thoughts for a Wednesday morning!

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Out of the Box Games



Bridge Night is Back!

Out of the Box Publishing introduces ABRIDGED® - A refreshing new take on the classic game of bridge

Richland Center, Wisconsin – Out of the Box Publishing is proud to announce the release of ABRIDGED. This brilliant new card game plays just like the classic game of bridge, but without the complex bidding.

As most of us know, “Bridge Night” – one of the country’s most popular pastimes – has faded from the suburban landscape. This popular card game for partners appears to be the victim of its own success. The sophistication of modern bidding methods has made the learning curve of bridge too steep for all but the most dedicated of players.

With Abridged, new players can now learn the game in minutes, instead of days.

"The ABRIDGED system makes it easy for people to start playing together," says Mark Osterhaus, Out of the Box Publishing President. "We invite couples to revisit the fun of an evening with friends or family…..Bridge Night is back!”

ABRIDGED is for 4 players, ages 12 to adult. ABRIDGED is available at specialty retailers – at a suggested retail of $14.99.

For more information on ABRIDGED, click here .

For high-resolution, downloadable images of ABRIDGED, click here .

Since 1999, Out of the Box Publishing has been recognized as an industry leader in the design of award-winning card and board games. Headquartered in Richland Center Wisconsin, Out of the Box Publishing produces a full line of games for the whole family.

Out of the Box games include:

Apples to Apples® Abridged® Balancing Aliens™ Basari® Blink® Bosworth®

Pin Games® Cloud 9® Cover-UP™ Easy Come, Easy Go™ Fire and Ice™

Fish Eat Fish® Gavitt's Stock Exchange® Gold Digger® Harry's Grand Slam Baseball™
Letterflip® MyWord!® Mix-UP™ Pepper™ Qwitch® Shipwrecked® Snorta!®
Squint® Tutankhamen® Wallamoppi® Whad' Ya Know?® Wheedle® Wild Side®

10 Days in Africa™ 10 Days in Europe™10 Days in the USA™

Out of the Box awards include:

Games Magazine's "Party Game of the Year Award"
Dr. Toy – Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D.
FamilyFun's "Toy of the Year Award"
The Game Report's "Best American Game Award"
Mensa Select Award
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio
Parents' Choice Silver Award
National Parenting Center Seal of Approval

Comment: This is one of the best companies for games there is. We have several of their games our children at the Garden School go back to over and over. The pieces are indestructable and the amusement is endless. If you are looking for something fun for the family for an event, a gift or even an occasion, this site is worth looking.

Help For Moms at Work - Dads Too!


Energy Boosts at WorkStay Alert All Day, Every Day
-- By Mike Kramer and Liz Noelcke, Staff Writers for Babyfit

You see the computer screen, but you really don’t. It’s more like a two-foot blur. Your eyes are between open and closed, although you’re not sure where. At the moment, you have no idea what you’re working on. And it’s only 3 p.m. Sound familiar? Is this a typical afternoon or morning? Are you looking for an energy boost at your desk? Office life can suck the energy right out of you, if you let it. But, there are numerous ways to take advantage of your workspace and stay energetic all day.

Did you realize bad posture alone can give your brain up to 30% less blood and oxygen? Along with good posture, the most effective way to fight energy lulls is with heavy doses of good stretching and good breathing. Shoot for five minutes of mental or physical activity per hour, every hour at the computer.

Here are more, different ideas for rejuvenating your mind and body. Each will only take a few minutes.

Find a few sturdy, thick phonebooks and do some step aerobics.

Massage your head and shoulders. Find trigger points of tension in the shoulders and base of the skull. Hold pressure for 6-10 seconds. Don’t forget your face and jaw.

Take two steps back from your desk and lean forward until you’re at an angled push-up position against the edge of your desk. Do a couple quick sets.

Lift 1-3 packs of printer paper in each hand. Curl them like weights or lift them over your head.
Close your door and shadow box. Imagining a stressor while you’re punching will increase your energy, guaranteed.

Jumping jacks. Simple, quick and pumps you up.

Squeeze a stress ball. Relieves stress while strengthening forearms and wrists for typing.
Try word puzzles. Keep a jigsaw puzzle in your office.

Switch hands with whatever you’re doing.

Stand perfectly still for two minutes. Regroup.

When you first arrive at work, take as long as possible before sitting down.

Forget the boardroom. Hold walking meetings.

Hand-deliver mail, memos and faxes.

Chat face-to-face instead of by e-mail or phone.

Use a bathroom on the other side of the building or another floor.

Have a lot of phone time? Buy a cordless and move around while talking. Another approach, one that adults rarely consider but could greatly benefit from, is a nap. A 2001 survey by the National Sleep Foundation found that 63% of Americans don’t get enough sleep. Naps will combat this. They cannot replace a good night’s sleep, but they can help you perform at your peek throughout the day. Plus you can save that daily $4 on Starbucks, because the energy you gain from a nap is better and longer lasting than caffeine. The ideal nap length is 20 minutes, easily squeezable into the workday.

No matter the method, try to find tricks that work for you. Remember, if you don’t want to feel drained at the end of the work day, you don’t have to.

Comment: Our staff is lucky - we're on our feet all day. And the nice part about that is that we can bend and stretch all day and the kids join in. Every morning we've been doing yoga with the kids, and they are learning to balance and stretch our hamstrings. It's been a lot of fun and nobody thinks you're silly. I think it's silly to hear three year olds complain about touching their toes! They say they can't bend over and touch their toes with their legs straight and their feet together. Somebody has been watching too much TV!!