If you haven’t yet stumbled over “Timez Attack” then you are in for a treat. This is an computer adventure game that you will be happy your children are playing. Instead of the normal obstacles that most adventure games offer, “Timez Attack” requires players to answer questions to multiplication problems.

The game itself is a great tool for helping children with math. The fact that there is a free version to download helps out the parents. Although the free version is limited in how far it goes, it will still offer a strong foundation for learning multiplication tables.

The free version follows the green hero through levels of a dungeon where he takes on ogres. There are also snails to capture along the way that will help the child discover the answer to the multiplication table that he or she faces.

In the paid version of the game, there are multiple levels with robots, ogres and other creatures. The basic idea behind the game is carried through out both versions.

Not only is “Timez Attack” fun for the kids and easy on the pocket book, but the creators feel so strongly about the educational tool that they back it up with a full money back guarantee.

There is no excuse for trying out this great mathematical tool. Whether you are a homeschooling parent, a parent who wants to offer educational alternatives for the computer or even a grandparent who wants to give something with more meaning next Christmas, the “Timez Attack” game could be the perfect choice for you.

It should be no surprise that the government in California has ruled that parents have no right to educate their own children. Instead, all children between 7 and 18 must be educated by a certified teacher.

It is also no surprise that the teacher’s unions were thrilled with the ruling.

There are plenty of teachers that I have encountered over the years that I would trust to educate my children. There are also many more that I wouldn’t trust to watch my children much less teach them anything. As long as the bad teachers are protected there will be a problem with the education system and now the families in California have no remedy for that problem.

There is no perfect resolution as to who is best equipped to teach the children. There will always be some parents who choose homeschooling because they don’t want to have to do anything. There will also always be teachers who don’t know or don’t care about what they are teaching (at least as long as the government and unions are involved).

There is no easy answer to who should educate the children, but something has to be done. The educational level in America is going down hill quickly and the government seems determined to keep it that way.

Spring is the time of new life, and often the time that people end up getting pets for their children. Having the responsibility of a new pet is great, but don’t give your child more than they can handle – for their age or their temperament.

1. Fish – most people think of fish as a simple first pet. It doesn’t take much to keep the goldfish and there is no real walking or clean up, but this is a MYTH. Fish need lots care and special equipment. Even goldfish need a tank that will hold 20 gallons and that has a pump. Plus, fish that are taken care of properly will live a surprisingly long time.

2. Birds – just pass over these for your children. These are long term pets with some species living up to 70 years!

3. Hamsters and gerbils – these are probably some of the best first pets that you can get for your children. They take up a relatively small space, require minimum maintenance and they have short life spans (around three to five years).

4. Dogs – long term commitments (up to 20 years) with lots of maintenance.

5. Cats – long term commitments (up to 15 years) with lots of maintenance.

If you HAVE to get your child his or her first pet, then start with the child’s own age as a determining factor. How responsible is she about doing other chores around the house without being told. If she isn’t doing any chores, then start with that. After a full month of doing chores WITHOUT being reminded then you can start with a small pet (like a gerbil or a hamster).

What ever you do, don’t get a first pet on a whim. Research the animal AND the breed to determine if its needs will fit in well with your family.

Words have power especially on children which will sponge up all the information around them. If a child hears they are worthless it is likely they will grow up and accomplish nothing. When a child hears they can conquer the world then it is likely they will do just that.

To make sure you are filling the sponge in your home with strong building blocks for the future use these ideas:

1. Tell others about the child’s accomplishments. Stay focused on the good things that he does. Let the child hear your praises.

2. Compliment the child on a job well done. It doesn’t have to have been the best over everyone else as long as it is HER best. She needs and wants to hear that you are proud of her accomplishments – no matter how minor those accomplishments may appear.

3. Avoid words that condemn a child’s personality traits even if you are just playing around. Your child will remember what you said about him and may even start to repeat it about himself. If you want to play around then get out a board game.

4. Keep comparisons to the very minimum (or take them out of the equation completely). The only person that the child is competing against is himself. Remind him that he is getting better than last time.

5. Help her see her own potential. Tell her the things that you see she is good at or personal traits where she is strong (“You are so good at organizing your toys” or “You are very good at helping me watch your brother”). Finding encouragement in one place will help her stretch out in others.

Raising up a child to be successful requires building blocks of positive attitude and motivation. Speak words of encouragement to them and about them and your children will reach for the stars.

There is a huge fuss over whether or not Brittney Spears is a fit parent.  Too bad the scrutiny that she is receiving doesn’t happen with the majority of children.  I’m not taking her side.  I’m just saying that there are far worse situations that children face every day.  A bad parent isn’t the worse thing that a child can face.  If the parent is self-focused, self-absorbed, and selfish in all her ways, it doesn’t mean she doesn’t have the right to raise her kids.  If that was all it took then there would be hundreds of kids taken out of homes every day.

Bad parents don’t mean dangerous parents. 

There is a foster child that the government is threatening to send to his grandmother in Mexico because he needs to be “brought up in his own culture” (his dad is from Mexico).  The foster family wanted to adopt the boy (whom they have had for almost his entire life).  What’s even more disturbing is that the father (imprisoned for child molestation) will be living with the grandmother as well.

All children deserve a safe home.  Odds are pretty good that with as many people as surround the “stars” their kids will get protection.  Taking custody away from one bad parent and giving it to the other bad parent is only trauma for the children.  Besides, there is not law against being a “bad” parent; it’s the dangerous ones that we need to be concerned about.

Every child I have ever known loves to play in the dirt and it may be one of the best ways to engage your child in the educational process without him even knowing what hit him.  Planting a garden gives a child a first hand knowledge of science, math, and geography.  Gardening also gives a child a personal stake in the vegetables that are grown so he might be more likely to try what’s for dinner - especially if it’s his.

Starting a garden requires a basic knowledge of how things grow.  The child can research the plants that are best for his region and the time of year.  He can use science and math to pick the best location for the garden.  Geography can be used to lay out the garden (especially if you choose to do a space saving garden like a “square foot” garden.

Determining the location and the best plants is just the beginning.  Each plant requires a different planting method.  Each plant must be watered and weeded regularly.  Each plant must be watched for pests and diseases.  And finally, the harvest must be taken in.

Planting a garden gives a child the chance to grow things they might otherwise never try.  It lets him use hands on experience to learn about science and math and geography.  And more importantly, it will give you and your child time together that you might never had any other way.

Playing games is good for kids.  It increases their stamina.  It increases their skills.  Now some are saying that playing strategic games, like chess, will actually make kids smarter.  The problem that many of the researchers run into is that the smart kids are the ones that enjoy playing chess.  The question still seems to remain, are the smart kids the ones who like playing chess, or does playing chess make the kids smart?

It would make sense that chess would improve the intelligence of the players.  There is a lot that goes into playing the game.  Not only do you have to remember how each different piece works, but you have to keep up with where your opponent is and where they might go in the future.  It takes forethought and planning to survive a good game of chess.

There is also a lot of discipline to playing chess.  It is not a game that is over quickly.  It will take patience and endurance.  Both of these are great skills for kids of all ages to develop.

Chess is a fun (and quite) activity that every person should be able to participate in at one lever or another.  It may not make them smarter, but it is likely to help them understand that actions have consequences - even if it is just a game.

We are a home educating family.  This means that instead of sending the children off to others for most of the day, I teach them at home.  While waiting for them to get out of choir practice, one of the other mother’s in the group asked me how I could do it.  During our following discussion, she and the other public school moms talked about the long hours spent doing home work.

I was tickled that these women didn’t think they had it in them to homeschool their children.  Since they already spend almost three hours a night working on home work, they were already doing just that.  In fact, this is one of the reasons that so many people are turning to homeschool as an alternative.  They figure they are already putting in the hours.

The great thing about educating the children in my own home is that I can let them each learn in their own way.  My oldest son thrived with “Hooked On Phonics” and was reading by five.  My middle son just wasn’t that intrigued with reading.  Looking back now, I think he preferred to be read to by mom or dad because he got alone time that way.  Now he wants to read to us instead.

Each child learns in individual way, patterns, and timing.  Home educating gives the parent’s the flexibility and the time to work with them one on one.  Besides, if you are going to spend the time doing school work anyway, you might as well do the work you want to do in a way that your child will thrive.

Few people are born organizers.  Most have been taught by a parent, or someone else close to them, how to keep a house clean (for good or bad).  I was NOT taught how to clean.  Suffice it to say that I was a pack rat with enough clutter in my room (and in my life) that you couldn’t see the floor.  I had an excuse - really I did.  My mom worked and so she paid a housekeeper to do the laundry and the tidying up. 

My husband had a mother who was meticulous about cleaning.  He was use to the “woman of the house” keeping things right. We made a very interesting pair at first. We’ve both had to grow and give and change - but I would say that I had done the most (he would probably disagree).Over the last few years, I have learned how to clean and how to organize.  The best thing I have learned to do is let go of clutter. 

I’m doing everything in my power to teach my kids good habits for a clean and healthy home and life.  Do you love, will you use it, and can you find it a home are all things that my children are becoming intimately familiar with when it comes to toys or trinkets they want to bring into the home.  The good news is that it seems to be catching.  This morning, the 21 month old was picking up the floor and putting things in the garbage (fortunately the things belonged in the garbage).

The moral is that it is never to late or too early to de-clutter your life.

Birthdays around our house are a family affair.  For months before the big day, the kids discuss the theme for the party (mom and dad try to come up with creative ways to bring the theme to life for as little as possible).  Looking over the internet or through magazines can be a great source of inspiration, but the kids usually know exactly what direction they want to do.

So far, we have had a book party (held at the local library with books as the favors), a pirate party (where the kids went on a treasure hunt and made their own treasure chests), a Viking party (where they made shields and swords from card board), a Robin Hood party (this time mom did the craft with hand made felt “robin” hats), an Indian party (where a friend showed them how to play a native flute and they made spears and head bands), a safari party (where we put animal cut outs around the yard and they went on an “adventure”), and a 3-2-1 Penguins party (where they watched the latest release and mom made a replica of the spaceship for a cake).

Gift bags are a major no-no.  I hate finding all the little trinkets around our house after the boys have gone to a party.  Instead, we give them one nice thing or let them do a craft that they can take home.  We have yet to have a mother say “what, no little whistle and top?”

The best thing is that the kids enjoy preparing for their party (down to making their own invitations) as much as they enjoy the party.  They are also learning to stretch their imagination and a dollar.  I hope that we can continue our unique birthday tradition for years to come.

Christmas is creeping up on us, and now the big toys companies are having recalls by the dozens (or at least that is how it seems).  How are parents suppose to buy something that they can feel safe with their children using?  I think science toys and practical (wood working, crafts, etc) is the route that our family will take this year.

Since we live in a small home anyway, I usually try to find things that are going to be used up.  Experiments are a great source of entertainment, education, and excitement.  At certain ages, even sea monkeys are exciting for kids.  You remember those don’t you - the dried shrimp that you could put in water and watch “come to life.”  Children are fascinated by things like that.

Even my smallest child loves butterflies.  At only twenty months old, he will squeal with delight when he sees one flutter by the window.  I can only imagine his excitement when he watches them hatch from the cocoon. 

As for the older children, I will probably stick with home grown products this year.  It’s going to take more shopping and more creativity on my part, but I will sleep better if I know that the products they are using are safe.

More people are turning to work at home opportunities.  Some prefer the flexibility that a home business offers.  Others, like me, want to be home with the children.  Working at home with children is not just a job, it is truly and adventure (to quote another famous job opportunity) and is not something for the weak hearted (or weak stomach many days).

It’s even more interesting around our house.  The youngest child is not even two yet, but he can get into anything and everything (and usually does).  He is especially fond of pulling out everything from the pantry.  For a while, I duct taped all the cabinets shut.  He has since figured out what that silver stuff is and just how to make it work in his favor.   Most of my constructive work has to be done when he is sleeping.

The two older boys are eight and ten, but they are just as eager to get mom’s attention.  Usually they wait until I log onto the computer to ask if they can do some school work online.  With only one computer in the house (and a dial up connection to boot) we always had to find a way to coordinate our efforts.  This year, I broke down and bought a laptop.  Not only has it been great for the children, but I can carry it along and get a little work done while I’m waiting at their many practices.

The biggest struggle I find about working at home with children around is getting a quiet moment to do anything.  I’ve adjusted my own schedule, so the first thing in the morning and the last thing I do at night is spend some time working.  I also tend to get in a couple of hours during the baby’s nap time.

Working at home gives me the flexibility to work around my family.  The key is to still do the work I need to do, even though it may be stretched out over the entire day.  Now, If only I could find a way to get paid for all the additional hours I spend “working” I would be a wealthy woman.

Homeschooling is something we have done since our children were just barely old enough to talk.  As they got older, we were coming into our own in the school arena when I found out I was pregnant.  That makes a seven year difference between the middle child and the new baby.

Now, school is even more of an adventure.  Having a two year old is challenging enough.  Homeschooling two elementary school children at the same time you are entertaining a toddler is down right exhausting on some days.

The dining room table has always been home to school.  We started there again this year.  But baby brother had to be involved, and after the umpteenth time of dragging him off the table, I knew I was going to have to come up with a new plan. 

I spent the next weekend reorganizing the crafts and the school supplies.  Now I am able to put up baby gates in the two entrances to the family room.  The older boys can work in there.  I can work in the kitchen (in what we refer to as “the office”) and the baby has the run of the rest of the house.

It seems the key to homeschooling with such a wide age span is to make sure everyone has something to do that will keep them focused and entertained (or just lock out the nuisance and call it a day).

Potty training can take the fight out of the best parent.  It takes constant patience, attention, and a consistency known no where else in the galaxy.  I guess that’s one of the reasons that so many parents in “modern” society tend to put off potty training as long as possible.

I’ve read stories about how some societies complete the children potty training by six months old.  Any time before the child can say “I gotta go” seems awful early to me.  In our house, the child starts potty training only when he shows an interest in it.  Until that moment (and for some time after the initial interest) the diapers are more than welcome.  Disposable diapers probably contribute to my lax attitude.

The first child was a late bloomer.  I don’t think he was potty trained before he was three, but the truth is that as time passes I don’t really don’t remember everything thing that he did and when he did it.  I do remember that we used the pull-ups method and I do remember cleaning up some serious messes.

The second child was more interested – probably because he had seen big brother do it.  He was trained before he was two.  The pull-ups didn’t work well with him.  We went with training pants instead.  It went much quicker with these.

Now the third child is showing interest, only he isn’t doing ANYTHING like his brother’s did.  He wants to use the little potty – his brothers preferred the big potty.  He wants to go #1 and is quick to tell you – his brother’s took a bit of time figuring out this one.

The moral of the story is that every person – parent or child – will be different.  For successful potty training, you’ll need some time, lots of patience, and forgiveness (for when mistakes are made).  With a lot of consistency, potty training will be a breeze for the parent’s and the children.

It is never too early to learn about money.  Unlike my parents, and probably their parents before them, my husband and I talk about finances in front of and with our children.

There is a time and place for these discussions.  We don’t burden the children with the difficulties we have put ourselves in by borrowing more than we can pay.  What we are trying to do is to teach them as we learn so that they don’t make the mistakes we’ve made.

We started with allowance, and everyone gets one starting at age six.  It then progresses up by $.50 per year (mom and dad also get an allowance).  For this payment, there are certain things that are expected.  Each month, we pick chores to do for that month.  If these chores are completed, then payment is made.

From the allowance, ten percent goes to charity (or the church) so that the children start to understand the importance of giving back.  We also take out twenty percent for taxes.  This goes into a fund that we vote on how to spend.  I don’t want the children to get tax shocked when they get their first “real” paycheck.

Finally, the remaining money is divided between savings and can be spent. 

Even at the young ages of 10 and 8, our children are beginning to grasp the idea that debt is not something they ever desire and that working for what you want (and saving to get there) is worth the wait.

Being a new mother can be unnerving enough. Finding out you have given your child poison can leave you completely distraught. It’s not like there aren’t enough threats on your child already, but now the Chinese are attacking through the toys. What is a mom to do?

Recently, Mattel has recalled a large number of its toys for young children - the same children who are notorious for putting things in their mouths. The recall is on toys with the label “made in China” because of an excessive amount of lead in the paint on the products. Lead paint has been forbidden in the United States for decades.

Not too long ago, another Chinese product (this time pet food) was also recalled. The poison in this case resulted in pet deaths and serious illness. There was also a recent incident in the recall of fish imported from China. It this a trend that should be a concern, or is it just a coincidence?

It’s almost impossible to protect your child from everything, but moms still try. It’s disheartening when I company that you have known and trusted has a mistake this large and this potentially hazardous. In truth, there is very little a mom can do to ensure that products are always completely safe. Unfortunately, there has to be some leap of faith in the companies. It’s just too bad the company in this case has fallen short.

We had our third child seven years after our second child. When we got home with him, I realized I knew NOTHING. What was he suppose to eat and when? How long should he sleep? When should he nurse (or stop nursing). Somewhere in the last few years, my mind had gone blank.

Since I babysat most of my high school and college life, I was ready when the first baby came along. I didn’t worry about germs or what to feed the baby. I trusted my instinct. He even played in the dirt.

The second baby was just two years behind the first, and the pattern of trusting instincts continued. The two of them had fun finger painting the furniture (outside where they could be hosed off), playing in the rain, and eating most anything they were willing to try.

When the third baby popped into this world, it had been five years since I have been in contact with a diaper.

It dawned on me that many new moms turn to their own mothers or grandmothers for advice and help with a new baby. I know I did. But if I managed to forget most everything I knew in just a few years, how could these people remember what they did and didn’t do thirty or more years after the fact? The truth is that they couldn’t.

If you want to know something about babies, ask someone who is around babies. It is the mommy who has just finished dealing with a teething baby that is going to have the most hints and tips (and sympathy). Everything is changing so fast, the only way to know what is going on is to be in the middle of it.

Even then, the choices are personal for the most part. You can read three different books on the subject of raising babies and you will most likely get three different answers (even if it’s the same author). It is an imperfect science at best. Sometimes you have to ignore all the advice that is being thrown at you and trust your gut.

After a few panic attacks, I settled back in to being a new mom. I resisted the urge to pour through the older boys’ baby books to see what should happen and when. Partly because the books aren’t finished yet, but mostly because I know that they were both different, so this little guy will likely be different as well.

The advice is still coming - solicited or not - and some of it is still listened to. You never know where that perfect “home remedy” might come from – maybe some crazy lady in the grocery line told you to use frozen waffles to help with a teething baby. (That was me by the way) Maybe your mother remembers how sitting in the bathroom with a steaming shower helped sooth your cough when you were a baby. Listen, ingest, then form your own decision.

I’m going back to trusting my instincts when it comes to the new baby.