| Subcribe via RSS
The assumption is that this cool little clock design is made from a recyclable plastic since the merchant claims it is ‘eco-friendly’ but I have not verified. Regardless, it is a very clever design and will spare the landfill of a couple batteries.
With sustainable design and practical function in mind, this More »
Tags: 13-18 years, 3-5 years, 6-8 years, 9-12 years, kids room
We recently purchased a trundle for our oldest (4.5 yrs.) and middle (2.5 yrs.) children to complete the transition of our third into his nursery/bedroom. We quickly decided we wanted to get something that is going to be durable and safe enough to weather More »
Just when you least expect it, London gets invaded by Monster Vikings…
This game has been around since ’05 but with over 1.5 million plays it still has plenty of sticking power More »
Tags: 13-18 years, 3-5 years, 6-8 years, 9-12 years, family fun, games
They drive too fast. They take unnecessary risks. They are easily distracted. They are inexperienced, but we love them anyway. What can we do for teen drivers to be a positive force in their lives? What resources are available to teach these young drivers some important lessons about driving during their critical years on the road?
Statistics show that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for 16 to 19 year-olds with the accidents and fatalities statistics spiking at aged 18, accounting for 40 percent of all teen deaths. The Impact Teen Drivers Fund was created as a nonprofit awareness and education program to bring attention to teen driving behaviors and choices. The idea for the Impact campaign came about through a partnership that includes educators, the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, California Teachers Association and California Casualty, among others. They offer a plethora of helpful resources to parents and teachers, including downloadable posters, articles, DVDs and lesson plans.
Included in lesson packets is the accident probability wheel, which calculates More »
Tags: 13-18 years, educational
Perhaps it’s a rainy day or a snowy one, or maybe the kids have finished all their homework and they’ve built every puzzle in the house or they’re just driving you a little crazy and the usual tricks aren’t working. Enter Kongregate, a website with over eleven thousand free games to play.
I understand there’s a time and place for mindless drivel and let it be said, I am a huge proponent of limited screen time for kids and parents alike, be it television, game console or computer screen time. Whenever I try to talk about the redeeming qualities of video games and the likes of, it’s as if I am trying to argue the nutritional value of Twinkies.
Depending on the genre and the game, there is some value in some of them. Personally, I am drawn to builders, multi-players, strategy games and puzzle solvers. One could argue that these have a fair number of redeeming values assuming they are well designed and executed, sure some may think I am stretching here but I concur, it beats watching re-runs.
Many feel like “sketches” of games with placeholder art, stick figures and all, while others have a very impressive professional ‘gloss to them. But when you get down to game play many of them are quite fun, dare I say (a tad) addictive. With titles like Shopping Cart Hero, Fantastic Contraption, and Monsters’ Den there is plenty to explore. Set the egg timer (otherwise, you’ll lose track of time) and have a blast.
