In an effort to gain an affordable evening with the family that can give you all the quality time you definitely deserve, I wanted to offer you two ideas outside of dinner with your family, that can help bring you all together. I have implemented these two activities within my own home and they have turned out to be quite a hit!

Board Game Night

An extremely simple idea that generates a lot of fun and friendly chatter. Board games are an extremely inexpensive alternative to going to a movie and you may already have some fun family favorites sitting within your hall closet.

Try to have a variety of games, at least two to three favorites. This allows your family to alternate each week what game to play. Simple inexpensive, games such as cards and dominoes are great ideas and an be played for hours.

Did You Know…? It will cost approximately $26.20 for a family of four to attend a movie, not including drinks or snacks. Over one month, your family could spend $104.80 attending one movie per week. Hasbro’s Monopoly board game is priced around $12.00, saving you $14.20 per week or $92.80 per month.

Family Book Club

There are many ways to spin the family book club depending on the age range of the children. Families with young adults can use the same book list with classics or another enjoyable genre. Families with children of various ages can create a book list specific for each age group.

Each month, pick a new book to read and then set aside one night per week to share in discussion. You will grow to love learning about the characters from family member’s views. For very young children just learning to read, maybe a reading circle is in order instead of a discussion group.

Gather your family around in a circle and parents can read aloud to their youngsters. One week include a book that your young reader can read to you. This is a wonderful building block for encouraging reading long term.

I encourage everyone to visit their local library for a great selection of books to read that most normally cost nothing to borrow to possibly a small nominal yearly fee. Now go and have a great family night!

Technorati Tags: cheap fun, affordable ideas, family time, games, reading, fun, board games, library, books

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Then there’s money. He needs money for this item or to purchase snacks when he is out skate boarding, but where is the money he had?

Budgeting money and tracking expenses sometimes are overwhelming tasks for adults, I can imagine what goes through my son’s mind when we are talking on the subject, or lack of what is going through his mind. He’s not tracking his money at all! He gets it, he spends it. No amount of talk on my side helps him to see that what you save now will be you reward later.

I am using the sliding economy, the loss of jobs nationally, and our own daily struggle as a tool for him to understand why planning smart and spending wisely are important now for a better tomorrow. As I look back on my own struggles as a young adult and when I began my family, I wish someone had helped me with money. Explained to me the resources that I had, what tools I could use to budget and track. I look back at my own money struggles and realize I was lost.

Why I am bringing up this topic now is a post I read on the Parenting Teens channel on About.com regarding the parent-child money tracking issue, or lack there of, and what is an alternative solution to helping parents keep a closer eye on their teens money. The alternate to cash in hand: debit cards.

Several points are valid within the post as to why a debit card is a good tracking option:

• No cash lost
• Account is viewable online
• Co-ownership (parent-teen)

My thoughts of added benefits are that a teen will:

• Learn responsibility
• Learn budgeting

The idea is strong and it a great opportunity for parent and teen to work together in teaching about money and finances. Of course there are concerns with allowing this type of access to money, but those same concerns are following loose cash that is floating around in your teens pockets: loss, stolen, lack of responsibility. With all things come pros and cons.

I am planning on taking the plunge and starting a fresh financial start with my son and his allowance by taking him to open up his first checking account - joint with mom of course. With this new opportunity, I see a few road bumps, but that is OK. This is new and a transition is to be expected. The benefit he will receive from this will be great!

Technorati Tags: teens and money, teens, money, debit cards, awareness

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Turing 13 is just one of a long list of milestones both parents and children will experience. Milestones like baby taking his first steps, the first tooth falling out, going to school, attending their first dance, all steps that lead up to a child turning 13 and a parent realizing they need to lock the doors and take away the car keys!
With all kidding aside, my son turning 13 was difficult due to my own feelings, but a step as a parent we must go through. Difficult because I know, more now than ever, he will change. From his body to his attitude, the child once inside this body, will soon become a man. Being scared won’t stop the transformation.

All the changes that will happen to his body I am fully aware of. He knows what will be happening as well. From discussing it with him, his dad talking to him, to the little bit he has learned from health education in class and watching “the movie” shown in schools today, he is about as prepared as any other 13 year old out there.

So, with change comes the quest for knowledge. I felt it only appropriate that I add a list of some of the changes that I am suppose to see and he will feel over this next glorious year. The list is courtesy of Greatschools.net:

• uncertain, unhappy, and sensitive
• withdrawn; spends a lot of time alone; needs privacy
• convinced that everyone else is watching and judging
• very concerned with body image
• self-esteem at a low ebb
• not sociable with adults
• friendships tend to be group-focused; more squabbling than a year ago

Wow! This list seems like the majority of what I have been going through for a few years now. Well, the list continues at Greatschools.net to hammer out a few things that beginning with age 13 will continue to change until age 16. At age 16, most adolescents have made the leap to young adult and will soon make their passage to adult hood.

I am sure these next few years will bring me the same anxiety I have felt these past few months. With drivers education right around the corner, a car, dating, then graduation… becoming an adult can be just as scary as becoming a teen, for both parent and child!

Please share in the discussion at our parenting forum!

Technorati Tags: children becoming teenagers

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Each week families celebrate each other by enjoying quality family time. Whether your family chooses to spend their time by having a family book club each week or creating a family meal where everyone chooses an item to prepare, your time is special and finding quality fun-time activities can be challenging quest.

One idea that can be both a fun time, as well as an educational experience is to play Around the World. There are no set rules for this game. Around the World is something just thought up to help children learn about other places in the world they may never get to experience in any other form.
Simple Layout
Using a map of the world or a globe, each person will take turns closing their eyes and then placing their finger on a point. Without removing their finger, have them open their eyes to see where they have landed. That landing point is where their exotic vacation has begun.

Once everyone has their vacation spots, have a family round table discussion about what each person thinks of their destination. What adventures wait them? Transportation they might use. People they might meet. Imagination is vital for this family adventure.

Find the Truth
Once the destination is chosen and the creation has begun, the education begins. Give each person a piece of paper and have each jot down their thoughts of their destination; all of the ideas that were just created. Once that has been done, have each person investigate and see what their destination is truly like.

Over the course of the following week, using encyclopedias, talking with teachers, reading about the destination on-line, using the local or school library, have each person find out about their destination. The exact location, what language do they speak, how remote or active is the community?

When your family gets back together the following week, have each person share their vacation spot, emphasizing on those things they truly found fascinating or maybe sharing with you they never want to visit due to how the culture might live. This is an experience for everyone to learn about the world we live in and places they might never see with their own eyes.

Well what are you waiting for? Get traveling!

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After picking him up and getting settled back into the car, my son proceeded to open his backpack, pulled out his binder and opened the front pocket to reveal a weird formed pen, a rubber band and some other paraphernalia. After looking at the contraption I casually asked what it was.

“It’s a pen gun. I learned how to make it on You Tube.”

He took out his contraption and began to show me how his “pen gun” was built and how it works. Thankfully when he began to show me it was in the “off” position, but to know that it can actually shoot small objects, like paper clips and thumb tacks, scared me to death. What was worse is that he learned it from an online website during an after-school program that obviously does not stimulate their minds in the way I thought.

Tons of questions were floating through my mind, but there in general: one) Why were they allowed to go online? two) Once online, why are they allowed to freely use the Internet?; and three) Where was the supervision? If the students were being supervised, my son should have never been allowed to make his contraption.

Now, I have played devil’s advocate on this and yes, it might have been a silly toy that a boy made. Sure, that is what boys do. What boys do not do is create contraptions that can cause harm to someone and in turn put his family at risk for issues pertaining to a child he might cause damage to. At his age, he doesn’t think through all of the consequences, but unfortunately, the parents of the child he might hurt won’t care that he is still young.

I guess what infuriates me the most is I know this program. It comes with high marks and my son has been going for as long as I can remember. I have never had issues, before now. I researched the program and staff, just like parents should when in search for a safe after-school alternative to home alone. This is one more thing I will now need to be aware of.

Parents: Take Notice

When you are in search of an after-school program for your child, regardless of age, of course do the normal check and balance, safety of the staff and location, etc, but also ask about the program structure being used and if the Internet will be allowed.

Many programs for older children lack a forms structure to follow, as I am now aware. The structure is important because it will guide the activities: homework time, outside time, art time, game time, and Internet time. When the Internet is in use, ask if certain sites are blocked and if not, make sure staff is present or just don’t allow your child use of the computer lab.

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Today her thoughts centered on a mermaid. Why? No clue, we haven’t watched anything that is even remotely close to merpeople or the ocean, but she literally woke up, woke me up and announced, “Masterpiece time mom.” And, that is exactly what it was.

With her tools of trade, chalk in one hand, and a brush in the other, she set off for the high seas of cement waiting to be transformed.

The face was created first, closely resembling mom, with green eyes and flowing brunette hair. Next she created the body. I wish I had the body of the beautiful mermaid being born in front of my home, but my wish didn’t come true. Her tail was shimmering in the sun with glittery blue chalk. Almost complete.

Chalk down and a casual walk into the garden and woods, creativeness was about to unfold. Rocks were sprinkled among the mermaids tail, giving the tail a shimmery speckle look. Flowers adorned her hair and the outline of the mermaids shirt. Tree limbs were used to place under the mermaid and along her sides to above her hair.

A swing. My daughter created a mermaid, swinging under water that took up the entire space of our driveway.

“Why is she swinging and not swimming?” I asked.

“Well, you can’t swim at the park mom. Let’s go!” My daughter replied.

There is a motive behind every creation. Her mermaid was her way of telling me it is time for us to go have fun!

Well, fall is either slowing creeping in or has already arrived at your home. Time to go enjoy the crisp air, fun slides, and the leaves changing color. Go enjoy the park with your kiddos!

Technorati Tags: children, kids, park, fun, imagination, creativeness

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• Restrict speed to 80 miles/hour or less
• Radio volume will shut off without seat belt use
• Chime for excessive speed at 45, 55, or 65 miles/hour

Each of these additional levels are placed more for the annoyance factor for young drivers. With either consistent chimes or no music, teens will pay attention to their driving in order to be free of noise and have their tunes. Definitely a positive addition for anyone to navigate the roadways in a safe manner.

Well parents of tweens and teens, what are your thoughts on the offer of a programmable key for new drivers?

As a parent of a tween, my two cents - it is a positive addition to safety and I would definitely look into the purchase of one of the Ford vehicles that offers this option. When this feature is available, 2010, my son will be old enough to begin driving and understanding my son and his attention factor, the annoyance of a set speed limit and constant belt belt reminder can only do him more good than harm.

Yes, kids will be annoyed at their parents choice to purchase a vehicle with these options, but safety is the priority, not the coolness factor. As long as the teen sticks to the set limits, there will be no annoyance… only smooth sailing.

What models will feature the programmed key? The article did not list models to offer this option, but with the intention of it to be used for teens, it will of course be included in the more family-, teen-friendly vehicles. A stab at the Ford models to include this - maybe the Ford Focus, Fusion, Escape, and the Edge.

I also checked out the Ford website for keyword MyKey, the programmable key program, and it returned no results. So, I guess we will see in 2009 when the models begin to roll into dealerships.

Technorati Tags: All Diva Media Network, Parenting Diva, Dannie McClain, parents, teens, drivers, Ford, MyKey

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A smart individual, my son seems bored out of effort. He can do the work - more than perfect, he just chooses to not do the work. He lacks a lot in the effort category and I need to nip this now. This is our third year of the “same old tune” talk and I’m frustrated, tired, and hate hearing it too! I sing praises to my son each morning about how he will do so wonderful in school this year, but apparently it isn’t hitting home with him.

Within two days, I had received five emails all from his teachers filling me in on missing assignments, lack of motivation, not listening or following instructions, and the list continues. My son is showing no signs of putting forth any effort to do the work he is assigned in class or for homework. Homework I am furious about, considering he has a ton of assignments with zeros, but I am continuously told by my sweet little guy, “I don’t have any homework tonight.”

UGH… I hate that remark. It has been banned from our home!

I understand school can be boring. I also know that it can be very easy to hate school. I was in school once. Bullies, not understanding, peer pressure - are all things that directly reflect how one looks at and conducts themselves in school. Regardless of the hate felt for school, I have explained to him that he still has to attend school, do the schoolwork, and put forth some effort to obtain better grades.

One month into school, I am in plan mode! I am working with my son’s teachers to help with organization in class and at home; giving my son a guided work study hour in school to better prepare him for work being done, and working with him on remembering to use his PLANNER! A planner is a great organization tool, that yes, I need to learn to use better too!

So, we are on the path to a successful school year, even with the bumpy first month start. There are always kinks to work out, so this month showed us our kinks, now we are ironing them out so that was can have a wrinkle-free year!

Technorati Tags: All Diva Media Network, Parenting Diva, Dannie McClain, school, kids, grades, techniques, organization, homework, effort, motivation

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Unfortunately, I have not been with Parenting Diva from conception, but I am fortunate to have seen her grow through reading posts, leaving comments, and recently being hired to write for Parenting Diva. What a great reward to be able to share this wondrous event with both DJ Nelson, owner of All Diva Media Network, Laurel LaFone, co-writer of the Parenting Diva.

Parenting Diva is not a gooey, sweet parenting blog. Here we give you the real lives of two moms making it through the bustling, fast world, raising their young family, and giving readers the real, honest style of what life can bring.

That is why I love the All Diva Media Network. As a reader, and writer, ADM is an honest and straight forward network of blogs that will cover various aspects of life for women. No censoring real life. Even before becoming a writer, I could come here, be a woman and a mom, and speak openly without feeling the backlash of what can come from on-line communities.

These last few months have been great and extremely rewarding. I have been given an opportunity to share in the growth of this great blog and network, but to also share with readers about life and the ins and outs you can sometimes expect with hectic kids and family.

I definitely want to be around for our 2nd birthday. Can you imagine? With the growth the ADM Network has experienced with the pat year and more, just imagine what the next 12 months will bring!

Hey? You’re going to stick around for cake and ice cream, right?

Technorati Tags: All Diva Media Network, Parenting Diva, Dannie McClain, birthday, blog, anniversary, fun

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