Black Friday Shopping Tips

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday is known as the day after Thanksgiving when stores do special sales and deals to lure in the customers. Back at a time when sales were hand-written, red was for when sales were in the negative, and black for when there was profit. The sales that happen the day after Thanksgiving are known for taking retailers out of the red and into the black!

If you’re wanting to shop Black Friday sales, here are some tips for you:

1. First and foremost, create a budget. Decide how much you have to spend, and stick to it. It’s easy to get carried away and go broke buying up all the deals.

2. Make a list. Check the sales and decide where you are going to shop, and what you are going to get. This will make getting in and out a lot easier for you. It’s a madhouse on BF, so the better prepared you are, the easier it will be on you.

3. Be aware of the times of promotions. Some doorbusters and early bird specials are only for a certain time period, so be aware of this.

4. Have at least one buddy. This is first and foremost for safety! Two heads are definitely better than one on Black Friday. If you can have more than one buddy, split up into pairs and tackle different stores. Grab items for each other and then divvy up the goodies later.

5. Use Coupons. Some stores have coupons that they put out in the papers, or ones you can print out online. For example, if you register your email at Kohl’s, they will send you a $5 off of a $5 purchase in your email. If you call 1-800 Shop CVS and register your card with an email address (first-timers) they will send you a $4/20 purchase.
Use Manufacturer Coupons as well. You can use the ones that come in the newspaper inserts, or printable ones online.

6. Know your store’s policies on returns and gift cards before you buy.

7. Know your stores’s policies on price-matching, price-guarantees, and/or “return and rebuy.”

Price-Matching – Some stores like Walmart are price-matching all competitor’s Black Friday sales. Be sure to have the ads with you for price-matching, and you must get it at the correct time of the promotion. If the promotion is from 7 am – 11 am, then the store will only price-match the deal during that time. The nice thing about price-matching is that you can get all your shopping done in one place. The bad thing about this is that Walmart will probably be the worst mad-house of all!

Return and Rebuy - Various stores will let you get your item a day or two before Black Friday, and return it to rebuy it for the sale price on Black Friday. This varies by store, so find out their policies on this.

Price-Guarantees - Select stores allow up to 30 days for you to bring in your receipt to receive the difference back if an item goes On Sale or less than what you bought it for. Find out if your stores will allow this for Black Friday sales. I’m pretty sure Target particpates in this, so be sure to check.

8. Get in and out quickly! The faster you are in and out, the more places you can stop at. Lines can take a while, so you don’t want to aimlessly wander around the store. Keep that list with you and get your items quickly.

9. Camp out early. If there is an awesome doorbuster deal that is sure to sell out, you’ll want to camp out early. Some people are waiting in line more than 24 hours before the sales start. I won’t be doing this, but have fun for those of you that will be!

10. Shop Online. A lot of retailers are known for having some of the Black Friday prices available online. If you don’t want to head out, you can give online shopping a shot!

11. Be safe!!! Take at least one buddy, ladies leave your purses at home, wear comfortable clothing, lock your car, park in well-lit areas, hide your packages in your car so that they aren’t visible, be sure no one follows you home, don’t wear expensive jewelry, don’t carry large amounts of cash, and please please please leave your kids at home with a spouse, relative, or baby-sitter. If you HAVE to take your kids, keep them very close. This really is not a good day to take your kids out with you, so please leave them at home if at all possible!

Giving the Gift of Giving

by Drs. Susan Davis and Nancy Eppler-Wolff

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So many of us are looking ahead and planning for the upcoming winter holiday season. Some words that come to mind are: family, hustle-bustle, crowds, department stores, parties, new toys, MONEY. This year, however, most of us have a lot less money than we used to. It’s stressful and worrisome but we have a choice to complain and be miserable or dig in and learn something new that strengthens us and makes us grow. So let’s use this moment in time to do the holidays differently this year. Let’s choose, ahead of time, a list of words for winter holidays 2009. OK here goes: children, family, closeness, love, conversation, slowing down, community, appreciation, giving. Just reciting those words out loud makes our hearts beat more slowly and we feel calmer, more in control. This year, let’s make a conscious decision to live according to our values rather than being swept up by the usual torrent of commercialism. Let’s turn the proverbial lemon into lemonade.

This time of economic difficulty is a perfect time to step out of the mindless pursuit of things and self-reflect on what’s important. As parents we know that it gives us great pleasure to give to our children. Seeing their faces light up when they receive that new Webkins or American Girl Doll they’ve been dreaming about, brings us joy. But what about teaching our children the joy of giving to others? That is truly an important gift because instead of being discarded after it’s lost its novelty, it is internalized by our children and leads them to be capable of empathy and compassion. These personality traits are really acquired skills that we can and MUST teach our children so that they can have the kind of relationships that bring them greater self esteem as they grow into older children and eventually adults.

In our book, Raising Children Who Soar (Teachers College Press, 2009), we look at the concept of risk-taking in new ways. We encourage parents to teach their children how to take the small and larger positive risks that are a part of day to day childhood and we explain how to do so. Examples of positive risks are leaving mommy at the day care door, or trying out for the school play even if these accomplishments are not sure-shots. Positive risks are different for different kids and at various stages of development. For an elementary school-aged child who is shy it could be asking a new friend for a play date. For a child with learning difficulties it could be raising a hand in class and asking the teacher to further explain a math concept. Parents need to teach children to step out of their comfort zones, try new and positive behavior, whether small failures, and have successes. This leads to healthy confidence and self-esteem.

Parents need to self-reflect on their own relationship to safety, security, success and failure. They also need to actively listen to their children – to the feelings, fears and dreams that are underlying their words and behavior. Not always so easy. However, the outcome of putting in the emotional attention reaps wonderful outcomes – children who “go for it” in life.

So what does this have to do with the holidays and giving? The answer is a lot! Children who can step out of their comfort zones learn to become independent thinkers and can tolerate having different opinions and even different values from others. Healthy risk-takers learn how to step into others shoes, empathize and compassion follows. And in this world where there are so many who are less fortunate than we are – people who are living in poverty, have life-threatening illness or are struggling in other ways — our hearts must go out to them.

Let’s teach our children compassion by example and by including them in acts of kindness. We can volunteer as families at a soup kitchen for a part of Thanksgiving Day. We can start a toy drive at our kids’ school and together bring the toys to the pediatric ward of a hospital. Let’s give our children the opportunity to step out, from time to time, of the comfy world of home and school and extend themselves to others. This holiday season we will reap the joy while teaching our children to become compassionate people. Not a bad way to turn lemons into lemonade!

Drs. Eppler-Wolff and Davis have learned the impor­tance of healthy emo­tional risk tak­ing through their clin­i­cal work with chil­dren and their fam­i­lies, and through the devel­op­ment of their men­tor­ing and lit­er­acy pro­grams. They teach par­ents and edu­ca­tors about healthy emo­tional risk tak­ing through their book, arti­cles, lec­tures and par­ent groups.

Toddler Development Milestones

Toddlers' physical milestones.

During the toddler years, your child will make huge strides physically, intellectually, and emotionally, whether it's learning to use the potty or how to make friends. Here's a look at what's to come.

Throwing and kicking a ball (12 months)
Soon after her first birthday, your child will show interest in ball play -- first by throwing, then by kicking at age 2 (catching comes around age 3 to 4). To help her along:

• For throwing, start by rolling a small soft ball back and forth between you, moving farther and farther apart with each pass. Soon, she'll want to throw it.
• For kicking, show her how to use her feet instead of hands to roll a ball back and forth between the two of you.
• For catching, have her roll it up a small incline to catch on the way down.

Pushing and pulling (12 to 18 months)
Once your child's a confident walker, he'll discover the joy of dragging or pushing toys along. And all the while he'll improve his coordination, since he'll be walking forward while occasionally looking back.

So offer him some pull or push toys to play with, or make your own by attaching a string to a toy car (make sure to supervise or limit the length of the cord to 12 inches to avoid a strangulation hazard).

Squatting (12 to 18 months)
Up to now, your baby has had to bend down to pick things up off the ground. But soon, she'll attempt to squat instead. To help her along:

• When she starts to stoop over for an object, show her how to bend her knees to squat.
• Let her practice. Line up a few small toys on the floor and have a "treasure hunt," where she has to go from one item to the next and pick them up - a perfect activity for cleanup time!

Climbing (12 to 24 months)
Toddlers climb up on the kitchen table (or your desk or the bed) for the obvious reason: Because it's there. Kids this age are trying to find a balance between risk and challenge. Of course, you know that the challenge of climbing up the bookcase isn't worth the risk, but the average toddler's ability to reason isn't in line with his physical prowess. Climbing is an important physical milestone, though. It'll help your child develop the coordination he needs to master skills like walking up steps. Ways you can help:

• Provide safe opportunities for climbing. Toss sofa cushions or pillows on a carpeted floor, or let him loose at a toddler-friendly playground.
• Anchor bookcases and other pieces of furniture to the wall, even if you think they're too heavy to topple. Clear shelves of things that could fall on him - or that could tempt him to climb.
• Limit access. Keep chair seats pushed under the table, and take a closer look at the stove: Could your child get to it by climbing up shelves or cabinets?
• Set up gates at the top and bottom of the stairs. It's the only way to keep your child from attempting that irresistible - but dangerous - ascent. To help your child learn to climb the stairs safely, practice together by taking him up and down while holding his hand.

Running (18 to 24 months)
Some kids seems to go from crawling to sprinting in two seconds flat. Others take more time. How come? Because kids fall a lot when learning to run, and some are just more willing to risk it. To encourage your child:

• Play tag where falling won't hurt too much, such as on a grassy lawn or a sandy beach.
• Chase your child - this is one time you can actually encourage him to run away from you! - and then switch and have him run after you.
• Try racing, especially if older kids are willing to play along.

Potty training (24 to 36 months)
Potty training is one of the milestones parents look forward to the most - no more diapers! But keep in mind that the age when kids are ready for it varies widely. Signs that it may be time:

• Your child peers down at her diapers, grabs them, or tries to pull them off when they're soiled; or she squats or crosses her legs when she needs to go. These actions show that she's mature enough to understand how her body works.
• She shows an interest in things that are potty-related - wanting to watch you go to the bathroom or talking about pee-pee or poo-poo.

If these apply to your child, and she can get on and off the toilet and pull her pants down, then give toilet training a shot. Help her associate the about-to-go sensation with using the potty. As soon as you notice the usual signs, give a quick prompt like "Let's use the potty" as you guide her toward it.

Jumping (24 to 36 months)
Between 2 and 3 years, toddlers learn how to jump off low structures, and eventually how to jump from a standing position. Both of these skills require bilateral coordination, or the ability to use both sides of your body to do something different. How you can help:

Go curb hopping. Holding your child's hand, stand next to her on a curb or a low step and say, "One, two, three, jump!" then jump down simultaneously.

Practice leapfrogging as a prelude to jumping from a standing position, which is more difficult than hopping off a step. Show your child how to get down into a half-squat position and throw her arms up while she hops. Gradually she'll figure out how to jump from a standstill.

Psychological and emotional milestones

Prereading (12 to 36 months)
Most toddlers love storytime. It's a chance to snuggle with Mom or Dad, gaze at colorful pictures, and hear interesting sounds. But it's more than just a cozy activity - your child is also learning the earliest of reading skills, including:

• How books work - we open them, the story is inside.
  
• We read from left to right.
  
• Books can tell a story.
  
• Stories have a beginning and an end.

To encourage your child's love of reading, try to:

• Read aloud.
  
• Let your baby play with his books so he gets familiar with them.
  
• Keep it brief. Little people have little attention spans, and ten minutes - even five minutes - is a long time.
  
• Ask questions. Have him find simple things, like the baby's eyes or the pretty flower. Your goal is to bring what's happening on the page into an interaction between the two of you.
• Follow your child's lead. If your tot grabs the book from you to explore it on his own, let him - just hold him on your lap and cuddle with him as he looks.

Gaining independence (18 to 36 months)
Most babies don't see themselves as entities separate from their parents, especially their mothers. This changes quickly sometime in the second year, when they become aware that they're individuals, and are more insistent on doing things on their own. Here's how to give your child room to grow:

Allow more time in your schedule for her to do things herself. If she wants to put on her own coat, shoes, etc., getting out of the house will take that much longer.

Include her in your chores. Let her hold the dustpan, or send her around with a rag to dust furniture legs.

Be patient. At first, letting your child use a fork or pull on his pants will drive you crazy. But let her try and don't step in.

Your toddler's growing independence comes with a stage that can, at times, be exasperating: She'll assert her independence by saying "no" all the time. Your impulse may be to show your child who's boss, but you'll have better luck if you:

Say yes to your little naysayer whenever you can - in other words, when it isn't unsafe, inconvenient, or unreasonable.

Be firm when necessary. When you have to get your way, do it as quickly, deliberately, and calmly as you can. Once you've physically put your toddler in her car seat, you can explain your reasoning in simple terms - you can tell her that it's dangerous to ride in a car without one.

Using simple sentences (18 to 24 months)
Ever since your child said his first coo, he's been working toward this moment: By combining gestures, isolated sounds, and words, he can now speak in simple two-word sentences. You're thrilled, and he's thrilled: Now you can have a conversation (of sorts)! Be patient, though - even though he knows certain words, he may not fully understand their meaning for a while. To encourage his talking:

• Don't finish your toddler's sentences for him; doing so will only add to his frustration.
• Remember that he'll still resort to crying when he's too tired, hungry, cranky, or overwhelmed to use words.
• Give your child lots of opportunities to speak, especially if there are older kids in the house, too.
• As your toddler becomes more verbal, make sure you model good speech rather than correct his pronunciation or his grammar. Children who are interrupted and corrected can feel like giving up.

Learning empathy (24 months)
At this age, toddlers may begin to make the first connections between their own feelings and behavior and those of other people. This is the foundation for interacting with others and building friendships. To help your child's developing empathy:

Don't try to fix it when he feels bad. Help your child learn to cope by identifying his emotions for him - whether he's sad because his favorite toy broke or someone else is crying - and reassure him that it's okay to feel the way he does.

Watch your own emotions. Don't be shy about telling your child when you're angry, sad, or disappointed - but make sure that you're not overreacting to the situation, which can make your child feel anxious or scared.

What to do if your toddler regresses

It can be disconcerting when a toddler appears to be regressing in some way. For instance, your chatterbox may suddenly do nothing but point and cry; your avid walker may reach up and demand to be carried. All of this is normal. Toddlers are developing so many skills they can become overwhelmed. What to do when your tot regresses:

• Acknowledge her feelings. If she can't tell you what's bugging her, see if she can show you.
• Rather than seeing it as good or bad, see it as a signal. When a child regresses, she's usually telling you that she needs comfort. Let her snuggle up with you, or read her a book. She'll likely behave like her normal self soon.

You might worry if your child is delayed in reaching a milestone. But some kids are simply late bloomers; some just master certain skills before others. However, if you're concerned, speak to your doctor.

Summary

A toddler is constantly learning how to do new things. Give yours loving support, and as often as possible provide a little freedom for him to strive for independence. And don't worry if he occasionally "unlearns" a skill - a little regression is just part of the process in the toddler years.

How tough love breeds smart children

Major new report shows mixture of warmth and discipline is best way to bring up youngsters

• The Observer, Sunday 8 November 2009

Children brought up by parents practising "tough love" are likely to become more rounded personalities with well-developed characters than those who face either a more authoritarian or laissez-faire approach, research reveals today.

The study, by the think tank Demos, tracked the lives of 9,000 families and found that 13% used a "tough love" approach, which combines warmth and discipline. It did not matter whether the parents were rich or poor – those that adopted the approach brought up children who were more likely to be empathetic, more able to control their emotions and bounce back from disappointment, and more capable of sticking with things, concentrating and completing tasks. The research found that it was the style of parenting, rather than income or social background, that developed the strength of character.

However, it did show that the style was most common in better-off families and where parents were married. The study also found that the parents' level of education had a positive impact on developing character, as did breast-feeding until six months.

It claimed that such "character capabilities" had become increasingly important in life. Skills such as empathy, self-regulation and application were 33 times more important in determining income for those who turned 30 in 2000 than for those 12 years older, it said.

Richard Reeves, director of Demos, argued that "tough love" was successful because it built up a child's self-esteem but also taught them to be restrained and respectful. "The 'tough' bit of the equation is about children realising 'we can't have exactly what we want immediately when we want it'," said Reeves. "And the recognition that there are other people in the world who you have to treat with a certain amount of respect. That is a crucial life skill, because no one wants to be married to or work with someone who is a selfish git."

The study concluded that 8% of parents adopted a "laissez-faire" approach, 10% – or 740,000 – were authoritarian, and another 8% – or 600,000 – were "disengaged". The rest did not fall into one of the categories. Girls were more likely to develop the skills by the age of five, it added.

Reeves said part of the parenting style was about not giving in to pester power. "Every parent knows that is a difficult thing to do. They know that standing up to pester power makes for an awful day, but it also makes for a better future," he said. "Kids are innately short-term: the process of raising a child well is partly about raising children to look beyond the next minute, the next hour, the next week."

Reeves argued that parenting in that way might be harder for people struggling financially who themselves find it hard to look beyond a day or a week.

He said politicians on the left and right had avoided talking about the issue of parenting styles, but it was crucial that they now did. "There is clearly a lot of anxiety about how to parent well – look at the television programmes and books about it," he added.

Angeline Brunel, a 31-year-old mother from Glasgow, admitted that she turned to friends, books and programmes for advice about bringing up her daughter Madeleine, who is now two. "Boy, did I have many misconceptions about what parenting means," said Brunel. "I thought she was going to listen to me, that I would never have to use things like the naughty corner." But Brunel and her partner, Thomas Dickson, soon realised that it would be harder than they had thought. She found that her daughter would run away from her in the supermarket, refused to go to bed until 10 at night, and would walk up to strangers and "babble away".

That was when she decided to take a slightly tougher approach like some of her friends. Brunel decided not to pick her daughter up every time she wanted her to, started putting her to bed earlier, "coming down to her level" to talk to her in a firm tone, and using the naughty corner.

"We started watching Supernanny and that woman – Jo Frost – she has the right idea," added Brunel. Brunel says she also tells her daughter every day that "I love her so much and she is a miracle," and calls her over for cuddle. "I have noticed a difference – she is calmer. And I do think it is to do with the parenting style."

However, Justine Roberts, co-founder of Mumsnet, pointed out that every family had individual circumstances. "Often within the same family, with exactly the same parenting style, you will have a child that is much more difficult than another child. We would be sceptical to any broad-brush solution."

Toilet Training

When—and how—should I start toilet training?

Karen Sokal-Gutierrez, M.D., M.P.H.
Pediatrics

'Mommy, Daddy—I went poopy in the potty!' Do you long to hear those precious words from your child? Some children and parents breeze effortlessly through toilet training while others experience more difficulty. When you think your child might be ready for toilet training, take a deep breath and muster up all the determination and patience you have to work on it for several months. And consider the following tips to help make toilet training easier for you and your child:

Know when your child is ready
Using the toilet is an important developmental step for your child. But your child's unique development and temperament will determine when she's ready and how she'll get through the process. To paraphrase a common saying, 'You can lead a child to the toilet, but you can't make him do it.'

Most children show signs they are physically and emotionally ready to use the toilet between 1 ½ and 3 years of age, although some may be ready earlier and some aren't ready until later. Girls are usually ready a little earlier than boys. Your child needs to have awareness and control of his urination and bowel movements, and needs to be willing to try using the potty. Look for these signs that your child is ready:

• His bowel movements are regular and predictable.

• Her diapers are dry for at least two hours during the day or dry after naps.

• His facial expression or posture indicates when he is ready to urinate or have a bowel movement.

• She seems uncomfortable in soiled diapers and fusses or asks to be changed.

• He can walk to the bathroom, help undress himself, and follow simple instructions.

• She asks to use the potty, toilet, or wear 'big girl' underwear.

Make sure the timing is right in other ways, too. Many parents favor toilet training in the summertime when children wear fewer clothes and it's easier to undress to use the toilet. It's also a good idea to plan toilet training when there are no other major changes in the family such as moving, the birth of a sibling, changes in childcare, a family vacation, or divorce.

Help your child learn to use the toilet

When you think your child is ready, cheerfully encourage this step to be a 'big boy' or 'big girl.' But don't pressure your child—let him know it's his decision and you're there to help. Ask his other caregivers (e.g., babysitters, relatives, childcare providers, and teachers) to follow the same approach. Be patient…you can expect the toilet training process to take from three-six months.

Be sure your child understands what you want her to do. Let her watch you, her older siblings, or her playmates go to the bathroom. It's helpful for mothers or sisters to show little girls, and fathers or brothers to show little boys what to do. Decide what words you'll use to describe your child's body parts, urine, and stool. It's best to use the correct terms (e.g., 'penis') or common terms (e.g., 'pee' and 'poop') to help avoid confusion. Show him that urine and stool go in the toilet, and let him help flush. Avoid describing them as 'dirty' or 'bad,' so there's no shame about going to the bathroom.

Go to the library or bookstore and get a children's book about toilet training to read together. Dress your child in loose pants that are easy to pull down and pull up, not overalls or shirts that snap at the crotch. Some parents find it easier to use pull-up diapers or training pants during this time.

Get a comfortable potty chair or use a toilet seat adapter and step stool. Some children fear falling into the toilet, and feel more comfortable on a low potty chair with their feet on the floor.

Introduce your child to the potty and allow her to sit on it with her clothes on a few times. Then encourage her to sit on the potty with her pants and diaper off. For boys, you can either start them urinating sitting on the potty or standing up. Have your child sit on the potty at the same time each day so it becomes routine. Try times when she regularly urinates or has a bowel movement, such as after breakfast and other meals, or after drinking; encourage her to try at other key times as well, such as before and after a nap, before her bath, and before bed. Try to catch her when you see signs that she needs to urinate or have a bowel movement. In all, ask her every couple of hours to sit on the potty.

Make the potty visits last at least a few minutes to give your child a chance to relax and go to the bathroom. Talk encouragingly or read a potty book, and let him leave when he's ready. Don't expect him to do anything right away, and don't show disappointment when he doesn't go. But when he does, reward him with praise and hugs. Other rewards and incentives can also be helpful. Some parents use a calendar and give one sticker for sitting on the potty, another for pee, and another for poop.

Some children learn to urinate in the toilet first, while others learn to have a bowel movement first. Over time, teach your child to do all the steps: walking to the bathroom, pulling down her pants and diaper, sitting on the potty or toilet, urinating and/or having a bowel movement, tearing off a little toilet paper, wiping her bottom from front to back (to prevent urinary and vaginal infections in girls), throwing the toilet paper in the toilet, pulling up her underwear and pants, flushing the toilet, and washing and drying her hands.

When your child consistently goes to the bathroom in the potty or toilet, celebrate by letting him choose some big kid underwear. For many children, the chance to wear underwear is a big motivation to use the toilet. Put him in underwear during the day and take him to the bathroom frequently. You should expect that he'll have occasional accidents, though, so be prepared with extra underwear, pants, diaper wipes, and plastic bags on-hand at child care and on outings. Although you may feel disappointed or exasperated by the accidents, it's best to keep a positive attitude—over time, your child will have fewer accidents and finally be toilet trained. Try to deal with accidents in an understanding and matter-of-fact manner, and don't punish your child for them. Tell your child, 'That's okay. Next time, try to let me know when you feel you have to go so you can do it in the toilet.'

For toileting difficulties, be patient and get help. While some children go from daytime toilet training to remaining dry during naps and nighttime shortly afterwards, many continue to need a diaper at night for another six months to a year or more. In fact, it's not uncommon for children to need a diaper at night until they're 6 years or older. Delayed bladder control tends to run in families, and often one or both parents had a history of bedwetting. Help your child not feel embarrassed about it, and try to prevent bedwetting by avoiding giving your child liquids in the evening and having your child urinate right before bedtime. If you're concerned about your child's bedwetting, talk to your pediatrician: it could be a sign of a urinary tract infection, diabetes, or emotional difficulties, and your pediatrician can help determine the cause and treatment.

Gift Bag for Mommies

The Body Shop Grab Bag

by Crystal Collins on November 11, 2009

in 2009 Holiday Gift Giving Guide, Mission Organic, Online Deals

This is a great deal, because The Body Shop has great natural products. Check this out:

This Beauty of Giving Grab Bag is only $15 right now, but comes with at least $50 worth of stuff (some have $75 worth of stuff). Use code WEL103 and you will get free shipping!

Here’s a quick description from the website:

Just in time for the holidays, The Body Shop is offering a grab bag of our fabulous assorted goodies at the amazing price of $15 a bag.

Each bag contains at least $50 worth of products (retail value) and some bags are worth over $75.

At a minimum each bag contains:

• 1 Full-size 6.7 oz Body Butter
• 1 Spa Wisdom™ Product
• 1 Mini Gift
• 1 Accessory
• 1 Makeup Item
• Some of the bags will contain additional surprise items.

If you bought two bags (which is the limit), you would get them for $30!

When you shop through ShopAtHome, you will get 10% cash back (that’s huge)! If you are new to ShopAtHome, you will also get a $5 sign up bonus (you receive it after you make your first purchase!). This would bring your total to $22 for two bags after rebates through ShopAtHome!

Thanks for the great deal She Saved!

Effective after school activities

When there are so many activities on offer, and each one looks as good as the next, how do you gauge the worth and effectiveness of these activities? Sure, you want an activity that junior enjoys. But, we really cannot afford to waste time on pleasure for pleasure's sake, do we? There needs to be a grain of gold somewhere in there.
Given below is a list of characteristics that any good after school activity must possess.

Clarity in objectives and goals is the first important thing. What does the course offer? How does it propose to achieve the results? How many kids make up a batch? Ask questions. After all, when you are dishing out the dough, you really need to understand what you are getting in return.

A good after school activity will provide lots of opportunities for the young to increase their level of understanding of complex concepts. This is true of recreational activities too. Learning to pitch a ball, or dance to a tune - regardless of the activity involved, the child should be encouraged to grapple with and conquer new concepts. This not only keeps boredom at bay by challenging the child, but also builds up his self-confidence. Development of academic, personal and social skills is
one of the prime aims of an after school activity. As the skills develop, the child's self-esteem also increases.

After school activities are all about boosting a child's sense of competence. Good and effective after school activities promotes the resilience of youth and encourages them to grow stronger, be it mentally, emotionally or physically.

Safety is one of the first requirements of an after school activity. The staff should be qualified, adequate and alert. Never put your child in a program where safety is a matter of accident instead of a matter of priority. The staff should be friendly and should have a positive relationship with the child. Therefore, the program should have professional and trained staff that loves to interact with children. The program should maintain a cooperative and supportive attitude and a structured environment. Participation and collaboration as opposed to competition and antagonism must be encouraged.

Some programs involve the children in planning activities and making decisions. Adults often forget to get the opinion of their children. By giving the children an opportunity to voice their opinion, programs become fun activities that children are motivated to participate in. Young people thrive when they are listened to, respected and allowed to contribute their mite.

Routine evaluations are an important part of after school programs. If the child does not benefit from a class, don't waste time being over-optimistic. Try something new.

You are now ready to look for the perfect after school activity for your child. But don't let us forget that having fun is also an important part of growing up. The child deserves a few hours of pure delight.