North Texas Kids

Teaching Kids to How Manage Time

How to Teach Kids to Manage Time

by Lorraine Brock

As many of my readers know I am a mom of three boys, and while my youngest is now 17, I am still helping him learn to manage and schedule his life. This process started years ago during his first grade year in elementary school. At that time the school’s PTA provided agendas (much like a paper day planner) for all the students. I truly believe this is an expense every PTA should provide for students throughout their elementary years. It was the first step in teaching our youngster the importance of planning and scheduling his studies and activities.

Home Safety Tips for Babies and Toddlers

September is Baby Safety Month: Use These Home Safety Tips

September is Baby Safety Month September is Baby Safety Month and is a good time to do a thorough walk through the home to ensure all rooms are baby-proofed and child-friendly so parents and caregivers can feel more at ease.

The Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) is urging parents and caregivers to check all window coverings for exposed or dangling cords that could pose a strangulation hazard to infants and young children. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), corded window coverings are one of the top five hidden hazards in American homes, with infants and young children dying each year from accidentally strangling in window cords. Many of these incidents involve older products that are still in use but don’t have the safety devices or designs instituted in the past decade. Follow these safety guidelines to maximize child safety and help to keep your kids safe in the home:

Using Martial Arts Tips to Concentrate Better on Studying

Six Mental Martial Arts Tips to Make Studying Easier (and Fun!)

By Edward G. Brown

It’s back to school time. After a summer of students letting their brain go where it wanted, when it wanted, now it’s time to focus on schoolwork again. It’s time to teach the brain how to “Focal Lock.” That’s just my term for avoiding distractions and interruptions in order to bear down on the subject on which you want to concentrate.

You probably saw the same news story I did about the study that found some students can’t concentrate on their homework for more than two minutes without distracting themselves by texting, emailing or turning to social media. Even when they were trying to concentrate. How discouraging is that?

Many seem to think students should be good at concentrating just because it’s important. But you can’t expect someone to be good at math, or soccer, or the piano just because you ordered it. However, there is a specific pathway for your brain to learn these skills. And these six tactics will help:

The Carpathian Assignment: A Twist on the Classic Dracula Story

Book Review: The Carpathian Assignment

by Lisa Henson

What do you think of when you think of Dracula? Bela Lugosi playing the part in black and white? The Bram Stoker story and its movie incarnation? George Hamilton and his eternal tan in Love Bites? We’ve all got our preconceived notions and longstanding associations with the name and the legend. The Carpathian Assignment by Chip Wagar takes the story and gives it a different twist.

Expressions of Gratitude Art Contest for Students in K-12

Students are invited to participate in the 10th annual Thanks-Giving Foundation Expressions of Gratitude Art Contest

Expressions of Gratitude inspires students to think creatively about being grateful in different aspects of their lives. It’s a chance for students and their teachers or school to win prize money and participate in an exciting competition! There are three categories: art, dance and essay.

Survey Shows 42% of Dads Leave Present Buying to Moms

Present-ential: 42% of Dads Leave All Children’s Present Buying to Moms

A survey by a leading coupon brand has revealed that Moms are the principle present buyer for children, with Dads taking a back seat when it comes to purchasing gifts for their kids. Findings show that the average American father ‘never’ buys his children a birthday or Christmas gift, leaving the duty to the Mom of the house.

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Rapunzel! Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale opens at DCT September 19

DCT opens season with wild and whimsical musical with an eco-friendly set

Dallas Children’s Theater begins its 2014-2015 season with Rapunzel! Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale (Sept. 19 – Oct 26), with a sensory friendly performance on Saturday, Oct 11. The scenery for this hilarious musical will be created using 90% recycled and repurposed materials. Enjoyed by ages 4 and up.