Three-time Oscar nominee and Grammy Award-winning composer Danny Elfman’s inspiring score for the live-action motion picture includes the original song “Ordinary Miracle,” sung by Grammy Award winner Sarah McLachlan. Eighteen songs make up the soundtrack for the motion picture that stars Dakota Fanning and the voices of Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, John Cleese, Robert Redford, Kathy Bates, Reba McEntire and Thomas Haden Church.
Thomas & Friends Steam Engine Stories DVD Set
Fans of this cheeky engine will adore this new DVD boxed set from 20th Century Home Entertainment and HIT Entertainment. The boxed set includes Track Stars, Come Ride the Rails and Tails from the Tracks. Percy, James, Harold, Gordon, Mavis and the rest of the gang join Sir Topham Hatt for one rail riding adventure after another! $29.98
Every Day is a Birthday CD Review
Since entering the children’s music arena, Brady Rymer has established himself as one of this country’s most exciting creators of rockin’ good music for kids and the whole family. His newest CD presents the award winning artist at his joyful best, with first-class vocals; layered guitar work and honest, unpretentious lyrics. BradyRymer.com.
THINGAMA-KID TODDLER TOONS DVD
THINGAMA-KID TODDLER TOONS Families are constantly on the go but that doesn’t mean fun can’t be had on the way! Thanks to these delightful CD/DVD combo disc series, engaging, wholesome music entertainment goes everywhere you go! Each animated DVD includeds colorfully ppping, playfully animated vignettes that will have ids singing and dancing along to their favorite toons in both English and Spanish. For details visit Thingamakid.com.
Taking the Fun Out of Play
Like a lot of youth sports parents I find myself trying to coach my child while we’re playing in the backyard. My son wants to play goalie when we play roller hockey. I want him to practice his stick handling skills. He wants to play soccer (a sport he does not play formally). I want to play basketball since he actually belongs to a league. He wants to play wiffle ball. I want him to let me pitch baseballs to him. I try to work on technique. He just wants to have fun. I get stressed out when he doesn’t want to listen. He gets upset when I won’t stop coaching.
Children need to play and it needs to be fun. If it’s not fun they will lose interest. Playing is important at any age. How many of us would play the recreational sports we do (golf, tennis, etc.) if every time we swung the club or racquet someone was correcting our technique?
When your child is not at practice let him/her dictate how to spend time playing (as long as it’s safe). I asked my son why he plays soccer at recess everyday since it’s a sport he does not play in a formal league? His response was, “Because it’s fun.” At recess there are no coaches, no parents, no officials and no pressure. Kids can make up the teams and the rules to make sure they have fun. The same should happen at home.
If you’re wondering why all of a sudden your child does not want to play basketball with you, think back to the last few times you were outside playing together. Did you spend more time coaching than just being a parent? Did you dictate what the two of you would play and how it should be played? If so, you may have taken the fun out of your child’s play.
Next time you go outside to play with your child, try to make an honest effort to let your child decide what you’ll play and what the rules will be. Don’t correct, explain or demonstrate unless you’re asked. You might be surprised how much fun you’ll have together!
Jon Buzby has over 20 years of experience teaching & coaching kids.
Jon Buzby
Busy Body Book
The Busy Body Book’s award winning grid system made it the favorite organizer of women nationwide less than a year after its launch. After reading this accolade, I had to see it for myself because I’m one of those busy moms who are absolutely dependent on a written calendar. When my husband asks me what I’m doing today, I answer in all honesty, “I don’t know. Let me check the calendar.” I’m also one of those people who are not at all interested in making the technological leap to the palm pilot. To me, palm pilot means writing myself a note on the palm of my left hand!
This book helps busy moms organize and coordinate everything from doctor appointments, school meetings and activities to their professional and personal commitments. The key to this spiral bound planner is the grid system. Family members’ names run across the top of each page while the days of the week run down the side. This system allows family members room to organize, review and coordinate their activities with other family members’ schedules. Conflicts are easily spotted because of the grid layout.
Other features worth mentioning:
-Unlike most planners, this one is a 16 month organizer.
-Plenty of room to keep lists or take notes next to each week’s dates eliminates the little pieces of paper that clutter up our lives!
-The back of the planner includes room for appointments and plans for the following year; something my planner system has yet to incorporate!
-Removable shopping lists on perforated pages let mom create grocery or gift lists.
-Deep pockets hold important papers, invitations or receipts.
-A special bookmark keeps mom on the right page at all times.
-Finally, it’s portable! It’s big enough to organize your family, but small enough to carry with you on trips, errands and to family activities. What a great way to teach your children the importance of organization and of respecting the family schedule as they begin to make plans for themselves!
Where can you find your very own? Amazon.com or busybodybook.com.