This is a book full of ideas to help lure your kids away from the enticing glow of television and into the world creativity and imagination. It's motivational and practical - a good resource for anyone who works with kids - parents, teachers, grandparents, homeschoolers, group leaders, and baby-sitters. Prefaced by a chapter of statistics and references to current thought on children and television viewing. 101 activities, supported with catchy graphics & easy instructions, are offered for kids varying in age up to preteens, by former television producer and teacher of Romper Room - the longest running children's TV show in the country - from 1953 to the late nineties. Today, television is the number one activity for both kids and adults. Studies show that children devote up to 42 hours per week viewing television (depending on what study you're willing to accept). A recent study by the Journal of Science, March 29, 2002, concludes that the more time kids spend watching television, the more likely they are to behave aggressively in future. "Kids would be better off if they watched LESS THAN one hour a day on average," said lead author Jeffrey Johnson of Columbia University.

From experienced therapist Ron Taffel--widely known for his popular parenting guides--this is a commonsense handbook for any mental health, education, or medical professional working with challenging kids and parents. Provided are concrete strategies for building rapport with stressed-out families, getting children and adolescents to talk about what really matters, spotting developmental and psychiatric problems before a crisis develops, and developing skills to strengthen kids' self-esteem and parents' effectiveness in setting limits. Illustrative case vignettes get to the heart of what is going wrong between youngsters and their parents and show how simple, concrete interventions can make a big difference. Also covered in depth are ways for professionals to handle their own emotional responses in highly charged situations.

Designed to specify what an exemplary school-age care (SAC) program would look like, this guide provides instructions for establishing a SAC program that provides a balance of educational, social, and recreational opportunities. The guide covers care for children from ages 3 to 14 and includes care of children with disabilities or special needs. Chapter 1 introduces school-age programs, describing whom they serve, how the day is organized in such programs, and what the benefits are of a quality SAC program. Chapter 2 describes working with school-age children, including their developmental stages and the needs of children under stress or with special needs. Chapter 3 discusses planning program activities, including ensuring the activities are developmentally appropriate. Chapter 4 discusses creating SAC environments, and includes choosing materials and equipment, and using the outdoors. Chapter 5 discusses managing the program, including setting program goals, and selecting, training, and evaluating staff. Chapter 6 discusses establishing partnerships with parents, school, and the community. The appendices include a list of developmental stages of school-age children, a staff orientation checklist, a staff training assessment and planning form, and a parents' program evaluation survey. (SW)

In this thoughtful, comprehensive guide you will find ideas for encouraging spiritual growth in young people by one of the most authoritative voices in youth ministry today.

From J.K. Rowling, a warm, fast-paced, funny fairy tale of a fearsome monster, thrilling adventure, and hope against all odds. Once upon a time there was a tiny kingdom called Cornucopia, as rich in happiness as it was in gold, and famous for its food. From the delicate cream cheeses of Kurdsburg to the Hopes-of-Heaven pastries of Chouxville, each was so delicious that people wept with joy as they ate them. But even in this happy kingdom, a monster lurks. Legend tells of a fearsome creature living far to the north in the Marshlands... the Ickabog. Some say it breathes fire, spits poison, and roars through the mist as it carries off wayward sheep and children alike. Some say it's just a myth... And when that myth takes on a life of its own, casting a shadow over the kingdom, two children - best friends Bert and Daisy - embark on a great adventure to untangle the truth and find out where the real monster lies, bringing hope and happiness to Cornucopia once more. Featuring full color illustrations by children from across the United States and Canada, this original fairy tale from one of the world's most celebrated storytellers will captivate readers of all ages.

To sort out who's who and what's what in the enchanting, vexing world of Barbies(R) and Ninja Turtles(R), Tinkertoys(R) and teddy bears, is to begin to see what's become of childhood in America. It is this changing world, and what it unveils about our values, that Gary Cross explores in Kids' Stuff, a revealing look into the meaning of American toys through this century. Early in the 1900s toys reflected parents' ideas about children and their futures. Erector sets introduced boys to a realm of business and technology, while baby dolls anticipated motherhood and building blocks honed the fine motor skills of the youngest children. Kids' Stuff chronicles the transformation that occurred as the interests and intentions of parents, children, and the toy industry gradually diverged--starting in the 1930s when toymakers, marketing playthings inspired by popular favorites like Shirley Temple and Buck Rogers, began to appeal directly to the young. TV advertising, blockbuster films like Star Wars(R), and Saturday morning cartoons exploited their youthful audience in new and audacious ways. Meanwhile, powerful social and economic forces were transforming the nature of play in American society. Cross offers a richly textured account of a culture in which erector sets and baby dolls are no longer alone in preparing children for the future, and in which the toys that now crowd the racks are as perplexing for parents as they are beguiling for little boys and girls. Whether we want our children to be high achievers in a competitive world or playful and free from the worries of adult life, the toy store confronts us with many choices. What does the endless array of action figures and fashion dolls mean? Are children--or parents--the dupes of the film, television, and toy industries, with their latest fads and fantasies? What does this say about our time, and what does it bode for our future? Tapping a vein of rich cultural history, Kids' Stuff exposes the serious business behind a century of playthings.

In a world where anything goes, parents become intimidated into inaction by what their children and others might think. This book will give parents courage to hold the line on tough issues with their teenagers. Topics include: Friends, dating, church, music, entertainment, school, money, and sports.

Greater Expectations is the book that exposed the low standards that children are confronted with in our homes, our schools, and throughout our culture. It exploded many of the misconceptions about children and how to raise them, including the cult of self-esteem, "child-centered" learning, and other overly indulgent practices that have been watering down the education and guidance that we are providing our young people. It disclosed how the self-centered ethic is damaging our youth. Greater Expectations started America talking about these issues and about how young people need to be provided with challenges and a sense of purpose if we want them to survive and thrive in life. Provocative and challenging, Greater Expectations was a wake-up call, a must-read for anyone concerned about the growing youth crisis in America and what we can do about it.