Movie Night

This past weekend we decided to put a large movie screen outside on the patio and have "movie night" at our home. Footloose is currently being preformed as a musical in our area so we thought this might be a good movie for the kids so they would enjoy going to the play next month. The rating on the box said "PG" but this was before "PG" & "PG-13" ratings were used. I remember seeing Footloose when I was growing up....but I don't remember how inappropriate this movie is for young children. This was not a movie for kids!!! There was bad language, poor ideas, and inappropriate scenes. What disturbed me the most were two scenes where "Ariel", the main character in the film, decides to stand up between two moving cars as a semi-truck barrels down on her. At the very last minute she jumps into her boyfriend’s truck and leaves her friends spinning out into the dust to save their lives. If that wasn't bad enough, later in the film she stands in front of an oncoming train. At the last moment, the boy pushes her out of the way and everyone lives happily ever after. The film glorified these dangerous actions and made them seem appealing and fun to young eyes.

These dangerous scenes were especially appalling to me because our family had just watched clip about the dangers of texting and driving. Although this was a graphic movie, it was a powerful tool that provided many learning opportunities for our family. We discussed ways to stay safe in a car, things they could do to help parents stay focused on the road, and ways to let the driver know when they are doing something that is risking their life.

So this weekend I learned a few things. Before renting a movie learn more about it. A website called http://www.kidsinmind.com/ is a great resource for parents. You can learn what words are said, what type of nudity and how much, and if there is violence in the film. It really gets specific on the content of the movie. Such a great site!

The next thing I learned is that there are TV filters available such as the TVGaurdian or the TVDefender. These systems tie into your TV and mute inappropriate words or scenes. Has anyone ever used this type of filter? Does anyone have suggestions for this type of device. Does it work? Which system do you like?

So the search is on for our next film for movie night. I will definitely be doing more research before our next event. Any suggestions on movies your family loves?

Most parents underestimate their children's abilities to help in the home. It can be easy to forget that a child who has mastered a complicated computer game can easily manage using the dishwasher! Understanding a child's stage of development and choosing age appropriate jobs can help the entire family work together and maximize resources. It is recommended that parents review chapter three in the Accountable Kids book to determine the child's developmental stage before implementing these suggestions. Leaning and completing these chores can develop motivation, work ethic, life skills, and confidence during critical windows of development. Small children are capable of completing one or two simple extra jobs but as children get older, and more capable, they can handle a larger quantity of jobs, as well as those that are more complex. Ages 2 to 3: Help make bed, pick up toys, help feed pets, put clothes in hamper, wipe up messes, dust, mop small areas, pile books or magazines, lay out clothes for the next day self. Ages 4 to 5: Any of the above plus, make own bed, empty wastebaskets, bring in mail or newspaper, clear and set the table, help in the kitchen, dust, use hand-held vacuum to pick up crumbs, dress self, water flowers, unload utensils from dishwasher, wash plastic dishes at sink, help carry and put away groceries. Ages 6 to 8: Any of the above plus, fold and put away laundry, sweep floors, handle personal hygiene, set and clear table, prepare school lunch, take out trash, weed, rake leaves, keep bedroom tidy, pour own drinks, answer telephone. Ages 9 to 12: Any of the above plus, load dishwasher, vacuum, sweep, mop, cook simple foods, make own snacks, wash table after meals, sew buttons, run own bath, make own breakfast, peel vegetables, cook simple food (such as toast), walk pets, pack own suitcase, clean bathroom, operate washer and dryer. Ages 13 and up: Any of the above plus, unload dishwasher, do all laundry functions, wash windows, wash car, cook meals with supervision, iron clothes, baby-sit younger siblings (with adult in the home), clean out refrigerator, clean stove and oven, make grocery lists, mow lawn, clean kitchen, change bed, make cookies or cake from box mix, plan birthday party, have neighborhood job - such as pet care or yard work, or have a paper route.

Conquer Back to School with Ease

Back-to-school time is a great time to get control of the chaos and help your family stay focused on the things that matter. Accountable Kids has six simple tips to help your family stay organized and have more fun together.
1) Take time to eat as a family - Sharing a meal is a great time for families to bond. “It really matters,” says Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Research Center for Women and Families in Washington, D.C. She cites research that shows family meals, and time spent with family during those meals, impact the choices kids make and determine whether or not they stay out of trouble. “This needs to be uninterrupted time that you can be with one another and share your day.” Family meals create a great opportunity to check in with your kids and reconnect.
2) Establish regular sleep habits. – Stick to a strict and consistent bedtime schedule. Kids need 8 hours of sleep. If you kids have trouble settling down, you may establish a half hour quiet-time before bedtime. This is a perfect time to sit in bed and read, unwind, and relax before lights off. It also gives parents a little break to prepare for the next day. If your child has trouble getting up, try making changes to their alarm clock. Sometimes routine sounds can be tuned out easily, so exchange their clock with yours or set the clock to a different radio channel. Another idea is to place the alarm clock away from the bed. A fun back-to-school gift is the Clocky alarm clock that has wheels. This exciting wakeup call can roll off the table and under the bed once it goes off, forcing kids to get up. You can find this product at: http://www.nandahome.com/
3) Nightly Check - Mornings are hands-down the most chaotic time during the school day. Parents often find themselves running around making meals, finding missing shoes, recovering lost books, and struggling to make it out the door on time. Prepare the night before by coming together for five minutes each night. Take this time to work together and communicate schedules for the next day. If you really want to get organized, give your children a place to put their school items. You may set up plastic bins with your kid’s names on the drawers. Each child has a handy place to put their morning necessities. Your morning will be much less hectic with your night crew on the job.
4) Weekly Planning – Take time to come together once a week for your family meeting. This is a great time to celebrate victories, coordinate schedules, solve problems, disperse earnings, and unite together as a family. Weekly meetings don’t need to be long and can incorporate a fun game or treat. Consistent meetings create structure and harmony within the home and turn problems into learning opportunities. This is a great time to start new commitments and start the week fresh. You may want to use a family calendar to keep track of schedules discussed at your meeting. This helps everyone know and anticipate the weekly events.
5) Establish Positive Study Habits – If students sequester themselves in their rooms to concentrate on homework, that strategy can backfire, Zuckerman says, especially if they have too many distractions, such as TVs and video games in their rooms. Instead, institute quite hours in the house and have children do their homework the old-fashioned way; at the kitchen or dining room table. “As long as it’s relatively quiet, no TV or radio blaring nearby, there’s no reason they shouldn’t do their homework in a public room,” Zuckerman says. “It gives parents a glimpse into what they are doing and if they need help with their work.” You can even help your kids function at their peak with small snacks or short breaks.
6) Set Clear Family Rules – Rules are essential in order for any family to operate smoothly. Back-to-school time is a perfect time to make sure everyone is on the same page and working together. Parents may establish the basic family rules in the beginning, but it works best when children contribute to this process. Setting clear boundaries can be beneficial to everyone. Remember that family rules are established not simply for the benefit of any one person, but for the good of the entire family.

Waking up with a smile!

This tip was shared by Serena from Arizona. She needed a way to help her grumpy daughter wake up and begin the day without a battle. Her solution: Each morning her mother woke her up with a small box of raisins in bed. The delicious treat gave her daughter a small boost of energy and helped her wake up on her own time. Now when her daughter comes down for breakfast she is dressed, happy, and ready for the day. Great Tip Serena!! My daughters love the raisins in bed and they don't make a mess either. My girls nibble on their treat until they are awake and ready to get dressed. Waking up with the gift of raisins in bed has brought a smile to everyone's face.

The Butterfly

This year we have been fortunate to speak at numerous conventions. One of our favorite stories is called The Butterfly. This is a great example of how struggles in life can make one stronger. This story reminds us that strength is gained through difficulties and overcoming obstacles.

A man found the cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through the little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and could go no further.Then the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily, but it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand and the body would contract. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into it's wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would hinder us. We would not be as strong as we could have been and we would never fly.

Author Unknown