Whether you call them friends or you call them family, our loved ones help to make life enjoyable. From the people that we share fun times with to the ones we know we can go to for help, loved ones make a difference in this thing called life.
We were provided with payment or product for this post. All thoughts are our own. At their core and for better or worse, children are the 100% honest, pint sized versions of us. Everything-and I mean everything strange that our kids do I know that I did at one point myself. This includes the manner in which they think those thoughts; and how they manifest themselves into the sometimes very un-PC statements that come out of their adorable heads that are impossible to distance yourself from. Continue reading Brussels Sprouts, smelly shoes, parenting and school starting
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The Drive to Learn by Dr. Cornelius N. Grove is a book whose subtitle drives its topic. What the East Asian Experience Tells Us about Raising Students Who Excel is a subtitle that might intimidate those outside of academia, but don’t worry. When said together, The Drive to Learn, What the East Asian Experience Tells Us about Raising Students Who Excel, lets readers know that the book is going to paints a full picture as to why the reality of the smart Asian student exists.
I was tempted to type in ‘stereotype’ instead of ‘reality’ in that prior sentence. However, by any measure, students outside of East Asia retain less knowledge and score lower on tests across the board then children anywhere else.
Continue reading The Drive to Learn, what the East Asian Experience can teach students
We’re part of the StreamTeam for Netflix and were compensated for this post-all thoughts are our own. With school starting for the vast majority of students in the United States let’s take a look at some of the education options on Netflix for elementary school aged kids. These are all shows that either of our 5 or 7 year old kids could watch. Some of them skew younger, but we’ll detail the ages and why it’s good for them.
Brain Games
Brain Games is for the older elementary school kids. There is nothing wrong with the content for younger kids, it’s just all education. This originally aired on the National Geographic Channel and is about the power and mystery of the mind. It’s fascinating because it has various optical illusions that you know where the answer should be, but people (and you) make the incorrect decision.
Ask The Storybots
How do airplanes fly? How does night happen and more are discussed in this very cute show for young elementary school viewers or younger. It’s hosted by digital characters with the assistance of various animation and is very cute. It’s funny stuff that will engage young viewers into learning something even when they just want to relax.
Continue reading Educational options for elementary school kids on Netflix
The Sandwich Generation is the term used to describe people who are caring for young children, as well as an older parent. This is part one to an ongoing series where we’ll document things that might help others. The Sandwich Generation is an interesting period that has pros and cons. Pro: Your children get to experience time with their grandparents. Con: Depending on your family or their medical condition this could also be a con. There are a couple other downsides that occur to those who are dealing with this. We’re knee deep in dealing with the Sandwich Generation and have a couple helpful things you’ll want to consider. Every situation is different. Some of these tips will translate to anyone, while others are more specific and will only resonate with those who in a medical Sandwich Generation situation. (say that five times fast)
Continue reading The Sandwich Generation is real-and doesn’t include bacon, Part One
Education is sales. In an ideal situation, if they have children, people move to a new residence because of the school’s reputation. Better schools retain their teachers, have higher achieving students and are a more integral part of the community. BrandED is the story of schools and how they can create their own brand. The book centers on eight chapters that break down situations and results that can provide educators with insight about the benefits of controlling, rather than reacting.
Continue reading BrandED aims for education branding, succeeds a little bit
I have partnered with Life of Dad and Idahoan® Foods for this campaign, but my opinions are my own.All I wanted was a relaxing night, a couple moments to create my own steakhouse vibe and I’m not alone in wanting this. In a recent survey a staggering 92% of parents wish it was easier to create that steakhouse experience at home. I want that and sometimes it happens without a hitch. We tried some Idahoan® Premium Steakhouse® Potato Soups, they’re mega simple to prepare (just add water), jammed with real red Idaho® potatoes, as well as, real potato skins and other goodies to pump up your taste buds. My reigning title of #KingOfSoup would not stand untested and I need your assistance. Sometimes a kitchen kingdom has a servant king, while other times needing a warrior king who brings a knife, as well as a large spoon for the textured soup.
Continue reading Our steakhouse, a story of love, power and good taste with Idahoan® Foods #Ad
So, I’ve only seen one Harry Potter film and that was the release from 2002, The Chamber of Secrets. As an adult watching it, having never read the book I was impressed, but not enough to read the books or see any more films from the characters. Flash forward 14 years and the prequel to the Harry Potter stories is out. But is Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them OK for kids?
Well, let’s start out by saying that it is a very good film. I knew nothing about the plot and that fact served me quite well as the magic, beasts and characters came into their own. The only thing that I knew about the Harry Potter universe is that a muggle is a non-magical being and that the bulk of the previous Potter films had a kid-centered family focus.
As a review, I don’t mean that as a pejorative, it’s just that from what I saw in Secrets it was aimed at children. The true power of the Potter-Universe hadn’t been discovered at that point. After that film I know that they got more inventive, a little darker at times and much more popular. It only makes sense, as the characters in the film got older, so did their fan base.
So, is Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them OK for kids?
There are elements of the film that will be great for 8 year old children. However, on the whole, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is fine for 10 year olds and in some cases 9 year old. It’s rated PG-13 and is really on the soft side of that rating. The film is such a soft PG-13 one wonders if the producers asked for it so that audiences wouldn’t think that it was too soft. To this point: it’s worth noting what worldwide audiences have their ‘official’ age recommendations as. ‘G’ in Japan, Netherlands 9 and 12 in the UK/Canada and elsewhere.
Our 7 year old would’ve been too bothered by some of the action sequences which are fraught with tension. For parents there isn’t any discernible instance of bad language. The lead character, Newt does say ‘bugger’ a couple of times. However, that’s only offensive if you’re in the UK and even then mildly so in the British colloquial vocabulary.
If our oldest were 9, I would’ve stopped watching Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and immediately gone home and gotten him. For that age (given proper adult supervision…..) this is a great film, jammed with humor, good/bad decisions, plus a couple solid references to Hogwarts.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is Harry Potter without the kid-centric title figure. The content in the film is A-Ok with ages 10 and up, as well as adults-who are willing to grade the film on a curve. Take the middle school and upper elementary kids, they’ll love this film and you’ll be the cool parent, just possibly enough o make them forgive you for the dreck that you thought they would’ve liked. This one is the real family deal.
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