This is the Season to Give to Others
By KNG
Dec. 20, 200
This holiday make the season a little brighter for others. Giving back is a great thing to do all year round, but the holidays tend to bring out the charitable side in most people.
Try some of these ideas with your family and make a difference this holiday season.
- Donate to a charitable organization
- Invite an elderly neighbor or someone who lives alone to join your celebration (ask your parents first!)
- Deliver a meal to a family in need
- Write a thoughtful note to someone special
- Bring your host a small gift to show your appreciation and offer to help clean up
- Donate clothes you’ve outgrown
- Donate food to a local charity or food bank
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen
- Send a care package to a soldier
- Visit hospital patients
- Foster a dog or cat
- Adopt an endangered animal through a zoo
- Shovel snow for a neighbor
- Help pick up trash at a local park
- Join a church or school group that does community service projects
Source: Kids National Geographic
Editor’s Note: Photograph courtesy Jupiter images. We would like to know what you think. And we would like to hear your story of giving to others. dan@youngchronicle.com
Military Away Effects Children
December 20, 2009 by Dan
Filed under Human Interest
By Healthy Children
Dec. 20, 2009
Children from military families may experience higher levels of stress and more emotional difficulties than the general population.
According to the largest study to examine the health and well-being of children from the perspective of children and non-deployed parents.
The study, “Children on the Home front: the Experience of Children From Military Families,” published in the January issue of Pediatrics (appearing online December 7), interviewed 1,500 children, ages 11 to 17 years, and non-deployed parents/caregivers to examine how children from military families manage social, academic and behavioral challenges.
Older children reported significantly more family, school and peer-related difficulties during parental deployment and girls of all ages experienced more challenges when the deployed parent returned home.
Caregivers reported that the longer a parent was deployed in the last three years, the greater the emotional difficulties children experienced when the deployed parent returned home.
In addition, parents/caregivers with poorer mental health reported having more difficulties with children both during and after deployment, suggesting that military families can benefit from seeking support to deal with stressors that may emerge over time.
Source: Healthy Children
Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. And if you are in the military and you been away how it affected your children. dan@youngchronicle.com
Money for Kids
December 20, 2009 by Dan
Filed under One Person's View
by Michael G. Peterson
Dec. 20, 2009
Children seem to be born with an insatiable desire to spend. Whether it’s Christmas, birthday parties, or a trip to the local mall, children are never too shy when it comes to vocalizing their wants.
And sometimes, they’re relentless.
Parents face this on a daily basis. Dealing with the barrage of purchase requests becomes a part-time job.
What’s the best way to give your child a deeper understanding of where money really comes from? Reducing greed, instilling awareness, and teaching good work habits in children will go a long way to creating financially successful adults.
Ways to Teach Your Children About Money
Start Early
The best way to start is when they’re young. Showing them the importance of money will help them to understand why they can’t have everything they see.
Begin by explaining the process of working:
• Why you have to go to work
• What you do for your employer
• What you receive for doing it
• Why you need money
As soon as they’re ready, teach them about coins and dollar bills. Show them how many coins equals one dollar, how many dollars equals a five-dollar bill, and so on.
The earlier they have an understanding that the green bill on the counter is not another coloring page, the better.
Turn the Water Off
Now that your child has some understanding of how money is earned, it’s important to teach about waste.
While explaining about spending money, teach them about the household bills. The ones they’ll grasp the easiest are the ones they can see. The utility bills are a good example. While they’re brushing their teeth, teach them to turn the water off until they need it again.
Explain how the water going down the drain is like money going down the drain. And, when leaving an empty room, teach them to turn the lights off. Explain to them that the less money wasted on unnecessary bills is more money that can be used for household groceries, fuel for the car, and family vacations.
Give them the sense that your wallet is not a bottomless pit and that, when payday arrives, the money is allocated for certain expenses.
Differentiate Between “Want” and “Need”
Children think they need everything they want. Teaching them the difference is an important step in helping them decide what to do with their money.
Some important questions for them to think about, include:
• Do they already have what they are asking for?
• If so, is it broken, lost, or missing parts?
• Can it be repaired?
• How often do they play with it?
• What do they really need, instead?
Marrying want and need can be a creative way to save money and teach restraint.
For example, a young child that wants a new fire truck but needs new sneakers, may be just as happy with a pair of sneakers with a fire truck on them.
Make Saving Fun
Put a piggy bank in the kitchen. Make a game out of cleaning up by letting them put coins in the piggy bank after each toy is put away.
Then, when the bank is full, have them sit on the floor with you and wrap their money into coin rolls. Bring them to the bank with all of their wrapped coins. Have them trade in some of their coins for dollars, the others for savings.
Sign up for a bankcard and let them use the ATM to make withdrawals from their own account. Reward their good efforts by taking them shopping to purchase what they need.
Give Them Purchasing Power
Let your children be king for a day. Take them to the store with you and help them to understand prices, sales, and ingredients.
Then, have them decide which items are the wisest to purchase. Establish a budget for the shopping trip and make it a goal to stay within that amount. Give them a calculator and let them keep track of how much you are spending.
If you need to override their decision, make sure they understand why. This will both broaden their sense of responsibility and improve their analytical skills.
Teach Them Personal Responsibility
The simple concept of teaching a child how to care for and take responsibility for their personal possessions helps them to understand value. Value is crucial in appreciating worth.
Once a child really appreciates worth, the concept of money will fall into place.
Easy exercises include:
• Putting coats and shoes away – installing easy-to-reach coat hooks solves the problem of little arms.
• Putting toys back together with all of their parts intact and storing them in a safe place.
• Keeping their clothes folded and stored in dresser drawers, so no one can step on them.
• Making sure books are always put on bookshelves, never on the floor.
• Carrying unbreakable dishes to the sink.
Let Them Work
Instead of just giving out a weekly allowance, let your children earn their money in small ways.
From cleaning up their room to mowing your lawn, jobs are essential in teaching children that money will never grow on trees. Pay a fair wage.
Don’t overcompensate but make sure the child has enough incentive to want to work, much like an adult. In addition to payments, make sure you praise them for a job well done.
Teaching children from an early age about money can save you and them a lot of trouble in their later years.
Remember that children, as adults, most appreciate those things that they’ve worked hard to get. You aren’t doing your children any favors by buying them everything they want.
A little financial instruction can go a long way to helping your children become financially responsible adults.
Source: Spiffy Moms
Editor’s Note:2004 DebtGuru.com. Michael G. Peterson is the Vice President of American Credit Foundation, an IRS 501 (c)(3) non-profit consumer credit counseling organization that has assisted thousands of individuals and families with their financial situations through seminars, education, counseling services, and, debt management plans.
For more information, and free consumer resources visit www.debtguru.com
We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com
Homemade Holiday Cookie Mix For a Great Christmas Gift
December 20, 2009 by Dan
Filed under Kids in the Kitchen
By Parents
Dec. 20, 2009
Ingredients
- 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup brownulated sugar
- 3/4 cup swirled chocolate chips
Directions
1. Have ready a clean 1-quart reusable plastic or glass canister.
2. In a medium-size bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Spoon 1 cup of the flour mixture into a second bowl and add cocoa powder and cinnamon. Whisk to mix thoroughly.
3. Begin packing jar for gift: Spoon about half the flour mixture into bottom of jar. Use a small spice jar to lightly compress. Spoon in half the cocoa mixture; compress. Spoon in remaining flour mixture and cocoa mixture, compressing each layer.
4. Top second cocoa layer with granulated sugar and brownulated sugar, compressing each slightly. Pour chips over sugar and seal jar.
5. Write baking instructions on a tag (or print out); secure to jar with ribbon.
Baking Instructions: In a large bowl, combine 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) melted and cooled unsalted butter with 3 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir in contents of jar.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto baking sheets. Bake at 350°F for 13 to 14 minutes. Cool on sheets for 1 minute; transfer to rack.
Note: Brownulated sugar can be found in your grocery store’s baking section.
Makes: 1 mix in a jar; about 3 dozen cookies
Prep: 15 minutes
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 1 mix in a jar; about 3 dozen cookies
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 130
- Total Fat (g) 6
- Saturated Fat (g) 3
- Cholesterol (mg) 28
- Sodium (mg) 53
- Carbohydrate (g) 19
- Fiber (g) 1
- Protein (g) 2
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie di
Source: Parents
Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com
Receipt of the Week: Easy to Make Gingerbread Men
December 20, 2009 by Dan
Filed under Kids in the Kitchen
By Parents
Dec. 20, 2009
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup light molasses
- 2-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Royal Icing (see on parents.com)
Directions
1. Beat butter and sugar. Beat in egg and molasses. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, ginger, pepper and cinnamon in another bowl. Stir into butter mixture. Divide dough into 2 halves. Wrap; chill 2 hours.
2. Heat oven to 350°F. Roll half of dough on a floured surface to 1/8 inch thick. Cut shapes with a 3-inch cutter; transfer to ungreased baking sheets. Reroll scraps; cut. Repeat with remaining dough.
3. Bake at 350°F for 11 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks to cool. Decorate with Royal Icing; do not thin with extra water.
Makes: about 3-1/2 dozen
Prep: 15 minutes
Chill: 2 hours
Bake: 11 minutes
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe about 3-1/2 dozen
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 77
- Total Fat (g) 2
- Saturated Fat (g) 1
- Carbohydrate (g) 13
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
Source: Parents
Editor’s Note: we would like to know your faviote ones with your kids. dan@youngchronicle.com
Take a Special Dance With God
December 19, 2009 by Dan
Filed under Encouragement
By Dan Samaria
Publisher/GCC
Dec. 19, 2009
Do you know what “Joy logy” means? It is the study of caring, sharing, and listening and Sacrifice.
This was written by Mr. Jeineke in 1975
We would like to know what you think: dan@youngchronicle.com
What is a Joyologist? A joyologist then would be one who studies joy logy. Frankly our world could use a great many joyologists whose mission in life is to actively research the effects of discussing and sharing joy.
The research could branch out into how joy affects our careers, family lives, and friendships. The very act of doing the active research should spread jubilation throughout the world and bring about positive results. What a fun job!
All one needs to start with is to share the words joyism, joy logy, and joyologis with others. Use the words daily and make them a part of the world’s vocabulary.
The upcoming year is going to challenge us all. Here is something we need to think, this is from an unknown reader. It is called: Take a Special dance With God
By Unknown
When I meditated on the word GUIDANCE, I kept seeing “dance” at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God’s will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn’t flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word GUIDANCE.
When I saw “G,” I thought of God, followed by “u” and “i.” “God, “u” and “i” dance. God, you, and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God’s blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday. May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life. This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached. If God has done anything for you in your life, please share this message with someone else, for prayer is one of the best gifts we can receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards; so let’s continue to pray for one another.
AND I HOPE YOU DANCE !
Source: Joyolgy
Kids Top Money Questions
By Dave Ramsey
Dec. 19, 2009
The lessons you teach your kids as they earn money and learn to spend, save and give will lay an influential foundation for their lives.
Find out how Dave answers the most common questions about kids and money.
Let parents bequeath to their children not riches, but the spirit of reverence. —Plato
Plato said it well. Parents are not just responsible for providing food, clothing, and shelter for their kids. They are also responsible for teaching their kids about life—and life includes handling money.
When it comes to kids and money, the three most common questions I get are:
- When should I start teaching my kids about money?
- Should I give my kids an allowance?
- When should my kids go to work?
Teach kids about money as young as pre-school age and no later than third grade. Just think about it: if your kids can grasp this money stuff early on, they’ll avoid many of the pitfalls later. After all, its better for little Billy to make a $10 mistake than a $10,000 mistake!
1. Start paying them a commission for chores they do around the house.
Typically, one dollar per completed chore is sufficient with a list of five or six chores each week. Remember that each child is going to respond differently. Just keep evaluating your child’s maturity level and make sure their chores are age-appropriate.
2. Do not give them an allowance.
After all, what are you making an allowance for? You don’t want to have the kind of kids who think money grows on trees, do you? Don’t set them up for frustration and unrealistic expectations. And don’t miss out on the teachable moments that come when you give them a commission instead of an allowance.
3. Send them off to work.
Child abuse is letting a kid sit in front of a TV all day playing video games and eating junk food. Kids need to understand what a little dirt under the fingernails means. Delivering newspapers, mowing lawns, or working at a concession stand are some appropriate jobs they can handle.
Guiding your children in the choices they make with money is HUGE! The lessons you teach them as they earn money and learn to spend, save and give will lay an influential foundation for their lives. Remember, if you don’t teach your kids how to handle money, someone else will.
Get Financial Peace Jr. now to help your kids learn solid money principles.
Source: Dave Ramsey
Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com