Search Results for: blog the fantasy child part 1

Top 10 Ways to Get Your Kids Excited About Reading: Go Public!

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Do you want to get your kids excited about reading? If so, get ready for the countdown: ten days of ideas that will get you and yours into reading! Now, by going public with reading I’m not saying that you need to stand on a street corner reciting Shakespeare, although that would certainly make life interesting. No, by making reading public, I mean that you and your children can enjoy reading that takes place in a public venue. From story times to world famous authors, from poetry slams to a visit to the children’s bookstore, there are many ways to … Continue reading →

Finally Potty Training, Part 1

Today’s the day. I’m so tired of diapers on the toddler. Today is the day that we are going to actively and aggressively potty train. Jessie’s been showing signs of readiness. I am optimistic that we could be in diapers only at night after today. I am so ready for today. I have our day planned. We’re going to be casual and hang out in our jammies watching cartoons. At 9:00 we’ll change clothes and put on big girl panties instead of diapers. The plan is to drink a lot. I was supposed to get a special drink she doesn’t … Continue reading →

Miyazaki: Master of Animation, Pt. 1

“It’s just a wonderful world that (Miyazaki) creates that’s just so different from anything you see out there today.” – Frank Marshall, Executive Producer, “Ponyo” English language version In my review of “Ponyo” earlier this week I mentioned that Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film, though excellent, might be a little off-putting to those who haven’t seen any of the Japanese animation master’s other films. I decided to compile a list, complete with descriptions/recommendations, of all of Miyazaki’s films (available Stateside on Disney DVD) and his involvement in them, which almost always includes him being a main animator. At the end of … Continue reading →

Fantasyland Expansion in Progress

Recently Disney announced the largest expansion of Walt Disney World’s Fantasyland in the history of the Magic Kingdom. The new Fantasyland is expected to open in 2012, over 40 years after the debut of Disney World in Orlando. Included in the expansion is a realm for many of the famous Disney Princesses: Ariel, Belle, Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), and Cinderella. I know that I’ve been down on the Disney Princess theme recently, but I do love the characters and the fantasy they imbue. If ever there were an appropriate time and place for reveling in fairy tales, Disney World is it. … Continue reading →

What Can You Tell from How a Child Colors?

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In kindergarten we have staggered enrollment. We see a different group of children each day of the week. Therefore the children only come to school once a week for the first two weeks. During this staggered enrollment we carry out various activities and tests to help us get to know the children better. At some point during the day, one of the activities usually involves coloring a picture. To me, I think that you can tell a lot about the way that a child colors. In a group of five year old children who have very different background experiences (some … Continue reading →

Meet a Families.com Blogger – Lisa Pietsch!

As the former Community Manager, Lisa was the first person I met when I became acquainted with Families.com, and has become a good friend. Lisa, how fun to interview you today! How long have you blogged for Families.com? I’ve been with Families.com since September 26th, 2005. I believe we had about twenty-six members back then. When management announced they would be hiring bloggers, I applied for the topics of Food, Weight Loss and Disney. When they launched the blogs here in early December 2005, they hired me for all three topics as well as the position of Community Manager. Eventually, … Continue reading →

Media Week in Review: December 31st-January 5th

Did you miss out on joining us during the last busy day of the year? Catching up from the holiday chaos? Let’s take a look at what you might have missed. Tristi took a look at “Amazon’s Bestselling Books for December,” and then talked a bit about “Book Clubs” and why you might want to join one in your area. Then we read a review on “The Frog Princess,” about a princess who kisses a frog and turns into a frog herself. Then we talked a little more about book clubs and what might take place at “Your Book Club … Continue reading →

Book Review: Beyond Good Intentions: A Mother Reflects on Raising Internationally Adopted Children

At adoption conferences and web forums, one hears a lot from adopted persons and from parents wondering how to raise their newly-adopted children. Rarely, however, do you hear from adoptive parents whose children are now grown. (Presumably they no longer feel a burning need to attend conferences.) Cheri Register, author of the classic adoption book Are Those Kids Yours? supplies some of that perspective in her newest book, Beyond Good Intentions: A Mother Reflects on Raising Internationally Adopted Children. It is quite a different book than Register’s last book on adoption. Are Those Kids Yours? Was more personal, sharing some … Continue reading →

Week in Review – November 19th – 24th

You can tell we’re in a holiday mood here in Media Reviews! We learned how to make delicious Thanksgiving food with the cookbook “Thanksgiving 101.” There’s no need to feel intimidated by the big meal when you’ve got this handy guide. Then we headed into the Christmas season with a look at the children’s picture book “The Christmas Candle,” about a young man who learned that he needed to turn to his family to find his true happiness. We visited Jeanne-Marie in France and saw how she celebrated her holiday season with “Noel for Jeanne-Marie,” and we read about a … Continue reading →

On the Road Again, Parenting on Vacation–Part Two

I introduced my take on vacation parenting by posing the age-old question–Just because you can travel with your children, should you? In my own childhood, we never once took a family vacation. My parents weren’t ogres, but they were busy, working-class people and since we lived in the country on 40-acres, my dad couldn’t see why on earth we would want to go camping or even leave our country paradise during the summer months. So, no vacations. When I grew up, I was determined and dedicated that I would travel with my kids and we would “do” the family vacation. … Continue reading →