Pregnancy, Baby Care, and Activity

If your child is a Dora the Explorer fan, you probably have bought, or are planning to buy, any of the available Dora the Explorer games. These games are educational in nature, just like the TV show itself, and help children develop their abilities while having fun. There is a whole line of Dora the Explorer games designed that are designed to focus specifically on certain skill sets of your children.

For children aged 3+, I recommend the fun Color Forms game. It helps your little kids recognize important concepts as color and form, and even numbers. This easy game's goal is to collect all different colored pieces and get to Abuela’s house. Children can choose between four different characters (Dora, Boots, Tico the squirrel and Isa the Iguana), and can be played in three different ways: By colors (age 3+), by numbers (age 4+) and even by both colors and numbers (recommended for age 6+). The game's cards are big enough to appeal any child, and they contain descriptions in both English and Spanish. As all Dora the Explorer games, your children will sometimes face the villainous fox Swiper, who will try to steal all of the collected colored forms from your kids. This game is especially interesting if there are three or more players.

For single players, you should probably choose a Dora the Explorer videogame. These games keep your kids entertained while helping then develop their skills. I recommend the Lost City Adventure videogame (for kids aged 3-6), in which your kid must help Dora find her missing favorite teddy bear. Dora and Boots must travel to the Lost City, the magic place where every lost object ends up. In the way, Dora will also help some of her friends find their lost items. This game helps your children develop his/her thinking and math abilities, as well as his/her problem solving skills.

Another great videogame in the Dora the Explorer games series is the FairyTale Adventures videogame. In this game, your child will help Dora in her quest to wake Boots from a magic spell. In order to do so, Dora must become a true princess! The game will take your preschooler kid in a journey through Fairy Tale Land, where classic fairy tales take place. Dora’s quest to become a princess involves puzzle solving and also playing songs from the TV show. This game will allow your child to improve his/her puzzle solving abilities and thinking skills. The game's play pack even includes a small cute Dora the Explorer doll.

Of course, there are a lot more Dora the Explorer games available to choose from. They represent a great way for your children to learn and improve useful skills. Bringing home an educational Dora the Explorer game for your children will not only be a great surprise for them, but will also be highly beneficial for their development. Besides, children just love Dora the Explorer games!

Copyright © Jared Winston, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

A teen’s new year is not marked by the passing of a calendar year but by the start of a new school term. Each term marks a beginning, a different chapter in their growing lives and a fresh start. It’s also a time of new classes, teachers, classmates and the perfect opportunity to get organized.

Organization and school work go hand in hand. In order to excel academically you need to be organized. When it comes right down to it organizational skills may be just as important as reading, writing and arithmetic in creating a well rounded, self-sufficient individual.

What follows is a collection of priority and time management tips that will see teens sailing through the school year with less stress, reduced clutter and much academic success.

Start with a clean slate. The first step to organizing your school year is to de-clutter. Get rid of any school related items that clutter your personal space. Keep only what is useful and will be beneficial throughout the school year. Organize papers in separate folders and automatically purge things you’re positive you’ll never need again.

Rise and shine at the same time every morning. Having a consistent bedtime will help you feel refreshed when it’s time to rise in the morning. It’s wise to set your alarm with extra time to spare. If it usually takes you 30 minutes to shower and get out the door be on the safe side and allot yourself 45.

If you have trouble getting up despite your bedside alarm, move your alarm clock across the room so you’ll have no choice but to physically get out of bed to turn it off.

Lay out your clothes in advance. Listening to a weather forecast and taking a few minutes to prepare your wardrobe for the following day will save you a ton of time in the morning. Include accessories and footwear in your preparations.

Use an organizer. If you’ve got a student planner or agenda use it. Organizers that come complete with pocket folders, dividers and planning calendars are ideal. When you think of something you need to remember jot it down right away. If you wait until later you may forget. Also, consider using a separate homework folder for completed assignments.

For more time management and homework tips to help you manage your school year visit http://www.familysanitysavers.com/homeandschool.html

One calendar schedules it all. Plan all your school and personal activities using one calendar and one calendar only. That said, if your family uses a ‘master calendar’ for scheduling everyone’s activities you should share your activity dates and times on a need to know basis to avoid scheduling conflicts and missed appointments. After all, you won’t be able to borrow the car for your rugby practice if mom needs it to take your sister to dance practice.

Color-code same activities. Color-coding similar activities on your calendar makes for quick viewing e.g. highlight activities in blue, tests and study prep in yellow and your part-time job schedule in pink.

Compile a ‘to do’ list. It’s amazing the difference a list can make when it comes to accomplishing things. Just 15 minutes of writing down the tasks you need to accomplish the following day will find you not only more productive but more in control of your time.

Keep a balanced schedule. While you may be tempted to sign up for every extra curricular activity that sparks your interest, think twice. Taking on too much can really affect your grades and your social life. Look at your course load and how much studying is involved. Then prioritize your recreational interests. Only sign up for as many activities as you honestly feel you can manage.