Creative Ideas for Valentine beddings

Valentine's day is the day when you are celebrating  love, not that you have to celebrate love only one day in the year, love should be celebrated every second of your lifetime , but anyway Valentine’s day is the day of love and in that name you can decorate your bedroom on romantic and creative way.Valentine’s day is supposed to be romantic and in the name of love , so you can change your bedding curtains for that day and you can escape the routine and try something new and fresh.Valentine’s day is great opportunity to escape the boredom in your bedroom and to try something new with the bedings.

How to help your kids with homework?

The nagging, the battles, the lost papers  do you dread school work as much as the kids do?

Here's how to help them hit the books

 Step 1: Ya gotta have a plan

Sit down with your kids and lay out expectations now, when the school year is starting, rather than waiting until problems arise. "Two or three goals is plenty, and you'll get better results if your child helps decide them," says Alexandra Mayzler, director of New York City-based Thinking Caps Tutoring and author of "Tutor in a Book: Better Grades as Easy as 1-2-3."

Ask: What were your child's stumbling blocks last year? Maybe homework time was running into bedtime, so agree on an earlier start time. Did your child resist reading? Work on ways to make it fun -- maybe set up a reading tent under your dining room table. Review your child's homework goals again in October, and perhaps once more in January, says Mayzler. Adjust your plan as you go, letting your child take as much ownership of the process as possible.

 Step 2: Get in the groove

"All the research says the single best way to improve your child's homework performance -- and bring more peace to your home is to insist on a daily schedule or routine," says Ann Dolin, who is also the author of "Homework Made Simple: Tips, Tools, and Solutions for Stress-Free Homework." In some homes, that means doing it right after school; for others, it can mean waiting until after dinner if your child is the type who needs to expend some energy before he dives back into the books.

Dolin recommends giving all kids at least 30 minutes to have a snack and unwind, with one caveat: "That half-hour break really shouldn't involve anything with a screen  television, e-mail, or video games or you may have trouble getting kids off," she adds.

 Giving kids a half-hour break between after-school activities and homework is a smart idea, too. "Sports or after-school care isn't really a break. Kids need to let down a little at home before launching into homework," she says. If your child goes to a babysitter or aftercare program, make a deal that while he's there he'll work on one assignment  something easy he can do even with distractions  every day before he gets home so he has less work later.

 The key is to be consistent about the routine. Take a few weeks before homework gets heavy to try different approaches and see what works best, then stick to it.

 What about weekends? Everyone deserves a break on Fridays, of course. But pick a regular time during the weekend for homework. After some experimenting, D'nece Webster of Portland, Oregon, found that her son Alex, 7, is at his best on Sunday mornings. "He can finish in thirty minutes what might take him two hours on a weekend afternoon," says Webster.

 Step 3: Know when to get your child extra help

If your kid is truly stuck on a homework assignment, don't make the common mistake of trying to reteach the information. Your goal is not to become your child's study buddy. Plus, your approach might be too different from the teacher's. "Imagine being a kid learning long division for the first time. You don't understand what your teacher is saying, and your parents teach you another method. When you get back to school, you're bound to be even more confused," says mom and former teacher Laura Laing of Baltimore.

 Instead, send an e-mail or note to the teacher asking her to please explain the material to your child again. If your child is a fourth-grader or older, have him write the note or talk to the teacher. It's important that he learns how to speak up for himself. The teacher will likely have office hours earmarked for those who need help. Also ask her about specific websites (many school textbooks now have practice sites kids can use in conjunction with the material in the book) or check out an online tutoring site like growingstars.com or tutor.com, which also has apps for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

 Step 4: Pick the right spot

Some kids do best with a desk set up in their bedroom so they can work independently; others want to be smack in the middle of the kitchen while you cook dinner. Mayzler recommends letting kids choose their preferred study spot. If your child focuses better lounging on a couch or the floor, "I say let them do it," she notes. Wherever your child does homework, keep it distraction-free no TV, video games, or loud siblings playing nearby. "It's ideal if you can set a quiet family work time, when younger kids color or do other 'homework-like' tasks and you do paperwork or reading of your own," Mayzler adds.

 

Step 5: Try not to be so freaking helpful!

Of course, it's okay and actually necessary  to sit with 5- or 6-year-olds while they do homework. However, your goal should be to help less over time and move physically farther from where your child works. Laura Laing and her partner, Gina Foringer, make a point of staying out of the room where their daughter, Zoe, 11, does homework. That way, Zoe is encouraged to think through her work on her own before asking a parent for help. Even when Zoe asks a question, Laing often responds with more questions instead of answers. "I'll ask 'What do you think?' or 'How do you think you can come to the answer?'" says Laing. Zoe often works out her own solution by talking it through with her mom.

When it comes to proofing a homework assignment, less is definitely better. Check a few answers to ensure that your child understands what's she's doing, but don't go over the entire page. After all, your child's teacher needs an accurate measure of whether she really understands the work.

Step 6: Make 'em pay

Although you may feel guilty at first, it's smart to have a one-strike rule when it comes to forgetting homework. If your child leaves her assignment (or lunch, gym clothes, or other items, for that matter) at home and calls, begging you to bring it to school, bail her out, say, only once each grading period. For many kids, just one missed recess (or whatever the teacher's policy is for not turning in homework) usually improves their memory, says Cathy Vatterott, Ph.D., associate professor of education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and author of "Rethinking Homework." But chronically disorganized kids may need more hand-holding. "Help your child figure out what part of his 'return homework' chain is broken," says Vatterott. "Does he routinely leave homework on the dining room table? Does he forget some assignments because they're in a different folder?" Create a "Homework Checklist" on the computer and post it near his usual study space.

Step 7: Push back on busywork

 

Vatterott and other educators are now advocating for changes in the way homework is assigned and used in the United States (requiring teachers to prove the usefulness of assignments, discouraging teachers from grading homework, and more). She encourages parents to do so, too. "Good homework helps kids cement what they've learned, but it isn't busywork, isn't given in extreme amounts, and definitely doesn't require parents to become substitute teachers at home," Vatterott says. A few caveats:
Mom and Dad shouldn't do homework. If work comes home with "directions for parents," Vatterott suggests letting the teacher and possibly the principal know that you, unfortunately, aren't in class this year (some gentle humor helps!), so you won't be building a replica of a human cell or a California mission, or whatever is required. A project can be a fun way for parents and kids to bond, but if you feel like it's taking up too much of your time, it probably is.

Watch for overload. If your third-grader is spending an hour and a half on just her math homework, for instance, that's way too much. "Keep track of her time for several days, then talk to the teacher," suggests Dolin. Sometimes teachers honestly underestimate how long an assignment will take. If your child routinely works long hours because she's struggling, also talk to the teacher. But if she seems to be slaving over homework because she's a perfectionist, you may need to discuss a reasonable amount of time to devote to an assignment and then clock her.

 

Culled: Parenting.com

Exotic Family Vacation

Traveling on exotic family vacation destinations is much easier than you’d think, and far more rewarding than parking your family at the beach. In addition to expanding children’s awareness and deepening their curiosity by exposing them to different cultures and parts of the world, family adventure vacations to far-flung destinations strengthen family ties and create memories you’ll share around the dinner table for decades to come.

Family Vacation Destinations

 

Here are a few of our favorite family vacation destinations and family travel experiences:

•Many children are intrigued by Dubai’s impressive indoor ski slopes, but we recommends skipping the lengthy lines and exploring one of Abu Dhabi’s true gem’s instead—the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. This is a true landmark of the region and has endless cool corners to explore top to bottom, from admiring the world’s largest (and 24-carat gold plated) chandelier to world’s biggest carpet and refreshing air-conditioned marble floors.

•China wows people of all ages and is an outstanding family vacation destination. From Shanghai’s glittering skyline to the crumbling splendor of the Great Wall, and Sichuan’s Panda Sanctuary, this is a place for a family adventure vacation that will amaze everyone.

 

* Thailand is an endlessly and deservedly popular family vacation destination because it has bright cities, fabulous beaches, thick jungles, and locals who just love children. One particularly rewarding family activity in Thailand is volunteering or staying at an elephant reserve, where you can feed orphaned babies and help them bathe in the nearby river. You will be  allowed to meet the reserve’s founder, and learn firsthand about their efforts.

FAMILY TOUR OF CHINA

People of all ages are wowed by China, whose imperial monuments like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall inspire awe with their size and splendor, and whose iconic Panda bears inspire an entirely different kind of “aww.” On this trip, you’ll explore natural wonderlands like Yangshuo and Longsheng, whose rice terraces are the most intense green we’ve ever seen, modern marvels such as Shanghai’s glittering skyscrapers, and give everyone in your family memories to cherish forever.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO....
With its larger-than-life monuments and rich cultural history, China is a truly exciting destination for the whole family. This tour focuses on activities that can be enjoyed by adults and children alike, and all accommodations have been carefully chosen with families in mind. Start in Beijing, where highlights include visits to the remote Jin Shan Ling section of the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven, as well as a stroll through the old maze-like hutongs for a glimpse at how most urban Chinese families once lived. From Beijing, fly to Chengdu to see the impressive work being done by scientists trying to save the pandas at the famous Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center. After Chengdu, head to leafy Guilin and spend a day sailing down the Li River, which is framed by ghostly limestone karst formations. And though the drive is long, we encourage families to spend one of their days in this area at the Longsheng Rice Terraces, where the hillsides have been painstakingly cultivated into a breathtaking landscape. From Guilin, fly to Shanghai, an ultra-modern city that offers a fascinating glimpse into China’s future. Watch the world-famous Shanghai Acrobats perform their magnificent gymnastic feats, enjoy the view from one of the city’s tallest buildings, and walk through one or two of the charming water towns that lie on Shanghai’s outskirts.

FAMILY TOUR OF JAPAN

WHY YOU SHOULD GO......

If you want to turn your kids into lifetime travelers, take them to Japan—they go crazy for this country, and their interest in seeing the world immediately grows. Futuristic, friendly Tokyo is a feast for the senses. They’ll love slurping up bowls of ramen and taking in the neon wonder of Sega Joyopolis, a video game theme park. Everyone will relish Japan’s historic sites, such as Kamakura’s towering Buddha, and will be thrilled when they explore Kyoto’s ancient castles and temples, and take a cable car ride up Mt. Fuji.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Start this tour in energetic Tokyo. Privately guided family-oriented activities include a ride to the top of the Tokyo Tower, a visit to the Asakusa Kannon Temple and nearby Nakamise-dori, a street selling traditional Japanese toys, dolls, kimonos, and snacks. Stop by Sega Joyopolis video game center on the futuristic island of Odaiba. Excursions include the religious center of Nikko and Edo Wonderland, an educational theme park. Continue to Kamakura to see the imposing Great Buddha, and then tour the Hakone region near Mt. Fuji. There will be a ropeway ride with spectacular views of Mt. Fuji (weather permitting), a cruise on the lake, and a walk amid the geysers. Overnight in a Japanese tatami room at a traditional Japanese inn. Journey by bullet train to Hiroshima to visit the moving Peace Memorial Park and its educational museum. There will also be a scenic excursion to nearby Miyajima Island, famous for the huge torii gate rising out of the sea at the 12th century Itsukushima Shrine. Next visit Himeji-jo, one of Japan’s most beautiful castles, and then continue on to Kyoto. Enjoy a cultural performance and tempura dinner in the Gion district, tour the major temples, and climb up the Fushimi-Inari shrine, a mountain covered with red torii gates. While in Kyoto, take a daytrip to the ancient capital of Nara.

 

Family Vacation to Dubai & Oman

 

Why You Should Go

Start this exhilarating family vacation in the high-flying skyscrapers of Dubai and set out on a whirlwind adventure through Wadi Wadi Water Park and the glitzy Nad Al Sheba Club, and onto a dhow ride through Dubai’s historic past. Continue on to the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa for 4x4 desert tours and sunsets along the dunes. End your tour seaside in one of Oman’s most elegant resorts along the Gulf of Oman, from which you can visit the local souq, explore Al Alam Palace, and embark on a dolphin-watching excursion

What To Expect: Oman & Dubai Travel Tour Highlights

With high-flying skyscrapers, expansive deserts, and pristine beaches, this tour combines a diverse array of activities that will entrance and exhilarate your entire family! Begin in Dubai, a cosmopolitan city that has risen from the sand to become one of the most important economic hubs in the world. Set out on a whirlwind adventure where your family will discover the modernity of Dubai, with stops at the Wadi Wadi Water Park and the Nad Al Sheba Club, home to the world’s richest horse race. Dubai also has a long history and visits to its monumental mosques and ride on a traditional dhow will provide insights into its fascinating past. Continue your adventure by heading to the desert for a stay at the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa. Here, your family will set out in the resort’s 4WD vehicles for a heart-thumping ride through the desert, concluding with a sunset dinner in the dunes. While the kids take advantage of Sinbad’s Kid’s Club, parents can take in a relaxing treatment at the Satori Spa. End your trip in Oman at Shangri-La’s Bar Al Jissah Resort, right on the Gulf of Oman. The traditional lifestyle of the Omani people is on proud display, and you will have the opportunity to visit the local souq and fish market, Al Alam Palace, and many more impressive sites. Conclude your trip with a dolphin-watching excursion and a relaxing afternoon on the shore.