July 2010 Archives
Jodi Skulley-July 29, 2010-
If you read our July 2010 feature on single-dad Robert Beeson and your preteen is a fan of iShine, be sure not to miss the September 2010 issue of Bible Express!
Bible Express is a devotional magazine for preteens! In the September issue, Bible Express is featuring two bands from iShine Live tour — The Rubyz and Mission Six. If your preteen is a fan of these bands, you definitely won't want to miss it!
Also coming in September ... Bible Express is becoming two magazines in one. Each issue will be a flipbook design where one side is specifically for boys and the other side is specifically for girls. Cover, articles, and devotions will be gender specific and relevant for today's preteens! It will be awesome!
Does your church recieve Bible Express? Does your preteen use it? Tell us what you love about it ... and your thoughts on the new format!
William Summey-July 28, 2010-
Welcoming a new child into the family is a joyous occasion for all, but the additional expense associated with a new bundle of joy can also be a big worry for some parents, especially in this economy. In fact, 62% of American parents surveyed by eBay Classifieds (a free, local, family-friendly classifieds Web site formerly known as Kijiji) said that their babies accumulated more stuff in the first year than themselves they did in five years, at a total expense of over $1,400.
Other statistics found in the recent survey include:- American parents spent an average of $1,442 on baby items during the first year their baby was born.
- After their children have grown out of the items, 67% of parents gave them to a friend or family member, 63% donated them to charity, 27% sold them and 11% just threw them away.
- The most common outgrown items include backyard toys (42% of parents said they still have them), sporting goods and equipment (39%), furniture (46%) and electronics (45%).
- 46% of parents said their kid clutter takes up a corner of a closet, 28% said it takes up the better part of their attics and 6% said they no longer park their car in the garage because their children’s items have taken over their entire home.
- Parents said they spent an average of $1,171 on gifts for their kids last year.
- 15% of parents say they often sell unwanted items online (perhaps on a site like eBay Classifieds) and a quarter of parents said they occasionally do, depending on the item.
You can visit http://info.ebayclassifieds.com/kid-clutter/ for more tips and information. In addition, eBay Classifieds will make a donation for every new ad posted within the For Sale category through July 31 (up to $25,000), to Enough is Enough, a non-profit organization dedicated to making the Internet a safer place for children and families. Getting rid of your unwanted items can not only help you reclaim your space but can also help others, too!
William Summey-July 27, 2010-
Check out the following swimming safety tips to help stay safe this summer. 
Don’t Swim Alone. Do not allow children to swim without an adult. Even adults should never swim alone. In a pool, swim at a depth that is safe for you. Keep in mind that swimming at night increases all risks.- Follow Regulations. If you are at a public pool or beach, follow all regulations and lifeguard directions. Depth markers are important. Never dive into shallow water. Additionally, if there is not a lifeguard on duty, take extra safety precautions.
- Learn to Swim. Learning basic swimming and floating techniques saves lives. Check with your local YMCA or community pool for information on swimming lessons from a certified swimming instructor.
- Safety Equipment. It is important to keep rescue equipment by the pool or on your boat. Life preservers and life jackets should be easy to access in case of an emergency. At home, keep a telephone and emergency numbers poolside. Additionally, parents should know CPR. Statistics show that when CPR is performed, it improves the outcome for drowning victims.
- Fencing. If you have a pool at home, make sure the pool is completely surrounded by fencing. Fencing should be at least four feet high and separate the house, yard, or play area from the pool. Fencing latches and locks should be high enough to be out of the reach of children. Remove all toys from the pool and surrounding areas immediately after use. The presence of toys may encourage children to enter the pool area unsupervised.
- Flotation Vests. When boating, you should wear a Coast Guard-approved flotation vest, regardless of your swimming abilities. Even while wading in the ocean or at the lake, it is recommended to wear a personal flotation device. This is especially important for inexperienced swimmers and children. Remember, water wings, noodles, inner tubes, and rafts should never take the place of an approved flotation device.
- Designated Areas. Swim only at designated beaches or in swimming areas marked with buoys that keep boaters, water skiers and jet skiers away. If you cross these buoys, you run the risk of not being seen by boaters, and you could potentially be injured. Additionally, rip currents, tides, and water depths may be different the farther out you swim.
- Surf Conditions. Ask a lifeguard about surf conditions before swimming in the ocean. Rip tides are dangerous and can catch even the best swimmers off guard. If you are caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore. Once you are free of the current, swim toward the shore. Rip currents can be recognized as water that is discolored, choppy, foamy, or filled with debris and moving in a channel away from the shore. Report any hazardous conditions to the lifeguard.
- Warning Flags. Beaches post warning flags to alert swimmers of the day’s conditions. Be sure to check these flags before entering the water. a. Double Red: The beach is closed. b. Red: No swimming allowed - Dangerous conditions. Usually this flag is up when there are extremely dangerous rip currents. c. Yellow: Swim with caution. Be cautious of strong long shore currents or other swimming hazards. d. Green: Safe swimming conditions. Swim with usual care.
Did you know? - Swimming is the third most popular recreational activity.
- Ninety two percent of children who survive a drowning are discovered within two minutes following submersion, and 86% children who die are found after 10 minutes.
- The 2010 hurricane season runs from June 1 – November 30. Hurricanes can create dangers in the water such as rip currents, increased swell sizes and larger waves. According to the United States Lifesaving Association, rip currents cause approximately 100 deaths annually in the United States.
- Children from non-swimming households are eight times more likely to be at-risk of drowning.
For swimming safety information, visit www.homesafetycouncil.org.
About the author: Bret Almassy is the Vice President of Residential Services for AlliedBarton Security Services, www.alliedbarton.com, the industry’s premier provider of highly trained security personnel to many industries including commercial real estate, higher education, healthcare, residential communities, chemical/petrochemical, government, manufacturing and distribution, financial institutions, and shopping centers.
Jodi Skulley-July 30, 2010-
Super-sweet Ellie celebrates her 4th birthday!
Thanks to Claire A. for this great photo!
Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!
Jodi Skulley-July 23, 2010-
Three-year-old Reed shows off his "monkey" skills!
Thanks to Jeff L. for this great photo!
Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!
William Summey-July 22, 2010-
Each month ParentLife pulls together a one page document for preschool and children's leaders and teachers that highlights articles that might help to families they work with. But this also seemed like a great tool for parents as well!All of the articles below are in our current July issue of ParentLife. Read the articles that minister to your family and pass along a copy to those who might benefit from it!
Everyday Patriotism
Help parents instill patriotism in their families not just on the 4th but throughout the year too (pp. 34-35).
Looking for Fun This Summer?
Help parents find inexpensive summer fun activities (pp. 24-26)!
Connect With Life Truths Sunday School Curriculum for Adults
Every month ParentLife connects with what parents are studying in the Life Truths curriculum line of Sunday School materials for parents. This month the article “Change the Channel: A Guide to Media Choices” helps parents guide their kids to make the best media choices (pp. 28-31).
Building Character
Help kids build character through the books they read this summer (pp. 22-23).
For Single Parents
Encourage single parents with the story of Robert Beeson (pp. 18-21).
Preteens Plugged In
Help preteens stay plugged in to media choices safely (pp. 16-17).
Teachable Moments
Help parents impact their toddlers and young preschoolers through everyday teachable moments (pp. 10-11).
Traveling With A Newborn
Help families with newborns who are traveling this month for summer vacation (pp. 8-9)
Jodi Skulley-July 21, 2010-
My 6-year-old daughter, Kennedy, recently completed a month-long intensive reading program at Vanderbilt. Four afternoons a week I would make the hour-long drive each way with Kennedy and my next door neighbor’s son who was also in the program, while my neighbor kept my other four children.
The first couple weeks went along pretty smoothly. I dropped the kids off with my neighbor, picked up her son, and off we went. No problems. I actually didn’t mind the drive. It gave me time to talk on the phone, think, or even pray.
Then, one day during week three, right as it was time to leave, it started raining. It poured. Hard. Two of my other children were sick that day, so I was driving them to my mom’s house to stay while we went to Vanderbilt. When I realized that the rain wasn’t going to let up, I pulled out my umbrella and one by one I walked my children out to the car. By the time they were all inside, we were running late, I was soaked to the skin, and my makeup was running down my face. I was a sight to see, I’m sure.
When I arrived at my neighbor’s house, she looked at me, got a little smile on her face and said, “I’m so glad you’re not perfect.” She went on to explain, “Every day you come here to drop the kids off and pick up my son, and you’re wearing cute clothes and your hair and makeup is always done just right, and it’s just nice to see that you’re not always perfect.” We both laughed and I went on my way. We were very late to Vanderbilt that day.
On the way there, I thought about her statement. How many other people look at me, or my life and think that I’m “perfect”? How many times do I look at others and think the same thing judging from an outward appearance? I know for a fact that anyone who looks deep into my life and my heart would see that I am far from perfect. I mess up all the time. I know the same is true for all those people who I hold to a higher standard every day.
The truth is, none of us are perfect (Romans 3:10). We’re not perfect spouses, perfect parents, or perfect Christians. We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world, saved only by the grace of God. Sometimes it just takes a little rain to fall in our lives to remind ourselves, and others, of that.
Thank you, Lord, for your never-ending forgiveness and grace!
Don't miss our July 2010 ParentLife article about Renee and her family — "Renee Garcia: Life With My Special Ks" (pp. 36-37). Be sure to visit Renee's blog: Life With My Special Ks.
Jodi Skulley-July 20, 2010-
By Frances Nankin, Executive Producer/Editorial Director, Cyberchase
Your child is at risk over the summer months of losing the skills she has developed during the year in math — and the risk is greater for losing math skills than reading skills. Help your child overcome the summer slump in math. Here are some fun things you can do to avoid this summer slump and give your child a leg up on math for the fall.
Money, Money, Money!
Kids are always on the lookout for ways to earn money during the summer months. Hone your child's math skills by helping her set a goal for the total amount she wants to earn and make a chart or graph to track weekly progress. Encouraging your child to budget an amount for saving as well as spending is another way to engage her with money math.
How Far? How Many? How Much?
As a parent, you probably get asked these questions often, but how often do you turn them back to your child and share a brief math moment? If you say, "About how far (how many, how much) do you think it is?" and then suggest ways to estimate, you can help your child recognize those times when an answer that is "close enough" is actually "good enough!" Estimation (or making an informed guess) is a useful math tool any time a precise answer isn’t necessary to solve a problem.
Going to the Game? Guess My Player!
Number puzzles are a fun summer pastime, and you can make them up on the spot at a ball game. Take turns picking a player’s number and making up clues to see if the other person can figure out who it is. For example: “My player’s number is an even number. It is more than 10, less than 15, and is a multiple of 3.”
Get Active!
Summer is a great time to help kids develop good habits around physical exercise. Help your child choose a type of exercise she enjoys (swimming, riding bikes, hiking), and then set performance goals — bike or hike a certain distance in a given amount of time or swim a set number of laps — to try to reach by the end of summer. The trick to success is to agree on an exercise schedule and use a chart or graph to keep track of progress after each session. Keeping track helps your child measure progress, keeps her motivated, and even helps her predict how long it will take to reach her goals.
The Waiting Game: What’s My Rule?
Everyone spends time waiting, whether it’s at the doctor’s office, in line at the supermarket, or sitting hungry at a restaurant. Before your child gets cranky, try this fun, simple math game that helps build algebraic thinking skills while beating the boredom! Player A picks a number between 0 and 10 and says it out loud. Player B silently picks a secret rule (plus 3, for example, or minus 2), applies the rule to the number, and says the new number out loud. Keeping that new number in mind, player A says another number, player B silently applies the same rule, and gives player A the new number. The play continues until player A has enough information to guess the rule.What has your family done this summer to avoid the summer slump? Share your tips with other ParentLife readers by leaving a comment!
Cyberchase offers fun episodes, web games, and hands-on activities and events and free, fun resources to strengthen children’s math skills over the summer. Visit Cyberchase online at www.pbskidsgo.org/cyberchase or on Facebook to access sneak peeks at the new episodes, fan events, exclusive behind-the-scenes videos, photos, and more related to the Cyberchase Summer Challenge. Watch Cyberchase on your local PBS Station.
William Summey-July 19, 2010-
Each month, ParentLife is partnering with LifeWay's Life Truths Sunday School curriculum for parents. ParentLife will publish a feature each month on one of the Life Truths' themes to help parents apply the Bible to life. During July, check out the July ParentLife Life Truths article "Change the Channel: A Guide to Media Choices." Life Truths also sponsors the Parent2Parent ning site. Check out all the tools they have to offer, including the weekly KISS Connections newsletter. KISS stands for Kids in Sunday School. This newsletter lets you know what your kids are learning in Sunday School through LifeWay materials from preschool all the way through youth group and in the Worship KidStyle children's church materials as well. This is a great tool for helping you follow up with what your kids are learning on Sunday morning. Click here to check out this week's newsletter.
Tell us what you think of the Parent 2 Parent site!
Jodi Skulley-July 16, 2010-
Two-year-old Jack knows that "Nothing runs like a Deere!"
Thanks to Jason S. for this great photo!Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!
Jodi Skulley-July 15, 2010-
July has been a crazy month in my house! We left on July 1st for a whirlwind trip to Texas to see extended family (definitely an adventure with an almost-2-year-old), came back for a few days, celebrated Jack's 2nd birthday with family, and have been involved in Vacation Bible School at our church this week! We've been going non-stop ... and it has been tiring ... but fun! It's a blast getting to see Jack experience elements of VBS for the very first time. He's been making crafts (with a lot of patient help), singing songs, and playing with his friends. But most importantly, he's been learning about Jesus!
Have your kids been to VBS this year? What were their favorite parts?
William Summey-July 14, 2010-
ParentLife is giving away a children's book to the first 25 people* who post on our blog this month. We have a closet full of children's books and are looking forward to sharing them with you! ParentLife writer Beth Bence Reinke's new book In My Bath is just one of the 25 titles we are giving away!
So let us hear from you during July! What was your favorite children's book growing up? What is your child's favorite book now? *LifeWay employees are not eligible for this giveaway. Limit one book per family. Winners will be announced on August 1, 2010.
William Summey-July 13, 2010-
This month in ParentLife, writer Kristen White wrote in "Essential Creativity" (pp. 32-33) about creativity with kids and how to be creative with them at home this summer. We wanted to give you some more great ideas. Check out these from creativity coach, Whitney Ferre.
This summer the goal is to have fun, keep it simple, and feed your children’s minds with creative activities! You don’t need fancy supplies, have to spend a lot of money, or worry about perfection (P.S. it doesn’t exist). All you have to do is provide the raw material and the backyard table. It will be a little messy, it won’t look perfect, but it will be worth it. Why? Because so much of our kids’ lives are scheduled, structured, plugged-in, and “multiple choice” that the value of preserving some good ole’ creative time, where it is all about them, is priceless! Here are my top five summer crafts projects for kids of any age:
#1 Tie-dye
Supplies: Tie-dye kit, blank t-shirt/ tank/ beach towel/etc., gloves
You can’t beat it! I recommend buying a tie-dye kit. Jacquard makes some great, simple kits that have everything you need! The colors will really stay vibrant (just follow the directions). You could do t-shirts (or cute tanks for girls, etc.). Or what about tie-dying white beach towels, bandanas, or cover-ups? You can tie-dye almost anything! This is definitely an outdoor project and be sure to wear gloves, or you and your kids’ hands will stay multi-colored for days. When you are finished, clean up is a cinch. Take the kids to the pool or turn on the sprinklers!
#2 Artsy Summer Tote
Supplies: Masking tape, non-toxic acrylic paint, plain tote bag (color is fine), paintbrush, sponges or stamps
Place the tape on the flat side of the bag in whatever shape you want. If you have younger kids, create “organized chaos” by taping paper to cover the rest of the tote so all of their creativity stays “in the lines.” Let them use a paint brush, their fingers, stamps, sponges, or anything else that is lying around that tickles their creative fancy (the beauty of outdoor craft projects). Start with one paint color at a time. If they want to use all colors, start with the lightest first and move up: yellow, orange, red, blue, purple, green. Or stay in one color family so the colors don’t get “mushed” into muddy colors. If your kids don’t have a long attention span, make it a multiple occasion craft and leave the rest for another day. Go with the flow! You have to with creative kids!
#3 Patriotic T-shirts
Supplies: Acrylic or fabric paint, star-shaped sponge or cookie cutter, paintbrush
Your kids will feel so proud when they are sporting their own patriotic designs! Start with a red, white, or blue t-shirt and use the same colors of acrylic paint. You can use standard artist acrylic paint or specialty fabric paint. For ease, use whatever you have. Acrylic paint doesn’t come out of clothes, so either option is good. Use star-shaped stamps or if you have star shaped cookie cutters you can use those by painting the edges. They can use their fingerprints to make fun designs. Let them have at it. Watch your desire to control their experience. Let it be their project. People will recognize that your “little artist” is wearing an original design and you will be the one with the “gold star” by your name!
#4 Splatter Paint Bed Set
Supplies: Solid-colored or white sheets, acrylic paint, water, yogurt cup (empty & clean)
If you have kids around the 8-12 range, they will think you are so “cool” to let them do this. It may feel scary, but just take a deep breath and remember that it is all about fueling your kids’ inspired minds! Use any set of old/new solid-colored or white sheets. Mix 2 parts acrylic paint to one part water in the individual yogurt cup size containers. This will thin the acrylic so the sheets are still comfy in the end. Lay the sheets out on the grass, away from the house, and let the kids release their inner “Jackson Pollock”! Let the sheets dry in the sun, then wash them on the gentle cycle, and let the kids make their new beds! If you need to relax after this project, treat yourself to your own creative retreat and tap your own inner-Pollock here: http://www.manetas.com/pollock/jacksonpollock_by_miltos_manetas.swf
#5 Feed the Birds … in Style!
Supplies: Wooden craft-store feeder, shoe box, or old bird feeder; acrylic paint or old house paint; glue; found objects (i.e. glitter, bottle caps, buttons, etc.)
Kids love birds! For this project you can use just about anything to make a cool feeder for your yard. Try a wooden bird feeder from a craft store, make a temporary feeder with a shoe box, or salvage an old bird feeder and give it a new life. Brainstorm with your kids about what you could turn into a bird feeder. See how many ideas you can come up with … an old shoe, a milk jug, a peanut butter jar with a wire handle to hang from a tree or hook. The possibilities are endless. Grab any acrylic paint or old house paint you have lying around and paint whatever medium you’ve chosen for your feeder. Glue on found objects such as glitter, bottle caps, buttons, those colorful erasers hanging around from goody-bags…or anything else that inspires your kids. Remember, the focus of all of these craft projects isn’t whether or not the bird feeder is still up in the fall or if the paint splattered sheets make it to the next season. It’s about encouraging and nurturing your child’s creative ability. Creativity is a “21st Century Skill” and more vital than ever for our national and global prosperity. If we’re not raising creative kids, who is going to create all of the solutions?
Whitney Ferre is a creativity coach, author, and mother of three kids. She’s the founder of The Creative Fitness Center in Nashville, TN. Featured on HGTV’s Our House, she is the author of two books, including 33 Things to Know About Raising Creative Kids. For more information about Whitney, visit www.creativelyfit.com. Provided by Whitney Ferre and Turner Publishing.
Jodi Skulley-July 12, 2010-
In this month's issue of ParentLife, Evelyn Hanes gave some very helpful guidelines for healthy weight loss in our "A Healthy Life" department. But what about the kids? What should children do to maintain a healthy weight? Check out the following guidelines for kids from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Eat five fruits and vegetables each day.- Participate in one hour of physical exercise each day.
- Limit screen time to less than two hours each day.
- Limit sugar sweetened drinks.
- Eat breakfast every day.
- Choose low-fat dairy products (ages 2 and up).
- Eat meals together as a family.
- Limit fast food, take out, and eating out.
- Prepare foods at home as a family.
- Eat a diet rich in calcium and fiber.
Following these guidelines for your child will help him grow healthy and strong ... and they are good guildelines for the whole family!
What healthy habits does your family have that might help other families who want to lead a healthier lifestyle? Share your ideas with us by leaving a comment!
Jodi Skulley-July 9, 2010-
Three-year-old Kariya loves mommy's rain boots!
Thanks to Rachel L. for this great photo!
Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!
Jodi Skulley-July 8, 2010-
Traveling with an infant or toddler can quickly become a bad experience (both for you and for the travelers around you) if you are not prepared. Take it from me! My family (including my almost 2-year-old) just returned from a trip to Texas to visit extended family — an 18-hour drive! Thankfully, our trip was a very positive experience.
If you are traveling this summer with your an infant or toddler, keep the following pointers in mind.
- Remember to build in plenty of extra time, especially if you are driving. We did our best to stop about every two hours to let Jack run and wiggle. That kept him happier in the car. It took us longer to get do our destination, but keeping him comfortable and happy was well worth the time.
- Stock up on small, inexpensive toys to entertain your child when you most need it. We borrowed some "new" toys from friends and family and bought a few of our own. When Jack got bored and started to fuss, we simply gave him a new toy and that made him happy. One of his favorite travel toys was a Magna-Doodle, which is great because we didn't have to worry about crayons melting or ink getting all over him or the car. Check your local dollar store or clearance shelves for some fun travel toys.
- Remember to only pack toys that you can live with. If a toy is annoying to you at home, it will more than likely annoy you even more when you travel.
- Be sure not to be too quick to pull out a new toy. Pace yourself so that you have plenty of options for the whole trip.
- Stick to a familiar routine as much as possible but be flexible too. Routines help your child know what to expect and create a sense of peace and calm. Even though we were sleeping in unfamiliar places, sticking to our bedtime routine helped Jack know it was time for bed. At the same time, being flexible was important. At home, we lay Jack down awake and let him fall asleep on his own. However, in a hotel room with us present that would have taken him hours, so I rocked him to sleep each night. We created a new routine for the trip. By the third night, Jack was familiar with the new routine and fell asleep much faster! Be willing to adapt your routine as necessary.
- Don't forget your child's favorite blanket, stuffed animal, or comfort object. I don't know what we would have done if we had forgotten Jack's favorite blanket.
- Be sure to pack extra everything if possible. We actually only brought one package of baby wipes for the trip and ran out. We had to make a stop on the first leg of our trip home just to buy baby wipes. We used more than normal because we were in unfamiliar (often unclean) places.
If you are lucky ... maybe your child will do a whole lot of this while you travel:
For more trips for traveling with your baby (especially a newborn), don't miss our Birth to 12 Months Growth Spurt article "Baby on Board" this month. It provides many more travel tips as well as some fun travel toys!
William Summey-July 7, 2010-
All month — Family Golf Month
Throughout the month of July, affordable family fun is just a short par 3 away as PGA/LPGA Professionals nationwide encourage families to hit the links through special activities during the fifth annual Family Golf Month.
Family Golf Month provides a structured, yet casual, opportunity for families to learn the game of golf and spend uninterrupted quality time together. Every family member—young and old—can participate and receive the benefits a round of golf provides, including fresh air and beautiful outdoor scenery as well as a healthy dose of exercise.
Currently, there are more than 1,800 Family Golf Programs currently scheduled nationwide, including family golf clinics and play days, Take Your Daughter to the Course Week (July 5-11,) and Bring Your Kids to the Golf Range (July). Consumers can find a complete list of facilities that are participating in Family Golf Month, along with details on specific events and online registration, by city and state on the Play Golf America Web site at PlayGolfAmerica.com.
July 9 — Cow Appreciation Day
Chick-fil-A’s seventh annual Cow Appreciation Day is on July 9. On this fun-filled day, any customer who visits a Chick-fil-A restaurant dressed in a full cow costume will receive a FREE meal. Partially cow-dressed customers will receive a FREE entree.
To celebrate Cow Appreciation Day, Chick-fil-A has launched a photo contest at www.cowappreciationday.com to award the best cow-dressed adult and child with FREE Chick-fil-A products for a year. The best cow-dressed child also has an opportunity to win a $1,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond and a digital camera. The web site also includes costume ideas and downloadable cow spots that can be used on your web site.
This exciting celebration continues to grow and is sure to gather quite a bovine following this year as it has in years past!
July 12-24 — PRECEPT MINISTRIES BIBLE STUDY WORKSHOPS
While celebrating 40 years of introducing people across the world to the Inductive Bible Study Method, Kay Arthur and Precept Ministries International is bringing its Inductive Bible Study Method to your back door in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Visit Precept Ministries International during July 2010 and participate in a series of Bible study workshops using the Inductive Bible Study Method, as well as a 5 day study programs on Ezra and Esther. Discover a new way to study your Bible by attending one or several of Precept’s Training Workshops.
The ministry holds Training Workshops several times through the year. Since popular classes often sell out and some advanced workshops require pre-workshop homework, registering early is recommended. For more information or to register, visit www.precept.org and click on the "Workshops & Classes" tab or call Precept at 888-678-5660. July 16-18 — Target’s Arts & Wonder Free Family Event
This summer, Target is opening the doors to museums, galleries and other venues across the country for one activity-packed weekend. From July 16-18, 2010 over 80 institutions in 30 cities from coast-to-coast will be participating in Target’s Arts & Wonder Free Family Event.
Committed to making the arts affordable and accessible, Target is granting FREE access to cultural institutions for an entire weekend, giving families across the country the opportunity to step into a whole new world where they can explore and learn together. So Moms looking for unique, fun activities can take her kids on an art-tastic adventure where they can ponder masterpieces and get crafty with hands-on activities, giving the whole family a learning experience they don’t want to miss.
William Summey-July 6, 2010-
We are proud to have Dr. Linda Mintle in ParentLife each month answering questions submitted from readers. To submit a question for Dr. Mintle, e-mail it to parentlife@lifeway.com and include "? for Dr. Mintle" on the subject line. This month we have an extra Q&A from Dr. Mintle we wanted to share.
Q: There is talk in our school about exposing our kindergartners to sex education. I do not understand why the school wants to introduce this at such a young age. What is the thinking behind this?
A: Less than a year ago, the United Nations (UN) recommended that 5-year-olds be taught about gender violence and self-gratification, concepts 5-year-olds cannot even grasp. The UN purported that these issues are age appropriate and that children who live in a world in which AIDS and HIV are rampant must be informed. The guidelines also recommended teaching 9-year-olds the “safety of abortion; the positive and negative effects of aphrodisiacs; and about homophobia, transphobia, and abuse of power.” What you are seeing is a political ideology being introduced as a guise for sex education. It is age-inappropriate and not information most parents would want addressed at young ages. The secular view of sex is not God's view — a sacred act reserved for a husband and wife — and you do not need to have the secular view forced on your children. You have the right to direct your child’s education even when she attends a public school. Speak out. You do not have to expose your child to sexual content you deem inappropriate. You are a taxpayer and have say in what the school curriculum will include.
Suggested Resource: How and When to Tell Your Kids About Sex by Stan and Brenna Jones (Nav Press 2007)
William Summey-July 5, 2010-
Do you have some great photos you took yesterday of your kids on the 4th of July? Remember to send those in to us for our Fun Friday Photo contest!E-mail your photo, identify your child's name and age, and suggest a caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com.
Check back each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!
William Summey-July 4, 2010-
The team at ParentLife would like to wish you and your family a happy and safe Independence Day! If you missed it, please check out our 4th of July Safety Tips from last week.
May God bless you and the USA!
William Summey-July 2, 2010-
Aidan, 4, and Tristan, 2, fell asleep on the return trip from Great Grandma's!
Thanks to Bethany M. for this great photo!
Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!
William Summey-July 1, 2010-
What was your favorite children's book growing up? I still fondly remember Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. I loved it so much (and still have not seen the movie based on it)! 
We read so many books to our boys that I can't even begin to list their favorites. When we visited the beach with our family in May, we found a new favorite that I read with my 18-month-old nephews, Noah and Nicholas: Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann.
This July, ParentLife is going to give away a children's book to the first 25 people* who post on our blog this month. We have a closet full of children's books and are looking forward to sharing them with you! ParentLife writer Beth Bence Reinke's new book In My Bath is just one of the 25 titles we are giving away! So let us hear from you during July! What was your favorite children's book growing up? What is your child's favorite book now?
*LifeWay employees are not eligible for this giveaway. Limit one book per family. Winners will be announced on August 1, 2010.
William Summey--
Congratulations to our five Jonni McCoy gift package winners for our June Giveaway. Theresa, Wendy, Jennifer, Wanda, and Darcey won Jonni's books Miserly Moms: Living Well on Less in a Tough Economy and Healthy Meals for Less: Great-Tasting Simple Recipes Under $1 a Serving.
Stay tuned for the July Giveaway to be posted later today!
