Author: Eliza Ferree

I was recently sent a bottle of Pedia-Lax “Fiber Gummies” to review and I must admit I wasn’t too sure how these would go over with the kids. Each little gummy is in the shape of the little Penguin on the bottle. Or myself for that matter, see I’m one that doesn’t normally give my kids anything “gummy.” Fiber Gummies are a great way of getting kids to have their daily dose of fiber and my guess is not every kid is getting this. I know mine didn’t always get the daily recommended amount.

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Facts on Fiber Gummies:
– A child should take 3 gummies a day. (1 at a time of course)
– 3 gummies are equal to one of the following: 3 small brussel sprouts, 1/2 cup broccoli, 3/4 cup of carrots.
– In 2009 American Academy of Pediatrics updated their guidelines and a child 4-8 years old should have 25 grams of fiber a day. (2-3 years need 19, 9-11 need 26 for female and 31 for males)
– Fiber Gummies are dentist approved and have no sugar added.
– Glutten-free
– Natural fruit flavors

My kids actually like these, even though they are ’sugar free’, in fact when they get home from school they ask if they can have their other gummy. I love the fact that even if they don’t eat the veggies I serve at least they are getting the amount they need. My 9-year-old says she thinks they taste great and its healthy so she knows I’m okay with them. My 6-year-old says they taste juicy and wiggle in her mouth. Another reason I like them, they aren’t hard like regular vitamins.

You can buy these at Target or Walgreens for $7.99 for 60 gummies but right now if you go to www.fibergummies.com you can download the $1.00 off coupon and make them cheaper.
Want to win a bottle of Fiber Gummies?

GIVEAWAY:
(1) Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies bottle (60 gummies)

Rules: Comment below telling me one Fiber source your child hates.
Extra Entries:
– blog/tweet this post
– 1 way (besides vitamins) you get your kid to eat their fiber
– Become a Fan of Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies on Facebook
– Become a fan of Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies on Twitter
US Only.

Deadline: The drawing will be February 16, 2010 at noon (central time). You will have 24 hours to contact me after I post, then if there is no contact I will be forced to draw a new name. ([email protected])

(I was provided a free sample to review from the company. This review is strictly my opinion with their facts, this may not be the same opinion for everyone.  The winner will get a free bottle from the company, it will not be coming from me. )

Post from: Blisstree

Fiber Gummies Review & Giveaway

What do you do when you have a school that’s trying to convince all the students to walk to school? You applaud them! A West Lafette school

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in Indiana is doing just that, they’ve decided that they want their school to be safe for the children to attend and here’s what they are doing:

1. They are urging children to walk to school instead of riding bikes, taking the bus or even driving to school.

2. They are planning on using “The Safe Routes to School” and making the list known to children and parents. This will include traffic enforcement to make sure there is someone there to watch out for the children.

To be honest I think this is a wonderful idea and for a future Indiana resident this encourages me a lot. Out here they don’t have this plan, however when we were in the military the school there did do this and we always felt safe that there were safety guards and traffic enforcements throughout the route. This is also a great way to get kids fit or at least exercising a bit before coming home. Any thoughts?

Read more about it at Chicago Tribune

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School Encourages Walking to School

I was floored this week when I read, “Diary of Anne Frank pulled from a School shelf.” I mean how many of you remember the story of Anne Frank? The reason it was pulled was due to

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two sentences Anne used when describing her “vagina.” But apparently some parents weren’t too happy to hear about this and asked that they skip this part of the lessons, but instead of skipping it the Culpepper (Virginia) School decided to pull that particular book from the class and use another one that doesn’t include this passage.

“There are little folds of skin all over the place, you can hardly find it,” wrote Anne Frank in her famous diary. “The little hole underneath is so terribly small that I simply can’t imagine how a man can get in there, let alone how a whole baby can get out!”

Apparently there are many forms of this story, with each one having been edited and changed a bit. The one that the parents were upset over is the “Diary of Anne Frank” the Definitive Edition. This is a red book that was published in 1995 that has been unedited and contains everything that would’ve been stated.

The good news is that the school didn’t take out this lesson from their list, instead they are just using the edited editions. What are your thoughts on this? Should they have bent over and took this particular book off the reading list or kept the one they were using?

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Diary of Anne Frank Pulled From School

Blip Toys has announced a recall on 15,000 of their “Nature Wonders HD Pinto Horse Toy Figures that were made in China due to high levels of lead. The figures were sold at Walmart at the beginning of 09 until July 2009 for $4 each. 

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CPSC:
This recall involves the Nature Wonders HD pinto horse toy figures with model number 92093. The plastic horse is white with brown spots and measures about 4 inches tall. The model number and “Nature Wonders HD” are printed on the retail tag wrapped around the horse’s leg.

Those that have one of these horses can call Blip Toys at 888 405 7696 or visit www.bliptoys.com/recall.  The toys were manufactured in China and currently there have been no reports of injuries. But they’d like to keep the reports to nil and have asked that if you do have one of these you immediately take it away from children and return them for a refund.  Those that return the toys will get a free replacement toy, it has not been released exactly what, just that it will be free.

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Toy Recall: Horse Toy Figure of Blip Toys

Got any toys that contain led, or may have been on a recall list? Head on over to Toys R Us this weekend as they are having a Trade In event. The Great-Trade-In allows parents and caregivers to trade in potentially unsafe old and

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second-hand baby products in exchange for a savings on select, new items.

Last year there were over 50 toy recalls and this doesn’t even cover items for babies or clothes, which Toys R Us is taking too. So, if you have any of those items, go and get a refund on it, store discount and buy some new items. This sounds like the perfect opportunity to get those fresh new toys for Spring, day care homes or even those items you couldn’t afford during the holidays.

The “Great Trade-In” event begins Friday, January 29 and continues through Saturday, February 20 in Babies”R”Us and Toys”R”Us locations nationwide. During this time, stores will accept returns of any used cribs, car seats, bassinets, strollers, travel systems, play yards, high chairs and toddler beds in exchange for a 25% savings on the purchase of any new baby item, in any of these product categories, from select manufacturers.

Toys R Us even sent me an email with a list of ideas of items they are looking for so here it is:

· Car seats can sustain damage in an accident that may not be visible to the naked eye, but could prevent the seat from functioning properly;
· Car seats have expiration dates, as the materials can deteriorate over time, potentially making the car seat less effective in a crash. Parents can check with the car seat manufacturer to determine the recommended period of use for a particular car seat;
· Certain baby products, particularly car seats, are regularly introduced with new innovations in technology that can improve the products’ safety efficacy;
· Products made of or that contain certain materials, like wood and plastic, can deteriorate when exposed to extreme weather conditions, like heat, potentially compromising safety integrity; and
· Parts or instruction books for proper assembly, installation or use may be missing.

Brands participating in the “Great Trade-In” event include Babi Italia, Baby Cache, Baby Trend, Bergamo, Bertini, Britax, Carter’s, Chicco, Contours by Kolcraft, Cosco, Delta, Eddie Bauer, Evenflo, Graco, Jeep, Little Tikes, Safety 1st, Sorelle and Step2. Customers can save 25% on a new purchase, from any of the specified product categories and from any of the aforementioned manufacturers, in Babies“R”Us and Toys“R”Us stores nationwide on the day they trade in their used item.

Here are a few items on sale this weekend:
– BOGO 1/2 off on all animal alley plush toys
– $79.98 Just like home wooden kitchens
– 1/2 off Imaginairum wooden toys
– $199.99 Flexible Flyer Newcastle swing set
– $199.99 Power Wheels Stinger

Post from: Blisstree

Toys R Us’ Trade In Event

A children’s cloth book is being recalled for one page that has a high amount of lead. The page is a small red, plastic circle that is sewn in as a spot on the dinosaur, Diplodocus. The book in question is “Big Rex and

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Friends” a cute story about a dinosaur that sold at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Amazon, etc for $9.

Description from CPSC:

This recall involves “Big Rex and Friends” cloth books. The book has a black and white striped border with a red dinosaur on the cover. The words “Big Rex and Friends” are printed on the cover. ISBN 031249260X or 9780312492601 is printed on the back of the book.

The recall is (for now) being announced as a voluntary recall and they expect that there are 204,000 of these books out there. If you have one of these adorable cloth books feel free to call St.Martins Press at 800 347 9411 or visit www.priddybooks.com/recall. Those returning the books will get a full refund.

Post from: Blisstree

Book Recall: Big Rex and Friends

An Ohio teacher is probably in a lot of heat with the school about now, especially after she and her aide put a boy’s hair up in a 3 pony tails and paraded him around school all because she didn’t like the boy having long hair.

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It didn’t stop here though, the teacher got other kids to laugh and make fun of the boy. When the boy’s mother found out she didn’t get the type of response she’d hoped and is currently suing the school for doing this to her son. I must ask, how would she have felt if someone came up to her and shaved off all of her hair and introduced her as Mack.

I’m sorry but this type of behavior from a teacher should never be tolerated, a teacher is suppose to show restraint even if they have a dislike for a student. Obviously this teacher did NOT like this student and went out of his way to torture him. Yes, I stated torture because that’s basically what this was, or you could say bully him. Children are taught to go to school and not to let a bully get to you and go for help when there is one. What should this child (only 11) should’ve done, this was his own teacher?

LA Times reports:
The teacher pulled the boy’s hair into three ponytails — one above each ear and one atop his head — with bands and introduced him to the class as a new student with a female name, the lawsuit alleges. The teacher’s aide walked him to other sixth-grade classrooms to show his ponytails, and classmates laughed and called him names including “girl,” ”ponytails” and “pigtails,” according to the lawsuit.

Being forced to show classmates the ponytails “caused J.A. extreme humiliation, embarrassment and emotional distress,” and school officials failed to protect him against “gender-based harassment,” the lawsuit alleges.

What are your thoughts on this? I hope she wins this case, these ‘adults’ need to be taught some type of lesson.

Post from: Blisstree

Mean Teacher Puts Boy’s Hair in Ponytails

I have been on a long road trip this weekend with four children in the car, which of course leaves me with a ton of “parenting” stuff to write about. I thought we’d take the humorous view of “Things Kids Say” but on road trips.

IMG: Elizabeth Ferree

If you have a few that are not in the list below, which I’m sure there will be several, please list them in the comment section.

1.  Mooom, he took such and such.
2.  I have to pee. 
3.  I’m hungry.
4.  Are we there yet?
5.  I think I ate too much.
6.  I think I’m gonna get sick.
7.  Blek!
8.  Wow, this is where we are staying?
9.  I called it first (whining about who gets to use the bathroom first)
10.  I’m bored.

Thankfully we did not have #7 actually happen on this trip but we have had it happen on several occasions and learned the signs.

Post from: Blisstree

10 Things Kids Say During Trips

This week I’m doing changing the reviews up a bit and talking about some games that some of you may know and some may not know. See we are

IMG: Elizabeth Ferree

currently on a road trip which means a lot of CAR GAMES will be played, some of these games are made up and others I learned as a child.

ABC Game:  The ABC game is just what you think. Look outside your car window and when you see a letter “A” call it and the name. For example: There is a U-Haul right beside me that has an “A” in it, now I’d move on to “B.”  The game continues until you get to “Z.”  Some play this game where a person must see the “A” in the beginning of a word, we found that a bit too difficult with our kids.

Out of State License Plate: This game is once again just like it sounds, however unlike the regular game we don’t hit one another. Instead we call “Texas” and get the point. The kids love looking for different license plates and it keeps them busy.  This game can also be done with slug bugs, trucks, jeeps, color of vehicles, etc. 

I Spy:  One person starts the game off by spotting something everyone can see and states, “I Spy.”  The others in the car must guess what they spy by asking questions or just shouting out. If someone guesses it is their turn, however if no one guess the “it” person can go again or give their turn to another player.

What are some games you like to play on road trips? All the games mentioned above can be played with anyone that knows the alphabet, colors, etc. My two year old loves playing the jeep game with us.

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Friday Game Night: Road Trip Games

We’ve all taught our children about not talking to strangers and how they should never take candy from strangers, but there’s one thing we don’t like to

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 talk about, especially to our children and that’s perverts. Why do we avoid this subject at all costs? Simple, because we don’t want to scare our children anymore than we already have about the kidnappers, etc. We also don’t want to think about the harmful things a predator wants to do to our children. But that’s why it is important to teach them what to do, just in case it ever happens.

–  Does your child know not to go with a stranger?
–  Does your child know they can talk to you about anything?
–  Does your child know how to say NO?
–  Does your child know his/her body parts by name?
–  Does your child know about the buddy system?

As parents we want to do everything to protect our children, that includes teaching them everything we can to help them survive this world. None of us want harm to come to our children, none of us want these people to live within miles of our children…but it happens and that’s why we must be prepared.

This past week a news channel in Grand Falls released a press release about a sex offender moving to their neighborhood in the hopes to get parents to watch out for this person and to keep an eye around the children. The report went as far as describing what this man looks like, now I wouldn’t suggest you show your child every picture of a sex offender in your area but they should know that there are “bad people” out there that do want to hurt them.

–  Talk to your child about how it isn’t okay for others to touch them.
–  Make sure they know what the terms (body parts) are actually called.
–  Have your child buddy up with someone if they must walk to school. (it is harder for a stranger to abduct one when there are two or more)

If you can think of more ways of protecting your child please voice it here and let others know.

Post from: Blisstree

Do Your Kids Know What to Do…

‘Sexting’ has become a very popular trend among high school students but it has also become a problem. No longer are a boyfriend and a girlfriend keeping it between themselves, instead one gets mad and

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blasts the nude photo all over the net. Video tapes are no longer private either, these are easily taken off a cell phone and uploaded to youtube or another equal site. So what can be done about this? Nothing, at least not yet.

Here’s a question for all parents out there:  Does Sexting equal child porn? I’m being serious and want many to think about this. I’ve heard through parents that they picked up their child’s phone before when it rang and found a naked boy/girl on it. Imagine the horror/shock of these parents.  Now some are sickened by it and want their child to cut off all ties, some just don’t care. It’s what kids do. Now here’s another question: 

If say you had a daughter that was 16 or 17 and she had a boyfriend that was 18 and sent a text of his nude body to her what would you think? I’ve heard of parents pressing the “statutory rape” when they are the same age and have sex. Could sexting be considered child porn then? If the boyfriend and girlfriend break up and he posts nude pictures of your daughter online isn’t that considered child porn?

For those of you that have kids with cell phones, (it doesn’t matter what age) you may want to discuss these issues with them. Remember it isn’t just that they send it to one person, but that one person could send it to more and end up in the wrong hands of some sick person that would only want to do harm to your precious child or someone else’s precious child.  What are your thoughts on these questions?

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Does ‘Sexting’ Equal Child Porn?

People we are no longer a country where everyone watches after everyone else’s children, instead of having “Mr.Rogers” as our next door neighbor or even the little old lady that makes chocolate chip cookies and passes them out to all the kids she sees we have murderers, sexual offenders and rapists .    When children go missing I’ve noticed a big trend in parents and cities locating all sexual offenders, my problem with this is that I always hear, “I didn’t know that site existed.” I want to introduce everyone to

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a very familiar tool for me and my family whenever we move, it is called “The Family Watchdog.”  Here’s a few quick steps to find out how safe your neighbors really are:

1.  Head over to “The Family Watchdog” and type in your street name, city, state and zip.
2.  You will now be taken to a map that shows all offenders in the area, some will be on the map but some will not. 

Do you know the top 5 states with the most Sexual offenders?
1  Texas
2  California
3  Florida
4  Michigan
5  Ohio

A quick search of my town brought up 115 known offenders and 13 non-mappable offenders.  Thankfully there are none around my house, of course this doesn’t mean my guard should drop. Whenever we have someone move off the street and someone else move in I tend to check “The Family Watchdog” a month later just to make sure.

The sad thing is it has to come to this but I’m glad to know that there is a tool like this that will make me feel slightly safer at where I am living. Keep in mind that this does not mean that there are no sexual offenders near you, only there are no known. Remember not all sexual offenders have been caught, some are still laying low and waiting to strike on children. Watch for the signs of the sneaky neighbor that only seems to watch your child or invite your child over without you there.

Some believe they can trust their neighbors but a town in Kansas recently discovered even those you thought you could trust could end up your worst neighbor. Police Chief was recently arrested and is being charged with 17 felonies, 1 rape, indecent liberties with a child. Thankfully those that have got caught and released must abide by the law of registering no matter where they are:

Any offender must also notify the authorities regarding any change to residence.

I love this site because it not only lets you know what crime they did but it normally gives an up-to-date photo of them. This way you always know who your a looking out for.   Just think, there are over a million sexual offenders in the United States alone and he/she could just be your next door neighbor.  Will you be finding out if you have a sexual offender in your area?

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Do You Know Your Neighbor?

Two years ago a group of teens made a pregnancy pact to all get pregnant at the same time, the entire world went nuts when this news was released but I think it was worse because many were actually pregnant with the pact was revealed.

On Saturday, January 23, 2010, Lifetime will be airing a brand new movie. This movie is one some of you may dread while others will find it welcoming. The  Pregnancy Pact is about this exact pact from 2008 when the Gloucester High School Group of teens came out. 

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One journalist decided to write up the story and form it into a movie. Now parents all over will be able to sit down and watch this movie with their own teens and possibly discuss the topic. Here’s a description of the movie below:

The Pregnancy Pact:

…the film explores the costs of teen pregnancy with a story of a fictional “pregnancy pact” set against the backdrop of actual news reports about teen pregnancy from June 2008. Sidney Bloom (Thora Birch), an on-line magazine journalist, returns to her hometown to investigate the sudden spike in teenage pregnancies at her old high school. Almost immediately, she comes up against Lorraine Dougan (Nancy Travis), the head of the local conservative values group and mother of Sara, a newly pregnant 15-year-old. Meanwhile, the school nurse (Camryn Manheim) tries to convince the school to provide contraception to students to address the pregnancy epidemic but is met with great opposition from the school and community. As the number of pregnant girls climbs to 18, a media firestorm erupts when Time Magazine reports that the rise in the number of pregnancies at the school is the result of a “pregnancy pact.”

Once again, will you be watching this with your teen?

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The Pregnancy Pact: Will You Watch?

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Friday Game Night: LPS Mall Madness

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Friday Game Night: LPS Mall Madness

No, he isn’t but ever since the age of 2, this little boy has got the pat down treatment at every plairport he’s been to. Why? Because of his name,Mikey Winston Hick. Apparently he, as well as

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13,500 other people share the same name as a terrorist. So whenever the name pops up it shows a high security risk and even though he’s a little boy he still gets the same treatment.

I can only imagine the horror his parents were under the first time this happened….at the age of 2! Could you imagine having to have your child scanned and given a pat down because his name is the same as a terrorist? I mean isn’t it obvious he’s a baby? Check out his mother’s first sign of trouble:

NYPost:
His mother tells The New York Times she sensed trouble when her son was a baby and she couldn’t get a seat for him at a Florida airport. She says airline officials explained his name “was on the list.”

Here’s the funny part, he’s a junior and his father has never been flagged down on a flight. Check out what WIRED.com had to say:

He was recently frisked aggressively when his family flew to the Bahamas for vacation on Jan 2, just days after the so-called “underwear bomber” attempted to ignite explosives on a flight from Amsterdam to Michigan.

“Up your arms, down your arms, up your crotch — someone is patting your 8-year-old down like he’s a criminal,” Mikey’s mother told the newspaper. “A terrorist can blow his underwear up and they don’t catch him. But my 8-year-old can’t walk through security without being frisked.”

Mikey’s mother, Najlah Feanny Hicks, is a photojournalist who was cleared by the Secret Service to travel aboard Air Force II with Vice President Al Gore during the Clinton administration.

She said she wanted to take pictures of her son being frisked at the airport but was told it was prohibited. She said that while her son “may have terroristic tendencies at home, he does not have those on a plane.”

You know I totally support adults having to go through this, but a 2 year old? Or even an 8-year-old. Wow. I’ve noticed many are commenting on other blogs/news sites and asking how a toddler could be stopped, but not a terrorist or how 2 strangers could walk into a White House Party without being noticed? I think we definitely need security, but when you can recognize by sight that a 2 year old is NOT a terrorist then you shouldn’t pat them down.

Today, this “possible terrorist” is 8 years old and a Cub Scout…he will forever have to go through the security check point with all eyes on him if he ever plans to fly anywhere. What are your thoughts on this? Should they have done this to a toddler? An 8-year-old?

Post from: Blisstree

Can an 8-Year-Old be a Terrorist?

Facebook has become extremly popular in the past year, so much that it has some parents questioning the health value with their kids. Parents are becoming worried that their

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children, most of them being teenagers are becoming addicted to it. There are several experts that have advice on the topic, but I want to ask you a few questions:

1.  Do they spend more time on Facebook then on their books?
2.  Do they get their homework done?
3.  Are their grades dropping?
4.  Are they accessing their facebook page on their cell phone when they are at school?

If you answered yes to more than one of these, you most likely have a problem or a possible problem on your hands that you want to start looking at now. ABC News has an interview (which I posted below) of a girl that realized she was becoming obsessed and went as far as asking her sister to give her a new password and once a week to change it at the beginning of the week (Monday) and not give it to her until Friday so she could monitor her own time online.

Here’s a few tips they have for you:

To read more follow the link: Tips for Controlling your Teens Facebook time.

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Does Your Teen Have a Facebook Addiction?

Good Evening readers! I hope you had a wonderful week, as I mentioned yesterday today is “Game Night” in our household and our choice game of the week is …..SCRABBLE. You know the game, where you make words out of letters and count up your points. Here’s a review of the game, some tips, a few rules and finally our own ideas.

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(The following review was played with two adults and two children. Their ages are 9 and 12)

SCRABBLE: (Vintage Games Collection) Crossword Game
by Hasbro
2-4 player game
$19.99

First, unlike many of our board games this one came in a very nice cherry-colored wooden box. Keeping the game in the box means keeping it nice and looking new almost every time we pull it out. Not to mention this keeps everything organized and gives us more shelf space, due to its shape this could easily be placed on a bookshelf or on the top of the refrigerator. Inside the box is a neatly folded (to look like a pamphlet) gameboard, 100 letter tiles, 4 racks, instructions and a soft, velvet pouch. The top of the box slides off sideways which makes opening and closing it a snap.

From my own experience, my two children have loved playing SCRABBLE so much that each morning this week one of them would pull it out and set it up. This has become a daily game, sometimes it is played three times a day with games played one or two times. They love trying to figure out words and see who gets the best score.

The rules are pretty simple:
Each player draws 7 tiles, one letter is laid in the center of the board and each player makes words. When a player can’t spell a word they need to draw. The player that does play a word will need to draw that many letters from the velvet bag. Throughout the game score is kept by adding the number at the bottom of the tiles together, plus adding additional points depending which block their letter falls on. Some blocks will read “Double letter score or triple word score.”

Ex: an “e” is laid in the center
Example someone plays, someone else may place the word “tile” off the end or beginning “e.”

At the end of the game the scores are all added up and those that have tiles still on their rack must add the bottom number up and subtract it from their total. The person with the highest number points wins the game.

IMG: Elizabeth Ferree

TIPS for Education: Parents help your children think outside the box. Pull out a dictionary and sit it on the table along with a few sheets of paper and pencils. Whenever your child asks about a spelling or a word you used have them write it down and look it up. This will help them increase their vocabulary and show them how to use a dictionary at the same time.

Family Rules: We like to use the rules I mentioned above, however some days we will have only 3 letter words, farm words, names, 5 letter words, etc. We always explain our game of choice before playing, if someone isn’t playing the draw from the bag to select the first letter.

By the way, according to the National Rules the person that uses all 7 letters from their board on one turn gets an additional 50 points added to their total. I told my crew this rule tonight and everyone is really trying to think hard to get those extra points.

Trivia: Did you know this game was invented in 1930s by a man named Alfred M. Butts when he was unemployed? It was also rejected at first and didn’t get manufactured until he teamed up with James Brunot.

Thank you for visiting our Friday Game Night, hope you join us next week. Don’t forget to tell us what you are playing.

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Friday Game Night: SCRABBLE

Good Afternoon readers, I thought with the new year I needed to do something special for ya’ll.  So we’ve (the kids, hubby and I) got together and have decided to do something new for the Parenting Section of Blisstree. Exactly what is it you ask? Friday Game Night!

IMG: The Life of a Home Mom

For those that may not know, I have four children which means I will have plenty of time to play games. Every Friday we play a board game, or two….okay sometimes we do it all night long. This is a fun time that we all get to unwind and just hang out with one another, normally during the rest of the week everyone is rushing to get homework done, eat and then the bedtime routines so this is nice.

I stated before that I have four children, their ages are: 2 (turning 3 in March), 6, 9 and 12 (turns 13 in March). Obviously each one has their own preference to board games, video games, outside or even inside but we all play the games to be fair. I have two of each sex, the girls are the middle ages and love all girly type of games. The oldest loves thinking games, he has ever since I taught him to play chess at the age of 3. By the way I no longer play against him if I want to win at Chess.

So the basic idea is I’ll announce the game of choice and we’ll review and rate it. I’ll talk about the educational value or if it is strictly an entertainment type of game. (by the way I can find almost any game educational) I’d also love to hear your opinions on each review/game I mention and if you have a favorite I want to know that as well. Sound like fun? Okay, well I’ll see ya tomorrow.

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Friday Game Night is Coming Soon

Something that happens every year, however every time New Year’s Eve comes around there always seems to be yet another idiot that decides it would be cool to break in the New Year by shooting off a round in the

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sky. Once again a bullet went stray and hit a kid, this year I read that two different kids got hit on New Year’s Eve.

One boy, 4-year-old Marquel Peters, got hit by a stray bullet while in a church service. Yes, he was in church when he got struck and died from the wound.

Down in Miami, yet another child was struck, this time in the stomach by a stray bullet but currently he is still alive. This child was actually having a late dinner at 1 am with family at Mai Tardi restaurant when the bullet shot through.

Police are searching who shot those bullets, one in Atlanta, the other down in Miami. Course chances are no one will come forward. People need to realize that shooting bullets on new year’s eve is stupid, those that do it need to be shot themselves instead injuring or killing innocent people.  If  they must shoot off something let it be blanks. I know many cities have done away with allowing fire arms to go off and will be fined or put in jail for the night if they do shoot them off.

Post from: Blisstree

New Year’s Bullets Hit Kids

Everyone is making their new year’s resolutions about now, chances are some are wondering how they will add more family time with their kids.

You know, not just how to fit in 10 minutes to help them with their homework after coming home from a long day at the office, but more time….fun time. Here’s a few quick ideas:

IMG: Eliza Ferree

Play with them! That’s right, get right down on the ground if you have a baby and explore the world through their eyes. Play games like peek-a-boo, crawl around (they’ll laugh up a storm), laugh, roll a ball to them, etc.

Older children love board games, go out and buy a bunch of them and sit down and play. You could even do a family game night every week that way no matter what you have it scheduled in. But don’t take the game too seriously, this only makes children resent game time and you want everyone to enjoy it.

Teens also love game night, or you could purchase the Wii or something equal to it, I know there are cheaper versions out there. Grab a few family games, you know the type where everyone gets to play and have fun!

Once the weather warms up head outside and play football, tag, soccer or even basketball with your kids. If you aren’t fit, start walking with the family. Getting everyone involved could be a lot of fun and they’ll surely have memories. If the weather is cold and snow on the ground, head out and make snowmen, throw snowballs (lightly), etc. Playing with your kids could be a lot of fun, but it’ll take you getting down and dirty to do it. Sometimes you don’t even have to get dirty.

Post from: Blisstree

Take a break & Play with Your Kids