My Kid is Smarter Than Yours|Don’t cry. I don’t hold it against you.
Nov
03
Filed Under (Parenting) by Corey
Jill Brennan asked:
The experts all agree that children learn by exploring the world around them and one way that they do this is through the creativeness of play. If you’ve watched any young children at play then you’ll know that they don’t necessarily need childrens toys to interact with to learn. The most obscure object can become a source of entertainment and amusement. However, childrens toys act as stimulants encouraging your child to discover and develop new skills and have new experiences. It makes sense then to focus on toys that help your child learn in a constructive way. But how do you decide which children’s educational toys are best for your child?
The kind of stimulating educational toys that your little one will respond to best are those that allow him or her to discover and encourage their own personal learning style. Some children like to concentrate on one activity and explore all they can around that while others like to have a wide variety of choices so that they can easily move from one to another. For example, a child that likes to concentrate for long periods will probably enjoy a complicated puzzle (appropriate to their age) but a child who gets distracted easily would probably learn more with a range of simpler puzzles that get increasingly difficult.
Have you ever stopped to think about how you like to learn? Each of us has a favorite way of discovering new things. If you take a book of fiction for example, you would find that some people prefer audio books because they can more easily take in information aurally, while others need to have a book in their hands to be able to assimilate the words. Others would rather watch a play or movie of the book than read it. And others would prefer to plot out what happened in a logical way through a mind map or linear drawing rather than trudge through the detail of what occurred. While children are still developing, their educational styles change depending on their skill level, however, most have a preference for a particular way of learning.
If you can’t quite work out whether your child responds best to visual, aural, touch or logical styles of education then the best thing to do is take time to observe how they interact with the learning toys around them. Do you have to ask them repeatedly to do things or do they pick it up faster if you write it down or if you show them first exactly what to do? Or perhaps they need to know what will happen if they don’t do something before they will do it?
Once you understand what they like you can introduce a few learning toys that are focussed on that particular mode of learning. And then see how they react. Do they embrace it? Do they struggle? Once you have tested a few different childrens learning toys you will then have a much better idea of what works for your child and what doesn’t. The next step is to hunt out the kind of educational toys your child has shown a preference for. However, it is important to bear in mind that your child’s educational style is not locked in and may alter as their skills develop and their interests change.
The experts all agree that children learn by exploring the world around them and one way that they do this is through the creativeness of play. If you’ve watched any young children at play then you’ll know that they don’t necessarily need childrens toys to interact with to learn. The most obscure object can become a source of entertainment and amusement. However, childrens toys act as stimulants encouraging your child to discover and develop new skills and have new experiences. It makes sense then to focus on toys that help your child learn in a constructive way. But how do you decide which children’s educational toys are best for your child?
The kind of stimulating educational toys that your little one will respond to best are those that allow him or her to discover and encourage their own personal learning style. Some children like to concentrate on one activity and explore all they can around that while others like to have a wide variety of choices so that they can easily move from one to another. For example, a child that likes to concentrate for long periods will probably enjoy a complicated puzzle (appropriate to their age) but a child who gets distracted easily would probably learn more with a range of simpler puzzles that get increasingly difficult.
Have you ever stopped to think about how you like to learn? Each of us has a favorite way of discovering new things. If you take a book of fiction for example, you would find that some people prefer audio books because they can more easily take in information aurally, while others need to have a book in their hands to be able to assimilate the words. Others would rather watch a play or movie of the book than read it. And others would prefer to plot out what happened in a logical way through a mind map or linear drawing rather than trudge through the detail of what occurred. While children are still developing, their educational styles change depending on their skill level, however, most have a preference for a particular way of learning.
If you can’t quite work out whether your child responds best to visual, aural, touch or logical styles of education then the best thing to do is take time to observe how they interact with the learning toys around them. Do you have to ask them repeatedly to do things or do they pick it up faster if you write it down or if you show them first exactly what to do? Or perhaps they need to know what will happen if they don’t do something before they will do it?
Once you understand what they like you can introduce a few learning toys that are focussed on that particular mode of learning. And then see how they react. Do they embrace it? Do they struggle? Once you have tested a few different childrens learning toys you will then have a much better idea of what works for your child and what doesn’t. The next step is to hunt out the kind of educational toys your child has shown a preference for. However, it is important to bear in mind that your child’s educational style is not locked in and may alter as their skills develop and their interests change.
Oct
31
Filed Under (Parenting) by Corey
Adam Johnes asked:
Whether for entertainment or utility, people increasingly use mobile technology to stay connected while they travel. The wide range of affordable high-tech products can also make family vacations all the more enjoyable.
Instead of overloading the car with Lego bricks and coloring books, many parents are taking along all-in-one gadgets, such as smartphones, to keep children entertained. Kids stay busy surfing the Web, playing games and snapping photos. Smartphones, such as the Palm Treo smartphone, combine a mobile phone, Internet access, e-mail, organizer, games and more into one compact device. And, for those who want to maximize battery life, a separate Treo TripKit conveniently stows a car charger, extra battery and more in one neat traveling pouch.
Not only can parents avoid overpacking the car with a DVD player, laptop and other unnecessary luggage, but these all-in-one devices can help keep the whole family happy. Parents can use smartphones to:
1. Track expenses for gas, food and last-minute supplies.
2. Let children snap photos of interesting roadside landmarks with the built-in camera.
3. Replace crumpled maps and avoid getting lost with a portable GPS device accessory, such as the Palm GPS Navigator.
4. Sing along to the family’s favorite songs downloaded on the smartphone’s MP3 player.
5. Instantly e-mail vacation photos to friends and family.
6. Edit last-minute Word or Excel documents for work.
7. Organize a Tic-Tac-Toe contest for the kids using the digital note pad.
8. Find the nearest gas station, restaurant or motel using Palm’s GPS Navigator database containing more than 4.5 million landmarks.
9. Keep children entertained with their favorite TV show using applications such as MobiTV (sold separately).
10. Download and read an eBook to help pass the time.
The latest, smartest, all-in-one phones may soon become a favorite vacation accessory for on-the-go families.
By: Adam Johnes
Whether for entertainment or utility, people increasingly use mobile technology to stay connected while they travel. The wide range of affordable high-tech products can also make family vacations all the more enjoyable.
Instead of overloading the car with Lego bricks and coloring books, many parents are taking along all-in-one gadgets, such as smartphones, to keep children entertained. Kids stay busy surfing the Web, playing games and snapping photos. Smartphones, such as the Palm Treo smartphone, combine a mobile phone, Internet access, e-mail, organizer, games and more into one compact device. And, for those who want to maximize battery life, a separate Treo TripKit conveniently stows a car charger, extra battery and more in one neat traveling pouch.
Not only can parents avoid overpacking the car with a DVD player, laptop and other unnecessary luggage, but these all-in-one devices can help keep the whole family happy. Parents can use smartphones to:
1. Track expenses for gas, food and last-minute supplies.
2. Let children snap photos of interesting roadside landmarks with the built-in camera.
3. Replace crumpled maps and avoid getting lost with a portable GPS device accessory, such as the Palm GPS Navigator.
4. Sing along to the family’s favorite songs downloaded on the smartphone’s MP3 player.
5. Instantly e-mail vacation photos to friends and family.
6. Edit last-minute Word or Excel documents for work.
7. Organize a Tic-Tac-Toe contest for the kids using the digital note pad.
8. Find the nearest gas station, restaurant or motel using Palm’s GPS Navigator database containing more than 4.5 million landmarks.
9. Keep children entertained with their favorite TV show using applications such as MobiTV (sold separately).
10. Download and read an eBook to help pass the time.
The latest, smartest, all-in-one phones may soon become a favorite vacation accessory for on-the-go families.
By: Adam Johnes
Oct
29
Filed Under (Parenting) by Corey
Oct
29
Filed Under (Parenting) by Corey
melinamenny asked:
Toys And Babies
The mind’s eye can never really picture a baby without a toy. Babies respond instinctively to their surroundings and toys become important as they stimulate the baby’s brain, thereby arousing interest and inquisitiveness. Moreover, the young age is when an individual learns the most and also the fastest. Everything around a baby is new to him/ her and yet within a few months, they grow an inherent awareness that helps them distinguish between objects, touches, sounds and colors. Therefore it is essential that kids be provided with the right kind of toys that will aid their learning processes.
In infancy, babies have a blurred vision, and cannot focus clearly on things at a distance. So their first memories are invariably associated with color. Red, white and black are among the first colors they can observe and distinguish between. An infant should therefore be given a lot of soft toys in bright colors. Rattles, wind chimes, cot toys, or brightly colored mobiles are also exciting for a kid as the noise and shape attracts them and engages their curiosity.
At a slightly older age, educational toys like wooden blocks of various colors and shapes teach children about colors, shapes and sizes. These toys teach a child interactive and interpretive skills at a very basic level. Cognitive skills also start getting developed when variations of these toys are given, for example, when a child has to sort the blocks according to color, or drop them in boxes depending on the size or shape.
Games like puzzles, jigsaws, beads, construction toys help promote the reasoning and analytical abilities in a child. Books with alphabets, numericals, or pictures are also great learning toys for children. They can observe the different objects in nature and relate them to the information in the books. This is probably one of the fastest learning processes in a child. Often there are books which allow a child to listen to the sounds made by animals, or even get a feel of their furs and hence distinguish one from the other.
Different furniture around the room can also be a learning toy for the child. For example, a baby will quickly observe and learn that meals are to be had at the dining table, while the sofas are places where one lounges. Similarly, the bath tub is a fascinating place for a toddler as he/ she subconsciously reacts to the interplay between the body and the water, and the ripples caused by the movements.
Child psychologists and researchers have established the deep connection between the child’s overall development and the learning toys and there is a constant effort to create unique learning toys that will enhance and nurture the development in babies.
Toys And Babies
The mind’s eye can never really picture a baby without a toy. Babies respond instinctively to their surroundings and toys become important as they stimulate the baby’s brain, thereby arousing interest and inquisitiveness. Moreover, the young age is when an individual learns the most and also the fastest. Everything around a baby is new to him/ her and yet within a few months, they grow an inherent awareness that helps them distinguish between objects, touches, sounds and colors. Therefore it is essential that kids be provided with the right kind of toys that will aid their learning processes.
In infancy, babies have a blurred vision, and cannot focus clearly on things at a distance. So their first memories are invariably associated with color. Red, white and black are among the first colors they can observe and distinguish between. An infant should therefore be given a lot of soft toys in bright colors. Rattles, wind chimes, cot toys, or brightly colored mobiles are also exciting for a kid as the noise and shape attracts them and engages their curiosity.
At a slightly older age, educational toys like wooden blocks of various colors and shapes teach children about colors, shapes and sizes. These toys teach a child interactive and interpretive skills at a very basic level. Cognitive skills also start getting developed when variations of these toys are given, for example, when a child has to sort the blocks according to color, or drop them in boxes depending on the size or shape.
Games like puzzles, jigsaws, beads, construction toys help promote the reasoning and analytical abilities in a child. Books with alphabets, numericals, or pictures are also great learning toys for children. They can observe the different objects in nature and relate them to the information in the books. This is probably one of the fastest learning processes in a child. Often there are books which allow a child to listen to the sounds made by animals, or even get a feel of their furs and hence distinguish one from the other.
Different furniture around the room can also be a learning toy for the child. For example, a baby will quickly observe and learn that meals are to be had at the dining table, while the sofas are places where one lounges. Similarly, the bath tub is a fascinating place for a toddler as he/ she subconsciously reacts to the interplay between the body and the water, and the ripples caused by the movements.
Child psychologists and researchers have established the deep connection between the child’s overall development and the learning toys and there is a constant effort to create unique learning toys that will enhance and nurture the development in babies.
Oct
28
Filed Under (Parenting) by Corey
Kenneth Scott asked:
How often have you looked back and thought that much of what you studied in school has proved to be irrelevant. If you can think like this and agree to this statement, imagine what you children go through when they go through boring lesson after lesson, doing homework and studying while not understanding the actual reason why they are being subjected to such boring information.
The fact is that unless a task has relevance for us, it looses its importance. Many kids crib about how boring mathematics is or how difficult and irrelevant science seems to them.
It is up to the parents and teachers to make these learning a fun activity with a meaning so that the kids can appreciate why they are learning certain things. Experiments, real life examples and expedition can bring alive the information in text books.
Today there are many companies with presence on the website that provide helpful learning tools guised as games to make learning a fun-filled activity. You may have seen that younger kids **** reading and it is impossible to find a magazine or book that will interest them. But hand them over a video game and they will be busy for hours together.
Even as video games per se have no informational content, there are many reading tools that come in the format of a video game, endearing itself to the child in the first instance. Role playing is one such category of games that can be adapted to video games and as the child goes through the instructions in the games and moves from level to level, the reading skills are honed. Depending on the role that is being played the child can learn maths skills by buying items in a virtual store, selling and managing a business and much more.
They can also acquire better reasoning skills by working their way through various obstacles and reaching their goals. There are also some games that enable the children to understand what they study in school better. These learning games have options that you can choose from and include demonstrations of the experiments that they have done in school, the option of running and managing a theme park, learning how to conceptualize and build things and more.
There are also options of board learning games that can be played with the family. These prove to be a nice way in which your child can learn while spending time with you.
The best part is that kids do not realize that they are learning skills that they need to acquire while playing thee games. It is the best situation where they get to play a game while you can ensure that they are learning and acquiring the skills that they are supposed to.
How often have you looked back and thought that much of what you studied in school has proved to be irrelevant. If you can think like this and agree to this statement, imagine what you children go through when they go through boring lesson after lesson, doing homework and studying while not understanding the actual reason why they are being subjected to such boring information.
The fact is that unless a task has relevance for us, it looses its importance. Many kids crib about how boring mathematics is or how difficult and irrelevant science seems to them.
It is up to the parents and teachers to make these learning a fun activity with a meaning so that the kids can appreciate why they are learning certain things. Experiments, real life examples and expedition can bring alive the information in text books.
Today there are many companies with presence on the website that provide helpful learning tools guised as games to make learning a fun-filled activity. You may have seen that younger kids **** reading and it is impossible to find a magazine or book that will interest them. But hand them over a video game and they will be busy for hours together.
Even as video games per se have no informational content, there are many reading tools that come in the format of a video game, endearing itself to the child in the first instance. Role playing is one such category of games that can be adapted to video games and as the child goes through the instructions in the games and moves from level to level, the reading skills are honed. Depending on the role that is being played the child can learn maths skills by buying items in a virtual store, selling and managing a business and much more.
They can also acquire better reasoning skills by working their way through various obstacles and reaching their goals. There are also some games that enable the children to understand what they study in school better. These learning games have options that you can choose from and include demonstrations of the experiments that they have done in school, the option of running and managing a theme park, learning how to conceptualize and build things and more.
There are also options of board learning games that can be played with the family. These prove to be a nice way in which your child can learn while spending time with you.
The best part is that kids do not realize that they are learning skills that they need to acquire while playing thee games. It is the best situation where they get to play a game while you can ensure that they are learning and acquiring the skills that they are supposed to.
Oct
26
Filed Under (Parenting) by Corey
Krista QQ(www.123giftfactory.com) asked:
All toy companies are eager to grow sales in a stagnant $22 billion market, they want to know which toys are “hot” for the year. Invariably, the toy trends for the year are strongly influenced by movies being released that year. This year, there are some awesome icons vying for our attention - Indiana Jones, the Incredible Hulk, Iron Man and Batman. Aside from these superheroes, the hot toy trends for 2008 also include dinosaurs, robots, musical toys and of course, web connected toys!
Aside from these, “Electronics and the Internet. That’s what kids are obsessed about today,” said Jim Silver, editor and co-publisher of Toy Wishes magazine. “They have an iPod, they are on Facebook and some are e-mailing by age five.”
1. Web Connected Toys
IToysWe all know and love Webkinz, the pioneer of the “virtual toy” revolution. Webkinz is still doing very well and now has been joined by several other toy manufacturers. Russ’s Shining Stars, TY Girlz, Barbie and now even TY’s Beanie Babies. Aside from dolls and plush toys, there’s a brand new preschool game which nicely incorporates play and technology. It’s called Me2 from IToys. Also worth noting is Clickables, a wonderful line of toys from Technosource. Clickables integrates the virtual world of Disney Fairies with toys for girls. There are a lot of other web connected toys and dolls. My collegue, the Doll Collecting guide, has a great article up on the virtual doll trend.
2. Dinosaur Toys
Dinosaurs have been around for a while now, (remember the very recent Pleo?), but they certainly made their presence felt at the Toy Fair! Here is one dinosaur which was hard to miss - Kota the Triceratops from Playskool. This friendly creature is pretty tall at approximately 40 feet and is equipped with sensors, which when activated, make him move his head, tail and horns. Kids will enjoy sitting on this playful (and very pricey) creature. Another dino in the spotlight comes to use from Mattel. D-Rex, a remote controlled dinosaur with a lot of different sounds and realistic motions aims to fascinate kids this year.
3. Indiana Jones Toys
HasbroIndiana Jones is really something to look forward to this year. The movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is slated to be one of the hot movies of 2008. It’s no wonder then, that Lego, Hasbro and the rest have jumped onto Indy’s bandwagon! The plot of the movie isn’t yet revealed fully. Still, Lego had some wonderful sets based on Indiana Jones. The Indiana Jones LEGO sets include Indiana Jones Temple Escape, Indiana Jones Race for the Stolen Treasure, Indiana Jones and the Lost Tomb and Indiana Jones Motorcycle Chase. Some of Hasbro’s Indiana Jones offerings include Mr Potato Head: Taters of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones Sound FX Whip and of course Indiana Jones action figures.
4. Science and Nature Related Toys
Jakks PacificI noticed a large variety of Science Kits and nature themed toys at this year’s Toy Fair. Elmers (the glue company) had some really cool science kits represented by Bill Nye, the science guy. Scientific Explorer had a lot of fun kits to offer where kids can experiment with fascinating stuff like bubbles, perfumes, volcanoes and more. The biggie in the science category is none other than EyeClops from Jakks Pacific, which has updated versions(read night vision and higher magnification) available. Also, Uncle Milton of the Ant Farm fame had some cool Indiana Jones based products to show.
5. Batman - The Dark Knight Toys
MattelThe new Batman movie, The Dark Knight is slated to be released later this year. Mattel has a host of Batman related toys and action figures up their sleeve. The Stealth Batmobile and the Wayne Tech Tri Fire Blaster are must haves. Apart from those two, there are a lot of pretend play options and Batman action figures from Mattel. Lego also has some great Batman themed construction sets for release this year.
6. Speed Racer Toys
MattelSpeed Racer is another big movie franchise on which Mattel has a great lineup of toys. I know that Hot Wheels has a Morph Mach 6 vehicle and an interactive helmet to offer as well as the Speed Racer Sky Jump Track Set among other toy vehicles. The movie should spark off a craze for racing and toy cars which is going to be huge. Lego also had some great Speed Racer kits on display at Toy Fair. Personally, I think this is THE franchise to watch out for.
7. Animated Toys/Robots
Fisher-PriceOk, so by now everyone must have heard of Elmo Live, right? Well, the animated toy trend seems to be very prevalent this year with Elmo Live, Hasbro’s Biscuit, Playskool’s Kota the Triceratops, Tomy’s ISobot and more. While I’m on the topic, let me mention that I just previewed an adorable duckling from Hasbro’s Furreal Friends line - it’s too cute for words. Just like me, it seems like everyone enjoys seeing animated animals nowadays!
8. Iron Man Toys
HasbroHasbro has a fantastic line of action figures based on the Iron Man. This is another movie franchise for this year which is going to be popular with Marvel fans.
9. Green Toys
It’s no wonder that everyone is focusing on healthy and safe play this year. The “green” theme is predominant with many toy firms promoting their eco-friendly products. One toy manufacturer which I really liked was Plan toys from Indonesia which had a wonderful lineup of natural wooden toys. There were some toys made out of recycled milk bottles from a company called Green Toys. They had tea sets, gardening sets and beach sand sets on display which looked very appealing. I also noticed the Kapla line of wooden construction planks which falls into the “green” category as well. 12. Classic Toys - Lots of Anniversaries!
10. The Incredible Hulk Toys
HasbroThe Hulk was at a lot of places at Toy Fair 2008. I specially loved the Kid Designs line of Hulk laptops and learning toys. Hasbro has a fantastic lineup of Hulk toys including the much awaited Hulk Smash Hands, a plush animated Hulk toy, conventional Hulk action figures, a Hulk power glow electronic mask, a Hulk dart blaster and much more. Looks like “green” is popular in more ways than one!
11. Musical Toys
KID Designs For the last couple of years, toys based on musical instruments have really grown in popularity. Remember Piano Wizard, Piano Made Easy, I Can Play Guitar, Guitar Hero and the other toys on similar lines? This, along with musical toys based on celebrities like Hannah Montana and hit TV shows like American Idol practically dominated the musical toy scene. This year, the trend continues with some more Hannah Montana toys, new DVD games based on American Idol (KIDDesigns has an awesome American Idol DVD game) and much more. Stay tuned. (pun not intended)
12. Keyboard for toddlers, Wallcrawler Spiderman
The portable DVD player is made to withstand a kid’s abuse. It features a 3.2-inch color TFT screen, rechargeable batteries with a two-hour lifespan, an anti-skip buffer, grip handles and a stand for hands-free viewing. The player, which plays DVDs and CDs, comes with a battery charger and wall power unit, a video output jack, and a headphone jack.
13. Wall Crawler Spider-Man
“Wall Crawler Spider-Man” is a standout innovation from Hasbro. The remote-controlled Spider-Man toy, which incorporates vacuum-pump technology, actually crawls ups and down walls.
Last, but not the least, classic toys are very much in the forefront. This year, many classics were celebrating their anniversaries. Hasbro’s My Little Pony celebrated their 25th anniversary with a lovely birthday party at the Hasbro showroom, complete with a cake cutting! Cabbage Patch Kids celebrates it’s 25th anniversary as well. The LEGO brick celebrates its 50th anniversary with a commemorative gold brick. Other brands celebrating this year include Scholastic’s Clifford, the big red dog, the Toy Company’s Wham-O and Mary Meyer (who is turning 75 this year). We’ll wind up with congratulating Hasbro’s Mr Potato Head who is turning 80 this year. Way to go!
All toy companies are eager to grow sales in a stagnant $22 billion market, they want to know which toys are “hot” for the year. Invariably, the toy trends for the year are strongly influenced by movies being released that year. This year, there are some awesome icons vying for our attention - Indiana Jones, the Incredible Hulk, Iron Man and Batman. Aside from these superheroes, the hot toy trends for 2008 also include dinosaurs, robots, musical toys and of course, web connected toys!
Aside from these, “Electronics and the Internet. That’s what kids are obsessed about today,” said Jim Silver, editor and co-publisher of Toy Wishes magazine. “They have an iPod, they are on Facebook and some are e-mailing by age five.”
1. Web Connected Toys
IToysWe all know and love Webkinz, the pioneer of the “virtual toy” revolution. Webkinz is still doing very well and now has been joined by several other toy manufacturers. Russ’s Shining Stars, TY Girlz, Barbie and now even TY’s Beanie Babies. Aside from dolls and plush toys, there’s a brand new preschool game which nicely incorporates play and technology. It’s called Me2 from IToys. Also worth noting is Clickables, a wonderful line of toys from Technosource. Clickables integrates the virtual world of Disney Fairies with toys for girls. There are a lot of other web connected toys and dolls. My collegue, the Doll Collecting guide, has a great article up on the virtual doll trend.
2. Dinosaur Toys
Dinosaurs have been around for a while now, (remember the very recent Pleo?), but they certainly made their presence felt at the Toy Fair! Here is one dinosaur which was hard to miss - Kota the Triceratops from Playskool. This friendly creature is pretty tall at approximately 40 feet and is equipped with sensors, which when activated, make him move his head, tail and horns. Kids will enjoy sitting on this playful (and very pricey) creature. Another dino in the spotlight comes to use from Mattel. D-Rex, a remote controlled dinosaur with a lot of different sounds and realistic motions aims to fascinate kids this year.
3. Indiana Jones Toys
HasbroIndiana Jones is really something to look forward to this year. The movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is slated to be one of the hot movies of 2008. It’s no wonder then, that Lego, Hasbro and the rest have jumped onto Indy’s bandwagon! The plot of the movie isn’t yet revealed fully. Still, Lego had some wonderful sets based on Indiana Jones. The Indiana Jones LEGO sets include Indiana Jones Temple Escape, Indiana Jones Race for the Stolen Treasure, Indiana Jones and the Lost Tomb and Indiana Jones Motorcycle Chase. Some of Hasbro’s Indiana Jones offerings include Mr Potato Head: Taters of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones Sound FX Whip and of course Indiana Jones action figures.
4. Science and Nature Related Toys
Jakks PacificI noticed a large variety of Science Kits and nature themed toys at this year’s Toy Fair. Elmers (the glue company) had some really cool science kits represented by Bill Nye, the science guy. Scientific Explorer had a lot of fun kits to offer where kids can experiment with fascinating stuff like bubbles, perfumes, volcanoes and more. The biggie in the science category is none other than EyeClops from Jakks Pacific, which has updated versions(read night vision and higher magnification) available. Also, Uncle Milton of the Ant Farm fame had some cool Indiana Jones based products to show.
5. Batman - The Dark Knight Toys
MattelThe new Batman movie, The Dark Knight is slated to be released later this year. Mattel has a host of Batman related toys and action figures up their sleeve. The Stealth Batmobile and the Wayne Tech Tri Fire Blaster are must haves. Apart from those two, there are a lot of pretend play options and Batman action figures from Mattel. Lego also has some great Batman themed construction sets for release this year.
6. Speed Racer Toys
MattelSpeed Racer is another big movie franchise on which Mattel has a great lineup of toys. I know that Hot Wheels has a Morph Mach 6 vehicle and an interactive helmet to offer as well as the Speed Racer Sky Jump Track Set among other toy vehicles. The movie should spark off a craze for racing and toy cars which is going to be huge. Lego also had some great Speed Racer kits on display at Toy Fair. Personally, I think this is THE franchise to watch out for.
7. Animated Toys/Robots
Fisher-PriceOk, so by now everyone must have heard of Elmo Live, right? Well, the animated toy trend seems to be very prevalent this year with Elmo Live, Hasbro’s Biscuit, Playskool’s Kota the Triceratops, Tomy’s ISobot and more. While I’m on the topic, let me mention that I just previewed an adorable duckling from Hasbro’s Furreal Friends line - it’s too cute for words. Just like me, it seems like everyone enjoys seeing animated animals nowadays!
8. Iron Man Toys
HasbroHasbro has a fantastic line of action figures based on the Iron Man. This is another movie franchise for this year which is going to be popular with Marvel fans.
9. Green Toys
It’s no wonder that everyone is focusing on healthy and safe play this year. The “green” theme is predominant with many toy firms promoting their eco-friendly products. One toy manufacturer which I really liked was Plan toys from Indonesia which had a wonderful lineup of natural wooden toys. There were some toys made out of recycled milk bottles from a company called Green Toys. They had tea sets, gardening sets and beach sand sets on display which looked very appealing. I also noticed the Kapla line of wooden construction planks which falls into the “green” category as well. 12. Classic Toys - Lots of Anniversaries!
10. The Incredible Hulk Toys
HasbroThe Hulk was at a lot of places at Toy Fair 2008. I specially loved the Kid Designs line of Hulk laptops and learning toys. Hasbro has a fantastic lineup of Hulk toys including the much awaited Hulk Smash Hands, a plush animated Hulk toy, conventional Hulk action figures, a Hulk power glow electronic mask, a Hulk dart blaster and much more. Looks like “green” is popular in more ways than one!
11. Musical Toys
KID Designs For the last couple of years, toys based on musical instruments have really grown in popularity. Remember Piano Wizard, Piano Made Easy, I Can Play Guitar, Guitar Hero and the other toys on similar lines? This, along with musical toys based on celebrities like Hannah Montana and hit TV shows like American Idol practically dominated the musical toy scene. This year, the trend continues with some more Hannah Montana toys, new DVD games based on American Idol (KIDDesigns has an awesome American Idol DVD game) and much more. Stay tuned. (pun not intended)
12. Keyboard for toddlers, Wallcrawler Spiderman
The portable DVD player is made to withstand a kid’s abuse. It features a 3.2-inch color TFT screen, rechargeable batteries with a two-hour lifespan, an anti-skip buffer, grip handles and a stand for hands-free viewing. The player, which plays DVDs and CDs, comes with a battery charger and wall power unit, a video output jack, and a headphone jack.
13. Wall Crawler Spider-Man
“Wall Crawler Spider-Man” is a standout innovation from Hasbro. The remote-controlled Spider-Man toy, which incorporates vacuum-pump technology, actually crawls ups and down walls.
Last, but not the least, classic toys are very much in the forefront. This year, many classics were celebrating their anniversaries. Hasbro’s My Little Pony celebrated their 25th anniversary with a lovely birthday party at the Hasbro showroom, complete with a cake cutting! Cabbage Patch Kids celebrates it’s 25th anniversary as well. The LEGO brick celebrates its 50th anniversary with a commemorative gold brick. Other brands celebrating this year include Scholastic’s Clifford, the big red dog, the Toy Company’s Wham-O and Mary Meyer (who is turning 75 this year). We’ll wind up with congratulating Hasbro’s Mr Potato Head who is turning 80 this year. Way to go!
Oct
21
Filed Under (Parenting) by Corey
anonymous asked:
Copyright (c) 2008 Charles Carter
It is difficult decision
Simply we love it, we like to wear and feel good about it. Somehow it seems to enhance our appearance and appeal a great deal. Our eyes are so conditioned that the people in designer clothing seem to look smarter and more energetic than those in modern regular outfits.
It is a straight forward decision in case of parents and elders; they go in for custom outfits even if they are a bit more expensive. But it is essential expense in the context of social living. But when it comes to making decision with regard to buying custom clothes for children we are confused and the decision swings between yes and no indecisively. Parents do want their children well dressed and presentable. Their smart looks among the kids of friends is a pleasure to watch. When appreciated by high-end society friends it is almost an achievement leading to the ascending steps of social recognition. But the utter uselessness of buying designer clothes for children too cross the mind because soon the children will grow and leave behind the costly designer clothes smaller in size as unusable. So it becomes a hard decision to make.
Some reasons to buy designer clothes
If the values of social standards weigh more than the value of money in your life, you should go for designer clothes for children.
If the parents have friends in the circle who notice what their children wear and evaluate, then it is imperative that they buy specially made clothes for their children even though they might feel the pinch of the expense a bit.
Above all there is one reason which makes most of the parents go in for designer clothes for their children. That is the magic of love, they want to see their children in the best set of clothes and they wish to provide their children with the best.
Some reasons for not buying high end clothing
One major reason for not buying designer clothes for children is the cost of them. They are surely very expensive when compared to non-designer fashion wear. In recent times as the cost of living has risen to touch the sky, for many parents it is not an appealing idea to go in for designer clothes for their children.
And the second deterrent faction is simply a biological reason. The way children grow in fast pace these days buying expensive high end materials is a risky affair. You wont know for how long the clothe would remain fit in size. When children out grow the size of their dress they abandon it as though they are something that the cat has brought in.
The reason parents easily could attribute to decide against kids suits is that the children are not aware whether they wear custom patterns or other fashion wear. And the children actually do not care what brand of wear they adorn themselves with.
The basis for a decision
In the ultimate analysis the decision to buy or not to buy personally designed clothes for children depends on the parents. If you wish to see them in designer clothes, go for it but be sure that to your children those are just clothing and they are going to use them as they use the clothes they wear at home because it does not matter much whether they are in modern outfits or some other.
But it is also an irrefutable fact that the present world is highly fashion conscious and fashion, social standards and social prestige go hand in hand and all complement and enhance each other supportability. And what you or your kids wear is actually the life-style statement you make, a statement that expresses your attitude about life. To be in the lime light of fashion is imperative in the present world.
Designer clothes are affordable
All the discussion about buying or not buying personalized clothing for children is because of its exhaustive price. Walking into any designer showroom makes you a bit jittery even if you have a million dollars in your pocket when you see the price tag. But this is no more the case with on line shopping.
You can now buy online the best of designer wear at cost that you can afford. The online shopping turns out to be less expensive because there are no overhead expenditure, no showroom cost and so on and all these benefits are shared with the consumer and so online shopping is less expensive.
Copyright (c) 2008 Charles Carter
It is difficult decision
Simply we love it, we like to wear and feel good about it. Somehow it seems to enhance our appearance and appeal a great deal. Our eyes are so conditioned that the people in designer clothing seem to look smarter and more energetic than those in modern regular outfits.
It is a straight forward decision in case of parents and elders; they go in for custom outfits even if they are a bit more expensive. But it is essential expense in the context of social living. But when it comes to making decision with regard to buying custom clothes for children we are confused and the decision swings between yes and no indecisively. Parents do want their children well dressed and presentable. Their smart looks among the kids of friends is a pleasure to watch. When appreciated by high-end society friends it is almost an achievement leading to the ascending steps of social recognition. But the utter uselessness of buying designer clothes for children too cross the mind because soon the children will grow and leave behind the costly designer clothes smaller in size as unusable. So it becomes a hard decision to make.
Some reasons to buy designer clothes
If the values of social standards weigh more than the value of money in your life, you should go for designer clothes for children.
If the parents have friends in the circle who notice what their children wear and evaluate, then it is imperative that they buy specially made clothes for their children even though they might feel the pinch of the expense a bit.
Above all there is one reason which makes most of the parents go in for designer clothes for their children. That is the magic of love, they want to see their children in the best set of clothes and they wish to provide their children with the best.
Some reasons for not buying high end clothing
One major reason for not buying designer clothes for children is the cost of them. They are surely very expensive when compared to non-designer fashion wear. In recent times as the cost of living has risen to touch the sky, for many parents it is not an appealing idea to go in for designer clothes for their children.
And the second deterrent faction is simply a biological reason. The way children grow in fast pace these days buying expensive high end materials is a risky affair. You wont know for how long the clothe would remain fit in size. When children out grow the size of their dress they abandon it as though they are something that the cat has brought in.
The reason parents easily could attribute to decide against kids suits is that the children are not aware whether they wear custom patterns or other fashion wear. And the children actually do not care what brand of wear they adorn themselves with.
The basis for a decision
In the ultimate analysis the decision to buy or not to buy personally designed clothes for children depends on the parents. If you wish to see them in designer clothes, go for it but be sure that to your children those are just clothing and they are going to use them as they use the clothes they wear at home because it does not matter much whether they are in modern outfits or some other.
But it is also an irrefutable fact that the present world is highly fashion conscious and fashion, social standards and social prestige go hand in hand and all complement and enhance each other supportability. And what you or your kids wear is actually the life-style statement you make, a statement that expresses your attitude about life. To be in the lime light of fashion is imperative in the present world.
Designer clothes are affordable
All the discussion about buying or not buying personalized clothing for children is because of its exhaustive price. Walking into any designer showroom makes you a bit jittery even if you have a million dollars in your pocket when you see the price tag. But this is no more the case with on line shopping.
You can now buy online the best of designer wear at cost that you can afford. The online shopping turns out to be less expensive because there are no overhead expenditure, no showroom cost and so on and all these benefits are shared with the consumer and so online shopping is less expensive.
Oct
16
Filed Under (Parenting) by Corey
Kenneth Scott asked:
Forcing your child to study or show learning of concepts that they are not ready for are a guaranteed way of creating a hatred for learning. The best way to let kids learn is to provide them learning games and let them set their own pace. As and when kids get curious about things they will indicate in some way or the other that they would like to know more. Your task as a parent at this stage is to expose them to a myriad of options starting from picture books to shapes and blocks that they can plug together. Allowing a comfortable pace at this stage and not being pushy about learning right from the very start helps kids become creative, develop exploratory skills and are more involved as students later.
As your child grows older the educational needs of your child change and so do the educational toys or games. At this stage your child may need to develop skills in math or science or maybe reading skills. One of the games that have been developed for increasing math skills is a variation of Bingo, in which you call out simple mathematics problems that may require mental addition or subtraction to start with and the kids strikes off the number that is the answer. This can prove to be a very interesting game that can be played among friends as well without intervention from you. The kind of problems that you set as questions can be made to be relevant to the age of your child and so this is one game that does not make itself useless to fast. Older kids may like to play with games that can demonstrate the practical aspect of science and the manner in which it can be used in normal daily life.
It is important to note that there may be some children that may take to learning easily and enjoy the activity as is but there are some who do not take to it so easily. For these children, especially the educational games are a boon and allow them to learn while having fun. The benefits of using these games do not stop at learning skills but they also associate a sense of fun and enjoyment with learning of any kind. Your child is less likely to desist from acquiring new skills if the process has been smooth in the past.
Forcing your child to study or show learning of concepts that they are not ready for are a guaranteed way of creating a hatred for learning. The best way to let kids learn is to provide them learning games and let them set their own pace. As and when kids get curious about things they will indicate in some way or the other that they would like to know more. Your task as a parent at this stage is to expose them to a myriad of options starting from picture books to shapes and blocks that they can plug together. Allowing a comfortable pace at this stage and not being pushy about learning right from the very start helps kids become creative, develop exploratory skills and are more involved as students later.
As your child grows older the educational needs of your child change and so do the educational toys or games. At this stage your child may need to develop skills in math or science or maybe reading skills. One of the games that have been developed for increasing math skills is a variation of Bingo, in which you call out simple mathematics problems that may require mental addition or subtraction to start with and the kids strikes off the number that is the answer. This can prove to be a very interesting game that can be played among friends as well without intervention from you. The kind of problems that you set as questions can be made to be relevant to the age of your child and so this is one game that does not make itself useless to fast. Older kids may like to play with games that can demonstrate the practical aspect of science and the manner in which it can be used in normal daily life.
It is important to note that there may be some children that may take to learning easily and enjoy the activity as is but there are some who do not take to it so easily. For these children, especially the educational games are a boon and allow them to learn while having fun. The benefits of using these games do not stop at learning skills but they also associate a sense of fun and enjoyment with learning of any kind. Your child is less likely to desist from acquiring new skills if the process has been smooth in the past.
Oct
14
Filed Under (Parenting) by Corey
Earnestworker asked:
Several years ago, I decided to embark on the road of spititual enlightenment. Not satisfied with my life as it was nor at ease with the condition of society and very ill at ease about the global situation, I felt I had to at least do my part in making the world and my life better. Since I was already deeply interested in the study of world religions and personal development, my shift consisted mainly with devoting more time to those areas.
As I became more involved with the task of changing myself, a whole new world of information and pathways opened for me. It was very early i realized; “No easy job is this”. My first discovery was that I was more messed up than I had thought and that the causes were not as pointed as I had believed and the ability to make any changes would not be easy. I was familiar with the theories of “wounded inner child” “learned behaviors”, but the deep rooted, complex, habitual effects I was not prepared for.
I discovered we all live in a world that is designed (largely by accident) to put us in a state of sleep and keep us there beginning from birth. As my efforts to awaken and enliven my consciousness progressed, I found out that most of my inner resources needed to accomplish my mission were either damaged, or under/undeveloped themselves. How does one build a house without tools? The tools have to be constructed first. For the next few years my time was spent studying the writings of several different spiritual enlightenment systems. I extracted as much as possible from all of them, and noted any areas they had in common. Without realizing it at the time, my transformation had began.
There is a lot of information online to assist anyone that seriously wants to change their attitude and outlook. Although there are many systems available to facilitate change, some are not feasible for every individual. Personally, I found most to address issues from a similiar viewpoint and acknowledge basically the same solutions, the difference in programs was with the method advocated to bring about advancement. There are people that claim all one has to do is listen to some CD’s or visualize or some other one-step process. These things are just ONE part of a whole that must be practiced as a whole to gain real, lasting results. There are no quick fixes; you can’t jump the fence, you must come through the gate.
To be that loving, kind, consideration, at peace person we all want to be and that some of us “know” is buried somewhere inside of us requires diligent, hard work and a great deal of sacrifice. I studied and practiced using my intuition as my guide and realized an expansion of intellect, some shift of view, and a gain of confidence. After some time, I felt I had traveled as far as I possibly could on my own. It was time for a teacher.
So began the next on my journey to the gate. Once again, relying solely on intuition, I started my search. Schools are plentiful. But they all seemed to offer instruction aimed at one portion of the problem or another. My experience had shown me that in order to become whole, my fragmentations had to be reconciled with a system that could unite me physically, spiritually, and mentally. Buddhism, yoga, mysticism etc. only address one of the sides only. Meanwhile I knew my growth was pretty much at a standstill.
Finally, one evening, as fate would have it, I discovered two systems of instruction; either of them alone offering what I was looking for. They are Pathwork and Fourth Way. Fourth Way in particular I am excited about. It is the most complete system of instructions for the development of the individual as I have seen.
I am settled in now, and ready to begin the down and dirty work of self transformation. How far have I traveled in 8+ years? I have taken one step on my path. Am I discouraged or unhappy? No way; the journey is as exciting and rewarding as the destination and I know that I am spending my life as I should.
Several years ago, I decided to embark on the road of spititual enlightenment. Not satisfied with my life as it was nor at ease with the condition of society and very ill at ease about the global situation, I felt I had to at least do my part in making the world and my life better. Since I was already deeply interested in the study of world religions and personal development, my shift consisted mainly with devoting more time to those areas.
As I became more involved with the task of changing myself, a whole new world of information and pathways opened for me. It was very early i realized; “No easy job is this”. My first discovery was that I was more messed up than I had thought and that the causes were not as pointed as I had believed and the ability to make any changes would not be easy. I was familiar with the theories of “wounded inner child” “learned behaviors”, but the deep rooted, complex, habitual effects I was not prepared for.
I discovered we all live in a world that is designed (largely by accident) to put us in a state of sleep and keep us there beginning from birth. As my efforts to awaken and enliven my consciousness progressed, I found out that most of my inner resources needed to accomplish my mission were either damaged, or under/undeveloped themselves. How does one build a house without tools? The tools have to be constructed first. For the next few years my time was spent studying the writings of several different spiritual enlightenment systems. I extracted as much as possible from all of them, and noted any areas they had in common. Without realizing it at the time, my transformation had began.
There is a lot of information online to assist anyone that seriously wants to change their attitude and outlook. Although there are many systems available to facilitate change, some are not feasible for every individual. Personally, I found most to address issues from a similiar viewpoint and acknowledge basically the same solutions, the difference in programs was with the method advocated to bring about advancement. There are people that claim all one has to do is listen to some CD’s or visualize or some other one-step process. These things are just ONE part of a whole that must be practiced as a whole to gain real, lasting results. There are no quick fixes; you can’t jump the fence, you must come through the gate.
To be that loving, kind, consideration, at peace person we all want to be and that some of us “know” is buried somewhere inside of us requires diligent, hard work and a great deal of sacrifice. I studied and practiced using my intuition as my guide and realized an expansion of intellect, some shift of view, and a gain of confidence. After some time, I felt I had traveled as far as I possibly could on my own. It was time for a teacher.
So began the next on my journey to the gate. Once again, relying solely on intuition, I started my search. Schools are plentiful. But they all seemed to offer instruction aimed at one portion of the problem or another. My experience had shown me that in order to become whole, my fragmentations had to be reconciled with a system that could unite me physically, spiritually, and mentally. Buddhism, yoga, mysticism etc. only address one of the sides only. Meanwhile I knew my growth was pretty much at a standstill.
Finally, one evening, as fate would have it, I discovered two systems of instruction; either of them alone offering what I was looking for. They are Pathwork and Fourth Way. Fourth Way in particular I am excited about. It is the most complete system of instructions for the development of the individual as I have seen.
I am settled in now, and ready to begin the down and dirty work of self transformation. How far have I traveled in 8+ years? I have taken one step on my path. Am I discouraged or unhappy? No way; the journey is as exciting and rewarding as the destination and I know that I am spending my life as I should.
Oct
11
Filed Under (Parenting) by Corey
Steven Barnes asked:
The most elusive quality of excellence, of peak performers worldwide and throughout history is that thing called “Mastery.” What is this thing, and is it possible for ordinary people, however committed, to touch this exalted state?
The answer is “yes,” but I’ve got good news, bad news, and more good news. The first good news is that the path is deceptively simple. The bad news is that it is hard, and can be painful. The last, good news is that those on the path have no real competition—very few people are actually willing to be excellent in life. They want to talk about it, and dream about it, but are unwilling to actually pay the price.
And this, as I’ve said, is very good indeed for those few of us who are. The first thing we must do is devise a useful definition of “Mastery” whether we are talking about this quality in the domain of writing and the arts, of interpersonal interactions, of intellectual pursuit. Then we must throw light on a pathway to this quality that will enable us to reach our peak potential.
Try this description: “Mastery is the ability to perfectly match energy and attention to the task at hand.” In other words, if every task has a perfect “profile” of attention and ability necessary to complete it, if you bring either less or more of yourself to the task, you may well complete it, but you will struggle and waste energy—or not perform properly at all.
Or try this description: “Mastery is the ability to perform instinctively and instantly in the manner you would perform had you a month to consider your actions.” In other words, to have instant access to your own deepest capacities.
In other words, Mastery is the place where intellectual or physical or emotional preparation meets pure instinct. The reflexes of an animal, the emotional purity of a child, the intellectual focus of a scholar. An incredible goal, designed to create incredible results.
And the achievement of that goal is exactly what I.D.E.A. is about.
Instinctive Designation of Energy and Attention. The deliberate cultivation of instinct, energy, and intellect to maximize your results as a writer, athlete, businesswoman, human being…whatever your goal. The theory is both childishly simple and devilishly difficult, but is your key to accessing your deepest wisdom.
Basically, I.D.E.A. says that you develop your instincts by giving yourself deep feedback about the way you are currently operating in the world. To strip away illusion, and operate in a “truth zone” about the person you are and the world you live in. As the ancient Samurai Musashi Miyamoto once put it, “Do not think dishonestly.” A commitment to total truth will tear the blinders from your eyes, possibly for the first time in your life.
Sounds simple? Just wait. Here’s the bad news. In order to be certain that you are accurate in your assessments, you must take responsibility for your life, and the results you have achieved (or occasionally endured!) in all three major arenas of your life: body, mind, and spirit.
1) Body is fitness and health. Your body should be in alignment with your own values, or you should be engaged in a daily process of cultivating the physical health and beauty and performance that WOULD reflect your values. Want to know if you are? Strip to your underwear and look in the mirror. If you are attracted to what you see, you are in alignment with your values. If you aren’t, you aren’t. It’s as simple as that.
2) Mind. Mind manifests most clearly in our education and career. Any worm will move away from pain, and toward pleasure. Believe me, if you aren’t working at a career you enjoy, it isn’t due to lack of intellect. In such a case you may have emotional conflicts, value confusion about safety, freedom, and responsibility, and it would behoove you to commit to healing them. The core question: if you won the lottery next week, would you still be at your job next year? If not, you should accept the challenge of crafting for yourself a career path that IS that attractive.
3) Spirit. Just as grass bending can signal the presence of wind, the relationships we have with other human beings in THIS world can help us understand our connection to the divine. The most important relationship to address is the one with our most significant other, our husband or wife, or lifemate. The history of this aspect of our lives tells us an enormous amount about our inner world. The most important question: If you viewed your partner (or the average of your partners, over your relationship history) as being your mirror image, what would that say about you? And don’t protest that they aren’t, that there’s no connection between you and the most important person in your life. What a joke! Our relationships measure our honesty, passion, intelligence, self-respect and general energy Take responsibility here. If you’re happy with your relationship, pat yourself on the back! And if you’re not…you have work to do.
You need not tell another human being what you learn if you look at these three arenas, but YOU need to know. You need to come to some conclusions about how and why you are in the life space you are in. The answers to these questions must be consistent: in other words, you are willing to judge other people by the same standards you hold yourself to. In all likelihood, engaging in the I.D.E.A. process will give you vast compassion for other human beings: we are all battle-scarred, we are all magnificent, we have all failed, we have all succeeded.
And we move on, toward the light. For an artist, and we are all artists, this process opens the door to a level of understanding most human beings never approach. If you walk this path, it’s important to avoid guilt, blame, and shame—these emotions have no place in the evaluation of our lives. They merely cloud the issue. Meditation, dream diaries, therapy, or talking with good and supportive friends might be valuable to help move through the pain and confusion. What I promise you is that if you walk this path, you will be one of the very very few human beings on this planet who are actually committed to excellence. Mastery can be lonely…but as you climb that mountain, moving toward a more and more rarified level of performance, you will begin to meet the other climbers. And they will extend their hands to you, and welcome you into an extraordinary family…one bonded not by blood, but by spirit.
The most elusive quality of excellence, of peak performers worldwide and throughout history is that thing called “Mastery.” What is this thing, and is it possible for ordinary people, however committed, to touch this exalted state?
The answer is “yes,” but I’ve got good news, bad news, and more good news. The first good news is that the path is deceptively simple. The bad news is that it is hard, and can be painful. The last, good news is that those on the path have no real competition—very few people are actually willing to be excellent in life. They want to talk about it, and dream about it, but are unwilling to actually pay the price.
And this, as I’ve said, is very good indeed for those few of us who are. The first thing we must do is devise a useful definition of “Mastery” whether we are talking about this quality in the domain of writing and the arts, of interpersonal interactions, of intellectual pursuit. Then we must throw light on a pathway to this quality that will enable us to reach our peak potential.
Try this description: “Mastery is the ability to perfectly match energy and attention to the task at hand.” In other words, if every task has a perfect “profile” of attention and ability necessary to complete it, if you bring either less or more of yourself to the task, you may well complete it, but you will struggle and waste energy—or not perform properly at all.
Or try this description: “Mastery is the ability to perform instinctively and instantly in the manner you would perform had you a month to consider your actions.” In other words, to have instant access to your own deepest capacities.
In other words, Mastery is the place where intellectual or physical or emotional preparation meets pure instinct. The reflexes of an animal, the emotional purity of a child, the intellectual focus of a scholar. An incredible goal, designed to create incredible results.
And the achievement of that goal is exactly what I.D.E.A. is about.
Instinctive Designation of Energy and Attention. The deliberate cultivation of instinct, energy, and intellect to maximize your results as a writer, athlete, businesswoman, human being…whatever your goal. The theory is both childishly simple and devilishly difficult, but is your key to accessing your deepest wisdom.
Basically, I.D.E.A. says that you develop your instincts by giving yourself deep feedback about the way you are currently operating in the world. To strip away illusion, and operate in a “truth zone” about the person you are and the world you live in. As the ancient Samurai Musashi Miyamoto once put it, “Do not think dishonestly.” A commitment to total truth will tear the blinders from your eyes, possibly for the first time in your life.
Sounds simple? Just wait. Here’s the bad news. In order to be certain that you are accurate in your assessments, you must take responsibility for your life, and the results you have achieved (or occasionally endured!) in all three major arenas of your life: body, mind, and spirit.
1) Body is fitness and health. Your body should be in alignment with your own values, or you should be engaged in a daily process of cultivating the physical health and beauty and performance that WOULD reflect your values. Want to know if you are? Strip to your underwear and look in the mirror. If you are attracted to what you see, you are in alignment with your values. If you aren’t, you aren’t. It’s as simple as that.
2) Mind. Mind manifests most clearly in our education and career. Any worm will move away from pain, and toward pleasure. Believe me, if you aren’t working at a career you enjoy, it isn’t due to lack of intellect. In such a case you may have emotional conflicts, value confusion about safety, freedom, and responsibility, and it would behoove you to commit to healing them. The core question: if you won the lottery next week, would you still be at your job next year? If not, you should accept the challenge of crafting for yourself a career path that IS that attractive.
3) Spirit. Just as grass bending can signal the presence of wind, the relationships we have with other human beings in THIS world can help us understand our connection to the divine. The most important relationship to address is the one with our most significant other, our husband or wife, or lifemate. The history of this aspect of our lives tells us an enormous amount about our inner world. The most important question: If you viewed your partner (or the average of your partners, over your relationship history) as being your mirror image, what would that say about you? And don’t protest that they aren’t, that there’s no connection between you and the most important person in your life. What a joke! Our relationships measure our honesty, passion, intelligence, self-respect and general energy Take responsibility here. If you’re happy with your relationship, pat yourself on the back! And if you’re not…you have work to do.
You need not tell another human being what you learn if you look at these three arenas, but YOU need to know. You need to come to some conclusions about how and why you are in the life space you are in. The answers to these questions must be consistent: in other words, you are willing to judge other people by the same standards you hold yourself to. In all likelihood, engaging in the I.D.E.A. process will give you vast compassion for other human beings: we are all battle-scarred, we are all magnificent, we have all failed, we have all succeeded.
And we move on, toward the light. For an artist, and we are all artists, this process opens the door to a level of understanding most human beings never approach. If you walk this path, it’s important to avoid guilt, blame, and shame—these emotions have no place in the evaluation of our lives. They merely cloud the issue. Meditation, dream diaries, therapy, or talking with good and supportive friends might be valuable to help move through the pain and confusion. What I promise you is that if you walk this path, you will be one of the very very few human beings on this planet who are actually committed to excellence. Mastery can be lonely…but as you climb that mountain, moving toward a more and more rarified level of performance, you will begin to meet the other climbers. And they will extend their hands to you, and welcome you into an extraordinary family…one bonded not by blood, but by spirit.
