Parenting Tips, Trends and Family Fun in the High Desert
April 1st, 2008, 2:52 pm by vhill
Americans work hard to protect their children, but child abuse and neglect remain at unacceptably high levels with nearly 900,000 U.S. youngsters hurt each year. Since many of even the best-intentioned parents don’t know how to prevent abuse and the conditions under which it may come about, the 125-year-old national children’s crisis charity KidsPeace is offering free downloadable information packets called, “24 Ways You Can Prevent Child Abuse..Before it Starts.”
During this April’s National Child Abuse Prevention Month, parents, teachers and others can go to www.kidspeace.org (click on “resources” and “brochures”) and find two dozen simple yet effective tips to “Make Your Home Safe, Give Your Child Trust and Build Communication, Give Your Child Independence, and Give Your Child Self-Esteem.”
“Most parents love their kids and want the best for them,” says Dr. Lorrie Henderson, acting president of KidsPeace, which helps thousands of children every day at 65 centers nationwide to overcome abuse, neglect, and the other emotional crises. “Our task now is to help adults identify and avoid the most common situations in which a child may be harmed physically, sexually, or emotionally - as well as to create the kind of positive, open communications that can serve as an early line of defense when trouble looms.”
Just a few of the “24 Ways You Can Prevent Child Abuse,” which are explained in more depth online, include the following:
* Establish house rules and be consistent
* Interview your babysitters
* Never strike in anger — use short timeouts and try not to yell or use hurtful words
* Teach your children to say “no” to anyone who asks them to do anything they feel is wrong
* When you feel frustrated, angry or overwhelmed, vent your feelings positively — away from your children. Do not stay alone with your children if you are overwhelmed. Call a friend or leave your children with someone trustworthy.
* Put yourself in your child’s place and ask “Is what I’ve said or done building my child up or putting my child down?” and “Is what I’ve said or done really for my needs or for the needs of my child?”
* Listen to your children and be available when they have fears, worries, or other concerns
“Even in a nation that loves its children, abuse happens far too often — about once every 30 seconds,” says Dr. Herbert Mandell, medical director for KidsPeace and the KidsPeace Children’s Hospital, which helps youngsters in severe crisis. “If we can avoid or better handle the situations that can lead to problems, we have a better chance of lowering the incidence of child abuse and keeping our kids, whom we work so hard to protect, healthy and happy.”
KidsPeace is a 125-year-old national children’s charity dedicated to helping America’s kids avoid and overcome the kinds of crises that can strike any child - from traumas to neglect, depression, and the stresses of modern life. KidsPeace helps thousands of children a day with lifesaving programs at 65 centers nationally and millions more through public education and outreach efforts supported by its national spokesperson and founder of the Memory Foundation Leeza Gibbons and child safety and self-esteem icon Retro Bill.
KidsPeace was called “the outstanding organization” of its kind by the American Association of Psychiatric Services for Children and “a prototype of what we need for all children everywhere” by family expert Dr. Lee Salk.
For more information, go to www.kidspeace.org
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April 1st, 2008, 2:47 pm by vhill
Cecily McKoy, a teacher and administrator of Victor Valley Desert Christian School, shared the following homeschool information with the Daily Press:
The school is a small private school with only homeschooling families (Independent Study Program) enrolled. ”We focus on Christian fellowship, co-op classes, field trips and community service activities,” said McKoy.
In February, the school held its Annual Science Fair and Open House Event. Almost the entire school participated, so it was hard to choose just one winner. Many students will also be entering their projects in the San Bernardino County Fair this spring.
Tim Brandle’s project about the “3-D Magnet Field” won first place.
Katie Brandle’s science project won Best of Show for experimenting with the question, “Can you grow icicles in the desert?”
In the elementary division, Gerald McKoy won first place for his science project on “What water helps plants grow best?”
We would like to encourage people in the High Desert to get more information about homeschooling especially since there has been recent interest in the news.
We will be having an upcoming informational meeting called, “Considering Homeschooling? Yes, you can homeschool legally in California.”
The meeting is free and open the to the public. It will be held on Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m. at Hesperia Temple Baptist Church, 11222 Maple Ave. Children are welcome to attend with their families.
Victor Valley Desert Christian School
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March 31st, 2008, 11:29 am by vhill
Learn the essential “big four” skills needed to safely explore the sometimes harsh and often challenging desert landscape.
Tony Nester, expert and author of “Desert Survival Tips, Tricks and Skills,” will teach the physical skills and mental processes that will prepare participants to discover some of the most beautiful and most dangerous habitats of the world by engaging in mock survival scenarios.
The class will also cover survival kits, edible and dangerous plants, stellar navigation, as well as desert hazards such as flash floods, venomous creatures, and heat-related injuries.
Sponsored by the Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park, this field seminar meets at the Oasis Visitor Center, 74485 National Park Dr., Twentynine Palms, on Sunday, April 13, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The cost is $60.
For brochure, information and registration call (760) 367-5535 or visit www.joshuatree.org.
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March 21st, 2008, 11:15 am by vhill
On Friday, April 25, several thousand schools across the nation will be observing “Day of Silence (DOS).”
The American Family Assocation (AFA) is joining other family-oriented groups in urging parents to keep their children at home that day if their local school is participating in the DOS project. The AFA states that “by remaining silent, the intent of the pro-homosexual students is to disrupt the classes while promoting the homosexual lifestyle.”
DOS is sponsored by an activist homosexual group, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). Its official Web site, at http://www.dayofsilence.org/ says the day “brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools.”
Parents are encouraged to call their local school to ascertain whether they officially or passively allow students to observe “Day of Silence.” Sometimes the “participation” turns out to be a handful of kids who are saying they have a homosexual club and are observing this protest day, but without school endorsement.
Hesperia High School and Silverado High School are among the High Desert schools listed as participating in DOS. For the complete list, see http://www.missionamerica.com/ or call your school.
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March 14th, 2008, 11:14 am by vhill
The Chicago Tribune reports that among the Sierra Club’s 2008 outings is the July 20-26 “Parent and Teen Adventure in the Central Sierra” at Bear Valley Lodge near Arnold, Calif.
Ideal for single parents — as well as couples — with teens ages 13 and up, the trip is priced at $845 for adults and $745 for teens, including lodging, all meals, and guided hiking and kayaking.
Younger children are the focus of the July 27-Aug. 2 “Family Fun Trail Work at Maroon Bells,” a service trip in Colorado’s White River National Forest.
Parents and children as young as 7 will work on trail-building, with projects suitable for all. The $395/adult and $295/child fee covers camping, meals, leadership and transportation from Aspen. Tents and sleeping bags are BYO.
People of all abilities — including those with disabilities — are welcome on the Sept. 7-13 “Memories of Muir in an Accessible Sierra, California.”
Participants hike or enjoy horse-drawn-wagon transportation between campsites, with a solar-powered wheelchair lift and “backcountry accessible” toilet system provided. The $1,095 tab covers meals, wagon transport and leadership. Tents and sleeping bags are BYO. (415-977-5522; www.sierraclub.org click on Family, Service or Highlight)
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March 12th, 2008, 9:54 am by vhill
According to the national Redbox Spring Break Family Travel Survey, 57.1 percent of respondents plan to head out of town this spring, most with children in tow (44 percent of respondents).
Though getting to a destination is often the most stressful part of travel, it doesn’t have to be. Redbox and Emily Kaufman, the “Travel Mom,” offer the following suggestions to reduce stress and increase family fun this travel season:
Bring Technology Along for the Ride – According to the redbox survey, the days of counting license plates on long road trips may be over, as nearly 40 percent of respondents traveling with children own a vehicle with a DVD player included (37.4 percent). Nearly 90 percent of all family travelers will be equipped to watch movies on the way, as another 49.7 percent plan to bring a portable DVD player or DVD-capable laptop on their Spring Break travels. Whether traveling by airplane, train or car, a movie is an excellent way to keep children entertained while on-the-way to Spring Break. “Portable DVD players and today’s incredible variety of family films allow family fun to begin immediately and cuts down on the, ‘Are we there yet?’ questions,” said Kaufman, author of The Travel Mom’s Book of Ultimate Family Travel. “Movies are the perfect travel companion, keeping the kids entertained on the way and allowing the driver to stay focused on getting to their destination safely.”
Be Prepared – Kaufman counsels parents to arm themselves with information about their destination, including maps, travel guides and ‘must-see’ attractions. According to the Redbox Spring Break Family Travel Survey, this year’s most popular destinations include Florida (7.7 percent), California (4.6 percent) and Mexico (4.0 percent). Most respondents (33.9 percent) chose their destination because it allows them to visit family and friends. Kaufman also suggests creating a “boredom bag” consisting of age appropriate games and activities. This might consist of hand-held electronic games, self-contained craft kits, MP3 players, disposable cameras, healthy snacks and bottled water. Consider letting each child select one special movie from redbox to include in his boredom bag, and pre-determine the order in which they’ll be watched to help avoid arguments on the road.
Be Realistic – The redbox survey showed that the average Spring Break destination is 4-5 hours away, and 21.1 percent of respondents will travel eight hours or more. According to Kaufman, it’s important to incorporate reasonable travel times into your plans and know that there may be some bumps along the way. “You have to understand your kids’ limitations, and don’t try to tackle too much in one day,” said Kaufman. “For example, if you’re visiting a destination with amusement parks, consider visiting the park only every other day, with time in-between for rest and relaxation.”
Don’t Over-Pack – The “Travel Mom” reminds families that regardless of your destination this Spring Break season, laundry facilities will likely be available. “Whether you’re packing heavy sweaters or bathing suits, these items can be re-worn. Too many additional suitcases make traveling more difficult and time-consuming.”
Follow Some Routines, But Be Flexible, and Enjoy! – Kaufman says families are creatures of habit, and recommends following sequence and order that families are familiar with back at home as much as possible while vacationing. However, she also recommends families celebrate being in the moment by not over planning, and remembering to leave room in their schedule to discover those ‘Golden Moments’ – memories that might not be planned, but that will last a lifetime. “Every vacation is bound to have its missteps that are out of your control, such as an unexpected detour, closed attraction or inclement weather,” said Kaufman. “But you have to relax, take it in stride and enjoy your quality family time together. It can be the difference between enjoying a wonderful family vacation or having a stress-filled experience.”
The Redbox Spring Break Family Travel Survey polled 2,233 redbox customers nationwide.
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March 11th, 2008, 1:13 pm by vhill
Four schools will hold kindergarten registration next week.
Hollyvale Elementary registration will be from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. March 26 in the solarium. The school is located at 11645 Hollyvale Ave. in Victorville.
For more information, call 947-3784.
Kingston Elementary registration will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 26 in the computer lab. The school is located at 7473 Kingston Ave. in Hesperia.
For more information, call 244-8869.
Topaz Elementary registration will be from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 27 in the east pod. The school is located at 14110 Beech St. in Hesperia.
For more information, call 244-4622.
Juniper Elementary registration will be from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 28 in the library. The school is located at 9400 I Ave. in Hesperia.
For more information, call 244-6161.
The parent or legal guardian must be present for registration and should bring: Address verification, three emergency names with phone numbers, child’s birth certificate, social security card, school physical and immunization record.
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March 11th, 2008, 1:01 pm by vhill
With summer just around the corner, kids are looking for the ultimate outdoor experience.
Pali Adventures in Running Springs www.paliadventures.com) offers 14 unique camp experiences, from Hollywood Stunt Camp to Spa Princess Camp, Fashion Design Academy, Rock Star Camp, Water Sports Extravaganza, Extreme Action Camp and much more.
This Southland sleep-away even boasts a 5-star chef, along with activities including ATVing, go-carts, bungee-trampoline and fashion shows.
Pali Overnight Adventures is open to children ages 9-16 years. Pali offers 10 weeks of programming divided into one-, two- and four-week sessions. The camp is located on 74 acres of picturesque mountain wilderness.
Campers get the chance to park reality at the front gate and become their choice of secret agents, stuntmen, extreme athletes, equestrian aficionados, fashion designers, executive chefs, professional dancers, actors, photographers, rock stars, news anchors and movie producers.
An Open House is planned for Sunday, March 30 with tours of the site, paintball, a ropes course and cooking with the professional 5-star chef.
A 5% discount is offered to early birds who sign up before through March 21. Call 909-867-5743.
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March 10th, 2008, 10:21 am by vhill
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance has named the 100 best values in private institutions, ranking private liberal arts colleges and universities that combine outstanding economic value with exceptional education. For the second year in a row, Swarthmore College takes top honors for best college and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) shines again as best private university. The annual private school rankings appear in Kiplinger’s April 2008 issue—on newsstands Tuesday, March 11—and online at: www.kiplinger.com
While tuition prices rise—with the cost of one year at a four-year private college increasing almost 6% in 2007-08—many institutions are ramping up financial-aid packages to help offset costs. Swarthmore and Caltech, along with schools such as Princeton, Harvard, and Yale, have recently announced major changes to their aid policies—replacing loans with grants, offering full rides to families at higher income levels, and bestowing discounts on families earning well into six figures.
“Families fearing that private education is out of their financial reach should know that there are some outstanding deals to be had,” says Fred Frailey, editor of Kiplinger’s. “Our list showcases a range of schools with strong academics, generous financial-aid practices and, in some cases, a decent price to begin with. You can receive a top-notch education without breaking the bank.”
Kiplinger’s top pick as private liberal arts college, Swarthmore offers a winning mix of outstanding academics, a low student-faculty ratio, and a generous helping of assistance for families who can’t pay full freight. The school has announced that it will replace loans with grants in its financial-aid awards, spending an additional $1.7 million out of its $1.4-billion endowment to implement the new offering.
Caltech, selected as Kiplinger’s best private university, boasts an impressive three-to-one student-faculty ratio, the lowest among all major universities. Students work side-by-side with Nobel laureates and enjoy occasional lectures by physicist Stephen Hawking. Caltech recently announced that it will replace loans with grants, piggybacking on an already-generous financial-aid policy that has kept average student debt at graduation to $5,156—about one-fourth of the national average. Starting in fall 2008, students whose families earn $60,000 or less a year will receive grants and workstudy to meet their financial need.
The Kiplinger 100 Rankings
Liberal Arts Colleges (1-50)
1. Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
2. Williams College, Williamstown, MA
3. Amherst College, Amherst, MA
4. Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA
5. Pomona College, Claremont
6. Washington & Lee Univ., Lexington, VA
7. Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME
8. College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA
9. Davidson College, Davidson, NC
10. Claremont McKenna College, Claremont
11. Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
12. Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
13. Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA
14. Haverford College, Haverford, PA
15. Colby College, Waterville, ME
16. Lafayette College, Easton, PA
17. Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO
18. Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY
19. Bates College, Lewiston, ME
20. Colgate University, Hamilton, NY
21. Barnard College, New York, NY
22. Macalester College, St. Paul, MN
23. Carleton College, Northfield, MN
24. Furman University, Greenville, SC
25. Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT
26. Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
27. Hamilton College, Clinton, NY
28. Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA
29. Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA
30. Centre College, Danville, KY
31. Connecticut College, New London, CT
32. Kenyon College, Gambier, OH
33. Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
34. St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
35. Denison University, Granville, OH
36. Smith College, Northampton, MA
37. Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL
38. Trinity College, Hartford, CT
39. Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA
40. Scripps College, Claremont
41. Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
42. Occidental College, Los Angeles
43. Sewanee: Univ. of the South, Sewanee, TN
44. Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI
45. Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC
46. Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN
47. Knox College, Galesburg, IL
48. Rhodes College, Memphis, TN
49. DePauw University, Greencastle, IN
50. Lawrence University, Appleton, WI
Universities (1-50)
1. Cal. Institute of Technology, Pasadena
2. Yale, New Haven, CT
3. Princeton, Princeton, NJ
4. MIT, Cambridge, MA
5. Rice, Houston, TX
6. Harvard, Cambridge, MA
7. Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
8. Duke, Durham, NC
9. Emory, Atlanta, GA
10. Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
11. Univ. of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
12. Brown, Providence, RI
13. Stanford, Stanford
14. Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN
15. Columbia, New York, NY
16. Georgetown, Washington, DC
17. Northwestern, Evanston, IL
18. Brandeis, Waltham, MA
19. Tufts, Medford, MA
20. Cornell, Ithaca, NY
21. Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
22. University of Richmond, Richmond, VA
23. Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD
24. Wake Forest, Winston-Salem, NC
25. Elon University, Elon, NC
26. Columbia Univ., Fu Foundation, New York, NY
27. Providence College, Providence, RI
28. Bentley College, Waltham, MA
29. Trinity University, San Antonio, TX
30. Whitworth College, Spokane, WA
31. University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
32. Villanova University, Villanova, PA
33. Clark University, Worcester, MA
34. Gonzaga, Spokane, WA
35. Emerson College, Boston, MA
36. Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles
37. Santa Clara University, Santa Clara
38. Baylor University, Waco, TX
39. Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
40. University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
41. Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY
42. Xavier, Cincinnati, OH
43. Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
44. Marquette, Milwaukee, WI
45. Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, OH
46. University of Scranton, Scranton, PA
47. George Washington Univ., Washington, DC
48. Boston University, Boston, MA
49. New York University, New York, NY
50. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
There are several significant changes from last year’s rankings. Clark University, which did not make it into Kiplinger’s 2007 list, ranks a respectable #33 in 2008—thanks in part to a more competitive admissions rate, a better freshman retention rate, and more financial aid offered. George Washington University is another newcomer, ranking #47. Illinois Wesleyan jumped 13 spots to #37 with an improved admissions rate and more non-need-based aid. Moving up from #16 to #12, Wheaton College delivers the lowest sticker price on the colleges list with a total cost of $31,750. Elon University moved from #27 to #25, with its total cost at $30,362, making it the lowest-priced among all 100 schools.
Selected from a pool of more than 1,000 private institutions provided by Peterson’s, schools in the Kiplinger 100 were ranked according to academic quality and affordability—with quality accounting for two-thirds of the total. To view the complete article, visit www.kiplinger.com Rankings, methodology and other specifics are available at: www.kiplinger.com
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March 1st, 2008, 11:17 am by vhill
San Diego Zoo, Sea World and Catalina Island are just a few fun weekend outings for families.
Veronica Hill of California Travel Tips shares her video blog of these great destinations and more on her YouTube channel. Subscribe to the videos and you’ll be alerted every time a new video is posted.
Safe travels!
http://www.youtube.com/user/CaliforniaTravelTips
Sea World San Diego
Disneyland
Redondo Beach
Wrightwood
Oak Glen
Lake Arrowhead
Catalina Island
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