Swim-In Cinema in Carrollton

The City of Carrollton is hosting a Swim-In Cinema

Date:  7/26/2013 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location:  Rosemeade Rainforest Aquatic Complex

1334 Rosemeade Parkway
Carrollton, Texas 75007

For more information, please call 972-466-9833.

6 Benefits of Music Lessons

Learning to play an instrument can help your child fine-tune her ear and enhance skills needed for education and social interaction.

• It improves academic skills.
• It develops physical skills.
• It cultivates social skills.
• It refines discipline and patience.
• It boosts self-esteem.
• It introduces children to other cultures.

11 Basic Manners Kids Often Forget

Even if it takes a few reminders, encourage your child to be more mindful of some basic etiquette.

click here for details

Create a Cozy Reading Nook

Here are some creative ways to make a cozy reading nook for your kiddos.

Check out this Pinterest Board dedicated to reading nooks.

Summer Reading Programs With Rewards That Cost You NOTHING!

There are several Summer Reading Programs that offer prizes and incentives to kids for reading over the summer.  

Check it out!

Barnes & Noble
May 21 – September 3, 2013
Website (with reading log)


The Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program is here to help you on your way, encouraging you to read books of your own choosing and earn a FREE book, simply by following these three easy steps:
Read any eight books this summer and record them in this Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Imagination’s Destination Journal. Be sure to let us know to whom you would recommend each book, and why.
Bring your completed journal to a Barnes & Noble store between May 21st and September 3rd, 2013.
Choose your FREE reading adventure from the book list featured on the back of the journal.

Chuck E Cheese
Go two weeks, reading every day, then complete and redeem the certificate on this page to get 10 FREE tokens. No more than one of any free token offer can be used per child, per day. Only at participating locations. Pizza purchase is required. Offer Expires 12/31/13.



Half Price Books “Feed Your Brain”
June 1 – July 31, 2013
Website

Back again for the 6th year – the Feed Your Brain® Summer Reading Program rewards your kids for keeping an appetite for reading over the summer. Kids 14 and under can read each day to earn Bookworm Bucks, redeemable at your local HPB store. Pick up your reading log today!

Read for at least 15 minutes each day in the months of June and July. (Grown-ups may read aloud to kids who are still learning.)
Add up your minutes and have your parent or guardian initial each week.
Once you’ve read 300 minutes, turn in your completed log to earn HPB Bookworm Bucks for each month.
We’ll award one top reader per age group each month with a TOP READER prize – a $20 HPB Gift Card!*

* Kids ages 14 and under can participate and earn Half Price Books® Bookworm Bucks. Promotion valid for June and July, 2013.

Pizza Hut Book It!

http://www.bookitprogram.com/
Pizza Hut’s Book It program offers lots of options to help your child continue reading throughout the summer. Visit the link above for Parent Printables, reading activity calendars, weekly reading games, and information on their Summer Reading Challenge Sweepstakes.


Scholastic Summer Challenge
http://www.scholastic.com/ups/campaigns/src-2013

Kids:
Log your reading minutes and earn digital rewards
Help set a new world record in reading!

Parents:
Find great book ideas for your kids
Access summer reading tips and activities

Carrollton Public Library
June 6 – August 23, 2013

Website

Click here for SPECIAL SUMMER PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Kids:
Pick up a reading log at either library
one log per participant – just use plain paper if you lose your log

Turn in your completed log between June 27 – August 23 and receive:

• a Summer Reading Program certificate
• a free book
• a free ticket to the Ringling Brothers circus, WHILE SUPPLIES LAST (Children under two do not need a ticket to the circus)

Teens:
Unearth the challenge…discover what lies beneath.
Return a completed reading challenge sheet to receive a FREE book AND be entered into the grand prize drawing.
Stop by either Library to pick up your reading challenge.
Bring your finished challenge sheet back to the Library.
Receive a FREE book.
Repeat!

Each completed challenge sheet enters you in the grand prize drawing for an Amazon gift card. More returned challenge sheets = more free books and grand prize entries!

You can also visit the Family eGuide Online Calendar or Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive updates on specific reading club activities for kids and teens.


See more at

Failure Can Be a Useful Tool

Teaching Children How to Convert Failure into Success - Simple Tips and Suggestions

By Andrew Loh (brainy-child.com)

Fear can be a potentially strong tool to succeed in life. When you teach children how to use fear as a tool to succeed in life, they will learn many other things in life too. Parents hate to see their children fail either in classrooms or in sports. They want their children to succeed in every task they undertake. Some of the most painful moments while parents are nurturing their children are from frustratingly watching their children fail in a class test or miss the selection for classroom soccer team. Alternatively, parents may also hate to see their children fail to make good friends in their school.

>>read more

A Day for Daddies

Father's Day is this Sunday, June 16th.

Need some ideas for the perfect gift for dad from the kids?

Check out our Pinterest page.

6 Summer Books for Kids

How do you keep your kids reading momentum going when school's out?

Experts say that the key is to get your school-age child to pick up books on her own -- ideally three or more times a week. Look for stories that spark her interest or speak to some of her recent experiences, such as starting day camp or becoming a big sister. Of the many children's books available, titles that contain basic sight words, repetition, and some challenging new vocabulary will help her continue to develop her language and comprehension skills. To jump-start your child's summer reading, we've rounded up teachers' top recommendations. Depending on her reading level, she may be able to finish these on her own or want you to read them to her. Either way, these picks will have her smiling and turning the page in no time.

These teacher favorites will get your child even more excited about books.

Protecting Your Family From West Nile Virus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report saying that, in the United States, 2012 was the deadliest year on record for deaths attributed to the West Nile virus.

Texas led the nation, compromising 33 percent of all reported cases with 1,868 infections and 89 deaths. That was far above California, which had the second most reported cases at 479 and 20 deaths.

In the majority of West Nile virus cases, most people experience only minor symptoms such as fever and a mild headache. However, some people who become infected with the virus develop a life-threatening illness that includes inflammation of the brain.

Serious symptoms can include:

- High fever

- Severe headache

- Stiff neck

- Disorientation or confusion

- Stupor or coma

- Tremors or muscle jerking

- Lack of coordination

- Convulsions

- Pain

- Partial paralysis or sudden muscle weakness

Click here to learn more about how to protect your family from West Nile Virus.

Is DEET Safe to Use on Children?

Over the years there has been much controversy on the safety of using Deet on children and infants. The Center for Disease Control has released a new study that shows Deet is safe to use on children in concentrations of up to 30%. It recommends not using on the face especially around the mouth and eyes and should not be applied to cuts. It should not be used on infants under 2 months of age.

This information was found on the CDC.gov website:

Q. Can insect repellents be used on children?

A. Repellent products must state any age restriction. If there is none, EPA has not required a restriction on the use of the product.

According to the label, oil of lemon eucalyptus products should NOT be used on CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS.

In addition to EPA’s decisions about use of products on children, many consumers also look to the opinion of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP does have an opinion on the use of DEET in children (see below). AAP has not yet issued specific recommendations or opinion concerning the use of picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus for children. CDC will post a link to such information from the Academy when/if it becomes available.

Since it is the most widely available repellent, many people ask about the use of products containing DEET on children. No definitive studies exist in the scientific literature about what concentration of DEET is safe for children. No serious illness has been linked to the use of DEET in children when used according to manufacturer’s recommendations.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Environmental Health has updated their recommendation for use of DEET products on children in 2003, citing: "Insect repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, also known as N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) with a concentration of 10% appear to be as safe as products with a concentration of 30% when used according to the directions on the product labels." AAP recommends that repellents with DEET should not be used on infants less than 2 months old. Parents should choose the type and concentration of repellent to be used by taking into account the amount of time that a child will be outdoors, exposure to mosquitoes, and the risk of mosquito-transmitted disease in the area.

If you are concerned about using repellent products on children you may wish to consult a health care provider for advice or contact the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) through their toll-free number, 1-800-858-7378 or npic.orst.edu

Q. What guidelines are available for using a repellent on children? 

A. Always follow the recommendations appearing on the product label when using repellent:

• When using repellent on a child, apply it to your own hands and then rub them on your child. Avoid children's eyes and mouth and use it sparingly around their ears.
• Do not apply repellent to children's hands. (Children may tend to put their hands in their mouths.)
• Do not allow young children to apply insect repellent to themselves; have an adult do it for them.
• Keep repellents out of reach of children.
• Do not apply repellent under clothing. If repellent is applied to clothing, wash treated clothing before wearing again. (May vary by product, check label for specific instructions.)

Summer Reading for Young Children

Summer offers many unique opportunities to weave literacy into everyday activities with your child. Beach trips, swimming in a pool or family barbecues provide ideal opportunities for conversation, book reading and looking at letters—skills that will help your child become a reader and writer later in life.

Try some of these tips for making your young child’s summer full of literacy fun.

A Recipe for Playfulness and Why It's Important

We all know that it is critical for kids of all ages to play. And we know that play can take many forms. But there’s a deeper idea about the importance for kids to learn how to be playful – and how that spirit should permeate their development.

Click here to find a four ingredient recipe for playfulness.