Cinema Sundays: My Picks of Great Flicks: Academy Awards Special Edition

Posted on February 27, 2011 by viviankirkfield

Classic Photo from 1937 Academy Awards at the ...

Image by ExperienceLA via Flickr

Tonight many people will be glued in front of their televisions, watching the Academy Awards presentation.

All across the country (and probably in other parts of the world), there will be Oscar-night parties and other celebrations to honor the winners (and losers…how can they be “losers” if those nominated were among the top 5 of all actors, actresses, movies, etc. for the entire year?).

My husband and I don’t go to the movies very often.

We actually LOVE watching movies, but don’t like the cost and inconvenience of going OUT to the movies.

So we got most of our movies for free from our local library or for $1 from Red box vending machines.:)

This past week, for President’s Day, I’ve written several posts that examine HONESTY, and how it relates to parenting.

So, my movie pick for today is GET LOW with Robert Duvall, Bill Cobbs, Sissy Spacek and Bill Murray. Although not one of the Academy Award nominees in any category, it’s a film well worth your time.

The movie examines the life of a man who has a secret he has kept to himself for many years. He takes up the life of a hermit and finally connects with the world only because he wants to arrange a “funeral party”, inviting EVERYONE and ANYONE who has a story to tell about him…but his real reason is that he knows he is going to die soon and wants to reveal the truth…so that he can rest easy.

Look at the word DISEASE…it’s made up of two parts: DIS (meaning not) and EASE (meaning at rest or at peace or functioning smoothly).

When we are not at peace, we are much more prone to getting sick.

Children start out in life being innocent and honest and forthright. Some begin to practice deception and dishonesty because they learn that when you tell the truth, if the truth is something unpleasant, you will likely get into trouble.

One of the cornerstones of Positive Parental Participation is listening to our children without judgment. Please don’t think this means that children don’t have to be responsible for their actions. A second cornerstone of this parenting approach is to consistently expect children to accept the consequences for what they do.

The gentle parenting tips included on every other page of SHOW ME HOW! BUILD YOUR CHILD’S SELF-ESTEEM THROUGH READING, CRAFTING AND COOKING are one of the coolest parts of the book. Do you worry that your children will not grow up the way you want them to? Are you concerned that peer pressure may influence your children to misbehave or stray off the path you would have them follow?

Use the book with your child for just 15 minutes a day and you will be amazed at the positive results! Head over to my website and grab a copy for half-price…only $22.50!

What will you get for $22.50?

100 story summaries of picture books your child needs to hear.
100 simple eco-friendly craft projects you and your child will enjoy doing.
100 child-friendly healthful recipes you and your child will have fun preparing together.
100 gentle parenting tips that will inspire you and give you confidence in your own parenting abilities.
365-day money-back guarantee.

Children grown and don’t need a copy for yourself? Pick one up as a super Mother’s Day gift for a new mom, working mom of preschoolers, homeschooling mom or dad or as a great gift for someone you know who is a preschool teacher, daycare provider, babysitter or nanny. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to spend this special time with your young children…even if it is just 15 minutes a day.

Please stop by tomorrow for Make-A-Meal Mondays!

Life Happens In REAL TIME: Just 15 Minutes a Day!

Posted on February 26, 2011 by viviankirkfield

Mother and two children posing for a portrait,...

Image by State Library of Queensland, Australia via Flickr

Several weeks ago, I watched a wonderful Hallmark Hall of Fame Presentation.

THE LAST VALENTINE, starring Betty White, was a poignant look at a woman who had lived her life positively and lovingly, even though a cloud of tragedy had been ever-present.

One of the things she said made a lasting impression on me.

I wanted to share it with all of you.

It really relates to my new book and the Positive Parental Participation approach that builds self-esteem, develops pre-literacy skills and creates a life-long parent-child bond.

“I DON’T BELIEVE IN MEANTIME…LIFE HAPPENS IN REAL TIME.”

Most of us are so busy these days.

Many two parent households have both mom and dad working at least one job each to provide the necessary income.

Single parents often have a difficult balancing act between work responsibilities and children’s needs.

But think about it.

Our children are growing up in REAL TIME.

And, in the MEANTIME, we are missing opportunities to interact positively with them because we are so BUSY, taking care of our daily responsibilities and tasks.

Do you have just 15 minutes a day to interact positively with your child?

Just 15 minutes a day can set your child on the path to a happy and successful life.

Just 15 minutes a day…read a picture book story together with your child.

Just 15 minutes a day…do a simple craft project together.

Just 15 minutes a day…prepare an easy healthful recipe with your child.

Right now…take just 2 minutes…and stop by my website to take advantage of the half-price sale and 365-day money-back guarantee.

Yesterday, I promised I would post some of the comments I’ve received from people who have already used the book and love it. I’m only including a few…but if you have lots of time (which I know you don’t) you can click the testimonial tab on my website to read lots more. 🙂

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Calling all parents and teachers!!! This book is required reading!! I loved it!! As both a parent and sub-teacher I found the book very resourceful and helpful. The central focus of the book is to help build your child’s self-esteem. The book is full of crafting, cooking, and reading ideas! I personally enjoyed the child-friendly egg salad sandwiches…one of my kid’s favorites. We also enjoyed making egg carton alligators. My son who is 7 has always been too hard on himself and I enjoyed seeing his face light up during these activities. I give this book my mommy seal of approval.” Amber McIntyre: The Frugal Military Wife

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“I loved this book. I am not very creative when it comes to activities with my kids, so this is the book for me. I have loved going to the library with my boys and picking out the books and then doing the craft and cooking. Sometimes I don’t do all three, sometimes I just do 2, but we still have so much fun. This is especially great because we live in snowy land and we get so crazy with cabin fever in the winter! I like the crafts especially because we generally always have the supplies at home! This book is a must have for moms! I have loved using it and I have loved the bonding that my boys and I have done while using the book!”

Melissa Au: MomsReview4You

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Here’s the cool thing about this book – each craft and cooking activity is tied to a children’s book. You read the book, talk about the purpose and then do the activities as a follow up. Each story and linked activities have a purpose – not just to have fun, but a lesson on building your child’s self-esteem. According to Vivian, “Helping your child develop a positive self-image is one of your primary goals.” I agree 110%!

I know to some parents, hands-on activities can be scary. From one busy mom to another, don’t worry! Vivian has included easy, realistic and fun activities. Most of the supplies you will need, you probably already have lying around the house. You will find activities like making collages, paper plate faces and animals, costumes, puppets…nothing too overwhelming. There are also some great cooking and yummy recipes to do with your little one.

Here’s my favorite part about the Show Me How!…every story suggestion has a “Positive Parental Participation Note” in which Vivian addresses the main focus of each “lesson.” I love these little statements because sometimes as parents we forget to focus on the positive. The saying is to give three positive praises for every negative. As parents it’s a lot easier to focus on the negatives – don’t do this, don’t do that, but we often forget how important that positive message is.

Show Me How! is recommended for ages 2-5, but there are definitely some hands-on activities in the book I can use right now with Christopher. And even more exciting, I pulled out a handful of lessons to use with my kids at school. I will definitely be sharing the book with my colleagues!
Triana: Rocky Mountain Mama

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“So, it’s near spring now, and by summer you may be signing your little one up for kindergarten or preschool. If there is anything that you can do for them now, it’s to get them prepared. This book is something I think all parents should have. It has crafting, cooking and reading projects and it helps young ones get started on the reading skills they will most definitely need for school. For those that are too young for big kid school, it has crafts and cooking activities. This stimulates the child’s creativity, and, while having fun, they are also learning the basics they will need. There is no doubt this book deserves 5 out of 5 stars.”

Jessica G: Review Avenues

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“My little 2 1/2 year old son is a little bundle of excitement and curiosity. I have been feeling kind of bad over the last few weeks since my little Kailana was born, because I feel like I haven’t been able to spend as much time alone with him teaching him and playing with him to his heart’s desire.

Then, I received this great book, “Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting, and Cooking.” The book is a shortcut for today’s busy parents and teachers. The simple fun-filled educational activities, easy-to-use format and gentle parenting tips give parents a newfound sense of confidence and competence in their own parenting abilities as well. If parents like me have a new baby and preschoolers at home, the book will provide instant activities that don’t need to be planned by the harried new parents. Hooray for less stress!!!”

Your World Healthy and Natural Blog

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Please stop by tomorrow for Cinema Sundays: My Picks of Great Flicks. But don’t forget to click over to my website so you can grab a copy of the book and start spending just 15 minutes a day with your child doing an activity from the book…it will be time well-spent!

15 Minutes a Day: Do You Care Enough?

Posted on February 25, 2011 by viviankirkfield

Image by George Eastman House via Flickr

When I was young, I wanted to become a teacher.

I believed I could help children step confidently onto the path to a successful and happy life.

I cared enough about reaching that goal to study hard in school so that I could graduate and then pass the licensing exam.

As a kindergarten teacher, I cared enough about my pupils to spend many hours after school, choosing the best books to read to them and creating projects for them to work on.

As a parent, I cared enough about my own children to listen when they had something to say and to talk when they needed to hear me.

As a daycare provider, I cared enough about the children in my group to devise a program that provided a balanced and harmonious day of indoor and outdoor activities.

As an author, I cared enough about the future of today’s children to write a book that provides a winning combination of picture book story recommendations, simple craft projects and easy cooking activities that work together to build a positive self-image, develop pre-literacy skills and create a life-long parent-child bond.

That book is now available!

You can grab a copy at half-price on my website!

The question is…DO YOU CARE ENOUGH?

I care enough about the future of today’s children to offer parents and teachers a ONE YEAR MONEY-BACK guarantee!

Buy a copy of the book and use it for 15 minutes a day for a whole year.

If, after using it for a year, you don’t feel it:

Helped build your child’s self-esteem
Developed your child’s pre-literacy skills
Created a positive bond between you and your child

Please return it to me for a FULL REFUND!

Do you care enough about the future of your child?

Go to my website
Buy the book
Use it for at least 15 minutes on a daily basis

I know that being a parent can often be overwhelming.

There are bills to pay, laundry to do and dishes to wash.

Many of you have jobs outside the home as well.

Parents today practice a juggling act…trying to balance so many things.

But your responsibility to your children has top priority.

Do you care enough about the future of your child?

Buy a copy of the book and use it for 15 minutes a day.

The schools and society are often blamed when children are led astray.

But we, as parents, are the first influencers of our children.

We, as parents, are their original mentors.

Do you care enough about the future of your child to get a copy of the book and use it for 15 minutes a day?

Read one of the suggested stories and talk about it with your child…that takes only 15 minutes.

Get some construction paper, glue, scissors, an old magazine and some crayons and make one of the simple craft projects…that takes only 15 minutes.

Let your child help you prepare one of the easy healthful recipes…that takes only 15 minutes.

How important is your child to you?

Important enough to invest 15 minutes a day?

Here is a chance for you to help your child grow up to be successful in life…a person with a positive self-image.

But you have to be willing to invest the time.

Just 15 minutes a day

Use the book and see noticeable results.

But the key is in using the book.

Many products come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

I care enough about YOUR child to give you a 365-day money-back guarantee.

Do YOU care enough to give it a try?

Please stop by tomorrow…I’ll be sharing some of the comments from parents, educators, self-esteem experts and picture book authors who have already read the book.

WE ALL NEED A CHEERING COMMITTEE AND PARENTS ARE A CHILD’S MOST IMPORTANT FANS!