Search Results for: blog learning from reality shows

Special Needs Blog Week in Review – April 1 – 7, 2012

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Every week, the Special Needs Blog Week in Review gives you a brief description of all of the blogs that appeared there in the past seven days. This is a good way to find the blogs that you missed, but perhaps would have liked to read when they first appeared. The Special Needs Podcast Roundup went up on April 2, 2012. This time, I’d like to point out an episode of NPR’s “All Things Considered”. The episode is called “N.Y. Preschool Starts DNA Testing for Admission”. If something in the child’s DNA makes the school think that he or she … Continue reading →

Learning from Reality Shows

If you have ever watched the television show “Wife Swap” you know that its based on taking two completely different types of families and swapping wives for two weeks. It can be pretty interesting to watch the collision of very different viewpoints. For the first week the visiting mom has to follow that family’s rules but then the second week she gets to change the rules. Many times the rules have to do with parenting issues but they also tend to be about the way the household is run. You get all kinds of families. You get families who believe … Continue reading →

Learning to De-Escalate Emotional Situations With Children

My eight year old daughter, has been attending a special Psychiatric Day Treatment program for emotionally disturbed children for a year now. My four year old son started attending a few months ago. This program has been wonderful for our family and for our children. Along with the therapy and treatment the children receive parents have access to a number of helpful services as well. One of these services has been a weekly parent support group where I have learned some wonderful skills to help me parent emotionally disturbed children. I am sure most of these skills would apply to … Continue reading →

Extreme Cheapskates on TLC

Have you watched that TLC show, “Extreme Cheapskates?” There is a lot you can learn about frugal living from it, but the question is, how much of it is good? TLC is an extreme phase. “Extreme Couponers” was doing well, and now they need to turn the shock value up a little more. As the producers of an exploitative show such as “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” this shouldn’t be a surprise. You know that you are mostly going to get played for entertainment and not actually learn much anything on The Learning Channel. Oh maybe there will be a … Continue reading →

Interview with “The Sing-Off” Contestants, Vocal Point, Part Two

I’m having fun today interviewing three members of Vocal Point, the talented a capella group competing on television’s “The Sing-Off.” This group is easily our favorite as we gather around to watch as a family. You can read part one of my interview here. What does singing mean to you, and why did you choose to perform with an a capella group rather than a more traditional band? Keith Evans answered, “I started singing when I was three, and have always loved the emotional outlet it provides. Music truly can communicate concepts, feelings and ideas in ways the spoken word … Continue reading →

Interview with “The Sing-off” Contestants, Vocal Point, Part One

Are you watching this season’s competition on “The Sing-Off?” If you’re not, you’re missing a treat. Sixteen talented a capella groups were featured on the premiere, with two groups voted off to start. Tonight, the battle continues, and one of the remaining competitors has my heart—and the heart of my family—all the way. Named Vocal Point, this group of nine young men from nearby Brigham Young University has the chops—and the lungs—to make it all the way. I was honored to interview three of these guys this last week, and I appreciate them for taking time out of taping and … Continue reading →

Expectations for Parenting

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Have you thought about what it will be like once you have your baby? What will motherhood be like and what will it require? Is it really as bad as some people say? Is it really as wonderful as some people say? Will you be successful and what does that even mean? In reflecting back on my expectations for becoming a mom, I find that I was entirely wrong on all accounts. I knew I would love my child, but the scale and scope of what I anticipated was completely eclipsed by reality. I love him so much more than … Continue reading →

Preparing Your Home for the Colder Months

Depending on where you live in the United States, you may be starting to think about preparing your home for the colder months to come. I live in Wisconsin and by September we are already thinking of snow. It has been known to snow in October so you can never be too prepared. This is the time when we like to take advantage of what could be the last month or so of decent weather. By the middle of September we are packing away most of our outdoor furniture and making sure the snow blower and shovels are handy. There … Continue reading →

Storing Keepsakes

If you are anything like me, you have keepsakes all over the place. I have tried to get everything under control but what I end up doing is moving some to one place and some to another place. What I have left are keepsakes that are all over the house. I have some keepsakes in cabinets, some in boxes and some in closets. My goal for the next few Saturdays is to get it all in order and store my keepsakes the proper way. I already know how I want to do this. I plan on purchasing a plastic container … Continue reading →

Early Sexual Activity in Children and Teens Linked to TV Viewing

How young is too young for sexual activity? In my house it was any time before marriage, but the reality is that teens and even children are sexual active way before they or their parents are ready. Some kids as young as nine years old are taking the initiative to experiment with sexual activity, although thankfully this isn’t the norm. As scary as this is, it is important for parents to understand the various reasons behind early sexual activity. A recent study at the Children’s Hospital of Boston may offer at least one clue about early sexual activity and adolescence. … Continue reading →