Make the Homework Hour Happy Hour: Top 10 Tips

Top 10 Tips to Handle Homework:
Set Up a Study Area—We've mentioned the importance of having a designated study area before—read our article on study stadiums here—create an area that is homework only, so that when your child sits in the homework area, the work gets done.
Make Materials Available to the Homework Area—what tools does your child need to get the homework done? Use a container or box to keep all supplies handy: paper, sharpened pencils, pen, erasers, protractors, crayons, and calculator. Anything that your child may need access to during homework should be accessed easily so that he won't have to rummage around for it.
Remove the Distractions— If the study area is the dining room table, and a TV is nearby, make sure that the TV is off. Or if the area is next to a window, and the falling leaves are just too distracting, switch places, or consider a change of location. But don't be too stringent, some people work best with a little background noise, like a radio playing quietly in the background.
Set a Time Frame—there is a 10 minute rule of thumb for how long homework should take: 10 minutes for grade 1, then add ten minutes for every grade that follows. Following the formula, a child in grade six should have 1 hour of homework (60 minutes); a student in grade 12 should have two hours (120 minutes). So base your time allotment roughly on this schedule, and tailor to meet your child's needs—longer if studying for a test or for kids in advanced classes, less time for those who work quickly, or who finish the work in class.
Offer Guidance—but don't do the homework for your child. Be close by, maybe sit at the table too, or in the next room, and read the newspaper, or read a book, so if your child asks a question she won't have to go looking for you.
Use An Agenda— it's the key organizational tool for homework. They remind a student of tasks to be completed, and are also a great place to write down questions to ask the teacher, or for you to leave reminders for your child like don't forget that you have a dentist appointment at 11—remind Mr. Green!
Stay Informed—talk to the teacher when you can, find out about upcoming projects that may require extra help, and find out how long the teacher feels that assigned homework should take. How does your child fit into the class average — it's good to be informed.
Be a Role Model! When you set about determining the homework hour, practice what you preach. If this is the hour to do the things that need to be done, then join your child in the homework area to pay the bills, for example. Set a good example by your actions, read a book, do some research, or bring something home from work to complete.
Offer Praise—you can never hear too much of the good stuff. Kids will appreciate that their efforts are not going unrecognized, and you'll help bolster their confidence.
Watch Frustration Levels—don't let the homework hour become the hated hour. If your child is feeling stressed by the homework, or just can't master the concepts, then its time to seek help. Homework is unfortunately, a part of school—but it doesn't have to be the worst part

Sleep Disorders: How Much Sleep Do You Need?

The sleep requirements for each person depend on many factors, including age. For example, in general:

Infants require about 16 hours a day
Teenagers need about 9 hours on average
Most adults need 7 to 8 hours a night for the best amount of sleep, although some people may need as few as 5 hours or as many as 10 hours of sleep each day
Women in the first 3 months of pregnancy often need several more hours of sleep than usual
However, experts say that if you feel drowsy during the day, even during boring activities, you haven't had enough sleep.

Sleep Deprivation Debits
The amount of sleep a person needs also increases if he or she has been deprived of sleep in previous days. Getting too little sleep creates a "sleep debt," which is much like being overdrawn at a bank. Eventually, your body will demand that the debt be repaid. We don't seem to adapt to getting less sleep than we need, while we may get used to a sleep-depriving schedule, our judgment, reaction time, and other functions are still impaired.

Consequences of Too Little Sleep
Too little sleep may cause:

Memory problems
Depression
A weakening of your immune system, increasing your chance of becoming sick
Increase in perception of pain
Sleep Deprivation Risky Business
Many studies make it clear that sleep deprivation is dangerous. Sleep-deprived people who are tested by using a driving simulator or by performing a hand-eye coordination task perform as badly as or worse than those who are intoxicated.

Sleep deprivation also magnifies alcohol's effects on the body, so a fatigued person who drinks will become much more impaired than someone who is well rested.

Driver fatigue is responsible for an estimated 100,000 motor vehicle accidents and 1,500 deaths each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Since drowsiness is the brain's last step before falling asleep, driving while drowsy can -- and often does -- lead to disaster. Caffeine and other stimulants cannot overcome the effects of severe sleep deprivation.

The National Sleep Foundation says that if you have trouble keeping your eyes focused, if you can't stop yawning, or if you can't remember driving the last few miles, you are probably too drowsy to drive safely.

Tips for building strong bones in kids

Building strong bones takes a combination of calcium, vitamin D and exercise starting in childhood. Here are guidelines on how much youngsters need:

Young children should consume about 800 milligrams of calcium a day. But between ages 9 and 18, when bone growth speeds up, that requirement almost doubles to 1,300 mg. That's about three cups of fat-free or low-fat milk plus additional calcium-rich foods, such as broccoli, cheese, yogurt, or calcium-fortified orange juice.
Children and adolescents need at least 200 international units of vitamin D. Milk and orange juice often is fortified with the vitamin; a few other foods contain it. Sunlight is a major source. About 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure weekly is enough for many children, although skin pigmentation alters sun absorption so black children need more. The goal is to get just enough sun for vitamin D production while avoiding too much of its skin-damaging rays. Babies who are breast-fed only and older children at risk for vitamin D deficiency should receive supplements.
Children of all ages need about an hour of physical activity most days, and 10 to 15 minutes at a time can add up. Weight-bearing exercises strengthen bone, anything from team sports like soccer to simply jumping rope or running around. The goal is for the arms or legs to bear all the body's weight.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children be screened for calcium-deficit diets and too little exercise, to identify those whose lifestyles put them at risk for osteoporosis later in life.

Auto Selling: How to Write a Good Used Car Classified Ad?

If trying to sell a car independently, advertising is critical. Most car buyers choose to purchase from a dealership because of the large selection of vehicles. On the other hand, some buyers favor independent car sellers because these vehicles usually have lower price tags. The used car classified section of the newspaper is loaded with vehicles for sale. For this matter, it is easy for your ad to become lost in the shuffle. Thus, writing a good or effective used car classified ad is very important. Because classified ads are expensive and charge per line, some car sellers slack on the details. However, if eager to sell your vehicle quickly, it is necessary to include as much detail as possible. Consider the following tips for writing a good used car classified ad.

What is the Car’s Make, Model, and Year? - Providing information about the vehicle’s make, model, and year seem obvious. Yet, you may be surprised at the number of used car ads that lack this information. Car buyers do not have the time, nor the patience to sift through car ads with little information. To avoid being unnoticed, include the make, model, and year in the first line. If possible, add bold print (ex. 2004 Toyota Camry).

Mileage - What is the vehicle’s mileage? Even if the mileage is high, include this information. However, make sure the price tag is appropriate for the mileage. Car buyers are savvy, and many will research the car’s worth. If hoping to find a quick buyer, price the car fairly.

Give a Vehicle Description - What is the vehicle’s color? Is it a four door or a coupe? If the vehicle is in good condition, or needs minor repairs, mention this in the classified ad. Avoid long descriptions. For the most part, one or two words are sufficient for describing the vehicle. Descriptive terms such as good condition, mint condition, reliable, fair condition, or junker are appropriate. If the vehicle needs cosmetic repairs or maintenance such as a paint job, tires, brakes, etc., include this information within the ad.

What is the Price? – After listing the make, model, year, mileage, and description, list the asking price for the vehicle. Is the price negotiable? Will you accept the best offer?

Contact Information – Include contact information in the classified ad. Never list an address. By doing so, eager buyers may show up at your home unexpected. Rather, include a cell phone or home phone number.

Ten Tips You Need to Survive College

1. If you haven't already registered, try not to schedule back to back classes. You'll wear yourself out besides missing the best times to study--right before and right after class.


2. Begin the first day of class. Know what's expected of you Take notes from the first day even if it's routine stuff you think you already know.


3. Establish a routine time to study for each class. For every hour you spend in class, you will probably need to study two hours outside class. Studying for each subject should be at the same time, same place, if possible. Study includes more than just doing your homework. You will need to go over your notes from by class, labeling, editing, and making sure you understand them. Study your syllabus daily to see where you are going and where you have been. Be sure to do reading assignments. (Don't put them off just because there's not a written assignment.) Read ahead whenever possible. Prepare for each class as if there will be a pop quiz.


4. Establish a place to study. Your place should have a desk, comfortable chair, good lighting, all the supplies you need, etc., and of course, should be as free of distractions as possible. It should not be a place where you routinely do other things. It should your study place.


5. Do as much of your studying in the daytime as you can. What takes you an hour to do during the day may take you an hour and a half at night.


6. Schedule breaks. Take a ten minute break after every hour of study. If possible, avoid long blocks of time for studying. Spread out several short study sessions during the day.


7. Make use of study resources on campus. Find out about and use labs, tutors, videos, computer programs, and alternate texts. Sign up for an orientation session in the campus library and computer facilities. Get to know your professors and advisors. Ask questions. "I didn't know," or "I didn't understand" is never an excuse.


8. Find at least one or two students in each class to study with. Studies show that students who study with someone routinely make better grades. You will probably find yourself more motivated if you know someone else cares about what you are doing in the class. Teaching a concept or new idea to someone else is a sure way for you to understand it. Studying in a group or with a partner can sometimes become too social. It is important to stay focused.


9. Study the hardest subject first. Work on your hardest subjects at a time when you are fresh. Putting them off until you're tired compounds the problem.


10. Be good to yourself. Studying on four hours of sleep and an empty stomach or junk-food diet is a waste of time. Avoid food and drink containing caffeine just before or just after studying.

you need tips for air travel?

1. Packing-- you don't need to necessarily pack super light, but pack smart & don't overpack. Think about how much you're going to be hauling around your luggage-- the more you have to haul it, the lighter you should try to pack. Think about if you're *really* going to need an item where you're going. Women can be really bad at this-- I'm just as guilty. For Example, consider makeup-- If you're only going to be gone a week, make do with 1 lipstick, 1 bottle of perfume, etc.

Also, you don't need to pack for every emergency--chances are you can buy what you need where you are, should you actually need it.

2. Security & carryons-- Oh, the fun. :oP First, wear comfortable but nice clothes. My standard travel wear is a decent pair of jeans and a nice t-shirt. Comfortable, and not too inclined to show stains. (Bleep happens--trust me.) Also, plan for security. The better prepared you are, the faster you'll get through. So-- plan ahead, minimize metal, empty your pockets, and *be nice* to the security people, regardless of how they treat you. I've never had a problem with anyone, but it's happened. Otherwise-- wear easy-on-easy-off shoes, because you will be required to remove them at the checkpoint. If you're wearing a jacket or overshirt or sweater, etc., you'll also have to take it off for screening. Belt are almost always removed, so try to do without, find a subsitute (ribbon or a scarf can work for women), or just wait till after security to put it on. Finally, with the exception of shoes, it's much easier to stop before you get to the checkpoint, take everything off/out of your pockets & stuff it in your carryon, and then go to security. Or, if there's a line, do it while you're waiting, rather than once you get to the scanner.

Also-- there are rules for liquids of *any* sort. You can put whatever you like in your checked bag, but your carryon is restricted-- no more than 3 oz. of something, and all of them must fit in a quart size plastic baggie. At security, the baggie must be removed from you carryon & screened separately.
This includes any and all liquids, creams, lotions, and the like.

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3. On the plane-- Okay, here's a biggie-- be nice to the flight attendants, because if there's a problem, they're going to be the ones you'll be asking for help.

Otherwise, get to the airport at least 2 hours early-- not *leave* for the airport, but be there. With security & flight delays and other problems, it never hurts to get there early.

Try to keep your carryon to a realistic size. Many people bring small suitcases, and everyone else on the plane must wait while they hold up boarding & getting off the plane by trying to get their oversixed bags in and out of the overhead
bins, usually banging some poor soul on the head.

Finally, plan to entertain yourself. My standard is a couple of books & my mp3 player. You cannot use a cell phone on the plane (FAA rule), so don't plan on that. Many people bring portable DVD players or laptops, but keep in mind the *very* cramped quarters on a flight.

Finally, bring a pair of earplugs. You may not need them, but all it takes is one screaming kid and you'll be grateful you have 'em.

Have a good trip!!

you need tips for dieting?

ok well i need dieting tips on losing weight fast n healthy n i need tips from working out to eating
find daily calorie intake calculator on the net, enter all your stats and it will tell you how many calories you need a day to maintain, take off 300-400cal off that number and thats how much you need to lose.
eat 5-6 small meals a day (eat every 2-3 hours - it optimizes your metabolism)
5-8 servings of fruit and veggies a day
8 glasses of water
have complex carbs for breakfast - they give you energy
have protein (lean meat, legumes etc) for dinner - repairs muscle
cardio exercise 4-6 times a week for 30-50min (ideally 45min because the first 20-30min body burns carbs and only then starts burning fat), light weight training (more muscle=faster metabolism)
dont consume foods that are made of white flour (white bread, cakes, pasta etc.), sugar loaded foods (cookies, icecream, candy etc) and nothing fried, oily.
ofcourse you can spoil yourself once in a while with a little treat:)
and take a multivitamin with breakfast and omega or flax oil capsules.
11 months ago