Free Site For Make-Your-Own Comic Strips

MakeBeliefsComix.com is a website I came across after reading a short piece about it in Family Fun magazine.  You choose a from a few panel options, 15 character options, and loads of editing choices.

This is exactly the kind of thing Bee is getting into right now, and I think we’ll have a lot of fun with the site.  They also offer a lot of pre-designed layouts, lacking only dialog – so you can use them as a creative writing exercise.  Pretty brilliant!

Here is a tutorial.

Bottle Cap Necklace

One suggestion offered by Bee’s teacher, regarding some early preschool separation anxiety, was to make a necklace with our pictures on it, that she can bring to school and look at when she is feeling sad.  So this morning we made one.

A Bottle Cap Necklace – it came out well, and more importantly it helped lead to Bee proudly announcing that she had a better day – and that she expects the next day to be even better (twenty times better, to be specific).  A huge relief for all of us!

Here are some pictures – it is an easy project, and only took about 20 minutes to make.

Ingredients: One bottle cap, some Modge Podge, an assemblage of pictures set to fit into the cap (about a one inch diameter), some beads (or charms, etc), and some string (or fancier material).

1- assemble the pictures (I used Photoshop – but collage would have been fine)

2- poke two holes in the top edge of the bottle cap (with a hammer and nail)

3- sand the sharp parts around these holes (the cap ridge itself wasn’t sharp)

4- Modge Podge the photo into the cap

5- string it all together with some beads

Starting Preschool – Trying Times

So far, Bee is having a hard time being in (two day, afternoon pre-) school.  It has only been 2 days, mind you, but it is still a hard time for us.

She puts on a brave face at drop-off time (the first day she was so excited that she forgot to say goodbye – instead launching into “I have great news! Today is my first day of school!” with the teacher.  Then later the stories unfolded about how she was so sad while I was away.

Almost the very first thing to come out of her mouth when she woke on the second day of school was, “Why would we waste a perfectly good day like this at school?”, followed by “You’ve already taught me everything they teach there, anyway.”

She’s usually such a happy kid, and makes friends on playgrounds in 2 seconds flat, so it’s confusing new territory and it breaks my heart – but I’m trusting those that say it gets better.

Here is one resource, among several, that I’m ‘road testing’.

Quick Click: 9 Parent-Tested Ways to Ease Separation Anxiety – Ease preschool drop-offs with these simple suggestions.

We picked up a copy of The Kissing Hand this afternoon, too – and we’ve read it together three times.  Her teacher suggested making a necklace with our pictures on it that she can wear – so, we’ll try that tomorrow (her third day).  They are all reading A Pocket Full Of Kisses tomorrow in class (which is a sort of Kissing Hand sequel).

We addressed the subject of her being more advanced than many of her peers by choosing a mixed-age Montessori classroom for her – even so, her teachers seem very impressed by her vocabulary and knowledge.  When she isn’t crying.

I’ll post more about these days of change in our home – including pics and info about the biggest little change – but this post serves as my late night venting about a subject that is probably affecting a lot of families at this time of year.

The Last “Just Us” Days: A Portrait.

The idea to get a portrait taken occurred to me this morning.  This is the second to last day we are together alone – forming our little daytime home world.  The technical ‘lasts’ start stacking up as the baby readies herself to arrive.

Of course we are ecstatic about the baby – but I must acknowledge the special bond I have with my first child.  She’s the one who taught me to be a big-D Dad.

Bee will always be my first child, and the four years that she made our family Three will always hold a special significance.  She weathered the death of her unborn sibling with us last year, an event nearly as difficult as any other the members of our family have faced. The three of us clung to our love for each other while the world turned.

She taught us to see the holidays again, and to experience the other changing cycles in the natural world with brand new eyes and hearts.  She taught about patience and concern, to a degree that people without dependants can never experience.  She turned a gangly, self conscious, aging geek into a real life Super Hero whose choices affect the foundations of her life – her mind, and her body.

Her eyes made of her Mom and I mythical archetypes, that will shade her understanding of women and men and the love people build and maintain for one another.  Starting through us, she learns kindness, reasoning, creativity, our place in nature, and a joy of learning.  She learns to consider the flip side of how we treat others – by considering how we want to be treated ourselves (as taught in philosophies dating to 3000 years BCE).

I had a couple of pictures taken, to record our appearance as it is today.  Before her baby sister arrives, and before she starts preschool (in about 3 weeks) – this is Me and My Bee.

She’s the only little girl in my world – and I love her so much.

Kidos – software that kiddifies your computer

This sounds interesting.  Mac or PC friendly.

from their site:

About Kidos

Kidos is a revolutionary new platform for children’s learning and entertainment. Our free and easy download allows a child to use her parents’ computer as if it were her own! No more having to worry about files being accidentally deleted, settings being changed or kids closing the browser by mistake. No more cries of “Mommy!” every time he clicks the “back” button by mistake or the internet connection is slow.

Our secure, child-friendly and lightly animated interface lets children easily use all sorts of media: games, books, learning modules, music, video, and art. Best of all, it works on either a Mac or PC and…it’s free! You can also easily add your own music, art, photos, and video!

We’re busy aggregating the best children’s media from all over the world. Want to help your child learn a foreign language? You’ve come to the right place!

Kidos is currently in private beta. To take part in the soon to be released public beta, please sign up and we’ll notify you soon!

The Safe Side Follow-up/Review

this post is a follow up to this one

We all watched the Safe Side video together yesterday.  We enjoyed it and learned a lot together.  I especially like their use of language, a precise vocabulary using “Don’t Knows” instead of “Strangers”, and “Kinda Knows” recognizing that people kids have simply met are not necessarily people they know (an important thing to teach, keeping in mind that children are statistically in far more danger from people they kinda know than from people they’ve never met).

Bee enjoyed the video and she responded well during the times we were prompted to pause the video and discuss a segment.  The video also prompted us to make a list of three adults, not in her immediate family, that she has permission to trust/go with if we aren’t present.

The filming is kinetic (full of action and/or funny images to pair with important information – a proven memory enhancing technique) and the acting is well done and enjoyable.  The scenarios are presented in a realistic way – with a level of threat that didn’t frighten, so much as put the viewer ‘on alert’.  Teaching using fear can create the risk that a child will withdraw from information out of discomfort – the Safe Side video was carefully constructed to avoid that pitfall and to instill knowledge.

I don’t recall the age recommendation on the site, or video – - but Bee (four) is a good age for it.  I think she would have been receptive to it when she was three, as well.  Elementary school age kids may well be the prime target audience.

I recommend it first as something for you to watch with your young child, and second as a gift idea for grandchildren and families with young children.

Here is a tool linked to on the Safe Side site – a site that identifies the locations of registered sex offenders in your area.  Definitely something to be aware of.

Safety Tats

Safety Tats are temporary tattoos that you add your cel phone number to – and they seem like a smart idea.

I worry a little that they could make parents a little less vigilant, and I want to emphasize here that teaching your child to stay close and to know how to handle themselves if they become separated, or are approached by someone they don’t know, is most important (see this post).  But these temporary tattoos mimic the arm band programs offered at some amusement parks, and could obviously be helpful in some circumstances.

Check out Readeez™

I want to call it a fusion of Ben Folds and Edutainment – and since it is my blog, that’s just what I’ll do.

Here is an introduction, in their own format:

Introduction Readee

(image ©Readeez)

“Readeez are exactly as entertaining as they are educational. Which is to say, “very.” Kids like the stories, songs and characters. Grownups like the fact that reading instruction happens automatically, all the time.

Every syllable of a Readee answers that perpetual kid-question “What does this say?” The written and spoken halves of a Readee reinforce one another. In other words, it says what it says. Watch a few yourself and you’ll see!”

Check out the website, watch free samples galore, become a fan on Facebook, check out their YouTube channel, read praise from a more professional blogger,  – and buy some up – clearly a positive venture by creative family people who work hard to make cool stuff your kid can learn from.

I have a special appreciation for father/daughter collaboration.  Also, I look forward to Bee’s reading independence (closer every day) more than I looked forward to her ability to walk – so, Readeez, thanks!

(ps- not affiliated with Ben Folds in any way that I know of)

Dogwood Tree Nursery Mural

Finally – the finished Dogwood Tree Nursery Mural!

We chose a calm subject with a soft palate (matching the crib set) – wanting to do a tree with birds or butterflies or blossoms that drift dreamily off of the tree.  I thought a dogwood was ideal, because it’s a big bouquet of blossoms in spring time – I cheated by making it a few different colors (and by including insects that aren’t mature in spring).

None of the white represents clouds, it was frustrating to me when people thought they did – even so, they seemed to like it well enough.

There are three messages painted into the mural – I think you can see two of them in these photos.  I’ll make a game of it – by waiting until a later post to reveal what they are.  You can point them out in the comments if you want to (I may not publish the comments).

Here is the drawing I started with.  The vertical line represents the corner, the horizontal line represents the height of the top of the crib.

I’m cool with anyone swiping this plan from the site.  I’d be happy to know there are others who did this in their homes (I’ll share your pics/links here, if you like).  I taped this drawing onto the first page of the journal I’ve started for the baby.

Here are the links to previous posts, showing the steps I took:

1. Tree

2. Color Areas

3. Petal Detailing

Here is a photo of the final result.

You can’t quite appreciate parts of it from this photo – butterflies drift around the room, and hover over the changing table.

Here are detail shots.

To get into a little more detail, for those of you who like to think way too much about otherwise simple things -

• Butterflies are a little bit of a remembrance of the pregnancy we lost (as symbols of memory, transformation, etc), as well as friends and family who have died – but mostly, for this mural’s purposes they are just butterflies – soft little living petals in peaceful surroundings.

• Dragonflies are symbols of creativity, among other things (you can’t see the dragonfly very well in these pics).  I painted dragonflies in Bee’s original nursery mural – as well as in the new one I’m making for her.

• Green Grasshoppers symbolizes new beginnings, concepts of youth, rejuvenation, sentimentality, nature, adventure, growth, health and good fortune.

• The Dogwood is said to be a symbol of love undiminished by adversity (which could be handy for our adjustment to a second child).

• The two birds together, are like Mom and I proudly perched over the crib.  The solo bird directly over the crib is like Bee – who will have an important relationship with her sister (if all goes well), longer than we will.

I don’t believe in anything supernatural – but I am interested in ascribed meanings and mythology (as natural facets of brain function).

I hope you enjoy it!  Let me know if you can read the ‘hidden’ messages.

I’ll be showing Bee’s new murals on the site, soon.  It was important for us to celebrate her as well at this time of changes in our family!  She and I have been having ‘painting parties’ while I do her walls.

The Safe Side: Stranger Safety Resources

I stumbled upon this site this evening – if you can consider coming upon exactly what you were looking for on a search engine stumbling.  I can’t vouch for the quality just yet.  I’ve only requested a copy from my library.  I can, however, point out that it is John (friggin) Walsh whose lifetime devotion to helping put criminals behind bars stems from his son’s abduction – and this is a program he’s helped to create and he endorses, which is designed to prevent such things from happening to your kids.

It also involves Julie Clark… who encourages parents to use their TV as a babysitter from birth onwards, and is associated with learning deficiencies using the giant mistake known as Baby Einstein… but on the bright side, she has the sense to contribute her marketing expertise to this worthy project.

The subject of ’stranger danger’ was starting to crop up around the edges of our day to day life (me and Bee’s).  She’s confident and outgoing – and has begun feeling comfortable being out of my sight in public places.  Before I screwed her up too badly with only my scattered recollections of how this subject is handled – I Googled.

Turns out even the word ’stranger’ should be handled with care – and that its use in this program is apparently minimal (possibly even limited to the name on the DVD).  So I’m already learning something.

HERE IS THE SITE

And, very helpfully, this LINK takes you straight to a page of several free downloads, including:

Stranger Safety Family Guide

Internet Safety Family Guide

Stranger Safety Teacher Guide

Internet Safety Teacher Guide

and even presentation guides for safety coordinators and law enforcement officers.

How cool is that?

Not cool enough?  How about the fact that a significant portion of proceeds go towards the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children?  Or the fact that you can even use this worthy program as a Fund-raising Opportunity?  Still not convinced?  You are one cold SOB, I don’t know what to tell ya.

Quoted below, you will find a message from John Walsh taken from the site.  I haven’t used it with permission – if they ask me to cut it out, I will – but I’m thinking they would probably appreciate the word getting out.

edited to add:  here’s my review

A message from John

I’m the host of a television show that I wish wasn’t needed, but is. I am the Host of ‘America’s Most Wanted.’

In 1981, the lives of my wife, Revé, and I were changed forever. Our beautiful son Adam —the joy of our lives—was abducted from a mall in a nice neighborhood of South Florida. Sadly, two weeks after launching the biggest search for a child that Florida had ever seen, our son was found murdered.

In my quest to find justice in the name of my son, and to fight back for victims everywhere, I lobbied Congress to change the laws and to change how police search for missing people—and in particular—children. My life’s work has been to protect children and others by changing laws and by catching criminals. I’m proud to say that the movement I started is still going strong. There’s not only a national organization dedicated to helping children (The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children), but now this country and its media are beginning to understand that our children are precious and need to be informed about how to stay safe.

In 1981 not much was known about child abduction and exploitation. Parents knew very little and, tragically, children knew even less. Today we’re proud of some of the knowledge and awareness that children have about the dangers that face them. Children see images everywhere of kidnappings, exploitation and the horrible consequences attached to these events. We only need to think about some of the scenes that parents and children have seen in the media in the past year — religious leaders who are pedophiles, Internet predators, and others who are in positions to take advantage children’s trust in them — to know that kids are still being victimized at an alarming rate.

I hope that’s about to change. As a crime fighter and host of a television program that has saved countless lives, I’m proud to be teaming up with a woman who knows how to teach children — the right way. Kids want to know what to do, and parents need to be prepared. Like me, Julie Clark is a parent who cares. She has the proven track record of teaching kids on both a local and national scale, and her passion and experience make this series of safety videos for children something that parents will want to have, and kids will want to watch.

The sadness that my family and others have experienced doesn’t have to happen. Now, thanks to my new partnership with Julie, parents and kids will do what I’ve been doing for more than 23 years — they’ll fight back with knowledge and awareness. Knowledge is power.