Tag: children

Summer Vacation and Learning in Children

Summer vacation is half way and school registrations are in progress. So, what happens to the child’s learning during summer vacation. According to the recent article published in TIME Magazine, studies show that summer vacation deprives children of healthy learning stimulation. And, summer learning programs may keep their minds active and sharp. 🙂

Summer Vacation

High temperatures and sun make three months long summer vacation inevitable. The year long learning (?) at schools evaporates during summer vacation. However, children learn sports, swimming, martial arts and other favorite activities during summer. Summer learning may be through travelling, observation, reading, spending time with family and so on.

Some families may afford to send their children to special camps and programs, while some families prefer to keep the kids at home. Some states have extended summer classes, others do not. Children need summer vacation to learn about the world in a new and different perspective.

Summer Programs

Major summer programs at the local library or parks department are available to the general public at reasonable and reduced prices. Some programs and camps are entirely free though some may require prior registration. The summer schools at the public schools are for academically weaker children. Though you may send your child to any private institution to foster academic learning.

In the USA, a child attends school for 180 days, the total class instruction ends up to 1080 hours. However, the typical math scores for fifteen year children is only 474. Whereas, in South Korea, a child attends school for 204 days, the total class instruction ends up to 545 hours and even then, the math scores for a fifteen year child is 547.

Elementary school children may not feel the difference in academics but high school children may feel challenged to learn the advanced concepts after a summer vacation. A child’s learning depends on the individual’s abilities. Modern parents are looking forward to develop their child in all areas to face the global market. 🙂

Sutures in Children

Injuries and Sutures are common in children. Every year millions of children get sutures or stitches in face and other body parts in the emergency room. Active children tend to forget safety procedures and get injured while playing. Accidents while playing are common but must be addressed carefully.

First Aid

When there is an accident and your child is injured, take the kid aside and apply first aid. Clean the surface with tap water and use napkins or paper towels to stop the bleeding.

If the cut is minor, apply antiseptic cream and bandaid. If the cut is major and bleeds profusely, apply pressure on the area and put a towel on the injured part.

Hospital

Visit a nearby hospital or emergency room. Complete the formalities and let the nurse and doctor decide the course of action. You may be too anxious, but be patient and wait until the treatment is completed.

If there are sutures, instruct your child to cooperate with the doctor while applying the sutures. Ask the doctor how to care and food restrictions.

Sutures – Care

In general, nonabsorbent material are used for facial sutures and absorbable material are used for gynecology sutures. It is better to keep the child safe at home while the sutures are on. Here are some general care instructions to heal sutures.

  • Remove the bandage after 12 to 24 hours
  • Clean and dry the wound area twice a day
  • Wash the area with soap water and pat with a dry towel
  • Apply antiseptic cream and let it dry
  • Do not overuse the antiseptic cream, small amounts about your finger tip may be sufficient
  • Use loose fitting clothes for your kid so that the clothes may not disturb the sutures
  • Observe the wound area, for redness, swelling, pus, cracks and so on
  • Follow normal food for your child and take care that the food may not affect the sutures
  • Pulses are a good source of protein, but may result in pus formation
  • Milk is a good food and rice and smooth food which your kid likes may be best

Nonabsorbent sutures must be removed after five days. So, visit your doctor and get them removed. Let the doctor check thoroughly and confirm.

Any cut skin and suture will leave a scar on the surface. The kid’s injury may be painful more than self. But, it will be a sweet memory for your kid’s active play and happy childhood. 🙂

What men want?

What men really want is not yet known. Why always hooked up to the internet, when beautiful wife and kids are waiting? Why so crazy about sports, when day to day issues are piled up? Why so engrossed in world issues, when home matters are unaddressed? Why always like mother’s dishes, despite wife cooking for years? Why gossip more than women and sound not interested when someone wants to talk?

Women are still trying to solve the mysterious ‘mankind’. Here is an insight of what men really want.

Priorities

A man defines himself by what he is, what he does and how much he earns. The remaining matters are rather trivial. Unlike a woman, a man places himself first ahead of the family and kids.

The career is of utmost importance to a man. The office politics and the urge to grow higher in the career consumes most of a man’s thoughts. The busy schedules and unending meetings and work take priority in life. After a while, some men even forget to celebrate the smallest happiness in lives.

Expectations

So, in their busy work and life, what men expect from a women? The basic needs are love and support which women offer. Apart from these two basic needs, food is the next big thing. Laundry and house hold chores are the next. If you can take care of the driving and all other kids related activities, that’s even better.

Basically, men are happy if left alone with their work and personal stuff. They are so self-centered and occupied that they expect straight questions and answers. Men do not engage in long convoluted discussions, which they can not figure out. As it is they are preoccupied with office stuff, so they expect women to be straight and direct in asking demands.

Special Occasions

So, what about special occasions in the family. There are minimum sentiments and the occasions are thought with practical reasoning. As in how much it costs, what others expect or what is the gift and how much is the budget for the occasion.

Some men even forget their own birthdays and family member’s special days. If someone else can take care of these things, it is really good for them.

Fixing

Men are raised to fix things. So, when there is any problem, men think about fixing the issue and taking care the problem does not reappear. Sometimes, women want to just share and do not expect a solution.  But, most men are good at suggesting and fixing stuff as the quality is inbuilt in them.

In fact, men are simple and equally vulnerable and expect a direct conversation. They are not as complex and as confused they actually seem. 🙂

Public Parks – Moline, Illinois

Moline city in Illinois has around twenty public parks for the community. The Riverside Park, Greenvalley park, Prospect park, Sylvan island and Stephens park are some of the bigger parks. The park board arrange summer concerts and movies for public entertainment and free of cost. 🙂


Moline public parks organize summer concerts at Stephens Square every Monday at 7pm. Further, starting June 23rd, the parks arranged Jazz concert series at Bass Street landing.

Summer Programs

Moline Public parks offer training in different areas such as basketball, softball,tennis, dodgeball, kickball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, mushball and so on. In addition, they have classes for cooking, oil painting, swimming, dog training, yoga, fitness classes, flag football, greenhouse classes and so on. The parks offer summer day camp for children apart from other fun activities.

You can reach the park office at 3635, 4th Avenue or call them on 524-2424. You can register for swimming at Riverside Aquatic center on 797-0788.  The parks feature free movie in the Riverside park in August every Friday.

The park shelters can be registered by calling 524-2424. The picnic shelters may be reserved in advance for $35 for small shelters and $95 for large shelters. The shelters are ideal for birthday parties or family get-together. Playgrounds and rest areas are available in all the parks for public convenience.

For simple play and family fun the public parks are the best option. 🙂

Public Parks – Bettendorf, Iowa

Bettendorf city in Iowa has multiple public parks which have planned amazing summer programs for the community. There are around twenty two parks out of which Veterans Memorial Park, Kiwanis Park, and Middle Park are the largest.


McManus Park is my personal best, though smaller in acreage it has all the facilities. The mulch surface playground is safer and preferable for kids. The sand surface playgrounds found in other parks are also found in this park.

Summer Programs

Veterans Memorial park airs movies every Saturday after sunset in June. It is a free family entertainment and a great time pass for children.

Bettendorf public parks offer many other programs such as  disc golf courses, swimming sessions, softball training, tennis training, baseball coaching, fitness classes and so on. Crow Creek Park has a skate park and cross country course. The cross country course is a two mile and three mile layout with rest areas in between.

The picnic shelters in the parks can be registered by calling 344-4113. The park’s summer camps can be reached at 344-4467. The camps include day camps for younger children and teen camps for young adults. Bettendorf parks have neighbourhood playground programs for children agres 6 to 12 which can be registered on 344-4131.

My best pick is movie in the park which am looking forward this Saturday. 🙂

Hennepin Canal Parkway Carnival, Colona, IL

The carnival at Hennepin Canal Parkway, Colona, IL is worth visiting once if you have nothing else to do on the memorial day weekend. The small city has annual parade and carnival on the memorial day.

Hennepin Canal Parkway

Hennepin canal parkway is a popular site for fishing. There is a boat ramp at the end of the canal which joins the Rock River.  The play area and the park by the canal are a good spot for children and young adults. We saw many young adults and high school kids at the park enjoying their summer evenings.


Carnival > Rides and Games

The carnival has many interesting rides. They include the Wipe-out, Super slide, Dashing car, Pumpkin ride among others. The tickets for these rides range from 3 to 5. The tickets can be purchased at the carnival entrance. Thwy cost $20 dollars for 21 tickets or $40 dollars for 41 tickets.

The other games include catch a fish, gold fish, balloon throw, ball throw, dart throw, gun shoot and others. These games are expensive. The charges are $3 for one chance or $5 for three chances. If the player wins in these games, they get a soft toy as a prize. Some games are compulsory win a prize irrespective if you win or lose.

Fun for Children

The carnival is fun f or children in the neighborhood with the rides and games. The children will sure enjoy the time in the carnival as they have games and rides suitable for all ages. Once you are exhausted with the rides and lost enough money, you can spend some time in the park and come back. 🙂

Engaging kids in Summer 2010

Summer vacation is around the corner and most parents especially at-home mothers must be horrified at the thought of having kids in the house 24×7. It is difficult to engage the kids in summer and try to match to their expectations.
Travelling and visiting elders and grand parents is the best alternative but may not always be possible. However, here are some of the ideas which you can try out.
  • The local public library has very good programs for kids during summer vacation. the reading programs and book bunch clubs encourage kids to read as well as socialize with others. The best part of the program is it is absolutely free and there is no charge involved.
  • The local swimming camps coupled with Red Cross and YMCA offer swimming sessions at a reasonable rate. They can charge a nominal amount of $48 per an eight class session. Blackhawk college has some summer youth camps for youth ages ranging from 8 to 18 years. These classes include pottery, writing, lego games, Stage performance and so on.


  • You can send them to summer camps at YMCA and at Abe Lincoln. These are a little expensive but include camps with families which may be a wonderful experience with your family.
  • You can send them to East Moline Christian School for summer school. They charge $175 for half day (8 am to 11.30 am) and $300 for full day (8 am to 3 pm) apart from $45 registration fees. The charges are higher but the coaching and the teachers provide support for your child’s academic development.
  • The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) has summer programs for children in grades third to tenth. These programs are great to encourage children to learn mathematics and science. The programs cost $250 for five full day sessions from 8am to 3pm. It is a day session. So, you have to pick and drop your kid daily.
  • You may check out other local events and take your kids to the event. The Rock river music festival and the tug fest are two great events and offer a new perspective for children.
  • The public parks offer a variety of programs such as movie in the park or bike race or one mile family walk which are great for family fun.
  • Summer 2010 has many new upcoming movies releasing which are fun to watch with family and children.
  • You can visit places such as Wisconsin Dells, St. Louis, Mt. Rushmore or Washington DC or any nearby attractions which will be educational and entertaining for the entire family.
  • You can encourage the kids to learn a new language or pick up an activity book from Brain Quest to pass their time in a productive manner.

Parents must limit the time for watching TV and playing video games. It is a better idea to prepare a summer timetable and let them follow their own rules. 🙂