Do you Spank your Brat Kid? Just 'Don't'

Ever wonder about the attitude of children? You come closer to the answer "Why my child acts the way I don't like'.

Many parents or teachers are helpless with children when spanking is the last resort they take to treat them right. No way, Spanking children is good for them as they turn more rude and naughty with their behavior patterns. So, what to do? Allow the child to act the way he wants or set control. Why does he act this way? Just ask a few simple questions and you know your answer.

For now, here's the Syndicated Author Blog post of mine appearing on book page of Amazon.com. You can read for the tips and check in for the book chapters on Spanking, Sibling Rivalry and other articles that thoughtfully discuss on Parenting. Read 'Inside the Book' features for a chapter to read and make your choice.

Here's the new post on the Blog, Guardian of Angels - Syndicated Blog , for quick read which appear on the Book Page too.

- ilaxi patel
Editor, http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/
Newspaper for Kids
Author of Guardian of Angels:

Enid Blyton Books

Enid Blyton, the most successful British writer to this date, was born on 11th August 1897 in London. She wrote many books, got too many criticisms too and even at the end of fifties, many Libraries refused to stock her books calling that kids would not read the great works of Literature if they picked these books.

Enid's Books and stories had excellent powerful narratives, filled kids with excitement and let children use their imagination to flow. The style of writing was clear as she created excitement and adventure with books like: Five on a Treasure Island (Famous Five), Secret Seven Collection, The Circus of Adventure (Adventure Series) and The Mystery Series, school stories such as Malory Towers, St Clare’s and The Naughtiest Girl, fantasy tales such as The Faraway Tree, The Enchanted Wood and The Wishing Chair, and of course the much-loved Noddy stories for younger children. The author wrote 700 stories and eight million of her books, including more than one million Famous Five tales, are still sold worldwide every year.Enid Blyton's works were owned by Chorion who announced in last January of it's emerging brands into global franchises. As a result, we find a number of Books in Indian markets and last, when I was at a newly opened Mall, I almost got tempted to buy Enid Blytons for children and add to my current Enid Blyton collections. No wonder, my ex-students and me - are all fans of Enid Blytons to this day! You can find Enid Blyton books here at Kidsfreesouls Store. Btw, did you know, Enid Blyton day is celebrated by the fans here by the Enid Blyton Society . And Here's a fan site where you can post your fan message too.

Btw, I mentioned earlier in my blog post of the Famous Five going high tech as Jo, Max, Allie and Dylan, the children of Enid Blyton’s original characters with their pet dog Timmy embark on a new series of adventures. A 21st Century remake for the Disney Cartoon series, the characters who crawled through secret tunnels are now the i-pod users who fight their enemies using modern day gadgets like the mobile phones, ipods and lap tops. The children in this modern remake will uncover a pirate DVD factory on nearby Shelter Island whereas earlier, there use to be Kidnap, mystery and smuggling operations.

And currently, the news around is that, The Famous Five, The Faraway Tree and Malory Towers will all be revisited for the first time in over half a century in 20 new books planned by the late author's estate. New stories from The Wishing-Chair, Malory Towers and The Secret Series books will be available in 2009. Currently, the booksellers are eagerly awaiting the launch on September 4 of the Famous Five’s Adventure Survival Guide. The publication of the guide is part of an effort by Chorion, the company that owns the rights to the Blyton canon, to breathe new life into the various brands and characters she created. Read more on this in Kidsfreesouls Google news. Enjoy.

- ilaxi patel
Editor, http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/
Newspaper for Kids

Krishna - Festive spirits

As Marie Chapian said ‘Stay Happy in an unhappy World’, all you need to do is beat the blues, the blahs, the burnouts and other emotional hurts to achieve Happiness. Faith is a lamp that dispels ignorance….Faith is the hope that keeps you surfing on the waves of a sea of storms…Faith, a trust in tomorrow and dreaming God’s dream of a beautiful world, leads you from darkness to light and than there is Faith – Faith in the super power called ‘God’, a vision of unknown strength that lays down rules that restrict us to do the wrong!

Last three-four days had been too festive. 22nd Aug, been a 'cooking day' whole day long for the Hindus,to leave the food covered and eat for the next day. You can find on search on 'Shitla satam' for the significance. Next day, the fasting day to mark the midnight birthday of Lord Krishna. And today, been the celebrations with lunch consisting of 32 + vegetables and the traditional gujarati delicacies.

Hindus celebrated Lord Krishna Birth festival on 24th August, sunday this year. Krishna "Literally means Black" is the eighth incartion of Vishnu, born to Devaki and brought up by Yashoda. The purpose of his incarnation was to destroy his evil uncle Kansa who had taken the throne of Mathura. Krishna played a crucial role in Mahabharata and fully revealed his divinity to Arjuna, the son of Indra. Here's the Krishna Pages on Kidsfreesouls. Click for the Gita Review too!

Too much and it's sometimes 'Enough' - Isn't this so true? Gujaratis are often known as fun loving people and I really remember my Talkcity Team members happy for me as we enjoy whole year long festive spirits that we have here in India.

- ilaxi patel
Editor, http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/
Newspaper for kids

Video Games good for children?

How often it happens you want to buy a game for your child and do not know what to buy? So, here's Hasbro website to find Games, know them, get the promotions and offers. The big Click is actually playing the games with the Demos and Commercials. All you got to do is, Log in to Hasbro and get children click for the Demos and play a game. You can make your a choice out of the many and even see the commercials!

Games make great learning tools. Sometimes, it's share and learn with the games. In one Fordham University study, 122 students in fifth, sixth and seventh grades were asked to think out loud for 20 minutes while playing a game they had never seen before. Researchers studied the children's statements to see if playing the game improved cognitive and perceptual skills.While older children seemed more interested in just playing the game, younger children showed more interest in setting up a series of short-term goals needed to help them learn the game."The younger kids are focusing more on their planning and problem solving while they are actually playing the game, while adolescents are focusing less on their planning and strategizing and more on the here and now," said Fordham psychologist Fran Blumberg, who conducted the research last year and plans to submit it for publication. "They're thinking less strategically than the younger kids."

One study even looked at whether playing "World of Warcraft," the world's biggest multiplayer online game, can improve scientific thinking. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin at Madison looked at a random sample of 2,000 chat room posts about "World of Warcraft" to see what the players were discussing. The game is set in a fantasy world where players hunt, gather and battle to move their characters to higher levels. Players who work together succeed faster. The research found the game encouraged scientific thinking, like using systems and models for understanding situations and using math and testing to investigate problems. The vast majority of the discussion participants, 86 percent, shared knowledge to solve problems and more than half, 58 percent, used systematic and evaluative processes, researchers found.

Well, next time your child asks for a game to play on X Box or Playstation, get aware of the games and what to choose. Here's on Games and tips on follow to choose games for children. You can find more game links on For Kids page. Enjoy.

- ilaxi patel
Editor, http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/

Newspaper for Kids with resources for parents and teachers

Blog Catalog - Another Facebook?

I am just a newbie with the Blog Catalog. If you're not listed, here's the good great chance to get featured into the Blog Catalog - a social networking service that allows Members to submit their blogs and create unique personal profiles online in order to find and communicate with other bloggers.

15th August had been the Blog Catalog Appreciation Day. It's a cool website, very interactive, informative and happenning. You can find new Blogs featuring in to make them your favorite. As a blogger, you can add friends, join neighborhoods, broadcast, join groups, enter discussions, add news feeds to check in your friend's activities or just about hang around to read what Bloggers write!

Here's Kidsfreesouls on Blog Catalog and you can join here to be a friend and share my BC Journey on web.

I guess this is a unique way to get aquainted but more, be a better blogger on the web. As we read what others write, we do get a lot of ideas and ways to present our blogs. Bloggers can unite and add on the creative widgets and tools to the blog. You can even get your Blog to the Spotlight. However, this comes with a fee but than, your hard work is all that you need to 'Show off' - Don't you? The latest news, tips and tool can be added to your blog too.

So, if you're having a blog, get listed in the wonder of the wonder 'Blog Catalog' - Be my friend or join me for discussions or more. Enjoy!

- ilaxi patel
Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for kids with resources for parents and teachers

India Shining on Kidsfreesouls:Happy Independence Day

Kidsfreesouls wishes all Readers, "Happy Independence Day", here's India Shining on Kidsfreesouls with flag hoisting at Red Fort online. You can listen to the National Anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' and pay your tribute to India. On the occasion of the 61st year of India's independence, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, proudly presents the "Jai Hind" song and video as a salute to our great nation and a celebration of the spirit of national integration. The "Jai Hind" project aims to revive the use of "Jai Hind" as a contemporary greeting among India's youth. Read more here on Kidsfreesouls 'India' and watch the video.

On 61st Independence Day, the first thing that comes to mind, "Are we really Independent?" Is Poverty a major issue than illiteracy in India?

Well, M J Akbar delivered one of his finest speech in Dubai at Consulate General of India. He said, "four definitions for modernity: equality before law, equity of economic growth, internal & external security, and democracy. To achieve this, he said, fighting poverty is India's greatest challenge. If democracy in India has to succeed, we have to eradicate poverty... India became a democratic nation to give power to the people at the grassroots. The rich have always been in power. It is the poor who need to be empowered. But the good thing is that the poor in India are no longer ignorant. They have become aware." Read the speech here on MJ blog.

Today, India is a “Can-do” Nation, Democracy intact, jubiliation in Real. India, the land of Free proudly stand Independent and today as we commemorate the nation on its Anniversary of Independence, Kids Free Souls salutes all those immortal souls for the gallant undying contribution for the cause of freedom. Celebrate the dawn of another triumph year of Independence. Jai Hind.

- ilaxi patel
Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for kids

Kidsfreesouls Timeline

Did I miss the link of Kidsfreesouls Timeline? Well, here's the cool tool to let your users know what you are doing on the web as your Timeline speaks of all the Blog posts you do on your blog. You can create events and add your blog posts and there, once the Timeline is built, there's lot to go with it.

Dipity do the Social Timeline since it's launch in mid March 2008 by three friends who thought of the same product and quit their jobs to start the site. You can read more on this on the Information Week online.

You can find Kidsfreesouls Timeline here and on the main site to explore the Kidsfreesouls Ed posts Timeline.

Btw, did you know Jesus played Cricket as a Child? Till I blog further on this, here's the Christmas pages that might interest some of you. Enjoy!

- ilaxi patel
Editor, http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/
Newspaper for kids

Congratulations Abhinav Bindra for winning the Gold Medal

Kidsfreesouls feel proud with the Achievement of India's Abhinav Bindra who won the Gold Medal in Men's 10 M Air Rifle at Beijing Olympics 2008. Abhinav Bindra had paid a lot of attention towards physical training despite his back injury. He did tough commando training in Germany for three weeks prior to the Olympics. India’s other shooter Gagan Narang was unlucky to not to make it to the finals.

Well, here's the Lenovo website - (Voices of the Olympic Games: Follow Lenovo's athlete bloggers on their journey in Beijing - Hear their voices). Abhinav Bindra is one of the bloggers with Google Blogger here and you can find his Blog and Congratulate him online.

Abhinav Bindra's win is a great achievement and he's an inspiration to the younger generation. He is cool, calm and composed - His has a focus to his goal and he has great control over his emotions which is the key of sports success. Indeed, as Abhinav says, "In sports, Indians need to be positive and pull the negativism out"

Here's my article from my book "Guardian of Angels:A practical guide to joyful parenting on Sports spirit and tips :
http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/sportsmanship.htm . And as I am back, my recent Abu visit has been so very pleasant and refreshing with memories of the great monsoon at this unique hill station, a paradise, call it 'Switzerland' of India. Here's the Google Map of Abu for your quick view. Enjoy!

- ilaxi patel
Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for kids

Beijing Olympics 2008, sun sign characters and numerology

The Beijing Games open at eight minutes past eight o'clock in the evening on the 8th day of the 8th month in 2008. This is the time that traditionally offers the perfect combination of good luck and prosperity. Number eight is lucky in Chinese as it is pronounced like the word 'fa' which is a part of the expression meaning 'to get wealthy'. According to the Chinese calendar, it is an auspicious day.

However, as per the Astrology experts who has a word of warning to China's olympic learders to ward off the evil fate at the olympics, they should be wearing Ox pendants as Olympics is staged in the year of the Rat and according to Chinese animal astrology, that could spell trouble for anyone born in the year of the Horse. It is said, the clash between horse and the rat is a serious clash between water and fire. Hence, wearing an ox pendant minimize the clash. Unfortunately, the chinese leaders President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, who were both born in 1942, the year of the Horse, in the 12 year cycle of Chinese animal Astrology.

Here's the Beijing Olympics 2008 Official Website and Official Mascots of Beijing 2008 Olympics game.

Well, you believe in Numerological Astrology? Well, I wrote this on an impulse in print media page of 'Freesouls' and do believe in Chiero's Numerology and even Sun signs. You can find your Character Traits as per you Sun Sign here and Your Number Mystery.

Anyways, As Beijing Olympics begin, here's National Geography with information for children and especially their Kids Blogs with David's Blog providing indepth details on 2008 Beijing Olympics.

And there, here's time to build sports spirit among children with my article from Guardian of Angels - 'Whiff OF Sports Spirit – Honing Skills'. Also the Teachers page here with articles by Educationists esp. Schools gaining PCs but losing playgrounds and Competitions - Cup of Love.
And incidentally 8 cars, 8th August and 8 families - I would be enjoying the Monsoon rains in Abu - So, you may explore till I next update on Monday. Enjoy!

- ilaxi patel
Editor, http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/

Newspaper for Kids

Encourage Reading: Choosing Books & Reading Aloud

A new research, conducted by University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) scientists, shows that whether a child has been read aloud to on a regular basis is the single biggest predictor of a child's success in learning to read.

"Reading aloud to children helps them develop oral language. It teaches them how to listen and how narrative is structured. They also learn vocabulary and how print works and that it is read from left to right," says UAB Associate Professor of education Kathleen Martin. She further says, "Reading aloud helps to develop oral language. It teaches children how to listen and how narrative is structured. They also learn vocabulary and how print works and is read from left to right."

Well, reading should always be made 'Fun Learning' and not let the child have a boring session. I read aloud stories to children as we often have a Loud Reading class following by Story reading session from 5 Minute Fairy Tales or other Fairy tales book. Children sometimes opt to read online stories and I hook them to Kidsfreesouls Fairyland section as they Read aloud the Artie Knapp stories and other tales.

Reading should not be a forced activity but made interesting by narrating, communicating, expressing and showing them pictures in the book. Discovering books in a Library or at a store should be a routine. Encourage children by talking 'just books' with added Scrap book fun. Children love to draw and add color while they write a review or part of the story. Even games are fun while reading. Making spelling games, board games, cards and so on. Reading should never be serious and this is no learning. We find children saying the story by-heart while participating in Story competition with no expressions. Let kids lighten up. Stories and comics are meant to be fun together. Some kids love fiction, some like poetry whereas some like non fiction. Let the child make his choice.

Find Encouraging Reading in Guardian of Angels and you can find a part of it on the Kidsfreesouls.com Parenting page. Btw. here's on 'Choosing Books and read them aloud' on Kidsfreesouls You Tube. Enjoy!

- ilaxi patel
Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for kids with resources for parents and teachers

Happy Friendship Day!

Whenever it's a Friendship Day, Kidsfreesouls wishes all readers Happy Friendship day with a simple message to spread love, faith, peace and unity among human beings. A day when someone asked me, 'How?', I was confused what to reply on a simple icq screen. Today, with the social networks and people hanging on making a 3/4/5 digit friends lists, the message can be spread far and wide. The question 'How' can turn to 'Somehow' and all humans together can make efforts to spread the message to spread peace! The world is on brink of extinction, Is it? Whatever, we can make a Difference!

Well, All our friends light the candle of our life with warmth and happiness. Sometimes, face to face, its hard to say the things we could but between Good Friends, unspoken thoughts are always understood. And then “Silence speaks a thousand words”

Here's an old site Friendship Day page and here's on Joys of Friendship.

This Friendship day, I wish all Kidsfreesouls “Happy Friendship Day” and may this small prayer build our spirits to spread love, faith, peace and unity among human beings.

God Make me worthy…
It is joy in life to find at every turning of the road,
The strong arm of a comrade kind,
To help me with my onward load,
And since I have no gold to give,
'Tis love alone must make amends,
My only Prayer is while I live
"God Make me worthy of my Friends"

I believe that its
God’s might to direct us,
God’s power to protect us,
God’s wisdom for learning,
God's eye for discerning,
God's ear for hearing God’s love for Caring.

So, keep the love, keep friendship, Keep Faith in God’s Caring.Keep the Faith!

Children Ask 'Who are Terrorists?'

When terror strikes, fear and anxiety grips it's strong hold and this is what the aftermath situation prevailing here in Ahmedabad. Gujarat state faced the terrorist strike and Ahmedabad lost many innocent lives leaving many injured. The victims are suffering and the dead are in graves with the nearest relative being offered monetary help by the Government. Will this bring back lives?

Well, It's children who are full of questions asking Who are the terrorists and why the terrorists are Killing innocent people. The kids are anxiously pouring their emotions as they talk of what they have seen and heard. I have children coming to me asking me and telling me all on these terrorists attacks as their emotions run high.

Protect kids from crime, stop them to be criminals - an article from Guardian of Angels was written on a similar disaster during riots that hit the city some years ago. Also Fear Children need to know that killings never do good to anybody. The 9/11 toppled tower or the Gujarat riots or these terrorism - they mean destruction of humans and humanity. Children need the emotional support, a careful listening, confronting and guidance. Parents themselves need not over-react to the situation or in their anxiety pass fear to kids. Harsh reality affect kids but parents reaction to the situation has a negative effect or a positive, depending on how they foresee the situation. It's here that they need to stop feeling the blues, freeze the fear phobia. As I refer in my article 'Fear' - 60% people fear from agoraphobia or call it panic at being in a place they consider it unsafe. They turn themselves to believe that something wrong will happen which makes them nervous and frightful. Phobias sometimes run in family and children inherit from parents.

Such situation calls in for creative activities for kids and they need to divert their attention from viewing too much of the news on incidents of killings and death or even listening to avoid panic. Here are steps to build Pillars of character and Steps to ethical behavior for kids. Let kids get to Creativity and enjoy. This time soon will pass too.

- ilaxi patel
Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for kids