Make reading fun - use personalized stories

Reading regularly from an early age has enormous benefits for a child throughout childhood and in later life: * Increased comfort with reading A comfortable reader is a confident reader. This means that the speed with which something can be read increases (useful for absorbing information, in exams, and also later on in the place of work), and the reader is also more likely to be confident and effective when reading aloud. (Presentations, the school play!) * Increased word power Coming in to contact with words more frequently means they are more likely to stick in the reader's mind, improving spelling. Reading often also enhances the chance of encountering new words, and therefore increases the range of the reader's vocabulary * Increased knowledge Whether reading for pleasure or for school, college or work, books help to broaden our horizons, increasing the general knowledge of the reader. So, how can we ensure that our children read, and read regularly? There is a simple thing to bear in mind to ensure a child wants to read - the child has to enjoy reading! And how is this achieved, I hear you say? For a child to enjoy reading, the subject matter must be one that they have some familiarity with and more importantly, that they are interested in. Now here's the real trick : There is nothing that interests any child more than themselves! Personalized stories will inspire the child to read and re-read a story, because this will be able to relate directly with the main character. (It is after all, themselves, usually taking part in some adventure akin to the kind of imaginary play the child would normally partake in.) Even if you are reading a story to an infant or toddler, the repetition of their name will generate interest and excitement in the story which will ensure that they enjoy reading the story themselves when they are older. There are many personalized stories available to buy over the Internet, ranging in price and quality. Because of the personalized nature of them, they make an ideal gift for special occasions such as birthday's and Christmas presents. Things that you should consider when looking to buy a personalized story book: - what level of personalization do you require? (Simply the child's name, or other details too i.e. friends, age etc.) - does the book promote a positive message? - how durable is the book? - what will it cost? (Don't forgot to factor in shipping costs!) - how long does it take to manufacture? (This can often be the more important factor, particularly if purchasing as a gift.)

Be A Gift Giving Diva!

Copyright 2006 Karen Fusco

You know them. They always have the perfect gift for every occasion. Their presents are personal, thoughtful and put everyone else's to shame. They are perfectly organized and show up looking fabulous. It drives you mad!

Don't get mad. Get even. Be a diva yourself. Your gift can be the most fabulous one there. By following these four simple steps to save you time and stress, you can spend more time fulfilling your inner diva.

Step 1: Pay Attention. The key to a successful present is listening. People will tell you want they want and need. Your mom may mention that she's cold when she goes to bed. Your boss may brag about his fabulous golf swing. Your best friend may lament over her calloused feet. Whatever it is, listen to the little comments people make. Each comment presents a great opportunity for a future perfect gift!

Step 2: Guide Yourself to Victory. Now that you've developed diva-like listening and observation skills, take note of what you've learned! Create a gift giving guide for all the people in your life. Include their hobbies, interests, personal milestones and upcoming events. Mark down their personal important dates to remember -- birthday, anniversary, etc. This guide will provide you with a list of great ideas and inspiring thoughts when you need to buy a present.

Step 3: Mark Your Calendar. Who hasn't nearly forgotten an important event and been left scrambling to find a present? Avoid last minute panic by noting important dates and events in your calendar. Check out your gift giving guide and transfer the important dates to your calendar at the beginning of each new year. At the start of each month look to see upcoming events so you can plan accordingly. Or, keep up with the times and sign up for a free email reminder service that alerts you when the occasion is approaching. You won't be stuck gift-less again!

Step 4: Celebrate! To add an additional incentive for you to be more organized, reward yourself when a gift is a big hit. Know that you've done welll and made someone happy with your choice. Whether simply recognizing your good work or buying yourself something special, you'll find you enjoy gift giving much more when you get a treat in the process!

Who would have thought that organizational skills would have been so diva-licious? But if you plan ahead, you can spend more time being your fabulous self! And that's time well spent.

What would you put in your gift basket?

There are many occasions when a gift basket is a present that will be cherished and appreciated, even though it is not something people often think of. For many, the occasion that most brings to mind baskets is Easter. Easter baskets are generally full of eggs – either real hens’ eggs or chocolate eggs – and are sometimes accompanied by a bunch of Easter flowers. Taking your Easter eggs out from their cardboard packaging and putting them in a basket instead is a nice, traditional way to celebrate the Easter festival. Christmas is the other big time of year for baskets, and this time they are full of rich Christmas foods, such as Christmas pudding and cake. If you make or buy a Christmas basket, be careful not to overdo it – the food is so rich that if you fill the basket right up, you might not even manage to eat all the food before it expires! Harvest season is another big time for baskets, as they can be filled with fruit and veg that you’ve grown yourself and presented to your friends and neighbours as presents. It’s a fun way to make friends with the whole town. Anniversaries and birthdays can be nicely celebrated with more personal baskets, such as baskets full of wine or flowers. A florist will be able to choose nice flowers to put in a basket for you, and some wine comes pre-delivered in gift baskets anyway – you could even mix the two. Another thing to try is to package completely normal presents in baskets, just as you would with a gift box or wrapping paper. This way the recipient gets a basket as an extra present, and will be surprised that whatever’s in the basket isn’t what a basket usually contains – it could be a great surprise to take the DVD box-set your girlfriend’s been wanting and put it in a basket!

Gift baskets are arguably one of the oldest and most traditional presents around

Humans have definitely made baskets for tens of thousands of years, with the earliest baskets found being around 12,000 years old (they were found in Egypt) – but some believe that basket making may have been practiced as long as a million years ago. Basically, for as long as people have had something to carry, they have picked plants and made containers from them. It is an understandable animal instinct – even a bird’s nest is, after all, a kind of basket. Throughout history, baskets have been made with whatever material was closest to hand – willow, twigs, bamboo, wheat, grass, wicker and even glass, plastic and metal in modern times have all been used to make baskets, and all work very well, although in general the baskets made from more solid materials will be more sturdy. The chances are that you use a basket yourself quite often – a metal shopping basket is just as much a basket as any other, and follows many of the same principles of construction. People in poorer countries today still use plant-material baskets for many practical purposes, making them by hand from the local wild plants and carrying them around on their heads, just as was done in Ancient Greece. Some primitive houses in these areas bear a striking resemblance to baskets in their construction, as basket making is one of the few skills the people have. Baskets were used by hunter-gatherers to bring back large amounts of fish, fruit and nuts – and, interestingly enough, it is still popular to give these things in gift baskets today. Gift baskets are arguably one of the oldest and most traditional presents around, and that applies not only in the West but also throughout the world. An ornate basket full of fresh produce is one of the nicest gifts you can give someone – baskets are not only beautiful, after all, but are capable of holding anything.