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Do you watch too much Television? Are you concerned about the effect Television watching may be having on your family? Here are some suggestions that may help you keep your Television watching under control.

1 FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOU WATCH

It is wise to analyze your Television watching habits to see if changes should be made. Keep a diary for a week or so, writing down how much time you spend on Television watching. You may also want to list the programs that you watched, what you learned, and how much you enjoyed these programs. The main thing, though, is to calculate how much time you spend on Television watching. You may be surprised at what you find. Just knowing how much your life is devoted to Television watching may move you to make charges.

2. REDUCE YOUR TELEVISION WATCHING TIME

Try to do without Television watching for one day a week, a whole week, or a month. Instead you may want to set limits on the time spend on Television viewing each day. If you cut Television watching by half hour each day, you will have an extra 15 hours every month. Use that time, in meaningful activities, such as; pursuing spiritual interest, reading a good book, or spending time with family and friends. Studies have shown that people who do little Television watching enjoy it more than people who watch a lot of it.

3. REDUCE CHILDREN’S TELEVISION WATCHING TIME.

One way to reduce Television watching is to move the Television out of the bedroom. Children who have Television in their room spend nearly one and half hour on Television watching than children who do not. Further, when a Television is in a youngster’s room, parents do not know what the child is viewing. Parents and couples will find out that they will have more time for each other if they move the television out of their bedroom too. Some, by choice, have decided not to have a television in the home at all.

4. REDUCE WHAT YOU WATCH

There are, of course, many good programs to see. Rather than surfing through the channels or watching whatever comes on, check the listings in advance to select, the programs you want to watch. Turn the television on when the program you have chosen begins and turn the television off when it is over. Or instead of watching a program when it is aired, you may wish to record it for later viewing. That will make it possible to watch at a more convenient time and to fast-forward through commercials.

5 BE SELECTIVE

You will probably agree with me that many television characters are just like “Lovers of themselves, Lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, unthankful, disobedient to parents, disloyal, having no natural affection, fierce, without self-control, puffed up with pride.

Being selective involves self-control. Have you ever watched the first few minutes of a drama or movie and, though you realized it was unacceptable, watched the entire film just to find out what would happen next? Many have however, if you have the will power to turn off the television so you can do something else, you will probably find that you don’t really care about what happened.

Television Watching is an exposé on the time an average person spends in front of the TV, addictive nature of too much Television watching,effects on the children etc. Family Matters provides interesting topics on family issues and parenting.

In developing their business plans, companies of all sizes face the challenge of determining the size of their markets. To begin, companies must present the size of their “relevant market” in their plans. The relevant market equals the company’s sales if it were to capture 100% of its specific niche of the market. Conversely, stating that you were competing in the $1 trillion U.S. healthcare market, for example, is a telltale sign of a poorly reasoned business plan, as there is no company that could reap $1 trillion in healthcare sales. Defining and communicating a credible relevant market size is far more powerful than presenting generic industry figures.

The challenge that many firms face is their inability to size their relevant markets, particularly if they are competing in new or rapidly evolving markets. On one hand, the fact that the markets are new or evolving is the reason why there may be a large opportunity to establish them and become the market leader. Conversely, investors, shareholders and senior management are often skeptical to invest resources because, since the markets do not yet exist, the markets may be too small, or not really exist at all.

In developing over 200 business plans for emerging ventures, venture capital firms, SMEs and Fortune 500 spinouts, I have encountered the challenge of sizing emerging markets numerous times and has developed a proprietary methodology to solve the problem.

To begin, it is critical to understand why traditional market sizing methodologies are ill-equipped to size emerging markets. To illustrate, if a research firm were to use traditional methods to size a mature market such as the coffee market in the United States, it would consider demographic trends (e.g., aging baby boomers), psychographic trends (e.g., increased health consciousness), past sales trends and consumption rates, price movements, competitor brand shares and new product development, and channels/retailers among others. However, conducting such an analysis for emerging markets presents a challenge as several of these factors (e.g., past sales, demographics of the customer when there are no current customers) don’t exist because the markets are presently untapped.

The methodology required to size these new markets requires two approaches. Each approach will yield a different approximation of the potential market size, and often the figures will work together to provide a solid foundation for the market’s potential. I call this first approach “peeling back the onion.” In this approach, I start with the generic market (e.g., the coffee market) that that company is trying to penetrate, and remove pieces of that market that it will not target.

For instance, if the company created an ultra high-speed coffee maker that retailed for $600, it would initially reduce the market size by factors such as retail channels (e.g., mass marketers would not carry the product), demographic factors (lower income customers would not purchase the product), etc. By peeling back the generic market, you eventually will be left with only the relevant portion of it.

The second methodology requires assessing the market from several angles to approximate the potential market share, answering questions including:

o Competitors: who is competing for the customer that you will be serving; what is in their product pipeline; once you release a product/service, how long will it take them to enter the market, who else may enter the market, etc.

o Customers: what are the demographics and psychographics of the customers you will be targeting; what products are they currently using to fulfill a similar need (substitute products); how are they currently purchasing these products; what is their degree of loyalty to current providers, etc.

o Market factors: what other factors exist that will influence the market size – government regulations; market consolidation in related markets, price changes for raw materials, etc.

o Case Studies: what other markets have experience similar transformations and what were the customer adoption rates in those markets, etc.

While these methodologies are often more painstaking than traditional market research techniques, they can be the difference in determining whether your company has the next iPod or the next Edsel.

Since 1999, Growthink has developed more than 1,500 business plans and private placement memorandum documents. Growthink clients have collectively raised over $1 billion in growth financing. Growthink has become the firm of choice for venture capital firms, angel investors, corporations and entrepreneurs in the know. To speak with a professional business plan writer, call 877-BIZ-PLAN (877-249-7526).

Do you need help making sense of auto repair quotes? If you’re like about 95% of Americans, you don’t know much about your car and you really don’t want to. You want to wake up, turn the key, and have the car do what it’s always done: drive to and from work. But on those gut wrenching mornings when the car won’t start, or there’s an evil little light on the dash, we know it’s time to telemarket the pros and hope we get a fair deal and not a sharp stick in the eye.

Now you’re in the shop They’re looking at your car, charging you for it, and when they walk into the waiting room, wiping the grease off their hands, how do you know the car repair estimates they rattle off aren’t complete works of fiction?

Let’s pause for a moment of clarity. Just what is an auto repair scam? We’d like to offer some auto repair help using this simple analogy… Going out to dinner.

Imagine walking into a restaurant any given night of the week. You’re craving (let’s say for sake of argument) a burger, fries and coke. You sit down, the waiter walks over, and before taking your order tells you about the specials. He tells you about their tender sirloin tips, sautéed in a cabernet butter sauce served with garlic mashed potatoes and delectable grilled asparagus spears drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. Your mouth begins to water, and you picture a glass of Shiraz to wash it all down.

Fast forward about an hour. You’re leaving full and happy having spent about $55 more than the original $12 you had planned on. Congratulations! You were just unsold.

Let’s repeat this experience and this time explore a scam… You order the burger, fries and coke. The waiter brings you the carrot plate with an orange juice, charges you for the steak, and then the valet refuses to give you your keys until you pay for the entire dinner including tip and a saganaki you never even knew they served.

Now THAT is a scam.

The truly insidious problem with car repair is how hard it can be to tell the difference. Unlike dinner, the inner workings of your transmission can be subject to interpretation.

The most powerful tool you have against auto repair scams is this: Stop using repair facilities who refuse to provide quality information over the phone or internet. We have a simple, hard and fast rule If a mechanic is not knowledgeable enough to provide at least basic, quality information when I contact them initially; he is not knowledgeable enough to be working on a vehicle. Period.

Service writers and technicians need to understand that the rest of the world lives in the information age. With the ability now for consumers to use free public resources (like IanAuto!) and get information to compare notes, mechanics must stop chanting the old mantra “Can’t tell you, won’t tell you! Bring it in and we’ll take a look”.

Auto Repair Quotes – You Need To Be Aware. You Are Not Helpless. You Do Have Choices The major reason for prescreening is that failure to do so opens you up to a host of potential scams and creepy, high pressure sales tactics.

How hard do you think it’ll be to reverse a mistake when your car is 6 feet in the air with the tires off and they’re pointing out fictitious emergencies?

And if the person on the phone is doing nothing but evading your direct questions, just picture the customer service if you have a problem later on.

Remember, there are some amazing auto service pros out there who will blow your mind with knowledge, honesty and willingness to share. People like this should be given a medal for saving customers on a daily basis. The best thing is they’re either a phone call our mouse click away!

Auto Repair Quotes – Understanding A Very Important Fact: While you should never use a mechanic who will not provide honest, direct answers to your questions, you must also know they will have to take a look at your car to give a realistic, accurate estimate. The truth is that almost 100% of car repair related situations do require a physical inspection by a trained service professional. Cars are highly complex machines and a problem with one system can frequently effect the performance of another.

For example: Check Engine Lights. These little buggers pop on when there’s an issue with a sensor buried in some deep, obscure system. We can all blame the manufacturers for not making this easy to diagnose. In situations like this, there is no way to get around a systems test. You will have to bring in your vehicle, the technician will have to plug in a diagnostic tool, and within about an hour (in most cases) you’ll have a solid idea of what’s wrong. But why can’t the technician tell you that?

We have called hundreds of shops across the country and have been hearing the same thing from close to 96% of them: “Nope, we can’t tell you anything until we see it.” Or “We don’t give any information over the phone, you’ll have to bring it in.” We’ve heard these exact two sentences so many times at this point, we’re starting to think there’s a mechanic’s phone call evasion phrase book!

Here’s a response directly from our database: This is a shop who knows how to answer your questions, even when there is no direct answer…

The “check engine” light is an indication something is wrong somewhere in your vehicle. What it’s saying is one or several sensors/components is failing or providing readings within specifications. Diagnosis and troubleshooting is required to determine the cause of the problem, and this will allow us to provide an accurate estimate regarding exactly what needs to be fixed. The cost for an initial diagnosis runs $X. You can expect the whole diagnosis process to take around an hour. Our technicians are trained to handle these problems and are available ASAP. Please call to set up an appointment.

Now isn’t that better than, “Nope. Can’t say until you bring it in”?

Auto Repair Quotes – The Most Astounding Fact Ever: Your answers are found in your mechanic’s questions. Even though having knowledge of your vehicle is the #1 way to avoid a scam, you can offset being less than informed by digging out good questions from the mechanic. There’s a simple reason for this; it shows they know what they’re talking about.

Because cars have become amazingly complex systems, you should not expect to get a diagnosis over the phone or online. But you should expect information. When you call a shop, the person who picks up the phone should be able to tell you something about something. They should also be able to ask you enough questions to draw out info and further highlight their knowledge and professionalism. They should also disclose if they have an inspection fee, disclose if that fee will be waived if you approve the work, and then be courteous enough to ask for an appointment.

Brakes, engine trouble, weird smells, and noises… in almost every auto repair related situation you must find a person who may not give you an exact answer, but will be able to tell you exactly why.

Auto Repair Quotes – Bottom Line: An up sell is offering premium parts instead of the basic stock; a scam is creating problems or lying about repairs needed. Scams can be avoided by finding a service pro who will directly address your questions and/or concerns. And while maybe not diagnosing your problem, at least offering quality information as to why.

Drew Turnbaugh is a spokesperson for Auto Repair Report. Auto Repair Report teaches drivers how to save thousands of dollars on Auto Repair [http://www.AutoRepairReport.com] costs… Without needing to become a mechanic! Check it out today!

Have you ever achieved an important goal or dream, yet quickly moved on to the next task? Or maybe you boldly took a risk, yet your performance didn’t meet your expectations or others? Or maybe the perfectionist in you felt the accomplishment wasn’t big enough or worthy of celebration? Do you generously celebrate your wins?

I thought I was someone who was good about celebrating successes. And, maybe you have too. But recently, a few significant events opened my eyes to the importance of celebrating and the costs associated when accomplishments are minimized, criticized or glossed over. I invite you to explore the “celebration factor” in your life, as I share my own recent experiences with you. It’s forever changed my relationship with celebration, and how I intend to consciously choose to honor the big and little achievements along life’s path.

It’s no secret that I’ve been busily working on preparing my book for publication. While there are numerous tasks and milestones along the way, going to print is one of the biggies. December marked the first print run of 125 galley copies for book reviewers. While I consciously knew this was a great achievement, the event was sort of lost in the flurry of other activities. Instead of feeling elated and joyous, I have to admit my experience was more like a mini postpartum depression. I had a bodywork session, and didn’t think much of it.

Not too long ago, I uploaded the files for the first BIG print run. There wasn’t a parade or party. The files were simply uploaded. Mission accomplished. Yet, my task list seemed as overwhelming as ever. Once again, I felt my normal happy self uncontrollably nose-diving into droopiness. This postpartum-like depression seemed worse than before. It was awful! Conversations with other authors confirmed this was something they had experienced too. But, why? Would some conscious celebrating have helped?

A third event brought me even more clarity. Last weekend, I attended a workshop. Since this next phase for me is about putting myself into the public eye, I decided to participate in the amateur talent show. This was definitely outside my comfort zone, as I don’t consider myself a performer AT ALL. But, I’ve admired women who dance freely in front of a group, and thought it could be fun. More importantly, I decided it would be a metaphor for authentically expressing myself in front of a group. I figured if I couldn’t put myself out there in front of a supportive, loving group, then I’d be in big trouble on my book tour.

So, I went for it. I gathered tips from the dance instructors who happened to be attending the event. There was virtually no time to practice. My legs were shaking terribly in anticipation of this event. I was nervous. I hate making a fool of myself. But, before I knew it – I DID my performance. They all clapped and loved it.

Did I celebrate? Heck no. I stood in the back of the room replaying the performance in my mind, my body still shaking a bit. The critic was active with judgments. I had moved too quickly. I had forgotten some of the tips, like breathing. Could everyone tell how nervous I was? As others congratulated me, I deflected their comments, minimizing their kind words. How many times have YOU deflected or minimized acknowledgment from others?

I explained to others that it wasn’t perfect. The truth is, there were parts of the performance that were fabulous, and I felt amazing and powerful at certain moments. Other parts of the performance were a tad awkward, and a tinge of nervousness shined through. Overall, it was pretty darn good, especially considering it was a first time experience. While everyone was focused on the overall performance, I was fixated on the imperfections. Performance aside, simply the courage to do it was worthy of celebration. How many times do you refrain from celebration when your desired outcome falls short of expectations?

I eventually got tired of pushing the accolades away, and knew it would be useful to break this nasty habit. This whole experience served as a metaphor in TWO big ways. First off, it’s not about doing it perfectly. It’s about doing my best, being my authentic myself, and enjoying the process. This is something I’d like to keep in mind, as I set out on my journey as a published author. No doubt I will have a few awkward steps in the eyes of the public. Perhaps you’ll join me in trading the aspiration of perfection for full self-expression and a joyful journey — in your own life?

Secondly, I realized that once again, I wasn’t letting the celebration in. FEELING the celebration is key. Positively anchoring an accomplishment conditions us to continually risk, express ourselves and achieve more. I have been working on this since then. And, taking in the celebration feels AMAZING. What is something that you need to celebrate in your life? I challenge you to go for it.

As things turned out, the book spine needed some width adjustments, last minute endorsements came in and we caught a few needed corrections. On Wednesday night, the final-final .pdf files for The Power of Inner Choice were uploaded to the printer. At last.

I am a good student, and so is my boyfriend. And, the lessons were fresh. This was the landmark moment that wasn’t going to be brushed aside this time. I hypothesized that minimal celebration had contributed to the droopiness. We wanted to avoid the previous slump at all costs. So, Wednesday night became the time to celebrate.

How would you have celebrated?

Our last minute celebration consisted of fresh halibut, Gorgonzola Gnocchi from Trader Joe’s (it’s very yummy!), an exceptional bottle of wine – and one of our favorite dessert treats. But, it wasn’t the food, it was the ATTITUDE of celebration. Making the evening special just because we decided to. Most importantly, I took the celebration inside of me and FELT it. And, I’m happy to say — there was NO slump yesterday. Now it’s time to celebrate the book release!

Celebration is about honoring yourself. It refuels the fire. It soothes the soul. And, it FEELS GOOD! Without it, our efforts can take the wind out of our sails. Life is full of big and little opportunities to celebrate. Some would say that CELEBRATING and experiencing joy IS what life is all about. I’m beginning to believe that is simply the truth.

Are you CELEBRATING your life?

I

t’s not too late to start celebrating every step of YOUR journey. Celebrate with me. Celebrate with your loved ones. Celebrate with yourself. Just start celebrating.

Mary Allen, CPCC, MCC is author of The Power of Inner Choice. She hosts Conversations with the Masters interviewing best-selling authors via free, live conference calls. Visit http://www.lifecoachmary.com to learn about coaching, her popular year-long Success and Inner Peace Bootcamp and tap into a wealth of resources including her ezine SoulFULLY Living, and Your Daily Gems.

Children’s bedroom furniture and nursery furniture can help turn a bland and boring bedroom into a fun and cozy retreat. Since there is a wide range of designs and materials available, you can find the perfect children’s furniture for your child’s bedroom, whether you prefer a whimsical decorating style or practical, sturdy pieces.

If you are shopping for furniture for your infant’s nursery for the first time, you may be surprised by the many types of furniture available. You can buy a few pieces to tuck into a corner of an older sibling’s bedroom or you can shop for entire sets so that you can create a comfortable, furnished nursery.

Cribs are usually the first piece of nursery furniture parents shop for. These versatile baby beds come in traditional Jenny Lind designs or more modern styles. Some of them can be converted to toddler beds for added value. Designer cribs are available in a wide range of designs. You can even find round cribs instead of traditional rectangular cribs. However, don’t forget to take a look at bassinets, cots, cradles, and Moses baskets, as well. These smaller beds are perfect for newborn infants, since parents can easily move them from room to room.

Changing tables, armoires, bureaus, rocking chairs, gliders, toy boxes, and accessories such as lamps, are also available. While you are shopping, look for well made furniture pieces that can grow with your child. For example, some changing tables will convert to child size bureaus.

For your older children, you can find several types of beds. Toddler beds, twin beds, and bunk beds are all readily available. Day beds are a great way to add seating and entertaining space to your child’s room during the day. For additional flexibility, look for beds that come with drawers underneath them for added storage. If your child has frequent guests, you may want to look for beds that can be used with a trundle bed.

Older children will also need other furniture for their rooms. Bureaus, bookshelves, and armoires help keep clothing and collectibles organized and will make it easy for children to keep their rooms tidy. Desks and desk chairs are important additions to the room for school aged children. Your younger children may also need a desk so that they can do crafts in their bedrooms.

Finally, don’t forget to ask your children how they feel about the pieces you decide to buy. After all, your child will be spending quite a lot of time in their bedrooms.

Matthew Anthony has contributed to many sites such as garden furniture and childrens furniture.

Both parents that are employed have become a common setup in most families today. The society has become open-minded with the need for mothers to help provide for the family. Thus, proper child-rearing has been a strong and primary concern for working parents especially if children have reached the school age. The parents’ responsibility is to find reputable institutions or individuals which will provide the proper childcare that the children needs.

Childcare Options

Childcare refers to the supervision of children in the absence of parents or guardians. Childcare is called for when there are minor children in the house that needs taking care of. When parents are away from work, the childcare provider shall act as the second parent. In some cases, parents require childcare for children when they need to spend quality time together away from home.

Depending on situations of parents and the age of children, childcare may be an every day or occasional requirement. Childcare may be done in the home of the kids, in the home of the childcare provider or in an established childcare or daycare centres.

Most parents choose in-home childcare such as the nanny, babysitter, au pair and governess because of the belief that their home is safer for the children.

The Nanny

In the old days, nannies are employed only by the rich or the aristocrats. Nowadays, many families employ nannies for childcare excluding the traditional concept of a nanny who wears a uniform.

A nanny is an individual who looks after children to provide the necessary childcare. Basic duties include childcare during the agreed hours set by the employer; supports the intellectual and social development of children; protection of children from harm; meal preparations; proper communication with the employers; and sometimes maintenance of cleanliness of the home.

The nanny may be hired as a live-in or live-out employee on a full-time basis. Formal training is not commonly required but advantageous. Parents prefer that a nanny has previous on the job experience.

The Babysitter

Unlike a nanny, a babysitter is hired on a part-time basis only usually when parents are still at work or out on weekends. Babysitting requires no formal training. Mostly, babysitters are teenagers who need the extra money. While training is not required, babysitters should have the right skills in times of emergency.

The Au Pair

A French term which means “equal to”, the au pair is a foreigner, usually an unmarried woman of 18 to 26 years old, who visits a host family for a period of two years. The au pair is intended to be considered a part of the family and receives a personal allowance and a private room. During her stay, the au pair is tasked to help in childcare and household chores of the host family.

Considering the meaning, the au pair is not a domestic helper. An au pair is included in all the daily activities of the family and attends social events with them. Being an au pair is an opportunity for travel and cultural exposure.

The Governess

The governess is a trained and educated childcare provider who is solely employed for the education of children.

Choosing the right childcare option for the family takes considerable time and extensive research. It is noteworthy to consider that parents should never depend on childcare providers alone to support the growth of children. More importantly, parents must remain to balance time to be with the children in the growing up years.

Grunty’s day care nursery is a long established Nursery School based in Blackpool. Grunty’s is part of Partington’s Holiday Centres

An Education Staff of Athalia School, Tangerang, Indonesia.

If someone has the ability to read does not mean he directly has the interest to read. Reading skill and reading interest are 2 kinds of different matters. Many schools in the developing countries struggle to educate their society to be able to master the reading skills. For example in Indonesia, some parts of the society still have no ability to read because of their poorness in getting education opportunity or because they live in a very remote area.

Many people in developing countries still struggle with the basic needs such as food, clothes and housing so that they do not have idea or budget for books, even for education.

Because of that situation, the culture of reading habit is far from their reach. Even though some of them already have a better living, their thought is still focused on something that is more real, functional, comforting, money- value or something that can improve their prestige like jewelries, hand phones, luxuries housing & cars, expensive toys, etc. Because the culture of reading is not formed yet, the society spend most of their free time for watching TV or chatting.

For some family who has realized the important of books and education, it is still hard for them to increase the reading interest and habit of their children because they have to spend more money for buying books that are getting more expensive. Libraries are rare. Even many schools have no libraries. But there are still some ideas to increase children’s reading habit in the midst of not ideal condition.

First, if you realize that reading habit is important for you and your children, start the reading habit in your own family without blaming the situation around you. Your habit will sooner or later influence your surroundings. Read your children everyday or regularly to form their reading habit and their love of books. It does not matter if you only have ten minutes everyday. It still also gives you good impact. Let your children know that you enjoy the time you share with them for reading. They will love both the time for reading and the time to attach with you.

Second, include expense for books in your budget. It does not matter if you only spend a little of money according to what you can afford. The important thing is you plan and budget it routinely every month. You and your children should often visit bookshop or book fair.

Third, visit any libraries that are available in your neighborhood, schools, universities, clubs, etc. Ask the children to visit the libraries will increase their love for books.

Fourth, you can decrease the expense of books if you can exchange your books with your friends, relatives or neighbors. Sharing books will increase our knowledge in a cheaper way. You can hold a book club where you and the other members (adults and children) can bring their collection of books and share them.

Fifth, you can make your own books. Reading books does not always mean buying books. We can borrow them, share them or make them by ourselves. Children will be enthusiastic if you make a personal book especially made for them. You can use their photographs, handmade pictures, etc to make the book. You can stick the photographs or pictures on some sheets of blank paper, then you write some comments about them. You can arrange the photographs from the child’s birth till he is growing. You also can cut and stick the brochure from the hospital where the baby was born to complete the book. You or your children can draw something on that books, too. You can put the photographs of grandpa, grandma or other relatives to introduce your big family to your children. You can also stick some pictures that reveal your culture or the customs of your society so that the children will learn about their ancestors’ culture and tradition.

The handmade books can be varied in themes. Maybe you want to tell your children about your job and what you are doing while you are away from them. You can take some pictures of your office, your friends, your projects, places you visited, etc and make a book from that pictures. The children will be happy and trust you because they know what you are doing when they miss you. It is important especially for career women who often leave their children.

It’s cheap but excited if you ask your children to make their own books. They can draw or cut pictures from magazines and write their own stories according to their imagination. If your children is still to young to write, you can ask them to tell you the stories of the pictures and you write it for them. After that, read the books for them. They will be very proud of them.

For you yourself, you can collect a lot information from newspaper, magazines, internet, brochures and any other printing materials to make a clipping of information. For example, if you like cooking, you can collect many recipes from many resources and also add your own recipes that you write or type. Bundle those information to make your personal cooking book. If you need information about technology, you can also do the same although you must work harder to collect more information. The important thing is financial problem and lacking of books do not stop your enthusiastic for reading. There are many ways to get and collect information.

Sixth, there is another way that will make children interested in book. Usually children like watching cartoon like “Nemo, Lion King, Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh” or may be there are some traditional legends, puppets or stories that the children love very much. It is very interesting if they watch the movie or show and then read the books. The books can be bought or made by yourself.

Seventh, It is creative if you can dramatize the story you read to your children. For example, if the story is about a king and a queen, you can pretend to be the king and your child is the queen. You can pile up some pillows as your throne and wear a hat as your crown. You and your children can also roar like lions if there are some lions in the story. Children will be very enthusiastic to do that. You can do what the story is about, too. For example, the story is about going to the zoo, you can go to the zoo, too. Or if the story is about fruit, you can go to the market or supermarket to observe them. Bring the information in the story into reality or action.

Eighth, give books as gifts for your children instead of toys. I do not mean that toys are not good for children. I think educational toys are very important for children but you should introduce books as gifts so that the children will respect books as valuable gifts. You can give books for your children as their birthday presents, Christmas presents or when they have good achievement in schools.

Ninth, your reading habit should be the example for your children because deeds speak louder than words. If your children often see you reading, they will know that reading is a good habit that mom and dad often do. How if you yourself do not like reading but you realized that reading is very important for your children ?. It is a fact that many adults do not like reading but there are some tips that you can do to overcome this problem. Find the books that are suitable with your hobbies. If you like cooking, read many recipes or books about cooking. You can also chase your favorite novels. Talk to yourselves that books are important because they can broaden your point of view, your knowledge, skills and even improve your career as well as give you relaxation. Switch off your television, because we usually spend more time for watching television that what we plan. Put the books on the places that are easy to see and access like in your bedroom, in the living room, in the kitchen, in the car, etc. Ask your friends what books they are reading now or books that are good in their opinion. You will be more motivated if you hear that your friends promoted them to you. Make a list what books you have read and what books you plan to read. You will be satisfied if the list is becoming longer. Visit the bookstores, book fairs and libraries. The best thing to do is do it now ! Do not wait until you have enough time or until you think you want to do it later.

Tenth, make sure that books and reading habit are one of your priority because you know the benefit of them. From books you can introduce a lot of knowledge to your children. There is no limit of knowledge if we can learn it by ourselves through reading both from books or from the internet. Do not wait until your children able to read to give them books. Start as soon as they were born. If you often communicate with your babies and read stories for them, their language ability will increase. Although they have not been able to response you through words, they absorb the words you speak to them (Beck, 1997). Do not only give fiction books for young children although they usually like fiction with cute pictures like Winne The Pooh or Mickey mouse. They will also be enthusiastic if you give them non fiction books like books of knowledge such as books about human body, solar system, sea animals, etc. Introduce them to the knowledge since they are very young so that they will like the knowledge and their curiosity will increase, too.

Besides, through books we can teach our children about some concept, value or belief. When it is difficult to tell them not to cheat, you can find a children book with interesting pictures that contains of moral teaching concerning cheating. I have an experience with my little boy when he was afraid of visiting a dentist. Before we visited the dentist, I read him a book about going to the dentist. It is a funny story because the dentist is a tiger and the patient is a little tiger. The little tiger is very brave to see the dentist. This book made my son brave enough to see the dentist because he wanted to be a brave little boy like the little tiger was.

But remember that only good books should you and your children read because some books can be very destructive if they are not suitable with your value or belief. For example, there are many books that contains of pornography and violence that can influence you and your children’s mind. You must be very selective in reading or giving books for your children because our mind is not like a computer. You can delete some data in your computer but you can not erase the information or imagination in your children’s mind. If you think that your children have already been fond of wrong books, do not forbid them directly to stop their habit of reading them. Instead, influence them with your opinion that they should be able to choose which books are good and which books are not so that they will not resist. Let them know from the beginning that they can choose their books but give them some limitation which books are acceptable, which books are not and your reason of that limitation.

There is another benefit of books. You can use it to teach your children foreign languages. Children’s brain is easier to absorb language than adult (Beck, 1997). If you take your little children live abroad, they will master the language when they interact with the children from other countries. If a child is raised by a couple of different nationalities, the child will be able to speak two languages of his parents. I know a child whose father is a Japanese and mother is an Indonesian. This child master both Japanese and Indonesian. Because of children’s ability to absorb new languages fast, you can use foreign language story books to introduce and teach them the languages. Maybe you yourselves only know a little about this language but if you can just read it for them, the vocabularies and structures of the language will be remembered by them.

I am an Indonesian. I read my son English story books when he was 3 years old. I just read the books again and again and then he can repeat the story by himself as if he can read it. He can also repeat the structures in a daily conversation. For example, the book says ” Cat can eat. Cat can drink”. While he was eating, he could say “I can eat, I can drink”. There is another book that says ” Teddy flies higher and higher”. While he was playing, he climbed on a chair and then he jumped to the floor saying ” I can fly higher and higher.” I think the influence of the books is very prominent. The important thing is you have to find a simple story book which has a big picture and a few words or sentences and repeat the story many times as long as your children is not boring. You can choose what foreign language you want to introduce to your children. Just find the simple story books and repeat them in a regular basis. Sooner or later he will remember the vocabularies and recognize the structures.

There are many benefits of books, but you do not always have to buy them. As it is explained above, you can borrow them, share them or make them by yourself. Use your imagination to produce your simple drawings. Or use the pictures from newspapers or magazines to make your own books. Arrange the pictures and the words according to your idea and you will have your personal collection cheaply but creatively made just for your children and yourselves. The value can’t be compared. So do not wait until you have enough money to buy books or wait until you have enough time to read or wait until your children are big enough to read books by themselves. Start it now ! No matter the condition of your financial problem is. If you invest your time and your kids’ time for reading good books, you invest better future for your family.

Anna Yulia lives in Tangerang, Indonesia. She is working as an education staff of Athalia School in Tangerang, Indonesia. Athalia School is a Christian School that provides education for playgroup, kindergarten and elementary level.

How to buy online pet supplies, saving money and same time getting good quality? Instead of going to pet shop in your neighborhood you can find quality and cost saving products by shopping online. You can buy higher quality and still lower priced products from online pet supplies stores. Normal stores have to spend money to their storefront buildings and employees which forces them to keep prices high. Online stores does not have those expenses and that shows in lower prices for pet supplies.

Most of us are considering our pets as part of our family, and wants to buy pet supplies that help our best friends be healthy and happy. Expert recommendations on those sites are free and you should take advantage of them. People who really cares about pets are keeping those sites up just to give people professional pet care advice.

People like you are writing reviews on products. It has become popular feature on pet supply sites. People who loves their pets wants to give their opinion about products to the other pet owners. Reviews might tell what collar/toy/or other item worked well for their dog and why it was a good choice just for their dog. This is very useful if you you have similar dog of your own.

You can shop whenever you want. Traditional stores can not be open 24/7. Also most famous online pet supplies sites has 24/7 customer support. Online pet supply websites wants your pet (and you) to be happy with your purchases.

The prices of pet supplies can be easily compared online. Just type product name in your favorite search engine and you get many different prices for that product. Check out the shipping + other extra prices too. If some online pet supplier offers much cheaper products and free shipping, they could have lower quality products which could harm your pet.

You can also have your pet food delivered to your home. Many better online pet supplies shops are offering delivery programs. You can have discount prices if you sign up to their shipping service where you can schedule food delivery and quantity. You can choose from many online pet supply websites/stores. Find the one that suits for your purposes. Shopping online is fun and easy way for shopping and you can do it from your home!

Jukka runs Pet Supply Blog and has had pets all his life.

There’s a wide range of car insurance options in Australia, which is impressive for a country of its size. It’s easy to become overwhelmed given the number of companies offering “the best”, “the cheapest” or “the best and cheapest” car insurance, but there are 7 things you need to consider before you commit to one particular insurer:

1. What kind of insurance are you looking for?

Compulsory third party insurance – Known as Greenslip Insurance, this is the most basic form of car insurance for an Australian driver and is compulsory for Australian-registered cars. While it doesn’t cover damage to the policyholder’s car or cars and property of others, it does cover personal injuries of crash victims.

Third party property insurance – This pays for any damage you cause to another person’s car or property. However, it doesn’t cover the cost of repairs for your own vehicle. Third party fire or theft insurance, an extension of third party insurance, insures you against the loss of your car through theft or fire.

Comprehensive insurance policy – This combines all of the above. As such, if yours and another person’s car are damaged through your own negligence, your insurance policy will extend to cover repairs for both parties.

2. Can you buy the policy online?

An insurance company that allows you to sign up for car insurance online has a distinct edge over one that doesn’t. Online insurance policies, usually paid for by credit card, are more affordable due to the reduction of processing fees. It’s also very convenient for the buyer as it can be done at any hour or any day of the week. You’re also likely to make fewer mistakes on the application form because you can take your time in filling it out, and there is less or no pressure for you to complete as compared to completing one over the phone.

3. Do they offer a multi-policy deal?

Many insurance companies provide insurance for the home, travel and health in addition to car insurance. In many cases, insurance companies may offer a more favourable rate to customers who purchase more than one type of insurance from them.

4. What’s your demographic?

Did you know that the cost of car insurance premiums can vary based on where you live? Premiums can differ even further based on your address within the state itself as well. Varying intra-state car insurance premiums are mainly down to the risk an insurance company perceives you and your car to be.

Therefore, the higher the risk of your vehicle encountering an accident or being stolen, the higher the premiums you have to pay. For instance, residents of New South Wales, which has a high population density, pay the highest car insurance premiums of any state.

Age and gender too, are parameters that need to be considered when comparing car insurance. Young men are perceived to be more of an insurance risk, and this is reflected in their insurance premiums. Additionally, the owner of a newer, more expensive car is likely to pay higher insurance premiums based on the risk such a vehicle poses for the insurance company.

5. Have you tried asking for a discount from your existing provider?

Sometimes, people compare car insurance when they’re thinking of switching to another insurance company. In this case, a person has nothing to lose by asking their current insurer if they’re able to match or surpass a cheaper quote from another company. Revisiting the terms of your present car insurance policy may also allow negotiation of better terms for you; there may be discounted premiums for drivers above 25 years of age. Tailoring your car insurance policy to match your personal requirements can make it even more affordable.

6. Look beyond the bottom dollar

A cheap insurance quote is very attractive. However, when comparing quotes from different insurance companies, you need to ensure that the policies themselves are similar too to prevent comparing apples and oranges. By scrutinizing policies closely, you won’t wind up paying less but receiving inferior or limited insurance coverage from Insurer A, as opposed to paying Insurer B slightly more in return for more benefits and security.

One of the first things a person looks at when comparing car insurance is the premium paid. At first glance, a cheaper premium is certainly tempting. Having extra cash available is always welcome. Yet, is an annual difference of $200 really such a bargain if, in the event of a write off, the insurance company deems your car worth less than you expected?

You need to ensure that the bottom value an insurance company quotes for your car isn’t too far away from your car’s actual worth. If the terms of the policy are otherwise in your favour, obtaining an “agreed value” policy is your best bet so that replacing your car won’t be such a financial burden in the event of a write off and if the company undervalues it.

7. How does a point-for-point comparison of different policies add up?

There are sure to be similarities when you compare the basic policies of most major car insurers. A consumer needs to look at the cost of the policy and any extra benefits that particular insurer provides and ask about them if they’re not immediately obvious. For instance, comprehensive car insurance may entitle you to a hire car if your car needs repairs, until a claim is paid, or your car recovered (if it was stolen). Different insurers also have varying conditions pertaining to no-claim bonus and excess payable.

Different insurers offer different hire car periods that may also vary based on the premium you pay. Additionally, the time it takes to process a claim may take longer (months) than the period to which you’re entitled the hire car (days). Additionally, the maximum value insured for items inside the car that are damaged or stolen may vary between companies.

In the event car repairs are needed, most insurance companies have workshops authorized to carry out the necessary repairs. Some people, though, may be more comfortable appointing a mechanic of their own or who can finish the job more quickly. Aside from determining if this option is available to you, be sure to determine who bears the cost of transporting the car to the garage and if roadside assistance is provided.

These are just some of the things you need to consider when you’re making a car insurance comparison between different insurance providers. Comparing car insurance policies may not be such a chore when you consider that Australians are paying an excess of more than $3 billion in unneeded comprehensive car insurance coverage.

We’ve all been there – you’re heading out for a day of lawn work and your lawn mower won’t start. The big question before you now, should you try to fix the lawn mower yourself or should you call the experts? Here are a few scenarios to help you decide whether you should attempt the lawn mower repair at home or bring it to an authorized repair person.

My Lawn Mower Won’t Start

If your lawn mower will not start, check the gas tank first. Did you put the mower away for a long period of time without draining the gas tank? If so, you probably have a tank full of bad gas. Drain the tank and fill it with new gas. Check to make sure you have enough gas in the tank to get the mower running and that it is the correct kind of gas.

The Lawn Mower Starts Slowly, but Stops and becomes Difficult to Start

This is a pretty good sign that the engine is not getting enough air. Don’t worry, this is not going to require a costly lawn mower engine repair! Start by checking the air filter; a clogged or dirty filter can be cleaned with a little hot water and dish detergent. Simply scrub the filter and replace it.

You also may have a bad spark plug. The mower engine will not start up if the spark plug is bad or dirty. This fix may be as simple as pulling out the old spark plugs, cleaning them and replacing them.

My Lawn Mower Is Dead

Start by unplugging the spark plugs and turning the mower over. It is extremely important to make sure the mower is not able to start up while it is turned upside down. Check various mower parts, including the blades. You are looking for string, long grass, plastic or metal stuck between the blades, as any of these items will stop the blades from working and automatically incapacitate the mower.

Look in the gas tank, at the spark plugs and at the air filter. Make sure there is gas in the tank, the spark plugs are working and the air filter is clog free.

If the mower is still not working, take off the mower engine cover. Look at how the gas flows into the engine by removing the pump cover and pushing on the rubber pump. This will show you how gas is flowing into the engine and whether there are any problems with the hose. You may just need to take a clean rag and wipe down the hose or use a small pin to clean out the injector hole.

The last place to check is the automatic shut-off connected to the accelerator, as it may have lost a spring. Look for a metal line from the shut-off mechanism to the choke; you should see a small spring that attaches to the body of the lawn mower. If it fell off, you will see two small holes where the spring used to be. You can find a replacement spring at any hardware store.

These are all relatively easy repairs that you can make at home. The rule of thumb about calling an authorized repair person is you have reached a point in the project where you no longer feel comfortable doing it on your own. No matter when you reach this point, whether it comes after you checked the gas tank or after you take off the engine cover, it’s time to call a repair person.

Do not get in over your head in a repair project. When you are unsure of how to proceed but go ahead anyway, you can make the problem worse; and this only means a bigger repair bill!

Sundar K is is the author of this article about lawn mower repair, lawn mower parts and lawn mower engine repair. THDRepair is one of the largest authorized repair specialists in the U.S., has held a number of positions within the company over the past 10 years, previously as Director of Operations and Director of Business Development.

1. Paying too much for Car Insurance, its time to seek change.

2. When you must think of a new car insurance company.

Auto insurance is not a luxury but a necessity. And in order to get the maximum advantage experts recommend that you should shop around for auto insurance every 2-3 years. As policies change and newer players enter the market there are so many new attractive auto insurance schemes that you could benefit from. You should consider changing your auto insurance when:

o You are availing a huge mortgage to buy property and the bank or institution offers you a lower interest rate on home and auto insurance through their tie -ups.

o You have moved to another state where the auto insurance rules are different and you will make a saving by transferring your insurance to a new car insurance company. Or when your old car insurance company does not offer service in your new state.

o You want to cut costs and are trying to run your life on a budget. Shop around online for competitive auto insurance rates and change the car insurance company to one who offers the best deal.

o You have purchased a new car and the dealer is offering free insurance for three years. New cars have lower insurance rates so it is best for you to do a comparative study and find a car insurance company that offers a great deal. Car insurance rates vary greatly between car brands and types; find out which car insurance company offers the maximum coverage for the lowest rate.

o You are getting married and now will have two cars. Think about cancelling your individual car insurance policies and getting a joint one for both cars. Similarly if your family is growing and you have many cars used by adults as well as kids, ask auto insurance companies about group insurance schemes that will cover all the cars and drivers in your home. Most companies offer great discounted rates for combining car insurance policies.

o You are retired and now a senior citizen. Car insurance companies offer discounts to those who are 55 and above. There are a great many discounts available for a car that has a good insurance claim record, a car that is not driven every day, and a car that is single driver driven and well maintained.

o You are eligible for coverage through your new job. Many large companies have facilities like auto insurance schemes at premium rates lower than the market. If you are working in such a firm then you must consider cancelling your old policy and taking a new one with the car insurance company chosen by your workplace.

o When the rates being paid by you are high and your car insurance company shows no inclination to offer you a competitive rate. If you are paying too much for car insurance its time you changed your car insurance company to one that is offering you great facilities and rates.

Whatever the reason to change your car insurance company, the World Wide Web has sites where you can compare offers as well as quotes. Sites like LowerMyBills.com give quote comparisons in a click. So, read all you can about car insurance and the companies and determine which car insurance company offer will suit you best.

Aaron Brooks is a freelance writer for http://www.1888carinsurance.com/, the premier website to find Car Insurance Quotes including auto insurance quote, online auto insurance quote, free car insurance quote, cheap car insurance quote, on line car insurance quote and more. He also freelances for the premier Cars site http://www.1866cars.com