KW Tip of the Day: Holidays

Here's your KW Tip of the Day: Holidays

Not everyone celebrates Christmas. Most people at least put on the show ... the decorated house... the special cards and family newsletters ... the parties ... the family gatherings... it goes on and on.

Some people remember the real reason behind Christmas.

But those who celebrate just to celebrate, it's ok. It's a special time of year when people tend to love each other more, and smile a little more. Enjoy yourself. Don't allow depression or being away from your school friends to get to you. Wonderful tasty treats. Unbelievably powerful smells. Scenery and special lights.

Enjoy your moment. Enjoy your holiday.... whatever it may be.

And Merry Christmas, from our family to yours.

KW Tip of the Day: Food

Here's your KW Tip of the Day: Food

This is the time of year where people are expected to eat everywhere they go ... parties, school lunchrooms, family gatherings, etc.

• What is your favorite food?
• Why is your favorite food?

KW Tip of the Day: Bullies

Here's your KW Tip of the Day: Bullies

A bully is someone who makes other people (especially kids) feel scared, sick, embarrassed, lonely and hurt. They might push or use other physical force, or even just call names to threaten, teas or just say mean things. They might take something of yours, intimidate a friend, and, in general, make people sad. Now we have cyber-bullies who use the internet, facebook, myspace and other methods to do horrible things to other people.

The problem of bullying affects a lot of kids, but also some adults. Most people have been bullied. And the stress of dealing with bullies can make us feel sick.

Most bullies do what they do because they are looking for attention. They think it might make them popular, or help them get anything they want. Or make them more important. Bullying makes someone feel powerful. Falsely powerful. They might think that being mean and shouting is the best way to relate to others. Maybe they have someone bullying them.

What can you do?
Don't give a bully the chance. Ignore him; pretend you don't hear him and just walk away to a place of safety. Take a different route to avoid him. If you can't avoid him, be brave and stand up to him. Sometimes that's enough to stop him. Stand up and say "No! "Stop It!" in a loud voice. But don't be fake about being brave - look confident, and you'll soon BE confident. Feel good about yourself. Get a buddy and walk together. Helps with confidence. Stick up for a buddy, or anyone who's being bullied.

If someone messes with you online, don't be afraid to be a tattletale: tell an adult you trust! Don't believe a word people say about you. Ignore them. Maybe take a break from the computer for a while so that a trusted adult can work on the problem.

But ... don't bully or physically-fight back. A physical altercation is just what the bully may be looking for, and it can be dangerous.

Plan ahead. Talk with your buddy(s) about what you will do, and how.

Remember to tell a trusted adult. He/She might have a good idea to help you. Or you can talk here, to us. We'll listen.

KW Tip of the Day: Pizza

Here's your "Kid Whispers" Tip of the Day: Pizza

We like rice crust pizza, then some with soy cheese (for one lactose-intolerant) and some with pepperoni, and some with bacon and onion. One will eat anything on it. And, occasionally, we like Pizza Hut.

What's your favorite pizza?

KW Tip of the Day: Planet

Here's your "Kid Whispers" Tip of the Day: Planet

This planet is very messed up. Global warming. Pollution. Drought. Floods. Earthquakes. Hurricanes. Tornadoes. Sinkholes.

Become a "planet protector".... as a kid, what can YOU do to help protect and/or heal our planet?

KW Tip of the Day: Health

Here's your "Kid Whispers" Tip of the Day: Health

How healthy are you? Did you get this flu or virus that's going around? Do you eat right, exercise, and stay away from things that pollute your body?

We can't replace our bodies in this life time. Do your best for your body, and it will do it's best for you.

What health issues concern you?

KW Tip of the Day: Favorite Game

Here's your "Kid Whispers" Tip of the Day: Favorite Game

What game do you like to play: Scrabble? Clue? Twister? Baseball? Super Mario Brothers? What game do you play whenever you get the chance?

KW Tip of the Day: Pet

Here's your "Kid Whispers" Tip of the Day: Pet

We recently got a pet at a local shelter, a little Chihuahua named Spirit. That was her name when we got her, and since it so appropriately fit her, we kept it. She has brought a lot of laughs to our house, and a lot of responsibility. Remembering to walk 3-4 times a day (good exercise), picking up after her, feeding, watering, playing with her, teaching her, clipping her nails, giving her baths, vet check-ups, etc. There's a lot of thinking involved here. But in return, she loves us, despite our foibles.

Tell us about your pet. If you don't have one, what would you dream pet be?

KW Tip of the Day: Inventions

Here's your "Kid Whispers" Tip of the Day: Inventions

The last two centuries have seen an explosion of wonderful time-saving inventions. What do you think was the very first invention? How about ... what do you think is the best invention ever, and why?

KW Tip of the Day: Favorite Book

Here's your "Kid Whispers" Tip of the Day: Favorite Book

Do you like to read? If so, what's your favorite book and why?

If you don't, why not? Maybe you like the funny pages in the newspaper, or comic books, or sports articles or fix-it magazines. If you like to read anything, what is it?

KW Tip of the Day: Holidays

Here's your "Kid Whispers" Tip of the Day: Holidays

No matter what country you live in, there are at least a couple of holidays, religious or otherwise. Each has it's own celebration and customs. Some holidays mean pigging out on special foods, and others mean you fast (not eat). There's going to your place of worship, dying eggs, giving gifts, begging for candy, singing, dancing, parades and more.

What is your favorite holiday and why?

KW Tip of the Day: Homework

Here's your "Kid Whispers" Tip of the Day: Homework

Yuck. Who really likes the piles of homework you get every day? Reading to do. Math equations to solve. Calculations and assumptions to come up with.

Homework isn't just a torture that adults came up with. It's to help you learn and remember what you've learned. If you learn about "World War II", then the details will stick in your mind when you have to write a little essay about how it began or weapons used or countries involved. Later on in life, you may assign yourself homework, although you won't call it that.

What is your favorite homework? And your least favorite?

KW Tip of the Day: Intuition

Here's your "Kid Whispers" Tip of the Day: Intuition

Everyone has it. Intuition, I mean. Gut feelings. It's something in you that seemingly points the way. Kinda like your conscience, but more on your deepest inner level.

YOU have it. Listen to it. You ARE intuitive, and don't let anyone ever tell you different.

KW Tip of the Day: Politics

Here's your "Kid Whispers" Tip of the Day: Politics

Eeek. Haven't we heard enough politics recently to last a lifetime? Well, no, not really. It's part of every day life. Not just on a government level, but also in business and in families.

Here's a link to Wikipedia's definition of politics: ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics ). Basically, it's the behavior of groups that make decisions. Whenever two or more people are in a group, there's politics. Wanted or not. And things can go smoothly or along a rough road.

What do you feel about politics? Your family's? Your school's? Your country's government? If you were in charge of any of them, what would you do?

KW Tip of the Day: Doctors

Here's your "Kid Whispers" Tip of the Day: Doctors

This is the time of the year when we almost always need to see the doctor: Cold and flu. Check-ups. Innoculations. Injuries. Overeating. Undereating. Obesity. Anxiety. Stress.

Doctors don't know everything, but they do know a lot. They went to school, studied textbooks, talked with knowledgeable people, and practiced working on people and dummies. While they aren't right a lot, they do more than lay-people. So, when you really have to see a doctor, please take a listen. Does it seem right to you? Do you feel like he/she knows enough to help your situation? If not, ask to see someone else. Trust your gut. Trust your family to help you find answers to your medical problems.

KW Tip of the Day: Peer Pressure

Here's your "Kid Whispers" Tip of the Day: Peer Pressure

What exactly is "peer pressure"? According to this website: ( http://www.reachout.com.au/default.asp?ti=274 ), it's being "encouraged" to do something, whether good or bad, and whether or not you want to do it. You may do it to be accepted by people your age, or to avoid getting in trouble, or beat up. And a peer isn't just someone your age. It could be someone in your community, or on the TV, or a music icon.

Do you experience peer pressure? Do people, especially kids your age, attempt to convince you to do something you don't particularly want to do? How do you handle it? Could you handle it differently? Do you ever talk about this with other kids?

What was the last thing you felt pressured to do? What did you do?

KW Tip of the Day: Music

Here's your "Kid Whispers" Tip of the Day: Music

What music do you like the best? Rock? Oldies? HipHop? Jazz? Classical? What is your favorite music, and why?

KW Tip of the Day: Labels

Here's your "Kid Whispers" Tip of the Day: Stop the labels!

Giving kids labels is in vogue these days. "My kid is an Indigo Child." "My kid is Autistic." "My Kid is Honor Roll ... again."

"Starseed" .. "Crystal" .. "Retarded" .. "ADD/ADHD" ... and on and on and on.

Stop the labels. Tell people you are NOT a label. Let you be who you are ... no matter if you have special traits, gifts or abilities, you're still a human and should be treated as such. Everyone is special in their own way. Which means no one is not special.

KW Tip of the Day: Sports

Here's your "Kid Whispers" Tip of the Day: Sports

Do you like to play sports? Or watch them in person or on TV? Yes? Fine - enjoy. Get that exercise, keep track of players and teams. Enjoy yourself.

No? That's ok. Lots of people think sports are overrated, boring, ridiculous and the players are way overpaid. So get interested in something else. Root for debate teams. Science teams. Whatever is going on near you.

Don't play sports? No problems - but get some exercise. Even if you don't want to leave your room, walk in place for 20 minutes while watching your fav TV show or reading that assignment. Or play with your dog. Or walk around the block after dinner. Find something to do to get your muscles enjoying being alive.

KW Tip of the Day: Earth

Here's your "Kid Whispers" Tip of the Day: Mother Earth

2008 provided lots of weird weather, tornadoes, drought, blizzards, floods, earthquakes, diseases trees felling entire forests. Mother Earth is mad. Think about one think you can do to help the Earth feel better.