IMG: Sxc.hu/teakettle

This got us talking about different things dealing with both of these and I thought I’d come to you and hear your opinions.

-  How do you feel towards censorship? (especially with music and shows) As far as I’m concerned as a parent we must watch what we teach our children, this includes the things that could influence them.

Now that you’ve answered (or thought about) the above how many of you pick what your kids are allowed to watch and listen to? I will not lie, when we had cable certain shows were not allowed on television. I can’t stand shows that teach kids about things I don’t even want to talk with them about and the same thing goes for the language used. When Miley Cyrus started doing all her “bad girl” moments I banned her from my tv. We even ban certain music in our house, so yes I do censorship, but I also call it a “parent’s right.”

-  Do any of you ban certain shows or music in your house?
-  Should teens/preteens/younger be able to listen to whatever they want?
-  If you do, isn’t this considered censorship in a way?  What do you think?

Post from: Blisstree

How do You Feel Towards Censorship?

This second season features ten new chefs competing for the top spot as the new Iron Chef on the series. The line-up includes:

1. Amanda Freitag from The Harrison in New York City
2. Brad Farmerie from Double Crown, Madam Geneva, Public, and The Monday Room in New York City
3. Dominique Crenn from Luce @ InterContinental in San Francisco
4. Eric Greenspan from The Foundry on Melrose in Los Angeles
5. Holly Smith from Café Juanita in Kirkland, WA
6. Jehangir Mehta from Graffiti in New York City
7. Jose Garces from Amada, Tinto in Philadelphia
8. Nate Appleman, Chef and butcher in New York City
9. Roberto Trevino from Budatai in Puerto Rico
10. Seamus Mullen from Boqueria in New York City

The competitions will take place around the globe, including locales like Tokyo, Japan and Los Angeles, California, where the chefs will be put through the wringer to complete dishes with unusual local ingredients, such as jelly fish and crickets, in a limited amount of time. Each week one chef is eliminated from the competition by judges Anya Fernald, Donatella Arpaia, and Jeffrey Steingarten. The remaining two will battle it out Iron Chef-style in Kitchen Stadium.

The winner will join the ranks of the current Iron Chefs Bobby Flay, Mario Batali, Masaharu Morimoto, Cat Cora and The Next Iron Chef Season 1 winner Michael Symon, on the popular series Iron Chef: America, hosted by Alton Brown.

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The Next Iron Chef Preview

Book Overview
Introduction; and Ages & Stages
Rules & Routines; and Setting Boundaries
Dressing & Washing
Toilet Training
Eating
Social Skills
Bedtime
Quality Time

Order Supernanny: How to Get the Best from Your Children from Amazon.com

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Supernanny Book Review Index

For example, let’s look at routines. Not only do routines allow parents to efficiently get through the nitty-gritty of bedtime and mealtime, so that those tasks don’t wind up dominating the day; but they are also opportunities for quality time in and of themselves. They can become times that a child counts on, times he knows he will get to spend with mom or dad.

In addition to a few practical tips on preparing a young child for a new baby and sibling rivalry, Supernanny emphasizes the need for parents to find and use a network of support beyond themselves. Just as it is important for parents to make time for each of their children, it is also important for parents to make time for themselves. Mom and dad must make time to refill their own emotional and spiritual “gas tanks” if they expect to have anything to offer their children. Parents simply cannot afford to burn out half-way through the job.

Order Supernanny: How to Get the Best from Your Children from Amazon.com

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Supernanny Book Review #9

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Supernanny Relaunches Website

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Supernanny Returns December 4

Only four people fly from location to location with Ms. Frost: her hairdresser, director, production manager and the head supervisor. In the past few weeks, they’ve gone from Hawaii (they were there when the earthquake struck) to Alaska to Florida. Next up is Wisconsin, then Salt Lake City and then who knows where.

I also learned that the tapings seem to be interlaced. Jo will go and spend a week observing and giving guidance. When she leaves the family on their own to practice the new techniques, Jo heads off to visit another family and tape another show.

One final bit that I found interesting. Turns out most of the crew is hired locally each time.

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Supernanny Filming in Florida

Part of the rational behind the concern is a self-fulfilling prophesy argument. Call a child naughty often enough, and they will undoubtedly end up being naughty. Verbal abuse has the ability to beat down and break a child as surely as a fist. But does calling a child naughty constitute verbal abuse?

I think it’s a fine line. We use the word naughty in our house; it’s been assimilated from the Supernanny lexicon. But we try to be very aware of how we apply the word. Behavior is naughty; our children are not. You might say this is semantics, but I believe there is a world of difference between, “That was naughty,” and, “You are naughty.” (If the word “naughty” feels awkward to you, substitute your own reprimand, and you’ll see the same thing.) The former defines the action or behavior; the latter defines the child. My recollection of Supernanny episodes is such that I think Jo is aware of this subtle difference, too.

At some point we become adults, and ought to be able to withstand this sort of labeling. If a person acts foolishly with enough regularity, I have no problem calling them a fool. But children are another matter, and I believe we ought to err on the side of caution.

What do you think?

Zoe Taylor takes exception to the experts in a Daily Telegraph editorial.

Post from: Blisstree

Naughty – The New N-Word?

• ADOPTION – are you adoptive parents and have problems like everyone else, but also there are issues particular to adoption?
• SPOILED PRINCES & PRINCESSES – does your little one think she’s in charge? Does he boss even you around? Have you let them get away with everything and now you worry it’s too late?
• BULLIES – does your kid bully other children at school, in the neighborhood, in your family?
• PAGEANT KIDS – does your child participate in pageants and it’s a source of stress and problematic behavior? Is it an issue with your other kids?
• LITTLE LEAGUE/PEE WEE SPORTS – is one parent over-pressuring your children in sports and obsessed with your children’s athletic performance?
• NUTRITION – is one or more of your children addicted to junk food; perhaps overweight and having a hard time of it?
• TEEN ISSUES – if you have a teen or pre-teen, (as well as younger kids), who battles you on curfew, MySpace/computer access, piercings, etc., etc.?
• NEW PARENTS – are you about to have your first child and are petrified and unprepared? You could get Jo’s help in paving the way for your newborn.

What do you want to see addressed on the show?

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What’s Hot in Supernanny Casting?

Right from the introduction, Supernanny appreciates the seriousness of a good night’s sleep.

Anyone can bounce back after the odd broken night, but weeks and weeks of lost evenings or disturbed rest amount to pure torture. When you’re that exhausted, the simplest task becomes an uphill struggle. Without regular sleep, even the happiest, most easygoing person will be irritable, depressed, less able to concentrate and more likely to have accidents or fall ill. If that zombie-like state isn’t bad enough, you’ll also find it harder to cope with your child during the daytime, and you’ll lose your patience, which will mean more clashes, more tantrums and rayed nerves all round.

Troubles with sleep truly can radiate into all other areas of life. Parents, remember what those first few months with a newborn were like? (Of course not; that’s how God gets us to have more kids.) Night after night of too little sleep? But you made it, and now you don’t want to go back there with your older child.

As we’d expect from Jo, routine is the key to bedtime. The routine begins when the child wakes up the next morning. Most kids wake at the same time, so it’s up to us as parents to put them down early enough the night before, so that they are well rested whenever that time arrives. Once bedtime is established, back up 30-60 minutes and start the bedtime routine. We’ve been in a period of upheaval and change, but our house has generally gone something like:

• Clean up toys
• Baths (Every other night)
• Pajamas
• Brush teeth
• Hugs and kisses
• Bedtime story
• Prayers & a song
• Lights out

Now, this is easy when you’ve got only one child to work with… or only one at a time. In my house, however, we’ve got three who are close enough in age that they can’t be done sequentially, but far enough apart that they should probably be done separately. I’ve traditionally done all of the bedtime routine, since my wife is home all day; but I’m wondering if we might need to try working together to stagger each child. (Since I know she’s reading this, “What do you think, honey?”)

Supernanny also covers the Staying in Bed Technique and the Sleep Separation Technique we’ve seen so many times on the TV show. She also talks about the Controlled Crying Technique. It’s an adaptation of the Staying in Bed Technique for when your child is waking and seeking attention, but not actually getting out of bed. All three are similar involving a firm attitude by mom and dad and a gradual weening so the child learns to self-comfort.

Last Chapter: Quality Time

Order Supernanny : How to Get the Best from Your Children from Amazon.com

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Supernanny Book Review #8