K-12: Fun,Toys and Recreation

Here are articles that will help you find great toys and activities to enjoy with your child. Another area at KidSource OnLine to visit is our general Recreation area. For issues about safety, especially toys, see K12: Safety - Toys and Recreation

Our rating system for these Fun and Recreation articles is:

• - Best, in depth and most helpful overall
• - Very Good, but more specific in focus
• - Good reference material

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	Summertime Funtime Activities A new activity for you to do with your child each day during the summer - they're fun, educational and can be done with children of all ages!
	Parents Guide to the Internet This Parents Guide to the Internet is intended to help parents--regardless of their level of technological know-how--make use of the on-line world as an important educational tool. The guide cuts through the overwhelming amount of consumer information to give parents an introduction to the Internet and how to navigate it. The guide suggests how parents can allow their children to tap into the wonders of the Internet while safeguarding them from its potential hazards.
	Three "Rs" for the Nineties These brochures are designed to show parents a host of practical ways to introduce their children -- both in school and at home -- to creative writing theater, music, dance and visual art.
	The Toy Manufacturers of America Guide to Toys and Play This booklet has been designed to help you provide the best play opportunities for your child, describes how the toy industry and government work together to ensure toy safety and offers simple charts to guide you as you do your toy shopping.
	Holiday Preparedness Calendar We've created our annual holiday calendar. It's 30 days of activities and reminders for a healthy, safe, fun and giving holiday season.
	SocccerDocs Leads New Trend in Head Protection for Soccer Recent studies and statements by the American medical community have raised awareness of the severity and frequency of head injury in soccer.
	A Great Family-Oriented New Year's Eve Party Are you looking for a different way to celebrate this New Year's with your children? Why not have a "Millenium Party" that not only will be memorable, but educational as well. Here are some ideas to get you and your family started on planning your own special way to celebrate the new millenium.
	Children and Sports: Don't Forget to Practice Sportsmanship! It has been estimated that 22 million children and youth, ages 6 to 18, are involved in organized sports outside of school (Poinsett, 1996). Research indicates that participation in sports can promote healthy development.
	Top 10 Things to Consider When Buying Toys for Children With Disabilities The National Lekotek Center offers tips on how to shop for holiday gifts for children with disabilities.
	New Study on Children’s Perceptions of Race and Class on Television For decades, educators and parents have expressed concern over the ways in which people are portrayed on television. There was a fear that children were getting a skewed concept about people's abilities and character based on stereotypical representations of gender, race, or class. This fear led to a number of research studies that analyzed the television roles of men, women, people of color, and people of various socio-economic levels.
	American Academy of Ophthalmology: Face Guards Reduce Facial Injuries For Young Batters Wearing a face mask can reduce the number of facial injuries to young athletes by up to 47 percent, according to a 1997 Indiana study involving 2,000 youth league baseball players, their parents and coaches.
	Halloween Can Be a Pretty Hairy Experience for Pets Halloween can be fun for all members of your family -- both two- and four-legged members -- if you take some simple precautions which include keeping your pets safely inside - a reminder from the United States Humane Society.
	Video Games and Children Some research suggests that playing video games may affect some children's physical functioning. Serious adverse physical effects, however, are transient or limited to a small number of players. Research has also identified benefits associated with creative and prosocial uses of video games, as in physical rehabilitation and oncology. Proponents of video games suggest that they may be a friendly way of introducing children to computers, and may increase children's hand-eye coordination and attention to detail.
	What Do Parents Need To Know About Children's Television Viewing? Children in the United States watch an average of 3 to 5 hours of television every day. Many parents and teachers are concerned about the possible effects of excessive television viewing on children because studies show that extensive television viewing may be associated with violent or overly aggressive behavior, poor academic performance and other problems. This article doesn't just focus on the problems but on how parents can guide their children's television viewing so that there can be positive benefits from TV viewing.
	Discovering Interests and Talents Through Summer Experiences The majority of summer experiences are designed to provide a pressure-free, noncompetitive environment in which young people can explore their areas of particular interest in depth. They have an opportunity to work with adult role models who are enthusiastic about their field and give individual support to each participant.
	Planning a Class Camping Trip A well-planned class camping trip is a learning adventure which develops personal values and concepts, generates skills for lifelong learning, encourages group cooperation, and enhances knowledge of and appreciation for the natural environment. Good planning will ensure a successful and fruitful trip. This digest is intended to serve as a guide to help teachers offer this unique learning opportunity to their students.
	45th Skippy Dog Hero Of The Year Shepherds Four People To Safety The 45th Skippy Dog Hero of the Year is Shelby, a 7-year-old German Shepherd from Ely, Iowa, who saved the lives of two adults and two children by alerting them to dangerously high carbon monoxide levels in the home where they were sleeping.
	Youth Baseball Practices Don't Have To Be Long To Be Good Running a baseball practice is not as simple as it looks. A little thought and preparation can make for a more enjoyable and rewarding practice. If you are a parent coach, or want to make suggestions to your child's coach, then this article will give you useful ideas.
	National PTA Reaches Consensus on TV Ratings The National PTA, accompanied by leaders from other child advocacy organizations, said in a meeting at the White House today that it supports a newly-revised television rating system. The system was developed in conjunction with the television industry.
	School Spirit Can Boost Kids' Health The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is urging children of all ages to show their school spirit by joining a team sport -- not only for its exercise benefits, but to develop healthy habits that will continue throughout their lives.
	Pull the Plug on TV and Video Game Violence Week Parents who are concerned about the effects of violence on TV and in video games on children, need to read this article. In it you'll find suggestions from the American Academy of Pediatrics that will help you limit the effects of these forms of violence on your children.
	1998 Kids Tracker Marine "Big Fish" Contest Winners Named Nearly 200,000 youngsters, ages 6-16, participated in the 1998 Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and Tracker Marine Kids All-American Fishing Derby program directed by Hooked On Fishing International.
	Contests "Lure" Young Anglers To Nationwide Fishing Events A record number of contests and activities appealing to both youngsters, 6 to 16, and their parents will be offered at more than 1,100 fishing derby locations in 49 states in 1998.
	Holiday Photo Tips From the Pros "With just a little planning," says Sam Garcia, Nikon School Instructor, "unforgettable holiday snapshots become a breeze." The holidays present a world of unforgettable moments waiting to be captured on film. Nikon makes taking holiday pictures easy with these great tips.
	Pediatricians Respond to TV Industry Ratings System The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) today stated that any effective television ratings system should be content based to offer parents guidance on a program's level of sex, violence and language. The action is in response to recent media reports on the television industry's efforts to institute a ratings system that labels programs by age groups, similar to the current ratings system by the movie industry.