Springfree™ Trampoline Blog » Advice for Parents

Can your Baby Read?

Erin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:58:55 +0000

Can your Baby Read? According to Australian Newspapers, parents reckon their babies can read from the age of 7 months. Experts are spitting dummies at this concept using words such as ‘Absurd’ in response to their claims.

So are we about to see a new generation of emerging Einstein’s or is this a PR Stunt?

It just so happens that Dr Bob Titzer, founder of ‘Your Baby Can Read’, is in Australia this week, and insists that his reading program is fun and infants who use it do better at school. Education Consultant, Kathy Walker has come out saying that while reading to babies, singing songs and repeating rhymes is great, they should not learn to read until they were 5 or 6.

So what’s a Parent to do? Is it just me or does everyone seems to be an expert when it comes to bringing up YOUR children?

Award recognises Springfree Trampoline as the Parents choice

Erin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:00:51 +0000

The Parent’s Choice Foundation has selected Springfree™ Trampoline as one of the winners of its coveted 2009 children’s toy awards, a huge honor that we are very proud receive.

Established in 1978, The Foundation is the nation’s oldest nonprofit guide to quality children’s media and toys and is trusted by parents for their objectivity, respect, and expertise in child learning and development, helping make informed decision about the right products for their children.

According to the Foundation, Trampolines were not usually recommended however the Springfree™ Trampoline’s unique design has changed history.

Although our judges are not in the habit of awarding trampolines, the Springfree™ Trampoline had so many unique safety features that they couldn’t deny. Our testers, ranging in age from six to sixty-six, found skills they hadn’t known, confidence that needed reawakening, and a hefty dose of much needed family fun. If your family has been thinking about a trampoline, this is highly recommended and worth serious consideration.

This Award reflects Springfree™ Trampoline’s commitment to safety and innovation and is a testament of parent’s belief in choosing the safest products for their children. Trampolines provide so many developmental and health benefits but until the Springfree™ Trampoline the benefits were outweighed by the risk.

For more information about The Parents Choice Foundation please visit…http://www.parents-choice.org/aboutpcf.cfm

What Happens When Your Kid Flushes A Hat In The Toilet At School

springfreetrampoline — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:00:11 +0000

I’m the proud mother of two very active and occasionally very naughty young boys. By the ages of 9 and 7 you think they’d be over the young naughty stage and start to take just a little more responsibility for their thoughts and actions. Well, one would hope and pray. Alas one Wednesday I received a phonecall from the school – my kids attend a rather proper Catholic school where nuisance is not easily tolerated – so you can imagine my horror when the head of religious education (also the deputy principal) rings me to advise my youngest darling has been involved in an “incident”.

At this point my mind is jumping between expecting the next sentence to include mumblings of his mutilated body dangling from some piece dangerous playground equipment and emergency services are on their way, through to the other extreme of him having thrown a chair at the teacher and has been duly expelled, sitting in the principal’s office awaiting my arrival.

Fortunately it was somewhere in between, but certainly the head of RE was not impressed. What had transpired was my 7 year old petal had gotten himself in a fight in the toilets and settled the matter by flushing the other child’s school hat in the urinals (are you getting the same vivid image at this point?). Trying not to laugh, I offered my profuse apology insisting I instill a suitable punishment and offer to purchase a new hat for the other child. Needless to say number 2 son was duly punished with the removal of Xbox, DS and Wii privileges for 2 weeks and removal of pocket money. Even removal of his most prized rewards had little impact on his behaviour or demeanor. Is it getting harder to find a suitable punishment for kids or is it just me? How do you find a punishment that works without resorting to “the strap” (what we got when I was a wee girl) ??

To those of you who have primary school aged kids – no doubt you could tell a similar tale of school yard goings on. If you have a similar story to tell, or a recommendation on punishment options – please share it with us…….

Blogged by: Tanya, Assistant Marketing Manager from Down Under and Mother of 2.

Friday 16 October 2009