Spotlight on: Christmas

Rexanne's Web Review 
Web Sites & Insights

Issue #61 - October 1, 2002 

Brought to You By: Rexanne.com

Please forward this complete issue of Rexanne's Web Review to a friend and recommend they subscribe. Thank you!

Find subscribe, removal and advertising information at the bottom of this newsletter.

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Welcome All Newcomers! 

Last month, I asked for your tooth fairy information to share. We didn't have one response. Hmmmm, were you all on vacation ... together? How come I wasn't invited? LOL! The going rate for the tooth fairy in OUR house is $1.00 per tooth. Anyone else care to offer their input? We would love to know. At least I would ... 

Halloween is a scant four weeks off. Will the little ones survive the anticipation? Yeah, but we'll be suffering the endless: "Is it Halloween yet?!" :-) Have a browse through my Halloween site to get in the mood, too: Rexanne's Halloween

Have a very happy Halloween! Remember to give the GOOD treats! 

We have an interesting newsletter this month with an excellent article by Michael Gross in the Parenting & Family section and some great school lunch ides in the Food & Cooking section so on to it ...

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Reader's Comments:

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Loren wrote about the article on vaccinations in the last issue of Rexanne's Web Review : 

"I have always opposed shots of any kind. When I was 18 and just out of boot camp, I came home with walking pneumonia, lost 12 pounds and was out of it for a 30 day period. It was the shots, no doubt in my mind. We were given a flurry of shots right before leaving. I have seen much documentation on the argument against vaccinations. My belief is we cannot have enough against this tyranny of our medical establishment."

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Dan wrote:

"The pesticide companies that spray our food also own the Drug companies that sell you drugs for the cancer that you get from the pesticides. They make money coming and going. Israel outlawed the use of pesticides more than 10 years ago. Now cancer is DOWN 60% in that country!" 

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Sherry wrote about my spanking article:

"You do loving, committed parents a disservice and an egregious wrong when you condemn simple spanking as you would actual child abuse. There is a great difference between simple spanking and actual child abuse. Spanking is discipline, not an 'assault.'"

Part of my response to Sherry was: 

"I believe children need rules and those rules enforced to thrive in a safe, controlled environment. While we struggle with finding a 'new' approach to archaic methods of discipline, we have yet to discover a better alternative. It will be interesting to see what OUR kids come up with when they decide their children are out of control! Hopefully, they'll do better than we have. I think they will, however, I doubt another generation will ever return to spanking."

This controversy continues to sizzle, readers. :-)
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OK, here's the scoop:

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Quote of the Month:  It is not until you become a mother that your judgment slowly turns to compassion and understanding. -  Erma Bombeck

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This Month's Web Review is Sponsored By:  Buy Costumes.com

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Parenting & Family Topic of the Month: A Child-friendly Environment  

Building a Child-friendly Environment 
By Michael Grose

The environment that parents create at home can either promote a child's healthy development or stunt their emotional and social growth and hinder their potential. It is not the material things that make a difference, rather it is the atmosphere that parents help to create that has a lasting impact.

There are four aspects to a child-friendly environment that help maximize children's development.

First, children need to feel loved. Feeling lovable is fundamental to a child's self-worth. If a child feels unloved then he or she will never develop a positive sense of self esteem. Feeling loved it is the core of all healthy development.

Second, a child's physical and psychological safety needs to be assured if he or she is to develop in healthy ways. Parents ensure a child's physical safety by using nonviolent discipline methods and taking appropriate measures to safeguard his or her physical well-being. Psychological safety is ensured when they are able to grow up in an environment free from embarrassment, criticism and verbal abuse. Sometimes siblings can be cruel to each other in ways that this condition is violated so parents need to be prepared to take a stand if outright bullying occurs at home.

Third, a child needs to feel useful and valued as a contributing family member if he or she is to develop in healthy ways. Maurice Balson, author if Becoming Better Parents and an early influence on me as a parent educator, used to say "Never regularly do for a child the things he or she can do for him or herself." This means as parents we stand back and allow children to do the simple things of life such as clear away kitchen tables, answer telephones, make beds and other seemingly mundane jobs themselves. Self esteem and confidence comes as a result what children can do so it essential that parents provide plenty of opportunities for them to contribute to their own and their family's well-being.

Fourth, don't spoil, protect or overindulge children. When we create an environment where children are spoilt or indulged we rob them of opportunities to draw on their own resourcefulness and resolve problems themselves. Sometimes in an effort to protect our children from life's hurts, problems and disappointments we inadvertently rob them of chances solve problems and to learn to cope with disappointments. Those young people who are most at risk are those who as children were protected from all of life's difficulties. If we want our children to be resourceful we need to put them in a position to develop their inner resources and also their resourcefulness. 

Children are as much products of their social environments as they are influenced by their biology so it is a challenge to all parents to ensure that the social environment they create for their children promotes resilience and positive self-esteem.

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For more great ideas to help you raise happy, well-adjusted kids and young people visit Michael's web site:  Parenting Ideas or subscribe to Happy Kids Newsletter by sending a blank email to: Happy Kids

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Know of a good parenting or family site your fellow readers might enjoy? Please send it for possible publication in an upcoming issue. Click here: Parenting Site

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Food & Cooking Feature of the Month: School Lunches

The Creative Parent's Guide to School Lunches
By Brandie Valenzuela

It is that time of the year again - back to school! It goes without saying, that no matter what, you can never have too many lunch ideas! 

1) Save your yogurt containers! After eating the yogurt, wash them thoroughly and fill with liquid Jell-O or pudding mixture (before it sets), cap, and refrigerate. This gives you individual snack-sized Jell-O or pudding at a fraction of the cost. 

2) Take leftover cooked chicken and make chicken strips. Pack dippers such as salsa, ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, ketchup, honey mustard, or pizza sauce. 

3) Use a variety of breads. Try Italian varieties, sourdough, different grains, Hawaiian bread, and different rolls. 

4) Pack string cheese or cheese cubes. Send along bread sticks or crackers to eat with them. Or pack a prepared cheese spread with breadsticks for dipping.

5) Cut fresh fruit into bite-sized pieces and use fruit-flavored yogurt or pudding as a dip. Or mix the fruit with your prepared Jell-O (see Jell-O tip). 

6) Each day include a short note to your child. Anything that shows them you love them and you are thinking of them will show your child you care.

7) Layer creamy peanut butter on a flour tortilla with jelly or fruit spread and roll up "wrap" or "jellyroll" style. Slice crosswise into pieces. Select the size tortilla depending on your child's appetite. 

8) Heat frozen waffles and make a sandwich with them, using peanut butter and jelly. Or cut them into bite-sized pieces or sticks and send syrup for dipping.

9) Add fun to your child's lunch by using colored plastic wraps. Or during the holiday's, use special prints that are usually for plastic wrap, zipper-type bags, and napkins.

10) Cut open a bagel and spread each side with cream cheese. Lay several slices of luncheon meat on top of cream cheese and make into a sandwich.

11) Kids love to dip! Send baby carrots, celery sticks, or broccoli trees with their favorite dip or dressing. Or send peanut butter as a dip, and include some sliced apples.

12) Create your own "Lunchables." Cut meat slices and cheese into pieces that will fit on crackers. Pack the meat, cheese, and crackers together. Have extra mustard or mayo packets from your take-out? Pack those along for condiments.

13) If your child loves sandwiches and won't let you try anything new, have fun with the sandwiches -- cut the sandwich into interesting shapes or cut with cookie cutters.

14) It doesn't have to be jelly everyday! Some other ideas for sandwiches using with traditional peanut butter are: sliced bananas, honey, butter/margarine, raisins, marshmallow fluff, and thinly sliced apples.

15) The possibilities are endless with tortillas! Roll up just about anything in a tortilla. Try lunch meat, chickenstrips, vegetables, or cheese. You can even make a fruit wrap!

16) Invest in a thermos and you can send along chili, stew,or soups in the chilly months. Be sure to include somecrackers!

17) Did you know you can create "wraps" with bread? Simply take a slice of your favorite bread (softer breads work better), and lay a slice or two of your favorite lunch meat and cheese on it. Roll up the bread tightly, making sure to press the edges of the bread together to seal.

©2002 Brandie Valenzuela

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Brandie Valenzuela is a freelance writing wife and mother of three children, and the editor of HomeMade Living, a free newsletter for stay-at-home mothers. She is also a scrapbook artist who sells her  scrapbooking sets. To find out more about HomeMade Living and Brandie's Creations, visit: Brandi

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Bon Appetit!

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Kid's Site of the Month: Halloween for Kids

All WWW goodies for Halloween ... sites, activities, crafts, books, online or offline coloring pages and more. Everything an Internet kid could hope for. :-)

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Freebie of the Month: Free Everything & Printable Lists

Get your freebies, free samples and coupons for just about anything at the largest freebie site online, My Freebies.com. You'll find freebies for babies, children, family, computers, entertainment, music, magazines, contests and so much more. You'll love this! 

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And here are some really nice printable lists you can use for just about anything ... groceries, to do lists, telephone and addresses, holiday shopping and more: Lists

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Tip or Trick of the Month: Halloween Trick or Treat Tips

Here is a list you might consider printing out for the kids! :-)


- Carry a bright flashlight to illuminate sidewalks, steps and paths. 

- Use fresh flashlight batteries. 

- Glow in the dark light bracelets, necklaces or glow sticks and wands are the best way to insure you'll be visible by cars and other trick or treaters. A large variety of light & glow merchandise can be found here:  Glow & Light Up Stuff

- Go to the bathroom before leaving the house! 

- Bring a plastic bottle of water ... you'll be thirsty soon enough. 

- Walk, don't run! 

- Stay on the Sidewalks. If their is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the road. Walk single file, facing the traffic. 

- Cross only at corners, with adults if possible. 

- Do not wear roller blades, ever, while trick or treating or wearing a costume. 

- Even if one car stops it doesn't mean others will. 

- Trick-or-Treat only in familiar neighborhoods. 

- Do not cut across yards. 

- Wear a watch you can read in the dark. 

- Make sure your costume doesn't drag on the ground. 

- Wear comfortable shoes, preferably sneakers. 

- Make sure your shoe laces are tied tight. 

- Avoid wearing your mask while walking from house to house. 

- Carry only flexible knives, swords or other props. Avoid pointed props such as spears, or wands that could endanger other children. 

- Only visit houses with lights on. 

- Always use the front door, NEVER go to the back of a house. 

- Stay away from animals you don't know. 

- Carry a spare Halloween bag in case yours breaks.

- Be polite and remember to say thank you!

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Have a tip or trick your fellow readers would enjoy or could use? Please send it here for possible publication in one of the next issues: Tips 

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This Month's Time Waster: Torture a Spammer!
Because life is supposed to be fun!

Oh this game is SO SWEET! You'll feel great after having bombarded your most despised type of Spammer with evil monkeys, an avalanche of unrequested mail or other choice punishments for these creepy 
invaders of our inboxes. You'll have to annihilate a few of the bad guys while protecting the good guys first. It's ALL fun. Go get 'em! 

Feed the kids first ...

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Featured Site of the Month: Superstitions, Old Wives Tales, Etc.

In honor of Halloween in the U.S., we have a fun site devoted to recording superstitions, old wives tales, beliefs and misconceptions. Browse through the many explanations of why we believe what we do and 
where these beliefs originated.

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Supporting the sponsors and advertisers in Rexanne's Web Review keeps this newsletter alive. Each advertiser has Rexanne's Seal of Approval! Please visit them today.

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