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Further
Reading ...
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Watching Your Children’s Garden Grow
Start some gardening traditions with your kids. Give them their own garden patch and a spot to dig. Children love getting their hands dirty and watching things grow.
Be sure to buy good quality, child sized gardening tools. Plastic toy...
Holy Mantrimony
In the last couple of weeks, the catholic war machine has been running on all cylinders to oppose the legitimacy of homosexual marriages. I would invite the pope to take a look behind him and see just where he was less than a year ago with the...
Christmas Gifts Advice
Yes its that time of year again. So what's your plan this year? Where you just going to leave it to the last minute again and compete with the rest of the country for the last few items on the shelves come Christmas Eve? I know that with this...
Choosing a Provider
You’ve called and called and finally found a provider you want to meet. What now? Here are some tips to help you when meeting with a potential provider. Remember, you know what’s best for your child. Make sure you feel comfortable with the person...
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Playscapes Rock
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Written By:
Thom Singer
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Playscapes Rock
People without children may not be able to relate to this, in fact, they may hate it....but anyone with a kid under the age of ten will understand this one. Playscapes at restaurants and other businesses are GREAT.
I have noticed a new phenomenon that makes dining out with kids much more enjoyable for my wife and I (AND anyone who might be seated near us in a restaurant). More restaurants are popping up that have playscapes for the children.
It used to be just McDonald’s and other fast-food chains that had play areas....but now there are family oriented establishments that include fun areas where the kids can go after eating half their order of chicken nuggets. Meanwhile, the parents can continue to sit and finish their meal ... while keeping a watchful eye on the little ones.
In my home town of Austin, Texas, a family dining establishment, Waterloo Ice House has a location (and another currently under construction) with a great playscape, sandbox and plenty of grass on which to run around. The food is very good, the - continued below ...
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atmosphere is pleasant, and we actually get to finish our meals when dining out with our two children.
In addition, two local supermarkets, that have restaurants, also have play areas. Central Market (North) and the new Whole Foods Landmark Store are great places to meet other families for a nice meal. The kids can eat, and then play, while the parents can share upscale food and adult conversation. (Whole Foods has the picnic area and playscape on the roof with live music on Friday and Saturday).
In today's minivan and SUV dominated world, I think more businesses should have kid friendly activities built in (Hyatt Hotels and Resorts actually have "Camp Hyatt" at all of their properties). I am thinking that airports, shopping centers, music stores and the like should have child areas ...... but I know that would annoy the heck out of tons of people without kids. I can hear them now!!!
About the Author
Thom Singer is the author of "Some Assembly Required: How to Make, Keep and Grow Your Business Relationships". He can be reached at thom@thomsinger.com.
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| _Additional Resources ... |
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Teaching Kids to Value Books and Reading
Joys and Importance of Reading
Recent research indicates that seventy percent of high
school graduates are unable to read at the twelfth grade
level. In many cases, reading is subordinated to other
actvities in children's lives. Is that...
What To Pay When You Can't Pay Everything
What To Pay When You Can't Pay Everything By Terry Rigg With ever increasing consumer debt more of us are finding ourselves robbing Peter to pay Paul each month. We go through our bills and find that the money just won't stretch far enough to...
A Minute Can Turn into Hours for the Child of a Work-at-Home Mom
In theory, working at home is an ideal situation. But in reality, it's difficult to balance the needs of your family with the needs of your clients. Phones, fax machines and e-mails have no common courtesy, nor does your client really care...
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