5 Minutes for Mom is giving away an INCREDIBLE HP TouchSmart 600 computer for Christmas!  Check it out here!

A homeschooler here in Washington wrote this article. I thought it was pretty good, so I'm sharing it with you. The only thing I think I would add is that actual involvement in pornography is not the only danger of cell phone and internet use (although that's a high enough risk all in itself) and just because we homeschool does not mean our children are protected from these dangers. There are scales of grey regarding what we choose to center our minds on and the internet (and texting and movies and what we see in stores and what we listen to on the radio, etc.) are all real dangers. They can also be a blessing. Let's go for God's best. Let's honor Him with our lives.

Thinking about Giving a Cell Phone, iPod, or PDA for Christmas?
Protect Your Family from Pornography
By Lori from WA

 
While technology can be a fantastic tool for worthwhile endeavors, it can also be an instrument for engaging in grave evil.  Advancing electronic technology has made pornography and sexual content readily accessible on cell phones, iPods, and PDA’s (and basically any other wireless or mobile entertainment device).    If that’s not bad enough, individuals can buy long distance phone cards at the grocery store to use for anonymous “phone sex,” and download music mp3s with explicit content.  In other words, we’re not just talking about protecting children from internet porn any more.   Even if your family doesn’t own any of the previously mentioned electronic devices, your friends do and your children’s friends do too.  Most of us have a TV­an electronic device that will become more problematic as it continues to morph and merge with other technology. 
 
Pornography is a global problem, but America owns a lion’s share of the blame.   According to Michael Leahy, recovering sex addict and bestselling author of Porn Nation: Conquering America's #1 Addiction, pornography is “a 57 billion a year global industry and America is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of porn in the world.” Leahy is an expert on emerging tech trends in pornography and has been featured on ABC's 20/20, The View, USA Today, and numerous other major media sources. 
 
According to the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, children are often exposed to pornography between the ages of 10-14, if not before.  I would add that today’s pornography is exponentially worse than what my generation saw in 1970s magazines (featuring women).  The Internet contains the most vile filth of every kind, including the sexual exploitation of very young children, sodomy, bestiality, and horrors that would be inappropriate to mention here.  All of these images and video are just a mouse click away.
 
Approximately 60 percent or more of the Internet is made up of sexually explicit content.   According to Family Safe Media, 72 percent of males and 28 percent of females (yes, females) visit pornography sites.   Pornography is easy to access and easy to engage in privately and secretly.  The same goes for explicit conversation via texting (or “sexting”) which can be typed out right under a parent’s nose. 

Here are four reasons I’ve heard from parents as to why they are not safeguarding their children:

(1)   “I’m computer/electronics illiterate--I don’t know what these devices are capable of doing and my kids know way more than me. I don’t feel equipped to figure out how to install or administer filtering software or parental controls.”

My response:  Hold off buying or allowing your children to have these electronic gadgets until they become necessary.  And, when you buy, consider your children’s needs­not wants.  For example, there are cell phones on the market without picture/video/internet capabilities (research and ask about them).  There are also “stand-alone” electronic organizers you can buy as opposed to a PDA (does a 15-year-old really need to sync their schedule with a computer?).  If you decide to consider a mainstream electronic device, ask retailers and service providers if you can shut down certain capabilities (learn also if the phone can connect to internet via other wired/wireless connections outside your home, and if the device can download and upload media).  In summary, get informed with the basics.  Then, get help from on-line resources, friends, and your local retail/computer store to be sure you can put filtering or specific parental controls in place.

(2)   “I trust my children.  They can only go on the Internet when I’m at home, otherwise they know they’re not allowed.”

My response: My husband and I don’t trust ourselves not to sin, and we don’t trust our kids not to sin.  I recently read a quote from a pastor named Bill Perkins that pretty much sums it up:  "If you think you can't fall into sexual sin, then you're godlier than David, stronger than Samson, and wiser than Solomon.”  The stakes are high with pornography so my husband and I take serious precautions to reduce the risk of exposure.  Here’s what we have in place:  We log on to our computer with a parental password (important:  it’s not written down anywhere).  I have an administrative password for our filter which only I know (important:  it’s not written down anywhere).  Our filtering company sends regular Internet activity reports to my husband and me (he and I are both accountable to each other as well as with the kids).  We have a separate user account for our oldest who needs access to the internet for classes.  His user account is filtered down to a “white list” of preapproved sites with no search capability.  Further, his email may only receive messages from pre-authorized senders.  Now, you may think all of this is extreme, and your family may choose do the filtering differently (it’s a personal decision and it’s up to you).  However, I’m trying to stress that I’m much more concerned about limiting the risk of exposure to pornography than other less “risky” areas where my children might disobey me.  If a device poses a risk, it’s either treated as a “controlled substance” or it’s out of here.
 
(3)   “I’m so busy, I don’t have time.”

My response:  Please make the time and let something else slide for a while.  Our children are an inheritance and a gift from the Lord.  They deserve our responsible and reasonable protection.
 
(4)   “Sooner or later my children are going to be exposed to pornography.  I can’t control their sinful hearts, or their temptations.  If they look for something hard enough, they’ll find it.”

My response:  While there are many aspects of our children’s lives that we cannot control, including the sinful nature of their hearts and the sin that surrounds us, it’s important that we don’t assume a fatalistic attitude that equates to laziness.  Our children may gain access to pornography elsewhere.  But, my husband’s and my personal goal is to make it as difficult as possible for our children (or anyone else’s children) to access pornography in our home, or on a device someone in our family carries around with them.  As parents, we must also pray consistently for our children’s hearts, their pursuit of holiness, and for the restraint of evil in this world. We also must pray for the salvation and/or rescue of those who are trapped in the slavery of pornography, which is an addiction that affects non-Christians and Christians alike. 
 
Parents, you can do this!  Please visit the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families (NCPCF) at http://www.nationalcoalition.org/home.asp  You will find a wealth of information including opening lines of communication with your children regarding pornography, and how to be a wise shopper (learning about the capabilities of electronic devices before buying).  You’ll also find information about filtering software and applications for the Internet and portable electronic devices, statistics, and other excellent resources.  The two filters recommended on the website have filtering for internet and mobile phones whereas most others do not. 
 
A sister-section of the NCPCF website has a page that’s an excellent starting place: http://www.icarecoalition.org/icarepurpose.asp
 
Lastly, if you have a child who has, or is engaging in the sin of pornography, here is an excellent article for parents about a Christ-centered approach to helping them:  http://www.crosswalk.com/parenting/teens/11600384/

 

 

This was a very exciting week for Katie-Noel and Annabelle.

It was "parent observation week" at ballet class!
At the end of their class, the parents were called into the classroom to see all that the girls have learned up until this point.  They even put on a 'mini-recital.'   It was SO cute!

Of course...this would have to be the week that we forgot their shoes....



I love my ballerina girls!

I was just looking at the list of Nominees and realized I have had a really disconnected year with all my knee surgeries, rehab and stuff. Seems I don't recognise any of the nominees in any given catagory. Who I am so out of touch! Either that, or you all have been changing your blog names on me. LOL How strange it all is to me. Do you know who these fellow homeschoolers are? I sure hope they have as much fun as we did.
Congratulations all you nominees. I plan on doing some visiting to get to know you. (o:

Sometimes a picture says it all.....

We don't "do" Santa Claus at our house.  We hang stockings, and we watch Santa movies ... but we don't tell kids he's real or give gifts from him.  All gifts are from Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, Aunts, etc. 

But despite that, every one of our children at 3 years old has wanted to believe in Santa Claus.  We have books that talk about how Christmas is about Jesus, and tell the true story of Saint Nicholas vs. the make-believe Santa ... but they still believe.

The older kids know he is fake, but occasionally present me with "Letters to Santa" anyway.  I received four letters yesterday (to be posted later in this article), right before my children tried to convince 3 yo L that Santa wasn't real.

But they didn't stop at saying he was pretend.  They tried to convince her he was dead ... complete with photos they found on the internet of the hunter who shot Santa, and Santa's grave. (these photos are not gory or inappropriate in any way)  

I then had a distraught 3 yo.  She was already upset that we kept saying there isn't a Santa Claus and that Christmas is about Jesus.  She would say, "But Santa is in Christmas, too, right?"  with a pleading look.  But after these photos, she was almost in tears.  Leave it to teens to torment a preschooler like that.

I told the children to drop the subject and stop arguing with her.  Next year she'll be older and more able to understand the difference between what is pretend, and what is real.  For now, it's not worth upsetting her.

And now ... the letters to Santa from my kids who all know Santa isn't real ... well, except for 3 yo L.

Dear Santa C,
For Christmas, I want Barbie clothes, Barbie stuff, Barbies,Kens, Kelly dolls, Girl coloring books, High School Musical.  I was very very extremely good this year. 
From 10 yo C
(she even included a map to her bedroom and our house from the North Pole)

Dear SC,
I need a Nerf Toy, and I want it to be a Nerf Build Your Own Blaster!  Or a The Largest Full Auto Nerf Blaster. 
PS  I was very good.
Love, 8 yo J
(maybe we need to discuss needs vs. wants again)

Dear Saint Nick,
I was very good this year.  For Christmas I want Build Your Own Blaster.
5 yo M
(he drew a picture of a wii, although he didn't list one)

Dear Santa,
For Christmas I want a bouncy ball, a doll, a teddy bear, toy dishes, a crown, a coloring book, crayons.
From 3 yo L
(no more crayons, please -- we have too many already)

Now, if you're a family member reading this, and you've already received a Christmas idea list ... just ignore these.  These are not necessarily Mom and Dad-sanctioned gift ideas. 

Just sharing the Santa-related activities at our house this week, from a family who doesn't even "do" Santa.

Trusting In Him,
April

We thought we would take a break this week from our regular (CLE) reading curriculum to enjoy a week of 'rowing.'   In honor of next week's holiday - we are rowing Cranberry Thanksgiving, by Wende and Harry Devlin.

This is a book that I have always wanted to row, for purely 'selfish' reasons.
(It is by the same authors as one of my all time favorite childhood books - one that I still have tucked away in my own box of 'special memories' from my childhood....)  ;-)

But ...for this week...back to Cranberry Thanksgiving...
As usual, we found many wonderful resources at Homeschool Share

We learned all about cranberries -

And did you know that our home state of Wisconsin is the #1 producer of cranberries in the US?!
We found lots of great information - ( including a fun kids activity book!) - here at the website of  The Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association.
We even had cranberries with our dinner one night this week - (2 out of 4 kids loved them!)

The rest of this week we have been learning about Thanksgiving,
and the history and traditions associated with it. 

We made up a menu and guest list for a feast of our own
And discussed the true meaning of the holiday

We wrote 'Thank You notes'....to God

And we learned a traditional Thanksgiving hymn

I, personally, am very thankful for the opportunity to spend this time with my kids -
reading fun books, and making special memories.    I am blessed.

The first thing my children did when the Exploracise Gymathtics DVD arrived in the mail, was to put it in the DVD player.  They love exercise videos and were eager to test a new one.  After their first test run, they were all worn-out.  Only the 3 year old and 8 year old actually finished the 30 minute workout -- the 5 and 10 year olds both quit.  My 8 year old son was intent on keeping up with the children on the DVD, and my 3 year old came to tell me how tired she was at the end.  "And my head is weally tweating," she said.  (sweating)


The Gymathtics DVD by Exploramania is more than just an exercise video.  It also includes math concepts for 2nd - 5th grade students:  basic geometry, counting, skip counting, and number patterns.  As the children exercise, they learn about parallel lines, horizontal lines, vertical lines, diagonal lines, polygons, skip counting, and patterns. You can see a more detailed list of the topics covered on the DVD HERE. 

Combining math concepts with full-body movement provides a multi-sensory approach to learning that can be very helpful for the kinesthetic learner.  The visual learners will also benefit from watching the DVD, and the auditory learner will benefit (to a lesser degree) from hearing and seeing the explanation.  Exploramania has based their Exploracise program on scientific research.

I consider this to be more of an exercise video than a math lesson.  The math is just a fun reinforcement of concepts already taught in your curriculum for most children.  But for the kinesthetic learner, it can be very helpful understanding the concepts covered.  The DVD  appeals to younger children than 2nd grade, so it also serves as an introduction to concepts that will be taught later.  Four of my kids (ages 3 - 10) enjoyed the DVD, although the 10 year old is already bordering on considering it silly.  The four children who have used this DVD enjoy using it occasionally, but it isn't their favorite exercise DVD.

I was surprised by the voice-over of wellness thoughts in the stretching wind-down at the end of the DVD.  It just reminded me of a New Age, pop psychology, positive thinking, meditation and relaxation recording.

• "Relax your body and open your mind to think about good health and well-being."
• "Be nice.  Ride the "nice wave". "
• "Eat healthy super foods with lots of vitamins and minerals."
• "Be a dream stretch star.  Stretch your dreams and reach for the stars.  Stretch your mind to reach for your dreams with hard work and determination."

In the future, I think we'll be turning the volume down for the wind-down segment.  There isn't anything overtly inappropriate in there, it just annoys us all.  As Christians, we do prefer to place our trust in God and follow His direction rather than believing in the supposed power of positive thinking.

The Gymathtics DVD is available for $24.99, and they are currently offering free shipping.  There is also a Gymathtics 2.0 DVD for 4th - 7th grade students.   Exploramania has Exploracise Mats (educational yoga/exercise mats) and Exploracise Thumballs available to combine math with exercise. 

Gymathtics DVD is a great way for young children to get the wiggles out and burn some energy on a rainy day ... and reinforce some math concepts at the same time.

This item was provided free for our review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew.  We received no other compensation, and this review is our honest opinion.  Click the TOS Homeschool Crew banner at the top to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.

Trusting In Him,
April

It might be a bad day at home if ...

Mom makes a 2 page list of every single thing she does in the home, to manage it and care for the family and animals -- then  posts it on the refrigerator.

Trusting In Him,
April