TWO FREE BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENTS! Hurry they start soon!

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 BLOGGERS! Two Free Giveaway Events for you to sign up for!  Non-Publishers read details located in pink below.
Free Event #1: Love is the Color of a Rainbow by Kathy Parra - children's book giveaway! You will receive one free link on the Rafflecopter in exchange for promoting. You are welcome to earn a 2nd free link if you share a quick announcement post about this free blogger opp by linking to this page. Additional links or host follow pages may be purchased if interested. Fill out the form at the link below located under Free Event #1. Feel free to register for both events! :)

http://love2encourageyou.blogspot.com/p/free-blogger-giveaway-sign-ups.html




Free Event #2:  Love2EncourageYou 1 Year Blogiversary Giveaway Event!

Come Celebrate with us! It's our 1 Year Blogiversary at Love2EncourageYou Blog! Multiple sponsors are joining us for this special time with tons of prizes to be given away! There are 7 winners for this giveaway event! 
Some of the awesome sponsors are:  
Juppy Baby Walker
PBS Kids
Genesis Today/Power Rangers Juice
Banana Jacks
Body by Vi
 

You will receive one free link on the Rafflecopter in exchange for promoting. You are welcome to earn a 2nd free link if you share a quick announcement post about this free blogger opp by linking to this page. Additional links, a backlink, or host follow pages may be purchased if interested.**

**Non-publishers may email me at love2encourageyou@yahoo.com for details on how you can participate in this event and get a backlink or links to your social media pages.**


Fill out the form at the link below by scrolling down til you see Free Event #2. Feel free to register for both events!


http://love2encourageyou.blogspot.com/p/free-blogger-giveaway-sign-ups.html

Many blessings,
Rebecca

*Some links in this post or on this website may contain affiliate links.

Parenting Pointers: Familiar

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Do you have far-away relatives that you'd love to be able to easily share pictures with? Familiar is a great way to do just that. The informational video on the website tells you pretty much everything you need to know, but it's really easy to use. All you do is sign up for an account, add pictures, and invite people to connect. The people that you are connected with will see your pictures as part of their screensaver, along with anyone else they are connected to. You can use it with Windows computers (XP or later), Mac (10.6 or later), iOS 4.3 and later, Android 2.2 and later, and Kindle Fire, so it's easy to share pictures from a variety of devices.

Consumer Critique: The True Detective

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I recently had a chance to read The True Detective, a republished e-version of a book written in the late 1980s by Theodore Weesner. I like mysteries, in general, although this book was not so much a mystery where the reader figures it out, and but rahter reading how a detective puzzled things out.

The book uses elements of a series of rapes and murders of children that occurred in Detroit as inspiration, and as it deals with crimes committed against a child, it is not an easy read due to the subject matter. It is a very interesting, gripping read, though, as the author manages to be appropriately sympathetic towards the perpetrator; without excusing his actions, he makes him human.

The book is gritty and raw, the perfect tone to fit the plot itself. To say I liked it wouldn't exactly be right - it's impossible to really "like" a book where a child dies - but it did move me.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary e-version of the book to facilitate this review.

Fun Freetime: Picnic Games

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If you're at a picnic, here are some easy games to play.

- Ball relay: choose a round object that will roll (like a tennis ball or softball, or a grape or other round fruit) and something flat (like a plate or lid). Do a relay race where kids have to keep the ball on the flat object without touching the ball.
- Guess the mask: turn several paper plates into masks. Then, hold one up to your face (without looking to see which one you picked) and ask yes or no questions to try to guess what you have.

Parenting Pointers: Back-to-School Success

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As a teacher, I want to see all of my kids succeed. But I'm not a miracle worker, and it really helps to have parents productively involved in their kids' education, acting as partners with the teacher for the child's best interest. Here are some basic tips to help work with your child's teachers:
- Be polite. Don't criticize teachers immediately even if you disagree with something your child says is going on. They may be seeing things differently than the teacher, or may not understand why the teacher is doing certain things.
- Be present. Most teachers welcome parents into the classroom at any level, any time. If something's going on, don't wait until the next scheduled conference - find out if you can meet the teacher before or after school.
- Be involved. The more you can be involved with school and classroom events, the more rapport you'll have with the school and the easier it will be to advocate for your child if necessary.
- Be aware. Knowing what is expected and when will help you make sure your child is prepared in terms of standardized testing and homework.
- Be a good example. I cringe whenever parents say they hated math in front of their kids. It may be true, but then it often gives kids the freedom internally to be bad at math as well. Instead, show your kids how you use what you've learned on a daily basis and talk positively about what they're learning, even if you don't think it's useful. Learning how to learn, learning critical skills, and becoming well-rounded are all important, not just doing absolute basic facts minimal to survive.