June 10th, 2010 by admin

Are you aware that forty years ago this month, the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers (NCCPT) and the National Congress of Mothers united to form the National PTA, adapting the same mission they had operated under separately: to improve the education and well being of every child?  Today, while many great accomplishments have been made there are still obstacles that we must conquer, both inside and outside of the classroom and across ethnic backgrounds.  So at this year’s national convention there will be much to tackle:

 The nation’s K-12 public education system is in crisis. 

• Our students lag behind compared to children in other countries in math and science – which is not a plus for their futures in a global economy and job market. 
• And our schools also face widespread funding shortages, a childhood obesity epidemic and unbalanced academic standards all across the country.

 In this LIVE webcast event from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, National PTA President Chuck Saylors will be joined by actress, mother and National PTA Advisory Board member Tichina Arnold, National PTA representatives and Ambassadors; Tomeka Hart, Executive director of Memphis Urban League, University of Memphis student representative; as well as Barbara Andrews, director of Education and Interpretation for National Civil Rights Museum.  They will be discussing the challenges of educating the 21st century child in today’s classroom, and what needs to be done to close the achievement gap in education. 

 Want to learn ways in which you can take a more hands on approach in your child’s education?  You’re in luck, as during this webcast event you’ll have the opportunity to email your questions and have them potentially answered live during the event.  

To secure your spot visit www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=69462

February 10th, 2010 by admin

By Roberta Lee M.D.,
Author of The SuperStress Solution

If you love chocolate, you’re not alone. It turns out that the average person in the United States consumes approximately 12 pounds of chocolate a year. That might sound like a lot of chocolate, but I actually recommend that my patients — especially those who are chronically stressed or what I would describe as SuperStressed — indulge in 1 ounce of high quality and high cocoa mass chocolate a day, and that actually adds up to well more than 12 pounds over the course of the year. Sure, chocolate is a calorie laden food (with most of the calories coming from the cocoa butter), but in my opinion, the benefits of this treat outweigh the caloric load as long as you keep the portions small. Here are the benefits: Read the rest of this entry »

January 25th, 2010 by admin

by Annye Rothenberg, Ph.D., Child/Parent Psychologist
As parents, we want our children to be accustomed to healthy eating from the earliest possible age so good nutrition will be a lifelong habit.

Young children are ready to begin to learn about nutrition (“healthy food” vs. “treat food”) and about food plans (why meals need to include each food group). These nutrition lessons will need to be repeated many times, in more detail, as your children get older and want to understand more about why. Read the rest of this entry »

January 15th, 2010 by admin

It’s no secret that smart money choices equal a brighter future!   Did you know that financial experts agree starting early is one of the keys to later financial success? 

“$mart Money Choices = A Brighter Future” was selected as the theme of the NFCC’s 2010 Poster Contest. In an effort to increase interest in financial literacy to our nation’s youth, the NFCC is once again sponsoring the Be Money Wi$e National Financial Literacy Poster Contest.   The contest is designed to get young students thinking about how to manage money efficiently and offers them a creative outlet to demonstrate their knowledge.  It also provides the opportunity for local and national recognition for student artwork.  All finalists will receive a commemorative t-shirt, and each national grade category winner will receive an award plaque and a $100 savings bond.  In addition, the National Winner will be given an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., with a parent or guardian and will be given official recognition in April as part of the Financial Literacy Month on Capitol Hill! Read the rest of this entry »

January 8th, 2010 by admin

By Wednesday Martin, Ph.D.,
Author of Stepmonster: A New Look at Why Real Stepmothers Think, Feel, and Act the Way We Do

The media is in love with the term “blended family.” From USA Today to Star magazine to the New York Times, from 20/20 to Oprah, there’s no escaping the articles about repartnering with children that don’t just label such families “blended,” but further suggest that “blending = success.” That is, not blended = failed stepfamily. Read the rest of this entry »