The Canadian Family

Everyone has their own reasons for choosing a particular wood for their swing set. Some buy pine because of budget restrictions, others select cedar for its low maintenance and buyers of redwood may do so just to match their deck. All those woods are available to you as well, but before you decide there are a few facts you should know about redwood that makes it the better choice.

In order to fully understand the qualities that make redwood the best choice for your swing set, you need to know a little more about the wood itself. Not all redwood is the same and it’s important you know exactly what kind you’re paying for.

Redwood has a unique pinkish-red color which turns to gray as it ages. There are several grades of redwood, but one of the most commonly used grades for outdoor construction is called Con-Heart. The ‘con’ stands for construction grade and the ‘heart’ refers to the fact that it comes from the inner part of the tree, or the heart of the tree.

It’s this redwood that is naturally resistant to insects and rotting. Wood taken from the outer part of the tree must be stained each year to prevent decay. Many companies offer redwood swing sets, but if it isn’t taken from the heart of the tree, it will require some maintenance. You’ll never have to do any staining or sanding on swing sets made from Con-Heart grade Redwood.

If there are any white parts in the redwood, it’s called sapwood and it has virtually no resistance to rotting or insects. Again, you’re protected with Con-Heart Redwood, because it contains no sapwood. Heart redwood has a natural resistance to insects and decay that goes all the way through the wood, not only the surface. This is important because it means the exposed ends and edges created from sawing or nailing are just as resistant as the outside surface of the wood.

Redwood is also naturally stable and while all woods swell and shrink to some point depending on moisture in the environment, redwood does it less than the others. This means redwood stays flatter and retains its shape much better, with a lower risk of warping, splitting, or cracking.

The true test of durability comes in how your set looks after many years of use. Redwood is very durable and even after as long as 20 years later, will hold its looks better than most other woods of the same age.

If you’re going to pay a premium price for a premium wood like redwood, be sure you’re getting what you’re paying for. Companies have been known to use a combination of woods like redwood and red cedar, or Chinese Fir and still advertise it as redwood. Do your homework and know what you’re actually paying for. Ask questions and read the fine print before you sign anything.

Before you finalize a purchase, especially if your swing set is made from Con-Heart wood, find out if Con-Heart was used for the entire set or just for the larger pieces. In order to enjoy the most benefits from heartwood’s natural protective ability, the whole set should be constructed with it, not just the beams and bigger pieces.

Summer camp suggestion, parents, will be helpful to you. They will turn your kid’s summer ventures into rewarding experiences. This article will give you recommendations what to do before sending away your kid to one of camps during summer time. Prepare your kid for the camp by following the suggestions which as going to be discussed in this piece of writing.

When it comes to spending your kid’s summer days, sending your kid to a summer camp will be rewarding option for betterment of your dear one. This article seeks to provide some suggestion that will enable you find out a proper camp for your kid to go ahead on his or her career path.

One of the first tips you can follow is to understand the management of the camp and who is behind the system. This will help you figure out the strength and quality of the camp. Please observe how long the camp has been working and how expert the organizers are. If it has just started the camp, you will need authenticity of the camp to trust it.

An important thing you have to look for is the place of education in a camp. It will be added benefit for your kid if the camp focuses on imparting fun and learning together through educational topics. Arts camps, science camps, sport camps, computer camps are some of the names that deal with education training. It is one of the strongest aspects of a camp that should not be left out.

A camp should provide safety related risk management facilities. This has become an integral part of a camp that should be there in the camp. For this reason, they are accredited ACA which is one of the markers of authentically.

The main thing that is quite responsible for choosing a camp is the training staff. The counselors should posses the quality of dedication and sincerity of the work assigned. Five to six students for a trainer are a fine ratio that will help him to pay very close attention to the students. The more responsive and friendly coaches are, they more will kids feel attacked.

Sending your kid to a summer camp means providing him or her an environment for have fun, learning new things, making new friends and many more. The above mentioned guidelines will help you find out the suitable summer camp that will get huge benefits to your dear ones.

Bug season is upon us once again, and I felt it timely to comment on the growing number of supposedly ‘natural’ insect repelling products that seem to be popping up everywhere we look.

As a consumer, you will see many advertisements for natural repellents, and must be aware that there are many “marketing” companies looking for any way via which to squeeze your valuable dollar from you. They have no business being in the world of insect repellents, but due to the value of the market (approximately $1 billion in the USA alone), they cannot resist expanding their core business (which is usually consumer products, air fresheners or cleaning supplies) to now include repellents in an attempt to swindle a share of this valuable market.

US VS. THEM

GERANIOL: In 1999, the University of Florida (Gainesville) developed a “naturally derived” formula for repelling mosquitoes called “Geraniol”. It is a derivative of the Geranium flower and, when applied to the skin in its liquid form (exactly like DEET), was proven to repel mosquitoes for up to 4 hours. Geraniol is manufactured synthetically in a laboratory to avoid the high cost of extracting the 100% natural ingredient from the flower itself and to ensure that it is perfectly replicated each time. This eventually leads to “immunity” built up by mosquitoes as they commonly become immune to “man-made” repellents and pesticides in 3 to 4 life cycles.

Geraniol also has a terrible smell associated with it and, as a result of growing complaints from consumers, additional ingredients such as mint or citronella are often added to Geraniol products to mask the pungent Geraniol scent.

Today, as more and more consumers seek out natural products to protect themselves, their families and their pets from the threat of disease carrying insects, a number of “marketing” companies have entered into agreements with the University of Florida to use Geraniol as the foundation of their range of “natural”insect repellents.

Despite the fact that Geraniol has only been tested to work in liquid form for up to 4 hours, these companies are selling 120 hour wristbands, patches, candles, tablecloths and more using Geraniol (with mint or citronella to mask the odor) and claiming that these products work to repel mosquitoes and other insects. You will see these products heavily marketed on television and elsewhere, but never in mainstream retail stores (i.e. Wal-Mart) where the guarantee of high returns from unsatisfied customers is too risky.

Don’t be misled.

BUG BAM: Personally developed by Joseph M. Symond first in 1998 and then reformulated in 2005, the Bug Bam formula is truly 100% natural, using only 100% natural essential oils. Joseph personally worked with perfumers, scientists and others to develop the perfect combination of efficacy and appealing scent. As a result,the Bug Bam formula has been scientifically proven time and again (by the top laboratories in both Australia and the USA) to work in both liquid AND solid forms, making it THE most effective natural repellent available on the market today. Not only does it work, but it is safe for all ages, lasts for up to 100 hours and smells GREAT by comparison to anything else on the market.

Playing on the fact that masking our scent from flying, biting insects keeps them away, Bug Bam’s formula in liquid OR solid form releases a (pleasant) scent that is strong enough to hide the user from mosquitoes and other flying, biting insects. And because the Bug Bam formula actually does come from “live” plants and not a lab, every batch we make has a slight difference to the last due to soil, air, water and climate changes before harvesting. This makes it very hard if not impossible for mosquitoes to adapt to.

Bug Bam is THE ONLY company in the world that can boast a scientifically tested and proven range of 100% natural indoor and outdoor repellent products that are safe, effective and do not require sprays, batteries, smoke, flames, butane or a power source of any kind.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

Play it smart. Protect yourself from more than just bugs and ask for evidence supporting a products efficacy. If a company is selling a repellent wristband, candle, fan, patch, tablecloth or other item, ask them for testing data that supports their formula working in THAT product. And ask if this is their core business. If all they can provide you with is an outdated lab report or data showing that (someone else) formula works in a liquid or spray form only, and they are asking you to buy their product using that formula in a solid form (such as a wristband), TAKE YOUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE and purchase something that has actually been proven to work!

We pride ourselves on the fact that BUGS ARE OUR BUSINESS 24/7. Bug Bam is all we do and it is not a side business for us. Because of companies offering inferior products, Bug Bam has been forced to prove itself time and time again and, despite the great expense of doing so, our products come through with flying colors.

It is important for us to be honest and factual to you, the consumer, if we expect to gain your business and, most importantly your trust. When it comes to protecting yourself and your family, and you want to use something TRULY natural and effective, try BUG BAM!. Because Mosquitoes Suck!

When purchasing a baby car seat, some features are absolutely essential. Keeping your baby safe should be every parent’s highest priority, and a good car seat will do just that. Unfortunately, searching for the right car seat can be overwhelming as there are hundreds of models, features and brands to sort through. If you don’t know what to look for, the process can be time-consuming and draining. Concentrating on a few essential features will help you sort through your choices and find the car seat that’s right for your family.

The single most important feature of any car seat is the 5-point attach. Most car seats feature one of two kinds of attachments: the 3-point harness and the 5-point harness. A 3-point harness is probably okay, but the 5-point harness will do much more to keep your baby safe and secure in the car seat. With more attachments, the 5-point harness further restrains the child in case of ejection.

While everyone knows the basic rule that a small child has to be restrained in a car seat, not everyone understands the other features and safety recommendations for child safety seats. In the most basic terms, there are four kinds of seat positions: front-facing, rear-facing, combination and booster seats.

Even older children are candidates for child safety seats, including children who weigh around 60 pounds. A nine-year-old, for example, might be a candidate for a car safety seat made for an older, larger child. In general, a standard car seat will accommodate a child that weighs 20-25 pounds. If your child is about 10 pounds heavier, you’ll probably need to purchase a car seat that is geared for larger children.

Most experts agree that the safest type of car safety seat is the rear-facing seat. It’s a good idea to select a car seat with a higher weight limit so that it will last longer as your son or daughter grows. You can also purchase a car safety seat that is “booster only” if your child is closer to 40 pounds. Whatever your child’s size, it’s vital to properly install any kind of child safety seat.

What should you look for? First, be sure the shoulder belt is not fitting over the child’s neck. Instead, it should hit across the shoulders and chest. The lap belt goes around the hips. For cars with low seats or headrests, it’s important to purchase a high-back model of child safety seat. You can also find car seats with additional padding and adjustable head supports.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for safety tests on child car seats. They rate all car seats on a series of tests and safety features, including how easy it is to read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Thankfully, car seat makers are continually updating their products based on suggestions and ratings from the government. NHTSA’s web site provides complete information about safety testing and car seat guidelines.

If you want to find a model that got straight A’s, you can definitely find the one that’s right for you. eBay and Froogle are two good sources of information to start your search. When you find the car seat that fits your needs, make sure it received an acceptable safety rating from the NHTSA.

Halloween always seems to be just around the corner on October 31, and you should take this opportunity to dress up in a sexy Halloween costume that you can have a little bit of fun in. Selecting sexy costumes or selecting a theme for sexy Halloween costume parties is a fun process that should not be difficult in any way.

If you’re new to the idea of wearing a sexy Halloween costume, you are probably wondering where to go to find a costume which is both sexy and fun and also is along the lines of your costume idea. You may not have any particular idea in mind yet of course, but you do want to turn heads when you go from door to door on Halloween in search of treats.

You’ll be glad to know that the options open to you for sexy Halloween costumes are many - and better yet, you can find a great number of them simply by using your favorite search engine! There’s a lot of business who sell sexy Halloween costumes online ranging from favorites such as pirates, vampires, ghosts, angels, fairies and more; all designed as fun, feminine, sexy Halloween costumes. With so much to choose from, you’ll have no trouble finding a sexy Halloween costume - but you might have trouble picking just one.

However, a sexy Halloween costume will get you more noticed than any other type of costume and the selection seems almost limitless. If you cannot find the sexy costume that is right for you in Halloween stores, do an online search and you will surely find what you are looking for.

There are a lot of choices for you when shopping for sexy Halloween costumes, so don’t rush! Shop around online and browse through all of your options. There’s a sexy Halloween costume for everyone, you’ll find that perfect sexy costume if you do your research - and then you can be a big hit at a costume party or even trick or treating!

Couples that are searching for the perfect sexy costumes will find that there is a wide selection to choose from. Manufacturers of Halloween costumes realize that there is a need for couples costumes and have created costumes that have counterparts to them. What this means is that each costume has a mate that when worn together as a couple, complement each other and are even sexier. Many who enter into Halloween costume contests have found themselves winning because their costumes are outstanding in their look and design. The selection of sexy Halloween costumes is huge; many people start their shopping when the stores open in the beginning of October to allow themselves enough time to find the perfect costume. They take their time and go from store to store until they have found the perfect costume. Sexy costume can be found everywhere and in many different styles and sizes. You will know when you have found the perfect costume when you see it.

Any Halloween costume can be transformed into a sexy Halloween costume, the proof is out there online in the form of sexy Halloween costumes of every imaginable variety. The possibilities are really limited only by your imagination - if you can think of it, it is probably out there. Start shopping early and find your sexy Halloween costume before the holiday rush to add a little more fun to your Halloween this year. Edited by Hetsil Protage

Halloween is a very exciting holiday that is celebrated every year at the end of October, so when it comes to celebrating Halloween whether it is by trick-or-treating or throwing a Halloween party, you will want to have the perfect costume for your child. Halloween allows family and friends to dress up in the best costumes and have fun spending time together and collecting candy. This is the only holiday where you’ll encounter warlocks and witches goblins and ghosts and even a few angels and devils, all walking together on the same streets.

October 31 is Halloween, and while there is usually plenty of time to prepare for this grand event, when it comes to looking for the right baby Halloween costumes, shopping early and preparing right may be the best way to make sure that you get what you want. If you are looking for infant Halloween costumes for All Saints Day, you may already realize that there are a variety of sources for the perfect baby Halloween costume, but if you do not act quickly enough, you may find yourself with slim pickings at the very last minute.

There are a variety of infant Halloween costumes to choose from. When your child is this young, the costume choosing is basically up to you. So the variety of baby Halloween costumes for you to choose from is virtually unlimited, and you are the one who gets to select the right costume. Having the right baby Halloween costume for costume parties or door to door trick or treating events is part of tradition, so do not wait until the last minute and end up with few choices to consider.

There are unending choices when it comes to an infant Halloween costume. From having a cute little pumpkin to a scary mummy, the costumes are only limited by your own imagination. While there are many children that like to dress like a storybook character or cartoon, others will like to have scary or gory costumes to frighten their friends. However when dressing a baby for Halloween, most parents like to go with a cuddly costume that is just too cute for words.

You can choose a baby Halloween costume with a horror theme, or dress your baby up like a fairy or an angel. When it comes to dressing up for this festive holiday, there is a lot that your infant can masquerade as. Baby Halloween costume options are virtually endless, so no matter what your child wants to be, or what you would like your child to be, there is bound to be a costume that is perfect.

No matter how old you are, most everyone can enjoy Halloween and all it has to bring. The best part of it all is getting dressed up to look either cute or scary. One of the great things is when parents decide to dress up their baby in one of the most adorable costumes around. Parents can feel like kids when they dress up, making Halloween one of the most enjoyable holidays for everyone.

No matter if you plan on taking out your pretty princess or spooky skeleton you want to make sure your baby Halloween costume is safe and comfortable. Make sure that your baby is not overheated by having too much material. Some costume are so simple that you can make them at home and just buy accessories to add your own touch to the costume. Edited by Hetsil Protage

Kids are getting more independent. Parents then have to be more aware of what their kids are doing.

Such includes who they hang around with and how they spend their money. Money usually sparks heated conversation between the kids and their parents.

The kids will want complete freedom on how they spend their money and their parents want to be sure that they do not anyhow spend their money.

A great way to educate their kid is through prepaid credit cards.

When most of us think of credit cards we think of adults in a stable job who can maintain their payments. The type of card that is suitable for a teen is very different.

The cards are prepaid and there is a limit for the spending.

Parent can add monthly allowance to this card and let the child uses it until the balance is zero.

Most of these cards are Visa or Mastercards and are therefore widely accepted.

The main benefit of such card is that it helps the kid to plan their budget.

Since they can only use the amount that is designated to the card, theyll quickly discover that overspending isnt a good thing.

Kid that carry such card are often more frugal than the children who do not.

Such card proves to be a good platform to introduce the kid to the world of personal finance.

There is not credit rating so there is no worry that the credit standings will be destroyed.

The card teaches personal financial value.

Self-esteem is the foundation of how a person acts, thinks and feels about the world and themselves.

What factors make up self-esteem? Self-confidence, pride, self-sufficiency, self-respect, and independence all combine to make self-esteem. The majority of our self-esteem is developed during childhood. Especially in kids, self-esteem constantly changes as we experience different social interactions and new events.

Enhancing a child’s self-esteem is the first step to ensuring his or her right to personal safety. Keeping children away from physical harm is only secondary.

A child’s self-esteem is based on a positive relationship with parents and eventually teachers. Parents can foster that can-do attitude in their children with a “Wow!” or a “That’s great!” every time they accomplish a feat.

But praise and positive reinforcement alone will not make children feel better automatically. Providing them with lots of love, care, and understanding is equally significant. Children who are happy and confident may still experience low self-esteem because they do not feel loved. Likewise, children who are loved and pampered at home may still feel inadequate and incompetent, thus ending up with low self-esteem. Hence, a balance of both should be present.

Delivering positive messages and engaging in constructive communication lead to a healthy self-perception. Try these time-tested tips to enhance your child’s can-do attitude.

1. Use positive words. For instance, telling a child what you would like them to do in a way that excludes words like “no” or “bad”. You can help your child maintain a positive attitude by being positive yourself.

2. Allow a child to finish their own sentence Children begin to feel unimportant if you are always putting words into their mouth. Let them finish what they’re trying to say without interruption.

3. Get on their level. If you are talking to a toddler, you should kneel down to speak to them. The child should be able to see your face without straining to look up.

4. Take turns in the conversation. Agree on who speaks first, and who speaks next. It is important for parents to encourage kids to verbalize their ideas and feelings, but to also wait for the go signal to speak. Children should be able to understand that if people talk all at the same time, they will end up understanding nothing.

5. Speak calmly, and keep irritation and a critical tone out of your voice A calm voice keeps a child from panicking. Use words that the child will comprehend. Let kids know what they need to do, and why or why not they should do something.

6. Don’t be afraid to discipline. If you child misbehaves, tell them in a simple way they understand that the behavior is unacceptable, and explain what behavior you expect.

Are you wondering how to make the Internet safe for your kids? You want them to use the Internet for research, but you don’t want them to find objectionable sites or emails.

Perhaps you’d like to buy a solution that you can use on your computer that will not allow them to look at objectionable sites, yet will allow them to freely browse.

Here’s the bad news: filtering programs can’t do the job by themselves. NentNanny and other applications like it search for certain words in the Web site your child is clicking on. Simple words like “belly” can be targets for blocking, causing frustration, while research on “breast cancer” may be impossible.

But programs like this fail when trying to filter objectionable photo sites that have no objectionable words. So, how do I know this? I am sad to say that my teenage son enlightened me. Using Google Images, he searched for objectionable sites and found them, even though the filtering program was on.

In fact, the filter program could never block these sites because it searches for words. It can’t evaluate pictures.

The next question is, “What’s a parent to do?”

*The computer should be where you can monitor what the kidsa re doing. They should be where YOU are.

*To log on, anyone who is not an adult will have to ask an adult to input the password, giving permission in this way.

*Require the child to log off when he is done. Now the password is required for the next session.

*Use NetNanny or a similar filter. It can only help.

*Make sure the kids know you will punish them if they are looking at objectionable sites. Visit their terminals at unpredictable times.

*Unplug the computer from the Internet if the child is using a word processor or other local program only.

*Require younger children to use your email address. This will allow you to protect them from vicious spam. As they get older, give teens their own email address, but make sure they give it out only to friends.

If you take these measures and are watchful, you will help your teenagers withstand a temptation that is everywhere on the Internet, and get them into the habit of making good choices when sitting down to use the computer.

Children are known for lighting up the lives of everyone around them with their gentle spirits. That same gentle spirit, however, can turn quite violent when a child complains because he wants something. For parents trying to handle children affected by the all too well known I Want syndrome, the tips in this article should prove useful.

Don’t think of it as cute behavior. Parents easily fall into this trap. When a child is young and they throw a temper tantrum over a toy in the store, we see it as a phase and call it cute. Most parents indulge the child so they won’t die of embarrassment. This is a no-no!

Keep in mind that a childs mind learns at a tremendously rapid pace. If a child finds that throwing an awful tantrum is the way to get what he or she wants, this behavior will make itself into a deeply entrenched bad habit that only becomes harder to break as time goes on.

Giving children a weekly allowance can help. Since children receive everything they have from their parents, the parents money appears to them to be theirs as well. While household payments and purchases are made by Mom and Dad, it doesnt mean that a childs every desire has to be fulfilled by them as well.

An allowance gives kids something they never had before: their own money. A child that understands money will be fascinated. As the money grows from week to week, share with them how saving money allows them to afford toys that they buy themselves.

By nature, children imitate their parents. Impulsive purchasing and other bad financial habits are sure to be copied, so have family meetings to discuss finances and make the children a part of the familys budget.

Learning that money doesnt grow on trees is a vital lesson. When parents teach their children about how saving money will work out to their own benefit, the kids get a step ahead in life. Parents can explain how saving money helps the entire family. For example, the family must save to go on vacations.

Teach a life lesson. Kids will want things. They learn how to share and not be greedy from you. Teach them the lesson of “less expensive” early on in their lives. When their allowance is small, take your kids to the dollar store for their money-spending excursions.

Television commercials prompt kids to ask about the latest doll or a monster truck. Don’t blow them off by saying,”We will see about it later.” Kids will take that as an affirmative answer. Instead, offer the idea of putting that toy on their Christmas or birthday wish list. Even better, encourage them to save and buy it with their own money.

Kids are a blank slate. They believe that they are entitled to whatever they see and want. You can change this behavior through the tips above.