Hygeine Made Humorous
“Go wash your hands!”
For parents, teachers and caregivers who repeat this phrase but question its impact, here is a video to reinforce your words. “The Germ Busters,” from KidSafety of America, teaches children the “how-to’s” of hygiene using methods they love: sing-along songs, hip-hop dances, and of course, other children.
“The Germ Busters” features Kemi and Zemi (Alfred Carr and Willis Green-Ceymore, stars of the Nickelodeon show “Roundhouse”) disguised as germ-fighting crusaders who teach kids how to prevent picking up germs and spreading their own.
While highly entertaining, the video demonstrates the basics of keeping clean, including teethbrushing, hand-washing, toiletflushing and regular bathing. Between humor and hilarity, the lessons are taught in a no-nonsense tone.
A worthwhile addition to day-care centers and classrooms, the 30-minute video is $14.95, for children ages 3-7. To order, call (800) 524-1156.
Children’s literature guide
For more than 30 years, Bob Keeshan was television’s Captain Kangaroo, delighting children when he read to them, and acquainting parents with quality children’s books.
Keeshan continues to educate audiences with his recently published “Books to Grow By” (Fairview Press), a guide to children’s literature for parents and teachers.
Keeshan begins the book with an introduction on how to choose children’s books, methods for making the most of reading time, and the importance of stories as a way of teaching values.
The books he selects for the guide are based on six values he deems most important to highlight for children: imagination, self-discipline, trustworthiness, fairness, courage and generosity.
The books are targeted for children up to 8, and are organized alphabetically according to each age group.
Every book entry includes a short summary with Keeshan’s comments, along with author, publisher and price as well as the value the book teaches. A great pick for new parents, “Books to Grow By” is $14.95, available at local bookstores such as Auntie’s Bookstore in Spokane and The Bookseller in Coeur d’Alene; or by calling (888) 533-7426.
Computerized wedding planning
With the expense and complexity of a modern wedding, the event requires Herculean organizational skills.
To the rescue is The Wedding Wizard, a newly released wedding planning software program.
“I wanted to create a software product which was inviting and userfriendly, not intimidating,” says Michael Caplovitz, president of Lilbro Software Inc., who developed the program. “It looks just like a regular daily planner, tabs and all.”
The Wedding Wizard is a Windows-based program which helps track all aspects of a wedding: announcements, invitations, guests, gifts and much more. It is comprehensive, yet easy to navigate.
The program creates a personalized calendar for the bride and groom, including a suggested timeline for the completion of each task.
It also provides a budget spreadsheet, keeps a running balance of expenses, and automatically updates the bottom line.
The program requires an IBM-PC or compatible computer, with Windows 3.1 operating system.
The Wedding Wizard is $49.95, available by calling (800) 928-2018.
, DataTimes MEMO: The Family Track is a weekly column of notes and information for families. Send items to Lynn Gibson, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax (509) 459-5098.