Kidstuff™

Guidance for Grown-ups. Menstuff® has gathered information and websites that are geared to parents of children and adolescence. This is not a site for children.

A Personal Reporter to Ask Your Questions
English Teachers -Contest
Make the World Safe for Children™
Children Act Fast...So Do Poisons!
Kid-Friendly Internet Domain
Only Dumb Parents Don't Wear Helmets
New Booster Seat Law for Kids 4-6 and 40-60 lbs
Unwanted Calls During that Talk With Your Kid
Bidis Banned in Illinois
Missing Children
NFL for Kids
Flag Football for Girls, Too
The Miracle of a Brother's Song
Urgent Information
MA Call for a Boycott of All Simon & Schuster Products
Recall - Burger King Pokémon Ball
Limited Time - Free Book - Smart Parents Safe Children
Halloween Safety Tips
Know Fear
Taking Your Kids Out of the U.S. (New rules)
Languages - Over 100 different ones
Fathers

• Guns & Kids
• Stay Clear of Stay Clear
• Ouch!  Body Piercing
• Inhalants Can Kill
• Daddy Track
• A Look at IRAs
• Answering the Hard Questions
• Safe dating Guide
• Take Our Kid(s) to Work Day

Fathers & Daughters

• When Daughters Come Second
• If You'd Only Let Me Play
• Gender Gap Crap
• Take Your Daughter to Work Day

Fathers & Sons

• Testicular cancer - Self-Exam, and a special card
• National Career Day for Our Sons
• No Fear, No Tears, Die Numb

Father's Day
Fraternities
Toy Purchasing, Toy Safety, and Holiday Decoration Safety
Best Videos, Software, Spoken Word Albums - The 1998 National Parenting Publications Awards to the finest children's products by medium by category.
Movie Ratings for Kids

• Periodicals:
• Fathers/Parents - usually directed to the mother and carrying information that we should know about our children. Every-now-and-then, there's something written from our perspective.
• Kids - publications geared to children.
• Teens - geared toward young adults, primarily young women. It never hurts to know what "they" are teaching your kids.

Resources materials
Youth Organizations & Links See also Abuse Resources, Hotlines for additional listings.
Father's Organizations & Links
Family Organizations & Links
Parents Organizations & Links
Kids Links
More Kids Sites (Off Site)
Blackdog for Kids (Off Site)
Special Events - Workshops, Retreats, Vision Quests for kids and teens
Books

English Teachers - Contest

• Read the premise behind each of our bumper stickers that we created. Then, pick one of the bumper stickers and let us know which one and where to send it. It's free to any elementary or secondary school teacher who agrees to hold this contest.
• Hold either a T-shirt or bumper sticker contest. Talk about the background to the bumper sticker or T-shirt that we created. Have them think about something important that they would like to tell the world.
• Have them write and design one of their own.
• Then, have them write text to go along with the item to help market them (i.e., get them to write English.)
• Select a winner. Get their permission for us to put it on our web site on this page. Send a color Xerox or the original along with the text, their name, grade, school, etc. to: Contest, The National Men's Resource Center, PO Box 1080, Brookings, OR 97415-0024 and we will put it on our web site for free.
• Note:  The student retains all rights to the words and design. We will not doing anything privately with it. Our goal is to get kids thinking about important things like Know Fear, and learn something in the process. Giving them the incentive of the possibility of getting world-wide exposure on a web site that gets over 3,000 hits a day, may, or may not, get them excited. The only restriction we have is that it meets the webs rules for taste and that if it involves women or men, that it is positive about them.
• Alternative Prize:  If it is a T-shirt and the design is 8 1/2 x 11 or smaller, you can purchase heat transfer paper at your local office supply that words on a number of computer printers. Copy the design onto the special paper, get a blank T-shirt and iron on the winning transfer and present it to the student.

The Know Fear bumper sticker or T-shirt is a very important topic for this age group because they are the ones buying and wearing No Fear clothing. The way we talk about it is that it is better to Know Fear, than make a dumb mistake, which could be deadly. It is a foolish thing to ignore a natural warning from your body. And, you could use the idea of the Samurai that is included on the page with the bumper sticker. You could go as far as getting local homicide, drinking, inhaling, suicide, and pregnancy numbers of preteens in your county or state as background. (See the National Statistics.) The ratio of male to female deaths are can be accessed here and show how "No Fear" plays out in life for young men.

A good English lesson is to hold up the Know Fear sticker and ask everyone to write 25 words on what it means. Then, someone who you know knows the difference between "Know" and "No" reads theirs. Then, without reading others, especially those that didn't see the difference, talk about Knowing Fear. Then present the idea about the contest and the prize. It's a very interesting thing to get preteens and teens thinking about.

NFL for Kids

Flag Football for Girls, Too

Coaches and Parents - find out everything you need to know to start, operate or coach an NFL Flag league.

Only Dumb Parents Don't Wear Helmets

Booster Seat Law for Kids 4-6 and 40-60 lbs

Unwanted Calls During that Talk With Your Kid

Well, the Oregon Legislature enacted the No Call Law in 1999 which gives residential phone customers the opportunity to get on the "No Call List" and get off telemarketers' lists. Companies that call homes on the No Call List are subject to fines up to $25,000. To date, the Oregon Attorney General has fined more than 70 companies more than $200,000 (about $3,000 each) for violating the No Call Law. Oregon residential phone customers may subscribe or receive additional information about the list by calling 877.700.6633 or through http://www.ornocall.com. By paying a $6.50 non-refundable registration fee, you can place a residential telephone number on the Oregon "No Call" List for a period of one year. This registration fee must be paid for each telephone number you wish to have included on the List. You will be notified when it is time to renew your registration; the renewal fee is $3 per year. Registration forms are available in Spanish and English. By law, you cannot register a business phone number on the list. While the List is updated weekly, it is published for telemarketers on a quarterly basis (first day of January, April, July, and October). Sign up now. And, let us know if your state has a similar system and we will add it to the web.

The Miracle of a Brother's Song

The days inched by. The little girl got worse. The pediatrician had to tell the parents, "There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst." Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their house for their new baby but now they found themselves having to plan for a funeral. Michael, however, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister. "I want to sing to her," he kept saying. Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over. Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. Karen made up her mind, though. She would take Michael whether they liked it or not! If he didn't see his sister right then, he may never see her alive. She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket. But the head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed, "Get that kid out of here now! No children are allowed." Karen, and the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyes right into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line. "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!" Karen towed Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. After a moment, he began to sing. In the pure-hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sang: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray---" instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. The pulse rate began to calm down and become steady. "Keep on singing, Michael," encouraged Karen with tears in her eyes. "You never know, dear, how much I love you, Please don't take my sunshine away." As Michael sang to his sister, the baby's ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr. "Keep on singing, sweetheart!!!" "The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms..." Michael's little sister began to relax as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her. "Keep on singing, Michael." Tears had now conquered the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glowed. "You are my sunshine, my only Sunshine. Please don't, take my sunshine away..." The next, day...the very next day...the little girl was well enough to go home! Woman's Day Magazine called it "The Miracle of a Brother's Song." The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God's love! Never give up on the people you love. Love is so incredibly powerful! (Editor:  When I was 1 1/2 years old, my father snuck me in to the isolation ward for a last visit with my mother who was dying of Lukemia. It couldn't save her, but it's sure made a life-long impression on me.)

Know Fear

The idea for these T-shirt decals all started at the major wrestling championship in Southern California. There were lots of "No-fear" T-shirts and caps around. The air-brusher was busy putting "No Fear" on the back of event T-shirts along with cartoon bulldogs with fangs and puffed out muscles and other such images. Many of the end users were thin, small muscled boys getting ready to "be tough". Well, I decided to have my own T-shirt designed and wear it at the event (No Fear, No Tears, Die Numb). I had a number of parents and young wrestlers thank me for reminding them about the value and importance of fear - how ignoring it or pushing it out of the way can create unnecessary dangers. How the great Samurai know fear and don't hide form it but bring it out in front, put it on the end of their sword, and cut with it. This design is an improvement on the original air-brushed design. From there, I designed a second one to change the emphasis from "No Fear" to "Know Fear". You can down-load the individual design for the back of a T-shirt or a whole sheet of smaller logos that you can print-out, cut up into individual iron-ons to put on the front of a T-shirt where a breast pocket would go and give the others to friends to do the same.

Here's your chance to get involved by making your own T-shirt, then wear it and feel your own feelings. And, encourage others to feel theirs. When the opportunity presents itself, talk about the importance of feelings, especially fear. Remember the words of Hannah Arendt, "Fear is an emotion indispensable for survival." All feelings are good - fear, pain, sadness, joy and anger. It's the behaviors that we use to demonstrate the feelings that need to be looked out. For instance, anger is a feeling. Violence is not a feeling. It is a behavior. There are many other ways anger can be expressed that are healthy yet non-violent. So, it is the behaviors we need to work with. Think about it! And, make your T-shirt today!

Free "Know Fear" bumper sticker. Fear helps us prevent stupid mistakes and injuries. So, order one of these FREE bumper stickers. Put it on your car. And, when the opportunity presents itself, take about fear - how ignoring it or pushing it out of the way can create unnecessary dangers. How the great Samurai know fear and don't hide from it but bring it out in front, put it on the end of their sword, and cut with it. Feel your own feelings. And encourage others to feel theirs. All feelings are good - fear, pain, sadness, joy and anger. It's the behaviors that we need to work with. Send a SASE for your FREE 6 3/4 x 3" "Know Fear" bumper sticker. The National Men's Resource Center, PO Box 800, San Anselmo, CA 94979. (Also, see how to make your own Know Fear T-shirt - see"T-Shirts" below.)

A Call for a Boycott of all Simon & Schuster Products

From making fun of anorexia to objectifying girls to assuming that boys just want titillation from computer games, Panty Raider is a disgrace.

• Anorexia KILLS people, and holds painfully long years of recovery for those girls and women who do survive.
• It's no more suited for joking than cancer.
• It promotes the stereotype that the ideal girls are obsessed with shopping and appearance. We have daughters and we know better.
• We are offended when our daughters are repeatedly subjected to the destructive stereotypes disseminated by games like Panty Raider.

DADs executive director Joe Kelly added that the game is also offensive to fathers of sons. "We don't see the humor or fun in glorifying what Panty Raider calls 'hormone driven anger' in boys, especially after tragedies like the Columbine shootings. We are offended when our sons are repeatedly subjected to the destructive stereotypes of boys objectifying females, placing titillation above all else, and using violence or its threat to get their way."

Where does it stop?  S&S Interacative is also the proud distributors of Last Call which teaches kids how to mix drinks and get all their friends drunk. Some fun, eh?

Action You Can Take

• Complain to the Entertainment Software Review Board www.esrb.org who is responsible for rating this video. We could not find a rating for Pantry Raider in our search of their site, so it might not be too late. Their email is info@esrb.org
• Contact Simon & Schuster and let them know what you think. www.simonsays.com/feedback_form.cfm
• Snail Mail: Simon & Schuster Interactive, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY10020
• Voice-Mail for Interactive at 212.632.3544
• Voice Mail for Simon & Schuster at 212.698.7000
• Stop Buying All Simon & Schuster Interactive Products www.ssinteractive.com a division of Viacom and producers of dozens of CD Rom games in the entertainment and education categories including numerous critically-acclaimed children's software titles.
• Stop Buying books published by Free Press, Fireside, Pocket Books, Scribner, and Touchstone, all under the Simon & Schuster banner, plus Simon & Schuster Trade Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster New Media, Simon & Schuster Online, Simon & Schuster U.K., and Simon & Schuster Australia.
• Know an Author?  If you know an author who publishing under one of the above banners, ask them to write their publisher and complain.
• Local Booksellers - Insure that they don't promote this product
• Your Can Support Their Right to Free Speech but if you do, at least hold them responsible for the lessons they are teaching our children.
• A Violence Tax:  People pay extra to enjoy some freedoms. Cigarettes and alcohol have special taxes to pay for the outcome on society of those life styles. S&S plans to sell Panty Raider for $19.95. Why not charge a Violence Tax on video's, films, etc. that support or promote violence. After all, society, women, children and men suffer at great cost from the results that these ventures promote. Don't eliminate the freedom to purchase - just make it really expensive.

Thanks to Joe Kelly of Dads and Daughters for the heads-up on this. You can read the full letter Dads and Daughters wrote to Simon & Schuster Interactive at www.dadsanddaughters.org/praidletter.htm E-mail joe@dadsanddaughters.org, click here or call 1-888-824-DADS (Homepage).

Books

Great Books for African-America Children Pamela Toussaint. Buy this book!

Great Books for Boys: More than 600 books for boys 2 to 14, Kathleen Odean. Buy This Book!

Great Books for Girls: more than 600 books to inspire today's girls and tomorrow's women, Kathleen Odean. Buy This Book!

Resources Materials

I made my life's mission statement into a three color bumper sticker with writing that looks like it was done with a crayon. It's to remind everyone of the tenderness and daintiness of a child and their right to live in a totally safe world - safe from any kind of perpetration by anyone, moms, dads, siblings, teachers, clergy, anyone. $3 each. Quantity discounts available.

• Testicular Cancer Self Exam Side1 Side2 Invaluable information for any man, particularly anyone 15 to 35. It is among the easiest cancers to cure when detected early. A once-a-month simple self-examination can help catch this cancer at its early stage. The best time to examine yourself is while taking a shower or bath. The warm water causes the skin to relax, making the examination of the underlying tissue easier. This guide can be down-loaded in its entirety or you can send for a waterproof guide that can hang on your shower head at home or school. $3 each.
• Safe Dating Guide: The body is special. In order to safeguard yourself, you must avoid high-risk situations. This is a guide to reduce dating risks, provides come-backs to common lines you may hear or say, and provides facts you should know about date rape. $3 each.
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases Education Guide: This guide provides myths and facts about STDs, the cause and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, and prevention information for the 10 major diseases. For anyone who is sexually active or thinking about becoming sexual. $3 each.
• AIDS Education Guide: Includes the answers to the top 15 questions about AIDS plus Condom Do's and Don'ts. $3 each.
• Facts on Gangs: What every citizen should know. Provides information on signs of possible gang involvement, how to protect your children, what you can do plus answers to the 7 most frequently asked questions. $3 each.
• Free "Know Fear" bumper sticker: Help combat the effort to teach our children not to feel fear. It's more than just a marketing campaign for a clothing line. It's an effort, knowingly or unknowingly, to desensitize children so that they can be manipulated into doing things against their inherent nature. Children who are encouraged not to feel all feelings become dysfunctional adults and creative dysfunctional relationships. Order one of these FREE bumper stickers. Put it on your car. And, when the opportunity presents itself, take about fear - how ignoring it or pushing it out of the way can create unnecessary dangers. How the great Samurai know fear and don't hide from it but bring it out in front, put it on the end of their sword, and cut with it. Feel your own feelings. And encourage others to feel theirs. All feelings are good - fear, pain, sadness, joy and anger. It's the behaviors that we need to work with. Send a SASE for your FREE 6 3/4 x 3" "Know Fear" bumper sticker. The National Men's Resource Center, PO Box 800, San Anselmo, CA 94979. (Also, see how to make your own Know Fear T-shirt - see"T-Shirts" below.)
  

Special Events

CA, Berkeley, Feb 3-6, Thu nite parents, Sat & Sun AM kids, Sun afternoon demo for adults. Kidpower Weekend Family Workshop 6-14

CA, Palo Alto Feb 13, Sun, 12:30-2:30 pm Kidpower Parent-Child Workshop for Children ages 4-7

CA, Berkeley Feb 13, Sun 12 to 5:30p Teenpower Full Force Workshop for Daughters

CA, Santa Cruz Feb 27, Sun 12 to 4 pm, Kidpower Introductory Full Force Parent-Child Workshop Ages 5-14.

CA, Palo Alto Mar 9-12, Thu nite parents, Sat & Sun AM kids, Sun afternoon demo for adults. Kidpower Weekend Family Workshop.

CA, Palo Alto Mar 26, Sun, 12 to 5:30p Teenpower Full Force Workshop for Daughters

CA. Berkeley, Apr 2, Sun 12 to 5:30p, Teenpower Full Force Workshop for Sons

MA Amherst, Apr 5, 5-8 pm, Youth Film Series (14-21): Beautiful Thing

CA, Santa Cruz, Apr 9, Sun, 10 am - 12 noon, Kidpower Parent-Child Workshop for Children ages 4-7

US Apr 14-15, Fri-Sat, 11th National Youth Services Day(s).

US Apr 27, Thu Take Your Daughter(s) To Work Day.

MA May 2, 5-8 pm, Youth Film Series (14-21): Girls Town, Amherst

WA, Camp Melacoma Skamania, May 4-6, Thu-Sat, Multicultural Youth Retreat, Michael Meade

CA, Santa Cruz, May 6, Sun, 1 to 5:30p, Teenpower Full Force Workshop for Daughters

CA Berkeley, May 18-21, Kidpower Weekend Family Workshop, 6-14

CA, Los Angeles, May 19, Fri, The Genius of Youth, The Wisdom of Elders, Michael Meade

MA, Amherst, Jun 6, 5-8 pm, Youth Film Series (14-21): HATE

CA, Big Sur, Jun 16-18, Fri-Sun, Daughters and Fathers/Fathers and Daughters: Changing the Story.

US Jun 19, Mon (any day this week) - International Take Your Kids to Work Week

CA Palo Alto, Jun 22-25, Kidpower Weekend Family Workshop, 6-14

US Jun 23, Fri, National Career Day for Our Sons

MA Rowe, Jun 24-Jul 8 Rowe Transitions Camp (6th & 7th grades)

WA, Bethell, Sun-Sat, Jun 25-Jul 1, Sun-Sat, Apprentice Journey (Boys and Girls ages 9-11)

WA, Bethell, Sun-Sun, Jun 25-Jul 16, Sun-Sun, Coming of Age for Girls who have graduated 6th or 7th grade

MA, Lenox, Jun 29-Jul 2 Thu-Sun, Circus Yoga for Kids, Gabriella Bengis, Erin Maile O'Keefe, and Kevin O'Keefe.

CA Jun 30-Jul 2, Experiencing Esalen: For Kids Lia Thompson-Clark, Big Sur

CA Jul 2-7, Experiencing Esalen: For Kids Lia Thompson-Clark, Big Sur

MA, Lenix. Jul 2-7, Sun-Fri, The Children's Program. (Ages 5-12)

BC, Mason's Landing, Jul 2-8, Sun-Sat, Sun, Stars and Cedar: An outdoor adventure for young teens 11-14, Hugh Prichard & Christine Hollmann.

MA, Lenox, Jul 2-8, Sun-Sat, Communication and Self-Esteem for Young Adults. (Coed 15-19).

MA  Rowe, Jul 2-8 Rowe Young People's Camp (9-11)

WA, Bethel, Jul 2-23, Sun-Sun, Coming of Age for Boys (who have graduated from the 6th and 7th grade)

MA, Lenox, Jul 7-9, Fri-Sun, The Children's Program. (Ages 5-12)

CA Santa Cruz Co., Jul 8, Kidpower Parent-Child Workshop for Children 4-7

MA, Lenox, Jul 9-15, Sun-Sat, Coming of Age for Boys (12-16).

MA Rowe, Jul 9-29, Rowe Junior High Camp

WA, Bethell, Jul 9-30, Sun-Sun, Wilderness Quest 2000 Young Men and Women who have graduated from 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.

NY, Rhinebeck, Jul 10-14, Mon-Fri, Family Week

NY, Rhinebeck, Jul 10-14, Mon-Fri, Earth Wisdom (teens 14-19)

MA, Lenox, Jul 14-16, Fri-Sun, Yoga Teens for Girls (ages 14-17), Marsha Wenig.

MA, Lenox, Jul 14-15, Fri-Sun, The Children's Program. (5-12)

BC, Mason's Landing. Jul 14-19, Fri-Wed, Family Nature Retreat, Dayna Davis & Hugh Prichard.

CA Palo Alto, Jul 16, Teenpower Full Force Workshop for Daughters

CA, Mendocino, Jul 16-20, Sun-Fri, The Spirit of Practice: A retreat for young and older men, Michael Meade, John Tarrant, Luis Rodriguez, Malidoma Some and others.

MA Rowe, Jul 20-29, Rowe Vision Quest: A wilderness passage for young adults (17-21)

MA, Lenox, Jul 21-23, Fri-Sun, The Children's Program. (Ages 5-12)

CA Berkeley, Jul 22, Kidpower Parent-Child Workshop for Children 4-7

MA, Lenox, Jul 23-29, Sat-Sun, Adventures in Nature (Boys 9-11)

Northern Ontario Jul 23-29, Temagami Wilderness Canoe Trip: Parents & Children, Michael Madden and Judy Burnett.

WA, Bethell, Jul 26-Aug 16, Wed-Wed, The Solo Crossing Co-ed program for graduates of the 8th and 9th grades.

MA, Lenox, Jul 28-30, Fri-Sun, The Children's Program. (5-12)

MA, Lenox, Jul 29-Aug 4, Sat-Fri, Coming of Age Passages for Girls (14-16)

CA Scotts Valley, Jul 30, Kidpower Parent-Child Workshop for Children 4-7

Northern Ontario, Jul 30-Aug 5, Sun-Sat, Temagami Wilderness Canoe Trip: Fathers & Daughters, Michael Madden and Judy Burnett.

MA Rowe, Jul 30-Aug 19 Rowe Senior High Camp

CA, Graton, Aug 2, 9, 16 & 23, Teen Conflict Resolution

MALenox, Aug 3-6, Thu-Sun, Circus Yoga for Kids, Gabriella Bengis, Erin Maile O'Keefe, and Kevin O'Keefe.

MA, Lenox, Aug 6-12, Sun-Sat, Gateways to Coming of Age for Girls (11-13)

NY Rhinebeck, Aug 7-11, Fri-Sun, Family Week 2, Omega

NY Rhinebeck, Aug 7-11, Fri-Sun, Little Forest People, (For kids ages 6-10), Rangers Woody Watson, Michael Madden, and the Ranger Staff. Omega

NY Rhinebeck, Aug 7-11, Fri-Sun, Questor's Guild, (For kids ages 8-12) Sam Chupp. Omega

MA, Lenox, Aug 11-13, Fri-Sun, The Children's Program. (5-12)

Northern Ontario, Aug 13-19,Sun-Wed, Temagami Wilderness Canoe Trip: Fathers & Sons, Michael Madden and Kevin Madden.

MA Rowe, Aug 13-20, Rowe Adventure Camp: A Challenge for Teenagers

MA, Lenox, Aug 18-20, Fri-Sun, The Children's Program. (5-12)

BC, Mason's Landing, Aug 19-25, Sat-Fri, The Power of Hope: A retreat for teens (14-18), Charlie Murphy, Peggy Taylor & Friends.

MA, Lenox, Aug 25-27, Fri-Sun, The Children's Program. (5-12)

CA Felton, Sep 23, Kidpower Parent-Child Workshop for Children 4-7

Programs from 1999/2000

Maiden's Journey (Girls/Women), Wisconsin

Young Warrior Initiation (boys 15-16) Illinois

Youth Vision Quest & Training (14-21), Big Pine, CA