Most people have heard of Alyssa Milano, a household name for years. Starting out as a child actor, she has become well known as an incredible adult actress today, staring in a variety of television shows along the way. Although many people may be aware of her celebrity life, many are unaware of the other side to Alyssa Milano. You may be surprised to find out what an incredible ambassador for good this woman has been and is today! Using her fame to make a difference, she is involved in many foundations and charities, always working to help those less fortunate than herself. Here is a closer look at a side of this actress you may have never seen before.
The Actress
First, let’s take a look at Alyssa Milano the actress. She started acting when she was a child, and has gone on to be on some very popular series’ on television. Most people know her for her performance as Phoebe Halliwell on the “Charmed” show, aired on the WB. This show has been popular around the world. Other shows that she has starred in include “My Name is Earl,” “Who’s the Boss,” and “Melrose Place.” She has also recently started a new role on television in “Romantically Challenged,” on ABC.
Beyond Acting – Milano the Philanthropist Although doing an incredible job as an actress, there is much more to Alyssa Milano than the glitz and glam that comes along with Hollywood. Beyond the acting that she does, she has become an avid advocate for those in need, a philanthropist, and a humanitarian in every sense of the word. To show you the other side of this actress, here is a closer look at some of the many things she has been involved in within the past few years.
National Ambassador for UNICEF
Back in 2003, UNICEF invited Alyssa to become a National Ambassador for them. This was a result of all the charitable work she had already done for children. Since she became the National Goodwill Ambassador for this country, she has traveled to work in a variety of other countries, including Kosovo, Angola, India, and more. Alyssa has also been working on the “Trick or Treat” campaign to help raise money for children in other countries and has been a spokesperson for that cause, which is a UNICEF project. According to Milano, she plans to continue working on projects with UNICEF in the future as well. Please visit Unicef and learn more of the great work they do helping children and families: http://www.unicefusa.org/
Kids Can Make a Difference Spending Their weekends this summer raising money for Charity
Within the past few years, many people have been spurred to give more to charity after seeing the pain and suffering that is a result of war, terrorist attacks, and natural disasters. Great tragedies have spurred greater generosity, and passing on the idea of charity to your children is just as important as giving yourself. Summer is here, the kids are home from school, and this gives you the perfect opportunity to begin teaching your child about charity. Of course, you want to teach your children that charity is much more than a one-time thing. It is important that you teach them that giving should become a way of life for them. Are you unsure where to begin? Here is a look at why teaching charity is important, how you can set the example, and tips for teaching your child about charity. And Remember, it is important to stress KIDS CAN and DO Make a Difference!
Why is Teaching Charity Important?
You may be thinking that your kids are simply children right now. Why is it so important that you teach them charity? There are a number of reasons that it is very important to teach your children all about charity and get them involved in helping others. First, many children today grow up being very self centered – they never think about the pain and suffering that others go through. Teaching charity will help them to look beyond their own wants and needs.
Another reason that you should teach charity to your children is to help them develop compassion for others. No doubt, you want your child to grow into an adult that is loving and compassionate. Teaching them about charity can help. You will also find that teaching your child about charity can help them deal with the tragedies that they often see on television. For example, children are often disturbed and upset of the images shown on television of animals hurt by the recent oil spill. Getting children involved in a charity helps them to feel that there is something they can do to help.READ More on Charity Ideas for Kids
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While every child you raise will present challenges, there are new and unique challenges that come along when you are raising your youngest child. No matter how many children you have already been raising, you'll find that things are a bit different with your youngest. Often the youngest child is seen as a bit of a rebel, and these children need plenty of affirmation and attention because they are competing against the rest of their siblings.
Although you may not realize it, birth order definitely plays a big part in the expectations and personality of your child. If you take the time to learn more about the specific needs of each child, it gives you the ability to raise your child to be confident and well rounded, as they grow older. Here is a look at some of the common characteristics displayed by the youngest child and some specific parenting tips that can help you to best deal with the special needs of "the baby" in the family.
Characteristics of the Youngest Child
To parent your youngest child effectively, you first need to understand your youngest, how they think, and the traits they commonly display. In most cases, you will find that your youngest is a lot different from your older children. Usually the youngest child is funny and more socially outgoing than your other children are. They may act carefree, since they usually don't have many responsibilities. Often the youngest feels driven to compete or follow in the footsteps of their older siblings.
Youngest children are often outgoing, creative, and they are more likely to take risks. They get bored easily, they can be self-centered, and they like being pampered – after all, they are used to being pampered as "the baby." You'll also notice that they have a great senses of humor and can be quite competitive as well.
Effective Youngest Parenting Tips
Now that you have a better understanding of the youngest child characteristics, you have a better idea of how to parent them. When you understand what drives a child, you can find ways to work with those personality traits to raise them to be well-adjusted and responsible adults. Here are some specific tips that can help you parent your youngest child effectively as they grow up.
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Fathers Day is a day to celebrate being a Dad. For me the best gift is just spending time with my family. As Fathers our role is very important and studies have shown the more time we spend with our kids the more well adjusted and successful they will be.
Having a great relationship with our kids also has many benefits for us Dads as well. There is no better stress relief after a hard day of work to come home and have your kids run into your arms or be glad to see you.
There is a also a special bond that forms between Father and Son, a bond that starts at birth and lasts a lifetime. As Dads we bring joy to our family and help set role models for our kids. Father's day is a time to remember and thank our own Dads of if we are a Dad, a time to rejoice in our own family.
From all of us here at More4kids, we wish you a Happy Father's Day and thank all Dad's out there for their love and sacrifice.
Here is a very special video the YMCA did of kids telling their Dads how great they are:
Great Father's Day Quotes:
He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. ~Clarence Budington Kelland
One father is more than a hundred Schoolemasters. – George Herbert
I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich. – M*A*S*H, Colonel Potter
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If you are looking for a fun bedtime ritual for you and your children, reading to your kids is a great option. Reading is not only good for them educationally, but this time together is a great time to bond with your child too. Of course, there are many different bedtime stories out there to choose from. Which ones should you choose to add to your children's library? Here is a look at some great bedtime stories for kids and a look at the stories they tell and lessons that they teach.
Bedtime Stories for Kids
The Going to Bed Book
One of the best bedtime stories for kids, this book by Sandra Boynton deals with bedtime routines. The animals in the book take a bath, put on their pajamas, and brush their teeth getting ready for bed. It's a great story that will help your child learn about bedtime routines and going to sleep at night.
Goodnight Moon
This book by Margaret Wise Brown is another excellent bedtime story to read to your kids at night. The rabbit in the story says goodnight to the moon, air, stars, and everything else in the room. It's great for teaching kids to prepare for going to bed.
Guess How Much I Love You
An adorable story by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram, this is about a Little Nutbrown Hare that is trying to find ways to tell his father about how much he loves him. The trick is that he really is trying to put bedtime off a bit. This story will help you show your child how much you love them at the end of a busy day.
Moon Rabbit
The Little Rabbit is captivating in this tale by Natalie Russell as she tries to find if there is another person like her. It teaches friendship among people, even if they are not like you, since Little Rabbit finds the Brown Rabbit and they become the best of friends, even though they are different.
Good Night, Gorilla
A humorous story by Peggy Rathmann, this bedtime story will have kids laughing as they see the zookeeper in the story go through the zoo telling all the animals good night. The twist is that the gorilla in the book gets the keys and lets the animals all out. They follow the zookeeper to his home, and soon the lights go out, and everyone says goodnight.
Goodnight Lulu
About a small chick, this book by Paulette Bogan is a great bedtime read. It deals with monsters in the night and is filled with endless questions from Lulu to her mom about monsters. A great book to deal with the fear many kids have of the dark and monsters.
Tell Me Something Happy Before I go to Sleep
In this book by Joyce Dunbar, little Willa isn't able to go to sleep because she is scared she'll have a bad dream. So she asks Willoughby, her brother, to tell her about something that is happy. This wonderful book teaches kids that morning will come soon and that there is happiness and joy waiting for them. It also helps kids get over the fear of having a bad dream at night.
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Birth order has a lot to do with the personality of a child. While not every child shows all the traits associated with their birth order, in many cases, birth order will accentuate some of the traits they possess already. The middle child is the child that is sandwiched in between other children, and these children come with their own set of characteristics. There are specific challenges that come with raising a middle child as well. It's easy to lose the middle child a bit in the shuffle of family life. To help you out, here is a look at some of the middle child characteristics and some effective parenting tips to help you do the best job raising that middle child.
Characteristics of the Middle Child
In most cases, the middle child has the largest variety of traits. In many cases, you will find that they are totally opposite of the oldest child and they work to be unique. Usually the middle child is very easy going and flexible. Often they are the ones that try to make peace in the family since they are more likely to see all of the sides to a situation. The middle child is usually quite social. Their friends are important because they may feel like they don't have a place within their family.
They may keep secrets and don't usually open up about their feelings. Avoiding conflict is another trait, since they like life to go smoothly. Often the middle child is inventive, but they may try to please everyone, making them become codependent. Some middle children even feel unloved and that life is not fair. If you discourage your middle child, there is a chance that they will become a bit of a problem child.
Effective Middle Child Parenting Tips
Now that you know a bit more about the middle child characteristics, you may be wondering how you deal with these characteristics. How can you use them to help your child develop into a wonderful adult? Here are some great tips to help you better parent your middle child for great results.
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Lets make Everyday be World Oceans Day, and lets try everyday to find ways to show our kids how important our Environment is. Tuesday, June 8, 2010 happened to be World Oceans Day, and what a wonderful time to teach our kids about the importance of our oceans and ways that they can be more environmentally aware. This day is occurring amid one of the worse oil spills, and with all the news on the BP Oil Spill, no doubt oceans are in the forefront of your mind, and the minds of your children. As you and your children watch television and see the heartbreaking pictures of ocean waters covered in oil and birds and other sea life sadly coated in oil from the spill, you may wonder if there is something you can do to help. Yes, you can help. By raising your children to be environmentally aware and by getting involved in projects and events, such as World Ocean Day, every one can make a difference.
Teaching Your Children Why Oceans are Important
First, you need to start by teaching your children why the oceans are so important in the first place. While your kids may be upset about the tragedy occurring with the BP oil spill, they may not fully understand the full impact that such a disaster can have on the oceans and the entire earth. Why are oceans and all the life in them so important? Here is a look at several important reasons.
Reason #1 – Oxygen, Food, and Other Essentials – First, the oceans and ocean life are important because as humans we all rely on them for our oxygen, some food, and other essentials, such as certain medications. Much of the oxygen we breath comes from the ocean, which means we are helpless without them.
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