The Srila Prabhupada educational system is designed to produce high class people, high not in wealth or status, but in character. The ideal character can be described the intellectual as tolerant and austere, of a civic leader as heroic, and so on.

However, for the training of our children, it also emphasizes the quality of independence. Farmers and merchants can create their own vocations. Whether working directly in the service of Krishna or working to maintain their families, they do not need to beg from others, nor do they need much supervision. Such higher class persons, willingly obedient to the spiritual master, are self disciplined and self reliant.

When this kind of independence is understood, then we remove the problem of finding a vocational place for our children. They do not need to for beg work from anyone. For the self disciplined, independent person, is there not unlimited work and service? Make a list with your child of ways to spread the Krishna consciousness. Surely he or she will have the ability and the inclination to perform some of them.

Choose a service with your child so that they may begin to prepare for it, such as opening a prasadam restaurant or a health food store and sell prasadam and Krishna conscious books. Perhaps, open a shop for books and devotional paraphernalia, publish devotional books, sell Krishna conscious books retail or wholesale or farm organically with oxen and sell produce. Or perhaps, cook and sell baked goods to stores or teach courses that include a Krishna conscious perspective or even produce and sell Krishna conscious music.

More ideas include selling Krishna conscious art, writing educational computer software for Krishna conscious schools, or selling items or services useful to both devotees and nondevotees such as groceries, cars, office supplies, tools, computers, printing, layout, electrical work, and health care. Develop a Krishna conscious theater company of a professional standard or begin your own ISKCON center for spreading Krishna consciousness.

Here are some suggestions for fostering a higher class mentality in your children, a mentality in which they will find positive ways to function independently. Do not think in terms of getting your son or daughter a good job and tying them to mundane schooling for that purpose. Let your child know that striving for job security by waiting upon others is less important than becoming Krishna conscious and teaching Krishna consciousness.

Put emphasis on practical education from age eleven to age fourteen, let your children spend lots of time with adults who can train them in practical work. Most adolescents will benefit from friendships with their peers, but learning practical service from adults and making spiritual friendship with them may provide a deeper relationship that is more valuable for bringing out good character.

Give your child some social, economic, and familial responsibility, at least by age twelve. For example, a fifteen year old can regularly volunteer some time at the local temple for a Krishna conscious project such as Food for Life. Even a twelve year old can do valuable service or earn money that will mean something for a family or a project. Then as children mature, they can take on chores that demand more competence.

Give your children as much responsibility as they can handle, but for children under sixteen, be strict in giving strong direction in moral and spiritual decisions. Srila Prabhupada taught that children under sixteen should be dealt with so firmly that they would not consider disobeying. It is up to you to set guide lines on such matters as what they read, what they watch on television, how they treat intoxicants, and how they behave toward members of the opposite sex.

You do not tell a fourteen year old about marijuana, then tell them it is their choice. See adolescents as useful members of society and give them opportunities to feel useful. Train your children from as young as possible to use intelligence in Krishna’s service. Reward them for doing things voluntarily and encourage vision and plans, even if undeveloped and immature.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for Krishna art, religious gifts from India, and Hare Krishna books. Please visit these sites for Krishna art, religious gifts from India, and teaching children.

[tags]krishna, books, culture, society, new age, childrens books[/tags]

As a mother and a science fiction fan, I really hope my children will grow to enjoy it as well. So far they’re too young to read novels, but that doesn’t mean I can’t get them started.

1. Science Fiction Movies

Some science fiction movies appeal to children even at a very young age. Think about the first Star Wars movie, for example. It’s still a generally good movie, and many 5 year olds I know are utterly nuts about it.

2. Comic Books

Whether or not you’re into them yourself, many comic books contain elements of science fiction, especially with many of the super heroes. The vivid illustrations and fast plot lines can be quite entertaining for children not prepared for more challenging stories… and of course the interest can continue for a lifetime.

3. Television

A variety of children’s shows also have elements of science fiction. What you can find will vary tremendously by age, and you may have to search constantly for shows you hope your kids will enjoy. But there are some great choices out there.

And as they get old enough you can show them your own favorite

4. Science Fiction Novels

Ahh, my personal favorite! Even though my kids are too young to read these by themselves, my husband and I are working on building their interest already.

First of all, they of course see us reading them all the time. That’s a great way to build interest in reading in general. If they see you read, children will read.

You can pick children’s books with elements of science fiction in them. Most kids love stories with rocket ships and aliens in them. You don’t have to worry about scientific accuracy much in the early years, of course.

We’ve also always allowed them to look at the books we own. I tried hard one time to get video of my daughter “reading” Riverworld. She was reciting Cinderella, actually, but I still thought it was cute that she picked a science fiction novel to pretend with.

As she learns to read, we’ve encouraged her to realize just how much she can read by picking up a science fiction novel and showing her that she already knows most of the words. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, for those who are wondering.

And of course, once they’re old enough, pick appropriate books. I remember starting in third grade with Heinlein’s The Star Beast.

Picking appropriate books can be challenging. Fortunately I still own pretty much ever science fiction novel I’ve ever read, so there’s a good selection of juveniles in there. But if you know whether your child likes lots of action, or dislikes violence, or is more into fantasy, you can pick out appropriate titles.

And, I must admit, there’s a certain delight in teaching my kids to enjoy the books my inlaws so disapprove of. They strongly approve of reading, but only of the right sort. Ignoring that is just fun.

Stephanie Foster runs http://www.sciencefictionado.com/ because she really enjoys reading science fiction. Read some of her science fiction book reviews at her site.

[tags]science fiction for children,scifi,encouraging reading[/tags]

Books are a treasure for which there is no measure. Literally, I mean you cannot weigh the value of books in terms of money. They are just too precious. They are a great source of information, whether hardcover or online. Books create a world of their own; a world of knowledge and enlightenment.

From a very young age, children are basically inquisitive by nature. They want to search and look and ask a thousand questions. Their questions are not always foolish, and yet we cannot always satisfy their curiosity. At these times, books are very helpful in feeding this curiosity and answering their millions of questions.

Remember, it is important that children learn about animals that live in the wild, as much as they know about Tommy the Labrador or Polly the Parrot. Domestic animals are ones that surround them and are a part of their everyday life. But there are also wild animals that kids need to know about. They need to know the lifestyle and habits of the tiger as well as the crocodile. God has created all things, and they all have their own unique role to play on earth. Children need not be filled with fear or any wrong notions, but should be given the facts which will assist them in making a right assumption concerning wild animals.

Books are one of the best methods of introducing animal life to children. They have a lot of colorful pictures, appealing to the senses of kids and they tempt them into wanting to see more and read more. Books have a way of opening up a whole new world to them; a world that they understand and learn to appreciate with time. Rather than acquiring a fear for the wild, it is better they learn to understand how animals live and are a part of their habitat, into which they are born.

Wildlife books have a lot of information on the lifestyle and eating habits of all animals living in the wild, be it elephants, hyenas, tigers or the crocodile. They cover each and every aspect in detail, like their daily schedules, how they hunt, what they eat and other things. This helps a child to imagine what the real thing is like, without really being physically present there. Some kids get so fascinated that they actually take such an interest in wildlife, that when they grow up, they choose the study nature as a career option.

Books play a big role in conditioning a child’s thoughts and opinions in a positive manner, towards wild animals. It would really be difficult to live our lives, and even more difficult explaining to a child, the positive aspects of the WILD, without a BOOK.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about books. When shopping for books, we recommend you shop only at the best bookstores for used wildlife books, autographed books, and vedic books.

[tags]wildlife books, nature books[/tags]

Books are a great source of knowledge and wisdom for growing children. What a child imbibes in its formative years will stay with him or her forever. Our fairy tales are everlasting and will not stop stirring up memories from the past even after years have passed by. Our basics are formed in our childhood which is why reading is considered an important part of growing up.

Every child sees the world through books and his fantasy world is made up of the characters he reads about. This is very important for every parent to understand as they need to ensure that the child reads the right books so as to guide him in the right direction. Every child’s foundation in forming a strong base for the future, depends on the reading and interest developed in the younger years.

The television of late is a strong contender to books, attracting a child’s interest to the point of addiction. However, even such distractions cannot compare with the treasure that a book has to offer. It is in the hands of the parents to direct every child’s attention to the treasure that lies within the pages of good books. Once a child gets into the habit of reading then a whole new world opens up, where the knowledge is so vast that the small start he makes will result in a journey which will never end.

There is a vast collection of educative and interesting books that are available for children, of which many have been made into movies. The fairy tale characters that a child reads about are brought to life in these movies. However, this also tends to lessen a child’s interest in books, since he is getting to see it all without the effort of having to read or use his imagination. In addition, the fast paced action available in these flicks attracts a lot of attention from the vulnerable children.

In spite of the glamour offered by the electronic media, it can never replace the beauty and pleasure of listening to the tales handed down since the time of our forefathers, written by renowned children’s writers. Today’s writers are equally at par, working with magical characters like Harry Potter who has been brought to life on the silver screen. Children’s Encyclopedias are made so captivating that they can absorb every child’s attention and have them wanting more.

Most children’s books have a subtle moral which will remain with the child forever. This is the best gift that parents can give their children, as it is something every child will carry throughout his life and something that would stand by him when all else fails.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about books. When shopping for books, we recommend you shop only at the best bookstores for used books, autographed books, and vedic books.

[tags]children’s books, books for children[/tags]

In the fictional series of Harry Potter that was created by J.K. Rowling, magic is depicted as a natural force, which can be used to overrule the basic laws of nature although it is approached entirely scientifically. In the Harry Potter series, there are a number of magical creatures - and a few ordinary creatures - which demonstrate magical properties, like the owls used to deliver posts. There are also a few objects that are imbued or enhanced with magical power. A few humans in the series that are able to perform magic have been referred to as wizards and witches in contrast to other non magical Muggles.

This magic is just the norm in the children of couples having magical powers and is less in those of the Muggles. There are also exceptions like those who are unable to perform magic although being born to magic powered parents, called as Squibs, whereas a wizard or witch that is born to the Muggle parent is called as Muggle-born or Mudblood. The Muggle-born are very common in the series, whereas the Squibs are very rarely shown, which is reflected by the size of Wizarding and Muggle populations.

In today’s world, Harry Potter is the most famous fictional young hero in the series of Harry Potter. The series also includes a book for all their Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling of Britain. The books include the tale of an orphan, Harry. The books begin with his first years as a ward of a wicked uncle and aunt, to his enrollment in the school of wizards and the harrowing and exciting adventures that follow. This captivating series has become almost as popular amongst adults, as with the kids. Although these books have raised the concern of a tiny vocal minority, who mention some of the violent content and the evil characters like the witchcraft as the cause for alarm, for the most part it has been excitedly embraced by parents and also the educational community.

The magic of Harry Potter can also be incorporated as a great teaching method. There are various guides that have been published by the same Harry Potter author that include various guidelines on our daily life. There are chapters included in the learning guides like ’standing out to our enemies requires a great deal of bravery, but just as much to stand out for our friends’. Apart from this, there are also Harry Potter Magic puzzles that let you share a little of Harry’s supernatural powers among friends. There are also various other means of learning from the magical land of Harry Potter like bringing out the bravery yet being polite among the crowd. However, you can include Harry Potter learning guides only after your parents have recommended the same, as there are a few parents who have a different opinion on the themes of wizardry and magic, and not all parents appreciate it.

All said and done, there’s no denying that the magic of Harry Potter has become part of many.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls. You will find the best marketplace for kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls at these sites for Harry Potter, stuffed animals, and dolls.

[tags]Magic, Harry Potter[/tags]

When Dick Bruna came up with the idea of Miffy in 1955, he never would have guessed that over 50 years on she was going to be a super cool bunny and a worldwide phenomenon. In fact, when the character was first created she didn’t even have a specific gender. It wasn’t until Bruna actually started writing his first book that he decided that Miffy would look nice in a dress and so she became a little girl.

The popular bunny was created during a rainy seaside holiday in Holland when Bruna was watching his son play with a toy rabbit which reminded him of memories he had of pet rabbits when he was young himself. This inspired him to draw a picture of a rabbit and make up stories about it in order to entertain his young son. Decades later this simple idea has shifted more than 85 million books off the shelves and seen no fewer than 28 books being published in more than 40 different languages.

The Miffy books are typically aimed at children aged between two to six who love the exact pattern that each book follows. There are 12 illustrations on the right hand page and four - line poems on the left making it easy for children to comprehend. The colours also seldom vary from the usual red, blue, yellow, white and green that youngsters instantly recognise on Miffy.

Children and adults alike are also intrigued by the character of Miffy who is a simple and innocent eternal child who stays positive no matter what the situation is.

Dick Bruna has become famous all over the world thanks to his creation but is the most well - known in Japan. Around the world Miffy has had a spin - off television series, a musical and merchandise including bags, clothes, baby toys and mobiles. You can find such a range of things to buy from posters, stationery,figurines, games, clothes, towels, cuddly toys and much, much more. These products aren’t just popular with young children, teenagers are a big fan of the range as well which has contributed to a global brand worth an estimated 150 million pounds.

What makes the character even more endearing is the fact that Bruna never publishes anything without his wife’s approval. No doubt this is just one of the many factors contributing to the great success of Miffy all around the world.

miffy shop is an online collection of miffy memorabilia. miffy has all the information you need to help you find all things miffy.

[tags]miffy, books, miffy gifts[/tags]

The mind of a child is like a sponge, which soaks in knowledge. When children are young, their ability to absorb whatever they observe is very high. It is great to help them learn this way, but at the same time they should also be encouraged to make their own decisions. Now, with Interactive books available in a variety of forms, there is a great opportunity for children to sharpen their decision making skills at a young age.

Normally, story books are fixed to a single plot, and they are read for enjoyment. Now there are also ebooks, where the stories can be altered as per the decision of the child. This is somewhat a combination of video games with stories, so that children feel that they are participating in the story.

Here the biggest advantage of these ebooks over a traditional book, is that the character actually has a voice and can speak directly to your child. There may also be background music, which changes along with the mood of the story. The child therefore feels that the characters are interacting with him or her. The child learns to make decisions, because when he or she approaches a fork in the story, it will be up to them to decide which route to take and thus observe the consequences of their decision.

For example, you could have a story in which some elder boys are cajoling a younger boy to smoke or drink. Then the story could give the reader a choice of what action he or she wants to take. Based on that decision, the child will find out the results of his or her decision. Thus, in the future, this could help him or her to similarly make real life decisions relating to similar issues. The important thing is that these books are fun, otherwise children would not be interested in reading them.

There are also many web sites on the internet, where your child can read stories and participate in the story telling process. By getting to be a part of the story, your child can also bond with the characters of that story. It can give them a lot of pleasure to help out their favorite characters as they make decisions.

Even if your child reads a lot of regular books, still sometimes reading these interactive books could be a welcome change for them. Either way, it is still beneficial for their minds. The advantages for young children are that but listening to interactive books, they can learn not only new words and sentences, but also know how to pronounce them correctly. Even if, they do make mistakes, the children can backtrack and start again, until they have gotten the correct answers. Interactive books also lay down the foundation knowledge for their future school subjects such as math, science and geography.

So, there is a definite advantage in letting your children read interactive books, and this could not only help with their decision making, but also make them computer-savvy at a young age.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about books. When shopping for books, we recommend you shop only at the best bookstores for used interactive books, interactive autographed books, and vedic books.

[tags]interactive children’s books, ebooks[/tags]

All children love colorful books from a very young age, and parents should provide information and entertainment provided by good books to encourage their kids to read.

Kids nowadays have many different media sources to absorb knowledge and entertainment, including books, television, computers, etc. Many kids like to play video games and also surf the internet, but books should not be forgotten altogether. Reading can actually be relaxing, unlike some computer games which might actually excite the kid. Kids should therefore be encouraged to read books as a relaxation activity.

You could start by showing them wordless colorful books when they are very young, followed by books with simple wordings linked to matching photos. Since some of these books are expensive, you could join a library and find the books there. That way the kid will always have a variety of books at hand. You can nowadays also get many books from internet sites such as Half.com, which is a subsidiary of Ebay, where books are available at a fraction of their retail price.

You can also leave books in the bathroom and in other rooms, so that the child can read anywhere he or she desires to and the child will be reminded to do so when he or she sees the books. You can also read to your child at night as they fall asleep. It might give them sweet dreams and you will make an impact on their life by reading at night. You can also show the child pictures while reading the story so that the kid can relate to the story and the characters in it.

Along with books, you should also encourage your child to color in special coloring books with crayons or color pencils. This develops their motor skills and their eye to hand co-ordination at an early age. It also gives them an exercise in creativity as they get to decide which colors to use and participate in completing a piece of artwork. As the kid grows up, you can also enroll him or her in a library and encourage him or her to access books of their choice to read. The child will slowly transition from children’s books to novels and hardbacks in due time.

As they grow older, subscribe to books such as “National Geographic”, which can be very useful for increasing their knowledge in history, geography and science. The kids will appreciate such books as they grow older only if you have inculcated this habit at a very young age.

Most of the child’s heroes are also derived from children’s books. These heroes teach them about right and wrong and also how taking a wrong step could affect their future. Children therefore see those characters as role models and try to emulate them in life. Also some books such as “Bob the Builder” teach children about the role of machines in our lives in a fun and informative way.

So, by providing good books to your children, you can ensure that they blossom into good, wise, intelligent, educated and informed human beings.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about books. When shopping for books, we recommend you shop only at the best bookstores for children’s used books, autographed children’s books, and vedic books.

[tags]books for children, kids books[/tags]

Polished like gemstones in the river of time, the tales of Birbal’s wit and insight have delighted children and grownups across India for generations. These tales have entertained and taught people on all levels for hundreds of years. Although these tales are charming and amusing, they are not fictional. They are true stories of a wise man who lived in age old India in the palace of Emperor Akbar. Birbal served his Emperor with wit and wisdom, and he became so renowned that even today, parents and grandparents use these clever adventures as morality tales.

Birbal was the grand vizier and most trusted adviser of the Mughal emperor Akbar. Birbal’s duties at court were mostly military and administrative. He was a close friend of the emperor and was well known for his wit and wisdom.

One night, Emperor Akbar dreamed that he had lost all his teeth, except one. The next morning he invited all the astrologers of his kingdom to interpret this dream.

After a long discussion, the astrologers told Akbar that all his relatives would die before him. Akbar was very upset by this interpretation and sent them all away without any reward.

Later that day, Birbal entered the court. Akbar told Birbal his dream and asked him to interpret it. After thinking for a while Birbal replied that the Emperor would live a longer and more fulfilled life than any of his relatives. Akbar was pleased with Birbal’s explanation and rewarded him handsomely.

Another time Emperor Akbar and Birbal were taking a walk in the palace gardens. It was a nice summer morning and there were many crows happily playing around the pond. Akbar decided to test Birbal’s wit.

He asked Birbal how many crows there were in his kingdom. After a moment’s thought, Birbal replied, “There are ninety-five thousand four hundred and sixty-three crows”.

Amazed by his quick response, Akbar asked, “What if there are more?” Without hesitating Birbal replied, “If there are more crows, then some are visiting from other neighboring kingdoms”. “And what if there are less crows?” Akbar asked. “Then some crows from our kingdom have gone on holiday to other places”.

Although he was well loved by Emperor Akbar and the common people because of his wit and attention to justice, the other courtiers at Akbar’s court were jealous of Birbal and they continuously plotted his downfall, without success. Even Birbal’s death in battle was said to be caused by treachery rather then defeat. Akbar mourned for several months on hearing the news.

There are many books, videos, and CD ROMS available that have a rich collection of Birbal stories and are useful not only to children, but also young adults living outside of India. Amar Chitra Katha helps to reacquaint them with their heritage.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for Krishna art, religious gifts from India, and Hare Krishna books. You can find the best marketplace for Krishna art, religious gifts from India, and Hare Krishna books at these sites for Krishna art, Birbal gifts from India, and Hare Krishna books.

[tags]Birbal, Indian folk story[/tags]