Did anybody see that GalorePark is coming out with a new comprehensive geography studies curriculum in June? https://www.galorepark.co.uk/Product?Product=9781471827266 Not a lot of info available on the website yet, but something to watch for... ETA: 2 New Geo books, broken into Physical Geography and Human Geography...

Ha! I don't blame you:)I only have one little one, but we are a bit fanatical about fun science in the house...and we live within walking distance of a proper Uni lab where hubby gets to do the fun stuff all day. My biggest fear is not so much people storing chemicals but rather disposing of them properly! I haven't been over to the hs boards but now you have me curious:)

Definitely. Chemicals are different and each needs to be stored accordingly. We actually have a wine fridge designated, and a separate ventilation area...but we are chemists:)

We have a designated, extra deep science closet! Shelves with Tupperware boxes, wire shelves on each side, and one of those transparent shoe hangers on the inside of the door. I put in a shelf on drawer slides/wheels for the microscope so that it will pull out into a desk, and we installed a halogen light inside Different shelves for life science, earth science, etc. Larger specimen collections got a designated floor/ceiling bookcase in the library:)

This. We did water safety classes first. There was a period of time when dd did not swim for several months. We arranged for a week of daily lessons (as they really don't make tremendous progress if otherwise, at least for MOST kids). After that she now goes 2 times per week. If you have a child that is fearful o water or reluctant to put their face in the water, I would definitely go for daily for a bit. So many kids in the classes where we go seem to have to start over after the long weekend without lessons:(

Math games, math games, and more math games with some logic games thrown in for variety:) Science kits and building sets. Absolute favorite is Zome Tool that we can get extra kits for.

This isn't going to be exactly what you are looking for as it is more in line with Veterinary science, but it may either work as a supplement or as a comparitive. I just ordered this for a child's birthday. 4H has a veterinary science curriculum: http://www.4-h.org/resource-library/curriculum/4-h-veterinary-science/

So I know it is an old thread, but timely. My dd is very, very insistent upon learning to write in cursive as she considers it to be 'fancy.' I have been puting her off because I wanted to make sure she was printing really well, but I cannot really use that as an excuse anymore. I am thinking of ordering the Handwriting Without Tears cursive book, but in Spanish to keep it as separate as possible for awhile. Has anybody used this? http://shopping.hwtears.com/product/EC/HWT ETA: Bakpak, did you end up using the HoT printing program in Spanish? What did you think of the Spanish itself? Mostly vocabulary, or was it helpful?

It can be strep related... After my dd4 had strep and went through 2 bouts of antibiotics I thought she was fine. About 2 weeks later she said she wanted to show me her 'dinosaur fingernail.' I looked and totally freaked. EVERY.SINGLE.FINGERNAIL. And all but one toenail were falling off! She said it wasn't painful, and there was fresh new pink nail underneath but I freaked. We are vegetarian and all I could think was some strange dietary thing I had missed, lol. I made an appointment for the next morning, but that night when I gave her a bath A LOT of hair was lost. It was a horrible night, but the next day at the doctor I wa reassured that whilst it is not completely common, it does happen. Ugh. I would still take her to be checked though, just for peace of mind!

I was just going to say this. When my dd was just turning 3! She wanted to learn multiplication tables. She had already done lots of play and had learne skip counting, so I went looking for something fun and story based. I thought it would just be fun an silly, but it was amazing. We read the stories (I actually let her color the cards, but that was an age thing)!and she just had them. Funnily enough, learning them story-based meant that she did not have to learn division facts. In her mind they were perfectly linked as a story. The other thing is, for Multiplication.com you don't HAVE to buy expensive materials, although you can buy the books. You can just download and print the cards as a $0.99 download then read the stories on the website. They have free games as well. I just checked and they still have a little video on their blog of my cutey practicing her 'facts.' I do think that for the story-based format, often younger kids and very visual people seem to do much better with them.

I know it isn't the same but since I am in a wheelchair I am almost ALWAYS sitting in the same position. Especially the last year I have developed, almost excruciating at times, pain in the same area you describe. Seriously, I take some pain meds and have a pain pump for other issue and it seems that back pain that develops after even an hour or two sitting rivals anything else. I DID see a doctor and he did a work up...basically he (Ortho) said he gets this all the time now because we spend so much time sitting and looking down at things like computers, phones, etc. I tried a bit of therapy, but the doc and therapist both suggested a chiropractor! I was HIGHLY skeptical because of my other med issues, but the doctor said regardless of the adjustments themselves, it happens to be the most inexpensive place to be massaged, iced, use TENS, and be stretched. And that for some things they can help more than most anything. So I tried it. I wouldn't say it is a cure by any means, and I am not convinced by all of what the chiropractor says. But it feels incredible to have the deep massage, TENS, ice, etc...and it is pretty cheap. If you can't get any reprieve you might give it a try. Oh! He also suggested looking UP at the ceiling every few minutes, which does seem to help a bit. I am sorry you are going through this OP. I completely commiserate. That dull, throbbing pain almost seems to take over all thought processes after a while:( ETA: the Chiro can actually do an x-ray on site...and whilst I would not trust them probably to be the best person to make Ortho decisions, they WILL be able to tell you to see a doctor if anything major is there...and you can ask for copies.

Thanks:) Because we are strange like that, I actually have a little ziplock full of different polyhedral dice I keep in my purse for those moments like restaurants where I need to occupy her for a bit. I will have to make sure they get packed...

Encouraging news from the fertility expert/genetic counselor team we finally get to see the Friday prior!

Dragging this fantastic thread out because I received a couple of great games we played all yesterday:) We are taking a six week road trip/vacation so I have been looking for fun math items that won't take up much room. My dd is currently really interested in fractions and percentages so I found this cool card game called FracTazmic: http://shop.iseecards.com/aboutus.sc It can be played at several different levels too. The cards actually don't look like much...but the Pyramath game was FUN. And it involves all four arithmetic operations. I have Prime Bomb but we haven't played it yet. If it is anything like the others it will be great. Anybody have any other ideas for easily-transportable math?

Honestly, if I was going to buy my own and was going to use them quite a bit I would go for the square version from Rome Industries. They have the best reviews, and the size shape is perfect for regular bread. Cast iron is a definite plus as they come out much crispier and it seems to cook evenly. http://www.romeindustries.com/ That being said...whatever you get make sure it has clasps to close them on the sides. I have seen some that do not, only having a sort of mechanism at the top. The reviews and experience with one my mother had says they leak and are a lot harder to clean. I really like the cast iron for the above reasons, but you can get them in aluminum. These are usually cheaper, but it really depends how much you will use them as well:)

I also have a dd4 who really enjoys them. She actually got the Junior set when she was 3, and has since gotten a couple more expansion sets. For her, I wouldn't say she plays with them daily, but at least 1-2 times per week? I posted this in another thread about gifts for four year olds as well, so apologies if anyone read it there. We were at a major children's museum a couple of weeks ago and the wonderful folks from Big Thoughts for Little People were there with stations set up for the kids. One of the absolutely most popular was a large table full of Snap Circuits. I was quite suprised by how many of the most interested kids were in the under five age bracket! Even more fantastic were the conversations. Preschoolers telling other kids about sets at home, advising other children to build their series in parallel, asking other kids to pass parts by name. It was really pretty cool. Here is the thing. I think the very best information that young kids will take away from them is a working idea of how electricity and electrical gadgets work. It really helps get rid of that 'black box' mentality, as well as helps create the ability to question how and why things work. Truly, even my dd4 will ask how electrical items work...I think that can be pretty common with more mechanical items that kids can SEE, but much harder for kids to grasp with things like electricity that they cannot. Snap Circuits allow them to see this. I also LOVE the problem-solving aspect of it. Following schematics, as Korrale said, but also trying to build their own items. Oh! And whilst they are pretty sturdy, it is important to note that the company will usually send free replacement parts:)

We go camping quite a bit, and I also recommend head torches (lamps for those without a British hubby correcting them constantly:) If you have little ones and still happen to have a kids potty around, it is wonderful for night time! Last year hubby bought me the coolest non-necessary item that I now wouldn't go camping without. It is a cast-iron sort of sandwich maker you hold over the campfire. If you google 'pie iron' you will find a ridiculous number of delicious and FAST camping meals you can do in it. Hot sandwiches in about a minute. I have done biscuit dough with fillings even! I swear everything tastes better in it, even just a grilled cheese. The best was a grilled Portabello mushroom with onions, garlic and bell peppers I cut up at home ahead of time. Here is REI's version. We have two and managed to cook for a group of ten: http://m.rei.com/product/752497/?cm_mmc=cse_PLA-_-pla-_-product-_-7524970014&camp-chef-cooking-iron&preferredSku=7524970014&mr:trackingCode=20834FFE-FB85-DE11-B7F3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=m&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=44272126720&mr:keyword=&mr:match=&mr:filter=61471034440&msid=WBv92cxc_dm%7Cpcrid%7C44272126720%7C

Ugh, it depends on who you ask and which country you are in! When is the US going to officially adopt a nutritional standards label for Vegetarian and Vegan, as in say the UK?! Hubby is British and I LOVE shopping there for food. They have made it so much easier:) http://www.isitvegan.com/2011/06/02/are-oreos-vegan/

Ha! Posting at the same time:) I would never had made mine if they took more than 1/2 hour:)

Ah, Junior Mints! I made this vegan version at Christmas. Delicious! The disclaimer is that I had not had real Junior Mints in years, so I guess I am not the BEST person to compare:) But try certainly tasted like what I remember and were so tasty. http://mywholefoodlife.com/2014/01/22/homemade-junior-mints/

Yes, in this day and age it seems the best way to establish a solid credit rating is to get credit cards Not a child, but my hubby is JUST establishing credit of his own in this country as he is British by birth, and has been living here since we married. Same thing. Ridiculously it actually can SAVE money if you are careful. For example, many utility companies first run credit checks when you apply for a utilities account. If you do not have decent credit (or any credit) you end up paying hundreds of dollars in deposits! Btw, when the kids first move into their own place, getting the utilities in their names even with parents names as cosigners will help establish a credit history.

I have an only. She is only 4, and we would love to have another, but it is looking pretty much impossible for health/genetic issues. I grew up in a house with 4 kids-2 step siblings and a 1/2 sister. I never really considered the step-siblings to be MY siblings despite living in the same house for 12 years, and my 1/2 sister is almost 7 years younger. I considered her more of my own daughter than a sibling, lol, especially considering I had graduated and was emancipated by age 15. Hubby has one brother. I DO think that there are a lot more resources to offer my dd in terms of money, opportunities, and sheer time. I often worry about the long-term though...especially after mom/dad are old and/or dead:( Even though I am not super-close to my 1/2 sister, we still know each other is there, KWIM? Our dd periodically asks about siblings. My first miscarriage after her was very difficult for her. We did not tell her about the others, but she is extremely knowledgable about basic biology and I see how it still affects her. Not too long ago when our neighbor was pregnant dd said to her "you must have had a healthy embro. You are so lucky. My mom didn't and so it didn't grow into a healthy fetus and become a cutey sister for me. I REALLY want a sister." Geez. Still, my dd is an extremely um, high maintenance child:) I am in a wheelchair, and in many ways it will be much better for her/us to devote all time and resources to her...so there are definant perks! Not to mention I am 37 and feel older EVERY day. The further I get from the tiny baby years the less I miss them...

Yep, me too please on the address? I KNEW I should have written it down in the beginning:)

I get this all the time too! I have been veggie all my life (or rather, from age 5). If someone seems really interested I might have a brief conversation about it...but here in Texas it seems to be almost a sin, lol. Sometimes I will admit to just waving a hand dismissively and saying something like, "oh, I never worry about it. We just eat cheese pizza and junk food." And now it is worse with a child...for some, raising a child as a vegetarian is akin to child abuse. Never mind the months of research we did, the food journal we keep (in no small part to worries about outside opinions), the semi-annual bloodwork we have done for her 'just to be sure', and the pediatric nutritionist we see every 3 months for the same reasons:) Our child is 4, but knows even now it will always be her choice. But wow, the QUESTIONS people think up!

Ah, but maybe they might change their minds if they knew they were missing out on the KFC corsage for prom from the other threadðŸ˜