This Might Seem Like a No-Brainer... BUT...

Yep, that's a big ol' BUT ... buuuut, bear with me here.

Isn't it typically the things that are right under our noses which go unnoticed or taken for granted? I'm thinking ... YES!
Today's Laser Tip is one of those~


One word: Crosswords

Seriously, doing crossword puzzles together with your kids is a great way to:
~keep their brain (and yours) sharp
~build a strong vocabulary (no matter what age)
~spend time together
~build memories
~have fun!

I remember many special moments doing crossword puzzles with my kids, snuggled under a blanket on the couch or in front of a fire in the winter. Other times when we were on vacation and my husband was driving, I'd be doing a crossword puzzle in the front passenger seat, and I'd call out a clue to our sons in the back seat. Often times, it was a collaborated effort to get the right answer; however, some of the 'wrong' answers would spur opportunities for a 'side' lesson.

In addition to filling in the answers on the puzzle, we'd take turns spelling the words and using them in a sentence. This is especially beneficial when there are various age groups participating. Crosswords are generally easy to keep age-appropriate since there is typically a mix of short words and big words.

To make it more fun, you can make 'rules' that the sentence can only pertain to a particular subject or scenario. For instance, all sentences must somehow relate to a zoo. If a clue to a particular puzzle is: Six-letter word for 'a place to learn.' And the answer is 'school,' someone must spell the word 'school' and use it in a sentence pertaining to the zoo. Teens might say something along the lines of, "The last week of school was like a zoo because there was not much structure in our schedule." Younger kids might say, "I'd rather go to the zoo than go to school!"

Either way, there is a hidden bonus here ... insight to what your kid is thinking and feeling. The first sentence might clue you in to the fact that your older child is beginning to prefer structure, even though they might resist it from you at home. And, although it might not be a surprise that your younger child would rather do something more fun than school, it presents you with an opportunity to broach the subject in a gentle manner.

VOILA! Time spent with your kids, future memories, sharpened vocabulary skills, and built-in lessons ... Oh yeah, and you had ... um ... what's a three-letter word for enjoyment? ...

Remember, for more creative ways to have fun with your kids, check out my free interactive website and watch segments of my NBC and CBS morning show appearances on my YouTube Channel. Also, stop by your local book store and pick up a copy of my Best-Selling interactive book for kids of all ages, 'Color My World.'

As always, I LOVE it when you share your creative successes with me ... here or by email: harmonypublications@hotmail.com.

And, I appreciate it when you pass my information along to your friends!

Until next time,
Enjoy the magic~
;-Deb

Creativity Kick-off!

Hello, and welcome to Color My World!

I think I've waited long enough to begin blogging on a regular basis (or at least attempt to ~ yep, there it was ~ the upfront 'yabut' just in case I don't keep up with it!). My excuse has been that I was busy writing my first book, then came the job of marketing it, and then my book tour. Then I began traveling the country conducting workshops, and doing radio and TV interviews. Oh, then I started on my next books ... and a few other product lines ... not to mention a few other projects which I will be unveiling soon!

I now realize that there will never be a perfect time to dive in ~ and so I just gave myself permission to go ahead and jump!

I'm feeling a bit like I've just crash-landed, but I'm here ... so here goes:



My book, 'Color My World' (Psst! ... over there, to the right...)
is part of an interactive learning system for children.



There are also interactive hands-on workshops which I conduct, as well as an interactive website (www.colormyworld.info/). All of these encourage independent thinking, and nurture creativity in fun ways.

In addition, I teach classes around the country; coming up in August 2009, I will be teaching at Chautauqua Institution in NY ... you can check out details here. And I periodically host live, world-wide interactive tele-workshops (via telephone) which I will announce here, so stay tuned for more information! You will NOT want to miss those opportunities!

In this blog, I will offer tips, techniques and tools to nurture creativity and bring out the child in all of us. My tips are not only great ways to teach children to express themselves; they are also tools for you to use in building special moments to bond with the kids in your life.

Along the way, I hope you will allow me to help bring out the kid inside you ~ it's a much happier way to live! ;-)

Here is a tip from my toolbox (and you don't even have to 'find' the time ... you can do this around the dinner table):

• Whether there are two of you or twenty-two, make up your own story tonight. One person can begin with a plot such as, "Today, I saw a dinosaur walking along Fifth Avenue during my lunch hour." Now, each person takes a turn adding only one sentence each per turn. This can go around the room once, or several times. It will be fun to see how many turns the plot takes with each person's spin.

*SPECIAL NOTE: For an added element of fun, set up a video camera or an audio recorder. This will set up future fun when you go back and listen to it in years to come!

Take THAT to the family table tonight! ...
I DOUBLE DARE YA,
;-Deb