At this point, I don’t have much. I hope more materials will come from other parents.

Recommended dictionaries for German-English (and back) translation (thanks to MaryAnn for the links and wonderful tips!):

• PowerPoint Presentations from Isa
• Leo Online dictionary
• Beolingus

Both sites offer translation from english-german, german-english, as well as some other languages. I click on english-german, and type in the english word that I wanted translated. Then up pops several choices of german words with sound file attached. I detach the sound file on my hard-drive and insert it into my powerpoint files.

• Glenn Doman’s method of teaching a baby to read: in brief
• Glenn Doman’s Method FAQ
• Phonics and other methods

Materials:

• Single Words (Download the List of all words).
• Single Words by Proud Papa - organized phonetically
• Couplets
• Phrases
• Sentences
• Books
• Encyclopedic Knowledge Topics Listing: all sections contain presentations in English
• Other sites containing materials in English
• Other resources: computer programs, dvds, books, websites, toys…
• How do I use these books?

Note: files marked with * include famous works of art. Files marked with include sound effects Files marked with ^r include randomizer

A mother looks at her smiling baby and every tune of her soul is singing a sweet and happy tune… we all know that. However new scientific research indicates there is more to it:

A new study shows seeing her baby’s smile lights up the reward center in a mother’s brain. Researchers say understanding that reaction may help explain that special mother-child bond and determine why it sometimes goes wrong…

Researchers found that when the mothers saw happy images of their own baby, activation increased in areas of the brain associated with reward and the neurotransmitter dopamine compared with seeing images of other babies.

“Going outside? Splash some sunscreen. On yourself, on your baby, on your cat…” Is it really effective? Which sunblocks to buy? New research indicates that just one of 103 products from the second-largest seller, Banana Boat, and the third largest seller, Neutrogena, were recommended to be safe and provide the necessary protection. With top-selling sunscreen brands being the poorest performers, which ones are safe?

An environmental research and advocacy group claims that four out of five brand-name sunscreens either provide inadequate sun protection or contain chemicals that may be unsafe, but industry representatives strongly dispute the charge….

The argument on the advantages of whole word method over phonics, or whole language processing over both other methods of reading, is constantly the subject of a heated discussion. So, the New York University study, by professor of psychology and neural science Denis Pelli and research scientist Katharine Tillman, performed an assessment which of the methods people use in their daily attempt to speed up the reading process.

“The contributions made by phonics, holistic word recognition, and whole-language processes are not redundant,” explained Pelli. “These three processes are not working on the same words and, in fact, make contributions to reading speed exclusive of one another.”

Book Notes that I print out and hang on the fridge for quick reference.

I was searching for a good book on kind and effective ways of dealing with tantrums, conflicts and even everyday situations, so I looked through Positive Discipline Resources and picked up How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber, Elaine Mazlish.

I’ve got to admit: I fell in love with this book. I even purchased a CD version of How to Talk So Kids Can Learn: At Home and In School to be able to listen to it in a car.

Bully Proof Your Children - 10 Powerful Strategies to Stop Bullies in Their Tracks
By Jeni Hooper

All parents want their children to be popular. We want them to be confident and relaxed in company and to be able to deal with a whole variety of people. We can’t always be there with them to show them how to do it. Even when they are quite young and playing with friends, there will be times when children don’t get on. How can you help your child to manage relationships with other people, some of whom may be actively hostile?

1. No matter how shy your kid is, he will always be welcomed and will always find good friends in a sport team.
2. Participating in sports will allow the child to discover previously unknown reserves of his or her body. When your whole team is behind the child, sky is the limit to what he or she can do.
3. By exercising regularly the child will get used to staying fit. Flab? What flab!
4. Child’s self esteem will get a huge boost. If the kid tries again and again, and finally succeeds, he becomes aware of what he is capable of and this feeling will stay with her for life!

Don’t you love the wonderful feel of a warm swimming pool or a warm lake during the summer? Yet, enjoying it can be dangerous. The threat seems more appropriate for a sci-fi story, then a scientific document, but since the events don’t take place on some Martian plane, but actually have been recorded on our humble planet, it might seem curious enough:

Six young men died last year after swimming in lakes or pools infested with a brain-eating amoeba, the CDC reports.