Kid-Friendly Halloween Movies

October is the month in which many people like to watch a bunch of scary movies. That’s fine for adults and older teens who happen to like horror movies. Unfortunately, those types of movies are not appropriate for little kids. They are just too scary! Are your kids asking to watch Halloween movies that they are way too young for? Here are some alternative, kid-friendly, movies that they can watch instead. “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” This one has been around for a very long time. You may have watched it when you were a child. Now, you can … Continue reading

A List of Free Summer Movies

One way to keep the family entertained this summer is through free movies at the movie theater. We already talked about Regal Cinema’s $1 movies for families on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Now I have discovered more movie theaters that are participating in summer movie programs. Best of all, these movies are free, no $1 per person needed! Many of the theaters offering the free programs are regional, so they may only be available in a few states, while others are national. Regardless, they all have websites with details about the programs, so you can quickly see if there is a … Continue reading

Latest Disney Movie News

There’s a lot going on in the world of Disney movies right now.  The Disney Blog has the scoop on all the details.  First I’ll start with the news on one of my most anticipated upcoming Disney films: “The Muppets” sequel.  That’s right: 2011’s Muppet movie was successful enough that the famous puppet troop is headed out for another cinematic adventure. Just like the 2011 Muppet movie drew inspiration from the 1979 original, its sequel shares elements with the original’s sequel.  The Muppets are headed back to London, where they went in 1981’s “Great Muppet Caper.”  In “The Muppets…Again,” the … Continue reading

101 Dalmatians Book and Movie: Always Charming

The 1956 book “The Hundred and One Dalmatians” by Dodie Smith is a very English, very droll story of married Dalmatians Pongo and Missis, and their also-married pets, Mr. & Mrs. Dearly.  You read that right: Missis.  Perhaps the biggest surprise (to me) reading the novel on which the Disney film was based, was to discover that Pongo’s wife was not called Perdita, but Missis.  Even stranger is when a dog named Perdita appears.  She’s a liver (brown)-spotted Dalmatian that serves as a wet nurse for Missis, who cannot handle the milk load required by 15 puppies. Perdita’s own pups … Continue reading

The Best Summer Jobs by Age

Kids can learn important lessons outside of the classroom, and summer is a great time to reinforce learning in the areas of finance and managing money. In between trips to the pool or the movies, family vacations and sports camps, consider building in the opportunity for summer jobs. Here is a guideline that will help you with suggestions for the best summer jobs by age group. Junior High and Middle School Age Outside work around the home. Children this age love to be outside, so combine this love with a job doing exterior home work. There are a number of … Continue reading

Why Cash Might Be the Best Gift

Some people feel uncomfortable giving cash as a gift. That was never a problem in my family. In every Italian-American family wedding I’ve been to, the bride carries around a little purse just for the purpose. The envelopes get oohed and ahhed over more than does the sauce maker or the set of bed sheets. I do understand, however, that many people aren’t comfortable giving cash. They often opt for gift cards instead. A recent survey shows that people like getting gift cards, too. According to the 2012 Holiday Consumer Spending Survey, about six out of ten people would like … Continue reading

Which Peter Pan is the Best?

Charming is one word that we could apply to just about any Disney animated film, and even though 1953’s “Peter Pan” certainly is that, it’s devoid of charm when compared to the play/novel on which it was based. One of Walt Disney’s greatest strengths was his ability to take an older story and reinvent it for modern audiences. Doing so for “Peter Pan,” however, just replaces what is a wry and sweet sense of humor with silly slapstick, which seems cheap in comparison. A primary reason why Barrie’s book, and presumably his play, is so charming is its witty, very … Continue reading

Special Needs Blog Week in Review – July 1 – 7, 2012

Once a week, the Special Needs Blog Week in Review gives you a brief summary of each of the blogs that appeared here in the past seven days. This is a fast way to find out about the blogs that you might have missed when they were first posted. The Special Needs Podcast Roundup went up on July 2, 2012. This week, I’d like to point out an episode of The Coffee Klatch podcast. The episode is called “The Best of the Coffee Klatch – Sensory Processing Disorder”. The episode features Dr. Lucy Miller, author of “Sensational Kids: Hope and … Continue reading

Vanity Fair Movie Review

Crafty Becky Sharp may not have been blessed with a good start in life, but she has her wits, her beauty, and her ability to speak fluent french, qualities she hoped will raise her from orphan to leader of society. Along the way, she laughs at society but years to be at its center, falls in love, but makes foolish choices, has a heart of gold at times and could care less in others. The film is an adaption of William Makepeace Thackeray’s 1848 novel, an undertaking, since the book spans decades of the early 19th century and is filled … Continue reading

Special Needs Blog Week in Review – June 17 – 23, 2012

It is time, once again, for the Special Needs Blog Week in Review. It brings you a quick summary of each of the blogs that were posted here in the past seven days. This is an easy way to find the blogs that you might have missed. The Special Needs Podcast Roundup went up on June 18, 2012. This week, I’d like to point out an episode of The Coffee Klatch. The episode is called “The Best of Coffee Klatch – Dr. Ross Greene – Explosive Child”. Dr. Ross Green is the author of a book called “The Explosive Child”. … Continue reading