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In a message dated 8/23/2000 4:28:58 PM, Cararmst@... writes:

<<He's always been interested in
space and aviation. He still likes Pokemon. He's a beginning reader, but
vastly prefers being read to.>>

Would books on tape be a pleasure for him -- or a second-rate substitution
for having you read to him?

Betsy

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In a message dated 8/23/2000 9:28:59 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
Cararmst@... writes:

> He's a TV/Nintendo junkie and he also loves the computer, but I
> don't want every gift to be a computer or Nintendo game. He's taking ice
> skating lessons and group music classes. He's always been interested in
> space and aviation. He still likes Pokemon. He's a beginning reader, but
> vastly prefers being read to

Get him a Nintendo Power magazine. It is written to a higher reading level
than he's ready for, but he will still get a lot out of it. Our son pretty
much learned to read from Nintendo Power and scriptures. Since he was really
interested in winning the games, he would pour over the magazine and work
really hard to understand what was written. His reading level improved
dramatically and all at his own effort.

(The scripture reading came from daily family reading. If you are not into
scripture/religion, I highly recommend having some form of 'higher' reading
that the family does together on a regular basis (Shakespeare, other
classics, or poetry for instance). There is something about reading to the
cadence of a 'different' language that stimulates the reading ability. FWIW,
Dr. Seuss or Shel Silverstein are great for this, IMO! )

Of course, you didn't necessarily ask for an educational gift. <g> Eight is
the age we finally got DS his own subscription to Nintendo Power. He kept
snagging his brother's copy and having his personal copy brought much peace
to our home! LOL

Eiraul

susan wilson

amazon is having a 50% off sale. we just bought zome creator set for
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check it out. here's the ad:

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********************
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haven't picked up a bat all season. Now through August 31,
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http://www.amazon.com/great-deals/295234/8-11



> Hi guys,
>
> Zack will be 8 in a couple of weeks, and I sure could use some
birthday gift
> suggestions. He's a TV/Nintendo junkie and he also loves the
computer, but
> I
> don't want every gift to be a computer or Nintendo game. He's
taking ice
> skating lessons and group music classes. He's always been
interested in
> space and aviation. He still likes Pokemon. He's a beginning
reader, but
> vastly prefers being read to. He does not like sports, or building
things
> like Legos.
>
> Any suggestions? Any particular games or toys your children have
enjoyed?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Carron
>
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carron,
my 8 yo boy loves monopoly-so we have 4 sets! 1 is a pokemon set! he also
really likes to play chess, so we have gotten him a chess clock and a few
rollup chess sets-not expensive, so we can take them with us and find players
wherever we go!!!!! he loves the mystery-type books-boxcar children, hardy
boys, etc. does he have roller blades? cheap at second-hand shops and not a
competitive sport thing. hmmm...will think about more ideas.
bridget

TEK960

Hi Bridget --

<<so we have gotten him a chess clock and a few
rollup chess sets-not expensive, so we can take them with us and find
players
wherever we go!!!!!>>

I have just been a lurker up til now and I am not Carron but my 6 yo son is
a chess maniac and we haven't been able to find a chess clock or the rollup
chess sets! Where did you get these?

Thanks!

Tina

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In a message dated 8/23/2000 12:49:02 PM Central Daylight Time,
ecsamhill@... writes:

> Would books on tape be a pleasure for him -- or a second-rate substitution
> for having you read to him?
>
> Betsy

Thanks, Betsy. Good suggestion. He does like books on tape, especially book
and tape combinations. I think he's a visual learner, and the picture book
is a help keeping him focused on the story, although a friend lent us the
tapes for the first Harry Potter, and he's done very well listening to them
without having a book in front of him. Do you have any favorite books on
tape?

Carron

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In a message dated 8/23/2000 1:04:15 PM Central Daylight Time,
braunville@... writes:

> Get him a Nintendo Power magazine.

Ooh, I hadn't thought of that!

> If you are not into
> scripture/religion, I highly recommend having some form of 'higher'
reading
> that the family does together on a regular basis (Shakespeare, other
> classics, or poetry for instance). There is something about reading to
the
> cadence of a 'different' language that stimulates the reading ability.
FWIW,
> Dr. Seuss or Shel Silverstein are great for this, IMO! )

We're not scripture types, but Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein are favorites
of mine! I should pull out my Silverstein books and read them to Zack. I
actually always thought of them as mine, because a friend introduced me to
his books many years ago, long before I had children, and I never thought of
them (honest!) as children's books. But they really are, aren't they?

Thanks. So much food for thought.

Carron

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In a message dated 8/24/2000 8:11:38 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
Cararmst@... writes:

> I should pull out my Silverstein books and read them to Zack. I
> actually always thought of them as mine, because a friend introduced me to
> his books many years ago, long before I had children, and I never thought
of
>
> them (honest!) as children's books. But they really are, aren't they?
>

LOL I did the same thing! Too funny. I was totally amazed when someone
pointed out to me that they were children's books. My kids loved them.

Eiraul

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In a message dated 8/23/2000 11:59:52 PM Central Daylight Time,
bctswim@... writes:

> carron,
> my 8 yo boy loves monopoly-so we have 4 sets! 1 is a pokemon set! he also
> really likes to play chess, so we have gotten him a chess clock and a few
> rollup chess sets-not expensive, so we can take them with us and find
> players
> wherever we go!!!!! he loves the mystery-type books-boxcar children, hardy
> boys, etc. does he have roller blades? cheap at second-hand shops and not
a
> competitive sport thing. hmmm...will think about more ideas.
> bridget

Hey, nice ideas! Zack has played Monopoly and really surprised me with how
well he counted the money. He played Monopoly Junior with some friends
recently and enjoyed it. Do you think that might be too young for an 8 year
old? I also saw both a Star Trek chess set and a Star Wars chess set in a
game shop where he goes for Pokemon cards. Hummm, maybe one of those. . .

Carron

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In a message dated 8/24/2000 3:08:49 PM, Cararmst@... writes:

<<Do you have any favorite books on tape?>>

We haven't done a lot of book-on-taping yet. One we did listen to from the
library that was quite fun was The Whipping Boy, by Fleischman. (About the
boy who studies with the spoiled prince and has to take the prince's
punishment because the tutor is not allowed to hit royalty.)

The Chinaberry catalog has a good selection of books on tape, with
descriptions.

If your son really enjoyed Harry Potter #1, then #2 might be a winner. My
son is 6, so his taste probably won't match that of your son very closely.

Betsy

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In a message dated 8/24/2000 9:00:05 AM Central Daylight Time,
TEK960@... writes:

> I have just been a lurker up til now and I am not Carron but my 6 yo son is
> a chess maniac and we haven't been able to find a chess clock or the rollup
> chess sets! Where did you get these?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Tina
>

Yea, that too! I forgot to ask this in my earlier reply. Thanks Tina!

Carron

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In a message dated 8/24/2000 10:54:47 AM Central Daylight Time,
ecsamhill@... writes:

> The Chinaberry catalog has a good selection of books on tape, with
> descriptions.
>

I'd forgotten about that. Thanks for reminding me.

Carron

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tina,
we found the chess rollup boards and chess clock in the us chess federation
magazine for kids called chess mates or school mates....
bridget

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carron,
monopoly junior might be too young
for your son--ages 5 to 8. you can always play the regular monopoly without
the houses and hotel so it is not overwhelming at first. the star wars chess
set sounds great. happy shopping.
bridget

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In a message dated 8/24/2000 9:46:35 PM Central Daylight Time,
bctswim@... writes:

> carron,
> monopoly junior might be too young
> for your son--ages 5 to 8. you can always play the regular monopoly
without
> the houses and hotel so it is not overwhelming at first. the star wars
chess
>
> set sounds great. happy shopping.
> bridget

Thanks for the advice. Sometimes I'm still too conventional. I follow the
age suggestions and have a hard time imagining that you can play Monopoly
without the buildings <grin>. But, I'm unschooling too, and I've really
learned a lot about looking for new ways to see things. Thanks in large part
to advice like this!

Carron