Traveling or Waiting with Children This Summer?

As a special gift to readers who will be traveling or waiting with children this summer and dread their summertime boredom, Business Speech Improvement has compiled a complimentary online list of Great Games to Play with Children. These games are no-tech, usually no prep and fun! (Children often learn something from playing them, too, but they usually don't want to hear that.)

This link will be available only for a limited time. To access it, visit Business Speech Improvement and scroll down to the bottom of the home page.

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in verbal skills for adults. Specialties include American English Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals, techniques for talking slower, presentation skill coaching and much more! Small group open enrollment seminars, individual speech coaching and even e-books are all available.

Letting Your College Freshman Go -Gently

A few years ago, at a college orientation program for parents, sad looks and even tears were on many faces. Parents were clearly concerned about their children's ability to manage on their own.

There is another option, though, between being a "helicopter parent" and a "hands off" parent.
Children who are in college often do want guidance, but they don't want their parents to know about it.

A new downloadable book, Portable Parent (www.portableparent.com) offers this middle ground.
Parents can include their advice in sections of this unique customizable book, and then upload it onto their child's computer. The book includes advice and helpful information on everything from getting to know others and lengthening term papers, to finding private scholarships and avoiding phishing e-mails. Best of all, when giving this book to your child, it won't add a single extra ounce as you lug your child's things up to his new dorm room!

Ready for College?

Tomorrow, May 1, millionsof high school seniors will commit to the college of their choice. It is a scary decision for many of them and for their parents. After the big decision, parents start to wonder if their child is independent enough to go to college.

Parents worry about whether the child knows enough, and can do enough, about time and money management, health and safety, academic skills, doing laundry, and much more.

Portable Parent (www.portableparent.com) is designed to provide "instant information, with a parent's insight, 24/7". This new down-loadable book allows parents to customize some of the pages, and provides information on more than 20 topics relevant to college students today.

As student reviewer Will Hatch commented, Hey - it's like a parent that you can get information from when you want it.... even at the times of morning that you need advice but don't want the lecture you'd get about calling at that time of night!"

Parenting a High School Senior?

Are you a parent who is wondering what the future will hold for your high school senior? When the time comes to leave him at his college dorm, will you BOTH be ready?

Will he know enough about making friends in a new environment, time and money management, what to bring to college, doing laundry, avoiding the dreaded "freshman 15" and all those topics? Will you wish you had told him some special tip "just one more time - so it will stick"? If your older child is going into an apartment, does he know what to search for when looking at an apartment, and also tips on finding a job and social life if he is graduating?

When kids go to college, they want independence - even though they may need advice. The problem is that they don't want to ask their parents- especially at 2 AM, which is when they think of the questions!

The solution is the Portable Parent, a downloadable e-book to which parents can add their wisdom, before giving it to their child. Visit www.PortableParent.com. "Instant information - with an parent's insight - 24/7"!