NEWS ALERT:

Playdate Kids Publishing Inks Deal for French Distribution

Playdate Kids Publishing signs a deal with Mariposa Press, Inc. to distribute their children’s books in France.

Malibu, CA—(November 23, 2007) Playdate Kids Publishing has announced that they have inked a deal with Mariposa Press, Inc. for French distribution on their children’s book titles.

With the publication of the Mariposa Press Inc. fall/winter children’s catalogue, they will be distributing the Playdate Kids Publishing products to bookstores as well as introducing the series to English language bookstores. Mariposa Press Inc. will also be representing all of the titles at both the Salon du Livre (France’s main Book-Expo) and France’s children’s book fair, the Salon du Livre et de la Presse Jeunesse. President of Playdate Kids Publishing, Tena Fanning, shares, “All of our books been so well-received in the states, we want to share them with parents and children overseas. We feel that France is a wonderful place to start!”

Playdate Kids Publishing offers two categories of books-“Growing-Up” and “Musical Series”:
· Self-esteem and Positive Self Image in The I Like Me Dance (Finalists: 2007 Children’s Picture Book - National Indie Excellence Award, & 2007 Best Books Award – USA Book News)· Personal Hygiene and Social Skills: Booger Boogie· Potty Training and Privacy: Island Potty Party (Finalist: 2007 Best Books Award – USA Book News)

All of the Following: Awarded the Golden Seal of Approval – National Parenting Center· New Baby in Family: Chloe’s New Baby Brother· Loss of a Family Pet: Chloe Losses Her Pet· Moving Away: Danny Is Moving· Distinguishing between Good & Bad Secrets: Danny’s Secret· Ill Family Member: Dakota’s Mom Goes to the Hospital· Getting Lost in Public: Dakota Gets Lost· Divorce: Cosmo’s Mom & Dad Are Moving Apart· Blended Family (Step Families Coming Together): Cosmos’ Blended Family

SAN# 6300065

Playdate Kids Publishing Places as Finalist in USA Best Books Awards 2007

The I Like Me Dance and Island Potty Party place as Finalists in the Children's Picture Book: Hardcover Fiction w/ Audio CD category.

Malibu, CA—(November 13, 2007) Playdate Kids Publishing announced today that they are a finalist in the “USA BEST BOOKS AWARDS 2007” for two of their titles: Island Potty Party and The I Like Me Dance.

USABookNews.com, the premiere online magazine and review website for mainstream and independent publishing houses, announced the winners and finalists of THE NATIONAL “BEST BOOKS” 2007 AWARDS (BBA) on November 1, 2007. The winners and finalists were announced in over 140 categories covering print, audio books and courses, e-books and interactive CD-ROMs. Awards were presented for titles published in late 2006-2007.

Although Playdate Kids Publishing was competing against numerous children’s picture books, they walked away with a prestigious finalist placement. “It is exhilarating to be acknowledged and placed as a finalist,” says author and President of Playdate Kids Publishing, Tena Fanning. “We love the continued recognition and pledge to keep up the quality of our products. The feedback this past year has influenced us to continue producing amazing product for children and their parents.”

Playdate Kids Publishing offers two categories of books-“Growing-Up” and “Musical Series”:
· Self-esteem and Positive Self Image in The I Like Me Dance (Finalist in the Children’s Picture Book Category of the National Indie Excellence 2007 Book Awards)
· Personal Hygiene and Social Skills: Booger Boogie
· Potty Training and Privacy: Island Potty Party
· New Baby in Family: Chloe’s New Baby Brother
· Loss of a Family Pet: Chloe Losses Her Pet
· Moving Away: Danny Is Moving
· Distinguishing between Good & Bad Secrets: Danny’s Secret
· Ill Family Member: Dakota’s Mom Goes to the Hospital
· Getting Lost in Public: Dakota Gets Lost
· Divorce: Cosmo’s Mom & Dad Are Moving Apart
· Blended Family (Step Families Coming Together): Cosmos’ Blended Family

SAN# 6300065

You can visit Playdate Kids Publishing’s website at: www.playdatekidspublishing.com.

In the Playdate Kids story, "DAKOTA’S MOM GOES TO THE HOSPITAL" by Dr. Annie Thiel, Dakota experiences some major life changes when her mom leaves and goes to hospital. When family members are ill, it is crucial to help a young child understand the situation and to help them release their thoughts and emotions.

Below are some tips from Dr. Annie Thiel....

Things You Can Do When Someone You Love Is Sick

1. Write them a letter or make them a special drawing.
2. Visit them in the hospital and sit with them.
3. Talk to someone you trust about your feelings.
4. Put together pictures of the two of you and make a special album to share with them.
5. Bring them photographs of home to keep with them in the hospital.
6. Help by doing some of their chores for them while they are too sick to do them.
7. At home, help bring food and water to the sick person.
8. Read aloud to the sick person if they are too tired.
9. Be cheerful when they are awake, and quiet when they are sleeping.
10. Always tell them you love them!

Moving is not easy. Should you decide to move away when you have kids, "Danny is Moving" by Dr. Annie Thiel is a great resource.

Here are some tips from the book...

Things To Remember When You Move

1. You can still write letters to your old friends, and call them when you miss them.
2. It’s okay to feel scared, or nervous about moving to a new place.
3. Talk to someone you trust about your feelings.
4. Ask lots of questions about the place where you are moving.
5. Even though you will miss your old friends, you can make lots of new friends.
6. Try to talk to the new kids in your class. They are nervous about meeting you too.
7. Don’t worry if you don’t make new friends right away – sometimes it takes a while to get used to new people and become friends with them.
8. Ask your parents to help you make lots of playdates with your new friends.
9. Tell your parents how to make your new room special, just for you.
10. Moving to a new place and a new house can be very exciting!

POTTY TRAINING ADVICE FROM PLAYDATE KIDS PUBLISHING

We have asked local moms and dads about their best potty training experiences. They all have this advice to share… It is not as hard as it seems, potty training can actually be really fun for both the parents and toddler! Really!! Teaching a child to use the toilet isn’t hard work if you do it right. All it requires is preparation from both the toddler and the parents.

Here are our tips on preparing for the potty:

Potty training should be a priority.

Potty training should be a top priority and parents need to reiterate the steps on a consistent basis. It is a process so as a parent, you should prepare for it just as much as your child! Even if your toddler shows signs of potty training readiness, YOU may not be ready for it! Choose a time to begin potty training when your life routine mellow. You don’t want to be pre-occupied with work or anything else.

Explain how going to the potty should work.

When you are ready to potty train, explain to your child that it's time to put his "pee-pee" and "poo- pee" in the toilet. Explain that when he feels the need to go in his diapers, he should hold it in, walk to the toilet, sit down, and let go. Just like big kids do…
Use toys to explain it further. Sit a toy (stuffed animal, doll or action figure) on a toilet and show how "[toy name] is going pee-pee in the potty." You can even put diapers on your child’s favorite stuffed animal or doll. Eventually, you can graduate the stuffed animal to “big kid” underwear.

Read a book or play music.

Share books and music about toilet learning so your child can see how other children like to use the potty. Our book, “The Island Potty Party” by author Tim Friedlander, is a great way to show a young child how much fun potty training can be!

Discuss the wonderful reward.

Talk to your child about the rewards of being potty trained: how there will be no more diaper rash, no more diaper changes that take away from playtime and the wonderful feeling of being clean, fresh and dry.

Discuss how potty training an important part of growing up.

Remind your child that using the potty makes them a “big kid” and not a baby. It is a step for growing up and that is great!

How to Help Your Child Spell

Is your child having trouble on weekly spelling quizzes in school? Below are some helpful tips for parents.

Once your child has learned to master this learning technique, he/she will be able to study his/her spelling words AND possibly other homework independently.

First and foremost, make your child your own practice test. As soon as your child brings home a list of new spelling words, sit down and create a special practice test. Since studies show that children learn how to spell words by visualizing them in their minds, try not to resort to mindless copying tactics. Instead, have your child say each new word out loud in a sentence—then ask him/her to write it down.

Now, have your child grade the test with you. Keep working if there are any misspelled words.

If so, tell your child to: Say the word while looking at the paper. Close his/her eyes, visualize the word on the paper, and spell the word out loud. Look at the written word to see if it was spelled it out loud correctly. Look at the word again, then cover the word and write it down. Lastly, check to see if he's written the word correctly.

If any word is misspelled again, all four steps must be repeated. Repeat the process once again after your child finishes the list of misspelled words.

On the night before the test, give your child another practice test with all the words.

Divorce and your parents?

Divorce is a very common issue nowadays. We all know couples who have split up. The percentage of married couples divorcing is so high, books have been written to ease the transition for children involved and some family therapists have opened practices devoted specifically to children of divorced families. What is often not mentioned is the pain and impact a divorce will have on the grandparents in the family.

Many grandparents are surprised by the divorce of their child, and become devastated when they realize the grandchildren they believed to be in a happy and secure home-- were not. The divorce can deeply affect the grandparents, leading them to wonder if it was their fault; perhaps they brought them up wrong or maybe they could have been more helpful. These quandaries haunt the minds of grandparents for years to come.

Grandparents may also become involved in the quarrel between divorcing couples, adding to the tension and confusion the children feel. Many grandparents are cut out of their grandchild's life by the custodial parent. The custodial parent may choose to move away, or make little effort in keeping in touch with the ex's parents. Other very vengeful parents choose to exclude the ex's parents from the child's life in an act of revenge, failing to see the detrimental impact this has on the child. This leaves the children to deal with the break-up of their parents, and the loss of an entire side of their family.

Another dilemma grandparents may face is that of loyalty. It may have been their son or daughter responsible for breaking-up the family. It is an awful situation to face and may cause the grandparent to face a terrible choice when it comes to supporting the family in turmoil. This dilemma may lead to a divide in the extended family as well.

Unfortunately, little support can be found for the parents of a divorcing couple. In many cases, a much-loved son or daughter-in-law is lost. However, grieving for the lost son or daughter is unacceptable. It leaves the mourning parent in solitude.

Often, grandparents can be thrust into taking an extremely hands-on approach with the grandchildren becoming babysitters instead of doting grandparents, thus leaving the grandparent exhausted.

If you know someone facing this unfortunate circumstance, provide then with the support they so deserve. When it comes to divorce, everyone involved needs a shoulder to cry on, not just the children. If your family is splitting up, make sure you have someone to talk to when you need. Your child and grandchildren need your strength and support, but the heartache you feel needs to be cared for as well.

By Amy Mosshart