How To Grow Your Geek: Parenting and More!

 

 HTGYG # 15: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week we hear a few voicemails from Tim and Gary, and discuss how much tv, computer and video games is too much. Actually, I think you hear me tell that my kids watch too much! Anyhow, I would love to hear your take on this topic – I want to do a follow-up show with more comments!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek – at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. You can also see our super cute t-shirts, mugs and bags at our Zazzle store link, if you are interested. I love the logo so much that I thought it would be great on shirts, etc.!

Sponsor: Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.GotoMyPC.com/podcast

Logo Art by Tim Coffey

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Sound effects and other music courtesy of pacdv.com

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode I open the can of worms that is “When to expose your kids to scifi, etc?” I begin this discussion with an email from Angie and a voicemail from Tim, and begin to tackle the subject by dividing the speculative fiction genre into fantasy, sci-fi, action and horror, and give some of my suggestions about how and when to introduce those types of shows and movies. I realize that this topic can go on a while, so I didn’t try to finish it today! Next time we can tackle how much time spent on games, movies and tv is appropriate!

I also would like you to send in your comments and opinions on the topic – when do you expose kids to different levels of action in tv, movies and games, and how much do you let them watch or play such programs? Please tell me what you do in your home, and what works for you.

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek – at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. You can also see our super cute t-shirts, mugs and bags at our Zazzle store link, if you are interested. I love the logo so much that I thought it would be great on shirts, etc.!

Sponsor: Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.GotoMyPC.com/podcast

Logo Art by Tim Coffey

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Sound effects and other music courtesy of pacdv.com

Also, check out this article in Time about the new statistics on kids and video games! I will mention this next week!

The Diamond Of Darkhold – By Jeanne Duprau

From the book: “It’s been several months since Lina and Doon escaped the dying city of Ember and, along with the rest of their people, joined the town of sparks. Lina knows they are lucky to be there, but life aboveground is hard. Instead of opening a can for dinner, they must plant and harvest their food. And while there was no sun or moon in Ember’s sky, neither was there rain, sleet or wind. Now, in the middle of their first winter, Lina finds herself feeling homesick for her old city. Read more… »

From the box: Lodoss, the accursed island, Born in battle and baptized in fire, it has seen wars ravage it’s kingdom for thousands of years, Now, an evil beyond any it has ever faced before is awakening, and a party of six are drawn together to battle for the future of everything dear to them. among them: Parn, a young fighter who lacks experience and i driven by his desire to redeem his father’s tarnished name; Deedlit, a young and haughty elf girl who is both attracted to the young fighter and infuriated by his lack of interest. Ghim, a grizzled dwarf warrior haunted by a personal failure; Eton, a young priest; Slayn, a skilled magic user. And Woodchuck, a cynical but good natured thief. Read more… »

There is a new Dragon Page with Class episode up at the Dragon Page site. For those of you who have never checked it out, DPWC is a podcast hosted by Middle-school teachers bringing you tips and techniques fresh from the real-world classroom environment. Topics include discussions on education, ideas for parents and teachers alike, and interviews with the top young adult and childrens literature authors.

Please check it out!

 

 HTGYG #13: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Hi everyone! This week I bring you another mixed bag of subjects. First, I will tell you about my trip to Dragon*Con, then my son Kevin will give you his first impressions of the new computer game Spore, and finally my daughter Amanda will tell you her opinions of the television show “The Middleman” on the ABC Family Channel.

I also would like you to send in your comments and opinions on the topic I would like to cover soon – when do you expose kids to different levels of action in tv, movies and games, and how much do you let them watch or play such programs? Please tell me what you do in your home, and what works for you.

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek – at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. You can also see our super cute t-shirts, mugs and bags at our Zazzle store link, if you are interested. I love the logo so much that I thought it would be great on shirts, etc.!

Sponsor: Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.GotoMyPC.com/podcast

Promo: Variant Frequencies

Logo Art by Tim Coffey

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Sound effects and other music courtesy of pacdv.com

A rumor of dragons—— by Michael A. Heald

A book review by Darcy Anna Low.

A dragon that swims instead of flying. A prince with no hands. A wizard with a sword. A girl with a strange ability to talk to animals, or “senses” their feelings. They all work together to try to foil the evil plans of a great dark dragon, using their abilities to help themselves and each other. An adventure, a romance, a mystery… this book really made me not want to put it down. It was exciting and you really wanted to know what happened next.
I loved how Micheal A. Heald kept the book going. It was very hard to put down, but its volume of pages often forced me to. It is a long book, but you really don’t mind too much. Just hate when you got to stop to go eat, do homework or take out the trash. His introduction is wonderful, a party for the youngest prince coming of age. That immediately told me the prince was not a normal one. The protagonist’s nature is to go looking for trouble, so it was easy to slide from a castle to a slime-dripping cave. Heald’s descriptions of the land and the characters were wonderful, only revealing certain things about the characters’ appearances when the information was related to something in the plot. His writing style shows an adventure with plenty of description, which I was pleased to find. I cannot wait for the next book in his series!

oh! this book is part of a series, so you should know it ends in a cliff hanger. That is not a spoiler either, you can tell it’s coming. This just makes you want to get the next one, hehe. pretty sneaky huh?

This is one of the best books I have read, and i recomend it to anybody. be sure to get the whole series, you will be glad you did.