The CPSIA will affect you...please read!

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:

Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:

Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:

Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:

Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:

Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:

Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America. (These clips are from my shop: Ella Bella Bowtique.)

To the Antique Toy Collector:

Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” Wall Street Journal article.

To the American Economy:

Already struggling under an economy that has not been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:

Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here are 3 recent articles from Forbes:
Scrap the CPSIA Part I
Scrap the CPSIA Part II
Scrap the CPSIA Part III

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, read the
The New Law for yourselves.

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please find out how to best REACT!
Cool Mom Picks: Save Handmade

***I'm adding this link with LOTS of helpful information: http://www.etsy.com/storque/media/bunker/2009/01/CPSIA-Etsy-Resources.pdf

All About Homophones

I have had the chance to look over the e-book called All About Homophones by Marie Rippel. This book is designed to help students in grades 1-8 with these sometimes confusing words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and have different meanings.

**Since Ella is not reading much other than simple CVC words, this material is not age-appropriate for her and would not be much help for kids under 6 or non-readers. Though I could not test it out on her, I did read through it and would like to tell you what I found.

The book presents a different set of homophones for each grade level. For example, the homophones for 1st grade students are "be/bee", "see/sea", and "to/two/too". Ms. Rippel has included 6 blank graphic organizers that you can use with your child to help him define each word, then write a sentence using the word. These organizers can be great tools for review when you have completed each unit. Each set of homophones has it's own worksheet so that your child can fill in the blank with the appropriate word. There are also crossword puzzles that correspond to the homophones from each grade level.

While all of these items are wonderful tools for teaching your child, my favorite part of this e-book is the list of games that can be played using the homophone cards that you can print out from the book. Once you have printed the cards onto cardstock (and laminate them!), you are ready to play 6 different games such as Go Fish and Old Maid! Once your child has learned new homophones, you can simply add new cards to the games. I know my little game-lover is going to really like this aspect of All About Homophones!!

If all of that wasn't enough, Ms. Rippel has also included a reading list, student record sheets (so your child can write down all of the words he's learned through the book), and several cute tongue twisters, riddles, and puns that include the homophones. Everything is well-explained with instructions on various ways to use each component of the e-book.

This product looks like a fun way for children to learn about those pesky words that can cause trouble! If you would like to look at some sample pages, click HERE. I am so excited that the price of the printed book has been lowered to $29.95, so if you would like to have a physical copy, this is a good option. The e-book costs $27.95. But, guess what?? Right now, you can get $10 off of any product at All About Homophones! That means the printed book will be $19.95 and the e-book only $17.95!! All you have to do is enter the code "FUN" in the customer code box at checkout. But you'd better hurry! This deal is only good through Feb. 2! While you're over at her website, be sure to also check out the Homophone Machine. There are more free games on the Articles page.

Please head over to the TOS Crew to read other reviews of All About Homophones by clicking HERE!

Homeschool update

So, we've been plugging along with school and I haven't been updating you! It has been a learning process for both of us and I'm sure we won't quite have the hang of it until she's ready to graduate, lol! I sometimes think I am learning more than I'm teaching. I'm learning patience, humility, and mercy (and have a ways to go on all 3!). I've learned how stubborn I can be (well...I always knew I was stubborn, just didn't know HOW stubborn til now!). I've learned that I can't always have my way and that's ok. It's ok to give a little here and there and let her take the lead. In fact, I really think that there are some things I've pushed too soon and will have to let go of in order to do what's best for Ella.

Mainly, I'm talking about reading. I love, love, love "How to Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons". I cannot tell you how much I want Ella to finish this program. I have seen the SRA method work over and over again, especially when used to repair skills that were not taught in the first place. Phonics instruction is the foundation for becoming a solid reader. Here's where my stubborn nature is kicking in big-time. Ella HATES this program. I mean, with a passion. Every day, she gets up asking what reading we are doing today (because a couple of months ago, I decided we'd only do the lessons every other day). If I say we're doing the reading book, she almost cries and begs me not to do it. It now takes us almost an hour to get through a lesson (when it should only take 15-20 minutes). What bugs me the most about this is that she CAN do it! She knows how to sound out words and she has learned so much from the program already. I can see that she's just on the brink of reading fluently. I do not want to give up on the program, but I think I have to for her sake. At least for now. There. I said it. I have to give in! Oh, that is so hard for me to say!

So, the plan now is to go back to the FIAR-type units (though we may not use the actual curriculum). Ella absolutely loves for me to read to her, which I have done all along, but when we did FIAR, I was doing it even more. I still intend to teach her phonics, but will try to come up with some fun activities for her.

Math, on the other hand, is going very well. Ella seems to have a grasp on all the concepts I've taught her and she just loves doing math worksheets! We're still trying to get a grip on science and social studies, but I have a friend who is going to bring me a checklist from the public school so I can at least have a guideline to go by.

I guess that's it for now. I keep praying that I will follow the Holy Spirit's leading for each new day I face as Ella's teacher and mom!

More about the CPSIA!

It is so sad that this law slipped right past all of us and I don't know what can really be done to fix it. There have been some exclusions made for natural fabrics and natural gems, but where does that leave those of us who use fabric that have been dyed? The paints I'm using are certified NON-TOXIC, but this stupid law says I have to test every clip I make using the paint to certify that each clip is non-toxic. Does that make any sense at all?? Yes, I believe we need to make things safe for kids, but this law is OVERKILL! So, I want you to go over to sign a petition to repeal it. Let's just end the law before it even goes into effect! http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/RepealCPSIA/.

I want you to fully understand the far-reaching scope of this law. It FEDERALLY BANS all products intended for children under 12 that have not been certified as having less than a certain level of lead in them. The certification only comes after you have tested each component of the item and each component has less than 600 ppm (parts per million) by weight. The regulations become more stringent in August, so something I can sell right now might feasibly be illegal come August.

So, we are talking about books, CDs, clothing (i.e. those adorable outfits from little boutiques), diapers, children's furniture (i.e. that one-of-a-kind hand-painted stool in your son's bathroom), jewelry (i.e. that fantastic beaded necklace you found for your daughter at a farmer's market), bedding (i.e. that cute little quilt your mom made your daughter or the crocheted blanket you bought from a craft fair), toys (i.e. that beautifully hand-sewn bear your son sleeps with every night)....the list goes on. After Feb. 10, you will find less and less of these specialty items because those cute little boutiques will have to shut down - the testing simply isn't cost effective enough for them to stay in business.

And, if you think it only affects those selling handmade items, think again. This law will eventually trickle down to affect YOUR pocketbook. All of the above items you've bought for your children at Target or Toys R Us are going to cost more because companies are going to have to pass the cost of testing along to you, the consumer. Besides having a lot less options, you are going to have to spend more of the money you don't have right now on clothes for your children.

And, if you think you'll be able to get children's products at 2nd hand stores, think again! Yes, the CPSC did make a clarification to the law regarding reselling, but you must read the wording very carefully. Though it says that resellers (including Good Will, folks) will not have to have certification on the items they sell, they will face consequence (read: huge fines or jail time) if they are caught selling something that does not meet the CPSC's requirements for lead. Well, I think that means that they will either have to test or just HOPE that they aren't selling something that is against the law.

Oh, and one more thing...lest you think you can craft something for your friend's child or your grandson, this law stops you from doing that, too! You cannot even give away something you've made for a child unless it has been tested and certified!!

Do you see how this trickles down and affects ALL of you? Please do something! The petition above is a good place to start. If you think I'm crazy, here are just a few of the news stories that are starting to run (finally it's getting some media attention!). If you go to You Tube and search CPSC or CPSIA, you will find many more.

Save Ella Bella Bowtique from the CPSIA!!!

I will be writing more on this subject as I find out more, but for now, please do me the big favor of clicking on the widget on my sidebar and voting. This is intended to get Obama's attention on the issue of the CPSIA's upcoming deadline (Feb. 10) for which all items sold to children under 12 will face required testing of lead and phthalates. If items do not meet the requirements, they will be deemed BANNED, hazardous substances. The big issue is that the testing is very costly. I sell my hair clips at a low price and only really make pennies when it's all said and done. If I were to get this testing done, there would be no point and I would just shut the business down. Of course, if I don't get the testing done, and keep selling my products, I'm sure I will face consequences as well. Now, in the grand scheme of things, my business is not all that important and since I don't derive any great income from it, it will not "hurt" me to shut it down (though, I do really love doing it as a hobby!!). But, the legislation will be devastating for many, many small businesses in America. Those businesses have become people's livelihood, especially in hard economic times when there are no jobs to be found.

I really can't beg you enough to try to do something about this before it's too late! It has already been passed, but if there is enough public outcry, we may be able to persuade them to add exemptions for those who sell products that are made from materials that meet the requirements (I mean, I'm not buying contraband ribbon and lead-infested buttons, here people!!).

More is coming, but until then, please do your research (the CPSC website is a good place to start). You can also contact your senators & representatives using this handy device HERE.

**Here are a few more links:
http://www.ipetitions.com/missing-petition.html
http://www.fashion-incubator.com/ (you have to dig around here, but the forums are very informative!)
http://cpsia-central.ning.com/
http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/
http://www.challengeandfun.typepad.com/
http://www.apparelandfootwear.org/

Online piano lessons with Kinderbach!

This review is not just for homeschool moms - it's for all moms with kids ages 2-7, so I hope you all will check it out!


I am so pleased to tell you about online piano lessons from Kinderbach. There are 60 lessons which are each intended to be completed in a week - with 4 parts to every lesson. You can do all 4 parts in one day with an older child (I did this with Ella), or choose to spread them out over the course of a week. The lessons also include printable PDF activities that reinforce skills along with games that can be played online. Your child is not required to know how to read to use this program, which makes it all the more valuable. Most piano teachers will not teach your child until they are reading.

Ella has absolutely loved this program. The characters presented in the videos are cute and colorful. The program not only teaches your child how to play the piano, but it also teaches various aspects of music such as movement, rhythm, notes, intervals, & music patterns. Ella especially liked the parts where she was able to tap out rhythms with sticks (you can use any objects that make noise!). It made her feel so good when she was able to find notes on the keyboard and play them by herself! Since Ella loves to sing, she also enjoyed learning some new songs. I cannot say enough how much we both like Kinderbach!!

One of the wonderful things about Kinderbach is the price! For the online lessons, you can pay a monthly subscription fee of $14.95. The best deal, though, is a one-time payment of $85.95, giving you access to all 60 lessons! What a GREAT value! In my area, piano teachers charge $20 per 30-minute session on average. If I paid for 60 weekly lessons, it would cost me $1200! The other advantage of this program is being able to do it in the comfort of your own home, at your own pace! You save on gas and the time it takes to get your child to and from their lesson.

If you have a dial-up connection, or would simply like to own the DVDs, you can purchase all the lessons for $217.75. The set includes 6 DVDs, activity e-books, & activity audio CDs. You also get 4 e-songbooks and 4 corresponding audio CDs. As you see from my example above about hiring a piano teacher, this is still a really good deal! If you so choose, you can also purchase smaller sets.

You can try out 2 free lessons and I highly encourage you to do so! With Kinderbach, there is a 30-day money back guarantee, so you really can't go wrong. And, as always, if you'd like to get some other opinions, check HERE for more TOS Crew reviews.