Archive for July, 2010

Teens In America Want To Spend Quality Time With Their Parents

Latest national poll is contradictory to the traditional perception that most teenagers like their parents to let them live their own life, actually American teens say they want quality time with parents. Opinion Research Corporation conducted an online survey of 1,250 teens and adults and according to it about 67 percent of the teens in America want to have some more time with parents.

Almost half the teens who took part in this felt that they will be able to adjust better and be happier, if they got more time with adults who take care of them like aunts, grandparents etc or their parents. American teens say they want quality time with parents.  It is true that most teenagers manage to get through adolescence age with little stress, they are at a higher risk of dropping out from school, drug abuse as well as psychological disorders compared to other people of other ages according to a research associate at the Harvard Family Research Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Dr. Holly Kreider. This is the time when adults are needed in their lives, to help them understand the good and bad and realize that they have an opportunity to make a wonderful future.

It has been showcased by the survey, that there is a detachment in many American families. One fourth of the teens thought that the parents don’t have the time to spend with the kids but most of the parents who were surveyed did not say that they had any problem finding time for their children. This disconnect according to Dr. Kreider can be the result of parents miscalculating the time which is needed by their kids.

Parents also have a number of time demands, like careers, activities, their hobbies or even caring for their parents. All this takes up time which they could have spent with their kids. Kids of single parents may even get less time. What is the way for parents to spend more quality time with kids as American teens say they want quality time with parents?

Dr. Kreider, has done a lot of work trying to improve involvement of parents, suggests them to look for neighboring family resources. She has also worked as an advisor at Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which is a group which has understood and responded to the parents’ requirements with the help of local assistance. BGCA’s Family P.L.U.S. (Parents Leading, Uniting Serving) plan, was funded from the million grant by the Kimberly-Clark Corporation, and it offers activities  for strengthening the family and funds it in communities to assist families become more secure, connected and unified. You can get added information on bgca.org/pro grams/specialized.asp.

There is some happy news for parents as teens believe that even simple activities such as eating, walking, playing games or watching TV together helps. They want to talk more with everyone and especially with their parents. According to Kreider, parents will be surprised to hear that teens don’t want any lavish activities but only time for the family time and like some quality time at home.  This can be a beginning for several parents who are hesitant to ask if their teen if they want to do things together at home or go for a movie as  American teens say they want quality time with parents.

For more useful information, please visit our website: THE KNOWLEDGE BASE, and look for the FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS section.

Install quality granite countertops in your kitchen

Article by Jitendra Kr

Kitchen is an important place where your special someone spends precious time cooking delicious food for the entire family. It has to look good as it not only adds value to your home but also creates right ambience. Granite are one such thing that can make your kitchen look elegant and also add value to your property. This is the reason why it is popular with home owners and interior designers. Granite countertops are the premium choice for homes and commercial buildings in the US. It is admired not only because of their intrinsic beauty and style, but more so because of their resistance to damage and their long lasting quality. Granite countertop are highly resistant to heat, moisture, stains, spills and scratches. But despite their inherent natural strength, granite countertop need proper care if you want to ensure beauty and durability. These natural stone countertop make a great living statement for your kitchen, bathroom and also gives a soothing ambience to buildings such as hotels and corporate establishments. The best thing about granite countertop is that they come in hundreds of designs that will suit any taste and style. It has been observed that mainly three types of granite tops are used for homes and commercial establishments like Granite tile countertops, Modular granite countertops, and Slab granite countertop. Each one of them has a corresponding cost and quality that is based on manufacture, installation, and fabrication factors.

Installing a granite kitchen countertop or any other granite countertops can be an uphill task if you are not aware of the procedures. Measurement is one of the most important factors to be considered at the time of placing order. Your measurement has to be perfect. If you fail to measure the installation area, the chances are that your installation might go wrong. Here the role of a granite fabricator becomes important. He can help and guide you in installation of granite kitchen countertops. Generally, installation will be done by removing the old countertops and placing the new one.

Nowadays, granite countertops are available in different colors, designs and styles. The homeowner can select the required countertops based on color, design and styles. You can choose your preferred granite based on your requirements and budget. The price of granite countertops depends on various factors. It is greatly influenced by the number of seams and cuts that are made on the stone slabs. You can discuss how the cuts will be made when the granite fabricator makes the preliminary measurements for the template. Another thing you should be aware of is the hidden costs of wasted material. Some granite gets lost during the process. The price of granite kitchen countertops ranges from to 0 a square foot, which may or may not include the cost of installation. Discount granite is available for as little as per foot, excluding installation. The premium cost is not in the stone itself, but rather in the costs that are related to transportation and installation.To end with it can be said that Granite countertops are ideal for your kitchen as it provides beauty, luster and durability

Find out more over Stone Fireplace Mantels

Article by Casie Lucie

Stone Fireplace Mantels

Most fireplace mantels are wood beam style. And that fashion can generate a beautiful and homey really feel for that fireplace. Theres some thing concerning the glimpse and really feel of wood to produce a fireplace contribute plenty of warmth to the room. But there exists great explanation to think about shifting your mantle to lower stone since itll introduce one more layer of that means and decorating type to your run from the mill fireplace design.

Utilizing stone for that mantle offers your fireplace a appear of history as though your fireplace was aspect of an ancient construction. When you feel of Stonehenge or another historical stone artifice thats the search that a stone mantel suggests. It gives your fireplace a mysterious almost magical experience. And viewing that huge piece of stone suspended previously mentioned the ground connected in your fireplace wall adds to the sensation that one thing otherworldly and magical is happening.

You will find plenty of fabrications of stone that you simply can go along with but the dilemma with fabrications is they equally look and sense like fake stone. You may notice that among the list of initial instincts your friends can have once they enter your home and see that stone mantel about your fireplace will likely be to touch it and investigate its texture. Stone has that have an effect on on folks. So to put up a fake stone piece that has much more of the experience of a Hollywood prop is disappointing to your guests which destroys the effect and impression you had been going for.

Cast stone is most likely the best wager to make use of if you decide to generate the modify from a wood mantel to a stone piece. This sort of stone was fabricated to glimpse and really feel like actual stone but at need to less of the charge. It can be an amalgam of stone and concrete and among the list of major substances is limestone. However the texture and functionality of lower stone does these an excellent career representing a reduce slab of pure stone that it has turn into a popular choice for fireplace remodeling projects for a long time.

In addition to an ancient feel stone brings a whole new elegance in your fireplace which can be an excellent addition to a space that you want to remodel to be a formal reception place or to just give that area higher class and sophistication. The truth is a stone mantel helps make these kinds of a impressive statement that you just will see men and women react to it quickly when they stroll to the area and get started to behave within a much more refined way just because the fireplace sends that quiet message.

Oddly enough even though a stone mantel sends that message of upscale dwelling and elegance it is also an intimate substance that can add towards the warmth as well as the personality with the fireplace. Individuals will really feel at ease in the presence of the tranquil strength of that mantel. So do not be concerned that the new mantel will create a cold or impersonal feel to your space. You may discover that the opposite will likely be the situation along with the fireplace area will probably be certainly one of larger fellowship local community and bonding partly due to the atmosphere designed by that classy stone mantel.