Autistic child care should start as early as possible. Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears before age three and in some cases as early as 18 months. It is a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain in areas of communication and social interaction. Although the characteristics might be the same, each person is very unique. Autism is a spectrum disorder whose characteristics can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations from mild to severe.
An autistic child can be identified very early. Parents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their child. Normally a child of 12 months is expected to babble, say a few words, pick up gestures like pointing and share emotions like smiling with parents. In some cases, the baby seemed different from birth, unresponsive to people or focusing keenly on one item for long periods of time. The first signs of an autistic spectrum disorder can also appear in children who seem to have been developing normally. When an engaging, babbling toddler suddenly becomes silent, withdrawn, self-abusive, or indifferent to social overtures, something is wrong. Autistic child care is best done if the condition is diagnosed before the age of three. The best approach towards it is to count the child's strengths rather than the weaknesses.
People use different terms to describe individuals within the autistic spectrum, such as autistic tendencies, high or low-functioning autism, or autism spectrum. Whatever the term, an autistic child can learn and function productively given the appropriate educational plan. Visual and not verbal clue should be focused in building an exhaustive module, to reach out to individuals falling in the spectrum of autism. We need to break routine way of teaching to encourage flexibility and stress on unambiguous communication. We must teach the autistic child life skills in a way that they can easily recall or relate to.
Visual augmentation helps a child communicate better. Autistic child suffers from social deficits like speech impairment, problem in understanding others' perception and context and normally communicate in a way that is not understood by others. We have to teach them to communicate in socially identifiable way. Structure makes tasks predictable, reduces anxiety in the child. One can develop a concept using visual gestures. This helps the child which is struggling to recall the sequence. An autistic child's behavior is often mistaken as unruly. But it is only when the child is unable to communicate, it responds aggressively.So, we need to equip the child with better tools to communicate. Structured teaching can be beneficial to help the child pick up life skills.
Awareness has to be created to enable families to carry out autistic child care in a better manner. They need to have access to better medical management of the related disorders like aggression, hyperactivity and irritability. Parents need to learn to communicate and give out unambiguous instruction to their wards. There should be support for employment and opportunity for autistic individuals in the society.
About The Author
Mary Rose has authored several books including books related to children and child care.For more information logon http://www.casanads.com/bm/children.htm
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Child Support Lookup -- Looking Out for Your Child's Best Interests
Child support lookup refers to the process of obtaining the records regarding child support cases. Although this is often preceded by the unfortunate separation or divorce of the parents, it is necessary in ensuring that the parties involved comply with the statutes of the law concerning this issue. Looking up child support cases ensures that the child is able to receive monetary support that guarantees that he or she grows up with a good education and a comfortable standard of living. The process is also important so that the care and upbringing of the child is not compromised simply because of the separation of the parents.
Aside from legal separations, child support lookup also applies to those children with unwed parents, who are of course also required to extend assistance for the growth and well-being of their child. Child support requires that financial assistance for the child is automatically deducted from monthly paychecks of one of the parents (usually the one with whom the child is not staying with). In the instance that child support is withheld for one reason or the other, there are measures that can be undertaken, undertaken such as seizing one’s property to ensure compliance.
Child support lookup refers to the process of obtaining the records regarding child support cases. Although this is often preceded by the unfortunate separation or divorce of the parents, it is necessary in ensuring that the parties involved comply with the statutes of the law concerning this issue. Looking up child support cases ensures that the child is able to receive monetary support that guarantees that he or she grows up with a good education and a comfortable standard of living. The process is also important so that the care and upbringing of the child is not compromised simply because of the separation of the parents.
Aside from legal separations, child support lookup also applies to those children with unwed parents, who are of course also required to extend assistance for the growth and well-being of their child. Child support requires that financial assistance for the child is automatically deducted from monthly paychecks of one of the parents (usually the one with whom the child is not staying with). In the instance that child support is withheld for one reason or the other, there are measures that can be undertaken, undertaken such as seizing one’s property to ensure compliance.
Researching Child Support Cases
Child support lookup can be conducted by anyone willing to know about child support cases similar to their own. Of course, it can also be conducted for research purposes by people studying to get into or are already into family court cases.
Although there are guidelines that the family court imposes on the amount of child support that is required, any child support lookup will reveal that there are still differences in the amounts since these are still reliant on other factors such as the income of the parents and the special needs of the children, if any. If you are planning to file a case dispute, gather all required information beforehand so that you can lay down all the facts and determine an appropriate course of action.
If you already have a pending case, you can sometimes lookup the status of your child support case online. Online child support lookup records also help you in determining the average amount that children receive in a state so that you can decide if the amount you are requesting for, receiving or contesting is justifiable.
There are still some restrictions regarding online child support lookup services in some states because this information, particularly financial data, is considered highly confidential. You will need to supply these online records providers with your name and a case number before the files are released to you.
Want to Know the Top Sites to Lookup Child Support Records? Read Dr. Amit Mehta's Unbiased Reviews ==> RecordsSiteReviews.com
Aside from legal separations, child support lookup also applies to those children with unwed parents, who are of course also required to extend assistance for the growth and well-being of their child. Child support requires that financial assistance for the child is automatically deducted from monthly paychecks of one of the parents (usually the one with whom the child is not staying with). In the instance that child support is withheld for one reason or the other, there are measures that can be undertaken, undertaken such as seizing one’s property to ensure compliance.
Child support lookup refers to the process of obtaining the records regarding child support cases. Although this is often preceded by the unfortunate separation or divorce of the parents, it is necessary in ensuring that the parties involved comply with the statutes of the law concerning this issue. Looking up child support cases ensures that the child is able to receive monetary support that guarantees that he or she grows up with a good education and a comfortable standard of living. The process is also important so that the care and upbringing of the child is not compromised simply because of the separation of the parents.
Aside from legal separations, child support lookup also applies to those children with unwed parents, who are of course also required to extend assistance for the growth and well-being of their child. Child support requires that financial assistance for the child is automatically deducted from monthly paychecks of one of the parents (usually the one with whom the child is not staying with). In the instance that child support is withheld for one reason or the other, there are measures that can be undertaken, undertaken such as seizing one’s property to ensure compliance.
Researching Child Support Cases
Child support lookup can be conducted by anyone willing to know about child support cases similar to their own. Of course, it can also be conducted for research purposes by people studying to get into or are already into family court cases.
Although there are guidelines that the family court imposes on the amount of child support that is required, any child support lookup will reveal that there are still differences in the amounts since these are still reliant on other factors such as the income of the parents and the special needs of the children, if any. If you are planning to file a case dispute, gather all required information beforehand so that you can lay down all the facts and determine an appropriate course of action.
If you already have a pending case, you can sometimes lookup the status of your child support case online. Online child support lookup records also help you in determining the average amount that children receive in a state so that you can decide if the amount you are requesting for, receiving or contesting is justifiable.
There are still some restrictions regarding online child support lookup services in some states because this information, particularly financial data, is considered highly confidential. You will need to supply these online records providers with your name and a case number before the files are released to you.
Want to Know the Top Sites to Lookup Child Support Records? Read Dr. Amit Mehta's Unbiased Reviews ==> RecordsSiteReviews.com
Friday, October 17, 2008
How Do Your Kids Know How To Exit If There's A Fire
Not everyone has experienced the immobilizing fear that comes from waking up in the middle of the night and realizing your home is on fire. This is a nightmare that every home owner dreads coming true and all too often it does. What can make it even worse is when there are children in the home that you may not be able to get to if the fire is already raging out of control. This can cause a parent to panic in a heart beat knowing their children might be trapped and they can not get to them.
This exact scenario is the reason why that teaching your children what to do in the event of fire in the home or anywhere else for that matter. They need to know the fastest and safest way to make their escape when an adult can not help them. If they are on their own, their very life might depend on what you have taught them about escaping a fire beforehand.
When a child awakes and realizes their home is on fire, they need to know how to escape out their own bedroom window if necessary. They should have a collapsible escape ladder in their room and know how to attach it to the window sill in order to climb don safely if necessary. This one feature can be enough to save their life if they have it and know how to use it. Children are usually more level headed than we give them credit for and often they will respond to a crisis situation better than an adult faced with the same situation.
If they can not get out of their bedroom door, they should know to never open it if feels hot because the fire could be just outside. If the door is not hot, they can crack it enough to yell for help or to let you know they are alright. They should wait for you if possible, but if they can see a clear exit path, they should go ahead and get themselves out as quickly and carefully as they can. They also need to know that once they have gotten out of the house to never go back inside for anything, not even you or a pet.
They should go immediately to a neighbor and call 911 if they are not already on the way. They need to know to stay well away from the house and stay in a designated spot where family members are to meet in the vent of a home fire such as across the street or under a tree. This way when all family members have gotten out, parents will know there is no one left inside.
This exact scenario is the reason why that teaching your children what to do in the event of fire in the home or anywhere else for that matter. They need to know the fastest and safest way to make their escape when an adult can not help them. If they are on their own, their very life might depend on what you have taught them about escaping a fire beforehand.
When a child awakes and realizes their home is on fire, they need to know how to escape out their own bedroom window if necessary. They should have a collapsible escape ladder in their room and know how to attach it to the window sill in order to climb don safely if necessary. This one feature can be enough to save their life if they have it and know how to use it. Children are usually more level headed than we give them credit for and often they will respond to a crisis situation better than an adult faced with the same situation.
If they can not get out of their bedroom door, they should know to never open it if feels hot because the fire could be just outside. If the door is not hot, they can crack it enough to yell for help or to let you know they are alright. They should wait for you if possible, but if they can see a clear exit path, they should go ahead and get themselves out as quickly and carefully as they can. They also need to know that once they have gotten out of the house to never go back inside for anything, not even you or a pet.
They should go immediately to a neighbor and call 911 if they are not already on the way. They need to know to stay well away from the house and stay in a designated spot where family members are to meet in the vent of a home fire such as across the street or under a tree. This way when all family members have gotten out, parents will know there is no one left inside.
About the Author
Aydan Corkern is a writer of many topics, visit some of her sites, like denver water damage restoration and new york water damage restoration.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Now, tonight, and everyday, tell your spouse you love them!
It is so easy to forget simple things like expressing love and appreciation for your spouse. Regularly tell your spouse you love them, without expecting a reply. Then spend time together building your relationship giving them ample opportunity to recognize and express their love for you.
It is so easy to forget simple things like expressing love and appreciation for your spouse. We readily fall into routines in life and these expressions are often left out of those routines usually because they are akward and sometimes uncomfortable. It is particularly hard for men to express these feelings, especially when provoked. By provoked I mean when a wife says "I love you" to her husband, the husband feels mandated to say I love you back which can be difficult because it feels forced and no man likes to be forced into anything. Even though the husband feels love, he feels reluctant to express it because it is not his expression, but now a reply to her expression. Even more difficult is if the wife is having a bad day and needs to be told she is loved and appreciated. The worst thing she can do is say to her husband, "I just need to know you love me".
Having said all that, the title of this article states, tell them everyday. Both husbands and wives need to feel comfortable expressing love and appreciation but it needs to be unscripted. Express your love in random ways without any expectation of a comparable reply. In fact, let them know you expect no reply, by saying it in passing or some other way so they feel little obligation to reply immediately. It will stay with them and they will get back to you when the opportunity is right.
By doing it this way, your spouse knows you love them, but also does not feel they are being manipulated. The expression of love will be more significant and remain with your spouse longer as they remember this expression without expectation and as they think about how they will return they favor.
So the next step it to make ample opportunities later for them to return the favor. To do this, spouses logically need to be around each other. Make it a point to spend more time doing something together. Have fun, never be critical, and if all else fails, look deep into their eyes longingly. Also remember to be patient, for every person is different. Some people find it easy to express their feelings, and for others it is a near impossibility. Just remember that as you express your love in a non controlling way, and give your spouse ample opportunity to express their lovePsychology Articles, you will grow closer together and both of you will be happier together.
Dr. Hoopes is the scientist behind the bath and body workshop where you can learn how beauty products work. Follow the link to learn more about their most recent venture, the bath & body store, Sweetly You.
It is so easy to forget simple things like expressing love and appreciation for your spouse. We readily fall into routines in life and these expressions are often left out of those routines usually because they are akward and sometimes uncomfortable. It is particularly hard for men to express these feelings, especially when provoked. By provoked I mean when a wife says "I love you" to her husband, the husband feels mandated to say I love you back which can be difficult because it feels forced and no man likes to be forced into anything. Even though the husband feels love, he feels reluctant to express it because it is not his expression, but now a reply to her expression. Even more difficult is if the wife is having a bad day and needs to be told she is loved and appreciated. The worst thing she can do is say to her husband, "I just need to know you love me".
Having said all that, the title of this article states, tell them everyday. Both husbands and wives need to feel comfortable expressing love and appreciation but it needs to be unscripted. Express your love in random ways without any expectation of a comparable reply. In fact, let them know you expect no reply, by saying it in passing or some other way so they feel little obligation to reply immediately. It will stay with them and they will get back to you when the opportunity is right.
By doing it this way, your spouse knows you love them, but also does not feel they are being manipulated. The expression of love will be more significant and remain with your spouse longer as they remember this expression without expectation and as they think about how they will return they favor.
So the next step it to make ample opportunities later for them to return the favor. To do this, spouses logically need to be around each other. Make it a point to spend more time doing something together. Have fun, never be critical, and if all else fails, look deep into their eyes longingly. Also remember to be patient, for every person is different. Some people find it easy to express their feelings, and for others it is a near impossibility. Just remember that as you express your love in a non controlling way, and give your spouse ample opportunity to express their lovePsychology Articles, you will grow closer together and both of you will be happier together.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Hoopes is the scientist behind the bath and body workshop where you can learn how beauty products work. Follow the link to learn more about their most recent venture, the bath & body store, Sweetly You.
How to pick the right File Cabinet
You can find file cabinets in varying styles, sizes and of course – degrees of quality. Besides their obvious utility as an organizational tool, file cabinets can be used for many types of storage and can be attractive in many settings – almost any room in your home.
The most popular types of file cabinets are metal and wood; wood is by far the more attractive of the two. Wood file cabinets are very durable and attractive and can be a great addition to your office or your home.
Common styles of solid wood file cabinets include Traditional, Mission and Contemporary, with many sizes available including:
* Letter sized file cabinets, which are typically designed to hold only 8.5” x 11” paper, but can also used for 8.5” x 11” legal size files as well;
* Legal size file cabinets, which can usually hold both 8.5” x 14” and 8.5” x 11” paper;
* Lateral file cabinets, which will have either 2 or 3 drawers and generally hold 8.5 x 11” and 8.5” x 14” paper;
* Personal file cabinets, which tend to be smaller and hold only 8.5 x 11” letter files.
By moving the metal brackets inside, letter and legal file cabinets can be used interchangeably (in most cases).
A file cabinet may have anywhere between two and five drawers. Consider how much storage you need when you are looking at file cabinets and trying to decide on the number of drawers you will need. Remember that there are a plethora of possible uses for a file cabinet, including as an end table with built in storage, a nightstand, coffee table and more – all offering the additional utility of storage.
You can use even a 2 drawer cabinet to place items above desk height by positioning it on your desk, which gives you a 30" platform. You can also create a large work surface by lining up several file cabinets in a row. You can achieve the same effect by using a lateral file cabinet – which eliminates the seams created by lining up several vertical files cabinets.
A 3-drawer file cabinet offers another solution for both storage as well as a surface to put plants, statuettes or other lighter items. These stand about three and a half feet high.4 drawer file cabinets, at a height of about 55" provide even more storage, or you can opt for 5-drawer file cabinets for a very large amount of storage; but only very light items should be placed on top of such a high cabinet.
SAFETY FIRST!
Remember that any piece of furniture can be dangerous if it is carrying a lot of weight. Tipping can be a hazard, especially with heavily loaded drawers. There are some steps you can take to minimize this risk.
* Fill the bottom drawers first and work your way up.
* Never open more than one drawer at a time.
* Attach your file cabinets to the wall – this can prevent them from tipping.
* Always place the heaviest items in the bottom drawer; this will act as a sort of anchor to prevent the cabinet from tipping over.
* Unless you r file cabinet is securely anchored by being bolted to the walls, never put anything on top of your file cabinet (and even if you have done soFree Articles, this is not recommended) that children or pets will be likely to climb up on top to get to – this can have tragic results.
The most popular types of file cabinets are metal and wood; wood is by far the more attractive of the two. Wood file cabinets are very durable and attractive and can be a great addition to your office or your home.
Common styles of solid wood file cabinets include Traditional, Mission and Contemporary, with many sizes available including:
* Letter sized file cabinets, which are typically designed to hold only 8.5” x 11” paper, but can also used for 8.5” x 11” legal size files as well;
* Legal size file cabinets, which can usually hold both 8.5” x 14” and 8.5” x 11” paper;
* Lateral file cabinets, which will have either 2 or 3 drawers and generally hold 8.5 x 11” and 8.5” x 14” paper;
* Personal file cabinets, which tend to be smaller and hold only 8.5 x 11” letter files.
By moving the metal brackets inside, letter and legal file cabinets can be used interchangeably (in most cases).
A file cabinet may have anywhere between two and five drawers. Consider how much storage you need when you are looking at file cabinets and trying to decide on the number of drawers you will need. Remember that there are a plethora of possible uses for a file cabinet, including as an end table with built in storage, a nightstand, coffee table and more – all offering the additional utility of storage.
You can use even a 2 drawer cabinet to place items above desk height by positioning it on your desk, which gives you a 30" platform. You can also create a large work surface by lining up several file cabinets in a row. You can achieve the same effect by using a lateral file cabinet – which eliminates the seams created by lining up several vertical files cabinets.
A 3-drawer file cabinet offers another solution for both storage as well as a surface to put plants, statuettes or other lighter items. These stand about three and a half feet high.4 drawer file cabinets, at a height of about 55" provide even more storage, or you can opt for 5-drawer file cabinets for a very large amount of storage; but only very light items should be placed on top of such a high cabinet.
SAFETY FIRST!
Remember that any piece of furniture can be dangerous if it is carrying a lot of weight. Tipping can be a hazard, especially with heavily loaded drawers. There are some steps you can take to minimize this risk.
* Fill the bottom drawers first and work your way up.
* Never open more than one drawer at a time.
* Attach your file cabinets to the wall – this can prevent them from tipping.
* Always place the heaviest items in the bottom drawer; this will act as a sort of anchor to prevent the cabinet from tipping over.
* Unless you r file cabinet is securely anchored by being bolted to the walls, never put anything on top of your file cabinet (and even if you have done soFree Articles, this is not recommended) that children or pets will be likely to climb up on top to get to – this can have tragic results.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leon is the owner of a furniture store that carries wood and oak office furniture including file cabinets, bookcases and desks. They offer the largest selection of American made bedroom, living room and dining room furniture. Whether you're looking for solid oak file cabinets or a dining room sets you'll find everything for your home.Essential Planning For Your School Fundraising Success
There are so many aspects and angles to putting on a great and profitable school fundraising program that it can make your head swim. Fortunately, there are many resources you can go to so that you don't have to re-invent the wheel just because you are new to the fundraising scene. Here are a few things that will help you get started on your school fundraising plans.
Copyright (c) 2008 AIM Fundraising
Every year I talk with people who have had their school fundraising program literally dropped in their lap. Many times these people have taken on the job because there was no one else to step up. In every case, their main concern is that they want to do a better job with next year's school fundraising than was done this year. Imagine the pressure of picking a product or running the sale in such a way that the school actually makes less than they did last year. Now that is what I call pressure!
To make your life a bit easier here is a simple guide to ensuring that your school fundraising events achieve their goals and operate smoothly. Namely, that they are both profitable and trouble free.
1. Setting a Goal
The very first thing that you must do is determine how much money you need to raise. Take into account all expenses that you expect to incur. However, determining how much you need to raise can be quite a job. It also helps your cause to have specific instead of "general" goals.
Running a school fundraising campaign with the intended goal to "raise as much as we can" is very hard to communicate to parents of your students and will likely not get a lot of support. If you find that you really don't have anything pressing that you need to raise money for, it is better to give the parents a break and simply choose to not do a fundraiser.
2. Determine Your Timeline.
When conducting a fundraiser you must set a timeline. It is wise to consult a professional fundraiser if you are planning to do any type of product sale. They can help you determine a timeline that will allow you plenty of time to conduct your fundraising activities. They can even help you plan events around your calendar so that the Fall Carnival won't interfere with your product sale, and your product sale won't interrupt your Book Day's and so forth.
3. What is Your Target Audience?
Determine who you will be targeting in your fundraising. Ask yourself is you want to make your school fundraiser a product sale or a family type of event fundraiser like an auction or carnival. Or, do you need to try to raise more money by doing a product sale like cookie dough or Christmas wrap. Each one of these type fundraisers have it's own application in different schools. There are some schools that do a spaghetti dinner and make ten's of thousands on them, while others will barely break even.
4. Incentives.
I have found that the prizes that are given in a particular school fundraising program has more to do with it's success than any other single factor. A school could almost sell five dollar bills for ten dollars and do very well if you motivate the students and parents correctly.
One misconception about prize incentives is that many believe that the bigger the prize the better the sale. If one of the prizes for the top seller is an item that is the latest craze that year, then you will have a better sale. Do not fall into that trap.
The power of school fundraising is in the size of the group, not in who sells $1,000 worth of "stuff." Think about it, would you rather have 2 students sell over $1,000 and 25% participation in your sale? Or would you make much more profit if you had 40% participation and no one sells more than $80.00?
When you think about it, the prize that gets the most kids to sell $80 is much more important than the big prize that gets 2 kids to sell $1,000! And what is really sad about that is most professional fundraiser don't get that let alone the average PTA Fundraising Chairperson!
5. Promotion
How will you promote your fundraiser? One of the best ways to promote your fundraising campaign is by throwing out lots of reminders. When it is time for the school fundraiser, be sure to send a letter or an e-mail to parents long before the sale starts. Send another informational letter home with your sales brochure. Parents can be busy people and sometimes things slip their mind.
Though this guide is geared toward school or groups in the education system these are the basic steps involved in any form of fundraising. Use these steps to plan your events. If you spend some time in planning and making sure that you are sticking to the planArticle Search, you'll find that your school fundraiser will go as planned.
Copyright (c) 2008 AIM Fundraising
Every year I talk with people who have had their school fundraising program literally dropped in their lap. Many times these people have taken on the job because there was no one else to step up. In every case, their main concern is that they want to do a better job with next year's school fundraising than was done this year. Imagine the pressure of picking a product or running the sale in such a way that the school actually makes less than they did last year. Now that is what I call pressure!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With all the things to consider in planning your next school fundraising event, don't feel like you have to come up with all the answers yourself. Check out one of these links to find some great ideas that will help make your next school fundraising program the best that it can be.To make your life a bit easier here is a simple guide to ensuring that your school fundraising events achieve their goals and operate smoothly. Namely, that they are both profitable and trouble free.
1. Setting a Goal
The very first thing that you must do is determine how much money you need to raise. Take into account all expenses that you expect to incur. However, determining how much you need to raise can be quite a job. It also helps your cause to have specific instead of "general" goals.
Running a school fundraising campaign with the intended goal to "raise as much as we can" is very hard to communicate to parents of your students and will likely not get a lot of support. If you find that you really don't have anything pressing that you need to raise money for, it is better to give the parents a break and simply choose to not do a fundraiser.
2. Determine Your Timeline.
When conducting a fundraiser you must set a timeline. It is wise to consult a professional fundraiser if you are planning to do any type of product sale. They can help you determine a timeline that will allow you plenty of time to conduct your fundraising activities. They can even help you plan events around your calendar so that the Fall Carnival won't interfere with your product sale, and your product sale won't interrupt your Book Day's and so forth.
3. What is Your Target Audience?
Determine who you will be targeting in your fundraising. Ask yourself is you want to make your school fundraiser a product sale or a family type of event fundraiser like an auction or carnival. Or, do you need to try to raise more money by doing a product sale like cookie dough or Christmas wrap. Each one of these type fundraisers have it's own application in different schools. There are some schools that do a spaghetti dinner and make ten's of thousands on them, while others will barely break even.
4. Incentives.
I have found that the prizes that are given in a particular school fundraising program has more to do with it's success than any other single factor. A school could almost sell five dollar bills for ten dollars and do very well if you motivate the students and parents correctly.
One misconception about prize incentives is that many believe that the bigger the prize the better the sale. If one of the prizes for the top seller is an item that is the latest craze that year, then you will have a better sale. Do not fall into that trap.
The power of school fundraising is in the size of the group, not in who sells $1,000 worth of "stuff." Think about it, would you rather have 2 students sell over $1,000 and 25% participation in your sale? Or would you make much more profit if you had 40% participation and no one sells more than $80.00?
When you think about it, the prize that gets the most kids to sell $80 is much more important than the big prize that gets 2 kids to sell $1,000! And what is really sad about that is most professional fundraiser don't get that let alone the average PTA Fundraising Chairperson!
5. Promotion
How will you promote your fundraiser? One of the best ways to promote your fundraising campaign is by throwing out lots of reminders. When it is time for the school fundraiser, be sure to send a letter or an e-mail to parents long before the sale starts. Send another informational letter home with your sales brochure. Parents can be busy people and sometimes things slip their mind.
Though this guide is geared toward school or groups in the education system these are the basic steps involved in any form of fundraising. Use these steps to plan your events. If you spend some time in planning and making sure that you are sticking to the planArticle Search, you'll find that your school fundraiser will go as planned.
How to Ceramic Tile a Floor
This article provides tips and advice on how to tile a ceramic floor from preperation of the floor surfuce through to grouting the newly laid tiles.
A new ceramic tiled floor can really improve the look of your home. Ceramic tiles are very practicle, hard wearing and attractive. Following the information below will help you acheive a quality ceramic tile floor in no time at all.
Step #1: Prepare the Floor
Depending on whether the floor you are tiling was previously tiled or carpeted, it will first need to be prepared for tiles to be laid. If there was carpet on the floor it will need to be removed along with any backing or glue. In addition, the surface will need to be made perfectly smooth and preferably dust-free. Keep in mind that the wood floor on which the tiles will lay needs to be as flat as possible. Otherwise, the tiles will not lay straight and water may puddle, which is unsightly and can be dangerous.
It is possible for ceramic tiles to be laid on top of other tiles, but only where the lower layer is in good condition with no cracks. Otherwise, the lower layer of tile will affect the new layer. This is why it is not recommended.
Any fasteners need to be flush with the floor and there should be no lumps, bumps or nails to compromise the integrity of the tiles. The preparation of the floor and the material used to prepare the surface for the tiles to be laid depends on the current condition of the floor. Therefore, you should research your options carefully, perhaps taking advice from the DIY shop.
Step #2: Prep Doors and Other Obstacles
Inevitably, you will have a few obstacles in your way when tiling a floor. Where a door opens into the room, whether it be a walkway door or a floor-level cupboard, you will need to trim the door bottom in order to make sure it can open smoothly and without hitting on your new tiles once they are installed.
Step #3: Get Your Trowel and Mix the Thinset
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for mixing the thinset. Just keep in mind that you should only mix as much thinset as you can use in two hours. You will also need to make sure the notch size of the trowel is the same depth as the tiles, as this gives good adhesion and also allows any air to escape after the tile is laid.
Step #4: Find the Center
You need to begin tiling from the center of the room. In order to find the centre, locate the midpoint of each wall and snap chalk lines. If this tile line bisects a unit, such as the bath or a vanity, then make sure the tile has at least 2 inches width. Otherwise, it may snap when cutting or laying and it will have a generally untidy appearance. Move the centre tile where necessary to obtain this fit. It is important, of course, to work all this out before the application of adhesive!
Step #5: Lay the Tiles
When laying your tiles, be sure to press them down ith a slight twist of the wrist. You should also use spacers in order to give a good, tidy, even fit. It is important to avoid 'lippage', where the edge of one tile is higher than the one next to it. Even pressure when laying the tiles helps with this.
You can use either a wet saw or a tile cutter to trim the tiles to size and lay them around the edges. Smaller cuts, such as those needed for going around pipework, can be made with hand cutters and a file.
Step #6: Finishing It Off
The tiles can set overnight, then scrape any residue of thinset from the tile surface or joints. Apply grout from the center of the room to the outside, pushing it in first in line with the joint, then diagonal to them. After grouting, let the tiles dry for at least 30 minutes and don't be too aggressive in wiping up the mess. Otherwise, it might pull out of the joints.
If you'd like to attempt this job yourself rather than hiring someone to do it for youBusiness Management Articles, you may feel more confident after taking a course in tiling - and you will also learn more advanced techniques that can help you do an even more exciting design.
A new ceramic tiled floor can really improve the look of your home. Ceramic tiles are very practicle, hard wearing and attractive. Following the information below will help you acheive a quality ceramic tile floor in no time at all.
Step #1: Prepare the Floor
Depending on whether the floor you are tiling was previously tiled or carpeted, it will first need to be prepared for tiles to be laid. If there was carpet on the floor it will need to be removed along with any backing or glue. In addition, the surface will need to be made perfectly smooth and preferably dust-free. Keep in mind that the wood floor on which the tiles will lay needs to be as flat as possible. Otherwise, the tiles will not lay straight and water may puddle, which is unsightly and can be dangerous.
It is possible for ceramic tiles to be laid on top of other tiles, but only where the lower layer is in good condition with no cracks. Otherwise, the lower layer of tile will affect the new layer. This is why it is not recommended.
Any fasteners need to be flush with the floor and there should be no lumps, bumps or nails to compromise the integrity of the tiles. The preparation of the floor and the material used to prepare the surface for the tiles to be laid depends on the current condition of the floor. Therefore, you should research your options carefully, perhaps taking advice from the DIY shop.
Step #2: Prep Doors and Other Obstacles
Inevitably, you will have a few obstacles in your way when tiling a floor. Where a door opens into the room, whether it be a walkway door or a floor-level cupboard, you will need to trim the door bottom in order to make sure it can open smoothly and without hitting on your new tiles once they are installed.
Step #3: Get Your Trowel and Mix the Thinset
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for mixing the thinset. Just keep in mind that you should only mix as much thinset as you can use in two hours. You will also need to make sure the notch size of the trowel is the same depth as the tiles, as this gives good adhesion and also allows any air to escape after the tile is laid.
Step #4: Find the Center
You need to begin tiling from the center of the room. In order to find the centre, locate the midpoint of each wall and snap chalk lines. If this tile line bisects a unit, such as the bath or a vanity, then make sure the tile has at least 2 inches width. Otherwise, it may snap when cutting or laying and it will have a generally untidy appearance. Move the centre tile where necessary to obtain this fit. It is important, of course, to work all this out before the application of adhesive!
Step #5: Lay the Tiles
When laying your tiles, be sure to press them down ith a slight twist of the wrist. You should also use spacers in order to give a good, tidy, even fit. It is important to avoid 'lippage', where the edge of one tile is higher than the one next to it. Even pressure when laying the tiles helps with this.
You can use either a wet saw or a tile cutter to trim the tiles to size and lay them around the edges. Smaller cuts, such as those needed for going around pipework, can be made with hand cutters and a file.
Step #6: Finishing It Off
The tiles can set overnight, then scrape any residue of thinset from the tile surface or joints. Apply grout from the center of the room to the outside, pushing it in first in line with the joint, then diagonal to them. After grouting, let the tiles dry for at least 30 minutes and don't be too aggressive in wiping up the mess. Otherwise, it might pull out of the joints.
If you'd like to attempt this job yourself rather than hiring someone to do it for youBusiness Management Articles, you may feel more confident after taking a course in tiling - and you will also learn more advanced techniques that can help you do an even more exciting design.
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