Oh l' amour !!!

http://youtu.be/fS9wRLUe9Gk

How to Keep Food Fresh Naturally

Safe food storage means keeping out bugs and rodents, eliminating heat damage, and preventing rust from destroying your bulk food storage containers. It is very important to consider these possible problems when deciding where and how to store your food supplies.

In order to keep your food fresh and nutritious, it's best to keep the food cool — your storage area needs to be as cold and dark a place as possible. Light and heat can destroy not only the taste and texture of your food, but also the nutritional content.

Where is the best place to store your food to keep it cool? Since heat rises, a basement or cellar will keep it much cooler than keeping it on a top floor or in an attic. You can also put it underneath beds, or on closet floors. Other suggestions: place boxes of #10 cans on their side behind a couch or create side tables or night stands by placing a table top and a decorative cloth .

Signs of Spoiled Food

If the food was safe when you bought it, and if it doesn't show any of the following signs of spoilage, then the food should be safe to eat. If any of these signs are present, throw the food out without tasting it!

Checklist for Food Safety

1. Bulging can or lid.
2. A milky appearance to the liquid.
3. Corrosion on the inside of the can, especially along the seam.
4. Rust, especially along the seam or seal of a can.
5. Slimy appearance or texture.
6. Rancid odor, especially in foods which contain any amount of fat.
7. Mold growth on the food or inside of the container.
8. Frozen can or bottle.
9. Off-smell.

How can you ensure that your food lasts longer and keeps fresh? 

There are many things you can do, such as regularly clean your refrigerator and regularly check the food in there and also that you keep in the cupboards or anywhere else. But its not just about checking them. This cannot prevent anything. All you will be doing is throwing away food items before they stink up the entire kitchen. So, what can you do to keep the food fresh? Practical List of Tips for Ensuring Food is Cleaner and Fresher:

1) Spread some cloves on and around the marble surface of your kitchen, and also spread some cloves under the sink.
Why?
The Cloves keeps ants away.

2) Place some bay leaves inside your bags of dough, rice and the rest of the packs that insects prefer.
Why?
Bay leaves keep insects and other such lice away from food products. By placing bay leaves inside the packets, we ensure that insects do not reside there. But please remember to change the bay leaves once every three months.

3) Place half a potato in the refrigerator.
Why?
If there is any kind of bad smell from food or cooked items, the half potato will absorb it. To make sure that this works, remember to exchange the potato every three days.

4) Store eggs with the pointed side down. 

Why?
Storing eggs with the pointed side down keeps them fresh for a longer period.

5) Place a few cubes of sugar in the jar where you store American cheese. 

Why?
When you place two or three cubes of sugar with the American cheese in an air tight jar, the sugar absorbs the moisture and prevents the cheese from getting bad.

6) Do not store tomatoes and cucumbers in the same draw.
Why?
Tomatoes give out gases that cause cucumbers to rot faster so make sure that you keep these two apart.

7) Do not store apples along with the rest of the fruits and vegetables.
Why?
Apples give out certain gases that cause fruits and vegetables to rot.

8) Place slices of apples or raw potatoes in the bread compartment or jar.
Why?
By adding a few slices of raw potatoes or apples with the bread, you ensure that the bread remains fresh for longer than usual.

9) Store radish in a vessel along with some water.
Why?
You should store radish in a vessel along with water because water will keep the radish fresh and crisp for a long time. For the same reason, if the radishes have shriveled, place them in a jar of cold water. Water will restore the radish to its previous splendor.

Conclusion:

Here, I have presented only a few of the more practical actions you should follow to ensure that the food you and your family consume remains fresh and tasty.

Με την πλάτη στον τοίχο και η Γερμανία;

H Ευρώπη περνά την πιο σκληρή δοκιμασία. Η κρίση χρέους έχει χτυπήσει τον πυρήνα της Ευρωζώνης και πλέον στην επιφάνεια έχουν βγει ζοφερά σενάρια για το μέλλον της Ε.Ε.  Η εμμονή της Γερμανίας, που διακατέχεται από το σύνδρομο της Βαϊμάρης, στη σταθερότητα των τιμών κινδυνεύει να τινάξει στον αέρα το ευρωπαϊκό οικοδόμημα, ενώ το περιβόητο μπαζούκας του EFSF αποδεικνύεται νεροπίστολο μπροστά στον όγκο του προβλήματος χρέους, καθώς τα κεφάλαια που διαθέτει χωρίς αμφιβολία δεν είναι επαρκή ούτε για την κάλυψη των αναγκών της Ιταλίας, πολύ περισσότερο δε, της Γαλλίας.

 Ακόμα χειρότερο είναι το γεγονός ότι το EFSF στηρίζεται πάνω στη λογική της μόχλευσης των κεφαλαίων του, τα οποία στη συνέχεια θα αναμοχλεύονται για να παρέχουν στήριξη σε οικονομίες και τράπεζες υψηλού κινδύνου. Αυτό πρακτικά σημαίνει ότι αν δεν ευοδωθούν οι προσπάθειες η καταστροφή θα είναι μεγαλύτερη ακόμα και από αυτή των subprimes, τα οποία επίσης ήταν αποτέλεσμα πολλαπλής μόχλευσης. Και αυτή τη φορά η καταστροφή θα έχει άμεσο αποδέκτη τους Ευρωπαίους φορολογουμένους. Φυσικά το EFSF θα είναι άνευ αντικειμένου όταν η κρίση θα ενταθεί πέρα από τα PIIGS και στη Γαλλία και το Βέλγιο και την Αυστρία αλλά και πιθανώς σε άλλες χώρες,  καθώς ουσιαστικά θα έχουμε ένα pool κεφαλαίων, το οποίο σε μεγάλο ποσοστό θα αποτελείται από κεφάλαια χωρών με προβληματική πρόσβαση στις αγορές. Αυτό πρακτικά θα μειώσει την αξιοπιστία του αλλά και τις δυνατότητες μόχλευσης.

Σε κάθε περίπτωση, όμως, το ζητούμενο για τις αγορές είναι η ΕΚΤ να καταστεί φόβητρο. Και για να συμβεί αυτό, η απόκτηση των εξουσιών και των αρμοδιοτήτων που έχει η FED αποτελεί μονόδρομο. Τη θέση αυτή έχουν αρχίσει πλέον να διατυπώνουν και ορισμένες χώρες της Ε.Ε. Είναι χαρακτηριστικό ότι το θέμα έθεσε χωρίς περιστροφές ο Ιρλανδός πρωθυπουργός Enda Kenny στον Γερμανό υπουργό Οικονομικών Σόιμπλε, με τον τελευταίο να το απορρίπτει, επικαλούμενος το χρέος της Ευρωζώνης. Η ουσία όμως είναι ότι αν αύριο το πρωί η ΕΚΤ μπορούσε να αγοράσει ομόλογα κάποιων τρισ.  ευρώ,  θα λυνόταν το τεράστιο πρόβλημα ρευστότητας που αρχίζει να αποκτά το ευρωπαϊκό τραπεζικό σύστημα. Επίσης, αν υπήρχε η δυνατότητα έκδοσης ευρωομολόγου, είναι προφανές ότι δεν θα βλέπαμε το καθημερινό μακελειό με τις αγορές ομολόγων. 

Ομως τα ευρωομόλογα ίσως αύξαναν το κόστος δανεισμού για τη Γερμανία και προσωρινά μπορεί να είχε επιπτώσεις στην οικονομία της χώρας. οι κοντόφθαλμοι Γερμανοί δείχνουν να αγνοούν τις επιπτώσεις που θα έχει μια μακροχρόνια ύφεση αρκετών χωρών της Ε.Ε. και η κατάρρευση μεγάλων οικονομιών και κυρίως αυτή της Γαλλίας. Πάντως τις τελευταίες ώρες όλο και περισσότεροι ευρωπαίοι στρέφονται κατά της Άνγκελας Μέρκελ και της ζητούν να υποχωρήσει στο ζήτημα της έκδοσης των ευρωομολόγων. Σύμφωνα με δηλώσεις του περιβάλλοντος της κ. Merkel, η καγκελάριος είναι έτοιμη να αποδεχτεί τη λύση απευθείας αγοράς χρέους από την ΕΚΤ ή της έκδοσης ευρωομολόγων, υπό την απαραίτητη προϋπόθεση, όμως, ενισχυθούν τα δικαιώματα παρέμβασης στους εθνικούς προϋπολογισμούς.

Μέχρι σήμερα, η Γερμανία εμφανίζεται κάθετα ενάντια στη χρήση μέτρων όπως απευθείας αγορές ομολόγων από την ΕΚΤ ή έκδοση ευρωομολόγου. Όμως καθώς μέλη του πυρήνα της ευρωζώνης, όπως η Ιταλία αλλά και η Γαλλία, βγαίνουν στην πρώτη γραμμή του πυρός της κρίσης χρεών, η Κομισιόν και άλλες ευρωπαϊκές αρχές αυξάνουν τις πιέσεις στο Βερολίνο να υποχωρήσει. Έτσι, με βάση δηλώσεις συμβούλου της καγκελαρίου, που επικαλείται η εφημερίδα La Tribune, εάν η κ. Merkel εξασφαλίσει τη συμφωνία των εταίρων στην Ε.Ε. για αλλαγές στις ευρωπαϊκές συμφωνίες, έτσι ώστε να περιλαμβάνουν το δικαίωμα παρέμβασης στους προϋπολογισμούς των... άτακτων μελών ενδεχομένως να αποδεχτεί την προώθηση δυναμικών μέτρων.

  ( newsupdate [info@newslett.eu )

ΤΟ ΗΛΕΚΤΡΟΝΙΚΟ ΤΣΙΓΑΡΟ ( electronic cigarette )

Τι είναι το ηλεκτρονικο τσιγαρο ;

Το ηλεκτρονικο τσιγαρο είναι αποτελεσματική εναλλακτική λύση για το κάπνισμα. Κάθε φορά που ετοιμάζεστε να ανάψετε ένα τσιγάρο, μπορείτε αντ’ αυτού να χρησιμοποιήσετε  ένα ηλεκτρονικο τσιγαρο. Θα σας προσφέρει την ίδια ευχαρίστηση, αλλά χωρίς πίσσα και καπνό.
Γιατί είναι καλύτερο από το τσιγάρο;

Είναι αποδεδειγμένο ότι οι περισσότερες βλάβες που προκαλούνται από το κάπνισμα, προκαλούνται εξαιτίας της καύσης του καπνού, του χαρτιού και της κόλλας. Το ηλεκτρονικο τσιγαρο δεν χρησιμοποιεί φωτιά, δεν καίγεται και έτσι δεν περιέχει πίσσα, μονοξείδιο και διοξείδιο του άνθρακα και τις υπόλοιπες 3000+ ουσίες, εκ των οποίων περίπου 40 έχουν βεβαιωθεί ως καρκινογόνες.Μπορώ να το χρησιμοποιήσω πραγματικά παντού;Το ηλεκτρονικο τσιγαρο δεν καίγεται και δεν περιέχει καπνό. Εκλύει μόνο αβλαβή ατμό που μοιάζει με καπνό, όμως δεν είναι. Έτσι δεν προκαλεί παθητικό κάπνισμα και άρα μπορείτε να το χρησιμοποιείτε παντού. Σε αεροπλάνα, πλοία, εστιατόρια, κέντρα διασκέδασης, χώρους εργασίας. Σημειώστε επίσης ότι δεν μυρίζει ούτε αφήνει μυρωδιές σε ρούχα, στόμα, αυτοκίνητα, σπίτια κλπ.Καλά όλα αυτά. Αλλά θα με ικανοποιεί σαν τσιγάρο;Απόλυτα. Τα ηλεκτρονικά τσιγάρα είναι πολύ απολαυστικά. Κοστίζει;Ναι, το μισό από τα τσιγάρα.Εγώ δεν καπνίζω. Να το δοκιμάσω;Όχι, Ποτέ. Το ηλεκτρονικο τσιγαρο απευθύνεται μόνο σε καπνιστές άνω των 18 ετών. Όμως, σίγουρα έχετε γνωστούς καπνιστές. Δωρίστε τους ένα ηλεκτρονικό τσιγάρο. Είναι το πιο πολύτιμο δώρο και θα σας ευγνωμονούν για αυτό.

Πώς λειτουργεί το ηλεκτρονικό τσιγάρο?

Το ηλεκτρονικό τσιγάρο είναι ένας νέος, επαναστατικός εναλλακτικός τρόπος καπνίσματος. Μοιάζει, έχει την ίδια αίσθηση και την ίδια γεύση με τα παραδοσιακά τσιγάρα, ενώ ταυτόχρονα παρέχει στους καπνιστές όλη την ευχαρίστηση που προσδοκούν από το κάπνισμα, χωρίς όμως πολλά από τα προβλήματα.

Το ηλεκτρονικό τσιγάρο δεν χρειάζεται να το ανάψετε. Είναι μία μη εύφλεκτη συσκευή που αποτελείται από ένα μικροεπεξεργαστή, μια μικρή επαναφορτιζόμενη μπαταρία και ένα ανταλλακτικό φίλτρο που περιέχει νερό, προπυλενογλυκόλη, νικοτίνη (εφόσον το επιλέξετε) και αρωματικές ουσίες που μιμούνται την γεύση του καπνού (ή οποιαδήποτε από τις άλλες γεύσεις διαλέξετε).  

Όταν εισπνεύσετε από το ηλεκτρονικό τσιγάρο, ξεκινάει μια διαδικασία ατμοποίησης που απελευθερώνει «καπνό» ο οποίος στην πραγματικότητα είναι αβλαβής ατμός που διαλύεται στον αέρα σε μερικά δευτερόλεπτα. Συμπερασματικά, το ηλεκτρονικό τσιγάρο μιμείται όλες τις φυσικές και συναισθηματικές απολαύσεις του παραδοσιακού καπνίσματος.

http://www.njoyhellas.gr/%CE%B7%CE%BB%CE%B5%CE%BA%CF%84%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%BF-%CF%84%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%B3%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%BF/

The Best Outrageous and Expensive Gifts for Kids

My Top 5 Over the Top Gifts for Kids

This is really just for fun; I'm not recommending purchasing any of these things. But hey, if you're a celebrity or just filthy rich and you want to spoil your kids rotten, here are a few expensive gifts for kids.

#5 Prehistoric Giants

A child's playroom is not complete without an 11-foot Woolly Mammoth. These large stuffed animals remind me of the Richard Pryor movie "Toys". The set includes a life-size Saber Tooth Tiger, Polar Bear, and Woolly Mammoth. If the 11-foot beast is too large for your room you can opt for the less impressive 5 foot 7 version for only $1500.

11 foot Woolly Mammoth: $12000, yes... Twelve Thousand dollars for a stuffed animal

5 foot Woolly Mammoth: $1500

Saber-Toothed Tiger: $600

Standing Polar Bear: $500

#4 Train Set

Go for the gusto with this Lionel Empire Builder Train Set. The set includes a large set of cars including a tank car, flat car, boom car, milk car, and a caboose to name a few. There is also a remote control and switches. The set comes with tracks and a system for speed control. This set is the largest of the Lionel train sets and includes the best of their products.

Price: $2,825.99

Available at Amazon

#3 Mercedes SL 500 Two Seater Car

If you are looking to spoil your tot with a sweet ride, why not purchase the mini-Mercedes? This mini-Mercedes actually has a Honda 4 Stroke Engine. It is 83 cc. and 2.2 horse power. It can go forward and in reverse. The maximum speed is 13 mph and is governable. Each car is custom built and non-refundable. If you're looking for something a bit more tough, check out the mini-monster truck. It's a bit pricier, but what's a few grand? Ha!

Mini-Mercedes Price: $8,300 (what a deal; at poshtots.com this same car is $9,492)

Mini-Monster Truck Price: $13,800

Available at Amazon.com

#2 Victorian Play House

This Victorian Play House is a real house, just kid-size. The house has a front porch, turret, cedar-shingles, windows, shingled roof, and bay windows with flower boxes of course. You and your child can design the interior and exterior options including: cable, running water, electricity, wireless, etc. If a Victorian is not your bag, you can design the house however you choose. You may even create a mini-replica of your home. All homes are custom and are made when the order is placed. Your home can be shipped in approximately 10 weeks The possibilities are endless, and for the price they should be.

Price: $23, 400 (Price may vary based on any custom additions.)

Available at PoshTots

#1 A Carousel

Why have a carousel horse or rocking horse when you can have your own hand crafted, original carousel. I have to admit these are beautiful pieces of art. Each horse is hand made and painted in the Netherlands. Even the leatherwork and saddles are handmade and stitched. The paintwork is done in oil and with the glazing the horses look more life-like. The horses go through eight to twelve layers of paint before they are sealed with shellac. The manes and tails are real horse hair. Each horse is an original so prices are not listed. If you are interested check out the website below and send them an email.

Price: ?

Available at: Rocking Horse & Art Design

Top 10 Reasons for Staying in an Unhappy Marriage

Staying in unhappy Marriages

There are several couples who stay in their marriages even if they are not happy because of several reasons. Three years back a billboard proclaiming "Life's short. Get a divorce" by a Chicago Divorce Lawyers Firm caused enough of an uproar and criticism from all over. But the legal firm made no apologies saying the ad isn't for everyone, but instead targets couples looking for a way out of a bad marital situation. Honestly, I see nothing wrong in people opting out of an unhappy marriage when there is no hope of salvaging the relationship. I believe that marriages are forever. At the same time I think once a relationship is broken no amount of mending can make it the same again.

People’s outlook on Divorce is changing these days. One of my friends who recently got divorced even threw a Divorce Party. I have personally witnessed some of my friends who were divorced from their miserable first marriages find a very contented and happy second marriage. I also was surprised to see Divorce greeting cards a few months ago when I was looking for a suitable online greeting card for one of my friend’s marriage. Here are ten Reasons why people stay glued to their unhappy marriages.

1) For Kids: Children are the worst sufferers when it comes to divorces. Many parents just stay in their unhappy marriages as they love their kids and would not want to cause any harm to them.

2) Money and Perks: Some Woman tends to stay in their marriages because of the comforts and perks they get in the husbands house. The same applies for a man who survives mostly on his wife’s income.

3) Low Self Esteem: Some has low self esteem, doesn't know his/her worth and doesn't realize he/she can do better. Many even lose hope of ever being happy.

4) Do not want to be like the Parents : Several people try to make their unhappy marriage work because they do not want to be like their Parents who have a history of Divorces and have personally suffered the consequences of their actions.

5) Society and Religion: People getting divorced are looked down by the society and some religions. So many pretend that they have a happy marriage even if they are suffering.

6) Guilt : Those who have opted for love marriages normally do not have the support of their parents when things turn sour as they themselves are blame for their own plight and are ashamed of their bad choice. So many of them try to make their relationship work or stay in their unhappy relationships to prove to themselves and their parents that their choice was not wrong and that they are happy with their choices.

7) Loneliness: Many people stay in their unhappy marriages as they are lonely and have no parents or friends to turn to and find security in their marriage even though they are not happy.

8) Property : Some people stay together as they have accumulate wealth together like a house or business or even a pet dog which both are attached to and would not want to give them up for any reason.

9) Freedom to live independent lives: Some couples come to an agreement or compromise on both living life the way they wanted like the husband can spend time with his girlfriend and the wife can spend time with her boyfriend but stay together under the same roof and remaining a happy couple to the outside World.

10) Been forced to stay together: Sometimes couples are forced to stay together because of society pressures and pressures of parents or relatives who are worried about their reputation than two unhappy people.

Whatever the reasons, is it worth staying in an unhappy marriage? Personally I have witnessed many unhappy relationships and people are trying to make it work. I can't imagine them of living a miserable life for so many years trying to make it work. Why do people try so hard to make a failing relationship work when all the love is lost? Why not just leave and find the right person or try living a better life? After all, Life is too short to spend being miserable and it is better to accept it and move on.

Cretan Tracer

Cretan Tracer is a hunting breed of dog from the island of Crete, in Greece. It is considered to be one of the oldest hunting breeds in Europe, with a history that goes back to 4,000 years ago.

This is a multi-talented dog that comes directly from Crete. It has excellent scent, speed, agility, durability, that make it an exceptional hare hunter. Cretan Hounds also have guarding instincts as well as pastoral instincts.

Appearance

The Cretan Hound is a slender dog, somewhere in the middle between a scenthound and a sighthound in body, particularly light on its feet (that are oval rather than cat-like) and strong in loin, specially adopted for swift reflexes and high speed over dangerous, rocky terrain. The head is wedge-shaped, elongated and dry, with pricked and very mobile ears that fold backwards like a greyhound’s during the chase. The tail is a most important breed characteristic: long and curved upwards, forming a loose or tight ring and covered with a brush of longer hair underneath. The dog is slightly longer than tall, with medium angulations, slender legs and good muscle; the ribcage is spacious but neither too broad nor too rounded and it does not quite reach the point of elbow. The loin is slender yet powerful and there is good tuck-up, with the points of the hipbones slightly prominent. There should be a balance between characteristics of speed and stamina, the conformation being a compromise producing great agility. Flabby, clumsy, heavy individuals not to be tolerated.

The colors of this breed can range from: pure white, cream, sandy, fawn, grey, black or brindle, bi-colored or tri-colored.

The Cretan Hound uses both sight and scent on the hunt and they have a particular tendency to taste the aerial or ground scent, even to the point of sucking it from pebbles and stones. When the prey is sensed, the tail moves in circular fashion and the hound becomes rigid, moments before the chase begins. Meek, affectionate, aristocratic, yet deadly on the chase, it’s a polite hound that comes alive in the presence of prey; clean, gentle, elegant in form and movement, it’s never vulgar or overwhelming in gestures. Slightly reserved with strangers, it’s naturally inquisitive and tolerant. The Cretan Hound lives happily together with other domestic animals.

Excellent, gentle and very affectionate with children. It rarely barks but will give notice of strangers approaching its home; at the farm it will kill mice and rats and it’s not indifferent to feathered game, but the latter use will make the breed lazy and untidy in the hunt; its constitution needs the challenge of the true chase.

If you are interested for this race , you can write in :

alyroni@ath.forthnet.com

Children Who Can Read, But Don't...

Studies show what common sense tells us: the more kids read, the better they read and the more pleasure they get out of reading.
Unfortunately, the reverse also holds true: children who read very little usually have poor reading skills. Reading is a struggle for them, and they avoid it whenever possible.
Is there anything that you can do to encourage your children to read? First, it's helpful to know your child's reasons for not liking or wanting to read. These reasons can help you decide what will work best in motivating your child to discover or rediscover how much fun reading can be.

Why Some Kids Don't Like to Read
Do any of these statements have a familiar ring? They are the reasons children frequently give for not reading:
It's boring. Don't despair if your children have this response to reading that is assigned at school. You can expose them to another kind of reading at home that is related to their interests.

I don't have the time. Kids are busy. School, friends, sports, homework, television, and chores all compete for their time. Some children need your help in rearranging their schedules to make time for reading.
It's too hard. For some children, reading is a slow, difficult process. If your child is having a hard time reading, talk with his or her reading teacher. Ask about how you can find interesting books and materials written at a level that matches your child's reading ability.

It's not important. Often children don't appreciate how reading can be purposeful or relevant to their lives. Parents can take it upon themselves to find reading materials on subjects that do matter to their kids.
It's no fun. For some children, especially those who have difficulty reading, books cause anxiety. Even for children with strong reading skills, pressure from school and home that emphasize reading for performance can make reading seem like a chore. Our advice: take the pressure off reading so that your children can enjoy it.

If you or someone else in your family has had problems reading, there is a greater likelihood that your children will experience these difficulties too. Speak to a reading teacher if you have reason to suspect a learning problem. Early testing administered at your child's school can identify a learning disability and alert the school to your child's need for special teaching.
What Won't Work
Parents have told us that the following tactics only strengthen a child's resistance to reading:

Nagging. Avoid lecturing about the value of reading and hounding a child who is not reading. Your child will only resent it.
Bribing. While there's nothing wrong with rewarding your child's reading efforts, you don't want your youngster to expect a prize after finishing every book. Whenever possible, offer another book or magazine (your child's choice) along with words of praise. You can give other meaningful rewards on occasion, but offer them less and less frequently. In time, your child will experience reading as its own reward.

Judging your child's performance. Separate school performance from reading for pleasure. Helping your child enjoy reading is a worthwhile goal in itself.
Criticizing your child's choices. Reading almost anything is better than reading nothing. Although you may feel your child is choosing books that are too easy or that treat subjects too lightly, hide your disappointment. Reading at any level is valuable practice, and successful reading helps build confidence as well as reading skills. If your differences are simply a matter of personal taste, respect your child's right to his or her own preferences.

Setting unrealistic goals. Look for small signs of progress rather than dramatic changes in your child's reading habits. Don't expect a reluctant reader to finish a book overnight. Maybe over the next week, with your gentle encouragement.
Making a big deal about reading. Don't turn reading into a campaign. Under pressure, children may read only to please their parents rather than themselves, or they may turn around and refuse to read altogether.
20 Ways to Encourage Reading
We've told you why some kids don't like to read and what other parents believe will not succeed in changing their minds. Now for some ways to turn a young reader's reluctance into enthusiasm:

1. Scout for things your children might like to read. Use their interests and hobbies as starting points.
2. Leave all sorts of reading materials including books, magazines, and colorful catalogs in conspicuous places around your home.
3. Notice what attracts your children's attention, even if they only look at the pictures. Then build on that interest; read a short selection aloud, or simply bring home more information on the same subject.

4. Let your children see you reading for pleasure in your spare time.
5. Take your children to the library regularly. Explore the children's section together. Ask a librarian to suggest books and magazines your children might enjoy.
6. Present reading as an activity with a purpose—a way to gather useful information for, say, making paper airplanes, identifying a doll or stamp in your child's collection, or planning a family trip.
7. Encourage older children to read to their younger brothers and sisters. Older children enjoy showing off their skills to an admiring audience.

8. Play games that are reading-related. Check your closet for spelling games played with letter tiles or dice, or board games that require players to read spaces, cards, and directions.
9. Perhaps over dinner, while you're running errands, or in another informal setting, share your reactions to things you read, and encourage your children to do likewise.
10. Set aside a regular time for reading in your family, independent of schoolwork—the 20 minutes before lights out, just after dinner, or whatever fits into your household schedule. As little as 10 minutes of free reading a day can help improve your child's skills and habits.

11. Read aloud to your child, especially a child who is discouraged by his or her own poor reading skills. The pleasure of listening to you read, rather than struggling alone, may restore your child's initial enthusiasm for books and reading.
12. Encourage your child to read aloud to you an exciting passage in a book, an interesting tidbit in the newspaper, or a joke in a joke book. When children read aloud, don't feel they have to get every word right. Even good readers skip or mispronounce words now and then.

13. On gift-giving occasions, give books and magazines based on your child's current interests.
14. Set aside a special place for children to keep their own books.
15. Introduce the bookmark. Remind your youngster that you don't have to finish a book in one sitting; you can stop after a few pages, or a chapter, and pick up where you left off at another time. Don't try to persuade your child to finish a book he or she doesn't like. Recommend putting the book aside and trying another.
16. Treat your children to an evening of laughter and entertainment featuring books! Many children (parents, too) regard reading as a serious activity. A joke book, a story told in riddles, or a funny passage read aloud can reveal another side of reading.
17. Extend your child's positive reading experiences. For example, if your youngster enjoyed a book about dinosaurs, follow up with a visit to a natural history museum.
18. Offer other special incentives to encourage your child's reading. Allow your youngster to stay up an extra 15 minutes to finish a chapter; promise to take your child to see a movie after he or she has finished the book on which it was based; relieve your child of a regular chore to free up time for reading.

19. Limit your children's television viewing in an effort to make time for other activities, such as reading. But never use TV as a reward for reading, or a punishment for not reading.
20. Not all reading takes place between the covers of a book. What about menus, road signs, food labels, and sheet music? Take advantage of countless spur-of-the-moment opportunities for reading during the course of your family's busy day.