Smart kids learn music

First we heard about the Mozart Effect -- that simply listening to Mozart triggered temporary increases in spatial intelligence.

Well, here is more music for parents' ears: After nine months of weekly training in piano or voice, research shows young students' IQs rose nearly three points more than their untrained peers, according to the study's author E. Glenn Schellenberg, of the University of Toronto, Canada.

So how young should you start? As early as possible, and a real-life miniature piano, such as the Alana Marie Petite Piano, offers kids a head start when it comes to their musical debut.

The piano is a good choice for a child's first instrument because the notes are there to be played, rather than created (think squeaky violin or farting trumpet).

And while you might rock on Guitar Hero, we still recommend professional lessons.

(Source: Kidspot.com.au)

The truth of the Tooth Fairy

Kevin was very exited. He lost another tooth. It's his third front tooth so it would be a very import tooth and he could get a big reward from the tooth fairy tonight.

When Kevin was happily trying to show me the tooth, he suddenly realized that it was missing from the table.

Kevin could not find it anywhere. He was very upset.

It was bed time. Kevin quielty lay down. He called me and cried. He said he was still missing that lost tooth and he was upset that the tooth fairy couldn't use it as a brick for her castle's wall.

I told Kevin, as he would be almost 7 now, I decided to tell him a truth - There is no tooth fair in the world. It's just a beautiful story created by adults to comfort the little ones who lost teeth.

I said to Kevin, his other important fallen teeth were kept by me and of course I left the coins for him.

Kevin smiled again. He asked me to show him his teeth one day and fell asleep.

Will it be so nice and easy when I have to tell him the truth about the Santa one day?