Pamper parties for pre teens
Saturday, June 21st, 2008Girls as young as 6 are getting facials and fake tans at special pamper parties.
At least two New Zealand companies are following worldwide trends by arranging beauty bashes for pre-teens.
Tracey Lowe, who runs Enchanted Mobile Hairdressing in Christchurch, offers mini manicures and pedicures, mini facials and mini massages.
She started offering the parties _ which start at $30 a girl _ after reading about their popularity overseas.
“I haven’t even fully advertised them, but I have had a lot of interest from local schools and even mothers at Plunket groups,” she said.
“Little girls see their mum having these treatments done and want to have the same.”
Lowe said her daughter, 6-year-old Cassidy, was always excited to have her hair done and her nails polished.
Aimed at those who want to host “the best girls’ birthday party on the block”, the website says under-13s can “sit back and relax while our therapists pamper the girls from head to toe”.
Lowe was not concerned about the age of girls wanting to indulge in salon treatments but said she would not treat anyone younger than 6. “A pamper party is once in a blue moon, they are not putting makeup on every day.
A child-only hair and beauty salon in London offers clients as young as 6 dolls to play with and DVDs to watch. Budding fashionistas can flick through a copy of Vogue while they are waiting for newly trimmed nails to dry.
In the US, children as young as 2 are reported to have been receiving the occasional beauty treatment in Los Angeles and New York.
Lucy Marr, who owns The Powder Room beauty salons in Newmarket and Ponsonby, said the pamper party concept was increasingly popular with Kiwi girls.
The trend hadn’t extended to her salons but she had noticed an increase in girls “in their really early teens” having their hair done and getting mini manicures with their mums or on their own. Marr said there was “plenty of time for girls to get into that sort of thing”, when it came to beauty treatments.
Tags: bashes, beauty salon, beauty treatment, beauty treatments, best girls, blue moon, early teens, fake tans, fashion, hairdressing, little girls, local schools, manicures, marr, massages, mums, newmarket, ponsonby, pre teens, salon treatments, Teens, worldwide trendsRelated posts
3 teens charged in attack that injured officer
Saturday, June 21st, 2008Three teens accused of attacking a Seattle police officer on Tuesday, causing the officer to be hospitalized for head injuries, were charged Friday with assault and obstruction.
McKissack, an eight-year veteran assigned to patrol the Southwest Precinct, was reporting to a 911 call in the High Point neighborhood for a fight between two males and a female when he witnessed a street-side brawl, according to a police report.
McKissack saw a man pick up another and slam him on the ground, near 32nd Avenue Southwest and Southwest Raymond Street, the report said.
When McKissack intervened he was “jumped” by the group, which included the man he had just seen being attacked, said police spokesman Mark Jamieson.
McKissack was punched in the face and kicked in the head.
McKissack told investigators that he thought the suspects were trying to kill him, the report said. The officer tried to reach for his gun but one of the suspects “had a firm hold on it and was trying to get it out of the holster,” the report said.
Tags: 32nd avenue, 911, head injuries, high point, holster, investigators, mark jamieson, neighborhood, police officer, police report, police spokesman, raymond street, seattle police, southwest, Teens, three teens, veteran, witnessRelated posts
Teens lose big in city’s summer jobs fiasco
Saturday, June 21st, 2008Mayor Frank Melton’s proposal to employ teens is laudable but flawed. However, the fiasco that occurred last week offers some lessons for Melton, teens and the greater community.
Melton’s attempt to put up to 900 students on the payroll of a city that is in financial distress was the first misstep.
His efforts to force this through using the city’s reserves and a line of credit would have led to more debt and resulted in higher taxes for residents and businesses.
My suggestion to the mayor is that he write a check to pay these youths and connect them with the many area nonprofit organizations and community groups that need assistance.
This was your pledge to these teens. So, you are the one to be held accountable by the real victims the hundreds of teens who showed up because of your pledge to find them jobs.
Tags: community groups, fiasco, financial distress, jobs, mayor frank melton, misstep, nonprofit organizations, payroll, pledge, proposal, suggestion, summer jobs, TeensRelated posts
Fleeing teens caught in stolen truck
Saturday, June 21st, 2008An off-duty Fort Wayne police officer stopped two 15-year-old boys and a 14-year-old boy in a pickup truck and authorities found out they had escaped from a detention center in Michigan.
Authorities checked with the boys’ parents and found out they had escaped from the Wedgewood juvenile facility in Grand Rapids, Mich.
One of the boys then escaped from a squad car, but soon afterward a nearby car equipped with a navigation system was reported stolen and police were to track the car to Edgerton, Ohio, where the teen still in handcuffs was caught again.
Tags: 15 year old boys, authorities, edgerton ohio, fort wayne, handcuffs, juvenile facility, navigation system, nearby car, one of the boys, parents, pickup truck, police officer, squad car, TeensRelated posts
Few jobs for teens
Saturday, June 21st, 2008Seventeen-year-old Ruth Lazo started looking for a summer job in early May and quickly got hired at a San Jose Cold Stone Creamery.
Chris Gomez, 15, was not as lucky. He came by the ice cream shop this week but was told there were no more openings.
Welcome, teens, to the job market of summer 2008, where amid a troubled economy young people face one of the toughest job markets in decades, and those who started early have the best chance of landing work.
The number of teens expected to work this summer decreased to 34.2 percent, the lowest number in 50 years, according to the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University in Boston.
Teen unemployment rates parallel overall unemployment numbers nationwide. In California, the teen unemployment rate, which reflects only those looking for work, has risen steadily over the past two years. While the rate was 18.7 percent in May 2008, the number stood at 15.7 percent in May 2006, according to the California Employment Development Department.
On Friday, Santa Clara and San Benito counties reported their seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate hit 5.6 percent, which was up from 5.2 percent in April and 4.4 percent from May 2007.
“The increase in the unemployment rate this summer complicates things for young people looking for summer jobs,” said Patrick Joyce, spokesman for the Employment Development Department. “There’s now more competition in the job market.”
At the Westfield Valley Fair mall, the Claire’s Accessories jewelry store, which caters to young girls, keeps only one position open for an employee under 18. That job was filled in February.
Sarah Curcio, an 18-year-old from San Jose, got that job after applying for 40 others, everything from secretarial work to waiting tables at restaurants. They never called her back.
But the earlier their job search started, the better. At the popular Forever 21 clothing store in Valley Fair, about 15 to 20 teenagers turn in applications every day, but the jobs are already full.
“Right now, we’re capped out,” said store manager Lucky Farales. “Ever since school got out, we’ve been getting huge numbers of applications. About three or four ask for applications each hour.”
One of the summer hires, Keri Doan, a senior at Independence High School, filled out six applications for stores at the mall last month. She jumped at the chance to work at Forever 21, which hired her on the spot.
Meanwhile, Gomez, a sophomore at Evergreen Valley High School, is still looking. He applied on the Internet for summer positions, but when he got no response, he decided to go from store to store collecting job applications in person. His next stop: Baskin Robbins.
Tags: california employment development, california employment development department, chris gomez, cold stone creamery, curcio, jewelry store, job search, jobs, northeastern university, patrick joyce, san benito counties, secretarial work, sophomore, summer jobs, teenager, teenagers, Teens, troubled economy, unadjusted unemployment rate, unemployment numbers, unemployment rates, urn, valley fair mall, waiting tables, westfield valley fair, westfield valley fair mallRelated posts
Poor teens are fitter than rich kids
Saturday, June 21st, 2008Teenagers from lower-income homes do slightly more exercise than their richer peers.
But young South African children from poorer backgrounds are less active than their wealthier counterparts, according to the “BratTrax” survey conducted by Youth Dynamix.
The survey of 1110 children in 2007 and 2008 shows that 65% of lower-income children aged between seven and 12 “do nothing to keep healthy and fit”. Lack of sports and parental support are among the reasons for this, the report says.
But when they hit their teens, upper-income adolescents, with time pressures caused by homework and extra-mural activities, become less active than their poorer counterparts.
Dr Shane Norris, of the Birth to 20 study at the University of the Witwatersrand, said there were differences in activity levels between children from suburban and Soweto schools.
Professor Tim Noakes, director of the University of Cape Town and Medical Research Council’s Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, said that activities such as working on computers could be diverting well-off teenagers from sports.
One of the BratTrax results that differs from existing research, however, is that children exercise more as they get older.
Noakes said levels of physical activity “drop dramatically when children leave school”.
A related YouthDynamix survey of 200 mothers found that about a quarter of children did no exercise during school holidays.
Tags: adolescents, counterparts, existing research, homework, Kid, medical research council, mural activities, physical activity, professor tim, rich kids, school holidays, shane, soweto schools, sports medicine, suburban, teenager, teenagers, Teens, tim noakes, time pressures, university of cape town, university of the witwatersrandRelated posts
Orlando’s new Aquatica and other splashy parks
Monday, June 16th, 2008There are 36 water slides, six rivers and lagoons, white sandy beaches and two terrific kids‘ water play areas. Let’s not forget the animals Commerson’s Dolphins Macaws, and colorful African Cichlids, which, for the uninitiated, are colorful fish found in freshwater lakes and rivers in Africa, Central and South America, among other far-flung places.
Kids, of course, were most interested in the rides, while parents were delighted to catch a break. “My kids are little fishes and they’re loving it here,” said Philadelphian Nancy Ryan, who was actually relaxing while her two kids were off testing their mettle on the water slides. “Everything is rush, rush, rush at home,” she said. “I want to enjoy vacation!”
There are plenty of animals at Aquatica, too. Check out the 80-pound giant anteaters, the laughing kookaburras or the tortoises that weigh as much as 200 pounds, but good luck getting the kids out of the water to check them out.
My cousin Ethan, too little for the Dolphin Plunge, loved Loggerhead Lane, the lazy river that floats guests past a view of the dolphins, exotic birds and a huge habitat of exotic fish.
The key to water park happiness and safety of course, is to keep your eyes on your younger kids and know the older ones’ whereabouts. I was impressed at Aquatica by the attentive parents and the lifeguards everywhere. And since your tweens and teens aren’t riding water slides with cell phones in their pockets, make sure you’ve established meeting places and times so that no one gets lost. You’ve also got to be vigilant about re-applying sunscreen, no matter how much the kids complain. Tell them they’ll complain a lot more about painful sunburn.
Make sure the youngest park-goers don’t swallow the water and are wearing special water diapers that won’t leak. The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions reports that water park managers have been especially vigilant to prevent water-borne illness and test the water several times a day.
I admit I find water parks especially with young kids stressful. And lines for popular water slides can be brutal. But well-designed water play areas, like the ones at Aquatica, complete with gentle slides, climbing nets, water cannons and giant water buckets that dump water on little guests, make it a lot easier for parents.
“It’s much less stressful than the theme parks,” says Jennifer McCollum of Jacksonville, Florida. She and another mom came to check out the park with their kids.
Tags: african cichlids, colorful fish, exotic birds, exotic fish, far flung places, freshwater lakes, giant anteaters, Kid, lakes and rivers, laughing kookaburras, little fishes, lori, nancy ryan, painful sunburn, parents, park managers, philadelphian, rivers in africa, rush rush, Sand, sandy beaches, Teens, terrific kids, urn, water borne illness, water slidesRelated posts
Kids festival fun at Noosa Longweekend
Monday, June 16th, 2008From sand sculpting and art workshops to free circus performances and dance films, the 2008 Noosa Longweekend festival offers up a huge range of activities to occupy the kids over Winter.
This year The Noosa Longweekend festival will run for the first time during the school holidays from 4 to 13 July - offering up ten fantastic fun-filled days with 40 performances and arts based activities across theatre, literature, circus, music, dance, film and visual arts just for kids and families.
“With our move to the school holiday timeslot, we’ve really ramped up our free and community events,†said Gail Hewton, General Manager of The Noosa Longweekend festival.
The Major Minors program designed specifically for kids, teens and families is the core of the festival’s school holiday program with a huge range of affordable workshops and free activities on offer across the Noosa region in Cooroy, Noosaville, Noosa Junction and Main, Sunshine and Peregian Beaches.
“Our free activities will include the amazing trainers from circus group Circa teaching kids how to walk on stilts, hoola hoop and juggle plus an outdoor performance by their youth troupe Circa Zoo.
“There’ll also be a Sound Playground for all to play fantastic musical instruments and members of local Aboriginal tribe the Gubbi Gubbi will lead storytelling sessions and teach children some Indigenous dance moves,†Gail said.
Other free activities include sand sculpting, instrument making, Islamic and earth art workshops plus KidsReels dance films and children’s storytelling on the beach.
“One of the more creative events will be the Noosa Scrubs cyberdrama workshop - where teenagers get to create and film their own mini series and upload it to the net!
“Whether your child is a singer, dancer, actor, writer or cabaret star in the making – we’ll have a session to suit them,†she said.
Tags: aboriginal tribe, circus music, circus performances, creative events, dance films, dancer actor, earth art, festival fun, free circus, how to walk on stilts, indigenous dance, Kid, kids festival, noosaville, peregian, Sand, sand sculpting, school holiday program, school holidays, sound playground, storytelling sessions, teenager, teenagers, Teens, theatre literatureRelated posts
SiChuan Dining Room
Monday, June 16th, 2008The family beside us aren’t happy. Mum, dad, two kids in their early teens; they’ve been in and are now on their way out again within half an hour. As the man pays the bill, I overhear him mutter something about chilli before getting up and going home. Or perhaps to another restaurant; there’s a pretty decent Cantonese around the corner.
Hey, pal, those big red things hanging decoratively outside SiChuan Dining Room on Glenferrie Road, part of the shrine-like ornate facade, yes, the long pointy things: they’re not firecrackers. It goes to the heart of what fascinates me about SiChuan Dining Room; the place is just so damned uncompromising. In white bread, private school, caffe latte Hawthorn. I love it.
My first visit was a magnificently comical experience. It was early days, and I got the impression very few in the restaurant had ever actually worked in one before. So much activity, so little achievement.
But the food was really quite special if gastronomic discovery is one of your things and, along with a gaudy, blinged-up decor of hard surfaces and Chinoiserie, the place had an extraordinary air of authenticity. And, oh, the chilli and garlic.
One dish sticks in my mind, a simple cucumber salad “with garlic paste” and a dash of sesame oil. The quantity of minced raw garlic was simply prodigious, half a small fist’s worth: hot, pungent and with an after-taste that simply wouldn’t go away.
But the place was great. They had addressed all the observations any experienced Melbourne diner might have made of the place, which had clearly involved some not inconsiderable set-up money. And, fortunately, it was still unlike any Chinese restaurant I know in Melbourne.
Tags: authenticity, cantonese, chilli, chinese restaurant, cucumber salad, dining room, early teens, facade, firecrackers, garlic paste, going home, half an hour, hawthorn, Kid, mum dad, private school, raw garlic, sesame oil, sichuan, Teens, urn, white breadRelated posts
Easton wonders if mayor has answer to gangs
Monday, June 16th, 2008Many residents of Easton’s West Ward are applauding Mayor Sal Panto Jr.’s decision to temporarily bar youths 14 and older from two parks. But they’re also worried his latest tool to keep gangs out may negatively label all neighborhood teens and young adults.
Panto surprised City Council last week when he announced an executive order barring those 14 and older unless supervised by parent or guardian, or unless they are parents or guardians themselves from using Centennial Park at 12th and Ferry streets and Vandevere Park at 12th and Spring Garden streets.
Panto said he drove by the parks Saturday and was happy to see no one hanging out. He said no citations were issued over the weekend, but didn’t expect to issue them as signs outlining the order have yet to be placed at the parks.
Panto said he instituted the ban because gangs use the parks to sell drugs and recruit members, but police say they lack the necessary tools to keep members out.
Nadine Loane, who runs the city’s Weed and Seed program in the West Ward, agreed the ban can be a ”tool” to keep gangs out, but said it does not address the root problem.
”It doesn’t change behavior. It alters it,” Loane said Sunday. She said the ban may simply just change the locations of where gangs congregate.
Today, the Weed and Seed begins its Summer Nights program, which includes games and food, in Centennial, and Loane is concerned that the ban may stigmatize the park and reduce participation.
Panto is aware of Loane’s concerns, but said ”the parks are already stigmatized. We can’t bury our heads in the sand and ignore the problem.”
Tags: centennial park, change behavior, citations, executive order, gangs, guardian, guardians, loane, nadine, necessary tools, neighborhood, neighborhood teens, parents, participation, root problem, sal panto, Sand, seed program, signs, spring garden streets, summer nights, Teens, weed, young adults