Our Website Gets a Makeover!

Well, thanks to my extrememly talented and patient graphic designer turned web designer, Andi Botto, Gollygee-pers.com has been updated and is now interactive! 

product imageVisitors can view our brand new video demonstrating how the game is played, read headlines from our blog, twitter and facebook page and of course purchase the game.

Our freebie page is still in the works but fear not, those coloring pages, sticker charts and fairy letters will be available shortly. 

By popular demand we will also be adding an email list so people can sign up for our latest info. 

Stay tuned for more surprises, tips and fun to come!!!!!

Top 10 Things Dads do to Teach Good Manners


Father’s Day is Sunday, June 17!

I thought I would take this opportunity to acknowledge the importance of dads in teaching their sons and daughters good manners. After all, sons will model their fathers and daughters will learn how they expect to be treated based on watching the primary male role model in their lives.

Here is my top 10 favorite things dads do to teach good manners:

   When Dads…
  1. treat the mother of their children with respect
  2. refrain from using vulgar language
  3. attend father/daughter dances. Dress for the event and break out the date treatment; opening doors, holding her chair and be engaged in conversations.
  4. show up on time
  5. listen to other points of view
  6. allow people through when driving
  7. show good sportsmanship
  8. give compliments
  9. review expected behavior with their sons before leaving for prom
  10. have good table manners (if they need help with this one go to http://www.gollygee-pers.com/ ) 
Thanks dads for all you do!!!

Golly Gee-pers Wins an award and is featured on the Toginet “Believe In Your Fairytales” radio show?


After Table Manners Cards recently won The Next Big Zing award I was invited to be a guest on Debbie Glickman and Dhana Cohen’s radio show, “Believe In Your Fairytales.”

Not only was it an opportunity to tell listeners about my game and how it works, but also a chance to share my experience bringing a product to market. If you know of budding entrepreneurs who could use a little encouragement and direction have them take a listen. Go to: http://toginet.com/shows/believeinyourfairytale under Recent Shows choose 5/22/12. My segment begins at 11:30.

Believe in your fairytales!
 

Table Manners Cards go Hollywood!

I am so excited! Celebrity Baby Trend Expert, Rachel Florio-Urso just gave me the go ahead to send our Table Manners Cards game to two beautiful mommies, Tori Spelling and Jessica Simpson.

If you haven’t heard Tori is pregnant with baby number 4 and of course she still has three in tow and Jessica is a brand new first time mommy to a beautiful baby girl.


We at Golly Gee-pers wishes them all the best!

But wait, there is more glam- and style! Table Manners Cards were just listed in the prestigious Eat Love Savor Luxury Gift Guide 2012 http://www.eatlovesavor.com/

JPEGand the popular website http://www.chicstylemodern.com/

I feel like I should be wearing some bling!

Table Manners Cards to be at the International Nanny Association Conference!


The International Nanny Association is the authority on in-home child care. It serves as the umbrella association for the in-home child care industry by providing information, education and guidance to the public and to industry professionals. If you would like to know more about this organization and what they can do for you, visit them at http://www.nanny.org


This year’s annual conference will be held at the Tuscany Suites & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada from May 3-6. I am very proud to say that Table Manners Cards will be in the welcome bag of every attendee. Thank you INA for this wonderful honor.

Have a fairy or an elf compliment your child...



Spring has sprung! It's a magical time. Flowers and trees are blooming, the grasses are emerald green and rainbows grace our skies. Nature nurtures children’s imaginations as they gather sticks, moss and leaves and search for small life hidden under rocks and inside of flowers. It’s a wonderful opportunity to encourage and reward kind, gentle and polite behavior in our children.  

Imagine your child receiving a tiny little envelope. Inside is a letter. The writing is so small you have to use a magnifying glass to read it. When you do your child realizes that she or he is being complimented by a fairy or an elf who has noticed your child’s good behavior. What a memorable reward! To create this experience for your child, Golly Gee-pers is providing free down loadable letters and envelopes. You can choose Fairy Poli for girls or Elf Raffi for boys. Simply go to www.gollygee-pers.com and click on freebies. Have fun!

March Mixes Manners and Music

According to Holidayinsights.com March is “Music in Our Schools Month”

They started sitting and ended dancing!
 Coincidentally, (although I don’t believe in coincidences) Golly Gee-pers was invited to a local school to debut a few of our new manners songs. Thanks to the cool and melodic voice of Rebecca Sayre, kindergartners through 5th graders embraced the songs and their message with unabashed singing, humming, tapping and lively discussions. In one of the classrooms an autistic boy who had remained sitting at his desk working with an aid, quickly joined in. His teachers were delighted to see this otherwise unresponsive child suddenly participating along with the rest of the class! It struck me (not for the first time) how alive and focused the kids became and what an important tool music can be to learning. In honor of this month’s celebration, I would love to hear from people on the ways in which music has contributed to their child’s education or development. Although the Manners CD has not yet been completed, you can still hear this wonderful singer's voice at http://www.rebeccasayre.com/. 

Table Manners Cards gets 5 stars on Amazon.com!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
 Table Manners Cards - Played During Meals
5.0 out of 5 stars l Social Skills much needed today, January 31, 2012
= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars   
In an era of fractured mealtimes, children isolated in front of screens and buttons, here is an opportunity to bring a family together at an important time/event of the day, and at the same time all can participate in a game that takes the stress out of mealtime and teaches a child much needed social skills that will be used throughout a lifetime.


Table Manners Cards - Played During Meals


I will be revamping my website http://www.gollygee-pers.com/ in the near future to make it more interactive and easier for people to find.  However, Table Manners Cards can still be purchased through Amazon.com in the toys and games section where I am trying out a lower price!!


      

                                               

If Valentine had been a school teacher...

This Month’s Assignment: Come up with a way to express your love to the important people in your life. You can use any medium you wish but bonus points will be given for the inclusion of heart shapes and the colors pink or red. Due February 14. No credit will be given for assignments turned in late.

yours truely,
Professor Valentine

Congrats to 24/7 Moms Winner!


WINNER OF – Golly Gee-pers! Table Manners Card Set 

Congrats Tara Corcoran. Enjoy your cards!
On December 28, 2011 the popular website 24/7 Moms posted this.

WIN: 24/7 MOMS and Golly Gee-pers! are giving away one Golly Gee-pers! Table manners Card Set.
Enter for a chance to win.Golly Gee-pers! are fun cards that teach children proper table manners by incorporating fun games. The unique cards are given out during the dining experience and depict good table manners (like chewing with your mouth closed) with a thumbs up, while the bad table manners (elbows on the table) have a thumbs down. The person with all thumbs ups cards and no thumbs down cards gets the ‘Ready to Dine Out’ award! The cards are ideals for children ages 4-12 and even come in the cotton carrying bag to take on-the-go. 

When is a child being rude not a rude child?

                                                                                         
Spear 2836 Cartoon: Respect in School
(cartoon courtesy of www.kevinspear.com)
If you have taught your child the importance of good manners but are dismayed at some seemingly rude behaviors, there might be something else going on. Consider a daughter with a kind spirit who looks the other way when a schoolmate says hello. Or, a son who is generally appreciative but, "forgets" to send out thank you notes. What about a teenager who seems to dote on her friends at school but doesn’t return their phone calls? From the outside, it might look like these kids are lazy or selfish and we might be tempted to read them the riot act. But, if we take a moment to look deeper we might discover important clues about these children’s personalities and emotional needs.

Many of the “polite” things we ask kids to do are fairly sophisticated. For example, looking an adult in the eye when being introduced. If a child is shy or insecure this kind of obligation can create uncomfortable feelings and even anxiety. Some children are gregarious and can strike up conversations anytime with anyone, but a more pensive child might feel put on the spot to perform and become verbally paralyzed. Think how frightening this would be. It’s no wonder if she ignores people. After all, you don’t have to talk to someone you don’t see. For some children, expressing their gratitude on paper can feel awkward. It’s understandable then if these children put off their duty until so much time has passed that they now have to explain their tardiness as well. At this point it‘s easier to pretend that the card really doesn‘t matter. Or, consider an introvert who’s been told “don’t be anti-social.” This child may try to be something she’s not and as a result exert a tremendous amount of energy trying to be social. By the time she returns home from school she’s exhausted and the thought of continuing the social demands by phone are unbearable.

Because the emotional health of children is more important than what people think of us, we parents may occasionally have to give our child a manners break. Instead of demanding to know why your child is being so rude, try asking non judgmental questions or sharing your own struggles to meet society‘s expectations. Then allow your child to explore comfortable options. Also, don’t forget that displaying good manners is a skill that will come more naturally when a child is developmentally ready.

Who Made You The Big Manners Police Of The House?


 Does anyone remember that comedy routine by Bill Cosby where the kids are fighting over pudding and one blurts out, “well, who made you the big pudding police of the house?” There were so many side splitting funny parts to that routine, but it was that one quote that stuck with my husband’s family over the years. Any time one of them started to tell the other what to do, out it would come… “well, who made you the big TV, chore, jelly doughnut etc., police of the house!” It would immediately diffuse any growing tension. Of course, it had to be said with a significant amount of Cosby flair to be effective. And so when I came up with the Table Manners Cards game you can imagine the ribbing I took at family gatherings involving meals.

Well, as it turns out that is exactly what the game does. It deputizes kids at the table to become their own manners police and gives them the authority to hand out tickets (thumbs-down cards) to manners offenders. I have to say it can be humbling for us adults at times, but if you keep your eye on the prize you will find it serves a purpose without you once having to nag, threaten or prod.

We recently had a large family gathering that included our dear 13 year old niece, Caroline from North Carolina. She spontaneously picked up the cards and in no time, much to her glee, had arrested several adults for repeat offenses. After some initial lame defenses the adults pleaded guilty and made concerted efforts to shape up. We all had a good laugh, the kids felt vindicated and everyone became more aware of their table manners. So, if anyone ever asks you or your family “who made you the big table manners police of the house,” just say, “Golly Gee-pers did.” I’ll take the heat from there.

When criticism becomes bad manners.

Is it just me or does it seem that more and more people are using the web to ridicule rather than provide constructive criticism? I’m not talking about those sites and blogs where people have made a commitment to a particular topic and provide a service by evaluating products and ideas for the greater good. I’m talking about those people who roam the web searching for something they can take out of context and pick fun at. Sure, it’s their right to say whatever they feel. But, I’m not sure the motivation is to inform the public or even freedom of expression. There seems to be a perverse desire to find negativity in the things that others are doing. If Mother Teresa were an unknown and decided to take her cause to the web and posted her thoughts with a picture (not in religious habit), even she would be a target! Not that she would care of course. But, the point is, there are people out there who just love to shoot others down. It might be tendency. It might a form of self aggrandizement or perhaps a defensive mechanism. But, I think the most likely reason of all is that their hearts are three sizes too small. Bring anyone to mind???? Unfortunately many of these Grinches are parents too. Can you imagine what their children are learning? If you don’t feel good about yourself, no problem, just focus that energy on criticizing others. I actually have empathy for these people. I think most of them do it unconsciously. Perhaps it was how they were treated as children. Moreover, we as a society tolerate it. In fact, our society’s desire to feel better about ourselves through the criticism of others is so popular that we have made it a profitable career for many. Well, guess what? It’s not clever or funny. It’s just bad manners and even though these people may get others to laugh with them, they’re not really contributing anything to the world other than negativity. What our children really need is to learn genuine skills for critical analysis so that they can differentiate for themselves what is valuable.

It’s unlikely that the perpetrators of this kind of criticism are going to read this, so I guess I’m really speaking to the victims. Chin up I say and know that this kind of criticism, although painful, is impotent. Even if it comes from those close to you. No one is perfect, but the conscious effort to put forth a creative solution to problems out trumps the lazy critic every time.

CanadianParents.com blogger, Blake Eligh, gives a rave review of Golly Gee-pers! Table Manners Cards

  

Although the new year is just a couple of days away, this isn't exactly a resolution post.  While everyone else makes plans to overhaul everything, the only resolution I'm making is to find peace at the dinner table.




Ms. Eligh's daughter becomes the biggest proponent.

To get there, we’re trying out two new games that I hope will entice the girls towards a calmer mealtime. First up is golly gee-pers’ Table Manners card game. Developed by mom-of-two Staci Ericson, the dinner time game aims to improve table manners through fun and gentle reminders instead of finger-wagging (and, let’s face it, incessant nagging). We’re not super strict about manners yet, but we’ve had trouble getting the kids to stay put during meals. 

The game isn’t complicated and has been a hit with our big kid. At five, she’s suddenly all about rules — reminding us, enforcing them and ratting out anyone who isn’t following them. She loves to catch me flauting the rules, but is equally excited to reward her sister for good behavior.

To Purchase Golly Gee-pers! Table Manners Cards go to http://www.gollygee-pers.com/
To read the entire article go
http://blog.canadianparents.com/thedailybite/

THINK OUTSIDE THE CARD!

Getting kids to write thank you notes isn’t always easy. They procrastinate, make excuses and ultimately parents end up having to force their little darlings to do the right thing. Well, guess what? It’s easier than that. The trick is to tap into your child’s personality and or talents. Here are 20 ideas that will have your child not only willing to send out thank you’s but, wanting to as well.

Create a Video. (the entire show need only be 5 minutes or less. Get Mom, Dad or a sibling behind the camera then e-mail or post to Aunt Annies' facebook page).
1. Kids can dress up, use props and act out a thank you skit.
2. Kids can sing a thank you song (little ones can use the Happy Birthday tune),
3. Play an instrument (doesn’t have to be well it just has to say “thank you“ somehow).
4. Perform a puppet show using stuffed animals, dolls, toy, props.
5. Perform a “thank you” dance

Capture the sentiment in pictures
1. Kids can spell out “thank you” with rocks, sticks, leaves and other backyard treasures.
2. Take photos of your child playing with her new toy then let her make a collage.
3. Let the child get behind the camera and shoot a “thank you” photo.
4. Cut out pictures from old magazines to make a unique card.
5. Create a pretend newspaper article with captioned photo image. “Awesome Grandma gives the perfect gift!”

Put it on paper:
1. Write a poem. It can be “roses are red, violets are blue…”
2. Draw a colorful “thank you” on a puzzle card ($1.50 at craft stores). Disassemble it and send out for the receiver to put back together.
3. Draw a maze leading to the word “Thank you”.
4. Draw, paint or color a picture.
5. Write “thank you” vertically on a lined piece of paper. Then use each letter to say something nice about the gift or person.

Cook something up:
1. Decorate cookies to spell out thank you.
2. Create a thank you “recipe” (one cup of gratitude, dash of surprise etc.)
3. Make brownies or treats, wrap in cellophane tied with a handmade thank you tag.

Use Technology:
1. Skpe a thank you
2. Use fun fonts, paint and draw applications, borders etc. to make a fun computer generated card.

And, of course, if your child is willing, there's always the old fashioned thank you note.
Tell us what your children do to say "thank you."

You Better Not Pout...


photo from totsandgiggles.com

When your child doesn’t get her way does she cross her arms, squint her eyes, scrunch her face then sink abruptly into a slump?

Ugh! Don’t you just want to say “.. I hope Santa doesn’t find out or you’re gonna be in trouble!“ Say the last part kind of singing and she might just look around nervously and collect herself into a model of cooperation.


Well, I’ve decided I am going to experiment with embracing the pout. After all, we’re Americans. We perfected the pout. In fact, this whole idea came to me the other night watching the news. A group of protesters were sitting in front of a government building bobbing signs telling everyone why they were unhappy.  Passers-by sometimes commented in favor of or against their cause, but as long as they were not breaking any laws, nobody sent the pouters to their rooms or took away their TV time.

That's when it occurred to me to turn the whole "you better not pout" song up-side-down.  I got so excited at the possibilities here that I almost wanted my child to pout.   What if we allowed children to pout or more specifically to air their grievances in writing or drawing in the form of  "pouting posters".  They would take a piece of paper and draw or write how they feel.  Maybe it would be, “I wanted the blue one," or "I don’t like my sister ’cause she won at Go Fish," or even, “mom‘s unfair”. We could even  help them tape the pouting poster to a stick and show them how to bob the sign meaningfully. No Santa threats, no lost privileges, just freedom of expression. It may or may not not change why the pouters are pouting, but they will get a chance to make their feelings known. They might even get so busy creating their signs that they forget all about  pouting.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying pouting should be encouraged. Many kids don’t pout and are thoroughly annoyed when others do it. But, I guess if I had to choose between whining, a tantrum, swinging arms, or a pout I would choose the pout. Besides they’re going to learn sooner or later that pouting is protected under the United States Constitution (kind of?). So, I say, in the spirit of an American tradition, don't suppress the pout, experiment with it as an opportunity for your child to express herself”  Free printable  "pouting posters"  at http://www.gollygee-pers.com/ then go to freebies

An Interview with Santa Claus reveals that neat handwriting and good manners count!

Interview with Santa Claus
jolly-santa
photo courtesy of www.stressedrach.com
 This edited article is from www.jconline.com 


Reached by phone at his workshop at the North Pole, St. Nicholas, commonly known as Santa Claus, gave an exclusive interview to the Journal & Courier Wednesday afternoon.

J&C: Good afternoon, Mr. Claus.
SC: Call me Santa. Everyone does.

J&C: You are probably aware of this, but thousands of children are preparing letters to you and our local postal carriers will collect them and make sure you receive them in time for Christmas.

SC: I'm so pleased. Mrs. Claus and I love to receive mail and I read a big stack of letters every night after we have dinner.

J&C: Santa, on behalf of the schoolchildren down here, could you please provide some tips on writing an effective letter to you?
SC: I'd be honored. It's important to ask kids to take their time and use your their best handwriting or printing. My eyesight isn't what it used to be, so make sure your letter is nice and clear.

J&C: Do some kids type their letters on a computer?
SC: Absolutely.

J&C: Does correct spelling matter?
SC: Well, I always like to see older children using proper spelling. It shows me that they are working hard on their weekly spelling words at school. But I know younger children sometimes spell words the best they can. I've read so many letters through the years I can usually figure things out.

J&C: What else is important to remember?
SC: The two magic words: please and thank you. It makes me so happy when I receive polite letters. Did you know that some children even write me thank-you notes after Christmas? Mrs. Claus has a number of them posted on the refrigerator with magnets.

J&C: Do you ever get letters from children who ask for things for other family members, not themselves?
SC: All the time. There are millions of children around the world who are very concerned about the people they love. I always enjoy hearing from them.

J&C: There are lots and lots of good kids down here who have been behaving well at home and at school.
SC: I know! Too many to mention, but, look I've only got time for one more question before I have to get back to toy-making. We're working on Lincoln Logs, Barbies and bikes today.

J&C: Will you be making some guest appearances  before Christmas?
SC: Oh yes! I really enjoy seeing the children so I always try to make time to do that.  Ho, Ho, Ho!

J&C: Thanks for your time, Santa.
SC: Your welcome. Tell the kids to keep those cards and letters coming!

I wonder if Santa will be handing out any Table Manners Cards? http://www.gollygee-pers.com/

Golly Gee-pers Joins Campaign To Raise Money For Our Schools

Moms Helping Schools 
About Us
Moms Helping Schools™ is a special place to shop!

Moms Helping Schools (MHS) is more than just a school fundraising platform. MHS was founded because we, as mothers, care about “our” collective children’s education. We also care about helping moms and women entrepreneurs start and succeed with their businesses. 
School budgets have been cut and our teachers, administrators and most importantly our children are directly impacted by this. One thing we see again and again is that parents, grandparents and caregivers tend to step in and do everything they can to fill in the gaps.
The purpose of the Moms Helping Schools program is to provide a new revenue stream for schools nationwide. When you proceed to checkout at MomsHelpingSchools.com, 40% of the total purchase will go direclty to the school or education foundation of your choice. These great products -- that your family will love -- will be shipped directly to your home for your convenience.
Where does the money go?
  • We give 40% of product sales directly to the school;
  • We pay the small business owner her wholesale price; and...
  • We use what is left over to administer the Moms Helping Schools program (including: warehousing, fulfillment, marketing, school outreach, public relations, product management and bookkeeping).
* We are deliberately giving away more than we make. 

To purchase a Moms Helping Schools Product go to http://www.momshelpingschools.com/

Table Manners Cards Get Some Air time

11/19 GOOD DAY RADIO WITH THE SUPERMARKETGURU - THIS WEEK'S GUESTS

Phil talks to Staci Ericson, creator of Golly Gee-Pers and Dr. Travis Stork physician and co-host of “The Doctors
What is it like to be a guest on a radio show? I found out this past Saturday when I was invited to be on the popular national radio show Good Day with Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert and co-host Doug Stephan.


Because the show is live and goes on the air at 8:15 Eastern time, I had to wake up at 4:30am Pacific time. I consumed a couple cups of coffee to shake off the cobwebs,although I'm not sure it did much for my nerves. I then sat patiently in my robe and slippers waiting for the producer to call. When the call time came and went I started to worry. I checked my landline and my cell to make sure they were both charged. They were. I then rechecked the scheduled time; that was right too. Perhaps three minutes is too soon to panic, I decided. Just then the phone rang. It was the producer, Michael, "you're on in 90 seconds"


Phil Lempert is one of the country's leading consumer advocates when it comes to food and nutrition. He is also the Food Trend Editor for the Today Show and ABC News Now. Co-host Doug Stephan is one of the top talk radio hosts in the country with over 3.75 million listeners every week. This was big time. After the catchy intro song, "Eat Your Food; Don't Wear it" faded, I was introduced. Much to my dismay I discovered that I had a sleepy frog in my throat that continued to stay with me throughout the interview. On the other hand, Phil and Doug had both obviously done their homework, knew my product and my backstory and made it delightfully easy to talk about Golly Gee-pers! I have to say, but for their clever prompting and warm personalities I would have been a deer caught in the headlights. I managed to make most of my points with one grave exception. I never once mentioned that my game had just won two awards. Ouch! Then, just as I was starting to get the hang of the radio conversation thing, our time was up. Truthfully, I was relieved. I shuffled off in my robe and slippers back to bed hoping I hadn't just ruined any chance of my product really taking off.


Fast forward to Monday morning. I summoned up the courage to listen to the the tape of the show.

If you would like to hear what all this agony has been about feel free to click on the link and go to the archive for November 19, 2011. My interview begins about 16 minutes and 30 seconds into the show.http://www.dougstephan.com/programhighlights