Rotendaokab Articles

When you talk about multiply your childs intelligence, you cant help but to mention about Dr. Glenn Doman. He is the founder of The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential and began pioneering the field of child brain development since 1940. He and the institute are famous for their pioneering work with brain-injured children and their work in early development for well children.

Glenn has authored many books and materials that teach parents how to teach their babies at home such as ‘How to teach your baby to read’, ‘How to teach your baby math’, ‘How to teach your baby to be physically superb’. Of course, his best selling book “How to give your baby encyclopedic knowledge” that I had used to train my children. Guess what? It really works.

“How to give your baby encyclopedic knowledge” – Glenn Doman

Glenn, after 40 years at the Institute, had learned that: “Every child born has, at the instant of birth, a higher potential intelligence than Leonardo Da Vinci ever used”. He strongly believes that it is easier to give a one-year-old encyclopedic knowledge than it is to give it to a six-year-old. The book tells you exactly how to give encyclopedic knowledge to a tiny child starting at birth or at any time prior to six years of age. To summarize his method to teach your child to acquire encyclopedic knowledge, here are the steps:

1. Identify the knowledge to teach your child. In an intellectual sense, it is knowledge from science, to art, biology, geography, history, music, language, literature, and all else that matters to man.

2. Once the divisions of knowledge been identified. Go further to list ten categories in each of the division of knowledge. For example, in Biology division, you can list categories such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and etc.

3. Next, list the bit of intelligence (BOI) under each category. For example, under mammal category, you can list down the bit of intelligence such as lion, tiger, cow, wolf and etc. Since knowledge is based on information which can be gained only through facts. Presenting those facts (BOI) in a properly way to a child will ensure these knowledge literally grows in the childs brain and they will be the base of all his future knowledge.

4. The characteristic of presenting the BOI in a proper way are: BOI must be accurate, one item only (no other items in the background. You may have come across poster board with many animals, this is NOT the proper way to teach your child about lion for example), specifically named, large, clear and new (mean something your child does not already know). Essentially, it is commonly known as flash card.

5. You can create the flash card yourself. Collect the BOI from magazine, newspaper, journal and etc. Organize them into categories of intelligence. Cut or obtain 11″ x 11″ white cardboard. Glue the BOI on front of the cardboard. Label the BOI on back of cardboard with black marker. A web site called Flashcard Exchange (http://flashcardexchange.com) is a great place where you can find load of flashcards ready made and you can print out with your printer. Since it is a community supported site, you could contribute too if you have some flashcards. Another web site using software flashcards is http://www.frankchenphoto.com/powerflashcard/. Alternatively, you can purchase the flashcards from shops.

6. To teach bit of intelligence. You position yourself and your child comfortably facing each other. Show the cards about 18″ away from your child. Make it like a game. Move the back BOI in the stack (get a quick look at the name you are about to say) to the front and say, ‘Tiger’. One second for each card and no longer. You must present the BOI very, very quickly.

7. Begin by introducing five different categories with ten BOI in each. Make sure you teach each category three times before the day ends. As your child progress, begin adding more categories day by day until you are doing ten different categories.

8. Ten days after you have reached ten categories, begin to retire one old BOI from each category daily. Place these retired BOI in your file for new use later. Add one new BOI to each category daily to replace the one your have retired. From this time on you continue to add one new BOI per category daily or a total of ten new BOI daily. This is a minimum number; you can introduce new BOI faster if you can. Dont worry; the capacity of the brain of a tiny child can hold them with no question.

My personal experience shows that this method works perfectly. My children began to acquire knowledge like a super dry sponge. I was amazed by their photographic memory and the speed they could absorb the knowledge. My only regret was that I didnt have enough time to create the BOI fast and sufficient enough. Therefore, I adopted another method to help my children to acquire encyclopedic knowledge through our daily life. I taught my kids on the make of cars when we walked in the car park, name of the petrol stations when we were driving around town. They can even practice the BOI that they have learned about vegetables or fruits when we were at the supermarket. The salient point is you can teach your child encyclopedic knowledge anytime, anywhere!

While I encourage you to teach your child encyclopedic knowledge, one should beware that the focus of education should not be mainly on the mastery of encyclopedia knowledge alone. For information is expanding geometrically, it is just impossible for you to teach your child to master all of it. Therefore, you need to nurture your child to develop a desire for continuous learning and the skills to master new information. You should also understand the important of teaching not just facts (BOI), but higher-order thinking skills as well such as creativity, problem-solving and analytical skills.

Andrew is the owner of Brainy-Child.com, a website that helps you as a young parent to learn how to nurture a smarter kid! You can find articles, resources, library and latest updates on early child development. You can visit his website at: http://www.brainy-child.com/

There once was a hawk, ferocious and swift. He was young and agile with many years of life to hunt the open ranch lands. In a nearby field, a mouse scurried about the ground. The hawk saw the hurried motion and swept speedily toward the rodent.

Just as the hawk’s shadow engulfed the smaller rodent, the mouse fell to its back and begged, “Please, Mr. Hawk, spare me my life!” This surprised the hunter and he landed beside the mouse.

“Why should I spare your life? I am hungry today.”

“It’s always about today, isn’t it?” answered the mouse. “Do you ever think about tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? Well, that’s just another day to flap my wings. I will eat then, too.”

The mouse scratched his chin and replied, “But one day you will be old and gray. You will have chiseled claws. You should prepare for the future now or starve later.”

“I do, I do. I am building a grand nest as we speak. You see, I fly low to the highway’s hot pavement in search of lost dollar bills everyday. I find a dollar a day and add it to my nest. I am constantly constructing my nest egg.”

The proud hawk looked toward the mouse for a reply. The mouse shook his head and stated, “I will make a deal with you, hawk. If after fifty years, you have saved more money than me, not only will I give myself up for your feast, I will lead every mouse in this field to your nest.”

The hawk did not take long to consider the proposition. He knew he could cover more ground flying than the mouse could crawling. He would be able to locate twice as many lost dollar bills and thus build a much larger nest. The hunter concluded that in fifty years, he would have a great feast.

Years ticked by and every day the hawk collected two dollars. On each given day, the mouse found one dollar and invested it wisely. Fifty years later, the bird of prey lived in a large nest made of twigs, mud, and dollar bills. He was feeble and sickly. And although his nest equaled that of $36,500.00(1) , along with a few very nice tree limbs, he knew the mouse would have less. He no longer invaded the far stretching fields, but took comfort in knowing he would soon have his great feast. As the hawk glared down from his perch, he saw the mouse. The mouse was alone.

“So, hawk, how much money do you have?”

“Just under $37,000(1) . And you?”

“I have $508,462(2), you fool. You see, I invested my $365 wisely every year. I dollar cost averaged into the market and utilized well-diversified mutual funds over the course of all these years. I am the victor and you have no feast.”

The hawk collapsed into his nest and was never seen again. The mouse lived a happy life and provided handsomely for his family. He passed along a bit of advice to those who asked about saving: “The individual most accountable for your future financial welfare, is the one you see in the mirror today.”

*Hypothetical investment for illustration purposes only.

(1): Based on a savings of $730 each year for fifty years with no interest.

(2): Based on a savings of $365 each year for fifty years earning 10.5% annually.

Wardlaw has been involved in the fields of investments and insurance for over twelve years. The author’s belief is that familiar life elements best illustrate practical investment strategies; not typical investment jargon. For comments and questions, please contact the author at tools2invest@yahoo.com.

Mold has taken hold! Not that the microbes have reached out and grabbed us, but rather they have captured our attention. A rash of recent high profile media stories have petrified many people with concerns for both their health and finances. While it is true in some situations that variations and concentrations of mold can kill us both physically and financially, in the vast majority of cases mold problems can be remedied simply and economically.

Molds exist naturally all around us. Molds play a vital role in the decomposition of organic waste such as in a compost pile. Other molds are essential in the creation of some of our finest foods, such as wine and cheese. But, when mold growth occurs in an inappropriate place or in extreme concentration, the health of our home and family can be at risk.

All molds need two basic ingredients to grow, food and water. The favorite food of mold is cellulose. In our home, cellulose is a common constituent. Wood, paper, cotton, and drywall are plentiful in construction and are great sources of cellulose. Water is everywhere in our homes, both on the surfaces and in the air.

As the tightness of our homes has increased in response to a desire to conserve energy, the unintended consequence has been the trapping of moisture. The increase in moisture in our homes has in some cases resulted in a relative humidity above the 60% level needed to sustain mold growth in interior spaces. In some cases, the moisture level of the interior spaces is below the mold growth threshold, but the exterior wall cavities retain the required moisture level for rapid mold growth within the walls. To make matters worse, this condition is also perfect for accelerated wood rot and termite infestation.

So what is a reasonable person to do? Much like a physical exam is the first step in a plan for personal health, a home inspection is the first step in a mold survey. The intent of the inspection is to seek out all sources of moisture that may contribute to an environment that is attractive to mold and to visually identify any existing mold colonies. Roof leaks, plumbing leaks, and improper sprinkler positioning are among the more common sources of mold-causing moisture problems. After identification of the moisture source, a reasonable and practical remedy can be prescribed.

Areas with visible mold colonies can be thoroughly cleaned with detergent, followed by wiping with a bleach and water solution. Porous materials such as ceiling tiles and carpet are difficult to clean and often require removal and replacement in all but the most minor of outbreaks.

In most cases, testing to determine mold species is not necessary to solve the problem. If an individual has an extreme or specific health risk factor, testing may be of value in assisting the medical professional in addressing the specific health situation. If the outbreak of mold is extreme, testing maybe wise in ensuring safety during remediation. The choice to test or not should always rest with the homeowner or potential homebuyer, but the decision should be an informed one made with the assistance of an ASHI certified home inspector who has received additional training specific to mold management.

With a basic understanding of the management of moisture, household mold maintenance is simple. Molds have been around forever and will never be gone, and it is good that they are here. But like so many things, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Stay informed, but don’t get caught up in the hype. Remember, it’s about knowing!

About the Author: Wally Conway is President of Florida HomePro Inspections, and is featured regularly on HGTV’s “House Detective”. As a speaker, writer, instructor, and host of The Happy Home Inspector radio show every Saturday at 5 PM on WOKV 690, Wally blends the right amount of up-to-date information with just the right amount of humor, insight, motivation, and real-world application. Visit http://www.wallyconway.com and http://www.gohomepro.com for more information!

The ‘phone conversation had nothing at all to do with parenting. However, it made me think…

“Hello, Eastbank Football Club. Can I help you?” “Good morning, may I speak with the Assistant Coach, please?” “Oh, I’m sorry. He’s still on vacation.” “I see. Is anyone on the coaching staff there?” “No, they’re all away right now. The club’s closed for another week yet. I’m only the Groundsman.” “Well, thanks anyway. And hey, why say you’re only the Groundsman? If it wasn’t for you, there wouldn’t be a football club. They’d have nowhere to play!” (Pause) “Yeah, I’d never really thought of it like that. (Laughter) Thanks a lot, pal, you’ve made my day!”

So often we do ourselves down, don’t we? We devalue our own contribution or service. “I’m only a shop assistant!” “I’m only a . . . ” (fill in the blank!) Sometimes we even hear women say: “I’m just a housewife”!

Confidence and self-esteem are often in short supply these days. And nowhere more so than in PARENTING!

Even those who are superbly confident in their work or social situations, often teeter on the edge when it comes to their parenting skills.

Why?

Is it something to do with the breakdown in old-fashioned values and concepts of authority; the widening gulf between kids and their parents; the dangers we as parents are so acutely aware of, but which are casually dismissed by our kids?

Whatever the causes, there’s a lot you can do to improve things.

Step 1 Dr Norman Vincent Peale, author of The Power Of Positive Thinking, used to advise people to sit down and write out a list of all their assets and abilities.

But Dr Peale’s next suggestion is crucial. Once the list of assets and abilities has been written, he tells us to raise the stakes. Simply BELIEVE that you are at the very least 10% better than you think. It’s now widely acknowledged in modern psychology that you’ll still be way off the mark! So have faith. You’re better than you think.

Step 2 Do some study. You probably weren’t taught parenting skills at school or college, yet parenting is the most vital contribution to society. There are lots of books, courses, tapes, CDs and videos on parenting. No excuses! Grab some and get busy. Knowledge and insight bring confidence. Whatever stage you’re at, you can improve yourself.

Step 3 Learn to temper your reaction in stressful parenting situations. Easier said than done! But you can make a conscious effort to stay calm and remind yourself of Dr Peale’s advice (You’re more capable than you think you are!), and you can put into practice what you’ve been studying about family dynamics.

Step 4 Develop yourself in some way. Yes, remember those piano lessons you once took, or that art class you attended? Interests like these are great stress relievers and they build self-confidence – which is vital for parenting. If you feel you’re already confident in other matters, but it’s only in parenting you feel a lack, why not take up some activity with your kids? Learning together brings you together, and can be great fun!

Step 5 Finally, resist any temptation to go it alone. Nature intended us to be social creatures. Seek advice from grandparents, relatives, friends. Overcome your pride. Discuss your parenting challenges with others and draw on the communal strength. And d’you know what? You’ll find you’re not alone. Let’s work on parenting together, as a community.

Confident parents raise confident kids.

Take action now. If you do nothing, you can look forward to more of the same: worry, tension, ill-feeling etc etc.

Zap these negative trends once and for all. To give yourself a real boost, check out my website. There you’ll find lots more to help you and your kids live life to the full.

Interested in similar family/childhood/education issues? To develop your parenting skills and encourage your kids to be all they can be, drop by http://www.familysoftshop.com – and claim your FREE report!

This may come as a surprise, but many parents are unaware of the full extent of their child’s basic needs.

Do you remember the old song by Lennon and McCartney about the girl leaving home after ‘living alone for so many years’? The parents were desolate. They’d given her everything money could buy – so how could she possibly have been lonely and unhappy?

Clearly, there were some needs that just weren’t being met at home, so the girl upped and left.

What are these basic needs we must be aware of if we’re to be effective parents?

There are four categories: physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual.

So often people overestimate the first category, physical needs – but let’s not underestimate them either! We all need food and drink, warmth, clothing and shelter to protect us from the elements.

These will sustain life, but by themselves they won’t promote positive relationships. Some parents, however, shower their kids with material things in order to over- compensate for the other areas.

And we all know that, despite their wealth, many of these same kids are miserable. Their other needs are just not being met.

Probably the most obvious of these other needs is emotional in nature.

Love and affection are vital, but there’s more to it.

Children need constant reassurance! When our personalities are forming we are on the lookout for feedback, so that we know what to accept and what to reject.

We also form our picture of ourselves from the feedback we get from others, especially those who have ’significant’ roles in our lives: parents first, then siblings, relatives, teachers, friends and so on.

The bottom line is that a child doesn’t really know what to make of himself until that feedback comes in.

And they make value judgments so quickly! ‘Hey, I’m pretty good at this, everybody tells me so!’ Or how about, ‘Yeah, I guess I’m a pretty stupid, useless person. They always laugh at me. That’s if they take any notice at all!’

As a parent it’s easy for you to praise the child who’s doing well, but the child who’s struggling needs as much – no, needs more – praise and encouragement. And so often we overlook this.

If you take the time to listen to your kids, to take their interests and ideas seriously – even if they seem petty, trivial or irrelevant – then you are investing heavily in your children’s emotional well-being.

Although many parents are becoming aware of the emotional needs of children, some are a bit hazy when it comes to their intellectual needs.

There’s still a perception that those kids who do well at school just happen to be the ‘brainy’ ones. Yet a wide body of research suggests that school or ‘academic’ success will be determined by a child’s positive self-image AND by the stimulation and interaction the child receives at home.

These affect the thought-processes of the child, and the thought-processes (HOW the child thinks) are the tools used in learning.

Kids who perform well at school consistently come from homes where there’s a lot of mental stimulation through play, a variety of experiences, and interaction through discussion and conversation.

Finally, if intellectual needs are hazy, there appears to be downright confusion over spiritual needs.

That children have spiritual needs comes as a shock to some parents, and others hotly dispute this need. This seems to be because most people associate spiritual needs with religion, but they are not necessarily related to religious beliefs.

It’s generally accepted in modern educational and clinical psychology that we all have spiritual needs.

It’s helpful to make your kids aware that there are greater forces and powers at work in nature and in the universe, and that their lives work best when they are in harmony with these.

You can meet your kids’ spiritual needs by participating in your religion, but also by fostering a sense of awe and wonder about the grandeur of the world.

Teach your children to respect nature and the life force that permeates it.

On to this can be built an appreciation of the diversity and variety of human lives and customs.

As a result your kids will grow up with a value system, which when followed will lead to contentment and happiness.

A well-rounded individual, then, is one who’s needs are met in all the above categories: physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual.

Take action now to meet ALL your kid’s basic needs. It’s never too late, but obviously the earlier you start, the better. Your kids will be well-balanced and happy.

And you? Well, you’ll be taking pride and pleasure in a job well done!

Interested in similar family/childhood/education issues? To develop your parenting skills and encourage your kids to be all they can be, drop by http://www.familysoftshop.com – and claim your FREE report!

Buying antiques can make a dent in your wallet, especially if you dont know what you are doing. The novice buyer can overpay for an undervalued piece. Here are some things to avoid the next time you are antiquing.

1.) Casually examining an item. Dont buy anything without looking at it thoroughly top to bottom and inside and out. Look for potential problems chips, cracks or marks. Its buyer beware. No refunds and no exchanges are not uncommon. A number of years ago, I purchased a pink Depression glass dish from another dealer. I just grabbed it, haggled the price down and walked away with my purchase. A few weeks later, upon closer inspection, I noticed a very small, hard to see imprint: “Made in Indonesia.” So, be careful out there.

2.) Not knowing your stuff. Knowledge is power, even more so with antiques. Nothing is more heartbreaking than finding out that your English sterling silver teapot is actually electroplate on copper and made in China. I recall a customer wanting to consign her Quebec 1880s pine harvest table. It turned out that the table was from the 1970s and bore no similarities to anything that would have been manufactured in the 1880s.

3.) Buying the first thing that you see. Prices vary from shop to shop, shopping district to shopping district, city versus country. Do your homework. The big problem with antiques is that youll never be able to compare prices on the exact same thing. But, its worth shopping around because you will find a range in price for similar items.

4.) Buying from someone unfamiliar. Buy from a trusted dealer. Keep in mind at flea markets and fairs anyone can rent a table for a single weekend. Establish a relationship with someone you know and trust. Its all about comfort. Plus, youre likely to get better service and prices as a repeat customer rather than as a one-time customer. Get referrals from friends, family and acquaintances.

5.) Getting caught up in auction fever. Overpaying because of auction frenzy is not uncommon. Before you know it, you can be the proud owner of an armoire the size of an industrial refrigerator that you have no room for. Thats when the dreaded buyers remorse sets in. Stories abound about great deals at auctions. You dont often hear about the blunders; yet they do happen.

6.) Non-do-it-yourselfers buying fixer-uppers. Unless you are an accomplished do-it-yourselfer, some deals dont really turn out that way. I see lots of people bringing in a half-stripped chair for me to finish because the job was simply overwhelming. If you bought the chair for $25 its one thing to add the cost of restoration. However, if you paid $200 thinking that youd do the work and then you dont, now you have to add another $200 for restoration and your deal is now up to $400 not so much of a deal. However, add $200 for restoration to your $25 chair youre still only at $225 still a deal.

Martin Swinton lives in Toronto, Canada and owns Take-A-Boo Emporium, a popular local antique shop. He has appeared on a variety of television programs and teaches courses on antiques. Contact him at http://www.takeaboo.com

Silver is beautiful but it can tarnish quickly. This sometimes puts people off collecting it. Dont let it deter you. Here are some tips to help you enjoy your silver.

Use it. Regular use is best. Silver was made to be used.

Wash in hot mild soapy water. To avoid spotting, wash quickly in hot mild soapy water, rinse in hot clean water and dry quickly.

Avoid contact with scotch tape, cardboard and newspaper. Acids in the tape, cardboard and newspaper can be harmful to silver.

Use acid-free paper. Wrap silver in acid free paper when storing.

Avoid contact with eggs, onions and peas. The sulfur in these foods combines with silver to form silver sulphide, which discolors the surface.

Avoid contact with wool and felt. These fabrics contain harmful sulfur.

Avoid contact with rubber. Dont fasten cutlery with rubber bands or store rubber bands in silver cups etc because rubber contains ingredients that can tarnish silver. This includes latex gloves. Dont wear them when cleaning your silver.

Avoid dishwashers. The combination of harsh detergents and very high temperatures is far too much for sterling to bear.

Avoid salt. Remove salt from silver saltshakers and salt sellers after each use. Salt is a corrosive element. Storing these items with salt in them will damage them along with the rest of the silver in the cupboard because salt will permeate the air.

Clean silver candlesticks carefully. Avoid using a knife or other sharp object to remove the nub of a candle. Instead, pour in a little hot water. Let it sit and then the remainder of the candle will slip out.

Dont store silver in freshly painted drawers. Some paints can accelerate tarnishing. You should wait 4 months.

Cleaning your silver

Here are a couple of methods to clean your silver.

Commercial cleaners. A wide assortment of commercial cleaners is available at grocery and hardware stores. The less abrasive the cleaner, the better.

Aluminum foil method This fast working homemade remedy works like a charm. Add to pot of boiling water a piece of aluminum foil, salt or a water softener such as Calgon. The chemical reaction among these elements quickly lifts tarnish. Works well for cutlery, trays etc.

Toothpaste An old standby that works in a pinch. Apply with a soft toothbrush. Remove with soft clean cloth.

Storing your silver

A humid environment encourages tarnishing. Caustic elements such as sulfur and salt cause tarnishing and pitting. Using one and/or more of these techniques will help to create a barrier between your precious silver and that pesky tarnish.

Anti-tarnish strips Can be added to drawers where silver is stored. These strips, containing activated charcoal absorb tarnish producing gases.

Kenzied cloth Line your drawers with this 100 per cent cotton per cent cotton flannel cloth. When used in combination with anti-tarnish strips, they provide a good barrier.

Polyethylene bags Store silver pieces in polyethylene bags that create a barrier from tarnish producing gases.

Desiccated silica gel & activated charcoal Add to storage area a small container of desiccated silica gel that absorbs water to keep humidity levels low and a small container of activated charcoal. This one-two combination packs a punch and absorbs harmful gases. Works well when added to polyethylene bag.

MaMartin Swinton lives in Toronto, Canada and owns Take-A-Boo Emporium, a popular local antique shop. He has appeared on a variety of television programs and teaches courses on antiques. Contact him at http://www.takeaboo.com

The flea market and garage sale season are always popular. Heres what you need to know to make your next flea market or garage sale outing a success.

DO arrive early. This is true for flea markets and garage sales. The good stuff really does get snapped up quickly. Remember youll have lots of competition from professional dealers to part time eBayers to the flea market and garage sale junkies who all start at the crack of dawn.

DO look for items with potential. A fresh coat of paint can revitalize an old chair. Old rubber boots and cracked teapots make great planters. Vintage ladders can store magazines or towels. Vintage lead glass windows can be fastened together to make screens or fashioned into mirrors.

DO be careful rummaging through boxes. Boxes of kitchen utensils may contain rusty sharp objects.

DO run your finger over the edges of glassware and dishes to check for chips and cracks.

DO have measurements and floor plans handy. You dont want to get home and realize that your beautiful purchase wont fit in the desired space or more importantly it wont even fit through the door.

DO have the right gear. Bring a measuring tape, note pad and pencils.

DO have a rolling basket to cart around your purchases at a flea market.

DO take your item away right away. You dont want to run the risk of returning at the end of the day to pick up a large purchase to find that the seller hands you back your money because he accepted a higher offer.

DO know the value of merchandise so youll know if youre getting a deal.

DO check marks on silver and porcelain. So have your pocket reference guides handy.

DO target garage sales close to affluent areas because theyre likely to have good stuff.

DO negotiate. Now is the time to haggle. But you should always have a top price in mind and be prepared to walk away if the price is too high.

DO buy a number of things from one seller. The seller is likely to give you a good price to buyers who purchase more than one thing. Youll usually come out ahead.

DO ask the seller his price. You dont want the seller to ask you how much you are willing to pay because you may mention a price higher than what the seller was thinking.

DO bring cash. Bring some small bills. Dont pull out a $20 to pay for a $3 item.

DO check for the return policy at a flea market. Most likely there isnt one.

DON’T get too excited. Remain calm, cool and collected when you see something that you love. Gushing over a piece is sure to send the price skyward.

DON’T buy the first thing you see at a flea market. Do a quick walk about the flea market to check all the goods. You dont want to be disappointed when you see something that you like better two aisles over.

DON’T make impulse purchases because they likely will become merchandise for your own garage sale down the road.

DON’T look too good. Leave the fancy car, jewelry and togs at home. This will help with the haggling. Sellers wont budge too much on price if they think that you can afford to pay more for it.

Martin Swinton lives in Toronto, Canada and owns Take-A-Boo Emporium, a popular local antique shop. He has appeared on a variety of television programs and teaches courses on antiques. Contact him at http://www.takeaboo.com

Can you tell the difference between a real painted antique and a painted reproduction? Good quality reproductions serve their purpose. You just want to make sure that you know what you are getting. Here are some tips to help you tell them apart.

Why paint? Mass produced reproductions come from India, Indonesia and Mexico. But antique country furniture was handcrafted by rural furniture-makers as utilitarian furniture kitchen tables, chairs and cabinets. It was painted for several reasons. An assortment of poor quality woods was often used. Plus, paint hid a multitude of sins the knots, coarse grain of the wood and the fact that several types of wood might be used on a single piece. And, paint protected the wood.

Where to paint. It simply made no sense to furniture makers to paint the insides of drawers and bottoms of tables because no one would see them. So, why waste the time and paint? You should be on the lookout for paint on hidden areas when youre assessing a piece because youll often find reproductions with paint on the inside of drawers, chair bottoms etc. Its a tip-off that you could be looking at a reproduction.

Does crazing mean its old? Crazing (tiny cracks in the paint that occur over many years) can be artificially produced on new furniture. One tip-off is that new furniture will often be crazed all over and with the same consistency. Crazing on old furniture happens from the accidents of regular use spills and exposure to heat, fire or smoke damage that occurs over the life of furniture. There are two types of crazing: crazing to the paint or to the varnish. Over time varnish gets brittle and develops very tiny fine lines as wood expands and contracts. A similar effect happens to paint. Paint cracks as the wood expands and contracts and dirt fills into the tiny cracks. On reproductions, this look is achieved by painting fine dark lines to imitate dirt.

Is the paint old? Old paint is very hard and breaks off into irregular pieces because it is very brittle. If you try to scrape it off with a knife, itll come off in jagged pieces. New paint is soft. When scraped with a knife, it will come off in curls. New furniture is painted with water based acrylics that were invented in the 1940s. Old furniture would be painted with milk or oil based paints.

Natural wear. Do the signs of wear make sense? A painted antique chair will show increased signs of wear at the end of the arms where the hands would naturally rest and rub off the paint more than underneath the arm. If the wear is consistent through the piece, its likely a reproduction that has been distressed to appear old. If there are gouges or dents, you should see bare wood. Paint over gouges or dents means that it has been repainted.

Construction details. Phillips screws, staples and fiberboard are all tip-offs of any reproductions -whether its painted or not. What makes painted furniture unique is that these tip-offs can be hidden with paint. On antiques with large surfaces (tables, trunks, armoires), furniture makers used wide boards with an uneven width. Reproductions use narrow boards with an even width.

Martin Swinton lives in Toronto, Canada and owns Take-A-Boo Emporium, a popular local antique shop. He has appeared on a variety of television programs and teaches courses on antiques. Contact him at http://www.takeaboo.com

Can you tell the difference between an antique and a reproduction? Does it really even matter?

Theres nothing wrong with good quality reproductions. You just want to make sure that you know thats what you are getting. Here are some tips to help you tell them apart.

Wood. Antiques tend to not be made using one type of wood. Why? It simply didnt make economic sense to use expensive wood such as mahogany in areas where no one would ever see it. Thats why the bottoms of drawers and joints of antiques might have lesser quality woods such as pine, maple. Reproductions tend to be made top-to-bottom from one wood and can be heavily stained to hide a poor quality wood. Check the underside, if the wood seems the same throughout the piece, it may be new.

Upholstery stuffing. Up until late early 20th century, horsehair and hay were used to stuff upholstered furniture. Synthetics such as foam were introduced around 1920s. Keep in mind that the horsehair or hay may have been replaced in an antique during an earlier reupholstering. Its not necessarily bad, its just no longer in original condition.

Signs of wear. Do the signs of wear make sense? An antique chair will show increased signs of wear at the end of the arms where the hands would naturally rest more so than underneath the arm. If the wear is consistent through the piece, its likely a reproduction that has been distressed to appear old.

Signs of age. Look for signs of cracks caused by shrinkage. They indicate that the wood has expanded and contracted over time. This is normal for an antique.

Antique marble. To find out if the marble is original to an antique, check the back of the piece. If the cut line at the back is jagged, the marble is likely original to the piece. In the 18th century, the tools to cut marble straight were not yet available. If the marble is smoothly cut, its likely post 18th century.

Hand carving. Run your finger along the carving. Is it bumpy or smooth? Hand carving is uneven and asymmetrical. Machine carving is smooth and symmetrical.

Dovetailing. Handmade 18th century dovetails are large and uneven. Machine-made dovetails are thin and even.

Construction. Phillips screws, staples and fiberboard are all tip-offs to reproductions. On antiques with large surfaces (tables, trunks, armoires), furniture makers used wide boards with an uneven width. Reproductions use narrow boards with an even width.

Gluing. On older pieces, cabinetmakers would reinforce glued joints with dowels, mortise and tenon etc. to ensure that they were good and sturdy. Poor quality reproductions will often only be glued which down the road will lead to them falling apart. Slip a piece of paper between the joints to see if it is reinforced.

Hardware. Vintage hardware has patina. It doesnt have a lacquer finish to protect it from tarnishing and it isnt shiny and new looking.

Rebuilt/refurbished/reproductions. Rebuilt furniture has some new elements added to it such as new shelves, backs on an armoire. Its common in a lot of French country furniture around today. Refurbished furniture has been restored. Either the wood has been refinished or the upholstery, caning, rushing replaced. Reproductions have no old aspects. They are completely new. Whether something is rebuilt, refurbished or a reproduction is not necessarily a negative, just as long as you are know that youre not buying an antique in original condition.

Insert caning versus hand caning. Inset caning (post 1900) has a spine bordering the caning. Hand caning (pre-1900) doesnt have a border. Every now and then, hand-caned pieces were converted to inset caning when a hand-caner was not to be found. Check the underside of the piece to see if its been converted. The underside will reveal a series of holes that were used for the hand caning.

Buying reproductions. Buying good quality reproductions eliminates the frustration of hunting for the right piece. Having something custom made ensures you get exactly what you want. For example, the narrow dimensions of antique armoires 15 to 17 inches dont suit todays electronic equipment. Some dealers, including myself, do offer custom reproductions to overcome this predicament.

Buying antiques. The good news about antiques is they can be less expensive than reproductions because youre not paying for materials and labor costs at todays prices. Plus, each antique has a history. The patina, nicks and bangs on antiques reveal a full life of use just as the wrinkles on the face of an elderly person reveal a life that has been fully lived.

Martin Swinton lives in Toronto, Canada and owns Take-A-Boo Emporium, a popular local antique shop. He has appeared on a variety of television programs and teaches courses on antiques. Contact him at http://www.takeaboo.com