The Willow Glen Resident

Letters

Tune in and support a great new channel

Recently, I discovered a great channel on cable TV. It is located on Channel 27 on the TCI network. They call it "Classical Arts Showcase."

The programming consists of mostly classical music, ballet, drama and film excerpts. There are no commercials. It features living artists of the present and many great ones who are no longer with us.

The segments are relatively brief, but are of the highest quality. I hope enough people will tune in to this channel so it will continue.

Bill Kellman
Saratoga

A 'Spoonful of Sugar' makes cleanup a game

I had to write because I enjoy Deborah Taylor-Hollis' columns and usually agree with her (particularly on guns), but I do have one question: Throw away toys because your son didn't clean them up as fast as you wanted?

Like Taylor-Hollis, I have sons who I wish would clean up after themselves. But I make cleanup a part of the play by 1) explaining that they can only play with toys if they put them back, 2) making cleanup a game (Did you ever hear Barney's "cleanup" song?), 3) letting them know they can't have treats/go on to the next activity without cleaning up and 4) rewarding them for cleaning up. In short, I make cleanup a positive experience. See Mary Poppins' "A Spoonful of Sugar."

Taylor-Hollis wrote in her Sept. 16 column that she "felt like a heel" for throwing away her son's toy. I have other choice words for her, but I'll suggest that in the future she not damage the trust her son has placed in her. Think of the consequences you as an adult would face for something comparable. (If you skipped doing the dishes one night, say, would your husband get away with throwing them out?) And for god's sake, take a parenting class at the YMCA--you need it.

Stephanie Landers
Johnston Avenue

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