In case you haven't noticed, kids LOVE to play! But in today's world of easily accessible electronic games and kids content on television, it can sometimes be a little bit of a challenge to get kids to do more than passively interact with a phone, game console or TV screen. And while there's certainly nothing wrong with kids spending a little time watching a program or playing an electronic game, there's many ways that kids learn social skills and other valuable developmental building blocks (such as critical thinking, problem solving and verbal skills) through playing and interacting with the world around them. Following are three tips on encouraging positive development in children through your creative play!

Overland Park based Shear Madness Franchising announced today the opening of additional locations in the Houston Texas and Orange County California markets. Jacqueline Perkins of Humble Texas and Dr. Andrew Elmasri of California Children’s Salons LLC will become Franchisees in those markets with locations opening this fall.

Halloween Fun at Shear Madness! There's a lot going on at your local Shear Madness through-out the month of October, so don't miss out! Read all about the fun activities planned for Halloween at participating Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids locations by clicking here at Halloween Happiness! You can also call your local Shear Madness to find out more about all the cool stuff they have planned. Click here for a list of locations and contact info.

Over the years, Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids has seen plenty of kids come through our doors that aren't overly thrilled about the idea of getting a haircut, or an ear piercing. However, as a kids hair salon that specializes in creating a fun, memorable and positive experience for both children and their parents - we've learned a thing or two on helping kids feel great - as well as how to turn those frowns upside down. Following are five calming techniques for an upset child (or upset parent)!

When starting a new business by yourself, sometimes it might seem like doing your own research and going at it alone is the most attractive option. But ultimately, this might not be a good idea. Not only could you possibly be doing the wrong research and making investments that might not be financially profitable over the long run, but you just might not have all the necessary information at your fingertips that can help ensure business success! You've probably heard the phrase, “You don’t know what you don’t know”. Well, once when I was out of work I went to a job fair for a major pharmaceutical company. There were perhaps around 200 people in the room, and the meeting started off something like this, “all of you who have experience in the pharmaceutical industry get on this side of the room, and everyone else stay where you are.” Needless to say, I never interviewed that day. You see, that company knew there was no substitute for experience, no substitute for having "been there, done that”, and no substitute for having to start all over training someone to learn the pharmaceutical industry.