Kids News

These tips are great for ADHD kids too!!

1. Get into a routine as soon as possible
When it comes to homework it is really important that you have some sort of routine. It is no use just squashing some time into a busy afternoon and to expect the child to get on with the work on their own. It doesn't really matter what time the homework is done, as long as your child is alert and that it becomes a habit. Some kids prefer to do their homework straight after school and other kids are too tired and need to relax first. It doesn't really matter what the routine is as long as it suits you and your child and that homework becomes a habit and is predictable in its pattern.

April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day is a holiday celebrated in various countries on April 1. The day is marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, enemies, and neighbors, or sending them on a fool's errand, the aim of which is to embarrass  the gullible. Traditionally, in some countries, such as the UK, Australia, and South Africa the jokes only last until noon, and someone who plays a trick after noon is called an "April Fool".  Elsewhere, such as in France, Ireland, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Russia, The Netherlands, Brazil, Canada, and the U.S., the jokes last all day. The earliest recorded association between April 1 and foolishness can be found in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (1392). 

Swimming pool by-laws reviewed
2009-03-16 13:15

Pretoria - The City of Johannesburg will review its existing swimming pool by-laws in response to an increasing number of drownings, emergency management services spokesperson Percy Morokane said on Monday.

Morokane said it was a "worrying fact" that pool-related drownings had escalated over the past few years.
"The most important fact to note is that all existing swimming pool owners will have to re-apply for permits (which was not a requirement in the old by-law) to the City's proactive services department."

WELLNESS FOR CHILDREN AND MOM’S

Understanding Omega - 3

One of the most concentrated fish oils available, WINOmeg3complexTM is concentrated by a patented enzyme process and two molecular distillations which produce a pharmaceutical-grade oil with more than 85% omega-3 fatty acids. Compare this to most products on the market that are 30%-35% concentrated, and even to most of the pharmaceutical-grade fish oils with concentrations of 60%-65%, and you can see how it would take many more capsules daily to equal the amount of omega-3 fatty acids found in one serving of WINOmeg3complex.

What is inclusion and how to identify children with learning difficulties. Bronwyn Peake

When parents start to consider horse riding as a pastime for their children, it is only natural that they may have some initial concerns. One of these is bound to be safety and most parents and guardians will find themselves asking is horse riding safe for my child? They may look at the fact that horse riding is a sport which involves an animal which can be unpredictable and volatile at times, not to mention the fact that the child themselves could fall from a great height or at great speed. So, the intention of this article is to allay those fears and show that although horse riding can be risky, children can derive a lot of pleasure and benefits from the sport.

CAN EXPOSURE TO NATURE REDUCE CHIDLREN'S SYMPTOMS OF ADHD?

Is it possible that increasing children's time spent in natural green settings could be an effective method for diminishing ADHD symptoms? This question was addressed in a study published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Public Health (Kuo, F.E., & Faber Taylor, A. (2004). A potential natural treatment for ADHD: Evidence from a national study. AJPH, 94, 1580-1586).

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Many of us are tempted to spend more then we can afford, especially when looking for Christmas presents, Birthday gifts etc. In light of the tough times, which many say will continue for a while, we have some money saving tips for you.

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby . "Somebody" doesn't know that once you're a mother, "Normal," is history....

Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct. "Somebody" never took a three year-old shopping.

Somebody said being a mother is boring ...... "Somebody" never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit.

This was written by an 83 year old...The last line says it all.

Dear Friend, I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting in the yard and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time working. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savour, not to endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them. I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the first Amaryllis blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries.. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties, but wearing it for clerks in the hardware store and tellers at the bank.

Homework, one of my pet hates.    If I may, let me take you back to my days at school.    Most afternoons were spent playing outside with a minimum of TV and a minimum of homework.    I remember doing a few maths sums, some spelling words and later on in primary school,  some reading.    I do not recall my parents helping me other than to check that I had done the work and that the answers in maths were correct.   This is a far cry from today's scenario.   
I receive many calls and emails  from moms who are desperate about the amount of time they have to spend in the evenings with their children doing homework.  By Jill Murray

HOW TO STRENGTHEN YOUR CHILDS IMMUNE SYSTEM by Sue Moore

1) Reduce the amount artificial additives consumed
The only way to do this is to read labels on food products and begin to familiarise yourself with what they mean. Additives are usually identified by the letter "E"(eg:E250 andE251-Sodium Nitrite and Nitrate,in almost all cold meats,bacon,polony etc.) Calcium Propitionate which is used widely in breads,can cause gastro-intestinal problems and may also trigger migraines. It destroys the enzyme that enables us to assimilate calcium. Although it may only be present in small amounts, there is an accumulative effect. If your child is having toast for breakfast, sandwiches in his/her lunchbox and a "snackwich" in the afternoon, they are not only eating too much wheat but taking in a preservative with it each time. 

Most of us dread filling our kids lunchboxes in the mornings when we are feeling tired, rushed and about as creative as a piece of cardboard.We want to give our children variety and healthy food, but run out of ideas and end up reverting to the boring old sami. Hopefully this will help a little in that regard. By Sue Moore

"I live in the space of thankfulness - and I have been rewarded a million times over for it. I started out giving thanks for small things, and the more thankful I became, the more my bounty increased. That's because what you focus on expands, and when you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it. Opportunities, relationships, even money flowed my way when I learned to be grateful no matter what happened in my life. By Oprah Winfrey

My daughter, Emily, is 7 and has a condition called insulin resistance. Thank you for allowing me to share the details of our experience with you and your readers. We noticed at the beginning of last year that she was putting on more weight than was appropriate for her age despite eating, what we thought, a largely healthy diet.  At the time she ate three meals a day with healthy snacks in between. Her diet included fruits, raw vegetables, dairy products, regular amounts of protein, very little bread, pasta, etc. Her intake of sweets, sugary drinks and confectionary was limited due to our concern about her inappropriate weight gain.   However, she continued to gain weight.

The majority of you reading this are mothers – and that means that I am speaking to Superwomen! Many of you will be jugging many different balls at once – there are homes, careers/ running own businesses, children, spouses, finances, health issues, extra murals, lifts etc. The question I wish to ask you is: In the midst of all of this – are you nurturing and taking time for yourself? Many women that I chat to are feeling that the essence of them is lost in the hectic world they lead. Someone I am working with cried in frustration that she doesn’t even know what she likes any more. Balance is something that we all need in our lives – but is often what eludes us most. The frightening thing is that you, Superwoman, are actually able to carry on for quite sometime, not caring for yourself – but eventually, the wheels fall off. You can only truly nurture others if you nurture yourself first and foremost. by Kirsten Long

Discover the 90/10 Principle. It will change your life (at least the way you react to situations). What is this principle? 10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react. What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%. The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%. How? By your reaction. You cannot control a red-light., but you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react. The 90/10 principle Author : Stephen Covey

Are you suffering from a broad range of seemingly unrelated symptoms,but no-one can find anything particular wrong with you? Symptoms such as headaches, stubborn weight problems, tiredness,  depression, constipation, moodiness, allergies, PMS, skin conditions, difficulty concentrating or sleeping, inability to cope with stress like you used to, high or low blood pressure, high or low blood sugar? These are just SOME of the symptoms you can experience when your endocrine system is out of balance and needing support. This is a system of hormone producing glands and is involved in almost everything that happens in your body.  by Sue Moore

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (keep this In mind if you are one of those grouches;)

3. Keep learning: Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's! 

A THORNY ISSUE Advice from expert Gillian Solomon

Maintenance in South Africa is a thorny issue, and many women struggle in maintenance court monthly to try and redress the balance of being sole providers for their children. The law says that children have rights, and that a child has the right to the financial and emotional support of BOTH parents until its 18 years or independent, which ever comes first. This means that no matter if the parents were married or single they have to support the child, and this debt of care is what maintenance is about.

THE MAGIC OF FATHER CHRISTMAS ( an artistes' perspective)

A few years ago, I was working at a very big shopping center with my magic show when I became aware that the centre's Father Christmas was a car guard who had been hired for the job. To add insult to injury, they had two hour shifts, where other car guards were used. Their Father Christmas suits were cheap and nasty, and not particularly clean. I  myself have been hired to do Father Christmas, and these are some of the questions I was asked:    "Father Christmas, Will you bring my little sister back?" On questioning the child further, I discovered that the sister had passed away through illness. My only answer to the child was "she is fine, and one day you will be able to play with her again". I based this answer on a slightly religious level.

The Dore Achievement Centre: Is it as unique as it claims? by Prof Shirley Kokot

The Centre for Integrated Learning Therapy Email Tel: 012 664 2285

The belief that faulty functioning of the cerebellum (our 'little' brain) may be the cause of dyslexia is not at all new.  This theory has been around since the 1970's and can be read in the works of deQuiros and Schrager, Kohen-Raz, Levinson, Blythe and McGlown and Frank Belgau (references available on request).  Each of these authors provided evidence of a connection between our posture and balance and learning difficulties.    The human system responsible for posture, balance and movement is made up of a circuit involving the vestibular system (the inner ear) and the cerebellum.   This circuit is so closely wired that most people have stopped referring to the 'vestibular-cerebellar' system and simply use the term 'vestibular system'.

1. Something to think about - Is the Behavior Serious or Merely Annoying? Tip—Your level of irritation over something is not always the real measure of the seriousness of the problem.

2. Use parenting techniques that foster self-esteem in children. Self-esteem means "feeling loveable and capable". Self-esteem is both gleaned from those around us (being loved and valued) and earned (becoming a capable, growing person). Both components are equally important.

We often hear about Speech Therapy and Audiology, but what does it entail, and when is an assessment necessary? A Speech Therapist and Audiologist is a professional person, with at least a 4 year University degree. Some professionals are qualified in both professions, and others practice as either a Speech Therapist or an Audiologist.

A Speech Therapist is trained in preventing, identifying, evaluating and managing communication disorders, as well as swallowing disorders. They work with speech production (articulation, stuttering etc.), voice quality, swallowing disorders, language delay and auditory processing disorders (listening skills).

DOES EARLY TELEVISION EXPOSURE LEAD TO ADHD?

Although prior research has clearly shown that genetic factors are an important contributor to the development of ADHD, most experts agree that genetic factors are not the sole cause of the disorder.  Some researchers have suggested that early childhood experiences also contribute to attention difficulties and other ADHD symptoms, and that that the combination of genetic factors and environmental experiences may be critically important in the development of ADHD, as well as in its severity and progression. One particular experience that has been suggested to contribute to the development of ADHD symptoms is excessive television viewing, particularly at early ages.  Television is characterized by rapidly changing images and scenes that unfold at a considerably faster pace than events in the real world.  Although this can make TV highly stimulating and attention grabbing, it has been hypothesized that this may reduce children's attention spans for real-world activities that unfold at a slower pace. 
 

Think about this, ladies: if you are 30 now, you have about 394000 hours left to live. If you are 50, you have about 219000 hours left. Half of that is going to be taken up with eating, sleeping and chores. So what are you going to do with the time that’s left? Are you going to work frantically, every spare minute you can, to accumulate that big bank balance you’ve always dreamed of? (And you can’t even take it with you!) Are you going to insist in spending it in an unhappy relationship? Are you going to lie on your death bed and wish you’d spent more time at the office? You have a choice of what to do with those remaining, precious hours. How are you going to choose to spend your time? By Kirsten Long - Life Coach

FAILURE – what a terrible word! It brings fear and depression into our lives. Failure makes us feel bad, which has a knock-on effect of lowering our self-esteem and our aspirations. It gives us room to beat ourselves up and acknowledge that we are useless/ bad/ pathetic (or whatever our favourite label for ourselves is) “I have failed” destroys our energy and our motivation. Worst of all, we choose this attitude; we agree to do this to ourselves. We relish in the opportunity to put ourselves down. by Kirsten Long - Life Coach

"Corporal punishment amounts to a total lack of respect for the human being; it therefore cannot depend on the age of the human being" - (from a report by the European Human Rights Commission, quoted in Legal and Social Aspect of the Physical Punishment of Children, Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health, 1995:78)

The dilemmas and difficulties raised by the infliction of physical punishment on children by parents or those acting in loco parentis in the interests of disciplining or correcting children are evident enough, and there are two main arguments against it.

Why Kids Tattle and What To Do About It By: Elaine M. Gibson

When we bring an adult perspective to this process of tattling, or telling on someone, we fail to understand what is going on for the tattler. As adults, we aren't sure what to do about tattling and we convey our ambiguity to our children.   On one hand, we USE the information the child gives us to correct another child's behavior or prevent damage to people and property.  But on the other hand, we tell the tattler that tattling is wrong. 'Don't be a tattletale.'
Children can't cope with such double messages.