Self-Esteem
October 27, 2013 | 0 Comment(s)
Melanie Hargrave, guest contributor
Being a parent gives you an abundance of parenting components to think about and remember, so naturally many good practices may fall through the cracks. But one of the most important responsibilities that cannot be overlooked by a parent is to constantly set a good example. Here are some signs that you may need to change your habits to not only improve your child’s outlook, but also yourself as a person.
You’re Eating Badly
Your eating habits will leave an impression on your children, whether or not you eat the same foods together. Eating too late and eating sugary or fatty food will imply that children will be able to indulge in those habits when they are older. Be sure to eat foods that are wholesome for both of you. If you are the one protecting them from your own bad eating habits now, who will protect them in the future?
You Don’t Do Housework
Depending on what kind of household you live in, you might have a maid or other help come in to assist you with housework. If your children never see you working, they may get a skewed view of how life is supposed to work as an adult. Make sure you set a chore schedule for the family. Try to make the work fun by operating together as a group.
You’re Inactive
It’s not just your body and mental health you’re affecting by neglecting to exercise. Children have plenty of energy to put toward being active, but the less active you are with them the more that energy will dwindle away. Help your children find sports or hobbies to fall in love with now, so that they’ll start good habits and keep them throughout their lives.
You Shirk Obligations
We’ve all had that party we were planning on going to, but decided not to at the last minute because we were too tired. If your child witnesses this kind of flakiness, it will permanently skew the way they view commitments to others. The next time you or your child feels the desire to shirk an obligation, verbalize your thought process. “Well, I’m tired, and I’d rather stay at home and play. But I made a promise and I can’t break promises.”
You’re in a Bad Relationship
This is a controversial topic, but it depends on what you want for your children. Most feel that the foundation of a family is most important for child development, but to others the relationship between mother and father must be positive for it to do any good. Make sure you are being treated well if you want your children to succeed in their future relationships. If you are stuck in a toxic relationship, consider whether your children’s futures are at stake if you can’t end the relationship for yourself.
You Choose Not to Be Happy
Children are happy creatures, but they also learn quickly. Life as an adult is much harder than it is as a child, but you may want to reevaluate the way you approach it. Happiness is so much about attitude that you should ensure you’re looking at life as positively as possible — if not for yourself, for the sake of your child. Have conversations with them, talk about everything that is going well, and teach them to look for the beauty in life. You will prepare them with valuable tools for the rest of their lives, and you will learn a valuable lesson yourself in the meantime.
——
Melanie Hargrave is a wife and homemaker whose pride and joy is her family. In addition to spending time with her husband and daughters, she loves being outdoors, playing sports, and sharing her experiences with others. She is an advocate for women’s rights, and supports Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoefflin and his services for women.
October 10, 2013 | 0 Comment(s)
Leslie Mason, guest contributor
When searching for an extra-curricular activity for your child, it can sometimes be difficult to decide how you want your child spending their time. Music lessons, however, are an activity that will continue to pay off well into your child’s adult years. Here are just some of the benefits your child will gain from learning a musical instrument.
1. Music Enhances Fine Motor Skills
When young children learn to play a musical instrument—from the piano to the violin—it increases their fine motor skills. Those skills are important for accomplishing a variety of tasks, from tying their shoes to reading and writing.
As they grow older, those skills will continue developing, particularly if they keep playing the instrument, and those finely-tuned skills will benefit them into their adulthood, especially with activities that require very precise movements of the hand, like drawing.
2. Music Creates a Haven for Self-Expression
Healthy children need to be able to express themselves, and music gives them an outlet to do so. As they get better at playing their chosen instrument, they will be able to play the music they want, or create music of their own. That outlet of self-expression becomes even more important as children get older: children who have a place to express themselves have a higher self-esteem and a more positive outlook on life than children who do not.
3. Music Facilitates Academic Growth
Music facilitates academic growth by improving comprehension and grades. Learning to play a musical instrument and read and play sheet music teaches a child the same skills they need to do mathematics like division. By the time they need these mathematics skills in school, they will already be adept at using them, and can learn math easier than most other students.
Moreover, music improves memory. Learning and playing an instrument stimulates brain function, including the areas controlling memory. Therefore, the more children play an instrument, the better their memory and overall cognitive function.
4. Music Encourages Hard Work and Perseverance
Learning a musical instrument requires perseverance and patience. Most people don’t sit down at a piano and immediately play Beethoven or the Star Wars Main Theme. You have to start out easy and build up to the proficiency required to play more difficult and complex music. This kind of musical prowess requires long hours of practice and hard work. Discipline and focus are necessary to learn a musical instrument well and play the songs of your choosing. These traits—perseverance, patience, hard work, discipline, focus—are all traits children will acquire as they learn a musical instrument.
5. Music Introduces Children to Other Cultures
Music comes from all over the world, from all kinds of cultures. Different instruments have multiple styles of music associated with them, and each style has famed composers. Children learning to play instruments could play a variety of different songs, originating anywhere from Austria to Zimbabwe. Music will familiarize children with many cultures, and that will help them be more open-minded when dealing with people of different beliefs and behaviors.
Music is an important part of the world, and putting children into musical lessons can have a huge impact on the mental, physical, and emotional growth of those children. No matter what instrument your child learns to play, the benefits are immeasurable. You couldn’t ask for a better activity for your child.
——
Leslie Mason is a homemaker and garden expert, always on the lookout for programs to help her children and grandchildren, like nutrition for athletic performance. Leslie also enjoys writing, gardening, do-it-yourself projects, and fixing up the house.
September 2, 2013 | 0 Comment(s)
Ryan Rivera, guest contributor
There have been a number of studies that linked childhood obesity and anxiety. Childhood obesity has become a very serious medical condition.
The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that the incidence of childhood obesity has doubled in children and tripled among adolescents in the last 30 years. In 2010, more than 33 percent of children and adolescents are either overweight or obese.
Childhood obesity sufferers have higher cardiovascular disease risk due to high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It is also associated with increased risk of cancer and osteoarthritis. That is why there is a pressing need to understand the relation of anxiety with childhood obesity and find ways to curb this impending health menace.
Sad children tend to be heavier
A new study shows that children that have been overweight or borderline obese from kindergarten to the third grade are also showing signs of anxiety or depression. The negative feelings have become worse overtime said researchers from the University of Missouri. MU researchers examined the social development and the behavior of about 8,000 school-age children.
Girls that have been obese or overweight, said the researchers, are viewed with less favor compared to girls that have near normal weight. Obese girls are seen to be less sociable and have shown less self-control. The appearance-based social behavior has created artificial pressures that have caused anxiety.
Sad children have altered dopamine signaling
Dopamine is one of the feel-good chemicals in the brain that makes the person calmer and less anxious. However, a study conducted by the University of Illinois said that there is a link between high-fat diets and some mental disorders. The study’s results on obese and juvenile mice saw a sharp decline in the dopamine metabolism that led to the emergence of anxiety symptoms and even learning difficulties.
Mice that are stout have increased their burrowing and even shown reluctance to go to open spaces and even developed memory impairments and other mental disorders. Switching to a low-fat diet showed signs of improvement in the learning difficulties of mice, the study said.
Sad children are caught in the middle
In a 2006 study, it was not established if obesity is causing anxiety or vice versa. It is possible that there is more than one factor that is involved showing the links between anxiety and obesity.
The fact that people tend to eat more and choose unhealthy food when they are suffering from anxiety and stress is an indication that there is a direct link. There are also people that would not eat anything when they are sad or anxious.
The fact that being obese tends to be socially undesirable and even a sudden target for bullies causes children to have negative thoughts thus making them sadder compared to other children.
Sad children are unhappy over their physical appearance
In a research study in Australia, it was shown that it is not the obesity itself that is causing the anxiety. It is the impact of obesity on the physical appearance making children less socially acceptable.
This leads to negative thoughts and emotions that eventually impacts mental health. That is why children with poor physical health tends to show signs of anxiety or worse progresses towards childhood depression.
In reality according to the study it is the underweight people that are more prone to have mental health problems compared to overweight people. It is just that since underweight people have less physical problems they are able to mask anxiety symptoms well.
Sad children will not get happiness right away with weight loss
According to some studies, losing weight among obese children does not guarantee immediate turnaround from anxiety problems. Losing weight may help improve the physical health and also the anxiety but it would not immediately cause any improvement in mental health.
Sad children have to wait for answers
Studies conducted recently showed that there is a link between anxiety and obesity but there is still confusion if obesity causes anxiety or the other way around. It is possible that obesity is not the contributor but the problems that are linked with obesity causes people to feel anxious and depressed.
Schools play a vital role in building their children’s confidence and create a healthy environment both physical and mental. As we move to better understand the links between obesity and anxiety, it is best to teach children how to eat healthy and to encourage more physical activities.
——
Ryan Rivera loves to share all his learned tips and tricks for conquering anxiety through his writings. If anxiety plagues your child, try to get some help by visiting calm clinic account.
August 16, 2013 | 0 Comment(s)
v:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
Normal
0
false
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden=”true” DefQFormat=”false” DefPriority=”99″
LatentStyleCount=”267″>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Normal”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”heading 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Title”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Subtitle”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Strong”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Emphasis”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Table Grid”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”No Spacing”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”List Paragraph”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Quote”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Intense Quote”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Subtle Emphasis”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Intense Emphasis”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Subtle Reference”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Intense Reference”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Book Title”/>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
Bullying is a sad reality that’s been happening in schools everywhere. In fact, even in 2010, over 160,000 children miss school out of fear of being bullied.
Image courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net
Bullies use their physical size, age, or gender to intimidate other children–whether by abusive language, social threats, physical aggression or psychological abuse. Usually, students who are quiet or those with disabilities are more likely to be targeted than others. Fortunately, schools are now doing more to address this long-standing problem. Nonetheless, as a parent, it is your responsibility to keep your child safe.
Is your child being bullied?
If you suspect your child is being bullied, the first thing to do is to take a long breath. As a parent, your first instinct may be to march over to the school, grab the bully by the neck and tell him to stop harassing your kid…or else. However, what you’re doing is just what the bully’s doing to your child. Remember, your goal is to help your child protect himself as much as possible, and not beat up another kid.
You’d need planning and understanding to keep your children safe. Here are eight tips to help your children overcome bullying.
1. Listen and encourage them to share concerns
If your child begins to hate school or say that other kids are mean to him, you must take the situation seriously–he may be a victim of bullying. It may be difficult to listen to your child talk about bullying, but you have to listen to what he or she says in a loving manner. Remain calm and express support, understanding and concern. If your child thinks you don’t understand his feelings, it will be difficult for them to open up in the future.
2. Share your own experiences and feel their pain
If your child learns that you too, have been teased, dissed, bullied or rejected as a child, he will realize that this experience is normal and can be dealt with. You can talk about how you felt at the time and what you did to handle the bullies. This can also help your child manage his emotional reactions to hard situations.
3. Learn about the situation
Ask your child about the bullying incident. How and when did it happen? Who is involved? Have other children witnessed it? Also ask your child what he has done to avoid or stop the bullying.
4. Brainstorm about how to respond to the bullying
Rather than concretely solving the problem for your child, invite your kid to think about what they can do. They may come up with shocking suggestions but accept them all in the spirit of brainstorming. Of course you don’t want them to retaliate or affirm surrender, but you can turn “strategic retreat” and “seeking help” as good sense. Once you and your child come up with a plan, make sure to affirm it, giving him more confidence.
5. Talk to school officials
Don’t contact the bully’s parents yourself. Instead, contact your child’s teacher, school counsellor and school principal. You can also encourage school officials to focus on the problem of bullying as part of the curriculum.
6. Follow up
Ask your child for any progress with regards to bullying. If it persists, contact school officials again.
7. Seek help from authorities, if needed
You should know when to seek help from authorities and professionals. If your child has been physically attacked or threatened with harm, talk to the school officials immediately to see if the police should be involved. If circumstances lead to getting legal services, prepaid legal expense plans, like those from Legal Shield, can help you battle with expensive lawyer fees.
8. Boost your child’s self-esteem
Children who are bullied tend to have low self-esteem, even long after the incident happened. As a parent, it is your duty to pick them up, and make them feel special again. If not acted upon, low self-esteem can lead to lasting problems such as depression and anxiety. Encourage them to join music, art, or sports classes to build friendships and develop social skills.
Do you have any other tips to share?
——
About the author
Based in San Diego, California, Melissa Page is an advocate of child safety. She writes about health and relationships, among other things. For more of her works, visit Word Baristas.
August 9, 2013 | 0 Comment(s)
Online games have become a distinct aspect of children’s social environment and are an engaging part of their social skill development. In an age when children have at least monitored internet access to others from virtually every part of the planet, online, as in the real world, children continue to learn, evaluate and compare themselves to those in their world, whether virtual or real. Providing kids with quality, challenging and thought provoking online games is an important vehicle to help them learn self-worth and self-esteem. After all, as any child development expert will tell you, kids learn best through play. Kids with high self-esteem are significantly better adjusted socially.
Positive Recognition: A New Twist on ‘I Spy’
Interactive, online self-esteem building games are offered by McGill University. Among them is the popular Eye Spy which teaches children to look for and focus upon positive social cues amidst those in their surroundings while ignoring the negative cues. This game helps kids quickly recognize the significant differences between strong positive and negative social cues in facial features of individuals either smiling jovially or those who are demonstrating strong unhappy or negative facial cues and to develop a reinforced response to the positive cues.
Wow! I AM Cool!
From Education World comes nearly a dozen online, interactive games that help kids develop and boost their sense of self and self-esteem. Ranking Traits and Accentuate the Positive are two games that promote a child’s ability to identify and speak positively about him or herself and then become comfortable with their many positive traits.
When Choices Are Rewarding
A child with access to Ffxivarrclasses.com will join thousands of others around the globe in learning the skills and strategies involved in playing the online game Final Fantasy XIV. The game allows the child to create, develop skills, and interact with others in the interest of gaining levels. The website is far more than a simple fan site. With the information and instruction, success is achieved more rapidly and creativity is ramped up. Kids experience a strong measure of self-fulfillment and productivity as they move forward in the game faster.
If a child is even remotely proficient online, then there is a world of online, interactive games designed to help bolster kids’ self-esteem and come away with a greater sense of accomplishment and a stronger sense of self-worth.
——
Author Bio:
The author is a father, gamer and writer at Ffxivarrclasses.com. When not lost in the virtual world, he writes game guides and reviews.
August 8, 2013 | 0 Comment(s)
James Anderson, guest contributor
Get up parents stop pondering and start working on your kid’s room. To equip them with more interesting, creative and imaginative surroundings, fill their personal dwelling with cool stuff. Nowadays it’s not a very tough task to do as kids admire several cartoon characters, fairy tales, sport stars, super heroes, comic characters etc. and want to be as cool as them. You can easily find furniture, rugs, carpets, wall papers, wall hangings and other accessories on numerous themes that kids would surely love. Be more creative and add some color to your kid’s life by applying following themes on their room:
Cartoon and Comic Book theme:
Every kid has his own way to pay a tribute to his favorite character. If your kid is a cartoon and comic book enthusiast then fill your kid’s room with cartoon and comic book themed items. Use bed, bed sheets, curtains, cushions, carpets, wall hangings, rugs and wall paper with the theme of Spider Man, Ben Ten, Barbie, Dora, Winnie the Pooh, Power Puff Girls, Batman, The Avengers and the like. Make their world a bit more interesting by adding Batman soap container, comic book free standing letters, Spiderman motion lamp, Ben Ten toy boxes, Cat Woman mug, Marvel Comic’s Captain America bed sheets, leather storage bins with super hero logos, Spiderman themed wall decoration, comic book dresser, vintage comic book decoupage coat rack, super hero wall clocks, table covered with comic book characters, Herman chair etc.
Fairy Theme:
Give life to the imagery fairy tales of your baby girls and decorate their room accordingly to give them the real fairy tale feel. Place Twinkle fairy castle bed with snow white bed sheet, wooden fairy bedroom flower lamps, mushroom cushion stepping stone, fairy lights, fairy dust craft, girls Fancy Swirls Wall Decal Quote with Birds and Butterflies – glittering dust, Fairy Wings, awesome fairytale mirror stickers, Woodland Fairy bedroom set, small colorful fairy doors. Use wall papers and wall hangings of Cinderella, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty etc. to give it a more fairy land look.
Sports Theme:
Kids with intense passion for sports would love to live in a sports themed room to get that sporty sensation. Add the accessories related to their favorite sport, for instance, soccer themed bed and bed cover, baseball cushions, basketball wall hanging or use rackets, bats or hockey sticks as wall hangings, football shaped wall clock, posters and wall papers of favorite sports stars or team names, tennis themed rugs or carpets, curtains with prints of their favorite team logos like the logo of Manchester United etc.
Add a little imagination and creativity in your kid’s bedroom to give them a feeling that they have the world of their own with perfect surroundings.
About the Author:
James Anderson writes about the imaginative world of kids and how you can make their world more interesting by decorating their bedrooms in their beloved themes. He also loves to write about Cheap canvas prints and printing photos to canvas.
August 7, 2013 | 0 Comment(s)
Contributed anonymously
With so many varying types of activities, lessons, and sports available, how do you know which one is best for your child? If you are looking for something that enhances learning styles, encourages emotional growth, develops confidence and discipline and most importantly is fun, music lessons may be the answer. Music has the power to positively influence your baby while he or she is still in the womb; just imagine how it can influence your child when you put it in his or her hands.
Musical Brain Power
Children (any most of us adults) are naturally drawn to music. More than that, it has an incredible effect on your child’s brain. According to the Department of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, learning a musical instrument advances cognitive development in children, especially in the areas of vocabulary, fine motor skills, auditory discrimination abilities and fine motor skills. Learning music also improves your child’s attention span, listening skills, reasoning, and ability to learn languages. Studies also have shown that children with musical training also tend to have higher academic achievements and go further in post-secondary education.
Your Child’s Social-Emotional Development through Music
Music also impacts your child’s social-emotional development. From toddlers to teens, it can be difficult for your son or daughter to express feelings through words. Music acts as a bridge in helping children to feel, recognize, and express emotions, and then put a name to them. Playing an instrument teaches children to regulate their feelings, manage their impulses, and is a great way to relieve stress. Learning how to incorporate emotion into song dynamics helps to instil compassion and empathy. Any tool you can give your child to prepare them for dealing with the emotional rollercoaster of their childhood or teen years is a definite plus. Research shows that university students with musical training have less anxiety, fewer emotional problems and fewer problems with alcohol compared to their non-musical peers.
Building Confidence One Note at a Time
Excelling academically and emotionally will positively affect your child’s self-esteem. Add that to the confidence your child will gain from becoming skilled at an instrument, and you have a foundation for happiness and success. There is a strong connection between involvement in music and positive self-perception, feelings of success, and leadership skills. Music improves a child’s self-image and helps to encourage positive attitudes. Playing music in band or orchestra also helps children learn how to be good team players and work well with others.
Strings, Keys, and Mouthpieces: Which Instrument to Pick?
After seeing some of the incredible benefits of music lessons, you might be wondering which instrument is best for your child. While piano is the most challenging instrument to learn after violin, it greatly helps kids learn how to sight-read music and grasp the fundamentals of music theory. Knowing how to play piano also can make it easier to learn a secondary instrument. For outgoing children, louder instruments such as drums or trumpet can work best, while shyer children might want to stick to a stringed instrument, or woodwind. Other things to consider include noise level, space, and your budget. Click here to find affordable musical instruments like electronic drum sets, keyboards, recorders and more, allowing you to gauge your child’s interest level before investing in a pricier piece. Remember that there is no ‘easy instrument,’ as everything takes time and practice to learn.
Music is everywhere. Simply listening to music has a powerful effect on your mind and body, and think of how empowering it can be if you are the one creating it. There are many ways to introduce your child to music; through classes like Kindermusik, small groups, individual lessons, or playing around with instruments at home. The true cognitive and emotional benefits from music come from learning a musical instrument in depth and developing musical skill, so practice, practice, practice! Even if your kid doesn’t become the next Mozart, learning music can’t hurt. Start exploring with instruments now and see where music can take you and your child.
July 23, 2013 | 0 Comment(s)
v:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden=”true” DefQFormat=”false” DefPriority=”99″
LatentStyleCount=”267″>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Normal”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”heading 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Title”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Subtitle”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Strong”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Emphasis”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Table Grid”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”No Spacing”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”List Paragraph”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Quote”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Intense Quote”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Subtle Emphasis”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Intense Emphasis”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Subtle Reference”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Intense Reference”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Book Title”/>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:”Times New Roman”,”serif”;}
Tony Buchanan, guest contributor
When children are struggling in school, frustration that results from such failures can be overwhelming and daunting especially to the young children. Research has shown that children develop their self-confidence through their achievements. As children accomplish these achievements, they feel more capable, competent, and ready to do more. Success breeds more success in them. Alternatively, a string of failures can lead to erosion of self-confidence and loss of self-esteem and this can lead to failure in other aspects of life.
Thankfully, private tutors can help children with specific academic issues and provide remedial instructions which go a long way in helping your child regain academic excellence and in the long run self-confidence in other tasks.
Below is a peek as to some of the benefits of having a tutor support your child especially in education matters.
Helps Your Child Do Better in School
While tutors rarely have interaction with the child at school, private tutors such as Tutoring for Excellence, can benefit the child to helping him/her achieve academic success. Beyond assisting the child with hard topics, a private tutor can motivate a child to achieve in the classroom. This is due to the fact that the child receives positive reinforcements from the tutor who portrays the image of a role-model to the child. Children also acquire better learning habits and study skills that interpret to good grades in the long run.
Increases the Child’s self-esteem and self-confidence
Academic success attained in school adds up to become a spiral of success in other areas of life. This success strings breeds self-confidence and self-esteem. A high self-esteem is vital to a child’s life. The more confident the child become, the better they become at forming healthy relationships with their parent/caregivers, teachers and peers. These relationships so formed help in ensuring that the child maintains a positive and a healthy lifestyle.
Redefines the importance of education
Tutoring helps the child to keep a positive attitude towards school. The moment the child sees that their parents, teachers and tutors view education as important; they will appreciate the value of education and view it as important. This in turn translates to better grades at school and thus self-confidence.
Importance of teachers, parents and tutors in this process
However, the task of building a child’s self-confidence through education can be a futile task if all the work is left to the tutor. Parents, teachers, and caregivers are also instrumental in building self-confidence and providing a strong support system. Children view them as their champions and thus it is important for them to help strengthen each child’s sense of self, as it serves to protect the child.
Research has shown that, by all the parties being a child’s champion, this serves to boost a child’s protective factors which are crucial in helping the child to resist peer pressures to engage in risky behaviours such as drug abuse and sexual activities. Additionally, these protective factors also determine the child’s relationships with others as well as their success in school.
Simply put, whatever your child’s challenges might be, a qualified tutor can help him/her to overcome learning obstacles and develop self-confidence by serving as a mentor and a guide to your child.
——
Tony Buchanan is a passionate blogger, freelance writer and a regular contributor to several blogs. He loves reading news and sharing unique articles through his contents. When Tony is not working, he enjoys music, camping and spending time with his family.
July 16, 2013 | 0 Comment(s)
Hello. Today’s guest blogger is also a children’s book author who understands how important reading is to developing a child’s mental strengths.
——
As a responsible parent, it is your duty to nourish your toddler. Everything that he or she needs should be provided in order to nurture him or her during the process of the developmental stage. Reading is one of the basics of growing up.
For your child to become smart in the future, he or she should be armed up with reading skills before letting them socialize with other kids. Not all kids are born with an innate intelligence so parents should hone it.
After learning the alphabet, the child’s quest to knowledge should not stop there. Parents should give the little one something to practice on. The Children book Lion Who Has Never Given Up could be perfect material for reading.
The words and sentences of this book are very simple. The good thing with this book is it has a free video copy which could be used as a guide for reading to the child. This book fits perfectly with the needs of kids aging from 2-3 (toddlers).
By giving the child reading material, it will develop his or her communications skills. Parents are also advised to talk and bond with the child so that he or she will have an outlet to practice the inputs he or she has learned from the book. This book has an amazing character named Leo who is a small voiced lion.
Ask the kid what he or she has learned after reading and listening to the free video provided together with the digital copy. By asking questions to the child, it could also develop his or her ability to comprehend of what happened in the story being read. This book will also guide his or her personality towards reaching a certain goal. It will make the child understand that whenever he or she wants something, it should be attained by persevering.
The book does not only contain a wonderful story that is revolving around the life of Leo, the small voiced Lion. It also provides stunning illustration that will feed the child’s imagination. The main purpose of this book is not only to entertain the child but to develop his or her basic reading skills.
While gaining the skills, the personality development is also being honed due to the moral impact created by the story itself. The effect could not be observed directly but as your child grows up, he or she can subtly associate the good things he or she has learned from this book.
Get this book and your child will surely love it. This is a perfect learning material for toddlers who are just starting to read. Make them start turning up the pages and they will never stop.
Below is a short trailer what this amazing kids’ story is about:
For more great books for kids, please visit us at bestbooksfor3yearolds.com. You’ll find there many devoping books for your little one.
——
Eric Russell, children’s book author
July 9, 2013 | 0 Comment(s)
Jeff Miller, guest contributor
As difficult as your divorce is on you, it’s significantly harder on your kids. Sure, we like to think that kids are resilient and can overcome anything, but the fact is that the emotional scars left behind by divorce can haunt your children for the rest of their lives.
Why exactly is divorce so hard on kids?
- Children have a tendency to blame themselves for divorce. This means they carry a lot of guilt and self-loathing.
- Children grieve the loss of their parents. Even in a co-parenting situation, kids often feel like they’re losing their parents as they no longer live together.
- Children often have their lives turned upside down by divorce. A divorce can often force kids to move to new, unfamiliar surroundings, sometimes causing them to leave their friends behind. Finances can also be tight after a divorce, creating another lifestyle shift for the kids.
- Children often question if their divorced parents still love them. This is the hardest thing for kids to deal with. When they see their family being torn apart, they can’t help but question if their parents still love them.
So, what can you do as a parent to help your kids cope with your divorce?
- Be honest with your kids—Maintaining (or regaining) the trust of your children after a divorce is certainly a major challenge. Your kids may feel betrayed, and they might believe you have been lying to them the whole time. That’s why now is the time to be open and honest with your kids. That doesn’t mean you need to tell them everything – you need to be age appropriate in your communications – but you do need to be honest and you need to make sure to clearly communicate that they are in no way at fault.
- Make love a priority—Showing your children love during and after your divorce is essential to the healing process. Your divorce will keep you busy and it will take a lot out of you, but you cannot neglect your children. You must make an effort to spend time with them and to give them plenty of love.
- Don’t bombard them with too many changes at once—One of the hardest things about divorce for kids is that it disrupts their lives. They may have to move to a new home, transfer to a new school, and get used to a totally different life. Do your best to make these changes slowly so that your kids don’t feel more overwhelmed than they already do.
- Maintain structure and discipline—This is a tough one for divorcing parents. You and your kids are hurting from the divorce, and no single parent wants to be the “bad parent.” But it’s important that you still fulfill your role as the parent. That means giving your kids structure and disciplining them consistently.
- Don’t neglect your own personal healing—How can you expect to help your kids heal if you can’t heal yourself? It’s important that you focus on rebuilding yourself after your divorce. Get support from family, friends, and others who can help you during this difficult time.
Remember, healing takes time, but if you do your part as a parent, you can play a major role in helping your kids through the tough times of a divorce.
——
Jeff Miller is the founder and senior counsel at Miller Law Associates, a law firm that offers clients reasonably priced, flat-fee legal representation for divorce in Florida.
