TEDx: Art Therapy- changing lives, one image at a time.
We enjoyed this presentation by Cathy Malchiodi. Her experiences as an Art Therapist are very instructive.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHu6909NTTc?rel=0&w=853&h=480] Learn MoreAn Attitude of Gratitude
How do we shape the minds and hearts of children to be grateful and content?
Learn MoreHealthy Holiday Beverages
IT’S CHRISTMAS AGAIN… and Christmas time represents family, fellowship, food and fun. This year will be no different for many of us, and of course, there is always the temptation to over indulge. Children are always a big part of Christmas festivities and while we want them to have a Merry Christmas and make many memories we also want them to stay healthy. Depending on your family favourites and your holiday traditions the drinks our children will consume this Christmas will range from sorrel to hot cocoa with marshmallows, ‘chawkit’ tea and everything in between.
SORREL is a good source of Vitamin C & flavonoids, provide powerful antioxidants that helps to improve the body’s immune system
COCOA is also high in antioxidants and provides important vitamins & minerals, so drink up & enjoy.
Keep in mind the importance of good nutrition along with portion control. There is always the temptation to over- indulge when celebrating, especially with children who are free and happy. Parents need to be aware of this and make adjustments to some of our traditional recipes, for example use:
- low-fat milk or nut milk in place of whole milk in Eggnog; Ponche Creme or Cocoa Tea
- fresh fruits in place of can or bottle juices.
Portion control is also important. Use a smaller “Christmas” cup so that your child will not feel cheated. Try this trick on yourself! Offer a serving of
- 4 ozs or 1/2 cup of hot cocoa and
- 6 oz – 8 oz of sorrel
during the day depending on the age of the child.
Start a new Christmas tradition in your kitchen. Let your child help to make these two fruit smoothies It will be FUN and they will also enjoy drinking them.
Cherry Banana Smoothie
1 ripe Banana
1 cup low-fat milk or nut milk
2 maraschino cherries ( to give color & taste)
Blend, serve with crushed ice.
Sparkling Pineapple Yoghurt Smoothie
2 slices pineapple
1 cup low-fat milk
1/2 cup Cherry yoghurt or ice-cream
Blend, then
Add sparking water and serve cold.
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS
From your Nutritionists: Enid & Kerry
Learn MoreGordon Harrison wants preliminary enquiries removed – News – Latest News – Jamaica Gleaner
Gordon Harrison wants preliminary enquiries removed – News – Latest News – Jamaica Gleaner.
The Children’s Advocate Diahann Gordon-Harrison says her office is in support of the removal of preliminary enquiries in matters before the court.
Gordon-Harrison said this procedure further traumatises children, who are victims of a serious offence such as rape.
She said this is particularly difficult when these children come face-to-face with the alleged perpetrators in the court.
The children’s advocate adds that the slow pace at which matters go through the courts also adds to the trauma experienced by children who are victims of crime.
In the meantime, Gordon-Harrison said her Office is partnering with the Office of Chief Parliamentary Council to have drafts Bills which may impact children sent to her agency for review and recommendations.
The Children’s Advocate said her Office has taken note of instances where legislation is implemented and later found to infringe on the rights of children.
She said the arrangement with the Chief Parliamentary Council is aimed at preventing such instances.
Listen with your Eyes
We are overwhelmed with THINGS! Things that demand our attention. Parents have a skill for seeing what their kids don’t even think they can see 🙂 Sometimes though, we must STOP and give our full attention to what we are being told. Take the time to LOOK at your child while they are talking to you tonight at bedtime.
Let them know we are Listening
Parental Controls on Smart Phones – Get it of Forget it?
Some Blackberry smartphones have parental controls. This is an excellent trend. Do you know if your teen’s smartphone has any parental control settings available? Would you try to set it up? Please share with us.
Learn MoreJerry Sandusky and the Mind of a Pedophile
The paedophile is NOT a scary monster. The paedophile is the loving, helpful family friend, or family member who takes advantage of parental trust to win a target and capture a victim.
Have parents muted the voice that speaks niggling concern and disturbing discrepancy. Are parents striving to be attune to what their child is saying, without words.
This paedophile explains how children are chosen not just on the child’s personal characteristics, but also on the loose parenting style of the family. Please take heed.
Jerry Sandusky and the Mind of a Pedophile : The New Yorker.
When monsters roam free, we assume that people in positions of authority ought to be able to catch them if only they did their jobs. But that might be wishful thinking. A pedophile, van Dam’s story of Mr. Clay reminds us, is someone adept not just at preying on children but at confusing, deceiving, and charming the adults responsible for those children
The pedophile is often imagined as the dishevelled old man baldly offering candy to preschoolers. But the truth is that most of the time we have no clue what we are dealing with.
***
The successful pedophile does not select his targets arbitrarily. He culls them from a larger pool, testing and probing until he finds the most vulnerable. Clay, for example, first put himself in a place with easy access to children—an elementary school. Then he worked his way through his class. He began by simply asking boys if they wanted to stay after school. “Those who could not do so without parental permission were screened out,” van Dam writes. Children with vigilant parents are too risky. Those who remained were then caressed on the back, first over the shirt and then, if there was no objection from the child, under the shirt. “The child’s response was evaluated by waiting to see what was reported to the parents,” she goes on. “Parents inquiring about this behavior were told by Mr. Clay that he had simply been checking their child for signs of chicken pox. Those children were not targeted further.” The rest were “selected for more contact,” gradually moving below the belt and then to the genitals. The child molester’s key strategy is one of escalation, desensitizing the target with an ever-expanding touch.
Read more http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2012/09/24/120924crat_atlarge_gladwell#ixzz27DRQI8qj
This article is written by Malcolm Gladwell, Strong Jamaican links.
Learn MoreBack to School: Are you S-E-T? Mr Alexis Goffe speaks
Back to School: Are you S-E-T? Mr Alexis Goffe speaks on Smile Jamaica TVJ about parents being S-E-T – establish a STRUCTURE, plan a healthy weekly menu to ensure ease of shopping and nutritious EATING and last, but not least…make time to listen and TALK to your little student this term.
Learn More