Why the iPad is a far bigger threat to our children than anyone realises When the little girl pointed at the sweets at the checkout, her mother said: 'No, they're bad for your teeth.' So her daughter, who was no more than two, did what small children often do at such times. She threw a tantrum. What happened next horrified me. The embarrassed mother found her iPad in her bag and thrust it into her daughter's hands. This incident, which happened three years ago, was the first time I saw a tablet computer used as a pacifier. Sue Palmer, a psychologist, has seen countless toddlers who can barely walk swiping at screens (stock photo) It's ten years since the publication of my book, Toxic Childhood, which warned of the dangers of too much screen-time on young people's physical and mental health. My fears have been realised. Indeed, when my book came out, Facebook had just hit our shores and we were more concerned with violent video games and children watching too much TV. Today, on average, children spend five to six hours a day staring at screens. Loaded: 0%
Live the way nature intended | My Chemical Free Romance What to do when you witness sexist parenting I grew up surrounded by unchallenged casual sexism. But here's one thing I'm going to change. Photo: Stocksy When Australian of the Year David Morrison said, '"The standard you walk past is the standard you accept" in his now viral speech, he was referring to sexism in the military. If I'm being honest, I walk past sexism almost every day. And while Morrison was referring to sexual assault, the sexism that I tacitly accept through silence is also damaging, especially because it occurs to, and in front of, children. It's the father who commands his boy to "toughen up and stop being a girl". Advertisement It's the disapproving grandmother who scolds "little girls don't play with mud." It's the mother in the shop asking "which electronics projects are suitable for girls?" It's the stranger who jokes about "mum spending all of dad's money". Not a week goes by without me hearing a statement said to or about a child that reinforces regressive gender stereotypes. And I believed it. 1. 2. 3.
Christmas in Mexico -- Christmas Around the World -- whychristmas?com In Mexico, Christmas is celebrated from the December 12th to January 6th. From December 16th to Christmas Eve, children often perform the 'Posada' processions or Posadas. Posada is Spanish for Inn or Lodging. There are nine Posadas. In each Posada, children are given candles and a board, with painted clay figures of Mary riding on a donkey and Joseph, to process round the streets with. Each night a different house holds the Posada party. One game that is often played at Posada parties is piñata. As well as the posada's, another type of Christmas play known as Pastorelas (The Shepherds). Nativity scenes, known as the 'nacimiento', are very popular in Mexico. Christmas Trees are becoming more popular in Mexico, but the main/most important decoration is still the nacimiento. Christmas Eve is known as 'Noche Buena' and is a family day. Poinsettia flowers are known as 'nochebuena' (Christmas Eve) flowers in Mexico. In some states in Mexico children expect Santa Claus to come on December 24th.
I gave my students iPads — then wished I could take them back I placed an iPad into the outstretched hands of each of my third-grade students, and a reverent, tech-induced hush descended on our classroom. We were circled together on our gathering rug, just finished with a conversation about “digital citizenship” and “online safety” and “our school district bought us these iPads to help us learn, so we are using them for learning purposes.” They’d nodded vigorously, thrilled by the thought of their very own iPads to take home every night and bring to school every day. Some of them had never touched a tablet before, and I watched them cradle the sleek devices in their arms. They flashed their gap-toothed grins — not at each other but at their shining screens. That was the first of many moments when I wished I could send the iPads back. Some adult ears might welcome a room of hushed 8-year-olds, but teachers of young children know that the chatter in a typical elementary classroom is what makes it a good place to learn. twogoodpages@gmail.com
How to Raise an Emotionally Resilient Child | Expert Tips & Advice . PBS Parents Pin It All children, even the most fortunate, suffer emotional injuries. At home, in school and on the playground, all children experience disappointment, frustration and failure; criticism and disapproval; and exclusion by peers. In healthy development, children recover from these moments. As parents, it is important for us to recognize these common injuries and provide some healing of a child’s discouragement and anger. Children learn invaluable lessons from moments of repair. A Pathway Toward Emotional Maturity These are critical moments in the emotional life of a child—when admired adults are able to help a sad, anxious or angry child realize that she will not always feel this way; when we help a child who is disappointed or discouraged regain some measure of confidence in her future. We have also opened a pathway toward emotional maturity. Ten Minutes at Bedtime Then we can help them put their disappointments in perspective.
Phew! It's Normal. An Age by Age Guide for What to Expect From Kids & Teens - And What They Need From Us Being a kid or a teen is not for lightweights – it’s tough out there! There are important things that need to be done, that only they can do. The nature of these jobs depends on the developmental stage they are at. Even as adults, we can be prone to tantrums, tears and wanting to give the world (or particular people in it) an almighty spray sometimes. Understanding what our kids are wrestling with and the developmental goals they are working towards will make their more ‘frustrating’ behaviours easier to deal with. Here are some important developmental stages and the difficult behaviour that might come with them. The ages of the stages are just a guide. Infants & Babies (0-12 months). Everything will go in the mouth – hands, feet, food, toys, shoes – you name it.If they are crying, there is something they need – a sleep, a cuddle, food, changing. The support they need. Babies have an important job to do – they need to learn whether or not they can trust the world and the people in it.
The School House Reading is increasingly being reduced to a numbers game in schools. So far the budget has given us more education gift cards to use in the stores of the federal government’s choosing - two more tests for children; one when they come into school and one when they leave. For new teachers, as the end of first term nears, you may be feeling despair. But don’t leave - we need teachers like you. Australia’s appalling record of equity in education has once again been confirmed in the latest Closing the Gap report. The political obsession with back to basics literacy is leaving schools behind. Of the 15,000 newly graduated teachers, less than half will find permanent employment in Australia. Students reach the middle years of high school with poor vocabularies and unable to work with language in sophisticated ways. Phonics programs can be helpful for students with very particular learning needs - but it's not a one-size-fits-all literacy solution.
theconversation When my son was nine years old, he put aside the large Harry Potter novel he had been slowly, but enthusiastically, reading each evening and instead began ploughing through lots of fairly uninspiring books that he brought home from school each day. It turned out the Year 4 teachers had devised a competition at his school - whichever class read the most books would be rewarded with an end of term pizza party. The aim, I presume, was to motivate the children to read. It is ironic then that the effect was that my son stopped reading for pleasure and instead began reading for the numbers. Reading is now increasingly being reduced to a numbers game in schools. What level is your child at? At pick up time, parents quiz each other about what reading level their child is on. Six year olds are deciding whether they are good readers or not based on how many books they have ticked off on their take home reader sheet. There are two key problems with this numbers approach to reading. Reading schemes
Reviving the Ancient Sisterhood In the heart of every woman beats the longing to sit with her sisters, to crack open, connect deeply and share her vulnerability, her joys, fears and her dreams. In ancient times the unfettered magic of the sacred feminine flowed freely. Her abundant fertility and creative power was in harmony with the principles of nature and flourished. For over 2000 years, the dominant paradigm in our world has been the masculine impetus. While sisterhood is rising and becoming a powerful healing force, many women are still healing their own wounds. The primal bond between mother and child is core to wholeness and the feminine mystery. My own journey with sisterhood has been interesting and not always easy. Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. – Helen Keller Women are created to be together, to collaborate, to support each other, and to be a sacred community. Women are created to be together, to collaborate, to support each other, and to be a sacred community. So what is sisterhood?
Handwriting a struggle for more children, expert says, as NAPLAN gains stall Updated Australian children are finding it increasingly harder to hold a pencil due to overuse of keyboards and touch screens, an occupational therapist says. The comments come after teachers voiced their concerns about NAPLAN tests being handwritten and how that was adding to children's stress levels. Recent NAPLAN test results showed Queensland had the second lowest writing test score averages across years 3, 5, 7, and 9. Nationwide results showed a significant decrease in writing results for years 7 and 9. The dynamic tripod grasp, or pencil grip, is viewed by occupational therapists as the correct way for children to hold a pencil. The action uses both the index and middle finger to hold the pencil, with the thumb supporting it. The grasp then allows the ring finger and the little finger to be tucked away, with the pencil resting on the muscular part of the hand. 'Kids holding pencils like daggers' Ms Davies said children were holding pencils likes daggers or knives.
CPR | Kids Health You are able to begin the program by clicking on any of the seven modules listed below. In addition to the CPR modules, the program presents information on helping a baby or child who is choking or needing first aid for a burn injury. We suggest you complete the modules in the order they are listed. The background information provided in one module will help you understand the next. If you are viewing the training on a tablet device, we recommend Safari browser for Apple iOS and Google Chrome for Android. If you would like to receive an annual reminder (in July) to refresh your knowledge and skills, click on 'subscribe' above. Child CPR Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Baby CPR The Recovery Position Masks and Face Shields Choking First Aid for Burns Program related posters and brochure are available for download from the section below.
Enough with the 'only child' shaming There is virtually no evidence to suggest that being an only child leads to any problems, or any more problems than any other type of upbringing Photo: Stocksy My name is Paul, and I am an only child. I know all you people with siblings probably have some questions: was it lonely growing up; do I wonder what it is like to have a sister or brother; did my parents mean to have "just the one". You might even feel compelled to utter that most original of bon mots: "Well that explains a lot". A lot people seem to have an opinion over what makes the perfect nuclear family. There are more than a few things wrong with this situation, the first is that the number of children she, I, or anyone, chooses to have is none of your damned business, and mums cop the brunt of this weird intrusion far more than dads. I have two kids. Advertisement There is virtually no evidence to suggest that being an only child leads to any problems, or any more problems than any other type of upbringing.