One of the biggest mistakes parents make is when they laugh and give extra attention to inappropriate behavior from their children. Some times this comes in the form of a two year old learning to flip someone off or calling their mother or father an obscene name.
Will it still be funny as they grow older and do it in school, work, or it's directed towards you?
Remember: what we focus on increases.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Conveying Meaning Through Language and Metaphor
There are two primary reasons for this posting.
1. As mentioned previously, there are both significant differences and slight nuances between cultures, including the seemingly slight cultural differences found in almost any community in the industrialized world.
2. Communicating with even your own children, may not be as simple as some might believe. In a real sense, children often, if not usually, have a culture unique from their parents.
Many years ago while supervision child protection, I learned to communicate with parents in words and metaphor familiar to them. For example: I remember working with a family who many would consider backwards; but who were familiar with animals and the difficulties of raising and even keeping certain kinds of animals alive. When I really needed to communicate an important point, I made special effort to use words which they were familiar with and used examples which they could most easily relate to.
Another family I worked with had a son who had done some very inappropriate things. At first there was a lack of understanding of the severity; but because they were the same religion as I, without mentioning religion, I was able to use vocabulary which would convey the powerful and urgent message I needed them to understand.
In contrast, there was a worker on the team who would commonly use vocabulary with children that children did not understand.
When communicating with your children, or your spouse, use words and metaphors which they will easily understand; however before you do this, you must listen to them and know them well enough to know and understand their language, their interests and passions, and their culture.
1. As mentioned previously, there are both significant differences and slight nuances between cultures, including the seemingly slight cultural differences found in almost any community in the industrialized world.
2. Communicating with even your own children, may not be as simple as some might believe. In a real sense, children often, if not usually, have a culture unique from their parents.
Many years ago while supervision child protection, I learned to communicate with parents in words and metaphor familiar to them. For example: I remember working with a family who many would consider backwards; but who were familiar with animals and the difficulties of raising and even keeping certain kinds of animals alive. When I really needed to communicate an important point, I made special effort to use words which they were familiar with and used examples which they could most easily relate to.
Another family I worked with had a son who had done some very inappropriate things. At first there was a lack of understanding of the severity; but because they were the same religion as I, without mentioning religion, I was able to use vocabulary which would convey the powerful and urgent message I needed them to understand.
In contrast, there was a worker on the team who would commonly use vocabulary with children that children did not understand.
When communicating with your children, or your spouse, use words and metaphors which they will easily understand; however before you do this, you must listen to them and know them well enough to know and understand their language, their interests and passions, and their culture.
"Real listening shows respect. It creates trust. As we listen, we not only gain understanding, we also create the environment to be understood. And when both people understand both perspectives, instead of being on opposite sides of the table looking across at each other, we find ourselves on the same side looking at solutions together". Stephen R. Covey
This does not mean we should never use words which stretch our children's vocabulary. We need to educate and help our children understand the world; however in times when we need to communicate important principles or meaning, we must do it in a way they will best understand.
This does not mean we should never use words which stretch our children's vocabulary. We need to educate and help our children understand the world; however in times when we need to communicate important principles or meaning, we must do it in a way they will best understand.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
New initiative sheds light on pornography's impact on families | Deseret News
New initiative sheds light on pornography's impact on families Deseret News: "Today, 47 percent of families in the United States report that pornography is a problem in their home, according to the National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families, an Ohio-based nonprofit organization working to promote Christian values."
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Sleep Hygiene: How to get a good night’s sleep.
Reduce and manage stress as much as possible
* Set a sleep schedule and keep it within ½ hour every night of the week, with the exception of one or two nights when you may stay up later. If you have to work a rotating shift schedule, then keep a schedule according to your shift. (Rotating work schedules have their problems and should be avoided when possible.) Do not nap. Keeping a regular schedule helps to condition your body to expect sleep at certain times. Young children can have naps, Infants must have frequent naps and Toddlers should have naps. Children should stick with the same schedule, within a ½ hour variance as much as possible seven days a week.
* Early to bed early to rise. There is a lot of wisdom in the old adage. Even though some people are just not morning people, for some, this can help their sleep patterns.
* Avoid sleeping too much or too little. At least a couple of times a week you should stay in bed until you wake up without an alarm, and then don’t just lie in bed. Again you want to condition your body that bed is for sleeping, not just lying around.
* Bed is for sleeping and for married adults, certain pleasurable activities, nothing else.
* Do not watch TV in your bedroom or use it as an office or for a computer room. This is also part of conditioning your mind and body.
* Avoid stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine. Remember chocolate and many soda pops have caffeine. (If you must eat or drink chocolate, do not do it within 4 hours of going to bed.)
* Keep refined sugar to a minimum and do not consume refined sugar within 4 hours of going to bed.
* Avoid alcohol, while it may help you to get to sleep, it will make it more difficult to get a good night’s sleep.
* Sleep in a cool (not cold) room and warm (not hot) comfortable bed. Try wearing socks to bed (unless your feet are too hot) and in extreme situations where you have chronically cold hands, try mittens. Your body needs to regulate your temperature before you can get to sleep.
* Keep up a good exercise routine, but not within four hours of bed time. Stretching, yoga, deep breathing, are good right before bed.
* Create a relaxing bedtime routine and stick with it. This can last from 30 minutes to an hour. It can include stretching, yoga, warm bath, deep breathing, and reading. Avoid stressful activities and conversations right before going to bed or in bed.
* Do not eat a large meal before 4 hours of going to bed. Light snack right before bed, i.e.., warm milk, banana, just a little turkey (no preservatives). Avoid spicy food right before bed and possibly discontinue altogether if you continue to have problems. Avoid drinking very much right before bed as it may cause you to have to get up and go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
* Make sure you get good exposure to natural light. People who do not get outside often, are helped by getting the sunlight though the window. Natural light helps to maintain a healthy sleep cycle.
* Eliminate light, and distracting noise as much as possible. Sometimes quiet relaxing music or nature sounds can be helpful. Sometimes a comforting sound from the past can also be helpful. I find the light sound of a distant train very relaxing. If you enjoy it, baroque music is very conducive to a good night’s sleep. (See music suggestions in the stress management posting)
* Do not ruminate over issues that cause you stress right before or at bedtime.
* Do not watch or let your children watch scary movies right before bed if it causes sleep disturbances.
* There are differing opinions about children sleeping with their parents. When they are young and if it is for short periods of time it is usually not a problem. If it becomes a problem, try taking your child back to their bed and lying there with them until they fall asleep then returning to their bed. Try and find out if there is anything frightening them and if so remediate the problem. If they are just missing you, cuddle with them for a while before bed. Read stories as a part of the bedtime routine; but be firm and consistent about bedtime.
* If you do everything or most of the things mentioned here and do not fall asleep within 20 to 25 minutes, get up and do something relaxing for 30 to 45 minutes and then try again. If you wake up in the night and do not fall back to sleep within 20 to 25 minutes, get up and do something relaxing for 30 to 45 minutes.
* Consult with your physician if you have chronic sleeping problems (either too much or too little sleep, 8 hours is average for adults) or chronic pain that keeps you awake. If you are taking medications, speak with your physician about possible side effects that may cause sleep problems. Ask your physician if the medication can be switched to a different time of the day and if that might help.
* Avoid sleeping pills if possible. If necessary, consult your physician.
* Even if you do not get a good nights sleep, get up at your scheduled time. If you get less than 4 hours of sleep for three nights in a row or less than 2 hours of sleep for two nights in a row, consult your physician. If you sleep but do not feel rested on a chronic basis, even after you have tried these adjustments, consult your physician. If you stop breathing while sleeping, consult your physician. You may have a serious sleep disorder such as apnea.
Additional techniques: Consult your physician before doing these (this is not just an idle disclaimer; you really must consult your physician before doing these). These can be used in bed to help you to train yourself to go to sleep.
* Deep breathing and simple counting. Try taking in a very deep breath in (through your nose), expanding your stomach, and then breathing out through your mouth. Count as you do this, perhaps to the beat of your heart, try to get to the point where you have three or four heart beats as you breath in and three or four as you breath out.
* Muscle tightening/relaxing and deep breathing. Start at your toes, curl them and tighten them while breathing in deeply. Relax your toes and breathe out. Flex your foot while breathing in deeply, then relax and breathe out. Push the heals of your feed into your bed while breathing in deeply, then relax and breathe out. Continue to do the same while tightening your calf muscles, then your thigh muscles, then your buttocks then while pushing your hands down, then tightening your shoulders then pushing your head down into your pillow. Do all of these on your back.
* Walking down stairs. Imagine yourself starting at the top of a beautiful bluff, overlooking a gorgeous ocean beach. Imagine there is a gentle and safe decline with stairs and a railing on both sides. Perhaps a gentle warm breeze. Imagine what it looks like and what it sounds and smells and feels like. Now imagine that the top step is number 200. One at a time walk down the stairs, stopping at each stair to say (in your mind) the next number, 199, 198 etc. Imagine how the smells, sights and sounds and feel changes at each step. See if you can make it all the way to the bottom while staying awake.
* Nightmares. If you can just let it go and forget about the dream, do so. If you can not, imagine how you could be empowered to make everything well. What could happen in the dream to make everything better. When my oldest daughter was young she used to have bad dreams about ghosts that would wake her up and then she would wake us up. They were menacing shadows. I asked her if she could imagine that the ghost was friendly and white like Casper. She said “no, pink Ghost” and that was the end of it. It rarely works this easily but you can take control of your dreams to create a more relaxing and pleasant ending.
* Do not worry about doing all these suggestions perfectly. Just do your best and do better the next time.
Allow a month of consistent effort and practice for significant improvement.
* Set a sleep schedule and keep it within ½ hour every night of the week, with the exception of one or two nights when you may stay up later. If you have to work a rotating shift schedule, then keep a schedule according to your shift. (Rotating work schedules have their problems and should be avoided when possible.) Do not nap. Keeping a regular schedule helps to condition your body to expect sleep at certain times. Young children can have naps, Infants must have frequent naps and Toddlers should have naps. Children should stick with the same schedule, within a ½ hour variance as much as possible seven days a week.
* Early to bed early to rise. There is a lot of wisdom in the old adage. Even though some people are just not morning people, for some, this can help their sleep patterns.
* Avoid sleeping too much or too little. At least a couple of times a week you should stay in bed until you wake up without an alarm, and then don’t just lie in bed. Again you want to condition your body that bed is for sleeping, not just lying around.
* Bed is for sleeping and for married adults, certain pleasurable activities, nothing else.
* Do not watch TV in your bedroom or use it as an office or for a computer room. This is also part of conditioning your mind and body.
* Avoid stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine. Remember chocolate and many soda pops have caffeine. (If you must eat or drink chocolate, do not do it within 4 hours of going to bed.)
* Keep refined sugar to a minimum and do not consume refined sugar within 4 hours of going to bed.
* Avoid alcohol, while it may help you to get to sleep, it will make it more difficult to get a good night’s sleep.
* Sleep in a cool (not cold) room and warm (not hot) comfortable bed. Try wearing socks to bed (unless your feet are too hot) and in extreme situations where you have chronically cold hands, try mittens. Your body needs to regulate your temperature before you can get to sleep.
* Keep up a good exercise routine, but not within four hours of bed time. Stretching, yoga, deep breathing, are good right before bed.
* Create a relaxing bedtime routine and stick with it. This can last from 30 minutes to an hour. It can include stretching, yoga, warm bath, deep breathing, and reading. Avoid stressful activities and conversations right before going to bed or in bed.
* Do not eat a large meal before 4 hours of going to bed. Light snack right before bed, i.e.., warm milk, banana, just a little turkey (no preservatives). Avoid spicy food right before bed and possibly discontinue altogether if you continue to have problems. Avoid drinking very much right before bed as it may cause you to have to get up and go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
* Make sure you get good exposure to natural light. People who do not get outside often, are helped by getting the sunlight though the window. Natural light helps to maintain a healthy sleep cycle.
* Eliminate light, and distracting noise as much as possible. Sometimes quiet relaxing music or nature sounds can be helpful. Sometimes a comforting sound from the past can also be helpful. I find the light sound of a distant train very relaxing. If you enjoy it, baroque music is very conducive to a good night’s sleep. (See music suggestions in the stress management posting)
* Do not ruminate over issues that cause you stress right before or at bedtime.
* Do not watch or let your children watch scary movies right before bed if it causes sleep disturbances.
* There are differing opinions about children sleeping with their parents. When they are young and if it is for short periods of time it is usually not a problem. If it becomes a problem, try taking your child back to their bed and lying there with them until they fall asleep then returning to their bed. Try and find out if there is anything frightening them and if so remediate the problem. If they are just missing you, cuddle with them for a while before bed. Read stories as a part of the bedtime routine; but be firm and consistent about bedtime.
* If you do everything or most of the things mentioned here and do not fall asleep within 20 to 25 minutes, get up and do something relaxing for 30 to 45 minutes and then try again. If you wake up in the night and do not fall back to sleep within 20 to 25 minutes, get up and do something relaxing for 30 to 45 minutes.
* Consult with your physician if you have chronic sleeping problems (either too much or too little sleep, 8 hours is average for adults) or chronic pain that keeps you awake. If you are taking medications, speak with your physician about possible side effects that may cause sleep problems. Ask your physician if the medication can be switched to a different time of the day and if that might help.
* Avoid sleeping pills if possible. If necessary, consult your physician.
* Even if you do not get a good nights sleep, get up at your scheduled time. If you get less than 4 hours of sleep for three nights in a row or less than 2 hours of sleep for two nights in a row, consult your physician. If you sleep but do not feel rested on a chronic basis, even after you have tried these adjustments, consult your physician. If you stop breathing while sleeping, consult your physician. You may have a serious sleep disorder such as apnea.
Additional techniques: Consult your physician before doing these (this is not just an idle disclaimer; you really must consult your physician before doing these). These can be used in bed to help you to train yourself to go to sleep.
* Deep breathing and simple counting. Try taking in a very deep breath in (through your nose), expanding your stomach, and then breathing out through your mouth. Count as you do this, perhaps to the beat of your heart, try to get to the point where you have three or four heart beats as you breath in and three or four as you breath out.
* Muscle tightening/relaxing and deep breathing. Start at your toes, curl them and tighten them while breathing in deeply. Relax your toes and breathe out. Flex your foot while breathing in deeply, then relax and breathe out. Push the heals of your feed into your bed while breathing in deeply, then relax and breathe out. Continue to do the same while tightening your calf muscles, then your thigh muscles, then your buttocks then while pushing your hands down, then tightening your shoulders then pushing your head down into your pillow. Do all of these on your back.
* Walking down stairs. Imagine yourself starting at the top of a beautiful bluff, overlooking a gorgeous ocean beach. Imagine there is a gentle and safe decline with stairs and a railing on both sides. Perhaps a gentle warm breeze. Imagine what it looks like and what it sounds and smells and feels like. Now imagine that the top step is number 200. One at a time walk down the stairs, stopping at each stair to say (in your mind) the next number, 199, 198 etc. Imagine how the smells, sights and sounds and feel changes at each step. See if you can make it all the way to the bottom while staying awake.
* Nightmares. If you can just let it go and forget about the dream, do so. If you can not, imagine how you could be empowered to make everything well. What could happen in the dream to make everything better. When my oldest daughter was young she used to have bad dreams about ghosts that would wake her up and then she would wake us up. They were menacing shadows. I asked her if she could imagine that the ghost was friendly and white like Casper. She said “no, pink Ghost” and that was the end of it. It rarely works this easily but you can take control of your dreams to create a more relaxing and pleasant ending.
* Do not worry about doing all these suggestions perfectly. Just do your best and do better the next time.
Allow a month of consistent effort and practice for significant improvement.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Department of Human Services | Risk and Protective Factors
Department of Human Services Risk and Protective Factors: "Risk factors include those individual or social factors associated with an increased likelihood of a negative outcome. Risk Factors can be related to biological, behavioral, and social/environmental characteristics. They include characteristics such as family history, depression or residence in neighborhoods where substance abuse is tolerated. Research supports the idea that the more factors that place the child at risk for substance abuse, the more likely it is she or he will experience substance use."
The protective influence of spiritual--religious lifestyle profiles on tobacco use, alcohol use, and gambling. | Goliath Business News
The protective influence of spiritual--religious lifestyle profiles on tobacco use, alcohol use, and gambling. Goliath Business News: "The costs associated with the use of addictive substances and practices underscore the need for research on protective factors that inhibit use. In this study, the protective influences of various spiritual-religious lifestyle profiles on tobacco smoking, alcohol use, and gambling frequency and expenditures are examined. Among the predominantly Hispanic sample used in the study (N = 249), cluster analysis produced three lifestyle profiles: neither spiritual nor religious, spiritual and religious, and spiritual but not religious. Of these three, the spiritual and religious lifestyle profile exhibited the strongest protective influence across all four dependent measures. Although the exploratory nature of the study precludes definitive recommendations, a number of tentative implications from the findings are drawn."
Protective Factors in Individuals, Families, and Schools | SparkAction
Protective Factors in Individuals, Families, and Schools SparkAction
"The Add Health study clearly underscores theimportance of connectedness and caring relationships.How can adults be assisted intheir efforts to create caring connections withyouth? Caring relationships and the ability toencourage high expectations and meaningfulopportunities for youth participation are naturalby-products of an adult who is himself orherself healthy. Where can systems and organizationsturn to enhance the health of thehelper the key adults the Add Health studyimpact young people s lives?"
"The Add Health study clearly underscores theimportance of connectedness and caring relationships.How can adults be assisted intheir efforts to create caring connections withyouth? Caring relationships and the ability toencourage high expectations and meaningfulopportunities for youth participation are naturalby-products of an adult who is himself orherself healthy. Where can systems and organizationsturn to enhance the health of thehelper the key adults the Add Health studyimpact young people s lives?"
Substance use, religiosity, and other protective factors among Hungarian adolescents
Abstract
A number of risk factors have emerged as important correlates of adolescent substance use. In addition, research continues to focus on which factors act as mediators protecting adolescents from negative outcomes. One of these protective factors is religiosity, and the focus of this paper is to examine its role in the life of adolescents in postsocialist Hungary, where active religious participation was highly discouraged until a decade ago. The sample of adolescents (N=1240) consists of middle and high school students living in Szeged, Hungary. The calculated odds ratios for the relationship between religiosity, and other protective factors, and substance use revealed that smoking, drinking, and marijuana use among boys and marijuana use only among girls were related to religiosity. Group membership, for example, participation in school clubs, sports clubs, or religious groups, seems to be more important for boys compared with girls. A more careful examination of the protective role of religion in postsocialist Hungary could be extremely important in a country where both adult and adolescent smoking and alcohol use is among the highest in Europe.
A number of risk factors have emerged as important correlates of adolescent substance use. In addition, research continues to focus on which factors act as mediators protecting adolescents from negative outcomes. One of these protective factors is religiosity, and the focus of this paper is to examine its role in the life of adolescents in postsocialist Hungary, where active religious participation was highly discouraged until a decade ago. The sample of adolescents (N=1240) consists of middle and high school students living in Szeged, Hungary. The calculated odds ratios for the relationship between religiosity, and other protective factors, and substance use revealed that smoking, drinking, and marijuana use among boys and marijuana use only among girls were related to religiosity. Group membership, for example, participation in school clubs, sports clubs, or religious groups, seems to be more important for boys compared with girls. A more careful examination of the protective role of religion in postsocialist Hungary could be extremely important in a country where both adult and adolescent smoking and alcohol use is among the highest in Europe.
Youth Materials of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Youth Materials of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: "For the Strength of Youth summarizes standards from scripture and from the writings and teachings of Church leaders. The information in this section was reviewed, accepted, and endorsed by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is available here and also as a printed pamphlet for the guidance and blessing of the youth of the Church."
New Studies Find Religious Involvement Strengthens Protective Factors | CADCA
New Studies Find Religious Involvement Strengthens Protective Factors CADCA: "Addressing a recent conference hosted by The Heritage Foundation, Dr. Byron Johnson, Co-Director of the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion, and Dr. Joon Jang, Associate Professor of Sociology, Baylor University, addressed 'The Long-Term Effects of Religious Involvement on Drug Use.'
Presenting at the conference Religious Practice and Civic Life: What the Research Says, held earlier this month in Arlington, VA, Drs. Johnson, and Jang reported findings from a study funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention on the role religion plays in prosocial youth behavior. The findings indicate that religiosity during adolescence and early adulthood strengthens protective factors and weakens risk factors that promote drug use."
Presenting at the conference Religious Practice and Civic Life: What the Research Says, held earlier this month in Arlington, VA, Drs. Johnson, and Jang reported findings from a study funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention on the role religion plays in prosocial youth behavior. The findings indicate that religiosity during adolescence and early adulthood strengthens protective factors and weakens risk factors that promote drug use."
Parenting a Gifted Child
Parenting a Gifted Child: "Gifted and talented children confront parents with distinct questions and challenges. How do parents keep gifted youth motivated, advocate for gifted education, and find rigorous programs supporting gifted student interests? When is gifted assessment necessary? What are talent search benefits? Which summer camps are fun and challenging? How do parents help a gifted kid deal with academic competition, perfectionism, and social pressures?"
Friday, September 10, 2010
Alcoholics Anonymous : INFORMATION ON A.A.
Alcoholics Anonymous : INFORMATION ON A.A.: "Alcoholics Anonymous® is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety"
Welcome to Al-Anon and Alateen
Welcome to Al-Anon and Alateen: "For over 55 years, Al-Anon (which includes Alateen for younger members) has been offering strength and hope for friends and families of problem drinkers. It is estimated that each alcoholic affects the lives of at least four other people... alcoholism is truly a family disease. No matter what relationship you have with an alcoholic, whether they are still drinking or not, all who have been affected by someone else’s drinking can find solutions that lead to serenity in the Al-Anon/Alateen fellowship."
NREPP | Home
NREPP Home: "NREPP is a searchable online registry of more than 160 interventions supporting mental health promotion, substance abuse prevention, and mental health and substance abuse treatment. We connect members of the public to intervention developers so they can learn how to implement these approaches in their communities."
Office of National Drug Control Policy - About
Office of National Drug Control Policy - About: "The principal purpose of ONDCP is to establish policies, priorities, and objectives for the Nation's drug control program. The goals of the program are to reduce illicit drug use, manufacturing, and trafficking, drug-related crime and violence, and drug-related health consequences. To achieve these goals, the Director of ONDCP is charged with producing the National Drug Control Strategy. The Strategy directs the Nation's anti-drug efforts and establishes a program, a budget, and guidelines for cooperation among Federal, State, and local entities."
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and the Brain
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and the Brain: "Alcohol is a teratogen (substance that is toxic to the baby's developing brain). Damage can occur in various regions of the brain. The areas that might be affected by alcohol exposure depend on which areas are developing at the time the alcohol is consumed. Since the brain and the central nervous system are developing throughout the entire pregnancy, the baby's brain is always vulnerable to damage from alcohol exposure."
Research about Alcohol and College Drinking Prevention
Research about Alcohol and College Drinking Prevention: "Welcome to College Drinking: Changing the Culture, created by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov is your one-stop resource for comprehensive research-based information on issues related to alcohol abuse and binge drinking among college students."
CASAA Vision
CASAA Vision: "At CASAA our first priority is to reduce suffering caused by substance use and other addictive behaviors. We do this by generating high quality prevention and treatment research. We settle for nothing less than the highest standards of scientific integrity in our research and applied programs. Attention to human diversity strengthens our science and makes it relevant to our larger society. We do our best work by collaborating with colleagues and working across disciplines, which helps us answer more important questions about substance abuse than we otherwise could. At CASAA we are committed to sharing our knowledge with fellow scientists, practitioners and individuals who are directly impacted by substance use. It matters to us that our work makes an impact both here in our state and in our larger community."
Close to Home - Science: Animations
Close to Home - Science: Animations: "Animations: How Drugs Work"
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Idaho officials take aim at pot substitute 'Spice' | Treasure Valley Crime | Idaho Statesman
Idaho officials take aim at pot substitute 'Spice' Treasure Valley Crime Idaho Statesman: "The merchants who sell 'Spice' in the Treasure Valley say it is meant to be burned as incense - not smoked as a substitute for marijuana. Each jar or package sold has a disclaimer that reads 'not for human consumption.'
One store owner told the Idaho Statesman 'It's aromatherapy, dude!' before hanging up the phone without further comment last week."
One store owner told the Idaho Statesman 'It's aromatherapy, dude!' before hanging up the phone without further comment last week."
NIMH · Treatment Options
NIMH · Treatment Options: "There is no single best treatment package for all children with ASD. One point that most professionals agree on is that early intervention is important; another is that most individuals with ASD respond well to highly structured, specialized programs.
Before you make decisions on your child's treatment, you will want to gather information about the various options available. Learn as much as you can, look at all the options, and make your decision on your child's treatment based on your child's needs. You may want to visit public schools in your area to see the type of program they offer to special needs children.
Guidelines used by the Autism Society of America include the following questions parents can ask about potential treatments:"
Before you make decisions on your child's treatment, you will want to gather information about the various options available. Learn as much as you can, look at all the options, and make your decision on your child's treatment based on your child's needs. You may want to visit public schools in your area to see the type of program they offer to special needs children.
Guidelines used by the Autism Society of America include the following questions parents can ask about potential treatments:"
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Coupons and Free Stuff for Parents and Kids - Please share
Be careful of and steer clear of sites that require a lot of information or want you to click multiple pages. Do not disclose anything confidential and if you have to click more than two or three pages, it probably isn't worth it.
The links will take you to a specialized search engine with multiple links. This keeps the best options on top and there will be no dead links.
Extreme Coupons
Free things for babies
Free things for college students
Free things for kids
Free things for parents
Free things for senior citizens
Free things for new moms
The links will take you to a specialized search engine with multiple links. This keeps the best options on top and there will be no dead links.
Extreme Coupons
Free things for babies
Free things for college students
Free things for kids
Free things for parents
Free things for senior citizens
Free things for new moms
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Child Abuse & Neglect, Reactive Attachment Disorder: eMedicine Pediatrics: Developmental and Behavioral
Child Abuse & Neglect, Reactive Attachment Disorder: eMedicine Pediatrics: Developmental and Behavioral: "Attachment disorders are the psychological result of negative experiences with caregivers, usually since infancy, that disrupt the exclusive and unique relationship between children and their primary caregiver(s). Oppositional and defiant behaviors may be the result of disruptions in attachment.
Many children experience the loss of primary caregivers, either because they are physically separated from them or because the caregiver is incapable of providing adequate care. Removal from primary caregivers can cause serious problems by breaking primary attachments, even if alternate caregivers are competent."
Many children experience the loss of primary caregivers, either because they are physically separated from them or because the caregiver is incapable of providing adequate care. Removal from primary caregivers can cause serious problems by breaking primary attachments, even if alternate caregivers are competent."
Attachment disorders: Assessment strategies and treatment approaches - Attachment & Human Development
Attachment disorders: Assessment strategies and treatment approaches - Attachment & Human Development: "Abstract
The aim of this special issue is to examine methods for assessing and treating attachment disorders. This target article outlines existing strategies for assessment and considers which aspects of severe attachment disturbances and disorders may be core features of the disturbance(s). The usefulness of alternative methodologies for assessment are discussed, with particular emphasis on the need for the development of clinical protocol. The applications and implications for treatment are then discussed, with particular emphasis on the nature of the underlying disturbances that should be a focus for intervention. An absence of established treatment guidelines or consensus regarding the mechanisms of change are highlighted as barriers to further progress."
The aim of this special issue is to examine methods for assessing and treating attachment disorders. This target article outlines existing strategies for assessment and considers which aspects of severe attachment disturbances and disorders may be core features of the disturbance(s). The usefulness of alternative methodologies for assessment are discussed, with particular emphasis on the need for the development of clinical protocol. The applications and implications for treatment are then discussed, with particular emphasis on the nature of the underlying disturbances that should be a focus for intervention. An absence of established treatment guidelines or consensus regarding the mechanisms of change are highlighted as barriers to further progress."
Attachment Disorder Behavior Following Early Severe Deprivation: Extension and Longitudinal Follow-up
Attachment Disorder Behavior Following Early Severe Deprivation: Extension and Longitudinal Follow-up: "Results
Analyses revealed a close association between duration of deprivation and severity of attachment disorder behaviors. In addition, attachment disorder behaviors were correlated with attentional and conduct problems and cognitive level but nonetheless appeared to index a distinct set of symptoms/behaviors. Finally, there was marked stability in individual differences in attachment disorder behaviors and little evidence of a mean decrease over this 2-year period.
Conclusions
The findings offer construct validation for the attachment disorder construct and highlight clinical and conceptual questions that require further research."
Analyses revealed a close association between duration of deprivation and severity of attachment disorder behaviors. In addition, attachment disorder behaviors were correlated with attentional and conduct problems and cognitive level but nonetheless appeared to index a distinct set of symptoms/behaviors. Finally, there was marked stability in individual differences in attachment disorder behaviors and little evidence of a mean decrease over this 2-year period.
Conclusions
The findings offer construct validation for the attachment disorder construct and highlight clinical and conceptual questions that require further research."
Informa Healthcare - Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry - 36(1):9 - Summary
Informa Healthcare - Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry - 36(1):9 - Summary: "Results: Current trends that integrate neuropsychiatry, infant psychiatry, and clinical psychiatry are generating more powerful models of the early genesis of a predisposition to psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. Data are presented which suggest that traumatic attachments, expressed in episodes of hyperarousal and dissociation, are imprinted into the developing limbic and autonomic nervous systems of the early maturing right brain. These enduring structural changes lead to the inefficient stress coping mechanisms that lie at the core of infant, child, and adult posttraumatic stress disorders.
Conclusions: Disorganised-disoriented insecure attachment, a pattern common in infants abused in the first 2 years of life, is psychologically manifest as an inability to generate a coherent strategy for coping with relational stress. Early abuse negatively impacts the developmental trajectory of the right brain, dominant for attachment, affect regulation, and stress modulation, thereby setting a template for the coping deficits of both mind and body that characterise PTSD symptomatology. These data suggest that early intervention programs can significantly alter the intergenerational transmission of posttraumatic stress disorders."
Conclusions: Disorganised-disoriented insecure attachment, a pattern common in infants abused in the first 2 years of life, is psychologically manifest as an inability to generate a coherent strategy for coping with relational stress. Early abuse negatively impacts the developmental trajectory of the right brain, dominant for attachment, affect regulation, and stress modulation, thereby setting a template for the coping deficits of both mind and body that characterise PTSD symptomatology. These data suggest that early intervention programs can significantly alter the intergenerational transmission of posttraumatic stress disorders."
ingentaconnect Attachment research in eating disorders
ingentaconnect Attachment research in eating disorders: "In a recent review, disturbances in attachment have been linked with eating disorder symptomatology. However, because of the limitations of study design, few inferences could be drawn about these processes in the aetiology and maintenance of eating disorder. Since that review, there has been further development in the instruments used and the publication of several further studies of attachment processes in eating disorders. We reviewed the field, expecting that greater clarity may have emerged in the 3 years since the previous review. Method . A review of the literature was carried out, using the computer search PsychLIT, Medline, Embase and The Cochrane Library . Results . There have been more studies published in this area in the last 3 years than in the entire period up until then. These can broadly be divided into those carried out in clinical and non-clinical populations, with greater weight ascribed to the former. The vast majority of studies found that attachment processes, by whatever method measured, are abnormal in eating disordered populations. Attachment style (dismissing versus preoccupied) may be linked with eating disorder diagnostic subgroup. Conclusions . Insecure attachment is common in eating disordered populations, with implications for therapy. Further work with refined instruments may clarify whether or not there is a specific association between attachment style and eating disorder subgroup. However, such an association is likely to be complicated and it may be more fruitful to study specific aspects of attachment, rather than global attachment style, in relation to eating disorder behaviour. The transgenerational transmission of attachment is a fruitful area for further investigation in eating disordered populations."
Attachment Disorders: Insecure Attachment and Reactive Attachment Disorder
Attachment Disorders: Insecure Attachment and Reactive Attachment Disorder: "If you are the parent of a child with an attachment disorder, such as reactive attachment disorder, you may be physically and emotionally exhausted from trying to connect with your child, only to be met with opposition, defiance, or, maybe hardest of all, indifference. A child with insecure attachment or an attachment disorder doesn’t have the skills necessary to build meaningful relationships. Although it is never too late to treat and repair attachment difficulties, the earlier attachment issues are recognized, the easier they are to resolve. With the right tools, and a healthy dose of time, effort, patience, and love, attachment repair can and does happen."
Reactive Attachment Disorder
Reactive Attachment Disorder: "There are several different sub-types of Reactive Attachment Disorders. The ambivalent sub-type can be described as an 'in-your-face' child. This is the child who is angry, oppositional, and who can be violent. The anxious sub-type is clingy, anxious, shows separation anxieties, among other symptoms. The avoidant sub-type is often overlooked. This child is very compliant, agreeable, and superficially engaging. This child often has a lack of depth to his emotions and functions as an 'as-if' child; meaning that he tries to do and say what you want, but is not genuine, authentic, or real in emotional engagement. Finally, there is the disorganized subtype, this child often presents with bizarre symptoms."
Monday, September 6, 2010
Self-Efficacy Beliefs as Shapers of Children's Aspirations and Career Trajectories - Bandura - 2003 - Child Development - Wiley Online Library
Self-Efficacy Beliefs as Shapers of Children's Aspirations and Career Trajectories - Bandura - 2003 - Child Development - Wiley Online Library: "Self-Efficacy Beliefs as Shapers of Children's Aspirations and Career Trajectories
Albert Bandura1, Claudio Barbaranelli2, Gian Vittorio Caprara3, Concetta Pastorelli4"
Albert Bandura1, Claudio Barbaranelli2, Gian Vittorio Caprara3, Concetta Pastorelli4"
Self-efficacy information
Self-efficacy information: "The often-used Children's Self-Efficacy Scale [see validation studies] is also included (includes self-efficacy in enlisting social resources, self-efficacy for academic achievement, self-efficacy for self-regulated learning, self-efficacy for leisure time skills and extracurricular activities, self-regulatory efficacy, self-efficacy to meet others' expectations, social self-efficacy, self-assertive efficacy, and self-efficacy for enlisting parental and community support)."
LDS therapist helps women learn to talk about pornography | Deseret News
LDS therapist helps women learn to talk about pornography Deseret News: "DENVER — While it is no secret how pervasive pornography has become thanks to the advent of the Internet, what frustrates marriage and family therapist Jill Manning is society's passive acceptance, even justification, of its pervasiveness.
'Pornography is not just a 'bad habit,'' Manning said. 'It links directly to such a dark underbelly of humanity. It has direct ties to organized crime, prostitution, slavery … It's troubling to see the global spread of material that degrades, demeans and undermines the role of women in society and in families.'"
'Pornography is not just a 'bad habit,'' Manning said. 'It links directly to such a dark underbelly of humanity. It has direct ties to organized crime, prostitution, slavery … It's troubling to see the global spread of material that degrades, demeans and undermines the role of women in society and in families.'"
Saturday, September 4, 2010
How to Speak Love Language #1: Physical Touch - Parenting Ideas
How to Speak Love Language #1: Physical Touch - Parenting Ideas: "According to Dr. Chapman, to some children, physical touch is their primary love language:"
Teaching Children Appropriate Touch: Helping Kids Understand Personal Boundaries and Showing Affection
Teaching Children Appropriate Touch: Helping Kids Understand Personal Boundaries and Showing Affection: "Overly affectionate kids can be taught at an early age how to hug, kiss and touch others appropriately. Here are some ideas for teaching kids personal boundaries.
Public display of affection among kids is a touchy subject for many as it brings up the issue of personal boundaries. Some argue that it is important for kids to learn positive forms of affection to build trust with other people. Others fear that kids who are overly affectionate risk being alienated or hurt by others who do not appreciate the show of affection."
Public display of affection among kids is a touchy subject for many as it brings up the issue of personal boundaries. Some argue that it is important for kids to learn positive forms of affection to build trust with other people. Others fear that kids who are overly affectionate risk being alienated or hurt by others who do not appreciate the show of affection."
Good - Appropriate Touch with Children
Good - Appropriate Touch with Children: "If it seems as if 'no touch' is the 'best touch,' with a child, I can assure you that there is such a thing as 'good touch.'
Everyone needs touch that soothes and nurtures. Studies on children in orphanages in England during World War II revealed that without touch children become morose (anaclitic depression) and often die despite adequate nutrition and proper hygiene."
Everyone needs touch that soothes and nurtures. Studies on children in orphanages in England during World War II revealed that without touch children become morose (anaclitic depression) and often die despite adequate nutrition and proper hygiene."
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Center for Early Literacy Learning - Adaptations Practice Guides
Center for Early Literacy Learning - Adaptations Practice Guides: "These guides make it easier for young children with disabilities to participate in early literacy learning activities. Written for both parents and practitioners, the practice guides describe everyday home, community, and childcare learning opportunities that encourage early literacy learning."
Manage Anger Through Family Meetings
Manage Anger Through Family Meetings: "Given the moral crisis of our times, finding effective ways for parents to enhance moral reasoning in their children is a crucial task (11). Experiences that enhance moral reasoning include situations that encourage cognitive restructuring, role-taking opportunities, participation in groups that are perceived as fair or just, and exposure to views different from one's own (5, 11). As a young person grows both in awareness that others' viewpoints and feelings are different from one's own and in the capacity to see one's own behavior from others' perspectives, so, too, does the young person's moral development grow (6, 9, 11)."
Family Meetings
Family Meetings: "At the Family Education Center, we help families develop and practice the skills to nourish their relationships. One of the tools we use and teach is the family meeting, which is a meeting held in a mutually supportive, encouraging, agreed-upon format. All members of the family participate in the meeting, even young children."
Family day and family meetings – a rewarding routine | zen habits
Family day and family meetings – a rewarding routine zen habits: "Last year, my family (my wife and I and our six kids) began a tradition that is one of the best things we’ve ever done: every Saturday we have a family meeting, and every Sunday is Family Day. We’ve become so much closer as a family as a result, and I highly recommend it for [...]"
family meetings
family meetings: "A family meeting is a structured discussion time that typically involves all members of a family. Family meetings should be regularly scheduled (for example once a week). Special meetings can be called to discuss an important issue that cannot wait until the next regularly scheduled meeting. Holding family meetings on a regular basis has many benefits for a family."
How to Hold a Family Meeting
How to Hold a Family Meeting: "Family meetings help busy families stay connected. Other benefits of this simple tool are improved communication, self-esteem, emotional support and problem solving."
Family Communication and Family Meetings
Family Communication and Family Meetings: "Family meetings are time set aside to promote meaningful communication and to provide for family discussion, decision making, problem solving, encouragement and cooperation.
Family meetings can be structured and rather formal or flexible and informal.
At family meetings, everyone has a part and something to contribute. No one is less important than another, and family members contribute according to their age and ability."
Family meetings can be structured and rather formal or flexible and informal.
At family meetings, everyone has a part and something to contribute. No one is less important than another, and family members contribute according to their age and ability."
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