Parenting Cares

The Foundation Of Parenting Challenges

2011-07-18T11:04:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

Its quite sometimes i made a post here. Ive been spending a lot of time working with a group of children and their parents over here and its been quite revealing. Ive observed several parents over the past 3 years and have realized one very crucial factor lying at the base of most parental challenges.Its a phenomenon called PLANING.

Planing is one simple but very important part of parenting that more than 85% of parents overlook, in-fact in most part of the third world nations, planing parenthood is alien to existing culture.

Like the popular saying goes, "the one who fails to plan is surely planing to fail", the cause of most failure in parenting is lack of objective planing. Failure to consider the environment in which to raise a child,the kind of school to attend,the kind of house to raise a child,the likely health situations the child might be exposed to,how the parents job might influence or affect the upbringing of the child... and so on.

These points may appear so flimsy or non-relevant to some parents,but it has been observed that parenting and the home breaks down often because of the little issues that have not been taken care of which then grows like cancer to become what I refer to as "parental-tumors".

As young couples preparing to start raising children, take time out to plan. Take time to think of what you will be bringing those little boys and girls into and remember that you will be steering the course of their lives journey for at least 14 years.

Lets get parenting right by doing first things first!
Remember IF THE FOUNDATION IS FAULTY, WHAT CAN "THE PERFECT" or "THE RIGHTEOUS" or "THE EXPERT" DO.

Welcome to a series of Planned parenthood articles, Watch out for upcoming articles that will be focusing on different aspects of Parenting that we can plan and how to make plans.

Fresh Air Funds- Serving Children

2011-05-29T06:10:00.000-07:00

The Fresh Air Fund is in need of 1200 host families for this summer. Host families are volunteers who open their hearts and homes to children from the city to give them a Fresh Air experience that can change lives.

YOU CAN SAVE THE FUTURE WHEN YOU SAVE A CHILD TODAY

Placing wonderful children in wonderful homes.Giving them a life changing experience

The Fresh Air Fund is Making A change and Leaving an Impact on this generation and The future

Top 10 parenting tips for successful piano lessons

2009-08-18T05:33:00.000-07:00

Photo: istockphoto/robcruse

By Julie lind @http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-18722-Minneapolis-Piano-Lesson-Examiner~y2009m8d17-Top-10-parenting-tips-for-successful-piano-lessons

Here are my top ten parenting tips for successful piano lessons:

1. Find a good piano teacher. Keep in mind that each child has different needs. For some children a friendly piano teacher is the most important. For others a strict teacher is best.

2. Invest in a piano. You can not expect to get successful results from piano lessons if you are not willing to provide a quality piano for your child to practice on.

3. Make practice time a priority. These days it is hard to find time to practice, but without practice there can be no progress.

4. Take away any distractions during practice time. When your child is practicing make sure they are not distracted by siblings, friends, cell phones, or televisions.

5. Check your child's assignment. Most students will try to avoid practicing songs they don't like. It is your job as a parent to make sure the student is practicing all of their assigned songs. Also make sure your child is making all of the corrections the teacher suggested at the prior lesson.

6. Help your child practice. Many children don't know how to practice. Explain to your child that practice means working slowly through songs until they are able to play through the songs without mistakes.

7. Bring all of the lesson materials to the lesson. Children will often "forget" a book if they don't want to play a song for their piano teacher. Be sure you check to see that all of their music, theory and assignment books are brought to each lesson.

8. Limit after-school activities. Many parents make the mistake of over-scheduling their child. Piano lessons are more than a half hour commitment each week. Students should be committed to practicing at least a half-hour every day.

9. Keep the communication lines open with your piano teacher. If there are any circumstances which are making piano lessons difficult for your child, let your piano teacher know. Perhaps there is a divorce or death in the family, or maybe your child dislikes their method book. Surprisingly many children will not offer this type of information during the lesson.

10. Expect to have good and bad times. It is normal for a student to feel excited about piano one day, and dread it the next. Try to work through the bad times by purchasing piano pieces the student is passionate about such as popular, jazz or Broadway tunes.

By Julie Lind

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-18722-Minneapolis-Piano-Lesson-Examiner~y2009m8d17-Top-10-parenting-tips-for-successful-piano-lessons

More About: piano · piano lessons · music lessons · parenting

How to Get Your Child to Tell You What's on Their Mind

2009-08-18T05:14:00.000-07:00

I'm sharing this from my personal experience raising two wonderful boys on my own. Have you ever wanted to know what was on your child's mind but there seemed to be a block with the child in really telling you what was bothering them. Maybe your child had a bad day at school, or something one of their siblings is doing that is bothering them. Maybe for whatever reason they just don't know how to express what's on their mind.

Raising two boys at times I could tell something was bothering one but when I asked they would say nothing. Now I'm talking about children that were between the ages of about 4 to 7. So one night I was putting them to bed and and all three of us would lie there in bed with me in the middle and arms around them and I knew something was wrong between them so I thought why not start singing a tune like we always did at night but this time I made it a game.

I said to them hey I'm going to sing a song but instead of singing exactly as the lyrics go I'm going to put in stuff that made me happy or that bothered me that day. So I'd start signing along and then somewhere in the song I might sing I was happy that Travis picked up his clothes this morning. Maybe next time I'd add Travis made me mad today because he left the door open. Whatever the point is to use your imagination and make a game out of what is bothering you in the song. Then when it was their turn to sing they can do the same thing. What I found out was because they were thinking of it as a game and the lyrics to the song distracted them to I guess they would add in what was bothering them.

It's not an exact technique I know. I'm not some Child Doctor but it worked for me. Get creative I think the point is if you add an activity that helps distract the child a bit and make it fun and they are more willing to share with what's on their mind.

Hi Folks,

Nothing special about me. My greatest claim to fame is being a single father. I raised two wonderful boys on my own since they were 5 and 6. Now they are 27 and 28 grown men. I'm very proud of them. Since I'm semi-retired well I work online at home when I want to, I thought I'd start sharing some of the good things that I have experienced to those that might be considering them. Hope this article will be of help. If you ever want to know more about my experience you can always get a hold of me at http://www.whoispat.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pat_Olds

Parents - Your Solution to Motivating Your Middle School Teenager in School

2009-08-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

Parents - Your Solution to Motivating Your Middle School Teenager in School
By Pam Golden
Pam GoldenLevel: Basic PLUSPam Golden is an author, educator, parent, and grandparent. As an elementary school consultant, she has worked with over 15,000 children, 700 teachers,

"When your child enters middle school - it is one of the most painful times of life and it's hard on the kids too!"
Amy's mom was at her wits end when her daughter's grades took a nose dive soon after she entered middle school. Amy had always done so well in elementary school, what happened?

Amy's mom tried to solve the problem by "laying down the law." Insisting that she come home right after school every day and do her homework immediately. She even checked Amy's work daily. That backfired causing a huge rift in their relationship and endless arguments

Difficulty at school and with parents is a common theme for middle school kids. Yet when you realize the changes a middle school child is going through,it can make sense:

Bodies are changing (raging hormones)
Brains are undergoing changes becoming more mature but still lack judgment.
Desperately trying to becoming independent - to stand on their own.
Going to a much bigger school.
Now have lots of different teachers who don't have time to help them
Many choices about which classes to take, activities to join.

Having gone through that years ago, it's easy for parents to forget just how painful, scary and difficult all those changes can be.

You want to let them go, yet there is no way they are ready to be on their own. In fact, they need your guidance more than ever. They just need a different type of help

It turns out there is a powerful technique for supporting your middle school child to do well and achieve in school. It's called "Academic Socialization." When I first heard that word I immediately thought, "Huh, what's that?" Happily, it's much simpler than it sounds

Academic socialization is making the shift from "telling" your child what to do, to "advising and consulting." By making this change you maintain your ability to influence your burgeoning teen, while respecting their growing independence, and teaching them how to make wise decisions.

Here are the basics:

Sit down with your middle schooler and gently communicate your expectations for education.
Explain why education is important.
Listen to your middle schooler carefully so you can understand their point of view
Set educational goals together.
Discuss what he or she wants to do in the future
Take some time each day or week to show the connection between schoolwork and what's happening in the real world.
Have regular friendly, open meetings to go over how it's going.
Make it an enjoyable time together.

It may take some energy to get started, but once you make a ritual of sitting down together and going over the agenda, both you and your teen will be thrilled. You will connect in ways you've never done before.

Also, did you know that one type of praise can produce self-defeating behavior and anxiety, while another can move your kids to positive action? Changing a few words can make a night and day difference in your child's life.

If you like to get started learning how to give praise that motivates positive action while building self-esteem and confidence in your child please download my FREE Report on "The Amazing Impact of Effective Praise" at: http://www.basiclifeskillsforchildren.com/amazingpraise

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pam_Golden

PARENTS!! It's Time to Go Back to School -special offers

2009-08-10T11:32:00.000-07:00

		August What's Hot Offers
			Free iPod touch with Mac purchase From now until September 8th, buy a Mac for college and get a free iPod touch! This offer is only available at the Apple Online Store. 30% off Head back to school in style with the latest backpack from Wenger, Swiss Army, Lucerne Lite Backpack, now over 30% off, marked down to $19.95 USD at Luggagepoint.com. Find this savings and many more. This offer expires August 31, 2009. Up to 75% off Get ready for unbelievable savings of up to 75% off retail prices on top name brand clothing and accessories from 6pm.com. Choose from the latest in fashions from Hurley, Oakley and more. Shop today. This offer expires August 31, 2009.

Making This Holiday Count

2008-12-12T04:23:00.000-08:00

Is there any better way to enjoy this Christmas season and holiday than to spend it having a wonderful time with your family? Possibly have an outdoor event for your kids and so on...

Yeah!! I bet you that One good thing that surpasses all wonderful time you can ever have is to put a smile on a kids face, far away where you may never dream of reaching someday.

I want to encourage all parents reading this to make donations as individuals and as family or even in the name of their children..

READ THIS ......

Happy Holidays from
The Fresh Air Fund!

Knowing that you did something extraordinary for inner-city children this year should warm your heart throughout the holiday season – just as our children’s hearts are warmed by the wonderful memories of their Fresh Air summers!

News Facts
• The Fresh Air Fund relies on donations and partnerships to raise the funds needed to give these children the vacation they deserve.
• The Fresh Air Fund needs hosts for the Summer of 2009

DONATE

You can give a child the experience of alifetime with your gift to The Fresh Air Fund!Every year, The Fresh Air Fund gives thousands of inner-city children the priceless gift of fun – and opens the door to a lifetime of opportunities.Whether it’s a two-week trip to the country to visit a volunteer host family, or a fun-filled and educational stay at one of our camps, our programs make for unforgettable memories – and open a world of new friendships and fresh possibilities.We are a not-for-profit agency and depend on tax-deductible donations from people like you to keep our vital programs flourishing.
Your year-end gift will allow us to invite even more children to experience Fresh Air summers full of learning, fun and new friends. Thank you so much for your generous support. Our entire Fresh Air Fund family wishes you all the best this season.

Donate online now

News Facts
• The Fresh Air Fund relies on donations and partnerships to raise the funds needed to give these children the vacation they deserve.
• The Fresh Air Fund needs hosts for the Summer of 2009

DONATE

You can give a child the experience of alifetime with your gift to The Fresh Air Fund!Every year, The Fresh Air Fund gives thousands of inner-city children the priceless gift of fun – and opens the door to a lifetime of opportunities.Whether it’s a two-week trip to the country to visit a volunteer host family, or a fun-filled and educational stay at one of our camps, our programs make for unforgettable memories – and open a world of new friendships and fresh possibilities.We are a not-for-profit agency and depend on tax-deductible donations from people like you to keep our vital programs flourishing.
Your year-end gift will allow us to invite even more children to experience Fresh Air summers full of learning, fun and new friends. Thank you so much for your generous support. Our entire Fresh Air Fund family wishes you all the best this season.

Donate online now

HOST A CHILD

Thanks to host families who open up their homes for a few weeks each summer, children growing up in New York City’s toughest neighborhoods have experienced the joys of Fresh Air vacations. More than 65% of all children are reinvited to stay with their host family, year after year.Fresh Air Fund Host FamiliesThere is no such thing as a "typical" host family. If you have room in your home - and your heart - to host a child, you could be one too.
Learn More

Fresh Air Fund Children

Fresh Air children are boys and girls, six to 18 years old, who reside in low-income communities in New York City and are eager to experience the simple pleasures of life outside the city. Fresh Air children are boys and girls who live in New York City and are eager to experience the simple pleasures of life outside the city.As one child puts it, "In the city, you have to think about what is going to happen around the next street corner. In the woods, you walk with a group of friends and counselors. You don't even think about city problems."

Barack Obama: The Dream Of All Parents!

2008-11-06T09:13:00.000-08:00

It Sure Pay To Have A Dream!

I know quite well beyond every doubt that if Barrack Obama's Grand mother in kenya was told 30 years ago that her grandson would become the president of United states, even the most optimistic dreamer will label such statements as a WILD DREAM from a disillusioned parent.

But today, its not even a vision any longer, its a reality.

I want to share this articles with all parents who are yet to see the potency in being a dreamer.

Barack Hussein Obama: A Beacon of Hope

The U.S. Presidential Election has come and gone and the lessons will remain with us forever. Looking back to what I have been saying for a while on this blog, I am sure you will now believe me that we all can achieve whatever we want to achieve if only we can believe it is possible.
Barack Hussein Obama came into the race for the White House with nothing but a dream. He started the race as “that one,” an object of ridicule but he never wavered in his desire to become the President of the Greatest Nation on earth, the United States of America. Now we all can see where his dream has led him to.

He stood up against opponents he would normally have been intimidated by their profile. He was definitely a no match for Hillary Clinton or John McCain but he was able to come out to the people as a charismatic leader and someone that knows what he wants. His message of change resonates with what the people desires most and even his critics couldn’t help but admire him.

What I have learnt from my study of dreamers, right from the beginning of the world, is that they get whatsoever they have dared to dream about. No matter how big the dream is, the dreamer will always have it not minding how long it takes. I don’t know how long Obama has been dreaming of occupying the White House, but it is evident that this is a dream he believed in so much and he gave his all to achieve it.

“The whole world stand aside to let him pass, who knows where he is going,” is a saying I heard years ago and it is always coming true in the life of every dreamer. When you declare a dream, people will laugh at you, but if you did not allow that to get to you and stop you from following the dream, you will find out that people that have ridiculed you will later come to applaud you. You must NEVER allow people’s opinion stop you from following your dream.

They laughed at Joseph, Henry Ford, Abraham Lincoln, Napoleon Hill, Walt Disney, Ted Turner, Anita Roddick, Bill Gates, Steve Job and even Brack Obama was ridiculed for daring to dream. If this great people were laughed at, at an early stage, in the pursuit of their dreams, and they eventually achieved their heart desires, the moral of their stories, that we all need to pursue our dreams no matter what the obstacles are, should be held close to our heart.

It cost nothing to dream and if you are going to dream, copy Obama and dream BIG! I have learnt that there is no gain in dreaming small because what ever you dream will surely come to pass. Most of the dreams I had years ago, that I thought were big, have been achieved and I realised I still need BIGGER dreams for the future. I can now borrow a leaf from Obama and even dream BIGGER than I am doing now

Now that you know that there is no dream that is too BIG to achieve, what are you going to do my friend? Will you continue to play small or dream BIG? Will you continue to complain about things you don’t have or circumstances not being in your favour? Do you realise that Obama is an orphan? He lost his father to an automobile accident in the 80s and his mother to cancer in the 90s so what are you complaining about?

Barack Obama has proved to us all that NOTHING is impossible and it is our duty to live with this truth. We have a choice in this matter to continue living without a dream or to pick up a dream and start start pursuing it. Remember, this is just a CHOICE!

Thanks Barack for teaching us this important life lesson. Wishing you well in your drive to take America back to where it belongs!

culled from : http://www.naijamotivation.com/2008/11/06/barack-obama/

Saving the Lives of Malnourished Children

2008-10-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

Social Media News Release

You helped us get this far. Now, your vote could mean $1.5 million for malnourished children around the world.

NEWS FACTS

We made it into the American Express Members Project - Top 5.

“Saving the Lives of Malnourished Children” is now guaranteed a share of $2.5 million in prize money. The project with the most votes receives $1.5 million, 2nd receives $500,000, 3rd $300,000, and 4th and 5th $100,000. The funding – made possible by your votes – would bring a vital lifeline to hungry and malnourished children around the world.

But we need your help between now and October 13. Voting is easy and doesn’t cost a thing! In just a click, you can save the lives of thousands of malnourished children. Click here to vote:

For severely malnourished children, we offer a step-by-step treatment program that gives them what they need to recover, including nutrient-dense food supplements like the peanut-based product, Plumpy'Nut. Our comprehensive monitoring system saves more than 90 percent of children being treated in our feeding centers. Being one of the Top 5 would mean our nutrition could reach more children around the world who need our help.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Hunger and malnutrition kill more people in the world than HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. As food prices rise, this funding is even more critical. More people are being driven deeper into poverty trying to afford basic staples. Many have nothing to eat at all. Your vote makes it possible for fewer young lives to be lost because they do not have enough to eat.

Getting the word out to your friends and family makes a huge difference! Forward this link to a friend and you bring us that much closer to the $1.5 million to help malnourished children around the world!

About International Medical Corps

International Medical Corps (IMC) is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs.

Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, IMC is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities worldwide.

By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, IMC rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.

Help International Medical Corps

Double your impact. Donate today. Your gift is matched before October 31st.

International Medical Corps has received a pledge of $100,000 in matching funds to provide vital health care to millions of children and families suffering in the global food crisis and other emergencies around the world. Every donation made before October 31st will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $100,000. That means that we can double every dollar you provide, multiplying your gift and reaching more children and families who so desperately need our help.

Did you know that hunger and malnutrition kill more people than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined? As food prices soar, billions of people around the world are more vulnerable to malnutrition and severe food insecurity. Malnutrition often puts children at risk for malaria, diarrhea and respiratory infections – creating a vicious cycle. We see the impact of this emergency at our feeding sites and clinics everyday. By making a donation, you provide a lifeline for children and families who desperately need our help.

Click here to help

Contacts

For Press Inquiries

Stephanie Bowen
Communications Manager
International Medical Corps
1919 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 400
Santa Monica, CA 90404
310-826-7800
sbowen@imcworldwide.org

Ilori Olalekan

Parenting Parents

2008-08-22T10:51:00.000-07:00

Dear Carolyn,

My mom's been living alone since my dad died. I'm starting to worry about her. She forgets things and yesterday she forgot to lock the front door. I don't think she's eating some meals, either. Should I put her in a home or is there something else to try?
Signed: Parenting my own Parent

Dear Parenting my own Parent

Having to take care of your own parent is a scary thing. It's especially scary if your mom has been there for you for so many years and now she isn't.

There are a lot of things to consider before a nursing home. A recent study found that living with a partner reduces the risk of Alzheimer's and other dementia diseases by 50%! Widows and widowers who continued to live alone ran the greatest risk; they were six times more apt to show signs of Alzheimer's.

You didn't say how long it's been since your dad died. Has she grieved his loss? Is she ready to move on? If not, you could talk to her about finding a grieving group for her to join. Everybody needs to grieve losses if they want to move on.

If she's grieved, is she ready to find someone to share the rest of her life with? Maybe share the study about how it could reduce her risk of Alzheimer's with her. (See link below).

Maybe she's not ready to go that far, at least not yet. Encourage her to meet people her age, maybe through a religious, social or educational group. If she lives nearby, you could even invite three or four people her age to dinner or to play cards. Do family live near her that could help with this? Get them involved, too.

Here are some other things to consider: Encourage your mom to

* obtain counseling for unresolved grief or trauma
* attend social functions
* engage in intellectually stimulating activities such as doing crossword puzzles, reading, learning a language or other new information

For more about the study, click on:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080731073549.htm
Try some of these ideas and let me know how it goes…

by

Carolyn Chambers Clark

Family Meetings 101

2008-08-06T10:57:00.000-07:00

Family meetings provide opportunities for feelings to be aired and validated. They also allow younger children to feel they are an important part of the decision-making process when it comes to family vacations and other major and minor family functions.

Before the first meeting commences, set a few ground rules such as: Speak in a calm tone. Avoid name-calling, finger-pointing, and sarcasm. Turn off the TV, radio and telephones. Allow each person to voice his or her concerns and ideas. Listen to all opinions before making a decision. If a person voices a complaint, they must also bring to the table at least one possible remedy to the situation.

Locations for future family meetings may also be brainstormed at the first meeting. Here are a few examples: Circle Time Very simply, sit on the floor together, in a circle. Designate an object as a "talking token". This can be a small stuffed animal, a necklace to be worn, a hat, or any other item that will be passed around. Whoever holds the talking token may speak.
Once they are finished, they must pass the token to the next person. Restaurant Rendezvous Take turns choosing a favorite restaurant to host your family meetings.

For this option, choose an afternoon or evening in the middle of the week, or at off-peak times, to avoid heavy crowds. End the meeting before dessert arrives, so everyone can indulge their sweet tooth happily.

Hobby Haven I know of several families who hold their meetings at places that cater to their favorite hobbies. For instance, one family conducts their meeting at a bowling alley. Once the meeting is over, they enjoy bowling together. Another family combines their gathering with their love of books, by meeting at a caf頩n their favorite bookstore.

And yet another family I know holds their weekly meeting after a joyful round of put-put golf. This option combines family communication and fun. However, and wherever, your family decides to host the meetings, remember this all-important point: Always end each meeting with a hug!

Thanks Article From : Deborah Shelton
Deborah Shelton edits The Five Minute Parent email newsletter.
For your free subscription,
send a blank email to mailto:Five_Minute_Parent-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or
visit http://www.fiveminuteparent.com www.fiveminuteparent.com deborah@fiveminuteparent.com

the FRESHAIR fund

2008-07-23T02:09:00.000-07:00

.co serving children since 1877

Remember your summer vacations? Doesn’t every kid deserve that kind of fun?

We have over 200 children scheduled for Fresh Air trips this summer and need your help to host or find hosts!

The Fresh Air Fund has provided free summer vacations to New York City children from disadvantaged communities since 1877. This is your summer to help!

The end of July is growing closer and we still have 200 children who need to be placed with host families for this August

Unless all prospective host families are screened and vetted by the end of July these 200 children may miss out on an invaluable experience

Please host a child or help us get the word out that we need folks who can welcome a child from the city into their homes next month

One last thing that is actually very important. We are looking for families who want to extend an invitation to a 9-12 year old. We really need more families who want older children and boys

Please Email Angie, mailto:angie@freshair.org hair.org, immediately and she'll speed you through the process!
Or, you can call us at 1-800-367-0003 (212.897.8900) -- ask for Angie

If you want to help but don't live in these areas - BLOG about this program, tell your friends, recommend someone, or DONATE

There are trip dates set for August 2008 for over 200 children and we need host families to volunteer to host these inner-city children. The dates and locations are as follows:

8/11-8/21
New Jersey: Warren County, Bergen County, Union County, Somerset County, Morris County, Hunterdon County
8/11-8/22
Pennsylvania: Lancaster, Akron, Christiana, Denver, Donegal, East Earl, Elverson, Lititz, Manheim, New Holland, QuarryvilleNew York: St. Massena, Ogdensburg, Potsdam
8/12-8/22
Harrisburg, Pa
8/15-8/22
Central Massachusetts: Acton, Hopkinton, Lexington, Marlboro, Wayland
8/15-8/25
New YorkWestern Fingerlakes: Canandaigua, Canal Towns, DansvilleCentral New York: Fulton, Marcellus and OswegoMassachusetts:Cape CodPennsylvania:Doylestown, Upper Bucks, Lower Bucks, Chalfont
8/25-9/1
New York:Columbia CountyRed Hook/Rhinebeck (Dutchess County)Albany County

News Facts
THE FRESH AIR FUND, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877.Nearly 10,000 New York City children enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually. In 2007, close to 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. 3,000 children also attended five Fresh Air camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York. The Fund’s year-round camping program serves an additional 2,000 young people each year.

Fresh Air Children
Children are selected to participate in The Fresh Air Fund Friendly Town program based on financial need. Children are from low-income communities. Fresh Air youngsters are registered by more than 90 social service and community organizations in all five boroughs of New York City.
Fresh Air Fund Friendly Town Program
Fresh Air children, boys and girls from six to 18 years old, visit over 300 Fresh Air Friendly Towns in the summer. Fresh Air children on first-time visits to Friendly Town host families are six to 12 years old and stay for 7-14 days. Most families have such a great summer with their Fresh Air child that 65% invite the child back the following summer.
Friendly Town Host FamiliesFresh

Air Fund volunteer host families open their homes to inner-city children for two weeks or more in the summertime. Each Friendly Town community is supported by an experienced local volunteer.
There are no financial requirements for hosting a Fresh Air child. Most hosts simply want to share their homes with inner-city youngsters. Host families are not paid. The Fund has a program for placing children who have special physical or emotional needs.
Fresh Air Fund Camping Program

3,000 New York City youngsters, ages eight to 15, attend five Fresh Air camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York. Camp Hidden Valley is for boys and girls with and without special needs, eight to 12 years old; Camp Tommy is for 12- to 15-year-old boys; Camp Anita Bliss Coler is for girls, nine to 12-years old; Camp Hayden-Marks Memorial is for nine- to 12-year-old boys, and Camp Mariah is a coed camp for 12- to 14- year-old career campers.
Additionally, 2,000 young people participate in year-round weekend camping experiences. Special features shared by all camps include a planetarium, model farm, wilderness trail and ropes course. Camp Tommy is named in honor of Board member/designer Tommy Hilfiger for his dedication and support of Fresh Air children.
Career Awareness Program
The Fresh Air Fund’s innovative Career Awareness Program is designed to help New York City youngsters understand the relationship between school and work and how to make choices that will determine their futures. In New York City, 12- to 14-year-olds participate in job shadowings that offer close-up views of business and a career fair.
The year-round program includes weekend camping trips and an intensive three-and-a-half week summer session at the Career Awareness Camp – Camp Mariah. The career camp is named in honor of Board member/singer Mariah Carey for her dedication, support and commitment to Fresh Air youngsters. Career awareness graduates continue to receive support through the PreOccupations Club and benefit from the guidance of volunteer mentors.
About Fresh Air Fund

In 1877, the Reverend Willard Parsons, minister of a small rural parish in Sherman, Pennsylvania, asked members of his congregation to provide country vacations as volunteer host families for children from New York City tenements. This was the beginning of The Fresh Air Fund tradition.
By 1884, Reverend Parsons was writing about The Fund for New York’s Herald Tribune, and the number of children served grew. In 2007, close to 10,000 New York City children experienced the joys of summertime in Friendly Towns and at five Fund camps in upstate New York.

Donate

Every year, The Fresh Air Fund gives thousands of inner-city children the priceless gift of fun – and opens the door to a lifetime of opportunities. Whether it’s a two-week trip to the country to visit a volunteer host family, or a fun-filled and educational stay at one of our camps, our programs make for unforgettable memories – and open a world of new friendships and fresh possibilities. We are a not-for-profit agency and depend on tax-deductible donations from people like you to keep our vital programs flourishing.

Donate online now Join Our Monthly Giving Program For a few dollars a day, you can have a tremendous impact on the life of an inner-city child. Sign up to be a monthly donor today – easy, convenient, automated and life-changing.

Sign Up Now Printable Donation Form If you'd like to fax or mail in your donation, please print out a form and follow the directions below.You can fax a completed form (with your credit card information) to (212) 681-0146 or mail one (with your check, money order or credit card information) to:
The Fresh Air Fund633 Third Avenue, 14th FloorNew York, NY 10017Make checks payable in US dollars to: The Fresh Air Fund.

Open a Printable Form Donate by Phone To make a donation by telephone, call us at (800) 367-0003. Please ask to speak with the Development Department.

Press Contacts

Sara Wilson, Outreach Coordinator

sara@freshair.org

Jenny Morgenthau, Executive Director(212) 897-8898

Kate Brinkerhoff, Public Relations Director(212) 897-8890

Andrea Kotuk, Andrea & Associates(212) 353-9585

Tour De Fitness by o2MAX

2008-07-17T07:25:00.000-07:00

The event even too BIG for Lance...
Tour De Fitness
powered by
O2 MAXJuly 20, 200810-6

O2 MAX PRESENTS THE BIGGEST EVENT OF THE SUMMER: TOUR DE FITNESS

A tour too big even for Lance Armstrong but Kate Hudson's personal trainer, Ashley Conrad will be attending (and maybe Lance will show up).

O2 MAX will be conducting the Tour de Fitness as it innovative guerilla marketing campaign on July 20th, 2008. With an obesity epidemic spreading nationwide, it is imperative that adults, teens, and children learn the importance of fitness, exercise, and nutrition.

This event is going to be "BIGGER than BIG", gathering an army of O2 MAX teens clad in American Apparel t-shirts that look like a concrete gym floor, orange bandanas and slathered in sun-block. Professionals, tourists, and families will witness a herd of fit, health-conscious young guys and girls on a mission. They will start the day @ The O2 MAX studio and head to he famous Santa Monica Stairs for a workout, trek over to Starbucks for some green-iced tea.

They will then walk up Montana Ave., walk down Wilshire Blvd as they head to Top to Top doing pushups, lunges & running drills along the way such as fartleks & sprints along the way. Then the tour proceeds to Whole Foods to refuel with a Larabar and an electrolyte beverage and walk the perimeter of the store aisles, highlighting healthy and natural foods. They will presume by heading to the 3rd Street Promenade and Main St. for lunch & a workout demo in front of American Apparel.Workouts will be led Karen Jashinsky, Shirley Brown AND some of Hollywood's top trainers and other top fitness instructors.

In addition to Ashley Conrad we will be joined by Michael George who has trained Reese Witherspoon, Julianne Moore, Meg Ryan and Christian Slater and Gina Lombardi who trains Andy Garcia, Val Kilmer, Kirstie Alley & Beck to name a few. Amy Dixon, Columnist for Health Magazine& Group Exercise manager @ Equinox Fitness will be joining as well.This event was largely produced by business students interning from Washington University, George Washington, Berkeley & USC. High School students participating are from Santa Monica High School, Venice High, Palisades Charter High School, Hamilton Music Academy, Ocean Charter, Lincoln & Franklin Middle Schools, Harvard Westlake & several others.Join us along the way & get some free stuff such as guest passes to Equinox Fitness & O2 MAX, t-shirts. Bring your dogs too-we will have healthy treats for them provided by Dogswell. Check our website for the agenda or call 310 867 1650 to find out where we are.

All Parents, friends of O2 MAX & FOKr's (Friends of Karen) are invited. We would love the support to take pictures and keep everyone hydrated. O2 MAX is a teen fitness 'HUB' that includes private trainers, yoga, pilates, dance, group workouts & classes, a lounge, snacks, wireless internet, and tutoring.

With its opening just this past March, O2 MAX is new, fresh, young, and on the run!

For any questions, please contact

Karen Jashinsky.Karen Jashinsky,

Founder/CEO(310) 867 1650
Karen@o2MAXfitness.com

Parenting: Tips For A Sunny Day Relaxation With Your Kids

2008-06-27T05:16:00.000-07:00

Hello all, todays post is just a tip for parents on activities that can be carried out when spending a good time with your children on a sunny day or when you go out for a picnic.

Build Your Own Stonehenge Activity

Age: 8 and up
Time: 1 to 2 hours

Materials needed:
Center stake for reference point.
50 feet of rope.
20 to 30 marker stones or small stakes.
A compass.

Here's a unique way to celebrate the solstice: Build your own Stonehenge. As you might know, Stonehenge is one of the oldest (4,000+ years) and best known astronomical calendar sites in the world. You can recreate it without going through the bother of lugging 25 to 50 ton slabs of rock around the neighborhood. All you'll need is a bit of ambition, and a location offering an unobstructed view of the eastern or western horizon. Locations offering a 360º horizon view are ideal (and rare).

What to do

The first thing you'll need to do is create a viewing circle. Anchor a reference stake at the center point of the circle and place your compass on top of it. Find due north and place a marker at 50 feet north of the center. Repeat the process for east, west and south. (The rope is used as a guide to insure that all markers are equidistant from the center stake.) Again, using the rope as a guide, place a small marker stone every few feet around the perimeter of your circle. The center of the circle now becomes your fixed reference point and the westward facing perimeter is where you'll be placing the sunset markers.
The calendar can be started at any time, but the solstice sunsets are the most fun. Mark the point of sunset with a pole, stake or other (not easily moved) marker. Tag the marker with the date of sunset.
Repeat the process every seven days or so. Over the weeks and months you'll note that the sun appears to "walk" faster at some times of the year than others. When you've finished (in a year's time) you'll have a working astronomical calendar and an excuse to invite friends and classmates over to the house to check the date.
Non-construction alternatives

Photo-op: Take a snapshot of the western skyline and tape it to the wall by a western facing window. With a felt tip marker draw an arrow on the photo corresponding to the point of sunset and note the date. Repeat the process.
Window marks: (This takes two people.) Standing at the same point in the room of a western facing window, have the other person make a small mark on the glass where the sun sets. Note the date and repeat the process on a weekly basis.

How it works

The principle behind an astronomical calendar is simple. The apparent rising and setting horizon point of the sun changes with each passing day. The different points correspond to different days of the year.
At minimum, an astronomical calendar only requires a fixed reference point for viewing and another fixed reference point marking the position of the rising and/or setting sun on the horizon.
In the Northern Hemisphere, if you were to watch a time-lapse movie of a year's worth of sunsets, you would notice that the sun appears to "walk" back and forth across the western horizon. The winter solstice marks the southern limit of the sun's journey and the summer solstice is the northern boundary. Closer examination would reveal that, with the exception of the two solstice extremes, every other point on the horizon is crossed twice during the course of the year. Once on the southern march and again on the northern return.
At the time of the winter and summer solstices, (around December 22 and June 22) the sun is directly overhead at either the Tropic of Cancer (summer) or the Tropic of Capricorn (winter). In the Northern Hemisphere these dates mark the beginnings of summer and winter and the days of the longest and shortest hours of daylight.

Make Your 2008 summer a memorable one.

Watch out for more activities to be suggested on this blog.

Ilori Olalekan

Dealing With Life Crises

2008-05-13T03:34:00.000-07:00

Hello readers,I'm very sorry for the long silence that has been characterising this blog for sometime. I promise you it'll all be over soon.

Life crises are unavoidable experiences which everyone of us must pass through. It is not to be bargained.
These experiences though differing from one person to another is at the same time very similar in nature. This is why sharing ones experiences with another is of great help during these critical times, cause it infuses the courage and strength to bear the crises.

Based on this truth mentioned above, I will like to introduce a book written by Jerry White, co-founder of Survivor Corps;"I will Not Be Broken Five Steps to Overcoming a Life Crisis". This book is aimed at helping us overcome life crises. For a review of this book please go through this link; http://iwillnotbebroken.org/

Because I personally believe in "try before you buy" I want to share the full Introduction and First Chapter with all my readers as a PDF digital download -- http://iwillnotbebroken.smnr.us/#download -- in fact, you can check out Chapter 2 as well -- be my guest! http://iwillnotbebroken.smnr.us/pdf/IWillNotBeBroken-Ch2.pdf -- and if you would like a proper copy of the book for your review, just pop me your address and I will have a copy delivered to you!

As I mentioned before, If you're interested in blogging about the book or my organization, I have collected everything you need into a couple news releases, one for "I Will Not Be Broken," http://iwillnotbebroken.smnr.us and one for Survivor Corps, http://survivorcorps.smnr.us

Ilori Olalekan
parentingcares@yahoo.com
mykeilori@yahoo.com

Avoid Killer Parenting

2008-03-25T06:56:00.000-07:00

Parenting is the source of food and sustenance of a child's emotional development. If you don't love your child-he/she will die!

What happens today between parent and child matters tomorrow and twenty years from now. Loving your child,setting your heart to the sacrificial,energy-consuming,life draining task of loving him/her. This is not just giving him hugs,forgiving her "babyness",being patient and so on,you are actually providing,through this actions,the life and food for the future years.These are ingredients that would form his emotional health.

The Parent is the most important:
As with many parents attitude is the major problem. Healthy children begin with healthy parents.Any approach to family that starts by focusing on the child is putting the cart before the horse. Also , families an only be as healthy as the parents are. The family system will be only as healthy as parents who leads it,even though individual members of family may be healthier than the parents.
Our focus should be on our health as parents rather than Child management.

Don't Kill That Child!!!

Changing Your Parenting Lifestyle in 2008!! -Welcome

2008-02-11T07:47:00.000-08:00

Hello all!!!

This post is just to welcome y'all to a new year as this is going to be my first post this year. I'm sorry this is rather coming late but at same time not too late--2nd month of the year.

Over the next few weeks i'll be dealing with Things and Areas we need to take special note of in our parenting lifestyles, particularly our personalities.

I'm just making this post to whet our appetite for the articles to come soon. I promise you that it will be quite revealing.

Stay connected!!!!!

The Top 10 Tips for Communicating with Children

2007-12-29T09:45:00.000-08:00

Most people have more training before they receive their driver’s license than before they become a parent. Educating yourself on how to communicate effectively with your child can be the key to achieving your parenting goals. If you do not have children of your own, these 10 tips can help you whenever you are around children.

Draw children out to speak about the things on their minds.

You can ‘prime the pump’ by talking with them about their favorite foods, toys, movies, video games, etc.

Verbally reflect the emotions of a child before giving in to your need to teach them something.

Parents are constantly making the error of educating their child when their child expresses pain. “I hate my nose” is often responded to with, “you have a perfectly good nose” and the child is left to feel all alone with what could become an enormous problem for them in years to come.

Teach your child to wait instead of interrupting your conversations.

One technique is to teach your children to lightly touch your arm and to wait peacefully and quietly to be acknowledged by you. Children who interrupt miss a chance to learn to control their impulses and can upset the flow of an

adult’s conversation.

Play little games whenever you see children.

For example, you could put something such as a coin in a hand behind your back and ask the child to guess which hand it is in. This is a way to build a strong connection with a child and make a child feel honored.

Lower yourself physically to a child’s level by sitting down, bending down, or sitting on the floor.

It may have been months since any adult has joined the child on their own level.

Hold and play with a child’s toys or trinkets.

Play is the language of a child. If you stop for even thirty seconds to draw a picture alongside of a child who is coloring, you could become one of their heroes.

Tell short stories to children.

Make the stories up or pull them from your own childhood. Stories can be used to build a connection, to teach a lesson, or just to leave a child feeling better than when the conversation began.

Follow up on the promises that you make to children with action.

Children are usually more hurt than adults by broken promises. Ironically, many people treat their promises to children as less important than their promises to adults.

Sacrifice some of your time to interact with children and to focus on them 100%.

Most adults do not interact with children who are present because the children are not able to meet their needs the way that an adult can. Five minutes invested in the life of a child will pay dividends that an hour invested in the life of an adult may not.

Master the art of Socratic questioning.

This means that instead of expressing facts or lecturing that you ask a question to stimulate the child’s own reasoning process. Socratic questioning opens up a place in a person’s mind for the answer to be remembered. For example, you could ask, “How do you think we could take better care of the puppy?” instead of telling your child what to do.

About The Author

This piece was written by Dr. Clare Albright, Psychologist and Parenting Coach, and author of “100 Tips for Parents of Two Year Olds”

Living With Children

2007-12-29T09:31:00.000-08:00

If in a fifty-employee workplace, several employees are misbehaving, one can reasonably assume that the problem lies with the employees. On the other hand, if half of the employees are misbehaving, the only conclusion to draw is that the problem lies with management.

I travel the USA eight months a year talking to a variety of parent, teacher, and professional groups. I probably talk face-to face with more parents about parenting issues than anyone else in my somewhat peculiar profession. From all that I gather, it is most likely conservative to venture that half of America's children are misbehaving in significant ways and frequently so. Today's children are also doing things that would have been unimaginable to parents who accomplished most of their child rearing before the psychological parenting revolution of the 1960s. Case in point: the "hidden" epidemic of children above age 3 who are hitting their parents (especially their mothers) on a regular basis. It's time for American parents to face up to the fact that the problem does not lie within their children in the form of unusually strong wills or genes and biochemical imbalances but rather with management. The evidence supports no other conclusion.

Whether in the workplace or the home, if the problem lies with management, then the issue is leadership, or a serious dysf unction therein. Since the principles of effective leadership do not change from situation to situation, the question becomes: Are today's parents acting in ways consistent with established leadership principles? That's the question I've been posing to my parent audiences of late. I will ask an audience, "Do effective leaders talk a lot?" The answer is a resounding no. Then, "Do today's parents tend to talk a lot?" to which I obtain a resounding yes.

"Do effective leaders explain themselves a lot?" No. "Do today's parents explain themselves a lot?" Yes. I then point out that politicians, who do not generally make good leaders, talk and explain themselves a lot in an attempt to persuade and garner approval. Leaders just tell it like it is. Obviously, this is a generation of politician-parents.

"Do effective leaders become highly involved with the people they are charged with leading? Do they enter into intimate relationships with them?" No. Effective leaders understand that there must be a boundary between themselves and the people they lead. That boundary distinguishes them. It causes the led to look up, respect, admire. "Are today's parents highly involved and often found in intimate relationships with their kids?" Yes. The fact is that in most American families, the parent-child relationship is more active than the husband-wife relationship. As is often heard here in the South, "That jus' ain't raat." In all fairness, one cannot blame parents for the fact that there is no boundary between themselves and their kids. After all, the eradication of a parent-child boundary is exactly what most of the pundits have encouraged. Today's parents are even encouraged to believe that the marital bed should not be a boundary. (Please don't misunderstand me on this point. The parent-child boundary should be permeable, and moreso when a child is very young, but the boundary's permeability should always be controlled by the parent.)

"Do leaders say exactly what they mean and mean exactly what they say?" Yes. "Is this generally true of today's parents?" No. (At this point, I feel the need to reiterate that the people answering these questions are parents.)

I ask, "Are leaders always found at the center of attention in any organization?" Yes. "Who is at the center of attention in today's typical family?" Children. FACT: You cannot lead from anyplace other than the center. FACT: You cannot effectively lead someone who is at the center of your attention. FACT: A child will not pay sufficient attention to a parent who believes that good parenting is about paying as much attention as possible to the child. FACT: Today's parents have been led to believe exactly that.

The bad news is that homebased leadership deficiency disorder (LDD) is ubiquitous. The good news is that parents who are willing to emerge from denial and accept that whatever problems they are having with their kids are problems they have created are well on the way to solving those problems. Family psychologist John Rosemond answers parents' questions on his website at www.rosemond.com.

John K. Rosemond
www.sheridancountyjournalstar.com

Five Things Every Parent Should Beware of

2007-12-17T08:08:00.000-08:00

Every parents encounter certain challenges in parenthood,some or many of which result from not taking note of some key issues that has the capacity to hinder successful parenting. The following five points have been identified as having the ability to cause persistent headache in parenting.

Depression:
Depression primarily refers to a state of mind that is purely negative, with an inclination to insufficiency and a hopeless lack of interest to do things.Coping with depression is possible without professional help if one knows depression management.

Getting Organized:
Parenting is a responsibility that is different from every other kind of duty or job. There will be a lot of changes and challenges, and getting organized is a priority that can not be substituted for any other.

Procrastination:
Procrastination is the biggest reason for loss of productivity and late output. Though many would not admit it, they would benefit greatly if they start their work on time.

Stress:
Anything taken too much is bad for the health. A little stress is actually good, as it could serve to help you function at your best. However, stress that seems a little too much could take a physical, as well as mental, toll to your body. Stress should be managed in order for depression or anxiety to be prevented.

Time Management:
Time management is about getting results, not about being busy.Having a balanced life-style should be the key result in having personal time management. Time management is basically about being focused. The Pareto Principle also known as the '80:20 Rule' states that 80% of efforts that are not time managed or unfocused generates only 20% of the desired output. However, 80% of the desired output can be generated using only 20% of a well time managed effort. Although the ratio '80:20' is only arbitrary, it is used to put emphasis on how much is lost or how much can be gained with time management.

Ilori Olalekan

Six Challenges of Parenting

2007-12-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

Ever thought of parenting as a pleasure? Or have you ever thought of it as a hell of experience that a to-be father and mother must pass through? Though this might have been found as true, facing these challenges can be aided with someone been able to identify them ahead of time.

A parent that has been able to identify these challenges often go through parenting with much pleasure than pain as compared with parents that have no idea of any challenge that may come with parenting. Some of these parenting challenges come spontaneously while some can be foreseen and forestalled. While some of these Challenges come as a result of negligence and ignorance on part of both parents and grand parents many of these parenting challenges are unavoidable and unforeseeable.

The following challenge consists of both the ones that can be avoided or prepared for and the ones that may be sudden.

1. The Challenge of Pregnancy stress demands. Most parents(male) do not get themselves educated on the psychological and physical changes that the woman will go through during pregnancy. Such includes Swollen parts of the body, unusual demand for food, restlessness,...e.t.c. These challenge can be foreseen and prepared for by reading up books on parenting/pregnancy or joining parenting website membership sites

2. The challenge of delivery/labour pains. Many intending parents are ignorant of the pains, stress and troubles that often accompany delivery. Labour/Delivery lessons should be taken from a good counselor. Options of Cesarean section can be sought if need be. The parent(male) should get familiar with the demands of a woman in labour .

3.The challenge of Baby's feeding habit. These challenge can not be forseen,and may not be predictable. However some parents do have the challenge of the baby not feeding properly. The help of a medical practitioner will be needed if case arises.

4. The challenge of Poor Growth. These challenge also fall into the categories of those that can not be predicted. Whether a baby will grow fast or not cannot be determined before the baby is born or while the parents are growing up. However in cases where this occurs help can be sought from medical practitioners or advice sought from parents who have had similar experiences. Belonging to parenting membership sites can provide one with opportunity of meeting such parents.

5. The challenge of Low intelligent Quotient. These is another challenge that can't be predicted. the level of intelligence of the parent's baby in question,though can be influenced but can not be ultimately determined by the parents preparation. Several things can be done before birth to affect the baby's level of intelligence like, nutrition, mind exercise, exposing the pregnant parent(mother) to certain audio or video resources, e.t.c. However unpredictable this challenge might be, there are certain helps that can be done after the baby is born. Increasing the child genius by subscribing for services offered professionals can help along way in doing this.

6. The challenge of Baby-sitting. Babysitting has turned out to be a challenge faced by parents, especially first timer parents(parents just having their first baby). However this challenge can be foreseen and avoided by employing the services of a baby sitter or nanny. Parents also can get themselves familiar with this exercise before their baby arrives.

These is the final challenge that will be mentioned in this write up. Further challenges and solutions can be discovered with solutions also known by sharing experiences with other parents.

Ilori olalekan

Seven things every parent should know

2007-11-06T09:11:00.000-08:00

Seven things every parent should know

What do you know about your teenager? Teens world sometimes get very complex and difficult to understand.Several changes occurs in children as they grow from been kids into teens and what we know about our children often determine how well our relationship goes with them. Amongst the so many things we need to know a few of them are essential in helping us getting out of their faces into their hearts. The following seven points are just few among the several important things we need to know about our children and especially teenagers.

1. Know what kind of parent you want to be. This has been referred to as
parental reflection, it reveals why or what are the driving forces of your
behaviour as a parent. Fear, failure and disappointments can be great obstacles to genuine parental reflection.
Parents who don’t reflect often experience no growth or improvement in their
relationship with their children, responses to their children based on their
parental needs, emotional distance from these kids.

2. Know how your teenager perceives the world around them. To succeed in
doing this, parents must understand changes their kids and teens are going
through. These changes in them also changes what the world around them
expects from them.

3. Know changes expected from your teens by world around them as they grow. Changes in appearance, thought pattern, and relationships with others around
them.

4. Know the changes your teens see in the world own around. These includes
changes in their understanding of what is called reality, changes in how things
can turn out to be or what life may bring their way and how they can survive
them.

5. Know how changes in world around affect children. These changes around
often affect their self confidence, steadiness and feeling of been secured.

6. Know that there are certain unseen forces that move teens into action.
Teen's action though highly unfathomable are influenced by certain guiding
principles, fundamental beliefs, and past experiences.

7. Know that changes that are emotional, intellectual, physical and spiritual in
children may cause a gradual separation & distance between children and
parents. Though these changes appear to be natural they are alarming to parents.

Ilori Olalekan

Short Tips for keeping Your teens and kids out of trouble

2007-10-29T04:12:00.000-07:00

Having a good relationship with their parents is one of the most important factors in keeping teens out of trouble.

With teenagers it is important to listen and be flexible. Find out what the kids would like to do and eat and plan accordingly. While even teenagers need boundaries, it is important for parents to try to avoid needless confrontation. Explain why you make the decisions you do and show them positive attention.

Sometimes it works well for a teenager to take a special friend along on family holidays. While this might increase the parents' load, the teen is likely to really appreciate it. Also, sometimes it works well for kids to go on holidays with their grandparents instead of their parents. Sometimes there is a special relationship here that can help kids open up and communicate about their concerns.

If teens are uncooperative or behave improperly, try to deal with the problem in private. Teens are very aware of embarrassmant and it is needlessly mean to exploit this sensitivity.

Ilori Olalekan

http://hop.clickbank.net/?myke4click/rehuxley
http://myke4click.mpgy54g1h9.hop.clickbank.net/
http://myke4click.h0meschool.hop.clickbank.net/
http://myke4click.college.hop.clickbank.net/
http://myke4click.qandrews02.hop.clickbank.net/

Dealing With Stress

2007-10-29T02:43:00.000-07:00

Parenting is often accompanied with stress. It comes in various proportions with the different stages a parent pass through while parenting, then, why bother about stress?

Anything taken too much is bad for the health. A little stress is actually good, as it could serve to help you function at your best. However, stress that seems a little too much could take a physical, as well as mental, toll to your body. Stress should be managed in order for depression or anxiety to be prevented.

So how should you do it then? The following are tips and advice to help manage stress.

Write it out, schedule it out.

It is best to write down everything that seems to be overwhelming. You will find a things-to-do-list much easier to manage than having errands all crumpled up in your head. Writing down the tasks, and putting a specific schedule and time to do them, helps anyone manage activities one chunk at a time. Crossing out an activity that has already been accomplished is very rewarding and could actually help you feel more relaxed when doing the other tasks at hand.

One at a time works.

Focus and put all your attention specifically on one task at one time. It does not help to feel panicky about the other undone or to-do tasks. Thinking about them only adds unnecessary stress and could even hamper in doing the task you are attempting to accomplish at present.

Relax and take it slow.

At least, try not to expend too much energy on activities that are currently not priorities. This is in order for your energy to be not easily expended on the tasks that are not that important, at least for now.

Delegate, delegate, delegate.

You need not do everything all at once, and you need not do everything on your own. Ask for help, get help, or pay for help. When there is a feeling of being overwhelmed that is cropping up, hire someone to mow the lawn or get a sitter for your children. The feeling of being pressed to finish something on time will somehow be eliminated if tasks are delegated. It takes a load off unnecessary worry and anxiety. Moreover, it is easier checking up on how things are, than worrying yourself sick doing everything on your own, all at once.

Give yourself a reward.

You deserve it. Acknowledging your accomplishments, no matter how big or small, is an effort that is necessary before getting on to the next tasks and activities. It reduces stress and could even make you happier in doing the next task.

Give yourself a break.

You need it to be more productive. A ten to fifteen minute break during your work is necessary. Go visit a café nearby, take a quick brisk walk, or do anything to put your mind off work, at least for a while. This is necessary to refresh and recharge. Believe it or not, you can also stay in your work and sit with your eyes closed as you visualize a peaceful landscape or a relaxing scene. This frees the stress from your muscles and your mind.

Relax and be cool. Doing so makes you healthier, happier, and a lot more productive

Ilori Olalekan

Parenting: Obesity In Children

2007-10-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

Obesity, generally defined in children having a body mass at or above 85th percentile for age and sex, has been reported as the chief nutritional problem in the United States among all age groups. Obesity occurs when people consume more calories than they expend as energy, and the excess calories are stored as fat.
This imbalance in nutrition is a reflection of an interplay of cultural, physical and psychological factors. Individual eating habits which often follow patterns set in a particular household/home, this also is affected by standards set by the culture at large. (Leibel,1997;A Stunkard et al 1990).

Certain parents may have underfed their babies because of a belief that overfeeding infants is likely to lead to obesity in later life.
Two factors that have appeared to strongly influence the chances that in obese child will grow up to been obese adults are; The age of the child and whether or not the parents of the child are obese. Obesity at age 6 was found to have no relationship with obesity at age 16, after age 6 obese children were increasingly likely to become obese adults(Roche, 1987).

Studies in the state of Washington shows that obese children under age 3 who did not have an obese parent were unlikely to grow up to be obese, but among children above that age, obesity in childhood was an increasingly important predictor of adult obesity. Having an obese parent more than doubled the risk that a child under age 10 would be obese in adulthood, whether or not the child was currently obese(Whitaker, Wright, Pepe, Siedel & Dietz,1997).

Even though there is no evidence that obesity hurt babies, 1 or 2 year olds who has an obese parent should be a candidate for prevention efforts. Factors such as rich diet & poor exercising may be considered.
However the Ideal time to treat obesity in children is between 3 and 9 years of age, when its more likely that the condition if left untreated will persist and when parents still have a strong influence on child diet and activities. (Whitaker,et al,1997).

The best thing a parent can do for now to avoid obesity in themselves and in their children is to adopt a more active lifestyle for their entire family.

For help and guidance on Checking Obesity and Nutritional flaws in your family/home visit: www.o2maxfitness.com

Ilori Olalekan
mykeilori@yahoo.com
http://hop.clickbank.net/?myke4click/rehuxley
http://myke4click.mpgy54g1h9.hop.clickbank.net/
http://myke4click.h0meschool.hop.clickbank.net/
http://myke4click.college.hop.clickbank.net/
http://myke4click.qandrews02.hop.clickbank.net/

NB: Prior to use of this article by anyone or for further inquiry endeavour to contact the author.

Parenting Your Teens: Dealing with Child Nutrition and Fitness

2007-09-26T12:51:00.000-07:00

Child Nutrition and fitness is an essential issue to take note of in child growth. A child's responsiveness and activeness is directly tied to his physical capacity. Size,weight and physical built are worthy of note factors that affect a childs development.

Take a quick look at below information.

ABOUT O2 MAX

O2 MAX does fitness training and nutrition counseling exclusively for teens. Next month they will open their first ‘fitness

hub’ at the Spectrum Club in Manhattan Beach, a pioneering break-thru at the adults-only facility. O2 MAX @ Spectrum

will be a “third space” destination for teens that combines fitness with key elements in their daily lives – music,

technology and social networking. In addition there will be a homework Lounge and onsite tutoring by The Princeton

Review. To learn more, visit the O2 MAX homepage at http://www.o2maxfitness.com.

ABOUT ASSEMBLIES IN MOTION

Assemblies In Motion is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to developing positive life skills and self-expression

in at-risk youth through writing and performance programs that enhance academics, self-confidence and tolerance for

diversity. To learn more visit the Assembles in Motion at http://www.hearteducation.org.

“O2 MAX and ASSEMBLIES IN MOTION PRESENT 2nd ANNUAL ENERGY ROCKS!”

Free music and fitness festival to inspire L.A. teens to get healthy and stomp out youth

obesity. Alyssa Milano serves as Honorary Chair.

NEWS FACTS

• The 2nd Annual ENERGY ROCKS! spectacular, presented by O2 MAX and Assemblies in Motion,

will kickoff in the Front Lawn of the Beverly Hills High School in Los Angeles, California at 12:00

PM on Sunday, September 30, 2007.

• Teen fitness experts, O2 MAX in conjunction with Assemblies in Motion, a non-profit program for at-risk youth,

founded ENERGY ROCKS! in an effort to combat teen obesity.

• ENERGY ROCKS! will feature live music, Hoop Masters Basketball, competitions, prizes, a 1-mile Run-to-Rock,

NIKE Trial Van (to demo Nike foot wear and iPod accessories) AYSO soccer clinics, Polar Heart Rate monitor

demos, The Princeton Review health-related trivia, obstacle course, Budokon, workouts, free nutrition and

skincare consultations, prizes and giveaways.

• Participating companies and sponsors include Nike, Neutrogena, Polar, FUZE beverages, Naked Juice, E!

Networks, LARABAR, Scratch DJ Academy, American Apparel and The Princeton Review.

• After a successful first run last year, O2 MAX and Assemblies in Motion have partnered together for a second

year to continue to spread their message of teen fitness and a healthy lifestyle in a light that is favorable to

teens.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Karen Jashinsky (Founder + CEO, O2 MAX) Pam Goldman (Media Contact)

310.927.7526 917.863.4092

kj@o2maxfitness.com

pam@o2fitnessmax.com

Ilori Olalekan

Parent Fatigue Syndrome - What it Looks Like and How to Overcome It

2007-09-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

“At work, you think of the children you have left at home. At home, you think of the work you've left unfinished. Such a struggle is unleashed within yourself. Your heart is rent.” – Golda Meir

On any given day of the week do you feel like you are in either a) battle zone, b) the twilight zone, c) the Crazy zone, or d) all the above?

Do you have so many things coming at you that you feel like a walking dart board?

Does your mind often feel scattered and asking “Is this what I signed up for?”

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then I’d take a guess you are a parent. Parenting can not only be time consuming, but exhausting physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It is what I call Parent Fatigue Syndrome. Even the most seasoned parents will experience PFS from time to time. The solution is recognizing its severity and knowing what to do about it.

Mild Parent Fatigue Syndrome

For most parents, the feelings of PFS will begin on Friday afternoon, usually the drive home from work. It has been a long week, you are feeling tired. You wish you had some time to yourself. There may be some family obligations you have to attend, but you are still looking forward to spending time with your children because you know the outcome will be relaxing and refreshing.

What to do: Have some “down time” with your family. Order pizza and rent a movie. Play some games. Chances are your family needs some down time also. Visit o2maxfitness hubs.

Moderate Parent Fatigue Syndrome

Parents experiencing moderate symptoms will have more intense feelings of frustration or even anxiety. Sometimes these feelings may start earlier in the week. After work you just want to go home, eat and have some alone time. You can still muster up some time to spend with your children, but it can feel like a chore. You may begin to find other reasons not to be at home: working late, spending more time on hobbies or holing up in your room watching TV.

What to do: Begin to carve out some alone time for yourself. Communicate to your spouse about your feelings. He/she may not even be aware that you are experiencing these feelings. Change your perspective: At lunch time, write down everything you like about each of your children. Then when you get home, tell them your feelings.

Severe Parent Fatigue Syndrome

Parents with severe symptoms of PFS will have been experiencing stronger emotions for a greater period of time. Their feelings of frustration have grown into resentment, depression or even apathy. They have lost their joy of spending time with their children. Or they may also say things they don’t mean at the expense of their children.

What to do: If you are experiencing these symptoms, then I encourage you to find a professional counsellor to talk to about these feelings. If left unchecked, it may have negative consequences to the relationship you have with your children and other family relationships.

Parent Fatigue Syndrome is common to every parent. Yet, the important thing is to respond to our feelings so that our parenting relationship remains intact, and is fun.

Are you looking for more common sense advice, practical solutions and even humor for parenting your teen? I invite you to check out http://www.parentingyourteenager.com where you will find tips for parenting teens, school, curfew, and more! For advice on how to help teens avoid the epidemic of obesity and ill-nutrition http://www.o2maxfitness.com

Terre Grable is a licensed professional counsellor. She enjoys helping parents and teens become better friends when they feel like enemies.

Ilori Olalekan
http://hop.clickbank.net/?myke4click/rehuxley
http://hop.clickbank.net/?myke4click/rehuxley

The Powers of a Positive Attitude

2007-08-27T09:27:00.000-07:00

One of the keys to succeeding in parenting is having a positive attitude, a positive attitude is a key to having a good success in anything you do in life. I'm making this post on positive attitude to enlighten us on some truths we need to know about positive attitude.

I am going to ask you to something very weird right now. First of all, I want you to listen to your thoughts. Now tell me, what thoughts fill your head? Would you label them as positive, or negative?

Now let's say you are walking down the street with these thoughts. Do you think anyone who would meet you would be able to tell you what’s on your mind?

The answer to number one is up to you. But, the answer number two can be pretty generic. Although people will not be able to tell you exactly what you think, they will more or less have an idea of how you are feeling.

Here's another question. When you enter a party filled with friends, do they all fall silent as if something terrible had happened? Or does everybody there perk up as if waiting for something exciting to happen?

You know what? The answer to all these depends on your frame of mind.

Thoughts are very powerful. They affect your general attitude. The attitude you carry reflects on your appearance, too – unless, of course, you are a great actor.

And it doesn't end there. Your attitude can also affect people around you.

The type of attitude you carry depends on you. It can be either positive or negative.

Positive thoughts have a filling effect. They are admittedly invigorating. Plus, the people around the person carrying positive thoughts are usually energized by this type of attitude.

Negative thoughts on the other hand have a sapping effect on other people. Aside from making you look gloomy and sad, negative thoughts can turn a festive gathering into a funeral wake.

A positive attitude attracts people, while a negative attitude repels them. People tend to shy away from those who carry a negative attitude.

We can also define attitude as the way of looking at the world. If you choose to focus on the negative things in the world, more or less you have a negative attitude brewing up. However, if you choose to focus on the positive things, you are more likely carry a positive attitude.

You have much to gain from a very positive attitude. For one, studies have shown that a positive attitude promotes better health. Those with this kind of attitude also have more friends. projecting a positive attitude also helps one to handle stress and problems better than those who have a negative attitude.

A positive attitude begins with a healthy self-image. If you will love the way you are and are satisfied, confident, and self-assured, you also make others are around feel the same way.

A negative attitude, on the other hand, has, of course, an opposite effect. So, carrying a negative attitude has a twofold drawback. You feel bad about yourself, and you make others feel the same way.

If you want to have a positive attitude, you have to feature healthy thoughts. This is probably very hard to do nowadays since, all around us, the media feeds us nothing but negative thoughts. A study shows that for every 14 things a parent says to his or her child, only one is positive. This is truly a saddening thought.

If you want a healthier outlook in life, you need to think happy thoughts, and you have to hear positive things as well. So, what can you do? Well, for starters, you could see a funny movie, you could play with children, spend some time telling jokes with friends. All these activities fill you with positive stimuli, which in turn promotes positive attitude.

Although it is impossible to keep ourselves from the negative things around us, you can still carry a positive attitude by focusing on the good things, the positive things in life.

And this positive attitude you now carry can be of benefit to other people. Sometimes when other people feel down, the thing people mostly do is try to give them advice. But sometimes, all they need is somebody to sit by them, and listen to them. If you have a positive attitude you may be able to cheer them up without even having to say anything.

If positive attitude is really great, why do people choose to adopt a negative attitude instead? One who carries a negative attitude may be actually sending a signal for attention. Before you get me wrong, feeling sad, angry, or gloomy is not wrong itself. But dwelling on these thoughts for far too long is not healthy either. There is a time to mourn.

As always, if you are beset by troubles, even in your darkest hour, focus on the good things in life, you will always have hope. Problems become something you can overcome.

You do not have much to lose by adopting a healthy, positive attitude. Studies show that such an attitude actually retards aging, makes you healthier, helps you develop a better stress coping mechanism, and has a very positive effect on all the people you meet every day. So, what's not to like about a positive attitude? Adopt one today.

Ilori Olalekan

How to Bring Up Your Children Properly

2007-08-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

How to Bring Up Your Children Properly

Childhood years are the best times to learn. Somehow, a person’s comprehension is at its peak during childhood. Parents should take advantage of these learning years to ingrain the values of life in their children.

If you’re a parent, teach them positive habits so that they will know and see the beauty that life has to offer. Make them enthusiastic about life. Instill into their hearts and minds all the wonders and magnificence of being alive by living life to its fullest in a positive way.

There’s a startling difference between children learning through self-discovery, and children learning through self-discovery with proper guidance. The first things that children learn are usually the things that stay with them and mold formative years until they reach adulthood.

Let us suppose you let your children learn through self-discovery. To a certain extent, self-discovery is good since it develops full independence and self-reliance. However, the learning process might be slow. In a sense, it is like a trial and error experience for children. They have to segregate the good from the bad, the right from the wrong, what they like and what they don’t. It is most likely that what they will like are the ones that come easy to them or the ones that they enjoy the most. And the ones that they enjoy the most might not necessarily be the good ones. Without proper guidance, what they like and enjoy the most might actually be hurting them although they are not aware of it. Perhaps later, if they find out that they picked the wrong choices, it may be too late.

With self-discovery through proper guidance, you will be able to leave room for them to develop independence and self-reliance. At the same time, show them what is right and what is wrong. Explain to them why. If possible, cite instances or examples based on true-to-life events to make them more convincing and realistic. The more realistic they are, the more easily the children are convinced. Likewise, try teaching them in a friendly and humorous atmosphere. Children are more attentive and eager to learn when all (both teachers and students) are in an easy mood. You will know and feel their eagerness to learn through the sparkle in their eyes and by the way they answer your questions. You can be sure that what they learn from you is acceptable to them and will stay with them. That is why, as a parent, you must show enthusiasm in life to your children.

There’s a third method of making children learn. That is through proper guidance leaving negligible room for self-discovery. But there are drawbacks. You take away from them the benefits of self-reliance and independence. The guidance you devote to them may be good and well intended, but they must not rely on you on almost everything they do. They become decision-dependent on you. There are instances wherein this type of guidance might be worse than giving no guidance at all.

There are parents who underwent hardships during their childhood, strived, and became successful financially. Although they are financially in the position to guide and assist their children to a better life, they prefer that their children undergo the same difficult experience they underwent during their younger years. Their reason: so that their children will value and experience the same things they went through. This may be applicable to stubborn and rebellious youngsters, but not to disciplined ones. Why must their sons and daughters repeat the same difficulties? There’s no reason to. This is like punishing the innocent. Instead of repeating the experience, they should learn from it. Life is too short to repeat unsavory experiences.

One of the best ways to broaden your children’s knowledge about life is by traveling. The world - its varied people, places, and cultures - has a lot of information to offer. It is perhaps as important as the conventional classroom. If you are financially able, traveling is one of the best educational experiences you can give your children. Look for exhibits or world fairs, and take your children there. Books are the next best things. It’s traveling by reading.

Fill your children with thoughts of self-importance, confidence, and positive attitude so that there will be no room for negative thinking. More importantly, fill their world with laughter, love, and understanding. You‘ll never go wrong.

Ilori Olalekan

How To Survive Parenting A Teenager

2007-08-07T07:39:00.000-07:00

Aaah, Teenagers! What comedian Jeff Allen describes as God's revenge for humanity: "Let's see how you like it when something you created tells you you don't know anything!" As a counselor, I think the most trying phases of parenting that I have seen are the toddler years and the teen years. So similar in issues - only with bigger bodies. The control of potty training has been replaced by curfew. Instead of sharing their toys, they have to share the family car. Instead of talking kindly to others, they need to talk kindly to you! Here are some tips to keep in mind so you won’t lose yours:
1. You are not alone
Scores of parents of generations past have survived adolescence, and so will you. Perhaps you were the one that gave your parents their mass of gray hair, and shattered nerves. You can see they survived. Strike up a conversation with other parents of teens, and I am sure you will find a lot of common ground.
2. You are not crazy
The one thing that brings the most relief to the parents of teens is when I tell them they are not crazy for their feelings. The inconsistency of teenagers’ decisions, irrational behavior, and sometimes deception can make a parent feel crazy. “Adolescence” is when teens are trying to make “sense” of being an “adult.” The trial and error of it can be confusing for all involved.
3. It is a phase
Parents of teens can often feel like their lives will be, or have been, in chaos forever. This is not true. Just as the toddler years did not last forever, neither will the adolescent years. Even though it may not feel like it now, there have been times that you have already created positive memories your teen will cherish later as an adult. Keep up the good work!
4. Every day can be a do over
Having a challenging day with your teen today? Not quite communicating? Feeling the tug of war with power struggles? The great thing about this season of life is there are new opportunities to start again each day. Or you don’t have to wait until tomorrow; you can start again right now! It is amazing what the power of an apology can do!
5. Maintain a sense of humor
Above everything, maintain a sense of humor. Henry Ward Beecher said it best: A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs – jolted by every pebble in the road. Parenting teens can not only come with pebbles, but with boulders. A humorous perspective can mean the difference between sanity and senility.
6. Do everything to maintain your marital relationship
You love your children, but the first priority is your marriage. Find time to safeguard your relationship to maintain closeness with your spouse. The parenting years will soon be over, but your marriage will last a lifetime. As a counselor, I have seen many couples that feel like they do not know one another anymore because they have allowed parenting to invade upon their marital intimacy.
Whether you are a newbie or an experienced veteran, parenting teens can be challenging. Perspective can provide a sense of relief during the troubled times and perhaps prevent them from becoming overwhelming.
Are you looking for more common sense advice, practical solutions and even humor for parenting your teen? I invite you to check out http://www.parentingyourteenager.com where you will find tips for parenting teens, school, curfew, and more!
Terre Grable is a Christian licensed professional counselor. She enjoys helping parents and teens become better friends when they feel like enemies.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terre_Grable

Challeges in parenting

2007-08-02T10:43:00.001-07:00

Having reached here to find out about parenting cares and challenges.
lets start by visiting the links below

Ilori olalekan
http://myke4click.rehuxley.hop.clickbank.net/ http://myke4click.qandrews02.hop.clickbank.net/