10 Tips to help children sleep by Erin Wilkey

Poor sleep for kids may lead to obesity later in life A lack of sleep can contribute to behavior issues and even health problems such as obesity Many parents worry that media and technology interfere with bedtime routines and sleep Parents know firsthand the impact a poor night's sleep has on kids. Lack of sleep can contribute to crankiness, problems with attention and learning, behavior issues, and even health problems such as obesity. Though the reasons for poor sleep vary, many parents worry that media and technology interfere with bedtime routines and sleep.

Studies on how media use affects kids' sleep aren't conclusive. But they do highlight certain behaviors that are associated with poor sleep. We've put together a list of tips for ways your family might manage tech use to help your kids (and you!) sleep better. We hope you find something that works for you.

Encourage physical activity instead of screen time after school After a long day at school, many kids just want to plop down in front of a computer or TV and veg out. Although kids definitely deserve a break, studies show that increasing physical activity during the day can lead to better sleep.

Keep devices off the bed It's possible that the blue light emitted from laptops, tablets, and smartphones interrupts sleep patterns. Set up other comfy spots in the living room or on the bedroom floor for tweens and teens to do computer work or just enjoy their screen time.

Try white-noise apps to calm babies and toddlers With bedtimes for young kids starting as early as 6:30 or 7 p.m., you may find it hard to provide a quiet environment for sleeping babies. Apps such as White Noise or White Noise Baby can help soothe little ones to sleep while the rest of the family carries on with regular evening activities.

Limit young kids' exposure to violent content Especially for kids under 8, seeing violence in videos, on TV shows, in video games, and in movies can directly affect quality sleep. Exposure to media violence can increase kids' anxiety and lead to nightmares that interrupt the sleep cycle.

Keep TVs out of the bedroom The connection between bedroom TV and poor sleep is well established. Kids don't sleep as well or as long with a TV present. Make the bedroom a "no-connection" zone The growing trend of sleep-texting is a disturbing enough reason to play it safe. Confine online activity to common areas such as the dining room or living room and have kids charge their phones in another room at night. Minimize screen time right before bed Author says his book will put your child to sleep Author says his book will put your kid to sleep Try to establish the hour or so before bed as a screen-free time for kids to wind down. A calming routine such as a bath followed by quiet activities or reading will help young kids make the transition more easily. Getting teens to "unplug" before bed will help them disconnect from the excitement and drama happening online.

Introduce your kids to meditation or calming apps Meditation apps can be a quieting addition to kids' bedtime routines. Stop, Breathe & Think offers 15 guided meditations that encourage kids to take stock of their mental and emotional states.

Set up a phone/iPod charging station in the family room Some studies suggest that simply sleeping near small devices such as phones is associated with poorer sleep. With notifications and texts coming in at all hours, tweens' and teens' sleep will get fewer interruptions if they leave their phones in the living room or kitchen for the night.

Model healthy sleep habits No matter which ground rules and routines you put in place for your family, it will be a hard sell if you don't practice what you preach. Young kids emulate their parents, and tweens and teens will question your rules if you don't follow them yourself. http://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/02/health/get-kids-to-sleep/

Djeco Create Animals Stickers

Fantastic little gift to help develop the motor skills of a young child. Use the stickers to create imaginary animals. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B005W0P490

Olive and Chicken Sausage Pasta by DesignLoveFest

OLIVE AND CHICKEN SAUSAGE PASTA what’s easier to make for a last minute dinner then pasta? practically nothing. few things satisfy like a bowl of noodles and this dish is perfect for a cozy evening at home. add lots of garlic, or throw in a couple of sprigs of rosemary or thyme. have it however you like!

Ingredients: • 1 package spaghetti • 2 small shallots • 3 garlic cloves • 1 bushel of parsley • 3/4 cup olives • 3 tablespoons olive oil • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 2-4 chicken sausages • 1 lemon • basil for garnish

• In a medium sized pot fill with water and bring to a boil. Add the spaghetti with a dash of salt and cook until al dente. Strain pasta and reserve 1/2 cup of the water. In a large stainless steal pan heat the olive oil on medium to low heat. Chop the chicken sausage (we used the spicy chicken sausage from Trader Joes, very inexpensive and so delicious!). Cook the sausage according to the cooking directions on the package (Cooking directions vary depending on which one you choose).

• Dice the garlic and shallots and add to the pan and cook until browned. About 2-3 minutes stirring constantly. Add the pasta with the reserved water and begin to mix the ingredients with tongs. Next add the olive and chicken sausage pasta

• Finely chop the parsley and it to the pasta with the olives. Continue to mix until well combined. We also added the zest of 1 lemon and the juice of half of the lemon which helps balance out the flavors. Salt and pepper to taste. garnish with grated parmesan and chopped basil.

Djeco Collages Soft and Gentle - Art and Craft Gift for younger children

For children aged 3 to 6 this fun kit contains 4 large pre-printed images on cardboard,glue and pieces to stick on to make a collage attractive enough to make a wall display. Instruction booklet included with ideas. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00A6I3RQK

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Courgetti with Feta and Tomatoes by Sonya Cisco

I am a terrible ‘do as I say, not as I do’ -er. While nagging my children to eat healthily, and sending them off with lunchboxes representing all the food groups, I am often found eating biscuits for my lunch. It is laziness really, the effort to cook or make something proper when it is just me feels like too much. What I need is quick easy lunches, that are healthy and tasty but take very little work. When I popped in the supermarket for some milk on the way home from the school run yesterday, I spotted a pot of ready to cook Courgetti, and knowing I had feta and tomatoes in the fridge, I decided to make myself something yummy for lunch.

Ingredients Courgetti – I cheated and bought some ready done as I don’t have a spiralizer (though this was so yummy I might actually buy one now!) – but this pack was the equivalent of 2 medium courgettes, which probably would have fed two as a lunch if I wasn’t so greedy! Baby plum tomatoes, or any tomatoes – about a dozen bite sized pieces – halved in this case, but quarters of bigger tomatoes would work just as well. 75g of Feta, cubed. Olive Oil A clove of garlic, crushed or chopped. Lemon juice – I used half a fresh lemon, but a squirt from a plastic lemon would work if you don’t have fresh to hand. To serve: salad and fresh bread to mop up the delicious juices.

roasted tomatoes and feta Method Pop the chopped tomatoes into a baking tray, drizzle with oil and lightly season. Pop into a hot oven (220 degrees) for about ten minutes, until soft and bubbling. add the feta for the last minute or two of cooking time so it is warmed through. Meanwhile add a tablespoon of olive oil to a frying pan, then stir fry the courgetti with the garlic for 3-4 minutes. You want some crunch, no soggy veg here. At the last moment add the squeeze of lemon, give it a quick stir and transfer the lot to your serving bowls/plates. Top with the tomatoes and feta. Stuff your face while making ‘mmmmm, why don’t I make lunches like this everyday’ type appreciative noises. courgetti with feta and tomatoes

Honestly this was the nicest thing I have eaten in ages, and it was so blinkin’ quick that there really is no excuse not to make myself something like this more often. I have had times where it has taken longer than that to break into a biscuit packet….. Love Miss Cisco XXX http://www.rocknrollmum.com/2016/02/courgetti-with-feta-and-tomatoes.html https://gillsonlinegems.myshopify.com

Djeco Kirigami Paper Chains

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Djeco Dresses Glitterboards

Fabulous high quality art and craft gift for children aged 8 to 12. Four glitterboards,glitter,sequins,special tool and brush included to create beautiful pictures. Peel off the paper on the boards to reveal sticky areas an choose from 6 different colours of glitter. Instruction booklet provided. Non messy due to clever presentation box which serves as a worktop. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004ZD8NSO

The 7 Chakras - What they are and how to work with each one by AstrologyAnswers

THE 7 CHAKRAS, WHAT THEY ARE, AND HOW TO WORK WITH EACH ONE We’ve talked a little bit about chakras before, giving you a very basic idea what the 7 chakras are, and how to begin working with them. There are many, many benefits to chakra work, with the most obvious one being the progression on your path of enlightenment that you will feel. But, put in English, what does this really mean? All it really means is that when your chakras are aligned, your life is simply better. Your health is better, your emotional center is better, you sleep better, and you may even be getting more psychic information than you ever thought possible. There are so many benefits to chakra work, we could write books about it.

We’re not going to write books about it today, but we are going to look at each one specifically, so that you can delve into this practice in more detail. See, while it is important to align your chakras for balance, healing, and a more enlightened life, you don’t need to look at the entire picture all at once. You don’t even need to work with every chakra at once. If you just want to tweak something in your life like, maybe your intuitive growth, or maybe your sexual lifestyle, chakra work is all you need to do in order to make that magic happen. But you never need to work with all 7 at once, unless you want to and have that kind of time. But what do you do if you don’t? You just work with whatever one you want to work on, and come back to the others another time. I know a lady who gives a specific chakra to every day of the week, and only focuses on that chakra on its given day. A lot of people think it takes a lot of work, but you can do chakra work on the bus on your commute home, in the plane on your way to a vacation, while you are drifting off to sleep at night, just before you crawl out of bed in the morning, you get the picture. You can even do chakra work while you are in a board meeting! So how do you tap into this magic? We’re so glad you asked. Here are the 7 chakras, what they are, and how to work with each one.

1. Root Chakra, Red Your Root Chakra is the color red and is the energy center right at the end of your tailbone, on your bottom. This chakra is important for our feelings of security, and for our feelings of basic safety. So if you are feeling fearful about something, closing your eyes and thinking about the color red will definitely help. Wearing red works too, it’s why people say when you have a big meeting or presentation, wearing red to the attire gives you that extra boost of safety and personal security. Red gemstones and crystals will help you center this chakra as well, and the more work you do with your Root Chakra, the more abundance and material goods you will see coming into your life as well. You will begin to feel fearful or feel stressed when your root chakra is out of sync. Crystals like smoky quartz and garnet are great ways to align this chakra, and working with this chakra will also help to enhance your work successes as well. So even if this is not the most important chakra work you need, don’t forget to tend to this one once in a while. It’s especially good to work with this one regularly if you are the anxious type.

2. Sacral Chakra, Orange The sacral chakra is often known as the belly chakra, or belly energy center, and this is where it is located. Your basic sexual needs are found here, as is your center of self worth. If you are feeling down in the dumps, a little bit of orange in your day will help to inject some alignment into your sacral chakra. This color is good for confidence, and will help you to relate to other people around you in friendly and helpful ways, thus boosting your confidence up even more. You can close your eyes and think about this color as well for a little mid-day boost if you need it. This chakra is also very good for helping you iron out emotional problems, whether they are big life transforming ones, or ones that just muck up your day. Tiger’s Eye and Agate are good crystals to use to align your sacral chakra, as is wearing orange, meditating on orange, or including more orange energy into your day.

3. Solar Plexus Chakra, Yellow The solar plexus chakra is located on the solar plexus on your body, which is on the breastbone just behind your abdomen. This is your center of personal power, think of the area on the chest that monkeys pound when they are making themselves known as great predators. That is the power you can get from your solar plexus chakra, the kind of power that makes you lean forward when you are making a point, and the kind of power that makes you knock events and daily life out of the park, in a good way. If this one is out of balance, you will worry about other people, go through life a little confused, and you may even feel controlled by others. Take your power back! Align your solar plexus chakra through pendulum work, engaging the color yellow in your day to day life, and piling on the yellow crystals like topaz and citrine. You’ll know your solar plexus chakra is in good shape when you feel ready to take on the world.

4. Heart Chakra, Pink or Green There are a couple of schools on thought on the color here, with most schools believing green to be the only color of the heart chakra. But I have found that many people have a heart chakra that can also be pink, or sometimes pink. The crystal rose quartz is pink and great for healing the heart chakra. Guess what this one is about? You got it, love. This is your center for spirituality and compassion, and your energy center that engages and receives unconditional love. When this center is out of wack, you don’t love anybody, and you mostly don’t love yourself, and it is literally caused by a broken heart. If you keep hearing us tell you how important it is to love your Self before you can receive love in your life, some work with your heart chakra will help you align all of that. The color green or the color pink, with green and/or pink crystals will help you in this regard. Meditating on these colors, and doing pendulum work with these colors, even wearing these colors will begin to heal any broken heart issues that you may have. And hey, we’ve all been there. When you are having one of those broken hearted days, stop everything and take care of your heart chakra through meditation or even any simple activity that engages the color green or pink.

5. Throat Chakra, Blue The throat chakra is located exactly where it sounds and it is denoted by the color blue. The throat chakra, being located in the throat governs communication, and that is both giving and receiving. The throat is also where we store anger, which is why you hear people’s voices deepen when they are angry. It’s all pent up there. If this chakra is out of alignment, you will feel like you don’t want to say anything, you will feel like you are shy or timid, or feel like you are just quiet but can’t really explain why. On the other hand, when this chakra is fully engaged and aligned, you are prepared to give a speech to your entire country. If you need to speak in public or do so frequently, frequent work with this chakra will help you succeed. Or maybe you just need a little extra throat chakra work before a big date? Focus on the color blue, and if being shy is kind of your thing, choose the blue dress instead of the red one for a big night out. That will get you talking. Aquamarine and the gem known as Azurite are the best crystals to use when aligning that throat chakra.

6. Third Eye Chakra, Indigo/Navy The third eye chakra is exactly what it sounds like, it is located between your two eyes on your forehead and functions just like a third eye. As such, this one is all about seeing a little bit more than what you currently have in your field of view right now. That’s right, the third eye lets you see it all. Well, not all of it, but just a little bit more. If this chakra is not balanced, you may experience headaches, or feel like you are a little afraid of being successful. You may even experience blurry vision, or a strain on the eyes. You will know this chakra is balanced when you feel like you are picking up information, but not sure where it is coming from. You may even experience telepathy or astral body work. Meditating on the color indigo which is a deep purple, or on a very dark blue will help you to align your third eye chakra. Amethyst and the stone Lapis Lazuli are infamous for helping with third eye chakra alignment.

7. Crown Chakra, Violet/Pure White The term “clear” is often used to describe the color of this chakra, but violet is also a color for this chakra. Think of the purest white you see in movies with angels, and the brightest lights that you often see associated with it. This is the color of the crown chakra, in addition to violet. This chakra is found on the top of your head, and is the center of your spiritual work, and of the work you need for full and true enlightenment. From universe through your crown and into your soul is where wisdom and information flows, so you can imagine how psychic you would be if you had this chakra fully aligned and activated. There is a silver cord between our crown chakra and our aura body, so if you work long enough on this chakra, you can experience astral projection or out of body experiences.

Once again, be careful what you wish for. If this chakra is out of alignment you will notice by the lack of feeling you have about daily life, maybe a constant feeling of frustration or apathy. You might get a lot of headaches, and you may simply be feeling like joy is not an option for you anymore. Having a crown chakra out of alignment can be very depressing, and all the more important to work on it whenever you can. This creates the bridge between you and the divine, from the beautiful crown and glory of your crown chakra. Opal and clear quartz are among the best gems to have around when aligning your crown chakra. What did you think? What chakra center of yours needs the most work, and how do you plan on getting there? http://astrologyanswers.com/the-7-chakras-what-they-are-and-how-to-work-with-each-one https://gillsonlinegems.myshopify.com

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Djeco Knights Stamps and stencil kit - Boys love crafts too!

Ideal for storytelling using beautifully illustrated stencil sheets as the background and character stamps to bring the scene to life and tell a story. For children aged 6+. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001G7Y5NO

Djeco Fashion Workshop-Drawing Patterns

The Djeco Felt Tips Drawing Patterns is an exquisite drawing kit for older children/teenagers aged 9 to 15 years.It helps develop fashion sense and drawing skills. This product comes with 32 pre-printed images to complete, 16 pattern example pattern sheets to follow, 8 artist quality double ended felt tip pens, 2 stencil sheets and a detailed follow by picture instruction book all housed in a beautiful box. Beautifully illustrated, the completed works make perfect handmade postcards. Box dimensions 23.5 by 23 by 4cms. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001K2JE5Y

How I took back control of my happiness and my life by Jinna Yang

1. I stopped feeling sorry for myself. I often struggled (and still do, sometimes) with feeling like a victim. One minute I am on top of the world, and the next minute I am completely alone feeling sorry for myself. And then I replay the hardships of my past over and over again until I get lost in my own head. There comes a time when you have to make the decision to stop getting in your own way. Life is not ever going to be perfect. And I am not so sure that it gets “easier” – I think that you become stronger, and more resilient – more capable of handling stress in a healthier way. There will be moments when all you will want to do is quit, and there will be people who do not choose to stay by you when you need them the most. But strength is developed through hardships and solidified with time. You have to save yourself, from yourself. Make the decision to believe in you. Choose to stop listening to your doubts. Own your mistakes, then forget them. Love yourself first, and get on with your life. 2. I didn’t let failure convince me to quit. There’s something about failure that sucks us in and spits us out – it takes away a little piece of our confidence, preventing us from wanting to try as hard. And this is the absolute worst thing that you can do – let the fear of failure prevent you from continuing on and pushing through. I have failed more times than I can count. I am not the best at everything – I don’t even know if I’m the best at ANYTHING. But I didn’t let that thought prevent me from trying over and over again. There are so many examples of iconic, successful, famous, AND everyday people that have been known throughout history to have admit that they have failed, but more importantly – admit that their failures are what helped make them who they are today. Because our perception of failure is what we need to overcome. Failure is NOT a bad thing. It’s actually a wonderfully productive blessing – that will guide us in the right direction. If you know that something doesn’t work, you’re going to get smarter, so that the next time you try – you know what NOT to do. Why do you think that failing is a bad thing? Maybe it’s a blow to your ego – but pride is for the birds. Failure is a gift, and without it – you won’t ever be successful. 3. I took a risk, and did something that scared me. This is something that people often struggle with in life – it goes hand in hand with the fear of failure. But I’ve realized that when something scares you – it’s usually a sign that you should be doing it. I had dinner with a friend recently and she started telling me about how she felt unfulfilled at work – she had a new boss who didn’t get along with her, she felt like her responsibilities were decreasing, she didn’t feel as though she were learning anything new – all of this, and also told me that she had the opportunity to work on something completely new. She went on to tell me that she was scared – she wasn’t sure if that were the smartest thing for her to do – leave her team (who she loved) and work that she was good at, to do something she had no idea about. And I couldn’t stop screaming, “YES! YES! YES!” You have to do things that scare you. Comfort zones may be a wonderful place, but nothing ever grows there. Imagine being too scared to try something new, and choosing to be in your comfortable situation for months, or even years. Will anything change? Probably not. Being content is fine if it makes you happy, but in my case – in my story – I had reached a point where I had no choice but to do something completely radical to change my life and take back control of it. If I had stayed with what made me feel comfortable, I never would’ve been happy. I would’ve been miserable, continually, until I felt like I had nothing else let to be live for. There will be moments that you encounter throughout life when you become nervous, anxious, scared, fearful of what could happen – but it is absolutely possible for you to harness those feelings, and look at them as signs of what to do moving forward – instead of moving away from them. So if the idea of doing something scares you, maybe you should actually do it. 4. I stopped putting my happiness in the hands of others. Why doesn’t he do this for me? Why doesn’t she do this for me? How could she do this to me? How could he do this to me? Why don’t they care about me? What is with wrong with me? What did I do? He doesn’t make me happy. Forget all that. I used to find reasons for why I was sad or unhappy or unfulfilled or unsatisfied by placing my happiness in the hands of others, giving people a certain kind of responsibility to make me happy. And yes, it’s great to be in a committed relationship or expect certain things like that from your good friends, but at the end of the day – no one is responsible for your happiness but YOU. If you constantly depend on other people to make yourself happy, you are constantly going to be disappointed. And it’s important to remember that you very well do possess the power to make yourself happy. You don’t have to depend on others for your own happiness. And when you start to do things for yourself – become independent in this pursuit of happiness – no one will be able to take that happiness from you. 5. I started doing things that made me happy. Art? Music? Travel? Eating? Writing? Sketching? Walking? Running? Swimming? What is it that you like to do? What is it that if you woke up every single day, and could do without having to worry about money or your problems, what would it be? I wanted to get away from my immediate environment – I wanted to get away from my everyday life – the everyday life that made me unhappy because I didn’t do anything to change it. But before I could get away and go on this epic trip, I had to make do with what I had. I started going to new restaurants, exploring new roads or streets, taking wine + paint classes for no reason, googling DIY crafts just to pretend like I’d actually follow through with them, then actually follow through with them. I tried new things, ate new foods, met new people – even though I was in the same city. Doing things that genuinely make you happy will actually make you happier. And when you are happier, more people will want to be around you, and make you happy. It’s a chain reaction that might sound cliche, but cliche things are just that for a reason. Look within yourself to figure out what it is that makes you laugh, smile, jump with joy, dance for no reason, be silly – and if you aren’t sure about what it is that makes you happy – then TRY EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING. What have you got to lose, but your sad thoughts? What have you got to lose? Nothing. http://projectinspo.com/2015/12/how-i-took-back-control-of-my-happiness-and-my-life/ https://gillsonlinegems.myshopify.com

9 Things people do to stay happy from Careergirldaily.com

Being happy is a state of mind, happy people embrace the good and enjoy whatever life brings. They have a carefree, positive attitude that shines through them as a person. Here are 9 things which happy people don’t care for. #1 They Know How To Deal With Stress Stress is guaranteed to change your mood and get you down, it is sometimes unavoidable but learning to deal with it and not let it get on top of you will help to ensure your mood is not affected. #2 They Don’t Care About What Other People Think Happy people don’t care for other people’s judgements and prejudices because they are content with themselves, which is all that matters. #3 They Don’t Dwell On Failures Everyone makes mistakes or doesn’t succeed straight away, but dwelling on failures is living in the past. Happy people pick themselves up, carry on and tomorrow is another day. #4 They Don’t Care For Negativity Happy people are optimistic, they don’t care for negative thoughts and attitudes they prefer to practice positivity. #5 They Don’t Worry Over Little Things They don’t care for worrying over little things, it can cause stress, make you miserable and cause wrinkles! #6 They Don’t Care About Age For happy people their age doesn’t affect their mood, age is just a number, it doesn’t define you or determine how you should be. #7 They Don’t Follow The Crowd They are their own independent person and do not feel the need to conform to society or a particular crowd. #8 They Do What They Want Fear can often hold you back if you are scared to do something, happy people don’t care for fear and take the plunge. They do what they want and enjoy stepping out of their comfort zone. #9 They Surround Themselves With Positive People A happy person does not want to be brought down by constant unhappy vibes! It is fair to say everyone has their bad days however, happy people do not care for those who never have positive thoughts or a smile on their face. Written by Kelsie Mcphail https://gillsonlinegems.myshopify.com

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Djeco Stencils Horses For pony mad younger children to practise drawing skills. 5 good-sized stencils to draw round and colour in. Excellent for developing motor skills and learning to use a pencil. An absorbing, fun and useful way of spending the afternoon! http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B000WP8B0Y

The Connection between Childhood Experiences and Adult Problems by Marcia Sirota

As an adult psychiatrist, I spend a lot of time thinking and talking about childhood, and there's a good reason for this. It's become abundantly clear over the past 20-plus years of doing psychotherapy that childhood experiences are at the root of adult problems. Every person who's walked through my office door suffering from depression, anxiety, relationship or work problems, low self-esteem or addiction has a history of some type of adversity in their childhood. It's become clear to me by listening to their stories that were it not for these painful events, the person wouldn't be struggling as much as they are, today. When we look at a young child who's beginning to show signs of emotional disturbance or behavioural issues, what we're seeing is that something has happened to them, or something is happening, that is causing them the beginnings of a problem. If we're to do the best for our children, we have to understand the basic emotional necessities of childhood and the types of events that are likely to cause a child difficulties, now and in the future. Whether we're dealing with a child who seems mostly well-adjusted in the moment, or one who's begun to exhibit signs of more significant dysfunction, those of us in the helping fields want to do everything we can to optimize the child's emotional and psychological well-being so as to prevent future problems. If we're to do the best for our children, we have to understand the basic emotional necessities of childhood and the types of events that are likely to cause a child difficulties, now and in the future. When it comes to the necessities of childhood, we have to remember that perfect parenting is neither necessary nor possible. A child just needs, as the British psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott so aptly put it, "good enough parenting." Good enough parenting means that the child is loved and valued for who they are, not for how they behave, and the child is nurtured, cared for and protected, but not coddled. In fact, the "good enough" parent allows the child to be disappointed and frustrated at times, so that they learn to tolerate and cope with these types of experiences in adulthood. And interestingly, "good enough parenting" also applies to the other adults in a child's life; the adults who teach, guide and support the child. Each one of these adults has an important role to play in the child's development and emotional well-being. When we think about the experiences that lead to difficulties in childhood and beyond, there are two distinct types: the absence of certain necessities or the presence of hurtful events. Children need to feel important, but not so important that their agenda supersedes that of the parent. Overly-permissive parents who indulge their children are depriving them of the guidance and limits they need in order to develop appropriately and function optimally as adults. Love, affirmation, guidance, protection and limits: these are the necessities of childhood. When a child is raised with all of these things, they're far more likely to grow into high-functioning adults with good confidence and self worth, who have constructive coping strategies in difficult times. When we think about the experiences that lead to difficulties in childhood and beyond, there are two distinct types: the absence of certain necessities or the presence of hurtful events. If a child is neglected; if they're not praised enough -- perhaps from a parent's misguided notion that this will give them a "swelled head" -- or if they're not encouraged to do things, the child will grow up with a lack of confidence and self-worth. Children take things personally, so what they experience informs their identity. If part of the neglect includes a lack of protection from hurtful experiences, the child will grow up feeling helpless, worthless -- because they'll start to see themselves as not entitled to protection -- and perhaps even deserving of harm. Children take things personally, so what they experience informs their identity. Love them, and they feel good about themselves; neglect them, and they feel bad. In terms of adverse events that happen to a child, these experiences can take many forms: a child can be emotionally hurt or abused through harsh criticism, shaming, blaming or the instilling of guilt; they can be physically assaulted via overly harsh corporal punishment or beatings with fists, belts or other objects, or they can be sexually abused. The child can have an overly-controlling or perfectionist parent; a narcissistic parent who expects the child to excel so that the parent can feel good about themselves, or a parent who competes with their child because they're threatened by the child's youth and promise. A child can be picked on, bullied, made fun of or taken advantage of. They can be ostracized and isolated by those around them, and made to feel worthless and useless. These experiences can occur at home, at school, during extra-curricular activities or in play-time. Parents, siblings, relatives, friends, teachers, coaches, even members of the clergy can be responsible for hurting a child. Sometimes, more than one person is doing so, which of course adds to the child's current and future emotional difficulties. There's another, more subtle way a child can be hurt, and this is when one or both parents make the child responsible for tasks that they're too young to manage. This makes the child feel incompetent and inadequate and often filled with shame for "failing" at tasks that developmentally, they're not expected to know how to accomplish. These types of tasks can include being made to care for younger siblings or managing the household at a very young age; being put in the role of parental confidante; being thrust into the position of mediator between fighting parents; being responsible for the family's finances, or being pressured to perform at school, in their hobbies (for example, performing arts, spelling bees or math competitions) or in individual or team sports at a level that is beyond them, or not what they themselves want to do. Sometimes, it's not the parents who expect too much from a child; it can be a teacher, a coach or anyone else who is pushing a child beyond the limits of their ability. There's a fine line between encouraging a child to do their best and making a child feel oppressed by adult expectations. Encouragement and support will most likely bring out the best in a child, but pushing them too hard could cause them to have emotional problems. If we want to protect our children from harm and prevent current and future difficulties, we need to be aware of the ways in which a child's self-confidence, self-worth, sense of optimism and ability to function can be compromised. Some hurtful experiences come from other types of family stressors; for example, when one of the parents or a sibling becomes ill or dies; when one or both parents are very young and ill-equipped to handle being a parent; when a parent is suffering from mental illness and their symptoms are expressed in bizarre or unpredictable behaviour toward their children; when parents are dealing with other difficulties such as work stress, financial problems, crises in the extended family, serious addictions or a troubled marriage. All of the above are experiences which will have a negative impact on a developing child. If we want to protect our children from harm and prevent current and future difficulties, we need to be aware of the ways in which a child's self-confidence, self-worth, sense of optimism and ability to function can be compromised. When we see signs of dysfunction or disturbance in a young child, such as excessive anger, sleep refusal, acting out, defiance, compulsive behaviours, destructive behaviour toward themselves or others, truancy, school failure, agitation or moodiness, we need to search carefully for the roots of this behaviour and as much as possible, address the problem immediately, so as to improve things for the child, now and for the future. http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/marcia-sirota/the-connection-between-childhood-experiences_b_9212340.html

Childhood Mental Health : Toddler and Preschooler Red Flags by Kevin B Doyle

Childhood Mental Health: Toddler and Preschooler Red Flags by Kevin B. Doyle How people, even little kids, think, feel and act as they encounter life's ups and downs affects our mental health. When all is functioning as it should, good mental health allows children to think clearly, develop socially and learn new skills. According to the CDC, in 2005–2006, 15 percent of U.S. children ages 4 to 17 years had parents who talked to a healthcare provider or school staff member about their child's emotional or behavioral difficulties. About five percent of those children received medication and another five percent also received treatment other than medication for challenges. Toddler and Preschooler Mental Health Can you imagine the panic that would ensue if we saw adults behaving like ordinary kids? Getting angry easily, failing to pay attention to what's going on, pestering other people, repeating what's said to them, taking off their clothes in public or asking embarrassing questions in loud voices? These activities are all things that might cause concern regarding an adult's mental health, but they are regular, commonplace, developmentally-appropriate events in the lives of toddlers and preschoolers. However, there are other, less desirable behaviors your child could display that signal a potential mental health problem. Most kids act "sad" if they don't get their way, have a short attention span at times or defy a request. As long as these feelings or behaviors don't last or interfere too much in their day to day activities, there's probably nothing to worry about. If your child seems to be experiencing severe or long-lasting distress, it's an indicator of a mental health problem. Here are some of the signs your child might be having troubles: Always Unhappy All children will be sad at times. They might not feel well, someone was mean to them, or the family pet might have died. For some, the sadness doesn't go away. You might want to get help if, for two weeks or more, your child: • Rarely laughs or smiles, • Lacks usual energy • Begins doing poorly at preschool • Is very irritable, moody, or grumpy • Becomes overactive, destructive, or overly sensitive, • Gets into fights constantly If your child says they want to die or resorts to self-harm, please seek immediate professional help. Extremely Anxious Healthy kids have periods of anxiety. They're afraid of things like loud noises or separation from their parents. They might develop patterns of doing things like washing their hands excessively or lining up their toys. It's time to consider help when your child: • Maintains patterns of repetitive activity for a long time • These begin to interfere with sleep, appetite, or normal activities • Complains of frequent headaches or stomach aches • Starts to worry all the time • Frequently worries about death Lacks Friends Kids need friends. Some children prefer a small group to a large group. It's time to get help if your child: • Has difficulty relating to other children his age • Has trouble making friends because of overly aggressive or frightening behavior • Has trouble making friends because habits or behavior seem strange to other kids • is constantly teased or socially isolated Short Attention Span At times, all children have a short attention span, but you might want to get help when a child stands out as inattentive. Signals of a problem include: • Can't focus on an activity as long as other kids of the same age • Frequently fails to listen to instructions • Is often overactive • Regularly acts without thinking first • Is easily distracted • Is constantly being scolded or corrected • Endangers self or others Defiant and Aggressive Every child has times when they don't behave. During the toddler years, defiance appeared to be a positive development. You might ask for help when your child: • Has frequent temper outbursts or more than other children • Has constantly battles for control with adults • Seems spiteful and openly defiant • Is disrespectful and tries to hurt adults or other children • Can't stay in child care or preschool because of defiant behavior Inappropriate Behaviors Mental health problems show up in other ways, too. You might consider talking with a professional when your child: • Displays behavior which should have been outgrown long ago, such as clingy behavior or toilet accidents • Displays sexual behavior that exceeds normal childhood curiosity • Repeatedly plays with fire or is cruel to animals • Hears voices or sees things that aren't there except when involved in imaginary play The signs of mental illness in children vary by age and type of condition. However, two warning signs tend to cross over into all categories and signal that you should consult with an emotional health professional experienced in kids' psychology. • Extreme or peculiar behavior for the age and gender of the child, such as being significantly more hyper, aggressive, or withdrawn • Sudden, hard-to-explain negative changes in behavior, such as a steep decline in school performance Finding Help Many parents choose to talk to their family doctor or pediatrician first about their concerns. If more help is needed, the doctor can suggest names of counselors, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists who specialize in treating children with mental health issues. Parents also reach out and touch base with other families in the community, family network organizations, crisis outreach teams, family resource centers and support groups. If your child's hurting, don't be ashamed to ask for assistance. Appropriate treatment can help your child learn to cope with trauma. Adults who understand a child's abilities can help the child develop necessary skills. Pregnancy.org https://gillsonlinegems.myshopify.com

Djeco Art Nouveau Workshop

Djeco Art Nouveau Workshop - ideal for older children and teenagers This wonderful art and craft kit will enchant older children over 9 and teenagers up to 15. Painting by numbers (or more accurately colours) is a creative activity involving developing motor skills and imagination. The final result will brighten up a bedroom or lounge. The presentation box contains four large preprinted images on very thick card, 2 sheets of stickers, 8 artist quality double ended felt tip pens and a detailed follow by picture instruction book. Box dimensions 29.5 by 23 by 4cms. Suitable for children aged 9 to 15 years. http://gillsonlinegems.myshopify.com

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Free Smartphone app to help discover autism in toddlers

Free smartphone app to help detect autism in toddlers Last updated 11:38, February 17 2016          Researchers say the app will help ensure children with autism receive vital early intervention. A free smartphone app could help parents detect autism in children as young as 12 months old. La Trobe University's Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC) this week launched ASDetect, an app they say will help ensure children with autism receive vital early intervention.
    The app uses questions drawn from research by autism expert and psychologist Dr Josephine Barbaro, and gives parents access to video footage from actual clinical assessments that clearly demonstrate the context and expected key behaviours of children at each age. A sample of the ASDectect app for parents who may feel their children are developing differently than expected. Barbaro says the app will revolutionise the way autism is identified. "ASDetect is an empowering tool for parents who may feel their children are developing differently than expected and are looking for answers. The new ASDetect app is an ideal way to share proven techniques with thousands of parents," she said. "All typically developing infants are motivated to be social, look at other people's faces, learn from them and copy. "Children with ASD are not doing this - and we can now accurately identify this at a much younger age and take action, with the help of parents."
    The app combines Barbaro's assessment questions with videos demonstrating the "red flag" behaviours critical in determining the likelihood of ASD in children as young as 12 months. Ad Feedback Parents view two videos: one showing a child with ASD, the other showing a typically developing child. Parents then answer questions regarding their own child. The information entered by the parents is automatically sent to OTARC's database where analysis of individual results is completed. Parents are then sent information via a notification through the app, with advice as to whether they should seek professional help.
     As ASD can emerge over time, ASDetect includes assessments for children aged 12 months, 18 months and 24 months.
 "This is not a replacement for professional assessment; however ASDetect will provide parents with an indication as to whether they should seek a professional opinion from a doctor at a time when intervention will have the biggest impact," Barbaro said. In Australia, the average age of autism diagnosis is currently four years old and it can take as long as four years, from when parents first raise concerns about their child, to receive a formal diagnosis of autism. Signs of autism in young children :
Does not make consistent eye contact
Does not share smiles
Does not show their toys to others
Does not play social games
Does not point to indicate interest
 Does not respond when their name is called

The app is available for free on the App Store and Google Play.

 EssentialBaby.com.au/ https://gillsonlinegems.myshopify.com

Djeco Collages Soft and Gentle

Djeco Collages Soft and Gentle for children aged 3+ Make a delightful collage with a younger child using felt pieces on a board. Create a story with the animals you create. http://gillsonlinegems.myshopify.com

Djeco Dresses Glitterboards Kit

Fabulous art and craft gift for children aged 8 to 12. Create sparkly pictures of girls in dramatic dresses by using 6 tubes of different colours of glitter and a special tool and brush to apply the glitter to sticky areas revealed when the covering is peeled back. Non messy because the box serves as a worktop and glitter can be returned to the container by a handy hole in the corner of the box. Absorbing,creative and imaginative. Find this and many more present ideas at http://gillsonlinegems.myshopify.com

Djeco Rainbow Fish Glitter Art

Djeco Rainbow Fish Glitter Art Create a wonderful sparkling picture to brighten up a bedroom or a shelf. This will absorb and occupy young children with worthwhile activity and lure them away from the computer for an afternoon! Non messy due to the handy nature of the presentation box which can be used as a worktop and has a hole in the corner through which glitter can be returned to the container. Contains 6 glitter tubes, a special tool and a brush. Enjoy a creative,imaginative and memorable activity with your children. http://gillsonlinegems.myshopify.com

Can Learning Languages make your child more intelligent? by Lee Mwiti

Can learning languages make your child more intelligent By Lee Mwiti Updated Monday, February 15th 2016 at 11:22 GMT +3 inShare Photo:Courtesy Naima Karimi is proud that her daughter Tiffany Nkatha can speak four languages. English, Kiswahili, French and her mother tongue, Kimeru. Tiffany, 16 years old and in Form Three, started learning French when she was 13 and seems to have an affinity for languages. “She is good at languages and always excels in them. She is also good at writing. She intends to learn German too and, if possible, Chinese,” Ms Karimi says proudly. Such a revelation from a parent, no matter how humble, brings to the core the level of importance we place on children learning other languages apart from the English they encounter in schools and in middle class homes. To a larger extent, Kenyans are progressive when it comes to mastery of languages since most children grow up learning English, Kiswahili and, for some, their mother tongue. Majority of schools also teach a host of foreign languages including French, German and recently Chinese. But encouraging your children to learn more than one language is not merely a response to a fad or a means to show off how clever your children are. There are incredible psychological benefits of learning another language. These benefits extend way beyond being able to ask for a glass of water or order a plate of food, according to research. The brain, like any muscle, functions better with exercise. Learning a language involves memorising rules and vocabulary, which helps strengthen that mental muscle. Edwin Mwai, a Sociology and Communication lecturer at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology says that learning additional languages increases critical thinking skills, creativity and flexibility of the mind in young children. “After learning their mother tongue at home, which is crucial for their cultural identity, children learn other languages at school and adapt them better than adults can. The elements of spoken English and Kiswahili are practiced and enhanced through songs, stories and nursery rhymes, and modelled and explored as the children enter their little, fun world of role playing. This is absolutely critical for psychological growth,” says Mr Mwai. Suffice to say western societies are disadvantaged when it comes to the language issue since many use their languages as the means of instruction in schools, and children are therefore not exposed to any other language. See Also: Are you looking out for your child's best interest? The colonial legacy left Africa dependent on foreign languages as a means of fostering nationalism amid societies fragmented by ethnicity. The idea worked well since African children were exposed to European culture through European languages and this broadened their world outlook. http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/evewoman/article/2000191746/can-learning-languages-make-your-child-more-intelligent?