Play.Teach.Love

Anorexia...The signs

2012-02-22T22:47:00.000+03:00

Another great list from Healthychildren.Org. If you had ever wondered about your child's eating habits, or sudden obsession with weight and/or exercise, take a few minutes to answer the questions below...

Warning Signs of Anorexia

If you answer “Yes” to several of these questions, talk withyour child and pediatrician. (I would also say consult with a psychologist/psychotherapist as well)

Does your child skip family meals and prepare her own foodinstead?
Is she following her own diet?
Are certain food groups or nutrients categorically excluded?
Are no- or low-calorie foods and drinks a major part ofdaily intake?
Has she adopted a “healthy” vegetarian diet suddenly andobsessively?
Are diet pills or preparations in her possession?
Is she overly concerned with losing or gaining weight?
Have you found laxatives that you did not give her?
Does she hide food in her room?
Does she visit the bathroom after eating?
Does she flush the toilet, run water, or turn on the showerwhile in the bathroom?
Has your plumbing repeatedly and inexplicably becomeclogged?
Does she have an unusual number of scratches or cuts overher knuckles?
Does she have swollen cheeks or lymph nodes around her face,or broken blood vessels in the whites of her eyes?
Has she lost a lot of weight in a short time?
Does she look gaunt?
Does she get dizzy or is she easily fatigued?
Does she have frequent headaches, heartburn, orconstipation?
Have her periods stopped?
Does she play with her food without actually eating it?
Has she developed downy hair on her face, arms, and back?
Can you see the bones of her back and collarbones clearlyoutlined?
Does she have bruises along her backbone?
Does she wear loose, bulky clothing?
Does she exercise for hours on end with a routine that can’tbe interrupted or changed?
Has she become withdrawn from her friends or family?
Does she seem more secretive?

***Please keep in mind that anorexia affects boys as well, but it is not often written about or discussed...

Reaction...

2012-02-22T22:31:00.001+03:00

"Shannon Lipscomb and colleagues tracked 358 two-parent families for more than 18 months, evaluating young children when they were 9-, 18-, and 27-months old. The researchers also tried to measure the parents’ reactions to stress. They did this by asking each parent to rate his agreement with statements about his partner, statements like:

“When my child misbehaves, my partner raises his voice or yells…”

When the researchers analyzed the results, a pattern emerged. The kids who showed the least self-control at 27 months were the kids who’d been unusually moody as infants. They had shown more negative emotionality at 9 months, and their emotional problems often got worse over time."

Interested in knowing more? Follow this link to read the full article taken from Momformation Blog

Another great resource!

Dys-tinguishing the difference

2012-02-20T13:43:00.003+03:00

Have you ever wondered why your child might be having difficulties with some parts of school and not all? Or why is s/he soo clumsy?

Have you heard the term "Learning Differences" or "Learning Difficulty/disability" and you weren't sure what it meant?

Very often parents come up to me and say "I know my child is smart, but why is s/he struggling in school?". There could be a number of reasons, one of which could be the existence of a learning difficulty.

Here is a breakdown of the difficulties we most commonly see with our youngsters:

Dyspraxia:
Dyspraxia, also known asdevelopmental co-ordination disorder, is a disability that affects movement andco-ordination. It is thought to be caused by a disruption in the way messagesfrom the brain are transmitted to the body.

Dyspraxia is characterized bydifficulty in planning smooth, co-ordinated movements. This leads to:

clumsiness
lack of co-ordination
problems with language, perceptionand thought

Dyslexia:
Dyslexia is a common type of learningdifficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in the reading andspelling of words.

Dyslexia should be recognized as aspectrum disorder, with symptoms ranging from very mild to very severe. Inparticular, people with dyslexia have difficulties with:

phonological awareness
verbal memory
verbal processing speed

The above definitions were taken from: http://www.nhs.uk/Pages/HomePage.aspx

Dysgraphia:
Dysgraphia is defined as a difficultyin automatically remembering and mastering the sequence of muscle motormovements needed in writing letters or numbers. This difficulty is out ofharmony with the person's intelligence, regular teaching instruction, and (inmost cases) the use of the pencil in non-learning tasks. It is neurologicallybased and exists in varying degrees, ranging from mild to moderate. It can bediagnosed, and it can be overcome if appropriate remedial strategies are taughtwell and conscientiously carried out. An adequate remedial program generallyworks if applied on a daily basis. In many situations, it is relatively easy toplan appropriate compensations to be used as needed.

Dysgraphia can be seen in:

Letterinconsistencies.
Mixture ofupper/lower case letters or print/cursive letters.
Irregular lettersizes and shapes.
Unfinishedletters.
Struggle to usewriting as a communications tool.

This definition was taken from: http://www.dyslexia-ca.org/c-dysgdef.php

Dyscalculia:

Dyscalculia is aspecific learning disability (or difficulty) in mathematics. It was originallydefined by the Czechoslovakia researcher Kosc, as a difficulty in mathematicsas a result of impairment to particular parts of the brain involved inmathematical cognition, but without a general difficulty in cognitive function.This is the same definition that researchers in cognitive neuroscience use today.

What alldefinitions have in common is :

A presence ofdifficulties in mathematics
Some degree ofspecificity (ie. lack of across the board academic difficulties)
The assumptionthat these are caused in some way by brain dysfunction

This definition was taken from: http://www.aboutdyscalculia.org/dyscalculiamain.html

Simply...I.Q.

2012-02-19T12:06:00.000+03:00

Definition

Simply put, I.Q. is a number used to express the relative intelligence of an individual. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary explains further...

Definition of IQ

: a number used to express the apparent relative intelligence of a person: asa : the ratio of the mental age (as reported on a standardized test) to the chronological age multiplied by 100b : a score determined by one's performance on a standardized intelligence test relative to the average performance of others of the same age

Assessments Used (most common)

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children
Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence
Stanford-Binet
Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities
Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children
Raven's Progressive Matrices

Averages

Wechsler's classification
IQ Range ("Deviation IQ")	Intelligence Classification
>= 130	Very superior
120 - 129	Superior
110 - 119	High Average
90 - 109	Average
80 - 89	Low Average
70 - 79	Borderline
<= 69	Extremely Low

Most schools in Kuwait would consider an average of 85 and above as normal I.Q. Both mainstream schools and schools for children with Learning Difficulties expect such averages. An I.Q. less than 85 would usually be unacceptable and the child will then have to be placed in a school for children with Special Needs.

Below Average I.Q.

Class	IQ
Profound mental retardation	Below 20
Severe mental retardation	20–34
Moderate mental retardation	35–49
Mild mental retardation	50–69
Borderline intellectual functioning	70–84

( Bottom two graphs were taken from Wikipedia)

Childhood Depression

2012-02-13T09:42:00.001+03:00

Depression is often associated with adults, but children are also victims. New data has surfaced to refute claims that antidepressants increase the risk of suicide in teens. I, however, always recommend cognitive behavioral therapy as a starting point before medication. If the case of depression is severe and/or the child is already suicidal, do consult with a psychiatrist immediately about medication options and/or in-patient care if a facility is available. Monitor your child closely over the next few weeks.

Alix Spiegel writes for SHOTS:

A Fresh Look At Antidepressants Finds Low Risk Of Youth Suicide

In 2004, after an extensive review, the Food and Drug Administration issued a strong warning to doctors who prescribed antidepressants to teens and children.

Antidepressants, the FDA said, appeared to increase suicide among kids and teens. Doctors needed to be careful. The FDA even mandated that a "black-box warning," the strongest type, be placed on antidepressant packaging.

This warning and worries that giving antidepressants to children might cause them to kill themselves was front-page news for weeks and appeared to changed the prescribing behavior of doctors.

Fewer doctors used antidepressant medications with their young patients and, according to at least one study, the number of suicides among kids and teens began to rise.

This week the Archives of General Psychiatry published an analysis that finds no increase in suicide among young people taking Prozac. The findings put a new wrinkle in the long-running debate over the safety of the medicines when used to treat depressed young people.

The study reviewed detailed data from over 9,000 patients — including 700 youths — who took the antidepressant Prozac and found that the drug didn't increase suicidality in children at all. It also looked at data for adults taking Effexor.

Now, the main author of the study is Robert Gibbons, a statistician at the University of Chicago's medical school. Gibbons sat on the panel of experts that advised FDA to issue the warnings, but he always felt ambivalent about the panel's decision.

"I worried that what we might end up with was a real epidemic of suicide," Gibbons told Shots. "And the data suggests that that is exactly what happened. Rather than the black-box warning leading to decreases in child suicide rates, they were followed by some of the largest increases in child suicide rates both here in America and around the world."

So why did the new study come to such a different conclusion about the risks of suicide in kids?

According to Gibbons, the FDA's findings and his findings are similar in some respects. Both found that when doctors asked their patients about suicidal thoughts and behavior in the context of regularly scheduled checkups there was no difference between the medications and placebos.

But when it came to what are called adverse event reports, there was a difference between his study and the review done by the FDA.

Adverse event reports occur when patients spontaneously contact their doctors with problems associated with taking a medication. When the FDA looked at these patient reports, they found that patients on antidepressant medications reported 80 percent more suicidal thoughts and behavior than patients on placebos.

Gibbons didn't look at these spontaneous reports in the same way. He only considered them when patients acted on their suicidal thoughts with a suicide attempt. He found that the small number of people who acted on their suicidal thoughts did not affect the overall risk of suicide.

The original FDA study also included all antidepressants — not just Prozac. That might account for some of the differences found.

Gibbons, who has become a vocal opponent of the black-box warnings since his stint on the committee that advised FDA, says that he hopes this study will reassure clinicians about the safety of the drugs. It's not clear whether other researchers will agree with him that the new study's findings present a fundamental challenge to the FDA's previous conclusions.

The FDA was contacted for this report, but a spokeswoman emailed that the agency doesn't respond to every report or study.

The Gibbons study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Gibbons has been an expert witness for the Justice Department and Pfizer in cases related to antidepressants, anticonvulsants and suicide.

Your attendance please

2012-02-08T09:56:00.003+03:00

Remember when I posted about Ajyalona in October (post)??? Well it's finally happening! I unfortunately wont be able to participate, but many wonderful boutiques (PTL's friend Oleana will be there!), centers and groups will be there. MUST GO!
Here is the information:

From bullied to applauded...

2012-02-04T21:49:00.001+03:00

From bully victim to an inspirational performance at American Idol... This performance brought me to tears... I wish we can all find compassion and teach our kids to be more compassionate to those who need it the most... Reach out and show people you care...
For more bullying information check out my previous post: 0% Tolerance.

Child's View...

2012-01-31T14:51:00.001+03:00

Too cute! I could not resist sharing this video... Ever wonder what kids recognize and see in a constantly stimulating environment?

See how a 5-year-old views some of the logos around us...

We Are All Able!

2012-01-30T22:50:00.001+03:00

Recently in Kuwait, there has been growing attention to issues regarding children with special needs. One project which has been well received is "Journey of Hope":

Journey Of Hope is a daring experience carrying a global humanitarian and heartfelt message for the benefit of those with intellectual disability. Under the Patronage of H.H. Sheik Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah the Amir of The State of Kuwait, at 12p.m. 12/12/012 a sailing expedition will begin from Kuwait heading towards Washington D.C. and back with the sole purpose of raising awareness of its cause and spreading its message. We hope that everyone will support this great journey.

The idea was conceived by a group that has been working under the title of “The Special team for Sporting, Social, Media and Cultural Activities dedicated to the intellectually disabled” since 2003. Comprised of parents that experienced great success in dealing with their intellectually disabled children who are inflicted with cases such as Down Syndrome and Autism. Although their activities were based in Kuwait, their influence and reach has spread to other countries. The group concluded that their message needed to echo to the masses worldwide and wish to crown their initiative with a global expedition. More than their personal initiative, the aim of the Journey is to bring into light Kuwait’s contributions and advances care for special needs. It is aimed at bringing international awareness to the Country’s initiatives as a whole.

Do visit their website to find more information on this original and massive project. We are lucky to be in a country that is well educated and wealthy, but we are still behind when it comes to providing good education, medical-therapuetic support, and psycho-behavioral intervention for special needs children. The following is a video I just came across, which was shared by Training Gate (another great resource for awareness and support for children with disabilities) in April 2011...

P.S. The lyrics in the beginning are a translation of the lyrics sung in the video for my non-arab speaking audience:)

Mellow Parenting

2012-01-28T13:05:00.000+03:00

Expecting??

Pregnancy can be hard. It can be even harder if you are worriedabout your health, your baby’s health, how you are going to cope, or simply abouthow to be the best mother you can.

Mellow Bumps is a 6 weeks programmedesigned to provide support, information, and care to expectant Mums. The group is for women between 20 and30 weeks gestation and is designed to reduce stress and anxiety whilstpreparing you for your new arrival! It is not only for first time Mums, but for all expectant Mums.

Sign up NOW! Mellow Bumps groups are now acceptingregistrations at the SOOR Center. For more information or to book your place on a group, call the centeron 2290 6711 or email drrose@soorcenter.com.

Be Belly Sweet

2012-01-25T20:43:00.000+03:00

What I'm about to share is not really psychological advise, but this is important for the psychology of women... Pregnant women that is. I am sharing the advise from a funny but oh so truthful article from http://www.babble.com. The article listed "The things you should never tell a pregnant woman". In a society like ours, we are both privileged and cursed by how many close relatives and friends we are frequently in touch with. These relatives and friends provide support and a sense of unity, but they can often meddle, judge and give "unsolicited" advise... If we want that to change, then we must start by changing ourselves. Read the list from the article; reflect, laugh, and say "hallelujah", then share any comments and/or stories you may have endured:)

Pregnancy Etiquette

Things You should never tell a pregnant woman

"Was it planned?"
"Did you take fertility drugs?"
"You look like you're ready to pop"
"Are you sure there aren't twins in there?"
"Can I touch your belly?" (unless you are close enough)
"Have you picked a baby name yet?"
"Enjoy ---- because once the baby comes you can kiss it goodbye"
"You shouldn't be drinking/eating that"
"I never had morning sickness"
"I was sick the whole 9 months"
"I was ripped open from end to end"
"Get an epidural!"

Be empathetic, be interested and be supportive...

KALD winter camp for boys

2012-01-22T14:46:00.000+03:00

A great opportunity for all our boys with Learning Differences AND their friends and brothers who are looking for something to do during the government schools' winter break (14-17 years only)...

The Kuwaiti Association for Learning Differences- KALD is organizing its 1st Winter Camp at Al Rimal Resort- Al bedae (Kuwait) for boys with Learning Difficulties, their brothers and friends aged between 14 and 17 years old.

The Camp will start on the 3^rd February and end by 10^th February. Many educational and entertainments activities are included, in addition of field trips, contests and meeting famous Kuwaiti athletes (Sleep over will take place in the resort’s villas with 3 meals provided a day)

Registration fees 300 KD per person (However KALD will pay half as a gift to participants and parents are required to pay the other half- 150KD/ with 10%discount for siblings)

For more information, pls. call Mrs. Dana Nahas at: 1832000 ext 300 – 94427262

تنظم الجمعية الكويتية لاختلافات التعلم " مخيم كالد الشتوي " للطلبة الذكور من ذوي صعوبات التعلم وأشقائهم ورفاقهم من عمر 14-17 سنة في الفترة من 3 – 10 فبراير 2012 بمنتجع رمال – البدع, والذي يحتوي على الأنشطة الترفيهية والرياضية والثقافية ومسابقات متنوعة للطلبة.

بتكلفة 300 د.ك للفرد وستغطي الجمعية نصف التكاليف مناصفة مع ولي الأمر (150 دك للطالب)

و هناك 10% خصم لأقارب وأصدقاء الطالب المنتسب للمخيم.

لمزيد من المعلومات الرجاء الاتصال على الجمعية الكويتية لاختلافات التعلم

94427262 – 1832000 داخلي 300

Inspirational Group...

2012-01-17T21:40:00.001+03:00

I just got back from the 2nd adoption support-group meeting hosted by the wonderful adoptive mother, Zeina Sultan... The attendees were other adoptive mothers, professionals and supporters. It was an inspirational and educational meeting, which will hopefully keep growing and reaching all adoptive families. These meetings aim to provide information sharing between the mothers, but professionals have attended to lend professional advise when needed. There is an understanding of confidentiality, so names and pictures will not be distributed except with appropriate consent.

Here is a list of some of the topics that were covered tonight:

How to address prejudice and lack of education within our society
What, when, how?...Telling your adopted child about the adoption.
Difficulties in the adoption process
The importance of finding a support network

These are common questions that will be addressed on a regular basis. Parents are encouraged to send in their questions before hand. They are also welcomed to share any materials, resources or references that have found useful.

In a previous post I had mentioned the group "Special Mothers" (link), a group which Zeina hopes can provide information and support for parents who are not able or ready to join the support-group meetings. You may also find the blog www.myfosteringlife.blogspot.com helpful.

If you are interested in learning more about the special mothers group and/or the meetings, you may contact Zeina by emailing her at: zeina.ben.essa@gmail.com.

A dream realized....

2012-01-16T10:03:00.000+03:00

I cannot wait to attend the opening of BACCH this week!!!

What is BACCH?

Bayt Abdullah Children's Hospice is a dream based on the promise made to Abdullah which will allow children with terminal conditions to be looked after at home or in the hospice itself.

KACCH has brought hundreds of Kuwaitis and expatriates together to make that dream a reality, each contributing to the extent of their ability and talent in the common belief that Bayt Abdullah will help each family enjoy many special times together, free from pain and other symptoms, when every moment counts for them.

You can share this dream by contributing your talents, your money, your skills and experience to make Bayt Abdullah Children's Hospice a reality in the lives of the children and families who are in need of its services.

The Hospice:

The individual needs of the child and family members will be the focus of all services provided at Bayt Abdullah ensuring a speedy and sensitive response to changes in the child's condition or family circumstances.

To that end, Bayt Abdullah will offer all families registered with the hospice:

a) A specialised professional service, free of charge for all children in Kuwait who meet the criteria for admission to the hospice, regardless of nationality or religion.
b) The choice of home, hospice or hospital based care, or a combination of all three, depending on their needs.
c) 24 hour support at the end of a telephone or in the family home.
d) Respect for individual preferences of children and families in relation to treatment and intervention.

The opening is invite only, but with permission I will give you some details about the opening after attending... Do visit their website and find out about this wonderful dream that has finally become a reality...

Charts, lists, and routines...oh my!

2012-01-16T09:34:00.000+03:00

All parents feel overwhelmed at one point or another. Being organized and structured can help tremendously, but what does that really mean?

Well... you can start with introducing yourselves to a calendar. Electronic, paper, or memory based (I would really discourage using the latter) can work. Parents often tell me their kids have a busier calendar than they do. By being organized you can make sure you keep your kids schedules intact, and make sure you have time set aside for your self as well. You may use an actual calendar, or something more child specific like the one below, which was shown in Oleana's blog.

Calendars, if paper-based or written on a board, should be in an area where all the family can see it, like the kitchen or living room.

Check out Oleana's post about these great printables

The second item that helps with organization is creating a daily routine for your children. Using visual charts for young children, or children with special needs, is usually VERY helpful. I often encourage parents to do it as a family project. Take pictures of your child doing the behavior/activity, and then stack the pictures up or across according to time. If you are unable to do it, use the available printable charts like the one below, which was also shown in Oleana's blog. These will usually be for basic routines, not a full day schedule.

Routine charts are best kept in your child's room.

The third item on the list would be to create a list of house rules. This not only teaches your children discipline, but it also allows for understandable and clear guidelines for you as a parent of when and how to punish. See my two posts about discipline to learn more about rewards and punishments (Disciplined 1, Disciplined 2)

Rules charts should be in the living room and/or play area.

A fourth item on our organization list is the "reward chart". This is saved up for behaviors you would like to encourage and nurture in your children. Do NOT punish a child when s/he does not do the behaviors on this list, but reward them when they do. This chart aims to motivate your child, it is not intended as another list of rules. I would usually encourage using two behaviors at a time for a period of 3-4 weeks. Once these behaviors are mastered, you can substitute with two new behaviors. The chart can also be done by using pictures of your child doing the goal/behavior.

You may choose to have an actual big chart such as the one below, or keep a notepad with you and you can add stickers or happy faces to it, as in not to overwhelm your house with charts:)

Let's get organized!

Following...

2012-01-11T14:44:00.001+03:00

I sometimes wish I could duplicate myself and be able to give and do more, alas it is not quiet possible yet. I do not tweet, because of time constraints, but I do follow some very interesting accounts that I would like to share with you:

@SoorCenterQ8: Largest private psychology practice in the Middle East. 20+ professionals providing full a range of therapeutic services with integrity and compassion.

@AtfaalDoc: Dr. Nadia Al Hamad's account. A fantastic pediatrician that I have had the honor to have met with and often refer my clients to.

@specialmothers: Your only go-to account for adoption information and support.

@NYTMotherload: Tweets by the writers of Motherlode, The New York Times's parenting blog, exploring the many ways we raise our kids now.

@HealthyChildren: HealthyChildren.org is the official parenting Web site of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

@kcrs_group: Kuwait Child's Rights Society | Child abuse news | Promote child's rights, stop child abuse.

@SPEAKuwait: An inspirational advocacy group focusing on breaking the stigma associated with mental illness and psychology.

@DrSussanah: The lovely Clinical Coordinator & Supervising Psychologist at Soor Center.

@Oleana: Not only is this a super cute boutique for kids, but Oleana's owner, the beautiful Reem Al-Fadala, often blogs and tweets about events and news related to children.

Anyone else I should know about?

Teenage tantrums...Healthy?

2012-01-05T10:23:00.001+03:00

I just read an informative entry in Shots blog, which discusses very interesting finding of a study done by researchers at the University of Virginia. The findings were published in the journal of Child Development, and they focused on the importance and benefits of children's arguments. Th study reported that children who fight and argue with their parents were more assertive and independent in the future. Those children were also able to confidently stand by their ideals and morals, but (and that's a big but), only if parents direct them well during these arguments.

Joseph P. Allen, the lead psychologist in this study, explained that parents should consider these arguments not as a nuisance but as a "critical training ground". Here is a small synopsis of the blog entry by Patti Neighmond:

Teens should be rewarded when arguing calmly and persuasively and not when they indulge in yelling, whining, threats or insults, he says.

In Allen's study, 157 13-year-olds were videotaped describing their biggest disagreement with their parents. The most common arguments were over grades, chores, money and friends. The tape was then played for both parent and teen.

"Parents reacted in a whole variety of ways. Some of them laughed uncomfortably; some rolled their eyes; and a number of them dove right in and said, 'OK, let's talk about this,'" he says.

It was the parents who said wanted to talk who were on the right track, says Allen. "We found that what a teen learned in handling these kinds of disagreements with their parents was exactly what they took into their peer world," with all its pressures to conform to risky behavior like drugs and alcohol.

Allen interviewed the teens again at ages 15 and 16. "The teens who learned to be calm and confident and persuasive with their parents acted the same way when they were with their peers," he says. They were able to confidently disagree, saying 'no' when offered alcohol or drugs. In fact, they were 40 percent more likely to say 'no' than kids who didn't argue with their parents.

From my own perspective I can completely understand and agree with these findings. As some of you followers might have already have read, I commonly say "every opportunity is a learning opportunity". These arguments are bound to happen, and it is your choice as a parent to use your strength and power to instill fear or instill respect. Fear will only last for a short period of time, and then encourage lying and escapist behavior; respect will be lifelong with the added benefit of building your child's character.

Follow the link for the full blog entry.

Healthy Eating...

2012-01-02T09:59:00.001+03:00

One of the most common resolutions for New Year is to be more healthy... Very often, people are confused about the difference in terminology between "natural", "organic" and "health" foods. The following is an explanation of these differences by Healthy Children's blog:

Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they have different meanings.

Organic foods are grown without artificialpesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides. Organic meat, eggs, and dairy products are obtained from animals that are fed natural feed and not given hormones orantibiotics.
Natural foods are free of synthetic or artificial ingredients or additives.
“Health foods” is a general term that may be applied to natural or organic foods, or to regular foods that have undergone less processing than usual, such as stone-ground whole-grain flours.

Although some have claimed that organic foods have a higher concentration of some nutrients, the evidence is mixed. The nutritional content of foods also varies greatly according to when the food was harvested and how it has been stored or processed. Unless they are fresher, there is also no evidence that organic, natural, or health foods taste better than regular foods. However, taste is determined by plant genetics, rather than by whether the crop is organically or conventionally grown. Harvesting and handling also affect taste. A peach or tomato that is picked when it is too green will never develop the full taste of fruit that is allowed to ripen on the tree or the vine.

Although the type of fertilizer may not affect taste or nutrition, it does have an effect on theenvironment. Many people prefer to pay premium prices for organic foods because their production does not cause environmental damage from pesticides and herbicides, and composted fertilizers help restore soil and are not as damaging to the environment as artificial fertilizers. However, simply stating “organic” does not protect the food from being contaminated from field to market.

What are your resolutions?

Preventative Means

2011-12-30T11:56:00.000+03:00

Watching morning T.V., a beloved past-time of mine on friday morning, I heard about some controversial new advertisements targeting the use of Meth (Methamphetamine Drugs). Darren Aronofsky, from the movie "The Black Swan", directed several of the Meth Project Foundation ads, and I must say they are VERY graphic.

The Meth Project Foundation was established by businessman Thomas M. Siebel in 2005 in response to the growing Meth epidemic in the U.S. The Meth Project is a large-scale prevention program aimed at reducing Meth use through public service messaging, public policy, and community outreach. Central to the program is a research-based marketing campaign and community action programs designed to communicate the risks of Meth use. The Meth Project is funded by a grant from the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation.

These scare tactics and threats do not usually work on current drug users. The ads motto, "Not even once", aims to target potential users rather than current users.. The ads are very well done, very shocking and unforgiving. I debated whether or not to embed one of the videos here, but I decided against it because of its graphic nature. I do, however, encourage you to search on YouTube and tell me what you think.

No?

2011-12-28T09:49:00.003+03:00

Two weeks ago, I was asked about the right time to say "no" to a child. Most recent opinions about this seem to suggest that delaying saying "no" has many benefits, most importantly providing a positive and nurturing environment for the child. This is certainly something to think about. I, however, do think that saying "no" will not have any detrimental effects on the child's upbringing even at an early age. In fact it can be useful. We have to keep in mind that is it CRITICAL to give children an alternatives as often as possible, and use "no" when it is regarding something potentially dangerous/serious. For example, if your child is playing with your phone, we can simply redirect him by saying "This is mummy's not yours, but here's your toy, while you hand your child something that belongs to him. If the child was trying to touch the fire/heater, saying "no" is appropriate. Explain why whenever possible.

When we are talking about parenting, we very often have to also talk about reality and practicality and not just ideals. Does that mean we are not providing our very best? Not at all!
Your young child would have heard "no" from you or others even if it not directed at him/her. Furthermore, in interactions with other adults, your child may have been told "no" directly. Thinking about cognition and the development of linguistic awareness, it makes more sense that we associate from an early age a relationship between the word "no" and its meaning. Children thrive within a structure and within a predictable environment, and some limitations are necessary.

Allowing the child to hear the word "no", will also teach the child about assertiveness. You would have taught your own child how to express his disdain or refusal. I can probably hear some "oh no's" from you readers right now, but again, an expressive child will be more successful and independent than a non-expressive child. When children start saying "no" this is the ideal time to teach them about choices and consequences.

Do you remember our earlier post about discipline (here)? Remember that video of the boy during the tantrum?. These types of tantrums can be seen in very young children; even younger than the expected "terrible twos" stage. When structure is in place and some rules are implemented, the tantrums can be dealt with more efficiently.

So what is our summary?

Saying "no" can be beneficial. It builds structure and differentiates between dangerous and non dangerous behavior.
Saying "no" also provides children with predictability, which makes them feel safe.
Try to give alternatives whenever possible instead of "no" for very young children.
For older children: Keep giving alternatives and show your child how to correct their own mistakes.
Saying "no" teaches children about assertiveness and allows them to express negative emotions.
Give children choices and teach them about consequences.

Holiday Reflection...

2011-12-24T01:22:00.000+03:00

As the New Year approaches and the festivities of theholidays commence, many of us start thinking about the past year…. Thedifficulties, surprises and pleasures we have had. Some of us make lists and others resolutions. It is important to reflect and deflectin any way you find useful. Dr.Marilyn Price-Mitchell suggested in an article in Psychology Today that parents keep these tworesolutions:

Be a positive role-model
Help my kids believe in themselves

What wonderful resolutions! They are not easy, and they are notstraight forward, but they are very important. To help you with these resolutions, I ask you to thinkabout your own experiences this year, as an individual and as a family. Learn from the mistakes, and celebrate the successes… Think about the important things (including people, events,activities, etc) in your life, and how much time and love you dedicate to thesethings. Remind yourself and othersaround you that you deserve love and deserve to be happy. Believe in your self and your children will follow... Feel positive about your life and the positivity will transcend to your family...

Here is a song which isperfect for our little post today…

This holiday season I wish you all Love…

Eating your way to health

2011-12-18T21:14:00.000+03:00

After checking Oleana Blog's post about our government school lunches (which look horrible!), I remembered the REMARKABLE project that Chef Jamie Oliver headed both in the U.K and U.S.A. to change school lunches. Because of his efforts, he was the 2010 TED Prize Winner. His speech was touching, inspirational and educational. Please take the time to see the whole video... I know it's quiet long. Kuwait's population struggles immensely with very high rates of obesity and diet related diseases.

Several of our earlier posts have been dedicated to the cause (see our September entry)

Adoption Read-y

2011-12-17T20:23:00.000+03:00

Recently I posted about a very important but often undiscussed issue: Adoption. After consulting with Om Wahabi, a wonderful mother of two gorgeous adopted children, I provide you with her recommended reading list... I also encourage those of you who are interested in knowing more about adoption locally to check out "Special Mothers" page on Facebook.

Please do feel free to share your own experiences and suggested reading...

1. Found , Jennifer Lauck
2. Attaching in adoption, Deborah D. Gray
3. The Primal Wound, Nancy Newton Verrier
4. 20 Things Adoptive Parents Need to Succeed, Sherrie Eldridge
5. Making Sense of Adoption, Lois Ruskai Melina
6. Twice born, Betty Jean Lifton

Found , by Jennifer Lauck

Attaching in adoption, by Deborah D. Gray

The Primal Wound, by Nancy Newton Verrier

20 Things Adoptive Parents Need to Succeed, by Sherrie Eldridge

Making Sense of Adoption, by Lois Ruskai Melina

Twice born, by Betty Jean Lifton

Marriage Survival 101

2011-12-14T22:50:00.003+03:00

A new post to share by Jennifer Ludden from the SHOTS blog...

To Keep Marriage Healthy When Baby Comes, Share House Work

As many couples can attest — and lots of research backs this up — marital happiness plummets with the arrival of a baby. Sleepless nights, seemingly endless diaper changes and the avalanche of new chores that come with a newborn leave little time for the intimacies of marriage. It's a situation ripe for mental stress and marital discord.

In fact, the strain is so well documented that, as the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year, a growing number of mental-health professionals now advise pre-emptive relationship counseling for expectant parents.

But in a survey of 2,870 married couples, the National Marriage Project of the University of Virginia found that more than a third of them buck the trend, managing to stay happy through the emotional, physical and financial strains of new parenthood. So, how do they do it?

Not surprisingly, the report finds sexual satisfaction and a sense of commitment top the list of traits that lead husbands and wives to say they are "very happy" in marriage. No. 3 is "generosity," defined as:

"the virtue of giving good things to [one's spouse] freely and abundantly," and encompasses small acts of service (e.g., making coffee for one's spouse in the morning), the expression of affection, displays of respect, and a willingness to "forgive him/her for mistakes and failings."

Further down the list: shared housework. That's right, both mothers and fathers are more likely to report they are "very happy" when housework is "shared equally." So presumably, asking your husband to do the laundry (or your wife to change the light bulb) can be good for your marriage. Though harking back to generosity, perhaps it's better if each volunteers to take on the task.

The survey is a joint project of the National Marriage Project and the Institute for American Values, conservative groups that promote marriage. Their report also finds — as many surveys have shown — that more devoutly religious people often rank themselves happier. Another recent study attributes this effect to the social networks that religion can foster.

Strikingly, the National Marriage Project finds a big jump in marital happiness among couples with four or more children (which, as the researchers note, is likely a pretty self-selecting group.)

Or, there's a simpler strategy: patience. Contrary to popular perception, evidence suggests marital bliss rebounds with the empty nest.

Sitting comfortably...

2011-12-14T09:49:00.000+03:00

Did these car seats grab your attention? Are you expecting? Or is your little baby looking for a "big boy" seat?

Click here to find out how you can get 10% off ALL of these wonderful Maxi-Cosi Seats from Just Kidding (Dubai).

Offer expires at the end of December... HURRY!

International exchange...

2011-12-12T10:15:00.001+03:00

Last week I attended the 1st International Conference on Learning Disabilities and ADHD in Kuwait. It was a 2 day event hosted by Center for Child Evaluation and Teaching (CCET) and the Kuwait Association for Learning Differences (KALD). The turn-out was wonderful! Around 2,000 people were registered to attend the lectures, and the international lecturers were truly top notch. Here is one article from Arab Times (online) which reviewed the conference, for you to have an idea about what topics were tackled.

‘Need To Ensure Students With Learning Disabilities And ADHD Remain Part Of Society’Acting Health Minister Represents The Amir At The Confab

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 4: “We must keep in mind that individuals with Learning Disabilities and ADHD are often vulnerable members of the population and it is our duty as parents, educators, healthcare professionals and the entire community for that matter, to protect them, ensure they remain integrated in society and assist them to become productive and contributing members,” said Dr. Hilal Al-Sayer, Acting Health Minister in his speech, as he represented the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at the opening of the First International Conference on Learning Disabilities (LD) and Attention Deficit/Hyper-activity Disorder (ADHD) Sunday at the Regency Hotel in Kuwait.

The two-day conference with the slogan “The Future Unites Us” under the patronage of HH the Amir was organized by The Center for Child Evaluation and Teaching (CCET) and the Kuwait Association for Learning Differences (KALD) and attended by delegates and experts on the relevant fields from across the world as well as teachers, educators in public and private schools, students and parents interested in learning about the latest development in the field of LD/ADHD.

In his speech preceded by the Kuwait national anthem and a recitation of the Qur’an, the Chairman of CCET, Abdullah Sharhan welcoming participants to the special needs conference, stated that the event which was timed to coincide with the worldwide celebrations of the International Day of the Disabled, will focus on learning disabilities as one of the most important and commonest types of disabilities negatively affecting individuals’ ability to read, write, compute and focus on school and academic achievement, which leads to their inability to contribute fully and positively to society because they are not able to benefit from the mainstream educational services provided by the state.

Sharhan added that the conference will concentrate on awareness, training, assessment and intervention in addition to building bridges and links between public and private sectors, governmental bodies and civil society organizations in a scientific ambience that is targeted to benefit children with LD and ADHD.

In his capacity as the representative of the Amir, Dr Al-Sayer commended the organizers of the event, saying that he was impressed by its scope and agenda as well as the impressive list of delegates who have gracefully accepted the invitation to come to Kuwait to attend, share knowledge and experiences.
Al-Sayer further stated that events of this nature, not only raises awareness in the community of the unique needs and challenges faced by parents, educators, administrators, policy makers and children themselves, but also serves as an example of the type of forum required to address and overcome them. The acting health minister, added that people should always bear in mind that individuals with LD and ADHD are often vulnerable populations and it’s the duty of parents, educators, healthcare professionals and the entire community for that matter, to protect them, ensure they remain integrated in society and assist them to become productive and contributing members of society.

The importance of the conference lies in its ability to establish social harmony between civil society organizations and governmental and non-governmental organizations. It is also a demonstration of Kuwait’s leadership in providing better services to students with LD and or ADHD including assessment, therapeutic programs, training session and educational projects, said Faten Al-Bader, Director of CCET.
Commenting on their motivation for organizing the conference, Director of KALD, Amal Al-Sayer said that the initiative for the event comes from their belief in the role of civil society organizations in achieving the objectives of the recent development plan for Kuwait approved by the Amir. She added that the basis for the development of an educational system for the disabled depends on the cooperation between governmental and non-governmental institutions.

Conference day one saw 13 different sessions and workshops given by many experts, with the first session being conducted by Dr. Gavin Reid, an eminent Educational Psychologist from the United Kingdom who has written extensively on LD and ADHD. Reid’s lecture which focused on the identification of literacy and learning needs of students with LD, also highlighted on how these needs can be transferred from an assessment protocol to classroom teaching.

Next lecture was by Shannon Green, an international consultant on learning and literacy difficulties who gave an insight into how to bridge the gap between parents and schools and how effective communication can be achieved and what strategies can be used to by parents and teachers to establish the link. On his part, Professor Charles Haynes focused on early diagnosis and teaching for pre-literacy skills while Professor John Everatt’s session discussed reading comprehension in children with LD.

As a demonstration of the interactive nature of the conference, parents were given the opportunity to clarify the diagnosis and methods of evaluation of LD and the ways to cope with it. A number of workshops were also given to clarify the concept of Dyscalculia (math learning difficulties) and the importance of identifying the types of the condition as well as students suffering from it.

The sessions and workshops are in tune with the conference’s main objectives which include clarifying the role of institutions working in the field of LD and ADHD, provision of knowledge for governmental and non-governmental institutions as well as educational institutions. The objectives also include the provision of the latest services and learning environments for students with LD and or ADHD as well as share experience and expertise in the areas of diagnosis and treatment of the condition.

Mama, I need to go!

2011-12-12T09:45:00.001+03:00

Potty training is a part of parenting that many dread, as it can be messy and exhausting, but once mastered provides huge relief. An interesting article from Healthy Children provided information on the emotional development needed for toilet training. Many parents just assume that by a certain age the child has to be potty trained. It is very important to remember that each child is different, and these emotional indicators can help in easing the toilet training process for you and your child. Observe your child's general behavior and his/her behavior towards potty use, keeping in mind these four aspects:

Self Mastery- The desire to control one's own functions and environment.
Resistance- The desire to control physical functions and environment.
Desire for Approval- Basically your child's desire to get your approval and imitate behavior.
Social Awareness- Looking at your child's desire to be like others.

For the full article, click here.

Not Santa but Eggbert?

2011-12-12T09:24:00.001+03:00

Who is Eggbert? Found out by clicking here.

TOO CUTE!

ADOPT...FOSTER...LOVE

2011-12-06T14:36:00.000+03:00

Below is a beautiful video I would like to share with you... This is the beginning of a wonderful journey for one family in Kuwait. Adoption is a choice many people make, but very few speak about...

To know more about this family, and learn more about adoption in Kuwait visit the following blog:

http://myfosteringlife.blogspot.com/

The Other Voice: Little man's grub

2011-12-06T13:02:00.001+03:00

Today's The Other Voice post is by the wonderful Noor Al Zabin...

Following the notes I shared withyou regarding organic baby food and their availability, I thought I’d sharesome tips in preparing fresh food that I have tried with my child that couldbe of help.

Once a baby is set on a 4/5 mealplan (breakfast-snack-lunch-snack-dinner) is it’s important to ensure that themeals that you prepare are wholesome, fresh and varied.. Babies’ palates areclean and virgin to any tastes and preferences and it is as you go along thatthey start to develop their likes and dislikes. With that in mind I feel it isvery important to introduce different tastes and flavors early on to avoidmajor dislikes in the future. Here are a few foods that you can try includingwith your cooked meals:

1) Tofu: A fantastic source of protein, calcium and iron..This would make a great alternative to meats a few times a week and its quitebland so babies usually don’t mind it mixed with their usual vegetables

2) Quinoa: Packed with protein, vitamins A.C, B1 and B2.This could be cooked and added to vegetable and meat meals.

3) Lentils: I make sure my little one has lentils withvegetables a couple of times a week on his meat-free days… Lentils are high insix minerals, fiber, protein and B vitamins.

4) Vegetables: Be adventurous within boundaries. Includevegetables you might usually not have at home but know are very nutritious.Parsnips, broccoli, squash, cauliflower, asparagus, avocado, spinach andbeetroot all make regular appearances in my little one’s diet.

5) Fruit: As recommended by our pediatrician I avoidtropical fruit (mango, pineapple, strawberries) during the first year tominimize risk of any allergic reactions. That mentioned, it’s beneficial toensure fruits are a part of the daily program such as bananas, grapes, oranges,pears, apples, peaches, plums.

As with any new food introducedto babies, it’s important to try each new food with caution looking out for anyallergic reactions. After all every baby is different...

"The Other Voice"- Is our contributing authors post. If you would like to contribute, email me at zalzabin@gmail.com for approval, editing and eventual posting:)

Abused Child = Combat Soldier?

2011-12-06T08:36:00.001+03:00

Powerful new study...

How Abuse Changes a Child’s Brain

By Brandon Keim

The brains of children raised in violent families resemble the brains of soldiers exposed to combat, psychologists say.

They’re primed to perceive threat and anticipate pain, adaptations that may be helpful in abusive environments but produce long-term problems with stress and anxiety.

“For them to detect early cues that might signal danger is adaptive. It allows them to react, to try and avoid the danger,” said psychologist Eamon McCrory of University College London. However, “a very similar neural signature characterizes quite a few anxiety disorders.”

In a study published Dec. 5 in Current Biology, McCrory’s team used functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, to measure blood flows in the brains of 43 children exposed to violence at home as they looked at pictures of sad or angry faces.

Previous studies have shown that abuse affects kids’ brains; as they grow up, abused children become adults with high levels of aggression, anxiety, depression and other behavioral problems. But according to McCrory, the new study is the first to use fMRI to study the form of those changes.

“Understanding the neural mechanisms might give us clues as to how someone’s future might be shaped by their experience,” McCrory said.

His team compared fMRIs from abused children to those of 23 non-abused but demographically similar children from a control group. In the abused children, angry faces provoked distinct activation patterns in their anterior insula and right amygdala, parts of the brain involved in processing threat and pain. Similar patterns have been measured in soldiers who’ve seen combat.

Another recent study found that depression in people who were abused as children is especially difficult to treat. McCrory hopes future work will give a more complete picture of abuse’s neurological effects — and, perhaps, the effects of interventions that help children heal.

“Can children change in response to an act of intervention? To a better home environment? We’re quite optimistic that’s the case, that this is reversible. But that’s something we need to test,” McCrory said.

Image: D. Sharon Pruitt/Flickr

Citation: “Heightened neural reactivity to threat in child victims of family violence.” By Eamon J. McCrory, Stéphane A. De Brito, Catherine L. Sebastian, Andrea Mechelli, Geoffrey Bird, Phillip A. Kelly, and Essi Viding. Current Biology, Vol. 21 No. 23, Dec. 6, 2011.

Tea with me?

2011-12-05T09:43:00.001+03:00

I promise it will be friendlier than this

Good crisp morning...
I wanted to use this forum to get some feedback on a new idea I have. One of my wonderful regular clients had suggested that she groups 2-3 of her friends who have children of similar ages to talk about parenting in general. I absolutely love this idea, and would like to take it further.
Support groups and group sessions are a wonderful way for people to exchange ideas, build connections, and find comfort in realizing "I am not alone". This will most likely be a once/week morning session to begin with, and the topics/age group would change monthly. Let me know what topics might interest you by commenting below or emailing me directly (zalzabin@gmail.com). If you are interested to know about these sessions once they start, do say so in your comment/email and I will keep you updated. I am hoping to start offering the group sessions in January or February.

Apps & Autism

2011-12-03T19:33:00.001+03:00

An interesting article from The New York Times.
I have not personally tried any of these applications, but they have been reviewed
by professionals, adults with Autism and parents with children with Autism...

November 29, 2011, 11:47 AM

Finding Good Apps for Children With Autism

By PRADNYA JOSHI

Shannon Des Roches RosaLeo Rosa, son of Shannon Des Roches Rosa, of Redwood City, Calif., plays with Spot the Dot, an educational app for the iPad.

The Apple iPad has been hailed as a savior for assisting children with autism spectrum disorder or other special needs. It was portrayed as a minor miracle in a recent segment on “60 Minutes” and has been found to help even the very young quickly learn.

Anecdotally, teachers, parents and therapistsdescribe the profound difference that apps for Apple and Android products have made in helping autistic children develop skills. IPad programs have provided a means of communicating for some children with autism who cannot speak or have language delays. Other apps help children learn to handle social situations that can be stressful, like crowds at malls. And many programs can help develop fine-motor skills, which promote functions like writing or manipulating small objects.

Sami Rahman of Houston said that his son, Noah, 3, who has cerebral palsy, was woefully behind in fine-motor skills, speech and cognitive skills before he began therapies and intervention programs. But in four months, the apps he used — along with sessions with therapists and teachers — have put him ahead of the curve in all these areas, Mr. Rahman said.

The iPad “has lowered the cognitive base you have to have to interface with a computer,” Mr. Rahman said. “You touch it, and something happens.”

But as is the case with so many categories of apps, it’s daunting to know where to begin when sorting through the thousands of programs available. “There are so many apps, and not all of them are great,” said Shannon Des Roches Rosa of Redwood City, Calif., whose son, Leo, 11, has autism.

To that end, several good Web sites have been created to review special-needs apps. Most of these sites are not driven by advertising nor do they receive referral fees for recommending apps:

iPad Apps for Autism A Google docs site maintained by Ms. Rosa that grew out of a project she did for the Hollyrod Foundation. The apps she has reviewed and recommended are classified into categories like art, language and music. Jordan Sadler, a professional speech therapist in Chicago, and Corina Becker, an adult with autism, are among the main reviewers. Among the developers she recommends are Injini, Toca Boca, Duck Duck Moose andOceanhouse Media. “Specific companies produce great apps,” Ms. Rosa said.

Other sites she recommends for app listings include Technology in (Spl) Education, which includes a list of free and discounted apps, and Speech-Language Pathology Sharing for language development.

SNapps4kids.com The site, a program of the Easter Seals, lists more than 700 apps but includes about 60 that have been professionally reviewed. The reviews are all done by a special education teacher or certified therapist, many of whom are a part of the Easter Seals network. Mr. Rahman and Cristen Reat, who has a son with Down syndrome, co-founded the site to help identify useful apps. The reviews and categories are organized based on skills learned rather than what disability or diagnosis is targeted. “It’s really for all ages,” said Ms. Reat. “We know stroke victims and people with Alzheimer’s who are using our Web site.”

a4cwsn.com This site, which stands for Apps for Children With Special Needs, features 500 video reviews done by Gary James of Oxford, Conn., who has a son with autism and a daughter with epilepsy. He says he has reviewed some 5,000 apps, but only lists reviews of apps that he believes do what they promise. If an app passes that test and is listed, developers can pay to be on the home page of his site. But that revenue does not cover all the costs of operating the site, he said.

iAutism.info This database contains over 400 apps for iPad/iPhone and nearly 70 for Android. The site was started by Francesc Sistach and his wife, Susana Vila, who live in Spain. Iván Soriano, another parent of a child with autism, is also a main reviewer. Mr. Sistach says the app he finds most interesting is See.Touch.Learn, an app based on Applied Behavior Analysis, a common early intervention therapy for autistic children. “This app can complement expensive one-to-one sessions with a therapist with self-learning sessions using a tablet,” he said.

The site also includes Spanish and other foreign language apps. “Many U.S. developers are forgetting that there are many, many users in other countries, and they only publish their apps in English.” Mr. Sistach said. “ We encourage all developers to translate their apps to other languages, and we are even helping some of them in this process.”

2011-12-03T18:58:00.001+03:00

It shouldn't hurt to be a child...

2011-11-30T23:10:00.001+03:00

Apologies for the delay... The past two weeks have been exceptionally busy. Last night I gave a lecture on Child Abuse at the Kuwait Medical Association by the invitation of Kuwait Child Rights Society. I will not present the full powerpoint here, but I will share the summarized list of preventative tips I found from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

*** Please note that even though the wording presented here by the American Academy of Pediatrics seems to suggest that abuse only happens to girls (using she/her), boys are just as likely to be abused. (I doubt that the AAP had meant to be gender specific)

Teachyour child about the privacy of body parts, and that no one has the right totouch her if she tells the individual not to do so. She should understand thatsome touching is "good" but some is "bad”.
Inearly childhood, parents can teach their children the name of the genitals,just as they teach their child the names of other body parts. This teaches thatthe genitals, while "private" are not so private that you can't talkabout them.
Sitdown with your child and explain various situations that might indicate that apossible child molester is making advances.
Tella child that a molester or abductor may offer her alcohol or drugs to reduceher inhibitions.
Tellyour child that threats from a molester or anyone else are against thelaw—"If you tell your mother what we did, I'm going to hurt/killher"—and to tell you immediately about them.
Ifyour youngster is in a position to do door-to-door solicitation—perhaps sellingGirl Scout cookies or collecting money for a newspaper route—have an adult gowith her. Warn your child that she should never enter someone else'shome unless an adult accompanies her. (More appropriately for us would be“Girgai’an time)
Investigatewhether your youngster's school has an abuse-prevention program.
Monitorthe activities at your child's child-care facility or summer camp. Participatein these activities whenever possible.
Spendenough time with your child that she does not feel the need to seek theattention of other adults.

Let us all work on implementing child protection laws and building a supportive infrastructure in Kuwait

Separation-Anxiety... Overcoming the Disorder

2011-11-20T12:00:00.001+03:00

As aforementioned in my previous post, separation anxiety as a normal life stage first develops at about 7 months of age; once a baby understands that his or her caregivers do not disappear when out of sight (object permanence). That leads to the baby developing a true attachment to those adults. Normal separation anxiety is at its strongest at 10 to 18 months and gradually subsides, usually by the age of 3 years. Normal separation anxiety may result in parents having trouble with their babies at bedtime or other times of separation, in that the child becomes anxious, cries, or clings to the caretaker.

Separation anxiety disorder is a mental health disorder that begins in childhood and is characterized by worrying that is out of proportion to the situation of temporarily leaving home or otherwise separating from loved ones. Four percent to 5% of children and adolescents suffer from separation anxiety disorder. The symptoms/signs of separation anxiety include:

Repeated excessive anxiety about something bad happening to loved ones or losing them.
Heightened concern about either getting lost or being kidnapped.
Repeated hesitancy or refusal to go to daycare or school or to be alone or without loved ones or other adults that are important to the anxious child.
Persistent reluctance or refusal to go to sleep at nighttime without being physically close to adult loved ones.
Repeated nightmares about being separated from the people who are important to the sufferer.
Recurrent physical complaints, such as headaches or stomach aches, when separation either occurs or is expected.

Tips on how to help your child overcome separation anxiety:

Try not to punish your child for continuing to suffer from the symptoms, but rather reward your child for small victories.

Allow your child, in the beginning, to try to achieve those small victories in your presence. Attend some classes with your child, the child may initially want to be on your lap, then is able to sit next to you, and later you may wait outside the classroom, until the final goal of complete separation is achieved.

Allow your child to have a symbolic reminder of you and the home. Pictures or a favorite toy may be utilized as a transitional object and can have a calming effect on your child.

Try to prepare your child for upcoming separations whenever possible, as sudden separations may be very difficult in the beginning.

Try separations for a brief period of time. Gradually increase time and distance.

When you tell your child that you are going…Go! Do not stall, or repeat goodbyes. Your child may then become clingy and irritable.

Honor time commitments to your child (especially older children).

Plan fun activities in advance so you allow the child to anticipate positive outcomes once you are reunited.

Simple relaxation techniques can help your child overcome his/her anxiety. Try teaching the child simple exercises like taking a deep breath or counting to 10.

Separation-Anxiety... A fact

2011-11-20T11:51:00.001+03:00

I think most parents have done this at one point or another... Do not worry! It is not completely traumatizing and damaging to sneak off, but from a developmental and parental stand-point, it is MORE effective to address the issue and teach your child how to handle separation (rather than delaying the inevitable). It is true, however, that sneaking off may increase anxiety, or prolong the period of separation anxiety for your child.

Separation-Anxiety...A definition

2011-11-20T10:53:00.001+03:00

Separationanxiety is a normal developmental stage experienced by a child when separatedfrom the primary caregiver. It typically manifests itself as crying anddistress when a child is away from a parent or from home.

Astime goes by and a child learns to feel safe in a new environment and securethat a parent or caregiver will return after an absence, anxiety overseparation should fade.

Thetypical sequence of child development and parent/child attachment is asfollows:

First few months: Babies don’t differentiate much among caregivers and usually can be calmed by any loving person, regardless of relationship. This is why new parents often get more emotional the first time they leave an infant with a babysitter or at day care than the baby does!
7-14 months: By about 7 months, babies realize that there’s only one Mom and/or Dad, but they don’t have a sense of time, so even if parents step into the next room for a minute, all the baby knows is that they’re gone, and they’re going to cry or cling or do whatever it takes to keep that from happening. This phase is often called “stranger anxiety,” because even the happiest child becomes shy or fearful around everyone but the primary caregiver, and generally peaks before 18 months.
Toddler/preschool years: Children can be anxious and become emotional when a parent or primary caregiver leaves but can be distracted by activities with the caregiver or other children.
By age 5: Most children are secure enough to be left with a babysitter, family member or dropped off at school without distress.

Youngchildren exhibit many different behaviors when they are anxious, including:

Crying or whining
Clinginess (holding hand or leg, wanting to be held, hiding behind parent)
Shyness
They may become more silent or reclusive
They may be unwillingness to interact with others, even if they are familiar (other parent, grandparent, friend)

Situationssuch as moving to a new home, a change in caregiver, or the birth of a newsibling can trigger or exacerbate separation anxiety.

Normally, separation anxiety is the temporarily distressing resultof something all parents want to maintain: bonding with theirchildren. Babies bond to primary caregivers, and then realize their ownselfhood, but this happens before they develop a sense of time or learn to trust that an absentcaregiver will return. This is why they become anxious when the parent or guardian is not around. As childrendevelop a sense of safety and security in their homes and with their parents, they begin to realize that people can leave and return, and gain confidence thatcaregiver who promise to come back will in fact come back. With that realization, separation anxiety fades.

Keep an eye out for an upcoming post that will tackle Separation-Anxiety Disorder and how to overcome it...

No snooze... They lose...

2011-11-19T22:04:00.001+03:00

A super cute entry in Motherload, a New York Time's parenting blog, caught my attention and I wanted to share it with you... I am not supporting this mother's solution, but I do understand it.

Lying to Get My Children More Sleep

By KJ DELLANTONIA

This weekend I set all the clocks back. About 7 on Sunday night (which was feeling a whole lot like 8 to me and four cranky children), I set them forward again. But not all the way. About half an hour. Just enough to give the children a little edge on what’s always a sleepy week without my having to declare an early bedtime — and then listen to a chorus of complaint. I admit it: I lied, or at least, I created an atmosphere in which a lie was implied. But it was all for an excellent cause.

For every sleepless parent out there, there’s a sleep-deprived child, and there’s no “mother’s little helper” drug for the child who isn’t getting enough rest. Instead, there are a whole host of troubles associated with shortened sleep hours for children from preschool through adolescence.

A 1998 study of high school students found that students who received poor grades went to bed later and slept less on average than students who got A’s and B’s. I’ve seen other research suggesting that 6- and 7-year-olds who slept only eight hours a night did not perform as well on tests of their academic performance as those who slept nine hours or more. And although that study considered only a relatively small number of children in Spain, I can testify firsthand that the 5-, 6- and 7-year-olds in my home who sleep less than nine hours do not perform as well on tests of cooperation and familial cohesion. Children who have slept well are easier to be around. They bounce back more easily from crushing blows, like an empty box of Cheerios. I don’t have any doubt that they’re doing better in their classrooms and on the playground.

But sometimes, in the midst of busy schedules and family activities, I forget to do a sleep check. Like most of us, I sleep less than I’d like, and I’m more accustomed than I ought to be to “powering through” after a late night. Without even realizing it, I impose the same choices on my children (minus the coffee). It takes something like Jennifer Moses’s article “Waking Up to Young Kids’ Sleep Troubles” in the weekend’s Wall Street Journal to remind me that while my children may cheer my decision to stay an extra half-hour at the Sunday night family party or indulge the desire to put off homework until after dinner, those things have consequences that they can’t fully appreciate. They’re as desperate for good sleep as the mothers reaching for Xanax that I wrote about earlier on Monday. They just don’t know it.

So Sunday night I sprung forward, a few months early, in the name of not just an earlier bedtime but a peaceful version of the same. No one noticed, in spite of the fact that I didn’t change the clocks by their beds. Or if they did, while crawling, clean and warm and tired, under their covers, they didn’t say anything. Tonight it’s back to normal, which will require me to remember (and enforce) the fact that if they need to go to sleep at 8:30 p.m., they need to go brush their teeth at 8 p.m., not 8:29 p.m. Tricking them into bed (like tricking them into eating vegetables) may get them more sleep, but it skimps on the message that sleep is important. Honesty is surely a better policy. But my little subterfuge was awfully effective. Four cheerful children were up on time and even a little early for school. And I felt better, too: with the children filed away, I was in bed earlier, with no loss to my treasured wind-down time. “Bedtime Savings Time” struck me as a win-win. I’m filing it away for future use.

Another Shot

2011-11-16T12:29:00.001+03:00

Sharing another interesting article from SHOTS entitled :

Now Children Need Cholesterol Tests, Too

By Nancy Shute

Children today are growing up fast — so fast that they'renow being told to have their cholesterol tested before they hit puberty.

The new recommendation to test all children for cholesterolat ages 9 to 11 comes from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Thegoal is to reduce the risk of heart disease in adulthood. But the newrecommendation runs counter to the advice of another federally-fundedindependent panel, which says routine screening isn't needed before age 20.

"The more we learn the more we realize that theatherosclerosis process really begins early in life," says Steven Daniels,chair of the panel that wrote the new guidelines, and a pediatric cardiologistwho chairs the department of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School ofMedicine. The earlier in life cholesterol risk can be identified, the premisegoes, the easier to keep it under control.

Pediatricians were already supposed to be doing cholesteroltests in children who are obese, have diabetes or have a family history ofheart disease. But after studies found that those screening tools weren'tcatching some grade-schoolers with high cholesterol, the notion of universalscreening gained traction.

Kids won't like it, because it requires a blood draw, andthat means a needle. But the test won't require a special visit; it will bepart of regular well child visits. The new guidelines are endorsed by theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics is publishing them Monday in the journalPediatrics.

But the new recommendation isn't universally endorsed. Somedoctors think the call for universal screening is overkill, since only abouthalf of children with high cholesterol will go on to have that problem asadults. And researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionreported last year that in many children, high levels of LDL cholesterolcorrected themselves by the next office visit.

A 2007 recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services TaskForce, a federally-funded group that sets practice guidelines, says there's notenough evidence to recommend universal screening under age 20.

Daniels says that universal screening is intended to findchildren with very high LDL cholsterol, the "bad" kind, is 190milligrams of the stuff in each decliter oof blood. Overall, less than 1percent of children would be candidates for treatment with statin drugs, hesays. "I don't think it's likely that there will be overtreatment."

More likely is that Mom and Dad will need to get seriousabout exercise eating healthy. Daniel says: "It gives them a strongerrationale for working hard on making the home the healthiest environment thatit could be."

Even though statins have an enviable safety record inadults, no studies have been done on the implications of putting children onstatins for the rest of their lives. That's why today's recommendation givessome physicians pause.

Longing for yesterday...

2011-11-16T11:17:00.001+03:00

Any of my local readers studied in government schools? any of you remember the Home-Economics classes they used to offer?

Cooking in schools is making a come-back! Well not really a come-back, but some schools in the U.S. have adopted programs such as Cooking With Kids, citing the many benefits of such programs. Even though that specific program only cites benefits related to healthy food choices and awareness (including understanding nutritional value of food, choosing healthy food, etc), other benefits can be found including:

Increasing a child's ability to work in a group
Using hands-on experience to understand mathematical concepts
Increasing problem solving skills
Patience
Independence skills
Decision-making

It may not be possible to have a cooking class as part of the weekly schedule, but I do believe that having a monthly "activities" class can be very beneficial to our kids, especially for KG and Elementary kids. Hands-on and experiential learning is highly effective and unfortunately underused.

...Perhaps a place like Young Chefs Academy in Kuwait could approach schools with a proposal to do in-school classes?

Inspirational song...

2011-11-13T11:39:00.000+03:00

Thank you Oleana for posting this!!! I am so inspired and awed by this production... Great singers, wonderful producers, talented writers, simply beautiful... I had to repost... Enjoy!

Legendary Music Producer, Quincy Jones has collaborated with Emirati social entrepreneur Badr Jafar, to jointly produce the Arabic charity single entitled 'TOMORROW / BOKRA'. The song involves 24 leading Arab Artists from 16 nations across the Middle East and North Africa singing with one voice for a better tomorrow. Grammy-nominated international superstar Akon has also lent his vocals to the track, and Shakira, who is of Lebanese descent, has recorded a special introduction to the music video.

Quincy Jones' original Grammy winning version of the song 'Tomorrow (A Better You, A Better Me)' has now been re-adapted and produced by Quincy Jones and Grammy Award winning Moroccan producer- RedOne, with Arabic lyrics written by Majida El Roumi and musical adaptation by Kadim Al Sahir. The music video and documentary film have been directed by Malek Akkad (son of Moustapha Akkad, Director of 'The Message').

Associate Producers include Mawazine, Rabat; The Doha Film Institute; & the Qatar Museum Authority.

All funds raised as part of the single's global distribution will be collected by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture in support of the United Nations World Food Program, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation among others, to finance educational programs in music, arts and culture for children from across the Arab world.

'Tis the season to be jolly...

2011-11-12T12:44:00.001+03:00

Birthdays, play dates, holidays oh my...

Many of you may be feeling the pressure to buy gifts for other children and wonder if you should go for the popular games of the season, or think of something more original. Here are my tips for gift giving...

Originality can be lovely. If the child is young enough and doesn't really recognize the toys being given, give a small amount to charity in his/her name. The family will appreciate it, you would be helping a much bigger cause, and that little child will grow-up knowing he has already contributed in a big way!

Buying the popular gift of the season means it is very likely this child already has it. If you must, then do provide the receipt so that the parents can return it and buy something else. If you are on the other side and find yourself with 3 similar gifts, it is OK to re-gift! Just make sure you put a note on who gave you the gift to avoid re-gifting the same person (Culturally I understand the hesitation, but everyone knows the price of popular toys, give the gift receipt and smile).

When possible, involve your own child in buying his friend the gift. It allows them to practice generosity and understand sharing.

Do not buy live pets as a gift! no matter how cute! (Unless clearly asked or discussed with the recipient family).

Experience-based gifts are wonderful and so much fun! Use a creative way to let the child and his parents know that his gift is. An examples of experience base gifts include family boweling night, ice-cream day for 5 friends, tickets to a show, etc. This is something different and ensures that you return the nice invitation with an invitation (Two birds, one stone).

For very young kids, it is ok to get a gift for the parents or the home, with a small symbol for the child.

Educational toys, DVDs, and books are excellent. Yes the child may not be jumping up and down when receiving it, but the parents would certainly appreciate it.

Be weary of any allergies, rules and/or limitations the families have. You can ask the family directly, otherwise it is always best to err on the side of safety. Avoid giving sweets, toys/games that are violent and culturally/religiously bound toys.

Be sensitive to the families' economic situation. Do not buy expensive gifts if the recipient family would not be able to return something in a similar amount.

Do you have any tips of your own? Do share them with us!

November update...

2011-11-10T20:18:00.001+03:00

New poll on the left so Vote Vote Vote (you are allowed multiple answers this time)...

Old poll results suggest Arabic translation can wait. Sorry for the 10 percent who wanted it, but it WILL happen!

There is less than 2 months left on our fabulous 10% off offer for ALL maxi-cosi products from Just Kidding (Link).

Some of you might be celebrating Thanksgiving this month... Let us all be thankful for what we have and take the time this month to share our thanks together with our families.

I will be presenting a lecture on child abuse and prevention on the 30th of November for Kuwait Child's Rights Society. Anyone interested in the full powerpoint, email me at : zalzabin@gmail.com.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Be aware by educating your self and others... Some warning signs when it comes to kids (Both types of Diabetes):

Always thirsty

Urinates often

Eats frequently but still thin

Family history of Diabetes

Overweight/obese

Enjoy this gorgeous weather... Stay warm!

Higher Risk

2011-11-10T10:13:00.001+03:00

Autism Risk "High" for Kids with Older Sibling With the Disorder

This is the title of an article which discusses a new study by UC Davis Mind Institute, the largest infant sibling thus far, linking increased risk of Autism in younger siblings of children with Autism. Follow the link for the full discussion (link).

My two fils?

As a precautionary measure, it is always recommended to test/assess or simply monitor younger siblings of children with a variety of difficulties, including medical and developmental disorders that have a proven genetic link (but also those that do not necessarily do).

Eid in the 70s...

2011-11-05T17:01:00.002+03:00

عيدكم مبارك وكل عام و الجميع بخـــير

Yes you can!

2011-11-05T13:06:00.000+03:00

Healthy children's website is one of the sites I have to regularly check. This recent article was helpful and I wanted to share it with you. They list 10 tips for children's success in school. These are the tips, but do go on to their website (link below) for the full article and description of these helpful tips.

Enforce Healthy Habits
Stick to a Routine
Create a "Launch Pad"
Designate a Space
Read, Again and Again
Learn Always
Take the Lead
Talk Often
Show Interest
Expect Success

HealthyChildren.org - Ten Tips for Your Child's Success in School

4.5 Lessons for Eid

2011-11-03T10:17:00.001+03:00

Asa holiday, Eid represents the perfect opportunity for family bonding time andcommunication. One of my favoritethings to say is “every opportunity is a learning opportunity” so these are my four lessons for Eid:

Takethe time to try something new together; this is helpful for couples and families. New experiences presentchallenges and excitement; they also allow the couple and/or family to sharesomething mutual and exclusive.

Somethingvery unique about Eid is that adult family members would usually give childrenmoney (eediya). Use this time to teach kids about giving, and not justreceiving. Discuss poverty andneed, and perhaps help them find toys or clothes that they could donate to charity.

Anotherwonderful lesson is saving. Witholder kids you can discuss the concept of a bank and a savings account. With younger ones, you can explainthrough showing them different prices of toys/products, and discussing howsaving can you get something you may want/need later (or something morespecial). Use point collection (for good behavior) rather than money with the younger ones to learn about saving. This lesson also helps teach ouryoungsters about patience, and impulse control.

Perhaps not this young!

Eidrepresents rituals and socio-cultural traditions. It is a nice time to come up with your own rituals with yourkids or renew an old tradition. This can be a specialbreakfast that you have every Eid, or an activity you do on Eid evening;something which is special to you as a family. This would develop feelings of excitement within yourfamily about that day, and will bond you even when your child is older and away from home forcollege or to start their own families:)

Renewing the old. Family meal time can be wonderful!

The most important lesson is learn to enjoy family time... Wishing you a blessed and fun-loving Eid...

Elmo lends a teaching hand

2011-11-01T09:47:00.000+03:00

As the name of this blog suggests, we LOVE learning and TEACHing and PLAYing, and what better way to do it than through song, dance and visual representation!

Thanks to Oleana's post, I was reminded of how helpful the Sesame Street and Elmo videos are. Here are two of my favorite teaching ones based on learning the alphabet and counting. And as a bonus to us adults, they chose the beautiful voices of India Arie and Feist. Love it!

Feist's counting video (link):

This is the alphabet video with India Arie (Alphabet Video):

A bit of chatter to get smarter...

2011-10-31T09:06:00.000+03:00

Check out this interesting seminar offered by Soor Center in November and December... Hurry up and book your spot:)

LOL...Go ahead!

2011-10-29T21:17:00.000+03:00

A new study done by researchers at Stirling University suggests that joking and pretending with babies is vital for social and life skills development. Children as young as 14 months can tell the difference between joking and pretending. By reading those social cues, children develop skills which they will use in adulthood. Use play time wisely and have fun joking with your child and introduce pretend play even with young babies; eventually they will start recognizing these social cues and reciprocate play.

For the complete article please follow this (link).

A Class Act...

2011-10-29T20:52:00.000+03:00

November is around the corner, and with it comes an absolutely wonderful learning and teaching opportunity from Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah (DAI). Introducing the DAI Classroom:

DAI Classroom includes programme options for children in three groups (early primary, late primary, and secondary). There are several different choices for each age group: Treasury of the World, Story of Amricani, and Amricani Cultural Centre. Each programme is approximately 90 minutes, accommodates up to 30 children, and can be done in English or Arabic.

The Treasury of the World sessions include an introduction to Islamic art, a tour of the Mughal jewellery exhibition, a discussion of time, place and context, and a hands-on project related to what the students have seen and heard.

Story of Amricani sessions include a viewing of the Story of Amricani exhibition, a tour of the compound (but not the Mughal jewellery exhibition), and a discussion of the history of the American medical mission in Kuwait in the early 20th century. An interactive project is also included in these sessions.

The Amricani Cultural Centre programme includes an introduction to Islamic art, an overview of the American medical mission in Kuwait in the early 20th century tours of both the Treasury of the World and Story of Amricani exhibitions and a question and answer session at the end.

Up to three sessions a day will be offered Tuesdays - Thursdays, starting 15 November. Within reason, session times are flexible, to best accommodate the schedule of each school. Visits must be scheduled in advance, so to schedule your classes, contact: americanikids@darmuseum.org.kw
Sessions will be booked on a first come: first served basis.

Teachers, please let your school administration know and try to make the most out of this great resource. Parents, speak to your children's teachers about this ASAP and let them go ahead and book a visit.

APPsolutely helpful...

2011-10-27T20:31:00.000+03:00

Is your child sick? And is it a tough time to go to the doctor, or you think it might be a minor issue but you want to check just in case?

At www.healthykids.org, a parenting website backed up by 60,000 pediatricians from the American Academy of Pediatrics, you can find information on a new application they have developed. The app promises to help in situations when you are questioning what to do when your child develops a fever, cough, vomiting, rash, sore throat or head injury. It answer a questions like: when can my child return to school/child care after an illness?

KidsDoc is designed especially for times when you cannot find an appointment with your pediatrician, or when it is late at night. The care guides help you make smart decisions on what level of care (if any) is needed and how to provide speedy symptom relief for minor illnesses or injuries you can manage on your own.

KidsDoc is derived from the clinical protocols used by pediatricians and nurses in 10,000 practices and 400 nurse advice call centers in the US and Canada. They have been tested for 15 years on more than 150 million symptom calls.

Features

Easy 3-step navigation:

Choose the most appropriate symptom care guide
Use the symptom decision chart to find the recommended action
Follow the self care advice to make your child more comfortable

The care guide that best matches your child’s symptom can be located quickly by using alphabetical index, body area index, or keyword search.

Content

Each symptom care guide contains:

Definition which describes the focus of the care guide so you can decide if it’s a good fit for your problem. If not, there are quick links to related guidelines.
Decision Chart which helps determine what action is suggested based on the severity and description of your symptom. Once you have a match, simply follow the corresponding action, such as Call 911 (for us locals in Kuwait, Call 112), Call Your Child’s Doctor Now, Call Your Child’s Doctor within 24 hours or Manage at Home.

Two areas that are not appropriate for our local readers are :

Immediate Connections to medical help, such as 911, your child’s doctor or nearby Emergency Department (ER) are available if you have phone service.
Home Care Advice is available for any illnesses and injuries that can be treated at home. The instructions provide clear, up-to-date steps for relieving symptoms.

Plus

Pediatric dosage tables by weight for common over-the-counter medications.
Visual images to help you identify symptoms (e.g. rashes), injuries and common causes of bites & stings.
First Aid illustrations to support immediate action, if needed.

I have NOT used it personally, but I would be very interested in knowing what you think about this app. You can download it on iTunes for $1.99, and it is available for iPhone and Android users only.

Expecting?

2011-10-27T11:11:00.002+03:00

Pregnancy can be hard. It can be even harder if you areworried about your health, your babies health, how you are going to cope, orabout how to be the best mother you can...

Introducing a wonderful new program that will help expectant mothers be prepared for their wonderful journey ahead...

Mellow Bumps is a 6 weeks programmedesigned to provide support, information, and care to expecting Mum’s. The group is for women between 20 and30 weeks gestation and is designed to reduce stress and anxiety whilstpreparing for your new arrival! Itis not only for first time Mum’s, but for all expectant Mum’s.

Research shows that stress inpregnancy can have adverse long-term effects on the well-being of thechild. Additionally, stress,anxiety, and depression during pregnancy are strong indicators of post-natalmental health which can also have an impact on the child as it grows anddevelops

Through the group you will be giveninformation about what your unborn child is able to do now and at birth, aswell as information on their development through infancy. You will be given techniques andsupport which will allow you to continue your pregnancy in a positive mannerand to be ready to develop a strong, secure relationship with your child in thefuture. We have also made links toother specialists here in Kuwait who we can hook you up with to providenutritional, breastfeeding, and birthing advice.

The groups will be starting inJanuary 2012 and will be run one morning a week at Soor Center for Professional Therapy and Assessment.

Please feel free to contact the Soor Center on2290 1677. You can alsocontact the facilitator Dr. Rose Logan, directly on the following emailaddress: drrose@soorcenter.com

Learning Difference... my interview

2011-10-25T09:47:00.000+03:00

As the new poll on the left is suggesting, I am trying to find out if there is a high demand for Arabic translation of all posts. Please do place your votes, and here is an arabic post. This is an interview I had done with AlQabas Newspaper in February, which focused on Learning Differences and the uses of Play Therapy. Follow the link below for the complete article...

اختصاصية العلاج السلوكي والتربوي للأطفال زينة الزبن

صعوبات التعلم هي في الحقيقة اختلافات فيه

إعداد د. خلود البارون

ينصح الأهل من يلاحظون المشاكل النفسية في الطفل وصعوبات التعلم باللجوء إلى الاستشارة النفسية والتربوية، ليتعلموا الطريقة المثلى والأفضل في التعامل مع مناطق ضعف الطفل، وكيفية تقوية التأخر أو الضعف وتعليم الطفل الطرق السليمة للتعبير عن النفس والمشاعر. وغالبا ما يجب أيضا استشارة طبيب أطفال واختصاصي تغذية، ليعمل هذا الفريق يدا واحدة لمساعدة الأهل في التعامل مع الطفل بطريقة ناجحة وفعالة بشكل يضمن وصوله الى أفضل ما يمكن

صعوبات التعلم من الأمور التي تؤرق الآباء وتضع عقبات أمام اكتساب الأطفال مهارات عملية وعلمية واجتماعية. وبالرغم من الصعوبة التي ترافق التحصيل العلمي لمن يعانون من صعوبات التعلم، وخاصة من يعانون من الديسليكسيا وفرط النشاط ونقص الانتباه وغيرها، فإن زينة الزبن المتخصصة في العلاج السلوكي والتربوي للأطفال، لا تعتبرها معضلة بلا حل لوجود أدوات تمكن هؤلاء الأطفال من التغلب على مشاكلهم، فهي غالبا ما ترجع الى وجود فروق فردية طبيعية بين الأطفال، مما ساهم في تغير مسمى «صعوبات التعلم» إلى مصطلح جديد أقرب إلى الواقع، وهو اختلافات التعلم

حول الاختلافات بين الأطفال أوضحت الأخصائية زينة الزبن قائلة:- مثلما لا ينطق الأطفال في الوقت ذاته، ولا يكتسبون المهارات أو اللغة أو التعلم في توقيت واحد، فإن قدرتهم على التعلم تتباين أيضا. فمن دون وجود حالة مرضية أو صعوبة في أحد الحواس، فالحل غالبا ما يكمن في إعطاء الطفل الوقت والدعم مثل التمارين اللغوية أو المهارات، حتى يصل إلى اكتساب الخبرات بشكل طبيعي. فوجود اختلافات او صعوبات في التعلم لا يدل على عدم تمكن الطالب من التعلم بحسب النظام الدراسي، لكنه يشير الى حاجته للأدوات المناسبة حتى يتمكن من إتمام تحصيله العلمي بنجاح.والجدير بالذكر، أن تشخيص صعوبات في التعلم بحسب المعايير العالمية لا يجري قبل بلوغ الطفل عامه السابع. لكن يمكن البدء في تقييم مناطق الضعف والقوة للطفل من عامه الثالث، فيخضع لاختبارات تكتشف الضعف وتقيمه، فتفحص صحة السمع والبصر ومعدل تطور القدرات اللغوية والذهنية والحركية، وذلك لتشخيص صعوبات النطق والتطور اللغوي وأي تأخر تطوري. لكن لا يمكن تشخيص الطفل مبكرا، بل تعتبر كسمات شخصية ويهدف إلى تطويرها وتحسينها.كل طفل مختلف تختلف الطريقة المناسبة لتعليم الأطفال، مما أدى إلى تنوع أساليب التعليم ما بين الاستثارة السمعية والبصرية والحركية. فالبعض يستقبل المعلومات ويتعلم من خلال البصر وآخرون من خلال السمع، والأخير من خلال اللعب والتفاعل. وتابعت الزبن:- للأسف يركز النظام المدرسي لدينا على التعليم السمعي مع قليل من الاستثارة البصرية وأقل قدر من الحركة. فالمدارس عموما تركز على تلقي الطالب المعلومة وهو في حالة سكون وجلوس تام على المقعد. وعليه، فان الأطفال الذين يتعلمون من خلال التلقي السمعي والبصري لا يعانون صعوبة، بيد ان الأطفال الذين يتعلمون من خلال التعليم التفاعلي والحركي واللعب، سيعانون من بطء الفهم وتشتت الانتباه، فيكرهون الدراسة وأداء الواجبات والحفظ. وهؤلاء يحتاجون الى تلقي الدرس بطرق تعليمية أخرى مثل الصور والحركة والتجارب. وبالمنوال نفسه، يجب على الوالدين تعليم الطفل المهارات السلوكية من خلال المعلومات الشفهية (الأوامر)

والبصرية (الصور والمواقف) والحركية (اللعب والتجربة والتفاعل)، ليكتسبوا الخبرات بالطريقة التي تناسبهم

Follow this (link) for the completed article.

Safe keeping...

2011-10-23T20:07:00.000+03:00

Pill Or Candy? Can You Guess Which Of These Is Medicine?

Which tablet is a cold medicine and which ones are candy?

Intrigued?

Click on the link and read this interesting report.

The Other Voice: Morning Observations

2011-10-22T21:30:00.001+03:00

A reflective "The Other Voice" post by Dr. Siddiqa Hussein, my wonderful colleague at Soor Center...

As I am driving to school around 6:45am , making my way through that stressful  traffic , listening to my Indian classical music to keep me calm and help me deal with the traffic, this is what I observe...

A mother, wearing headphones, listening to her IPod (defiantly some nice music) pulling a crying or half–asleep 4-year-old child on the road side to the school. Does she know that the child is crying? Is she aware of her son? I wonder that...

Another mother, pinching her 3-4 year old daughter’s right ear so hard that the child is screaming on the road. I wondered what could have gone so wrong early in the morning that the child deserved such harsh punishment...

A child, looking out of the window, sad, lost gazing on the road and his mother is talking on phone...

A child waving or smiling at others and her father is talking on phone...

Children are fighting at the back and their mother is looking out of the window...

There are a variety of observations; pleasant and unpleasant in the morning. But the question is how do we want to start our day?. I want to ask that first mother, who preferred to listen to IPod rather than her child: how does she feel when she is not heard? How would be the day if it is started with a painful pinch? It is really hard to get up early morning and leave your comfortable & cozy bed  and go to school.

Dear parents please understand that it is very important for everyone, big or small to start a day on a happy note. Give them your full attention for those 10-15 minutes; encourage them to look forward to a good day. Remind them about good behaviors. I often ask my parents to put stars on the two hands of their young children and say to them: “You are mummy’s son/daughter and you are the best. Whenever you look at  the stars remind yourself that you are mum’s best son and you should focus in the class and listen to your teacher.   Whenever you look at the stars, feel that your mum is with you”. Such verbal cues with positive statements make them feel special and loved.

Please start the day with a Big smile and Big hug.

"The Other Voice"- Is our contributing authors post. If you would like to contribute, email me at zalzabin@gmail.com for approval, editing and eventual posting:)

Supported...

2011-10-21T18:35:00.000+03:00

As a graduate of the U.S and U.K, it was the norm to see support groups for almost ANYTHING you could think of. Moving back to Kuwait, and working with kids and families I was very disappointed to see issues of privacy and social restraint hindering the development of such groups.

Through my work now, I see more and more parents who are asking for such resources. Even though we are still at the beginning, I am glad to post about one such group, established by mothers who felt the need for more education and awareness about parenting and child-rearing. The group is called "Little Moms" and you can find them on Facebook (link) or through their blog. Support groups are a wonderful way to share and learn, and I personally applaud all their efforts.

Check out their Facebook page for information on free educational events and lectures, and look for my name soon! I will hopefully be presenting a lecture for Little Moms in the near future:)

Try a little tenderness...

2011-10-21T12:07:00.001+03:00

I have recently been contacted by Dr. Hind Al Mazeedi, president of Kuwait Child's Rights Society - Every child counts, and I was asked to give a lecture on child abuse; a topic that is heart breaking, but I am eager to do all I can to educate, heal and protect.

In my preliminary search for materials to use in my lecture, I came across a beautiful video that Unicef made and I wanted to share it with you...

I will share the lecture information with you in the near future...

Be safe, keep your children safe, and fill your life with love...

They play, you learn...

2011-10-20T14:01:00.000+03:00

Ajyalona is an annual entertainment event that provides product education, parent resource information, and awareness about all things related to children. I must admit that I have not heard of this exhibition/event before, but I had received a call earlier this week with an offer to have a complimentary booth to increase awareness of my work and interact with families:)

This is a free event (Dec.8th-10th) that welcomes all familes to come, participate and learn about local resources. Do checkout their website (link, FB). Come by (and make sure you pass-by my booth for a chat) and bring your kids for a different experience.

You can also contact them if you would like to participate and take a booth yourselves...

0% Tolerance

2011-10-18T13:16:00.000+03:00

No, I am not promoting rapping in this post, but I am applauding confidence in speaking about serious matters. This young boy, not only had the courage to showcase his talent, but chose to rap about a very dangerous and real threat... Bullying.

Bullying happens in most venues where there are large groups of kids. It can happen in schools, gyms, family gatherings, parties, etc. There are different types of bullying, which include cyber bullying. Cyber bullying refers to the use of the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile devices to harm others in a repetitive and intentional way. It is usually adopted by children in middle school.

Girls usually use more subtle ways of bullying, including gossiping and exclusion (leaving the girl out of the group). Boys use more apparent and more aggressive ways to bully, including repeated physical attacks.

Parents and carers for children need to educate themselves and their children about bullying. it is usually a vicious cycle that exists due to fear and ignorance. Take a look at this following diagram to view the cycle:

The problem remains and exists when children refuse to speak-up. In schools, having teachers around is helpful, but kids are manipulative and smart, and they can find places that are not supervised. It is thus, very important that schools adopt a No Tolerance policy to bullying. The first step though, is to educate the kids and adults about the dangers and consequences of bullying.

Another key defense to this threat is building your child's self-esteem. If your child is confident enough to stand-up to the bully, or report an incident s/he has seen, we break the cycle. As you can see above, there are individuals who witness the bullying and do not interfere, these individuals have allowed the bullying just by remaining quiet. The diagram below is the same cycle, but AFTER an educational intervention. You can see how the defenders, supporters, and passive defenders have shifted to the right side of the cycle. This means they are more likely to seek help and support the victim.

This next image is a nice one to show your kids when you are discussing bullying. Do ask yourself and them "where do you fit in in this cycle?"

This is a short post for us to think about bullying and address the issues. I will continue talking about bullying in future posts and cover aspects including what should be done if your child is being bullied and if you suspect that you child is a bully...

The Other Voice: Traveling with tots

2011-10-16T09:09:00.001+03:00

Written by Sara Al Sayer, one of the most energetic and playful parents I know... Enjoy!

Most parents, myself included, whohave traveled with kids, will have horror stories of disastrous journeys.However, we also have the most wonderful memories of holidays with our kids andno matter what kind of hell we went through on the journey, it was totallyworth it. I have found, though, that the more we travel with our kids,the easier they find the journey. Living away from Kuwait has made my kidsseasoned travelers, and I have picked up some good tips along the way.

Planning and preparing them:

Before we travel, I like tocountdown the number of sleeps we have with my kids until we leave. We talkabout where we are going and who we will see and what we will do there. Wetalk about how many planes we have to take to get there (three to Kuwait fromKoh Samui where we live). They choose what they would like to takeon the journey and help me pack it into our hand luggage. My eldest has thisfantastic bag called a "trunki" (available from Oleana boutique) that he can pullalong or ride while I pull it that he puts his toys in. I also make sure thatthey have whatever entertains them - their portable DVD player, iPad, coloringbooks etc. I tend to bring snacks for them as airlines typically have a lot ofjunk food for kids. I bring a change of clothes for them, and for me just incase accidents happen.

Some airlines like Emirates areparticularly child friendly and if I can, I tend to travel with them. I lovethat they provide a push-chair for us to use in Dubai. When I travel with a baby(as their prams are not for babies), I bring a baby sling to use in theairport. If it is an overnight flight, I bring their pajamas to help keep somesemblance of normality and to help them sleep. When possible, I try tobook flights that fit in with their timings so it is not too traumatic forthem. If you are traveling with a baby, it is helpful to feed them duringtake off and landing as this will help their ears to pop. I use a "bebe au lait" breastfeeding cover (destination maternity sell them) which are a fantasticinvention - a piece of material that ties around your neck and enables you tobreastfeed without exposing yourself to the people around you. It also has awire running through the top to keep it more rigid so that you can look downonto your baby and see what you are doing. If the baby won't feed then a dummyis also useful.

Where to stay?

We look for different things inhotels depending on what stage our kids are at. The most important thingthough, is that it is child friendly. We look for kids clubs and hotels thathave activities for kids. Some hotels will even make pureed veggies for yourbaby if they are just starting solids. If not, there is a great littlemachine from munchkin (you can buy it in mothercare) that will puree food foryou and it doesn't need any plugs. It's called “baby food grinder”. This issmall enough to fit in your handbag so that you can even take it with you to arestaurant. Munchkin also have a netted fresh food feeder that you canput fruit or veggies in for the baby to chew on and the net prevents them fromchoking on the pieces that may break off. We have recently discoveredthat hotels with private villas are great for kids because you can put the kidsto sleep and then take the monitor and sit outside to enjoy the rest of theevening without disturbing them.

The first time that you travel withyour children is daunting, but it is such a fun thing to do if you travelprepared. Try to keep to their routines when possible. Bring a selection of bedtime stories ifthat is part of it, because it will help them settle. Don't stress if they arenot eating all the things they normally eat - a holiday is just a short periodof time and it won't harm them to have a few days without veggies. If you end upin battles at every mealtime, you will all be miserable.

Most importantly of all, have fun! That is what you are there for after all, and all those wonderful memories are worth it...

"The Other Voice"- Is our contributing authors post. If you would like to contribute, email me at zalzabin@gmail.com for approval, editing and eventual posting:)

Daddy's little girl...

2011-10-15T15:39:00.000+03:00

A post dedicated to fathers, whose voices have not been heard on Play.Teach.Love yet...

A beautiful song by Jack Johnson. We all know how special little girls are to their daddies... I hope you enjoy it. I also hope to hear from all the dedicated fathers out there.

A house of fun...

2011-10-13T10:28:00.000+03:00

Culture...History...Art...Education

We frequently forgot how many beautiful places we have right here in Kuwait... If you have not heard of Dar al-athar al-Islamiyyah, or do not know what it is exactly, here is how they describe themselves:

The Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah (DAI) is a cultural organisation based on a Kuwaiti private art collection. Since its inception in 1983, DAI has grown from a single focus organisation created to manage the loan of the prestigious al-Sabah Collection of art from the Islamic world to the State of Kuwait to become an internationally recognized cultural organization.

What I have recently found out, by talking to the lovely Bibi N. Al Sabah, is that Dar al-Athar is organizing an exciting children's program. Here is the information they have shared:

Help your children be a part of art . . .

DAI Children’s Art Workshops

We’ve planned a full schedule forCultural Season 17. Classes will be held in the Workshop atthe Amricani Cultural Centre on Saturday mornings, from 9:30. The classes for 8 – 12 year olds last 2hours; the classes for 6 – 8 year olds last 90 minutes; and the combinedclasses for 6 – 12 year olds last 2 hours.

OCTOBER

1 IslamicArt Motifs (ages 8 – 12)

8 Visitto the Arab Fund Building (ages 6 – 12)

15 ArcheologyExplained (ages 6 – 8)

22 ArcheologyExplained (ages 8 – 12)

29 CreatingArtifacts (ages 6 – 12)

I have copied the October schedule, but do go online (link) to find out more information on their year-round schedule. Activities include: Stories into Plays (and actual acting), ceramic painting, Mughal jewelry, poetry writing, and much more.

What is also more appropriate for us at Play.Teach.Love is that they have included a section on WHY it is helpful to include your children in art and creative activities. Definitely PTL APPROVED!

The primaryobjectives of the Children’s Art Workshop (CAW) are to givestudents between the ages of 6 and 12 the opportunity to:

engage directly with a diverse range of original art objects from The al-Sabah Collection of art from the Islamic world
develop a greater understanding and enjoyment of art,
cultivate a greater understanding of and appreciation for Islamic culture,
formulate and articulate their own ideas and critical points of view,
experiment with and manipulate art materials and processes in their own art making,
value the diverse range of ideas and points of view contributed by the multi-cultural nature of the workshop and.
have fun.

You asked for performance based activities, and the children's workshop at Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah is presenting the most interesting selection! I truly urge you to give them a call...

For more information, email Ms. Susan Day : susanday@darmuseum.org.kw

Not Kidding! (your surprise)

2011-10-12T14:23:00.000+03:00

Your PTL (Play.Teach.Love) gift is finally here!!!

Just Kidding, Dubai, have offered all PTL readers a 10% discount starting today on ALL Maxi Cosi products ordered online until December 31st , 2011. Their products were previously featured here, in a wonderful contributing post by Ms. Dana Al Fulaij ( link ).

Promotion Code:

Code# AC036300BA

Enter the promotion code at checkout (after your online purchase)

This offer is valid from today until December 31st, 2011

JustKidding Online Baby Store - Dubai

                     THANK YOU JustKidding