Take a Seat - Make a Friend - Try this in a School?
A beautiful video from Soul Pancake called "Take a Seat - Make a Friend". We think this would be a brilliant exercise for a Primary or Elementary school to help children get to know each other, make friends, and appreciate diversity. This is great. Take 5 minutes and enjoy this. Read full article
Giving Students with Autism a Creative Chance
At the Creativity Project event in Sydney last week, Professor Sandra Jones takes the stage, followed closely by her co-presenter, author, Lincoln P. Jones. Their topic is 'How educators can help and inspire young people and develop their creativity' and they have travelled a journey to find those answers together. Read full article
What Makes Teenagers Stand Up for Bullying Victims?
To bully, 'bystand' or 'upstand'? This is the question that adolescents who witness bullying behaviour are processing at the time of an incident. New research from the Harvard Graduate School of Education discovers why teens at school don't always stand up for bullying victims, even though they want to. Read full article
Reporting on Gun Crimes? Leave Autism Out of It
I have an 11-year-old son with autism. His lack of social understanding means he can occasionally be insensitive; he embarrassed me the other day by loudly pointing out the “fat lady” at the supermarket. He’s also the sweetest kid in the world. For no particular reason he will hug me and say, I love you.” Our son is socially naive, a babe in the wood; much more likely to experience hurt than to hurt others. When the dreadful news of the Sandy Hook massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, came through I crossed my fingers and hoped the words ‘autistic’ or ‘Asperger’s’ would not enter the equation, as they had after the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings. Read full article
Talking to Children about the Royal Prank
This morning, two things are on my mind: the mental health of the two young radio hosts at the centre of the prank; and how children are digesting and understanding the Royal Prank news story...how have your children reacted to the news? Has it prompted you to talk about suicide with your children? Or have you had conversations about culpability? Or the role of the international media in the Royal Prank? Or ethics? Read full article
My Son Doesn't Want Surprise Gifts This Christmas
This year, there will be no surprises at Christmas time for my six year old son. No, he hasn’t been a ‘naughty boy’ and therefore undeserving of Santa’s generosity. The reason my son will have no surprises is that he will choose all of his presents and be with us when we buy them, in November. They will then be wrapped and put under the Christmas tree. Read full article
Dummies or Pacifiers May Affect Emotional Development
Recently published research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison provides another reason for parents to hesitate to use dummies too often with their babies..."Since a baby is not yet verbal - and so much is regulated by facial expression - at least you want parents to be aware that using something like a pacifier limits their baby's ability to understand and explore emotions." says psychology Professor, Paula Niedenthal. Read full article
Teacher Resource for Young Children Learning Emotional Intelligence
The Bear Cards ® are designed to be an easy and fun way of building emotional intelligence in children. An effective and entertaining teacher and resource, also for parenting, the eye catching set of 48 cards depicts Bear experiencing a wide range of emotions, and invites conversations about feelings that children sometimes don’t have the language or opportunity to discuss. Could a set of cards with a bear on them really build emotional intelligence, you ask? Read full article
Building Empathy in Medicine Using My Big Mouth
I talk for a living. I often get asked to MC events. Over the last few years, I’ve been increasingly asked to speak at conferences pertaining to neonatal surgery issues and research. Not because I know anything about neonatal surgery, but because I’m a parent of a child who has undergone major heart surgery and spent time in a neonatal intensive care unit. What I tell them, is how to do their jobs better. This story is about why I love my big mouth. Read full article
Best Start
Best Start by Lynn Jenkins, clinical psychologist, is for parents who want to understand their baby's or toddler's emotional needs. This book explains the importance of the quality of your baby's early experiences and interactions and how these influence how your child develops. Read full article
