Behavior and Relationship.
No one has any doubt of course that having close ties with parents is obviously good for preschoolers. It means that they are better able to control their own behavior by showing patience, deliberation, restraint, and even maturity.
The researchers from University of Iowa looked at 102 mostly white families mothers, fathers, and babies who had volunteered for the study from the time the children were 7 months old until they were almost 4 and a half years old. Repeated observations were carried out in the families homes and in a laboratory.
The study found that children who had developed a close, positive, reciprocal, and mutually responsive relationship with their mothers in the first two years of their lives did much better in both respects responding to their mothers requests not to do something and regulating their own behavior–than children who had not developed such ties.
The researchers also explored how mutually responsive relationships between mothers and children worked. When mothers and babies develop this closeness in the first two years, the study found, mothers dont need to use forceful discipline later to get their children to do what they ask and refrain from other behaviors. And in turn, subtle control on the part of the mothers leads to better, more compliant, and more self-regulated behavior when the children are at preschool age.
Some of these findings were similar for fathers and children. Mutually responsive, positive relationships between fathers and children in the first two years of life also were associated with childrens better performance in tasks that called for self-regulation when the children were 4 and a half. However, in contrast to mothers and children, the reasons for the father-child link were less clear. Relationships between fathers and children in general have been studied much less than those between mothers and children, and more research is needed to understand their dynamics.
Most parents know that when they interact with their infant and young toddler, they are laying important foundations for the childs future development, according to Grazyna Kochanska, Stuit Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Iowa and the lead author of the study. Now we have a better understanding of what that really means. Your investment in building a mutually responsive, positive, close relationship early on will generate considerable payoff several years later.
Add comment February 7, 2008
Something in the Local Water:-)
“I’ve been a head teacher 16 years and a teacher longer than that and I’ve never known anything like this”, Christine Jones, the head teacher of Bassetts Farm School said.
“There are sometimes more boys than girls in a class - and vice versa - but never all the same sex - it’s pretty incredible.
“It first became clear something unusual was happening when we got the list of names from the local authority - and there wasn’t a girl on it.
“Nobody can work out how it happened - it just seems to be a one of those freakish things.” It sounds funny but ‘ve thought that all nice boys look like born from the same egg!-) However that’s great deal to become egg donor to help all those couples who cannot have genetic children because may not have eggs that can be successfully fertilized. That’s like a chance to work wonders - new life!
One parent added: “Maybe it’s something in the local water.”
Daily Mail reported.
Add comment January 31, 2008
Information for Parents about Driver Education
As a parent with kids in their teen years, one of the challenges we face is that our "babies" are growing up and will be ready to drive soon. We wish they were young forever, but sadly, they start growing up. With age, comes new responsibilities. Perhaps the most important new responsibility a teen and their parents face, is driving.
Over the past few years, new technologies have come about that allow parents to enroll their teen in an online driver education class. I know what you are thinking here…"how can a teen learn to drive on the web?’ Well, they don’t, really. What they do, is take the classroom portion of the course online. This can be a huge benefit to parents who may find it difficult to take off from work every day for a month to take their teen to class. As well, if you live in a rural or remote part of the state, you may not have a local drivers ed school nearby.
Not all states are approved yet, but you can find information about each state and learn more about how teens can now complete their drivers education requirements online. Additionally, if you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having received a traffic ticket, parents can discover how to get their ticket dismissed by enrolling in an online Taffic School.
Add comment January 29, 2008
Great Fun for All Family.
It’s well known that kids learn better when parents are involved and I’d like to add that at the same time parents learn better too. Spending time with your children can be really fun and educational. Every time my family members are together I discover something new and unexpected. This is one of the causes why a common spending time is so interesting and useful both parents and children. Our kids get older and they begin to declare their independence that is right but all studies show that the most of youth like and need to spend time with their parents as usually. Doing ordinary things, such as getting dressed, taking baths, preparing to leave for kindergarten, eating, talking, taking a walk, sporting bring a lot of joy.
You can say that kids and parents rarely agree on what is fun but there are things everybody loves. What about getting out the Great Big Mable for great fun on the water for the entire family? I guess that everyone would be happy to take part in. This tube is big enough for 4 riders and can be towed from multiple points. You can choose Big Mable for 2 riders or Super Mable for one to three riders which can ride this tube on many different ways. This is really easy learning great fun for any ages and perfect way to spend quality time with your family and friends.
Add comment January 16, 2008
Fishing Trip.
A fishing trip is a great chance to feel yourself free from daily city’s fuss, duties and incoherent emotions but to stay in silence, tête-à-tête with a nature among peace and beauty. Generally fishing&boating is such sort of a rest which always gives us back something what is very important for subsequent normal existing in this completely mad world. The goal and benefit of a fishing trip for me is not just about a fish but a real possibility to live near lake or river far from this “much ado about nothing” and putting a line out just to get fun and relaxation with the sound of the wind and the waves, murmur of the forest and the whisper of rain in the background. Also this is warm talk and close personal contact with anyone you choose to spend this wonderful time.
Besides that to those who are concerned in fishing sport activities this is real chance to try your strength in a big game fish. Anyway outdoor activities, such as fishing and boating is easy learning fun to all family.
Take me fishing!
Add comment January 10, 2008
Learn a new language and discover another culture.
In today’s ever-changing world, to become volunteer South America is a great opportunity to visit other fabulous continent, to know local people properly in their native surroundings on their ‘normal’ everyday life, to get authentic travel experience, including comprehensive Spanish tuition of course and moreover this is the chance to give something back on your travels, this is a way to be a responsible tourist.
For all those who are really keen to learn some new skills on a gap year, who are going to gain experience before entering the job market or considering a career change internships South America is a very good choice to forget temporarily how fortunate many of us are, to live away from all the regular tourist hot-spots, to learn how another people face increasingly difficult obstacles providing them your help and assistance. Making a positive impact we become some better too and this is also one of the greatest things in a volunteering. Real Gap Year South America has various volunteer projects you can choose from the Wildlife Monitoring through to coastal projects, from teaching English and environmental education at local schools to preserving some of the continent’s most fragile ecosystems, Plant Conservation, Reforestation, Sustainable Agriculture, Wetlands Management and more. Thee are a numbers volunteer’s organization providing gap year for students and adults for many years and for any program to learn a new language and to discover another culture.
Add comment January 8, 2008
Carl Larsson.
Swedish artist, Carl Larsson (1853 - 1919) is known as portraitist, book illustrator and printmaker. His most famous works are the house he designed in the small village Sundborn and watercolor scenes of everyday life there. His paintings are filled with warm, cosines and kindness, especially these 2 ones which are relating with Christmas Days. So this is the cause why I choose to put them here today.
Christmas Morning.
Fairy Tales.
Carl Larsson came from a poor family and studied (1866–76) at the Konstakademi in Stockholm, supporting himself throughout this period. From 1871 to 1878 he contributed illustrations to the comic journal Kaspar and the Ny illustrerad tidning . From 1875, for several decades, he was a prolific book illustrator, his most renowned work in this field being his drawings for Fältskärns berättelser (‘The Barber-surgeon’s tales’; pubd 1883–4) by Zacharius Topelius, and the Rococo-inspired watercolours for the Samlade skaldeförsök (‘Collected attempts at poetry’; pubd 1884) by the 18th-century Swedish author Anna Maria Lenngren. However, that Larsson produced most of his own prints.
1 comment December 24, 2007
Christmas Gifts Tradition.
Christmas is the most wonderful time in a year when some of our dreams could come true. Maybe today the real meaning of Christmas Tradition is often forgotten but one should know that real Christmas story is based on Christian Bible. It is told in two different books: Matthew and Luke chapters 1 and 2 and you can easily find to read it online. So the Holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The actual birthday of Jesus is not known; therefore, the early Church Fathers in the 4th century fixed the day around the old Roman Saturnalia festival (17 - 21 December), a traditional pagan festivity. The first mention of the birthday of Jesus is from the year 354 AD. Gradually all Christian churches, except Armenians who celebrate Christmas on January 6 (the date of the baptism of Jesus as well as the day of the three Magi), accepted the date of December 25th.
In American/English tradition, Christmas Day is the day for opening gifts brought by jolly old St. Nick or ‘Santa Claus’ which was a real person. He was a Christian leader in the 4th century AD and gave money to poor people without them knowing about it. It is said that one day, he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney. It landed in the stocking which a girl had put to dry by the fire! This may explain the belief that Father Christmas comes down the chimney and places gifts in children’s stockings.
Many of our current American ideals about the way Christmas come from the English Victorian Christmas, such as described in Charles Dickens’ in his novel “A Christmas Carol.”. Dickens began writing his “little carol” in October, 1843 finishing it by the end of November in time to be published on 17 December 1843 with illustrations by John Leech wich provided eight illustrations for A Christmas Carol.
The first and best of his Christmas Books, A Christmas Carol has become a Christmas tradition and easily best known Dickens’ book. And maybe till now this book stays as a wonderful Christmas gift for children and not only. Anyway you can find the novel in “Reading Together” section to read “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens together right now.
Add comment December 23, 2007
Christmas is Here.
This musical animated tale is a wonderful Christmas Gift and a nice addition to anyone’s Christmas collection. Crisp, clear colors with voices of Ed Asner, Kathy Bates, Madison Davenport, Colin Ford, Jay Leno and Andy Griffith.
More info about it you will find here: http://kidsfirst.org/detail/207326.html
Also you can learn more about Film Festival which has become the largest traveling children’s film festival in the world by collaborating with more than 100 venues nation- and worldwide. The Festival showcases children’s films, TV shows and DVDs from studios, independent and student filmmakers. This year, the Festival will have more than 10,000 screenings of individual films throughout the year. Youth are given a true voice - as curators of the Festival, panelists critiquing films, volunteer staff and as filmmakers and videographers showing their work. Critical to the impact of the Festival is providing educational programs that help children develop critical viewing skills. Once a year, in the fall, awards are given to films in more than 19 categories as well as five “Best of the Best” films at the annual KIDS FIRST! Best Awards Celebration.
Add comment December 5, 2007
