Weight Watchers introduces Eat! Move! Play! initiative

You don’t have to look far to find someone talking about increasing levels of childhood obesity caused by poor diets and lack of exercise.

Now, Weight Watchers in the USA is starting an initiative to encourage parents to get their kids active, eating well, and ultimately being both happy and healthy.

Eat! Move! Play! is designed to break down some of the challenges that parents and children face.

Five Simple Rules help kids to learn about the importance of smart food choices and a love of physical activity:

1. Focus on wholesome, nutritious foods
2. Ensure that treats in reasonable portions are part of kids’ eating habits
3. Limit screen time, like television and video games
4. Ensure at least one hour of daily physical activity
5. Apply these rules to everyone in the home

Eat! Move! Play! guides readers on a variety of topics including how to speak with a child’s pediatrician about weight and how to deal with picky eaters and food challenges at all ages and stages.

The book provides gradual steps towards a healthier family lifestyle that can start simply with swapping white grains for whole grains, integrating family activities that involve exercise, planning healthy recipes and allowing children to play an active role in cooking. With more than 75 kid-tested recipes, checklists, and goal sheets for the month and near future, parents have a simple yet successful blueprint for healthier kids.

If you’re not in the US, fear not, because the book is available internationally too. Here’s the link for the book on Amazon UK: Weight Watchers Eat! Move! Play!: A Parent’s Guide for Raising Healthy, Happy Kids

Help your toddler to talk with new national classes from TinyTalk

Hundreds of toddlers across the UK are participating in a new programme created especially for them, ‘TinyTalk Toddlers’. Developed by the team behind the successful TinyTalk Baby Signing Classes, TinyTalk Toddlers focuses on children who are starting to walk and talk with a more physical, interactive experience.

With new themes to explore each week, TinyTalk Toddlers encourages and supports the children’s speech and language understanding and expression through songs, signs, books and musical instruments. It also recognises that toddlers are always on the go so there is a wide range of language development activities, quality books and even a parachute!

“At the TinyTalk Toddler classes we have a lot of fun! Without the children even realising it, we’re also focusing on their understanding and development of speech,” says Katie Mayne, founder of TinyTalk, an ex-primary school teacher and a mother of two. “Signs still play a
valuable supporting role though, as everyone learns to talk (or walk!) at different stages! We also make time for communicational and behavioural ‘etiquette’, so teamwork, conversational turn-taking and that elusive concept of ‘sharing’ are also encouraged…..”

TinyTalk offers baby signing and toddler classes right across the United Kingdom and Ireland and is seeing a significant increase in demand. More and more families are seeking to experience the enormous benefits of early communication and understanding with their little ones. Mayne explains, “Contrary to popular belief, sign language actually encourages spoken
language rather than hindering it. Even tantrums are reduced! Families who attend our classes quickly find out that their babies and toddlers are little chatterboxes, full of so many things to say!”

In the Ministerial Foreword to “Better Communication”, the Government’s action plan to improve services for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs, Ed Balls, MP and Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, and Alan Johnson, MP and former Secretary of State for Health state, “Speech, language and communication are crucial to every child’s ability to access and get the most out of education and life.” They continue, “Creating an environment in which every child develops effective speech, language and communication skills….is a challenge for everyone working with children and young people, from speech and language therapists….to parents.”

So, at a time when serious concerns are being raised about the low level of communication skills of children entering pre-school, the TinyTalk Baby Signing Classes and now TinyTalk Toddlers are top of their class! Through them, thousands of families across the UK have the chance to give their babies and toddlers a strong foundation in communication, for a lifetime of language and learning development.

To join them or for more information about the classes, visit the TinyTalk website or ring 01483 301444.

Parents and kids struggle to communicate about school

A new study shows that kids aren’t keen to share the details of their day at school with parents.

Most parents surveyed by Becta said that they didn’t know as much about their child’s day at school as they’d like to, with nearly half saying that they find it difficult or very difficult to extract information from their child.

On the other side of the coin, about the same proportion of children don’t like to share information with their parents, preferring to keep their school day private.

Professor Tanya Byron compiled the report which investigates the after-school communication challenge and provides guidelines to help parents improve interaction with both children and schools by using technology in addition to more traditional methods.

According to Professor Byron, this inability or unwillingness for parent and child to communicate might have implications which will hamper a child’s progress, creating stress between the parent-child relationship and creating tension between parent and school as the packed school itinerary gets ‘lost in translation’.

The report shows that while more than 90% of children say their parents are interested in their education, the majority of parents are struggling to get involved with their child’s learning, with many finding it difficult to get information on what is actually happening once their child is at school.

Despite packed lesson plans and innovative use of technologies, the research reveals that just 16% of children proactively communicate with their parents about their school day.

Becta’s Next Generation Learning campaign is urging parents to talk to their child’s school to find out how technology is already being used and also discuss ways it can help improve day-to-day communications between them and the school in the future.

Professor Tanya Byron comments, “This report highlights how fundamental positive communication within and after school can help raise attainment and build children’s sense of self worth. By creating a collaborative, three-way dialogue between parents, schools and children; by harnessing the new and exciting technologies that enable seamless communication between school and home; and – most importantly – by engaging children in after school communication that is fun, relaxed, open and well timed, we can all enable them to maximise their academic potential and enjoy their school and further education years.”

More information about this initiative is available at the Next Generation Learning web site.

Should you talk to your children about the economy?

One of the big responsibilities of any parent is how much to talk to their children about serious, complicated and potentially worrying issues.

On one hand, most parents want to allow children to maintain some degree of innocence, and to be shielded from the worst the world has to offer.

On the other hand, innocence is so quickly lost these days, and children need to be aware of certain issues so that they can be kept safe.

The current economic climate is causing many families to reassess what they spend their money on and how they live their lives. For many, it may mean a change in lifestyle because the mortgage costs more or the cost of living has increased.

Children aren’t stupid, and they’ll know something’s going on. How much should you tell them about the credit crunch and all that jazz?

Honesty, simplicity, and relevance is the best policy.

It may be that a child asks you what “the credit crunch” is. It may be that you don’t fully understand the intricacies of the global problem yourself (I certainly don’t) but by simplifying the situation and making it relevant to your family, it’s more likely to mean something to your child.

It’s probably best not to force the issue. If your child is showing no interest in the subject at all, it’s not worth making a big issue out of it – that could backfire and cause the child to become anxious about the situation.

It will depend on the age of the child as to if, when and how you tell them. Very young children are ultimately looking to you for their security, and no doubt you’re doing your very best to see that their needs are met. Why confuse them?

On the other hand, older children and teenagers may be much more inquisitive, possibly asking more demanding questions.

You might also find yourself being asked why you can’t afford those new trainers, mobile phone or games console. This is a good time to explain that, as a family, you have to look after your money and spend it more wisely.

Don’t make them feel guilty for wanting new things. Instead, suggest that, at least for the next few months, you’ll all have to find other less expensive ways of having fun and entertaining yourselves.

Your kids might get upset or stroppy, but often they do appreciate being included in things that affect the family. You could even begin introducing them to budgeting – though you’ll probably want to make sure you’re doing this yourself, first – as this will stand them in good stead for adulthood.

Every family is different, and you know your children the best, but these are some guidelines that you might want to adapt so that your family continues to feel secure and informed even in these more difficult times.

• What do you think?
• Have you talked to your kids about money and the current economic situation?
• How did they react?
• What advice would you give to other parents?

Family on TV: UK guide 2nd-8th March 2009

Welcome to a new feature at Family Relationships Magazine, where we highlight the pick of family-related British TV for the week.

Note that not all programmes are suitable for the whole family to watch, but rather is programming on the subject of families and relationships.

So, we kick off with the final part of this series of Who Do You Think You Are (Monday 2nd March, 9pm, BBC1; 10pm, BBC HD). This week, Kevin Whateley discovers that his family had significant business acumen, with his great-grandfather running a fishing empire and 18th-century relatives being turkey traders.

These documentaries are generally fascinating insights into the lives of celebrities and can often inspire us to research our own family history.

Baby Borrowers USA (Thursday 5th March, 9pm, BBC Three) follows the teenagers who have to deal with tantrums, disciplining and potty training when they are given toddlers to care for.

A new three-part series, Rocket Science, begins on Friday 6th March at 9pm on BBC2. With the number of youngsters studying science declining fast, teacher Andy Smith hopes to convince pupils at Woodchurch High School in the Wirral that the subject can be fun by showing them how fireworks are linked to chemistry and physics.

Long-term substitute teachers can lead to poorer educational results, study suggests

A study of schools in North Carolina by, among others, Duke University economist Charles Clotfelter, suggests that the long-term use of substitute teachers to plug the gaps left by absentee full-time teachers may be having a detrimental effect on children’s education.

Though the statistics aren’t readily to hand in the source article, claims are that, in general, schools’ use of subs for long-term (a year or more) teaching posts has dramatically increased over the last few years.

Discipline and learning problems often accompany a substitute teacher, because they don’t have the same plans and behavioural knowledge of a class as the regular teacher should have.

“Teachers often have to re-teach material, restore order and rebuild relationships after absences,” said Miller, who is conducting the research with Harvard University education professors.

This is not to say that substitute teachers are not worthy, or highly qualified, for the role – simply that the situation is not ideal.

(Via The Reporter)

Young children’s academic development heavily influenced by family affluence

A new study by UK children’s charity the Sutton Trust suggests that economic factors play a huge role in the academic and learning development of young children.

They claim that research on children born in the years 2000 and 2001 shows that, even between the ages of 3 and 5, less bright children from more affluent families are catching up academically with very bright children from poorer families.

By age seven, many have caught up or even overtaken them.

The Trust claims that this wide social divide hasn’t changed in thirty years.

Read more

Toddlers’ TV favourites to feature on new interactive web site for preschoolers

A new website – ClickAndPlay.com – has launched to encourage computer literacy amongst preschoolers, helping to boost their self-confidence at increasingly IT-centric schools.

To add to the fun, various hit TV characters, including Bob the Builder, feature on the site.

Users can sign up for a free subscription to the site, though it does require a PC-only piece of software to be downloaded and installed.

According to British Education Communication and Technology Agency (BECTA), the UK is ranked fourth in Europe for the highest number of internet connected computers in schools.

Alastair Gregory, MD of ClickandPlay, said that children shouldn’t spend hours in front of a computer, at the detriment of physical exercise and social skills, but that it’s as vital for preschoolers to learn how to use a computer mouse as it is how to hold a pencil.

“Parents can help prepare their child for school by adding computer time into their day-to-day play,” he said.
ClickandPlay features a range of interactive games that teach a child how to move a mouse around a screen, how to move forward and back to new pages, how to use a keyboard and how to send emails. Children love the email application as they can send a letter,– with their parents help, to their favourite character, and then receive a personalised e-mail in return, written in the characterÂ’’s tone of voice.

Other features include an art package that allows children to draw and paint in ClickandPlay. They receive backgrounds, stamps and animated stickers at the beginning of their subscription and can earn more as they do the activities and win stars. These can be used to make art that can be printed out or sent to the characters.

ClickAndPlay.com

Six ways to make your child’s school safer: enter the security experts

Experts from ADT, the security firm, say that parents can be as influential as school board members, superintendents, principals and teachers in helping prevent violence in schools, and have offered up six tips for helping parents get more involved in security issues:

1. Talk to your children about school security. Kids are very tuned into what happens on their  ampuses. They know where there are weak spots in the security plans. Ask them about the security drills or other emergency procedures in place at their school. Also talk to them about resolving conflicts in a peaceful, nonviolent manner and about immediately reporting to school officials any threatening talk or behaviour from other students.
2. Visit your child’s campus and talk with an administrator about the security plan. Among other things, find out how visitors can enter the campus. Ask if the doors are regularly locked. Check to see if the campus has cameras monitoring entries, hallways and common areas. Ask if the school has a plan in place for handling an armed person on campus.
3. Educate yourself on the plans, procedures and technologies working well at other schools. Contact the National Crime Prevention Council (www.ncpc.org) for a copy of the Caregivers’ Guide to Safety and Security and School Safety and Security Toolkit: A Guide for Parents, Schools and Communities.
4. Get to know the law enforcement officials assigned to your child’s school. Find out when they are on campus and what their responsibilities include. If your child’s school does not have a regularly assigned law enforcement official, work with the school to make that happen.
5. Join other parents who may also be concerned about the security of their children. Become involved in the PTA or PTO and start a security committee if one does not already exist. Ask school officials to meet regularly with the group and report on security/safety incidents and continuing plans to keep the campus safe. Be an active participant by asking questions.
6. Do not keep firearms easily accessible in your home. If you have weapons in your house make sure that they are kept locked and secured. Report a missing or stolen firearm to police immediately. Teach children respect for the devastation that can occur when weapons get into the wrong hands or are used improperly.

			
			

				Filed Under: Education, Parenting
Tagged: Education, Parenting, security			
			
						
Five tips for keeping kids safe and healthy on way to school
			
			

				
September 3, 2007 by Andy Merrett · Leave a Comment 
			
		
			
The American Planning Association has come up with five things which parents can do as their kids return to school, to keep them both healthy and safe on the journey to and from school.

Conduct a “Neighbourhood Walk Audit” to inventory your neighbourhood’s sidewalks and bicycle routes and determine if they are safe.
Map out “Best Walking Routes” for your and other neighbourhood children to get to school.
Organize “Walking School Buses” in your neighbourhood so children can make the journey to school together with an adult.
Form a “Parent Eyes Group” enlisting parents along walking and biking routes to take turns being “eyes on the street.
Create a “Safe Routes to School Team” by bringing in all the interest groups that have a stake in encouraging kids to walk.

More information from the APA web site.

			
			

				Filed Under: Children, Education, Health, Parenting
Tagged: Children, Education, Health, journey, neighbourhood, Parenting, safety, school			
			
						
High child care costs mean 1 in 4 women delay or decide against having children
			
			

				
August 16, 2007 by Andy Merrett · Leave a Comment 
			
		
			
One in four women have decided against having children altogether, or are delaying having one, because of the high cost of quality preschool and child care, according to the anti-crime organisation “Fight Crime: Invest in Kids”.
28% of women aged 25-34 have delayed starting a family or decided against having a second or subsequent child.
Law enforcement leaders are calling on Congress to increase support for child care and Head Start. Research shows that when at-risk children receive quality child care and Head Start, they are less likely to end up in trouble with the law when they grow up.
 Read more

			
			

				Filed Under: Children, Education, Families, Finances, Parenting
Tagged: childcare, Children, crime, Education, Families, Parenting			
			
						
It’s good to talk: 30,000 words a day from 0 to 3 will bring academic success
			
			

				
August 14, 2007 by Andy Merrett · Leave a Comment 
			
		
			
Children under the age of 3 need to hear 30,000 words from their parents and caregivers to ensure optimal language development and academic success.
The Power of Talk research study has found that, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic factors, kids who converse regularly with their parents do much better educationally.
 Read more

			
			

				Filed Under: Babies, Children, Education, Parenting, Toddlers
Tagged: Babies, Children, Education, learning, Parenting, Toddlers, vocabulary, words			
			
						
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