How to Teach Kids to be Sociable in a Hostile Society

Teaching kids to be sociable in a hostile environment is a Herculean task that needs strategy and careful implementation. How could you do this seemingly impossible task?

Here are simple but effective ways to accomplish this task successfully.

Inculcate in your kids’ minds that good people are still the majority

You would not want your kid cowering in his room because of the crimes and hostility that he reads and hears. You have to explain that majority of humanity is still composed of good and non-hostile people like you and him; that there are many people still out there who are peaceful and are ready to lend a helping hand.

Recount stories of were peacemakers like Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther King Jr., the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, and Mohandas Gandhi who made the world a more peaceful place to live in.

Encourage them to socialize but discuss the dangers they may encounter

Fear is not a good thing when it paralyzes your children to stay indoors and be less productive. Not knowing the dangers could cause fear in your children preventing them to socialize.

To solve this you should discuss the dangers they could be up against. You can let them read the news or you could explain them yourselves.

The latter is preferable because you could answer if they have questions. Discuss the various methods criminals would employ to lure their victims.

When they are familiar with these various situations, they would feel more confident and would be able to socialize more.

Provide them opportunities to interact but teach them how to assess situations

As much as possible, provide them opportunities to interact by conducting social events at home or encouraging them to join socials outside of the house.

Teach them, however, to assess situations. The old methods still apply such as: Don’t talk to strangers, scream for help, stay in populated areas, don’t stay late at night, and stay with a group if possible.

During your discussion, you can simulate and assess if their responses are the best responses. People are oftentimes afraid of the unknown and if your kids know what to do during hostile situations, they would relax and socialize with their friends.

Enroll them in a self-defense class

Enrolling them in a self-defense class would reduce the propensity of them being fearful of their environment. They would acquire confidence if they know they could defend themselves from other people’s violence.

This would allow them to socialize more with people and go out to make friends. It would also ease your anxiety of their safety if you know they could defend themselves well.

These are simple ways that you could use to encourage your children to go out and socialize. You know that they are prepared mentally, physically and morally to find their niche in the sun in a relatively hostile environment.

Best Time to Tell a Child He Is Adopted

Telling a child that he is adopted is not an easy task, no matter what age the child is in. It is difficult for anyone to learn that the truth he knew all along was not the truth after all.

The difficulty increases as the child matures; hence, it is advisable to reveal the truth earlier and start answering the child’s questions as he grows older.

According to Dr. Steven Nickman, author of the article "Losses in Adoption: The Need for Dialogue," the best time to tell a child that he is adopted is between the ages of 6 and 8.

Telling them earlier may cause unnecessary fear in the child because children who are younger than 6, are still fearful that their parents may leave them.

They may not be able to understand also what adoption is all about. The word ‘adoption’ could be introduced pleasantly, however, during conversations.

After the revelation at the age of 6, the parent should try to demonstrate through their actions that they love the child just as much as they love the other children.

As the child grows, he would have gained confidence and knows that his adoption does not make his parents love him less. It is during his growing up time that his adoption could be slowly explained. How he was conceived by his biological mother, and similar questions.

The parent can do this as the situation arises, and should not be forced. On the other hand, revealing the truth during a child’s teen years can be devastating to a teen, who is assailed with peer pressure, and other teen problems.

He would also dislike the fact that the parents have kept the truth from him for so long. The worst scenario is if he comes to learn about the truth from strangers. That would surely break his heart. It would also be an abrupt process to the child, so experts do not recommend it.

Kids at the age of 6 to 8, however, could adjust quickly and would take the truth about their adoption as a natural process of their childhood. There would also be plenty of time for the parent to slowly explain more as the kids grow.

The way parents handle the revelation is a crucial factor of how the child would perceive adoption. Parents should be optimistic about it and the child would feel the positive energy as well; he would then perceive it as a positive experience.

How to Identify the Negative Effects of Peer Pressure on your Preteen

One of the most difficult challenges that a preteen could experience is peer pressure. This is the crucial time when the preteen longs for acceptance among his peers. Oftentimes, he would succumb to any request just so he could obtain his peers’ approval.

As a parent, however, you should know how to determine if your child is already showing the negative effects of peer pressure. To help you in identifying these negative effects, here are some steps you may want to apply.

Observe any changes in your preteen’s behavior

If there are any changes in his behavior, this would mean that he may be under peer pressure. He may have mood swings; one moment he is happy, and then the next moment, sad. He may also stay preoccupied at times not being able to focus.

He may have bouts of silences in which he would stay in his room for long periods of time. If any of these happens, you should proceed to the next
step - find time to have a heart to heart talk with him.

Have a heart to heart talk with him

Talking with your preteen would help him open up and destress. Encourage him to open up by not being judgmental and threatening. You could never identify if the negative changes in your child is because of peer pressure, if you do not listen. Listen more and talk less.

Ask questions that would allow him to answer in longer sentences. Take note of nonverbal messages from his actions. You could also ask direct questions if the situation warrants it.

Once you have identified the specific peer pressure experienced by your preteen, you can then identify the negative effects.

Assess and identify the negative effects of peer pressure on your child

After your talk with your child, you can now identify the negative effects that peer pressure exerts on your child. You could be able to do so by assessing the root cause of his behavior, through your conversation, based on his verbal and nonverbal cues.

You can also observe further his interactions with his peers. If he just came home from an outing with them, and he started becoming irate, then that is one indication.

You could apply these steps to help your child cope with peer pressure. As a parent, only you know your child well. Listen to what your heart tells you, and show your child how much you love him.

When you do this, he may be able to deal peer pressure with a positive attitude because he knows he would always be loved by his family, no matter what.

How to Teach Kids to be Sociable in a Hostile Society

Teaching kids to be sociable in a hostile environment is a Herculean task that needs strategy and careful implementation. How could you do this seemingly impossible task?

Here are simple but effective ways to accomplish this task successfully. 

Inculcate in your kids’ minds that good people are still the majority

You would not want your kid cowering in his room because of the crimes and hostility that he reads and hears. You have to explain that majority of humanity is still composed of good and non-hostile people like you and him; that there are many people still out there who are peaceful and are ready to lend a helping hand. Recount stories of were peacemakers like Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther King Jr., the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, and Mohandas Gandhi who made the world a more peaceful place to live in



Encourage them to socialize but discuss the dangers they may encounter 

Fear is not a good thing when it paralyzes your children to stay indoors and be less productive. Not knowing the dangers could cause fear in your children preventing them to socialize. To solve this you should discuss the dangers they could be up against. You can let them read the news or you could explain them yourselves. The latter is preferable because you could answer if they have questions. Discuss the various methods criminals would employ to lure their victims. When they are familiar with these various situations, they would feel more confident and would be able to socialize more.

Provide them opportunities to interact but teach them how to assess situations 

As much as possible, provide them opportunities to interact by conducting social events at home or encouraging them to join socials outside of the house. Teach them, however, to assess situations. The old methods still apply such as: Don’t talk to strangers, scream for help, stay in populated areas, don’t stay late at night, and stay with a group if possible. During your discussion, you can simulate and assess if their responses are the best responses. People are oftentimes afraid of the unknown and if your kids know what to do during hostile situations, they would relax and socialize with their friends.

Enroll them in a self-defense class 

Enrolling them in a self-defense class would reduce the propensity of them being fearful of their environment. They would acquire confidence if they know they could defend themselves from other people’s violence. This would allow them to socialize more with people and go out to make friends. It would also ease your anxiety of their safety if you know they could defend themselves well. These are simple ways that you could use to encourage your children to go out and socialize. You know that they are prepared mentally, physically and morally to find their niche in the sun in a relatively hostile environment.

How to Stop Bad Habits in your Kids

Children are children, prone to committing habits, which could be irritating at times. You must remember, though, that this is a phase that all kids pass through. Creating a big fuss about it may worsen the bad habit and forever scar your child. As parents, you should understand that there are reasons why your child is doing them.

Some of these bad habits include nail biting, nose picking, hair pulling, bed wetting and thumb sucking. Children naturally outgrow these habits as they grow older. To help you stop them, here are some ways to do it.

Determine the root of the problem

Thumb sucking and other habits are developed by your child to cope with an underlying problem. You should find the root cause and treat it from there. Thumb sucking may be caused by your kid not being able to sleep. You could use soft, mellow music to lull him to sleep.

You could use a pacifier if he could not stop the habit abruptly. Do not unnecessarily draw attention to his bad habits, though, because he may become more conscious, which may exacerbate the situation.

Reward positive development

Every time your child is able to stop doing the bad habit, reward him with something he could appreciate. An example is rewarding him with a teddy bear to cuddle when sleeping, if he does not wet his bed.

When he wets his bed again, do not reprimand him harshly, especially in front of other people. You may state in a loving manner that his teddy bear would prefer a warm and dry bed, and then hug him to show that his bad habit does not make you love him less.

Persevere and be patient

Keep praising and rewarding improvements with kind words and lots of love. Persevere and be patient because some children have a longer time to get rid of their bad habits; your child may be one of them.

Let him feel your unconditional love through all this phase in his life. Sometimes, love shown outwardly could be the solution to a child’s bad habits.

Channel your child’s attention to useful hobbies

You can also provide your child with useful hobbies, such as, painting, drawing, coloring, or educational toys that could keep him busy while learning. You could also provide him with children’s books that he can browse and grow interested in. Determine his interests and develop them; this could draw him away from his bad habits.

These are simple but useful methods that could stop your kid’s bad habits. Only you would know your child’s preferences, so you can adapt these steps according to what is applicable to him.

A Plant Story You Must Read

By: Mark Lester

Evening, the cool winds rush through the valley floor like wild horses running from wolves. The sound of running water fills the entire surrounding as smoke would in a closed room. 

“The moon is shining awfully bright tonight” The little seedling tells her mother tree as the Old Mango gently pulls the earth around her like a blanket. 

“How does it look from up there mother? It must be so much larger” The old Mango looks up for a second, recalling how it was when he too was a seedling. 

With a smile on her face she says, “Yes, it does seem slightly bigger, but it’s just the same size.”

The seedling scratches her body with her tiny root and feels her first leaf at the top of her head. “How did you grow so tall mother?” 

Her Mother placed her finger before her lip “By eating plenty of fruits and vegetables my dear, you don’t get much healthier by eating an all meat diet.” 

Puzzled the little seedling asks her “Mother? What is an all meat diet?” 

The old Mango moves her roots upwards, revealing a small dead fox beneath her roots.

“How did that even get there mother?” 

“Oh, it’s a long story my sweet child but that is what an all meat diet looks like, exactly what it is, dead meat.”

“Quiet already! Hunting requires deep focus, deep focus!” The old owl frowns at the two “Not only is hunting a challenge but your ceaseless talking makes it harder to concentrate on tiny creature. How am I supposed to catch any if you won’t?” 

The Mango cuts him off “Hunt elsewhere! Trying to raise a child isn’t easy either bucko!” 

“You’re lucky I’m not a vegetarian, or you’d be out of fruit!” The Mango looks at her seedling “See that child? If you’re on an all meat diet you’re going to be as ill-tempered as that cranky old owl.” 

“Shhh! I hear a mouse!” The owl surveys the ground, takes flight gently, suddenly a strong thud echoes through the forest. 

“That’s how you kill an owl my child”

The Mango picks up the owl she had just killed with a strong swipe of her branches. “All meat diet is bad, so is vegan, have your first taste of meat my daughter, it’s calcium rich!”

When on Holiday, Enjoy the Comfort of These London Apartments

When on holiday, you can be stressed out looking for secure and comfortable London Apartments to spend the night in. Worry no more because finding suitable apartments that would provide you with the best accommodation while simultaneously allowing you to enjoy the unique sights and sounds of the city.

If you are with your family and children, then it is imperative that you find comfortable accommodations for them. It is difficult to look for an apartment for your family, especially with children around, so you need help from someone who knows the complexities of the city.

Whether you are on a business, medical or leisure trip, the London Apartments would provide your needs appropriately. Londoners, Robert Arnold and Polly Fletcher, could help you find your preferred apartment. In addition Robert Arnold and Polly Fletcher’s personal and professional services are free.

You can inform them about your accommodation needs and preferences, and they will meet your requirements properly because they have resided in London for 22 years already. Several friends are currently working in London and they speak about the amazing tourists’ spots that people could visit.

You can enjoy your vacation too in London by booking the best and most affordable apartments with the help of this couple. You may want to look for them the next time you visit London.

The Big Ben, London, Image credit: commons.wikimedia.org

How to Stay Sexy Even after Those Child-bearing Years

Mothers out there, let me tell you some good news, even you could be sexy after all your child-bearing years. There are simple and effective ways to do so. You should be aware of the principle that the excess calorie you ingest should be eliminated from your body to prevent calorie deposits in your adipose tissues. The most effective methods to be sexy are regular exercise, proper diet and wearing appropriate undergarments such as the Best Body shaper.  

Regular exercise

Regular exercise will always be part of staying healthy and sexy. You need not go to the gym or have the latest exercise machines in your home. If you could not do daily gymnastics or jogging, you do your exercise by walking as often as you can while doing your chores; walk to the grocery store, to church, around the house, and that would be sufficient. What is important is to do these walking exercise daily.  

Proper Diet

Walking would be sufficient if you do not overeat. You should eat properly and not stuff yourself with harmful fats and sweets. The normal person with normal activities needs around 1,200 to 2,000 calories daily depending upon the person’s activities. If you are not able to exercise more then, you should eat fewer carbohydrates such as rice, bread, and potatoes. Eat more of vegetables and fruits so that you would be able to wear a sexy Seamless shape wear.  

Wear Best back smoothing bra and cami

These undergarments would help a lot in making your appearance flawless. The bra would make your breasts appear fuller and superb, while providing a comfortable full support. The cami would help smoothen those unwanted bulges in your body and trim those excess appendages in your waist. These affordable undies are made up of durable, breathable moisture-wick microfibers that are of high quality, smooth clothing material. There are also various types of undergarments for different outfits such as sleeveless blouses, and dresses for pregnant dresses.

 In addition, avoiding drugs, alcohol, caffeine, and cigarettes would help you live a healthy life and maintain your well-shaped and healthy body. Sleeping 8 hours a day would also strengthen your muscles and improve your metabolic and physiologic function. 

All these would lead to a sexy and healthy body.You would not have to worry now what to wear. All you have to do is follow the pointers below and be as healthy and as sexy as any other woman. Be ready, also, with the admiration of people around you.

Pictures of Children at Play

Kids, Do You Want to Have Fun Listening to the Amazing Story of Trockle? Holly Jahangiri, Author of Trockle Will Relate the Story Herself

Hello kids, if you’re looking for a fun and educational activity this weekend, you can have a blast listening to the amazing story of Trockle read by Trockle’s creator herself - Holly Jahangiri.

Holly is the author of Trockle , and she will be the guest storyteller at Paint Me a Story. 

This would be held at 10:00 AM, October 6, 2012 at the Color Me Mine of Cypress (24140 Hwy 290, Ste 300; Cypress, TX 77429).

With only $20, you’ll have snacks of donut and juice, a personal encounter with the noted author herself, Holly Jahangiri, and the chance to have her book, Trockle, autographed personally for you, should you decide to buy it.

Isn’t that exciting? So, call now 281-758-4139 for reservations, or email cypress@colormemine.com.

Why You Should Choose Organic Skin Products For Your Baby

Of course you always want to give the best for your baby, and that also includes all the skin care products that you apply to your baby’s skin. However, with such a lot of products available in the market, you might be wondering which among them will be the best choice.

Maybe you might have heard already that organic skin products are the best for your little one’s delicate skin. So, you might be wondering now, what do you mean by organic skin products and what benefits can you get from opting to use them on your baby. Read on for more information about these products.

Organic skin products are said to be the best because these products are manufactured without the use of harmful chemicals. The all-natural characteristic of these organic skin products makes them the most appropriate to use on baby skin because baby skin is said to be thinner and more sensitive than adult skin.

Thus, baby skin is more prone to absorb such chemicals that might be present on other skin products. These chemicals may harm your baby by causing skin irritations and dryness. There are also studies that say that long-term use of chemical-based skin products might cause a higher risk for individuals to be more prone to certain diseases such as certain cancers, allergic reactions, lung diseases and liver diseases.

Despite the fact that chemicals were not used for the manufacture of organic skin products, you need not worry about their effectiveness. These organic skin products are very effective to cleanse your baby and to leave your baby sweet smelling.

Once you try to use these products, you will realize that you need not worry anymore about baby skin rashes and irritations. In fact, even adults that have sensitive skin are also advised to use organic products.