Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Be a Mentor and Make a Difference

Mentoring programs are currently recruiting for caring adults to build trusting relationships with young people. Mentoring is a structured, nurturing relationship that matches young people to supportive adults who can offer guidance and encouragement to young people as they develop their competence and character.

Research indicates that mentoring programs are more successful if they are driven by the needs and interests of the youth instead of the expectations of the adult volunteers. Research also states that success is related to a high level of personal interaction between the mentor and the mentee, along with a commitment from the mentee. The longer the mentoring relationship lasts, the more positive the outcomes. Some studies report that young people who have participated in mentoring programs display positive educational, health, and social benefits from the experience.
  • Educational achievement: Mentored youth tend to have better attendance, a higher likelihood to pursue college, and more positive attitude while in school.
  • Heath and Safety: Mentoring helps prevent substance abuse and detour other high negative risk behaviors among the youth.
  • Social and Emotional Development: Youth in mentoring programs display more positive social attitudes toward their peers and their parents.

Explore the different mentoring programs in your community to find a good match for your interests and abilities. There is a young person out there waiting for your guidance.

Have fun!

Gina

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

What is Your Parenting Style?

New research is stating that parenting style is associated with how your children make decisions and a 500% difference in childhood obesity. There are four main parenting styles that were identified.

Authoritarian parents make all the decisions for their children. Authoritative parents involve the child in the decision making process. Permissive parents allows the children to make decisions for themselves with their parents awareness and unengaged parents allow children to make decisions without their involvement.

Authoritative parenting seems to teach children how to regulate their own behaviors. These children were found to have lower rates of childhood obesity and smoking, better grades in school, fewer symptoms of depression and a better control of diabetes.

William J Mayer, MD, MPH had the following suggestions:
  • Be respectful of your child's opinions.
  • Set limits with pre-arranged consequences and then follow thru with them.
  • Give you child choices that you can live with.
  • Set a good example by your own behavior.

By parenting with a more authoritative approach to parenting your child should achieve a healthier and happier life.

Happy Parenting

Gina

Monday, January 15, 2007

How to Raise a Happy Child

Every parent looks for advice on how to raise a happy, independent child in a materialistic world. It is one of the toughest jobs you will ever has as an adult because you won't receive the results of your hard work for more than a decade. That is a long time to wait for feedback.
Edward M. Hallowell M.D. gives five simple steps for building lifelong joy inside every child.
  • Connection - Unconditional love from an adult helps to foster self-confidence, and the knowledge that your child is loved and cared for.
  • Strengths - Support your child as they learn new things and develop their strengths. This will give them knowledge in how to deal with disappointment and pain. They also learn to never give up and the need to keep trying.
  • Imagination - A child will learn through their play. Unstructured play strengthens their imagination, teaches critical problem-solving skills and social skills.
  • Mastery - When a child masters a task they develop confidence, leadership skills, initiative and knowledge of hard work.
  • Recognition- Recognizing a child for their hard work and positive choices will continue to build relationships and self-worth.

You cannot buy happiness for your child. Spend time with your child and value your child for the person that he/she is and will become.

Best wishes

Gina

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

A Healthier You in 2007

January is alway a time of reflection and setting goals for the New Year. Wayne Geilman, Ph.D., a nutrition and food consultant has created a list of seven simple steps for a healthier you in 2007.
  • Eat seven or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
  • Take the stairs and burn an extra 10 calories a minute.
  • Stop and smell the roses to elevate your mood and relax.
  • Get at least seven hours of sleep to replenish your body.
  • Drink at least eight glasses of water daily and your coffee and sodas don't count!
  • Take a daily vitamin supplement to make sure you have all of your required nutrients each day.
  • Eat probiotics to support your digestive system and protect it against bad bacteria.

When you take care of yourself you are able to love and serve others in a healthier way. Maintain your balance of mind, body and spirit for a blessed 2007.

Until next week,

Gina