Archive for September 1, 2009
No Idle Hands
Kids need not be enrolled in formal summer classes to have fun or be productive. Parents can give or have ideas to keep their children busy like the following activities:
1. Home based projects – any project with an output for the child or the house will make a good summer activity. They can make their own bags or bracelets or even they can recycle the pages of their old notebooks. This activity taught them of industry and frugality.
2. Enterprising activities – it is important for some children to know that they will get something out of the activity. The more enterprising can go into micro business like selling. It is okay to introduce the concept of money.
3. Spirit of volunteerism – one mom who does counselling in a community brings her daughter there. This way, the girl does not develop the feeling of entitlement common in children from well to do families. She does not get the attitude that the world is there for her to consume. She has a sense of another reality and has become more appreciative of the little things she has.
Happiness Responsibility
Given that there are a lot of activities to choose from, from arts to ballet to cooking, the challenge is to identify which is best for your child. Given the limited resources of most parents, the chosen activity should be helpful to their child’s soul and should be productive.
No matter how old they are, do not forget to ask your children what they’d like to do. The older they are, the more ideas they have. Give younger kids choices. Ask them what it will be: dance or drawing, piano or painting.
Involving them in the decision making makes children responsible for their own happiness. The lesson here is, their happiness is within their control. They become responsible for their own identity.
Feed Your Skin
What goes on inside your body shown on the outside? While most of the food you eat may not directly affect your skin’s condition, they will contribute to your overall health, and this will reflect on your skin. Did you know that eating a lot of fat can also increase the chances of developing precancerous spots and maybe even skin cancer? Clearly, a low fat diet is as good for your skin as it is for your heart. But a healthy, skin friendly diet is not just about eating less fat; you also need to eat more fruits and vegetable at least five servings a day. They are rich in vitamins and anti oxidants, which can help reduce the effects of aging and even prevent cancer. And although vitamin supplements cannot take the place of natural foods, they can be useful if you are unable to take in the correct amount of fruits and vegetables. Vitamins such as A, C, E and B complex are crucial to healthy skin. So when you are thinking of what to have for your next meal, don’t forget to give your skin the food it needs too.