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Sesame Workshop Help Military Children
July 18, 2009 by Dan
Filed under Encouragement
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
July 19, 2009
Sesame Street” usually conjures visions of Muppets teaching young children their letters and numbers, but they also teach life lessons to help military children cope with deployments, injuries, and now, loss.
The newest phase of Sesame Workshop’s “Talk, Listen, Connect” initiative is aimed at helping children cope with the death of a loved one.
“Sesame Workshop is committed to providing our military families with the resources they deserve,” said Gary E. Knell, president and CEO of Sesame Workshop. “We hope that ‘Talk, Listen, Connect,’ which reaches out to all families with young children, will continue to help families discover ways they can be resilient despite experiencing difficult transitions in their lives.”
“Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families With Children Cope With the Death of a Loved One” will consist of bilingual, English and Spanish, multimedia materials for young children and adults starring the Sesame Street Muppets.
Sesame Workshop will produce and distribute materials at no cost through organizations that provide services to military families and the general public, including grief centers, social services, and other programs specifically addressing the needs of children and families coping with the death of an immediate family member. The kit materials also will be available online at www.sesamestreet.org/tlc.
The workshop also unveiled the Sesame Street Family Connections Web site and announced the creation of 35 “Sesame Rooms” during a news conference today at the Military Child Education Coalition’s National Conference in Philadelphia.
The Sesame Street Family Connections Web site is a child-centered, online space that will keep military families connected across the globe.
With the help of their favorite Sesame Street friends, family members can compose encouraging messages to each other, share artwork and videos, upload photos, and get answers to some questions they may have but didn’t know how to ask.
“This rewarding opportunity to collaborate in launching such a creative Web site provides a vital tool in the recovery, resilience and reintegration toolbox that our military families need and deserve,” said Army Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Loree K. Sutton, the director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, who helped make today’s announcement.
“Families and warriors will be able to stay connected and share in a safe and nurturing place, joined by their special Sesame Street friends,” he said.
Additionally, Sesame Workshop, with the support of New York designer Jonathan Adler and several generous partners, will provide a rich and engaging set of materials to brighten up spaces it’s calling “Sesame Rooms.”
These rooms provide a much-needed, child-friendly place for military children to play.
Sesame Street will send a “room-in-a-box” to 35 locations across the United States, including military hospitals, libraries, child care centers and family support centers
“The Military Child Education Coalition is delighted to partner once again with Sesame Workshop on its initiatives that have been uniquely beneficial to military children and their families,” said Patty Shinseki, a member of the MCEC Board of Directors, during the event.
“Elmo and his friends, Sesame’s beloved characters with whom children connect so well, serve as conduits for dealing with the difficult issues in nurturing and sensitive ways,” she said. “These valuable tools and resources for fostering resilience help children to thrive during the good times and challenging ones.”
The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury and several other organizations, including Military OneSource and the USO, have provided support for the “Talk, Listen, Connect” initiative.
Source: Our Military
Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com
Book Review of the Week – Moon Rabbit
By Amy Scheibe
Grandparents
July 18, 2009
Editor’s Note: This book is wriiten by Natalie Russell (Viking Juvenile, 2009)
Ages 3 to 6
We would like to know your favor book? And we would also like if you would write a review on it and we will Publish it. dan@youngchronicle.com
I am completely smitten with Little Rabbit and her moonlit adventure to discover whether there is someone out there “just like her.” When she hears some lovely music playing in the park, she stumbles upon Brown Rabbit, who is nothing like her, making him the perfect friend. Russell is a papermaker, and has illustrated her adorable book with sumptuous prints.
Or try: Goodnight Moon (1947). No kidding. If you don’t have a copy in your house, get one. All ages.
Source: Grand Parents
Get Involved! Help Your Community
July 18, 2009 by Dan
Filed under Encouragement
By CHC/PIO
July 16, 2009
At any age, there are so many ways you can make a difference. Even just one afternoon of volunteering can have an impact on someone’s life. And the best part is it’s fun! While you help others, you help yourself by learning. Children for Children wants you to Grow Involved!
What is community service?
Community service is giving your time and effort to make a positive difference, large or small. Community service is finding a way to help a person, group, or organization that works on behalf of people or places in need. Community service is offering a hand. The instinct to offer a hand is regarded as one of the highest and best that we have.
Why is it important?
Contributing to your community is important part of your development. It can help build your leadership skills and pave ideas for future career paths. It gives you perspective by helping you think about others and how others’ lives differ from your own. It can change the way you feel and think about things! Sometimes, it makes you feel incredibly fortunate at the end of the day, even though you might have started the day feeling rotten about challenges of your own.
One of the best things about community service is that you get while you give. Expect a feeling of satisfaction, or a moment’s pride, as you reflect on what you did to help someone else.
How do I get started in community service?
Reading this is a great first step!
1. Think about how you want to help. What are your interests? Do you like being indoors or outside? What ages do you like being with? Older? Younger? Do you have a specific talent or skill to contribute?
2. Consider how much time you want to spend on service. Once a week? Once a month? It’s okay to start with something small to see if you like it. If you don’t end up liking it, don’t be discouraged. Sometimes it takes time and patience to find a good fit.
3. Talk to an adult about a plan. Will you need supplies? A ride somewhere? Or, if your school requires community service, there’s probably a service director or coordinator who can help you find a place. Adults can also share their own experiences and give you great suggestions.
4. Ask questions. Once you have an organization in mind, call and ask for the volunteer coordinator. This person probably doesn’t have much time to sit by the phone, so be prepared to leave a detailed message. When you do make contact, have your questions prepared ahead of time, perhaps along the lines of the “four W’s”:
- Who do they need for the work they do?
- What kind of work is it?
- When do they need help?
- Where would you be expected to do this work?
5. Check it out. You’re not obligated to volunteer just because you called to ask about the opportunities. Before committing, check with a parent, teacher, or other adult who can help you evaluate the information you’ve received. Another good idea is to make an appointment to drop by the site to see for yourself if you would feel comfortable volunteering there: can you picture yourself in that setting? If it seems right to you, chances are you have found a good fit!
Source: Children for Children
Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? We would like to hear your story, where you are helping someone in your community. dan@youngchronicle.com
What is the Real Truth about ADHD
July 18, 2009 by Dan
Filed under One Person's View
By Michael K. Davis, MD
July 16, 2009
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common medical complaints of childhood. Nearly 10% of school-aged children are affected. The main symptoms of ADHD are inattention, distractability, inability to focus on school work or chores, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. All children normally have one or more of these features at some time in thier lives, however, children with ADHD may have more difficulty performing daily tasks than other children. As many as half of these children will have symptoms of ADHD into adulthood. The cause of ADHD is unknown. Treatment may involve behavior therapy and/or medicines.
What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood disorder that causes a combination of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. While these symptoms may be part of normal childhood development, children with ADHD develop difficulty completing normal daily tasks due to the disorder. ADHD affects children in multiple settings. Poor school performance, inability to perform chores at home and risk-taking behavior while riding a bicycle may be present.
What causes ADHD?
The cause of ADHD is unknown. There seems to be an imbalance of chemicals in the brain which may include: dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. It is unknown if the problem relates to the over or underproduction of these chemicals or perhaps to an abnormal response to these chemicals. Subtle differences in brain anatomy have been detected in children with ADHD, however the significance of this is unknown.
What are the symptoms of ADHD?
- Inattention
- Impulsivity
- Hyperactivity
- Distractability
- Inability to focus on school work or chores
- Risk-taking behavior on bicycle, skateboards, rollerblades, etc.
- Distraction while performing work
- Losing, misplacing or forgetting objects
- Disorganization
- Daydreaming
- Poor school performance
- Risk-taking behavior such as riding a bicycle over a ledge or into the street
- Yelling out answers to questions too quickly
- Accidently injuring other children
- Impatience, especially when waiting in line
- Excessive movement, talking or fidgeting
- Inability to sit still
- Difficulty playing quietly
- Poor behavior
There is no medical test for ADHD. The story provided by the family, school or caregiver is usually enough to make the diagnosis. Surveys and questionnaires are often helpful. ADHD must meet the following criteria:
- Must be present in more than one setting (for example – at school, home and church)
- Must be present for 6 months or more
- Must occur before 7 years of age
- Must be excessive compared to normal childhood behavior
- Must affect school, home or social activity
- Other disorders must be excluded by your doctor
How is ADHD treated?
Behavior therapy and educational interventions may be helpful. Some examples include, frequent progress reports from school, sitting close to the teacher, removing distractions, private tutoring, etc.
Stimulant medications may be used in children 3 years of age and older. They are in a class of amphetamine-like drugs that stimulate nerve activity in the brain. While providing “stimulation” to a hyperactive child may seem to be counter-productive, these medicines help children focus. This effect is somewhat like an adult drinking a cup of coffee (for the caffeine) to “wake up” or “concentrate” better. Some examples of stimulants are:
- Adderall ®
- Concerta ®
- Focalin ®
- Metadate ®
- Ritalin ®
- Vyvanse ™
Non-stimulant medications aim to have similar effects to the stimulant medications without the same side effects. Strattera® works on the neurotransmitter norepinephrine (stimulant medicines primarily work on dopamine). Many children respond well to Strattera® however more is known about the benefits of stimulant medications for ADHD.
What are the most common side effects of stimulant ADHD medications?
- Poor appetite and weight gain
- Sleep problems
- Restlessness or irritability
- Headache
- Abdominal pain, diarrhea
Does ADHD go away?
ADHD symptoms continue into aduthood for more than half of children with ADHD. Hyperactivity becomes less apparent as a child enters the teenage years and adulthood.
Source: Dr. Tummy
Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? Is there a question that you would like to ask Dr. Tummy? dan@youngchronicle.com