Unity Charity

Unity Charity is a youth operated Toronto Arts Based Alternative Education Organization headed by the 24 year old inspirational and talented Mike Prosserman.  We invited you to check out Mike's short video describing the value of Hip-hop on his own life and the lives of many youth across Canada.  Very Cool!

Be-Bop at the Zoo

For those who haven't already met Zola.

Mental Health Top Issue Facing Schools

In a 2009 study of 1 100 principals in 25 countries, 90% expressed mounting alarm about mental health problems, with Canadian principals more likely than others to say one in five students need help.

Sleep Problems Linked to Bullying

Children who are bullies or are aggressive or have conduct problems at school, are more likely to be sleeping during the day according to a new University of Michigan Medical School study.  The study suggests that bullying might be reduced by improving sleep quality.  It is recommended that school-aged children sleep 10-11 hours per night.

Research Asks, Is Higher Education Worth It?

A report based on findings from two 2011 Pew Research Centre surveys looks at the views of both the general public and college?university presidents in relation to value, quality and mission of higher education.

"I'm Running Away From Home"

A video about a little boy running away from home.  Very funny, if you like British Humour.  The Brits have a wonderful sense of humour!

Make Spanking Kids Illegal ( New York Daily News)

Repeated surveys show that about 70% of Americans believe that spanking is sometimes necessary and does not harm children.  They also seem to think that the possibility of prohibiting spanking would mark unprecedented government interference in the lives of families.  Neither belief is correct.

Kids Under 5 at Higher Risk of Drowning, Report Warns

Child drowning's nearly doubled in Canada last year, according to figures released Tuesday by the Lifesaving Society that show a year to year rise in water deaths across the board.

Breaking the Silence

In this short 4 minute video JD Schramm talks about his experience with suicide and asks us to break the silence surrounding suicide and suicidal behaviour.  Recommended.

Kids and Gender Stereotypes: Can't we Let Boys be Girls and Girls be Boys?

Boys are made of snakes and snails and puppy dog tails while girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice, right? Interesting post from "Huff Women" - Read this current article and while doing so check out the site.

Power Point: UNICEF's 'Eye See' Project

As part of global celebrations for the Day of the African Child UNICEF and Sony have unveiled photographs from the sixth EYE SEE initiative, an annual workshop that gives vulnerable African children the opportunity to learn about photography and tell their stories through images.  Beautiful.

How to Land Your Kid in Therapy

Why the obsession with our kids' happiness may be dooming them to unhappy adulthoods.  This is a thought provoking item from a therapist and mother.  Report and video from The Atlantic.

The Intelligence of Dogs

Lucy had surgery on her head and had to wear the cone of shame so that she would not rip out the stitches.  This was the first time she went up the steps unassisted.

Ontario Poverty Rate Up Since Last Election - (Toronto Star June 17)

Almost 1.7 million Ontarians  are living in poverty, including almost 400 000 children, according to StatsCan Data.

The Coalition for Children and Youth Mental Health (Toronto Star June 1)

This broad new coalition of hospitals, social workers, children's aid societies, psychologists, teachers, students and trustees cites the turbulent mental health of today's students - from anxiety and depression to suicidal feelings - as the 'number one issue facing schools today.'

Walking on the Edge

Strolling around the CN Tower

Throne Speech and Budget

The Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children (CCRC) has prepared an analysis of the Throne Speech and Budget that focuses on longer-term issues for children and youth.  The CCRC welcomes any suggestions as well as support as they continue to pursue these themes over the coming year.

Outlook is Bleak for Foster Kids 'aging out' of the System (Toronto Star June 11)

While roughly half of their peers between the ages of 18 and 24 are still living with their parents, youth "aging out" foster care don't have that option.  Canadian and International research shows that between 40% and 60% of these youth end up homeless. Read more.

Drugs, Alcohol and Graduation

The latest edition of Free Prevention Newsletter which focuses exclusively on youth and alcohol can be found here.  The Port Coquitlam Alcohol-Drug Education Service also has an excellent website. Recommended.

CDC Study: Gay, Bisexual Teens Do Riskier Things

Gay and bisexual high school students are more likely than their heterosexual classmates to smoke, drink alcohol or do other risky things, according to a government study released June 6.

Article: Perceptions of Youth - Adam Fletcher

The way adults see young people determines how adults treat young people; the way we treat young people determines the outcomes of our activities with them.  It can be hard when we're in the middle of our busy lives and work to stop and reflect on our perceptions of children and youth.  This excellent article is a tool that can help make that easier.  You may also want to check out the FreeChild website - arguably one of the best youth engagement sites in the world.

Anti-bullying Program to be Expanded in B.C. Schools (Vancouver Sun - Jun 13)

The Roots of Empathy program, which arranges to have babies brought into classrooms to encourage respect and kindness among young students, will be expanded this year into 360 kindergarten classes in B.C.

Synchronized Cats

Needs no introduction - view it here.

Ontario Student Cites Freedom of Speech After Suspension For Online Videos

Jack Christie, a grade 12 student at Donald A Wilson Secondary School in Whitby, Ontario, has been indefinitely suspended for posting surreal, humorous videos to YouTube.  See the video and read the excellent June 1ST article from the Globe & Mail.

Interview in India with a Boy from the Streets

In India, between 17 million and 60 million children survive alone on India's urban streets.  This is a very short and poignant interview with one of them.

Could Conjoined Twins Share a Mind?

The girls drifted off for the night, to dream, together or apart, their secret dreams.  This is a fascinating and beautifully written article from the New York Times.

"First Call for Children"

The Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children is sending a letter to the PM asking for a policy for program review and budgeting.  It also advocates for use of child impact assessments to determine the impact of proposed policies for children before adopting them.  It is a public call to raise the priority of children in the context of focus on aging society.

Locker Room Culture Turns Boys Off Physical Education: Ottawa Citizen (6/5/11)

The macho culture inside high school locker rooms is turning a growing number of boys off physical education and prompting researchers to delve into issues around body image and challenge popular notions of what it means to be a man.  Read More.

Recommended: A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change
The book touches on a number of critical issues in digital learning, from the role of remix culture to the importance of tinkering and experimentation in creating, not merely acquiring knowledge.  Central to its premise is the idea that play is critical to understanding learning, something we can get behind.  check out interviews with authors.

This Guy Makes Some Great Points

Then the creature enters at 23 seconds... Hilarious!