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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

"I Cried Because I had no Shoes"

If you watch one video today then make it this one.

Restorative Justice Make Little Impact on Likelihood of Reoffending (Australia)

A program designed to bring young offenders face to face with the victims of their crime and encourage them to accept responsibility for their offending is no more effective than the NSW Children's Court at reducing juvenile reoffending, according to new research released this month by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR)

Does Daydreaming Make You Smarter?

Kids who spend class time letting their minds wander usually get in trouble.  But new research makes the case that spacing out can actually be a good thing.

UNICEF Video (3 Min) ; "2 Lives: 2 Miles Apart"


"2 Lives: 2 Miles Apart" is a series produced by 8 young local filmmakers about the different challenges children face in urban areas around the world.  This episode introduces Mariana and Bayan: Both left their homes to find a better future in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the 10th biggest city in the world.

Study Shows a Healthy Teenager is a Happy Teenager

Teenagers who turn their backs on a healthy lifestyle and turn to drink, cigarettes and junk food are significantly unhappier than their healthier peers.  New research also shows that 12-13 is a catalyst age when young people turn away from the healthy habits of their younger years and start to get involved in risky behaviours.

Syria

From a dog's perspective:
Jailhouse Rock

See Two Year Old William Dance:

File "It's about time!"  UN Youth Rep to Become a Reality!

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, announced at the end of January that he would appoint a new Special Representative for Youth.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Thanks to those of you who have been contacting us!  We really enjoy hearing from you and sharing your information.  Please feel free to email us at beyond2020@rogers.com with what you have been hearing or what you would like us to know about children and youth in Canada.

Youth Opportunities Unlimited

Since 1982 Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) has done an amazing job of leading youth in London and Middlesex County toward career success.  We particularly like their new food services program funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation that provides formal and extensive hands-on training for up to 40 youth per year to work in a functioning cafe.  This social enterprise project (Cornerstone) is been launched in a historical building in the heart of London.  Visit the site.

How Does an Organization Know When it is Engaging Youth?

There is no fixed approach to youth programming that engages youth.  Youth engagement is a spectrum of approaches that are reciprocal, dynamic and interactive.  They range from programs that target young people to programs for youth, run by youth.  Check out this interesting item from the Trillium Foundation.

Counting To Twenty

John John is a mini Bill Cosby... Check out #s 14 and up.  Defines cuteness.

UN Releases 'Children's Rights and Business Principles'

The 'Children's Rights and Business Principles' represents the first set of principles to guide companies on the full range of actions they can take to respect and support children's rights.  Look here for more.

Prescriptions of ADHD Meds Also on the Rise in Canada

The upward trend in the prevalence of diagnoses of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and of the prescribing of medications to treat ADHD seen in the United States and other developed countries is also occurring in Canada, except in pre-school-aged children, according to a new study published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.  (Free membership may be required - it's a good site and a source of information)

How Supportive Parenting Impacts Your Child's Brain

A recent study by experts at Washington University illustrates why good parenting skills and parent wellbeing is so important that it can even affect the size of an important part of the brain - the hippocampus.


Teacher Abuse is on the Increase

The days of teachers getting an apple have been replaced with verbal abuse, racial and sexist slurs, repeated intimidation, threats of physical violence, vandalism of personal belongings and persistent classroom disruption.
38% of all teachers are reporting being a victim of a student's disrespectful behaviour.
27% of teachers have been physically assaulted
16% are verbally abused.
11% have been subjected to repeated racial, sexual and religious slurs.  

University First to Offer Tuition Waivers for Youth in Care in Manitoba

The University of Winnipeg launched the Youth in Care Tuition Waiver Program to ensure that youth who have grown up in care can dream about and plan for their academic future at UWinnipeg regardless of socio-economic background.  This is the first program of its kind in Manitoba and believed to be unique for a University in Canada.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Help us make this the newsletter you want to see in your inbox each week!!  Feel free to send us your interesting articles, videos and latest information from around Canada that highlights children and youth!  We would love to hear from you!  Simply email us at beyond2020@rogers.com!


TED-ED  Launched

Ted-Ed harnesses the talent of the world's best teachers and visualizers, extending great lessons beyond a single classroom to anyone with internet access.  In the first stage TED-Ed launches a new education channel on YouTube today that offers up original video content that marries the talent of great teachers with top animators.

Youth Suicide Rate Decrease After Entrance Into Canadian Foster Care

Using data from more than 8 000 children ranging in age from 5 to 17, Katz found that 2 years prior to being placed into care, future foster children were more likely to commit suicide, attempt suicide or be hospitalized, than the general population.  However, the results showed that these rates decreased after the children had been placed into care.

Shannen's Dream will Continue to Have a Positive Impact

"I want to have a better education because I want to follow my dreams and grow up and study to be a lawyer.  for the last eight years, I have never been in a real school since I've started my education.  For what inspired me was when I realized in great eight that I've been going to school in these portables for eight long struggling years."  Read More.

For Youth, Economic Recovery was "Almost Non-existent"

"The economic recovery has been almost non-existent for younger Canadians, (those aged 15-24 years).  They accounted for more than half of all net job losses during the recession and employment still stands some 250 000 below its pre-recession peak.  In contrast, jobs held by those over the age of 25 hers are more than 400 000 above it's level prior to the downturn."  Read article:

Adventures of a Teenage Polyglot

SOME people pick up a little Hebrew before their bar mitzvahs, or learn Spanish from their mothers, or can speak some Japanese from a semester abroad.  What about the high school student who speaks more than 16 languages for the fun of it!

How You Should Feel About Kony 2012

If you have been awake over the past week, you've probably heard something about "Kony 2012," a new campaign aimed at raising awareness of Ugandan guerrilla leader and war criminal Joseph Kony.  It seems everyone has one of the following opinions about Kony and Invisible Children's campaign - see them here:

Video Goes Viral

This time-lapse video of a pregnant mom and expecting father encapsulates nine-months in just under two minutes.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

TED Talk:  The Sibling Bond

Were you the favourite child, the wild child or the middle child?  Jeffrey Kluger explores the profound life-long bond between brothers and sisters, and the influence of birth order, favouritism and sibling rivalry.  It might make you want to give your brother/sister a call.

Bullied to Death:  Boy Accused in Attack Not Guilty

The youth accused of attacking Mitchell Wilson, an 11 year old Pickering boy who later committed suicide and whose story has become a cause celebrate of the anti-bullying movement, has been found not guilty of assault and robbery charges.  Full story. 

Lady Gaga Launches Anti-Bullying Effort At Harvard

Last Wednesday the Born This Way Foundation officially launched at Harvard with Oprah Winfrey adding her presence in an event that was closed to the general public.  See video and read article.  

Research Mixed on Spanking Ban

Should spanking become a relic of childhoods past, like helmet less bike rides, skin-blisterin sunburns, free ranging in a car's back seat or being a breathless bystander to dad's two pack-a-day habit?  Child abuse expert Ron Ensom thinks so.  He is anticipating the day when parents - at least the 50% who rely on a spanking, swatting or slapping to keep their children in line - will lay down their arms.

Thinspo!

Dictionary: Thinspo - noun - short for "thin-inspirational" girls, photos of wafer thin girls

"Most days I feel like what I'm doing could be way too much," Kate bid the Huffington Post.  "I know that if I stay on a very dangerous path, that it could kill me within a year easily, if not sooner.  But at the same time, I feel like if I set a goal, I have to reach it.  I"m pretty torn about it most days, but I've never really felt bad enough that I want to stop. "  Read more.

Bullying Linked to Suicidal Thoughts

Children involved in bullying are more likely than their peers to consider suicide by the time they are 11, a new study indicates.  These thoughts of self-harm are not limited to victims of bullying however.  The study also revealed that bullies themselves are much more prone to suicidal thoughts or some other form of self-harm.

A Dog's Dream Comes True

It's only 25 seconds and well worth a view to see a dog hit the jackpot.