Family Happiness and the Overbooked Child
Time to cancel the piano lessons...Children's activities are no guarantee of later success.
Are Canadian Students Engaged?
Want to know how 63 000 students feel about experiences of engagement in school and learning? Cool inforgraphic.
Anderson loses it!
You have to watch this to the very end without chuckling!
A Child's Risk of Autism is nearly 20% greater if an older sibling has the disorder
Austism runs in families to a much greater degree than previously thought, according to new research that has tracked the younger siblings of children with the developmental disorder.
A Modern Classic
Animated video of Sir Ken Robinson on creativity and changing educational paradigms. Very cool.
Persistent Abuse Risk Doubles in Abused Children
Childhood abuse doubles the risk of developing multiple and long lasting episodes of depression, say scientists. A review, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, also suggests these patients are less likely to respond to treatment.
Bert and Ernie Will Not Marry
The makers of Sesame Street say characters Bert and Ernie will not marry in a same-sex ceremony despite an online petition calling for their union.
10 Reasons Not to Hit Your Child
There is a classic story about the mother who believed in spanking as a necessary part of discipline until one day she observed her three year old daughter hitting her one year old son. When confronted, her daugther said, "I'm just playing mommy." Read article.
"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world."
Jack Layton
Something somewhere is waiting to be known...
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
The Demise of Guys
Psychologist Philip Zimbardo asks, "Why are boys struggling?" He shares some stats (lower graduation rates, greater worries about intimacy and relationships) and suggests a few reasons - and he asks for your help! Watch his talk, then take his short 10 Question survey.
One Tough Interview
A one year old tells all!
Queer Youth Advice for Educators
This excellent guide presents the feelings and thoughts of thirty lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth and their allies, on the subject of school. The guide (available for download) also offers a number of resources for those working with youth.
Dog Helps a Witness Testify, and Legal Questions Follow
This item is about the new role for dogs as testimony enablers...Both prosecutors and defence lawyers have described her as adorable, "...though she has been known to slobber."
Kids See More Sex on TV than Online, Research Suggests
New research suggests that exposure to sexual material is highest with TV, at 75%, followed by music, at 69%. The internet is the least common way kids are exposed to sexual material, at 16% to 25%. Interesting item.
Girls "Corrupted by Wrong Toys"
Girls as young as five are being psychologically damaged by inappropriate "sexy" clothes, toys and images corrupting childhood, experts warned today. Read Article.
Boy Who Killed Principal Tells Police He Didn't Like Her
A 17 year old Memphis boy, charged with first degree murder in the stabbing death of the principal of the small private school he attended, told police he did not like her and planned to kill her.
How Parents Use Facebook To Spy on Their Kids
20 000 000 users of Facebook are 18 and under... 7 500 000 are younger than 13. Interesting infographic.
Psychologist Philip Zimbardo asks, "Why are boys struggling?" He shares some stats (lower graduation rates, greater worries about intimacy and relationships) and suggests a few reasons - and he asks for your help! Watch his talk, then take his short 10 Question survey.
One Tough Interview
A one year old tells all!
Queer Youth Advice for Educators
This excellent guide presents the feelings and thoughts of thirty lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth and their allies, on the subject of school. The guide (available for download) also offers a number of resources for those working with youth.
Dog Helps a Witness Testify, and Legal Questions Follow
This item is about the new role for dogs as testimony enablers...Both prosecutors and defence lawyers have described her as adorable, "...though she has been known to slobber."
Kids See More Sex on TV than Online, Research Suggests
New research suggests that exposure to sexual material is highest with TV, at 75%, followed by music, at 69%. The internet is the least common way kids are exposed to sexual material, at 16% to 25%. Interesting item.
Girls "Corrupted by Wrong Toys"
Girls as young as five are being psychologically damaged by inappropriate "sexy" clothes, toys and images corrupting childhood, experts warned today. Read Article.
Boy Who Killed Principal Tells Police He Didn't Like Her
A 17 year old Memphis boy, charged with first degree murder in the stabbing death of the principal of the small private school he attended, told police he did not like her and planned to kill her.
How Parents Use Facebook To Spy on Their Kids
20 000 000 users of Facebook are 18 and under... 7 500 000 are younger than 13. Interesting infographic.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Draft Report Calls for Reduction of Suicide Stigma
Canada needs a "dynamic, broadly based social movement" to improve its citzens' mental health, a "whole of government" approach that unites everyone from political leaders to "experts by experience," according to a national strategy five years in the making.
Canada: First Nation Children Still Removed From Parents at High Rate
More First Nation children are in foster care today than during the height of the residential school system during the 1960's, according to new reports. Today, tens of thousands of First Nation children reside outside of their family home living with foster parents, distant relatives or in institutions.
"Sticks and Stones May Break my Bones, but Words Will Hurt Forever."
An amateur video making a powerful statement about verbal bullying.
Can Government Teach Good Parenting?
Researches are calling for a national campaign to improve the quality of parenting, as a way of encouraging social mobility. Interesting report form the UK.
How One First Nation Broke the Tragic Trend in Child Welfare
Nationally, there are more aboriginal kids in care than at the height of the residential school system, various reports and calculations indicate. At Kitigan Zibi however, there's only a handful at any one time, and some of those come from neighbouring Algonquin communities.
"Do Something"
A youth engagement program that survives with little federal funding and does remarkable work at the national level.
Philippines Street Kid has Talent
Tourists record video of boy and his impersonations...Look out Mister Bieber!
And While on the Subject...
Check out Gary, a New York construction worker on the 2nd ave. subway line who sings Sinatra during lunch hour.
"The young have aspirations that never come to pass;
The old have reminiscences of what never happened."
-SAKI (H.H MUNRO 1870-1916)
Canada needs a "dynamic, broadly based social movement" to improve its citzens' mental health, a "whole of government" approach that unites everyone from political leaders to "experts by experience," according to a national strategy five years in the making.
Canada: First Nation Children Still Removed From Parents at High Rate
More First Nation children are in foster care today than during the height of the residential school system during the 1960's, according to new reports. Today, tens of thousands of First Nation children reside outside of their family home living with foster parents, distant relatives or in institutions.
"Sticks and Stones May Break my Bones, but Words Will Hurt Forever."
An amateur video making a powerful statement about verbal bullying.
Can Government Teach Good Parenting?
Researches are calling for a national campaign to improve the quality of parenting, as a way of encouraging social mobility. Interesting report form the UK.
How One First Nation Broke the Tragic Trend in Child Welfare
Nationally, there are more aboriginal kids in care than at the height of the residential school system, various reports and calculations indicate. At Kitigan Zibi however, there's only a handful at any one time, and some of those come from neighbouring Algonquin communities.
"Do Something"
A youth engagement program that survives with little federal funding and does remarkable work at the national level.
Philippines Street Kid has Talent
Tourists record video of boy and his impersonations...Look out Mister Bieber!
And While on the Subject...
Check out Gary, a New York construction worker on the 2nd ave. subway line who sings Sinatra during lunch hour.
"The young have aspirations that never come to pass;
The old have reminiscences of what never happened."
-SAKI (H.H MUNRO 1870-1916)
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
How Many College Kids Sext? Four Out of Five
Sexting and college, they go together like carnal and knowledge. But a recent survey from the University of Rhode Island has put some numbers on how widespread it is. The answer is w i d e.
No Lectures - No Campus
This is a much recommended item from the New York Times that explodes the traditional, course-based paradigm that has been adopted by traditional schools of education over the past century. while we may not be talking about it today, it will revolutionize how we teach within the decade!
Young Survivors of Suicide
30 second PSA
UNICEF - Digital Empowerment
UNICEF video about global youth connectivity - Interesting stats!
Corporal Punishment May Have Long Term Negative Effects on Children's Intelligence
Children in a school that uses corporal punishment performed significantly worse in tasks involving "executive functioning" - psychological processes such as planning, thinking, and delaying gratification - than those in a school relying on milder disciplinary measures such as time-outs. This from a new University of Toronto study.
Ryan Halligan's Suicide
Ryan's Dad speaks about his son's suicide at age 13.
Ewan McGregor
He's an excellent, perhaps underrated actor and a youth Ambassador for UNICEF and youth engagement. Here Ewan MacGregor makes a brief announcement about International Year of Youth...Who knew it was International Year of Youth?
Twitter 'stopping children reading'
Agree - Disagree. Children spend so much time on Twitter and mobile phones that they are losing their love of novels and reading less, the chair of the Man Booker Prize for Fiction has warned.
All is not Lost
A cool song and a even more cool video - especially when watched on Chrome
Sexting and college, they go together like carnal and knowledge. But a recent survey from the University of Rhode Island has put some numbers on how widespread it is. The answer is w i d e.
No Lectures - No Campus
This is a much recommended item from the New York Times that explodes the traditional, course-based paradigm that has been adopted by traditional schools of education over the past century. while we may not be talking about it today, it will revolutionize how we teach within the decade!
Young Survivors of Suicide
30 second PSA
UNICEF - Digital Empowerment
UNICEF video about global youth connectivity - Interesting stats!
Corporal Punishment May Have Long Term Negative Effects on Children's Intelligence
Children in a school that uses corporal punishment performed significantly worse in tasks involving "executive functioning" - psychological processes such as planning, thinking, and delaying gratification - than those in a school relying on milder disciplinary measures such as time-outs. This from a new University of Toronto study.
Ryan Halligan's Suicide
Ryan's Dad speaks about his son's suicide at age 13.
Ewan McGregor
He's an excellent, perhaps underrated actor and a youth Ambassador for UNICEF and youth engagement. Here Ewan MacGregor makes a brief announcement about International Year of Youth...Who knew it was International Year of Youth?
Twitter 'stopping children reading'
Agree - Disagree. Children spend so much time on Twitter and mobile phones that they are losing their love of novels and reading less, the chair of the Man Booker Prize for Fiction has warned.
All is not Lost
A cool song and a even more cool video - especially when watched on Chrome
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
"Little Princes"
If you read one book this summer then we suggest you rush out (to Costco) and pick up a copy of "Little Princes" by Connor Grennan. It's a funny, touching and remarkable tale of corruption, child trafficking and civil war in Nepal. It is also one young man's extraordinary quest to reunite lost Nepalese children with their parents. It's a wonderful, inspirational read. Learn more here or here.
Youth Suicide
"Before it's too late" is a report on early intervention programs aimed at preventing youth suicide in Australia. The report, released in July of 2011, comes from a federal parliamentary committee looking into the need for early intervention programs to prevent youth suicide. Recommended.
Youth Complex Leads by Example
A youth complex in the town of Ingersoll in Ontario, has been achieving great things for young people, helping them to develop skills and building an "entrepreneurial spirit" so that they can go and build a positive future for themselves.
Youth Engagement: Recommended Websites
Here are five major websites attracting young people who want to help the world and prove that "adolescence + internet" can be a worthwhile equation.
Take a Stand
Three school-busloads of Ontario children and youth will kill themselves this year. That's two or three young people per week. They are among the more than 25 000 children and youth identified every year in Ontario to be in need of mental health services and supports. Of these, only about 15 000 will get the help they need. The Ontario Action Network for Child & Youth Mental Health is a provincial coalition of youth, parents, service providers, unions and other partners committed to ending the crisis in child and youth mental health.
Hello Sunday Morning
Hello Sunday Morning is a website opportunity for anyone who is ready to take a three month break from our drinking culture and find out what life is like without a hangover. It's a fascinating concept and the website is well worth a visit.
Chuckles
Why is it that we adults lose the capacity for belly laughter? A video to raise your spirits!
If you read one book this summer then we suggest you rush out (to Costco) and pick up a copy of "Little Princes" by Connor Grennan. It's a funny, touching and remarkable tale of corruption, child trafficking and civil war in Nepal. It is also one young man's extraordinary quest to reunite lost Nepalese children with their parents. It's a wonderful, inspirational read. Learn more here or here.
Youth Suicide
"Before it's too late" is a report on early intervention programs aimed at preventing youth suicide in Australia. The report, released in July of 2011, comes from a federal parliamentary committee looking into the need for early intervention programs to prevent youth suicide. Recommended.
Youth Complex Leads by Example
A youth complex in the town of Ingersoll in Ontario, has been achieving great things for young people, helping them to develop skills and building an "entrepreneurial spirit" so that they can go and build a positive future for themselves.
Youth Engagement: Recommended Websites
Here are five major websites attracting young people who want to help the world and prove that "adolescence + internet" can be a worthwhile equation.
Take a Stand
Three school-busloads of Ontario children and youth will kill themselves this year. That's two or three young people per week. They are among the more than 25 000 children and youth identified every year in Ontario to be in need of mental health services and supports. Of these, only about 15 000 will get the help they need. The Ontario Action Network for Child & Youth Mental Health is a provincial coalition of youth, parents, service providers, unions and other partners committed to ending the crisis in child and youth mental health.
Hello Sunday Morning
Hello Sunday Morning is a website opportunity for anyone who is ready to take a three month break from our drinking culture and find out what life is like without a hangover. It's a fascinating concept and the website is well worth a visit.
Chuckles
Why is it that we adults lose the capacity for belly laughter? A video to raise your spirits!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Ontario Coroner Examines Spate of First Nations Youth Suicides
Between 2006 and 2008 on one First Nations in Ontario, 16 young people between the ages of 10 and 19 killed themselves. The number becomes even more striking when put in the context of the fly-in population of 2,400. Full Article Here.
Removal a Distraction, Not a Solution
Peter Dudding, Executive Director, Child Welfare League of Canada, writes about the recent report supporting placement of obese children in foster care.
Hero in the Hallway
Excellent short video about bullying made by students to the cool (for some) music of Simple Plan.
Canada Incarcerates More Convicted Youth Than Almost Any Similarly Industrialized Country
...And new federal crime legislation is poised to drive those numbers higher, even though imprisoned teens are statistically less likely to get jobs after they're released, and, if anything, are more like to reoffend. Read this Globe and Mail excerpt
Ottawa Failing Natives on Education, Child-Welfare Advocate Says
Cindy Blackstock accuses the federal government of failing natives when it comes to education, saying that funding military projects and other initiatives should never come at the expense of a young person's future. CTV Video here.
School Assembly
We never had a school principal like this when we went to school.
Raising Elijah
In Raising Elijah, Sandra Steingraber seeks to explore the relationship between children and the environment and focuses on the stewardship of parenthood - it is the parent who stands between their child and exposure to the environmental problems of contemporary life.
Remember When Kids Used to Read Noddy?
Check out this latest iPad app trailer for The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris
Between 2006 and 2008 on one First Nations in Ontario, 16 young people between the ages of 10 and 19 killed themselves. The number becomes even more striking when put in the context of the fly-in population of 2,400. Full Article Here.
Removal a Distraction, Not a Solution
Peter Dudding, Executive Director, Child Welfare League of Canada, writes about the recent report supporting placement of obese children in foster care.
Hero in the Hallway
Excellent short video about bullying made by students to the cool (for some) music of Simple Plan.
Canada Incarcerates More Convicted Youth Than Almost Any Similarly Industrialized Country
...And new federal crime legislation is poised to drive those numbers higher, even though imprisoned teens are statistically less likely to get jobs after they're released, and, if anything, are more like to reoffend. Read this Globe and Mail excerpt
Ottawa Failing Natives on Education, Child-Welfare Advocate Says
Cindy Blackstock accuses the federal government of failing natives when it comes to education, saying that funding military projects and other initiatives should never come at the expense of a young person's future. CTV Video here.
School Assembly
We never had a school principal like this when we went to school.
Raising Elijah
In Raising Elijah, Sandra Steingraber seeks to explore the relationship between children and the environment and focuses on the stewardship of parenthood - it is the parent who stands between their child and exposure to the environmental problems of contemporary life.
Remember When Kids Used to Read Noddy?
Check out this latest iPad app trailer for The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Screen-time Battle Alone Won't Cut Child Obesity
Shock #1: Canadian children and youth are getting an average of at least six hours of screen time a day. Shock #2: Efforts to get obesity-bound children away from their TV and computer screens likely won't work after the age of six, a new review finds.
TEDxYouth@Toronto
Celebrated youth entrepreneur Ben Barry's recent talk at TEDx@Toronto.
Assembly of First Nations and Nike Partner to Enhance First Nations Health and Well-Being
The partnership announced on July 10th between AFN and Nike is aimed at individual and community health and well-being with a particular focus on creating opportunities for First Nation children, teens and young adults through access to sport, physical activity, recreation, coaching and leadership.
Youth Engagement in Mental Health
In November 2010 Youth Videographers were recruited by the New Mentality in Smiths Falls, Scarborough, Sault Ste. Marie and Windsor. Each Youth Videographer is actively engaged in a mental health centre. They used their knowledge and relationships to interview youth and staff from their agency about youth engagement. This video captures what they heard.
Sex Slavery
Sunitha Krisnan has dedicated her life to rescuing women and children from sex slavery, a multimillion-dollar global market. Watch as she tells three powerful stories, as well as her own, and calls for a more humane approach to helping these young victims rebuild their lives.
Everyone Wins
An introduction to the benefits of youth engagement produced by the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services: Child and Youth Strategy.
Shock #1: Canadian children and youth are getting an average of at least six hours of screen time a day. Shock #2: Efforts to get obesity-bound children away from their TV and computer screens likely won't work after the age of six, a new review finds.
TEDxYouth@Toronto
Celebrated youth entrepreneur Ben Barry's recent talk at TEDx@Toronto.
Assembly of First Nations and Nike Partner to Enhance First Nations Health and Well-Being
The partnership announced on July 10th between AFN and Nike is aimed at individual and community health and well-being with a particular focus on creating opportunities for First Nation children, teens and young adults through access to sport, physical activity, recreation, coaching and leadership.
Youth Engagement in Mental Health
In November 2010 Youth Videographers were recruited by the New Mentality in Smiths Falls, Scarborough, Sault Ste. Marie and Windsor. Each Youth Videographer is actively engaged in a mental health centre. They used their knowledge and relationships to interview youth and staff from their agency about youth engagement. This video captures what they heard.
Sex Slavery
Sunitha Krisnan has dedicated her life to rescuing women and children from sex slavery, a multimillion-dollar global market. Watch as she tells three powerful stories, as well as her own, and calls for a more humane approach to helping these young victims rebuild their lives.
Everyone Wins
An introduction to the benefits of youth engagement produced by the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services: Child and Youth Strategy.
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