Cultivating Kindness and Service We are often appalled at the callus approach and treatment of human beings throughout the world which we can see daily on a variety of technological devices. We see children going to bed hungry, in some places, actually, starving to death. We see the destruction of war impacting family members, homes,…
Understanding And Building Resiliency
Understanding And Building Resiliency Resiliency is the new “buzz’ word moving through many different fields and professionals from trauma and stress, to academic success to the workplace. But what is resiliency exactly and why is it important? Resiliency is defined as the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness, the ability of a substance or…
Understanding Food and Security
Understanding Food and Security Food has many meanings through its preparing and intake for all people. It is essential for survival but also supports a sense of caring, connection and security. What we eat, how it is prepared, who we share it with all create an environment which feeds us physically and emotionally. Both are…
12 Healthy Snacks Kids Will Love
12 Healthy Snacks Kids Will Love By Alice Oglethorpe While adults can get through the day without many between-meal snacks, kids can’t. Children “can’t get all of the key nutrients they need with just breakfast, lunch and dinner,” says Melissa Halas-Liang, RDN, a nutritionist based in Los Angeles. “That’s why parents should think of snacking…
Summer Fun Teaching Life Skills
Summer Fun Teaching Life Skills Many children, especially those in out of home placement, have challenges mastering academic and life skills. Yet to be successful and self-sufficient they need caring adults to take the time to ensure that they do master these necessary skill sets. The more relaxed summer months make an excellent time for…
Nightmares that Come in the Day Time
Nightmares that Come in the Day Time: When children become seriously ill. Some events come into our lives that fall under the heading “Our worse nightmares”. They are experiences from which we wish we could wake up, but we can’t. They are our “Daytime nightmares” One of these events is the diagnosis of a serious and life…
Military Service: A Family Affair
Military Service: A Family Affair We often take the service provided by our Military for granted expected that people will commit to protecting us without much effort on our part. However, a great amount of sacrifice occurs by both the persons serving in the military, primarily men, and their families; wife (or husband), children, parents…
Life Losses and Children’s Well-Being
Life Losses and Children’s Well-Being Fundamental to children’s well-being, which includes health (physical and mental), safety, and appropriate developmental support in all six developmental areas, is the ability of their caregivers, parents, and guardians to provide those elements of well-being. Adults who have not resolved their own life losses, many stemming from their childhood, lack…
From Abuse to Safety
From Abuse to Safety As children we are drawn to our parents and caregivers to keep us safe, meet our needs and protect us. When those adults do not fulfill the expectations we become confused. We try to trust them and keep going to them for support, protection and love. We do not understand why…
Expand Your Knowledge—Read a Book
Expand Your Knowledge—Read a Book! “The benefits of reading start with the first book a baby hears and continue into childhood and throughout the child’s life. Here are the 10 Benefits of Reading – the Top 10 reasons why reading is important and why children – and adults! – should read often and widely. Kids who read often and…