Put the Awe Back in "Awesome" -- Helping Students Develop Purpose

Click on the link below to go to the edutopia blog. We forget what a big part the magnificence of God's creation plays in the development of our children. Click and read on . . .

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/awe-helping-students-develop-purpose-vicki-zakrzewski

DEFINITION OF A BOY

WHY EXERCISE AND OUTDOOR PLAY ARE VITAL FOR GRADE R LEARNERS by Natalie Rundle

Children need to develop their gross (large) muscles in order to develop their gross motor and fine motor skills. Children develop the larger muscles first and then the finer muscles as they mature. A vital link has been made between physical exercise or activity and the development of the brain in ALL areas!

In order for a child to sit correctly at a table for a fair amount of time when he/she goes to 'big school', he/she needs to develop strong core muscles. This is achieved by various exercises that strengthen and build these muscles. This is done progressively as the child grows and develops and is built up during the foundation years.

Too much time spent in front of the TV, i-pad, x-box or computer, small or no gardens and less freedom for children to ride and play outdoors because of security, has resulted in these muscles not being developed and strengthened adequately in many children. As a result we are seeing more and more children having to go for Occupational Therapy.

A large amount of these challenges can be avoided or worked on if parents encourage children to be active and to expend energy - preferably outdoors.

Playing ball games, climbing jungle gyms, riding, trampolines, crawling, skipping, balancing and 'wheelbarrows' are all excellent, easy activities to play with your child. Grab a ball, play soccer, 'piggy-in-the-middle' or bounce and catch. Swingball is excellent for developing hand-eye co-ordination.

'Wheelbarrows' develop upper body strength and build core muscles. Hold your child by his/her legs and let him/her walk on his/her hands. Balance on a rope, logs or stepping stones. Skip using a rope or just skip down the driveway together!

Exercise and physical movement is VITAL TO LEARNING in every way. Make it a special time with your child - there are so many fun, family activities that will build up your child's tone and help you as well!

Here's to happy, physical fun with your little one!

Exercise and ADHD

Attention! Teachers and parents - please answer the following questions:

• Do you keep children in during break so that they can finish their work?
• Do you keep children indoors as punishment for misbehaviour
• Do you tell your children they cannot play sport until their school marks improve?

The next question is - does this really help? Does it make life any easier for them or for yourself? Before answering, please read on ...

Recent Research

The Journal of Paediatrics recently published the findings of a team of experts in the Michigan State University (MSU) which demonstrated that children with ADHD can focus better and become less distracted after a quick session of exercise (walking on a treadmill for 20 minutes). Results showed that participants with ADHD were able to focus better and slow down after making a mistake. This helps to avoid future errors.

Matthew Pontifex, the assistant professor of kinesiology, and lead researcher in the team explained:

"This provides some very early evidence that exercise might be a tool in our non-pharmaceutical treatment of ADHD. Maybe our first course of action that we would recommend to developmental psychologists would be to increase children's physical activity". He added that school children need more physical activity incorporated in their daily schedule. 

Because of the time needed to teach all the other subjects, many schools no longer offer physical education. Some don't even have sporting facilities. Maybe this should be reconsidered.

Exercise helps in different ways

In his book Spar, Dr John Ratey explains the many different ways in which exercise can help the learner:

Exercise improves the learner with

• heightened senses
• improved focus and mood
• they become less fidgety and less tense
• they become more motivated and invigorated.

Exercise increases learning at the cellular level and 

• improves the brain's ability to log in and process new information
• creates the environment for brain cells to wire together and create better links
• increases Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BNDF) which Dr Ratey refers to as 'fertilizer' for the brain.

Exercise is the best way to make new neurons in the brain (neurogenesis) which happens every day, but is far greater after we exercise.

Exercise and neurotransmitters
Dr Ratey points out that dopamine, serotonin and nonadrenalin all increase with exercise and suggests that exercise should be five times daily. He adds that dopamine works on the pleasure center of the brain and anyone short of dopamine is more likely to be looking for extra excitement and greater thrills. Most mothers of children with ADHD will tell you about their kids (and even husbands) winding them up until they totally lose their cool and explode. It makes life far more interesting for people with ADHD - but definitely not for the victim who is regularly stretched to the end of their tether.

Lifestyle is important
If you think about it ... medication helps to make dopamine (Ritalin, Concerta) and nonadrenalin (Strattera) more available in the brain, and so does exercise.  Please don't for a moment think that we're suggesting that you suddenly take your children off medication ... definitely not, especially just before exams. However we are suggesting that you have a careful look at lifestyle: exercise, diet, supplementation, reducing stress levels, family time etc and improve where possible. It could mean a much happier and more peaceful holiday season, especially with a whole lot more family togetherness with playing sport/games, walking or even family hiking.

Sport
Sport can help children channel their excess energy. Michael Phelps was a skinny ADHD child whose mum was told he would never be able to focus on anything. At least he could burn off his excess energy in the swimming pool. This paid off handsomely as he now holds the world record with 22 Olympic medals, 18 of which are gold. Not all children will want to do the same thing and so we need to find what interests them, and how they can best achieve it. Don't push them into something they can't do or don't enjoy. Also be aware that some prefer to play in a team sport while others prefer to compete against themselves. Football, swimming, horse-riding, running, walking, swimming, judo, karate are just some of the many sports available however, there are many other forms of exercise that could help equally well.

Taken from the ADHASA  newsletter of Sep/Oct 2012

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Letter from Nikki Bush - author, motivational speaker and mother

CLOSING FOR MENTAL MAINTENANCE! MAY 2013

"Closing for mental maintenance," announced the sign on the door of one of my favourite restaurants in my favourite holiday town of Knysna last week. This famous little restaurant, called Ile de Pain, closes every year for six whole weeks. This time is used by the owners and staff for relaxation and research -- what they call mental maintenance. They pull back, get perspective, and have the mental space and time to come up with fresh recipe and menu ideas. This is a restaurant that is always full and has people waiting in a queue outside all year round, come rain or shine and it has an almost zero staff turnover. I guess they deserve to recharge their batteries as they prepare a mammoth number of meals of a consistently high standard throughout the year, using their trademark handmade bread that is prepared fresh daily, starting in the wee hours of the morning. Well, as a busy mother, I can certainly identify with having a constant queue of 'customers' that must be 'served' all year round, from my children's need for my attention and listening ear; to the countless forms from school that need filling in and signing; to finding cash for Civvies Day; to lifts to and from activities; to watching sports matches; to filling lunch boxes; to sewing on missing blazer buttons; to covering countless books; to labelling articles of clothing; to making sure uniforms get washed and ironed on the rainiest of days; to ensuring we get to doctor's appointments on time; to the logistical nightmare of making plans for the family for when I am going out of town on business; to my children's teachers who need to see me; to the friend's child who needs a lift home; to the dog that needs a stitch or two at the vet and the bags that must be packed for holiday. And don't forget the spill on the floor and the vitamins that must be put out for each member of the family every day so that they don't get the flu. And the hearts that must be mended when children's friendships go south; the homework hassles; the party invitations that must go out and, oh, the photographs that must be taken, right this minute! Because...........if I miss this moment, it might never happen again, and then, how on Earth will I remember it all, when it's over? Mums, it's Mothers' Day this month and you deserve a break. While we might all like six weeks off to recondition our minds, to retune our hearts and to reinvent our bodies, we know that it is just not going to happen because we are in such great demand for our awesome resourcefulness; our incredible talents; our unmatchable multi-tasking ability; our big hearts, and our very broad shoulders, to name but a few of our magnetic attractions. I hereby give you full permission to absolutely claim this one day, all for yourself, for mental maintenance and relaxation. Let your customers wait on you hand and foot, and don't feel guilty -- not one little bit! Happy Mothers' Day to all the marvellous mums out there. Mothers make the world go round! NIKKI NIKKI BUSH Creative parenting expert,   inspirational speaker and author The Bright Ideas Outfit 083 265 5754 nikki@brightideasoutfit.co.za   www.brightideasoutfit.com  www.toytalk.co.za

WHY BAD HOMEWORK HABITS HAPPEN TO GOOD KIDS

This is a booklet by Linda Silbert, PhD. It can be downloaded for free from www.askdrlindasilbert.com/tips.html. Alternatively you can get a copy from Mrs Mansfield.