When Your Child is the Bully

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and in the coming weeks organizations and schools across the country

The documentary film “Bully” traces the lives of those affected by bullying. (Danny Moloshok - Reuters)will raise awareness around the issue. It’s a time when teachers, parents and administrators hope to turn the tide on a subject that has been around as long as children themselves.

I’m a father of four, three of whom are between the ages of four and 10. While I encountered bullies growing up in elementary school, bullying hasn’t been something that I’ve focused much of my attention on as a parent. That all changed one day recently when my family was confronted with the issue. But not for the reason that you might think: To my surprise, my child was the one doing the bullying

One evening after school, we received a call from our daughter’s teacher. She told us that several girls at the school had formed an exclusive group with the express purpose of excluding another young lady in the class. When a disagreement between two classmates turned ugly, our daughter, who is 10, wasn’t strong enough in the moment to resist the temptation of joining the crowd.

Thankfully, one of the students in the group was bold enough to approach a teacher to alert her to what was going on. The teacher immediately pulled all of the girls in to find out what was the source of the disagreement. She then informed the parents so we could all have candid conversations at home to ensure that this behavior didn’t continue.

As parents, I think there’s often an inability to see our children as the ones on the wrong side of situations like this. So at first my wife and I were surprised. Could our sweet, tender child really be involved in such an activity? The answer is yes. Like in so many bullying situations, our daughter was caught being a follower instead of a leader. I’m sure our daughter had a deep-seated feeling of wanting to belong with the larger group of girls, or perhaps feared being next on the list to be ostracized.

We sat our 10-year-old down and explained that her behavior was unacceptable. At first, she didn’t see herself as a bully. She reasoned that somehow the victim was responsible because she was not well-liked. Our initial discussion with her seemed to fall on deaf ears.

We took more time to explain that starting a club with the sole mission of excluding another student is mean-spirited. We also reemphasized the importance of being a leader and making decisions that may not be popular with her peers. As the conversation evolved, she slowly started to see the source of our concern and how the actions of her and her friends were so eerily similar to the mean girls who appear on episodes of her favorite TV shows.

Meanwhile, as we reached out to other parents to see what they heard from their children, we became concerned that some didn’t see the incident as a big deal. But it was a big deal for us. Physical intimidation is not the only form of bullying. We know that gossiping and intentionally alienating a classmate can also be emotionally damaging. More than 160,000 students stay home from school each day because of bullying. We wanted to make sure our daughter did not cause another child to be included in that number.

For other children, who may be afraid to alert adults, or who may face the rising incidents of cyberbullying with no place to go, this month is for you. As adults, we have the obligation to make sure that the children in our families and around us don’t get bullied, and also that they are not the ones carrying out the bullying activities. We have to be the voice of the village that lets them know that we care about them and that, although children are mean, their lives will become so much bigger than what they were experiencing in their early education years. We also have to provide them with enough trust and confidence that, if they do come to us, we all take the situation seriously.

In my personal effort to lend my voice, I recently partnered with actor/rapper Tray Chaney (best know for playing Poot on the HBO drama “The Wire”) to create the visual for his anti-bullying anthem, “Mike Bully (Stand Up For Our Future)” (see below). We hope that this song will reach children and provide that courage when adults are unable to reach them.

Read More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/national-bullying-prevention-month-when-your-child-is-a-bully/2012/10/01/8cd72c9a-0bdb-11e2-a310-2363842b7057_blog.html

We would love to hear if you have any personal experience of advice for others on what to do when your child is the bully! 

What is Physical Therapy?

What is physical therapy?

Physical therapy is a type of treatment you may need when health problems make it hard to move around and do everyday tasks. It helps you move better and may relieve pain. It also helps improve or restore your physical function and your fitness level.

The goal of physical therapy is to make daily tasks and activities easier. For example, it may help with walking, going up stairs, or getting in and out of bed.

Physical therapy can help with recovery after some surgeries. Your doctor may suggest physical therapy for injuries or long-term health problems such as:

• Back pain.
• Tendon or ligament problems, such as ananterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, ameniscus tear, or plantar fasciitis.
• Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
• COPD.
• Spinal stenosis.
• Parkinson's disease.
• Multiple sclerosis.

Physical therapy may be used alone or with other treatments.

You may get physical therapy at:

• A clinic [Like the Accelerate Center of course!]
• A hospital.
• A nursing home.
• Your own home, through home health agencies.
• School.
• A sports or fitness setting.

What does a physical therapist do?
Your physical therapist will examine you and make a treatment plan. Depending on your health problem, your therapist will help you with flexibility, strength, endurance, coordination, and/or balance.

First, your therapist will try to reduce your pain and swelling. Then he or she will probably work to increase your flexibility, strength, and endurance.

Physical therapy almost always includes exercise. It can include stretching, core exercises, weight lifting, and walking. Your physical therapist may teach you anexercise program so you can do it at home.

Your physical therapist also may use manual therapy, education, and techniques such as heat, cold, water, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation.

Treatment may cause mild soreness or swelling. This is normal, but talk to your physical therapist if it bothers you.

What should you look for in a physical therapist?

You'll want a therapist who has experience with your health problem. Some physical therapist are board-certified in areas such as orthopedics, sports, geriatrics, and neurology and may offer more specialized care. Physical therapists can specialize in:

• Muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, and bones.
• Nerves and related muscles.
• The heart and blood vessels.
• Lung problems and breathing.
• Skin problems, including wounds and burns.
• Cancer-related problems.
• Treatment for children, older adults, or women.

Read More: http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/tc/physical-therapy-topic-overview

Don't hesitate to call or email us for more information if you think you or someone you know could benefit from these services! 

info@acceleratecenter.com
650.752.6364

Your Child's Health: Is Sodium Worth it's Salt

Children consume as much sodium as adults, which may elevate their blood pressure and contribute to cardiovascular disease later in life, says a recent study.

Remember the Italian tradition of throwing salt over one’s shoulder? Perhaps you should be tossing a bit more.

While the Institute of Medicine recommends consuming no more than 1,500 to 2,300 milligrams—or one teaspoon—of sodium per day, children are currently consuming the same amount as adults at an excess of 1,000 milligrams according to a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“If you have high blood pressure in childhood, it's likely that the effects will last into adulthood,” explained the CDC's lead study author Quanhe Yang. “Increased blood pressure is one of the most significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease (heart disease).”

Higher sodium intake causes high blood pressure in youth, which may lead to increased risk for stroke, heart disease, and other cardiovascular diseases. The risk, say the study's researchers, is even greater among obese or overweight individuals. Negative effects of sodium consumption during childhood are also associated with high blood pressure in adulthood.

Study authors examined the sodium intake of more than 6,000 American children and teenagers, ages 8 to 18, via dietary recall. Of those children, 15-percent had high blood pressure or prehypertension. Researchers discovered that when individuals raised their consumption an extra 1,000 milligrams, high blood pressure increased 6 percent in children within the healthy weight range, and 74-percent in overweight or obese children.

“When you eat more calories, as kids who are overweight tend to do, you are almost certainly eating more salt,” commented Pediatric Cardiologist Stephen Daniels of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “This study tells us that sodium intake may be a bigger issue for kids who are overweight.”

The human body requires between 180 and 500 milligrams of sodium each day for proper bodily functionality, including but not limited to: muscle contractions, nerve functions, water balance regulation, nutrient absorption, electrolyte equilibrium, and blood pressure maintenance.

The problem, say researchers, is that the human body simply cannot handle the large amounts of sodium people consume. Because salt causes water retention, this water increases the blood's volume and forces the heart to exert more force in order to pump the blood throughout the body. Increased blood pressure then causes stress on blood vessels and allows fatty substances to build up, leading to heart attacks or strokes.

“Foods that you would never think of, such as breads and many breakfast cereals, are very high in salt,” said Daniels. “If the food industry would get on board and gradually reduce the salt in their products, that could have a huge impact.”

The CDC reports that 65-percent of consumed sodium comes from retail stores and 25-percent comes from restaurant foods. A little less than half of all sodium consumed comes breads, rolls, pizza, cold cuts, soups, sandwiches, cheese, pastas, and snacks. One hamburger can contain upwards of 1,600 milligrams of sodium, or an entire day's recommended sodium level.

“We clearly need to reduce sodium intake at the population level,” said Elena V. Kuklina, the study's co-author. “We can do this by eating more fruits and vegetables and less processed foods.”

Researchers urge Americans to limit their sodium intake, concentrating on reading labels to find low-sodium options, eating a diet in potassium-rich fruits and vegetables, consuming fewer processed and packaged foods, and increasing physical activity.

With more than 800,000 vascular disease-related deaths every year, costing Americans an astounding $273 billion spent on health care in 2010 alone, the CDC is making every effort to encourage healthier eating habits.

The study is available online at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/09/12/peds.2011-3870

Accelerate Center: What We're All About!

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What is Accelerate Center?
Accelerate Center is a clinic composed of therapists, specialists and professionals that understand and help children and adults with special needs. We offer services in: Speech & Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Educational Therapy, Psychological Evaluations and Early Intervention.

What is the Function of Accelerate Center?
-Provide quality and effective services to those with special needs
-Provide parent education through involvement and classes
-Enrich advocacy skills (Anyone can be an advocate!!)
-Build communication within our community between peers, parents, schools, etc.
-Promote awareness within our community

Who Should Come to Accelerate Center?
Anyone and EVERYONE! If you or your child is experiencing any concerns regarding learning abilities, please do not hesitate! Here at Accelerate Center, we strive to provide services to all who may need them regardless of abilities, finances, education, etc.

For additional information:
Please visit our website at www.acceleratecenter.com  OR call us at (650) 752-6346.

"Exceeding Expectations, Accelerating Outcomes"

Kids May Need Parents Help in Making Friends

One of the questions parents most often ask teachers is whether their children have friends in the classroom.

Friendship seems to come easily for some children while others find it more elusive. Children aren’t born knowing how to be friends; they need to learn it.

Very young children consider anyone they are playing with in the moment a friend and remembering not to grab toys or hit each other are skills they are learning. As children get older, the skills involved become more complex.

There are some ways that parents and caregivers can help children learn to relate well to others:

• Help your child tune in to how other people are feeling to develop empathy. This is more natural for some children than others. Name feelings and learn what people may look or act like when they feel a certain way. Many children’s books are helpful in teaching this. Parents can talk with children about expressions on faces of people they see in magazines or around them.

• Help provide opportunities for socializing, especially if your child does not have unstructured time to interact with other children. Parents can set up play dates with other children or enroll a child in some different activities or groups where they might meet others. A child’s teacher or group leader may have some suggestions about other children your child seems to get along with especially well and perhaps assist with facilitating communication between the parents.

• Decrease meanness. If you see your child being unkind, talk to her or him about it in private. Mention signs you see that the other child was hurt.

• Help your child learn how to make amends after hurting something or someone else. For example, ask a child, “What can you do to help ___ feel better?”

• Emphasize kindness to others and help your child learn some techniques for solving conflicts with others, including quick fixes such as flipping a coin or compromise. If your child has siblings, do not tolerate cruelty between them. Sibling relationships provide opportunities for children to become aware of the impact of their words and actions on others.

• Encourage your child to use strength and cleverness to help other people. Talk about what makes someone a hero. Help teach the difference between fear and respect.

If a child is struggling with friendship issues, a parent or caregiver can listen, empathize and share confidence that the child will figure out what to do. A school-age child who continues to struggle may benefit from participating in a friendship-skills group

Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2012/09/26/3349779/kids-may-need-parents-help-in.html#storylink=cpy

Toys and Child Development

There are a variety of toys in the market that can enhance intellectual, social, emotional, and/or physical development. Such toys allow learning such as pre-math skills and hand-eye coordination, writes Nanjinia Wamuswa

Like many mothers looking to incorporate fun in the development of her child’s gross and fine motor skills, Sophia Mbui bought various toys for her two children, Muthandi Mbui Wanjigi and Maina Mbui Wanjigi.

Having realised that play is the mechanism by which children learn — how they experience their world, practice new skills, and internalise new ideas — and is therefore the essential “work of children”, she set out to buy them all sorts of toys she deemed fit for their age.

However, as they grew older, Sophia further noticed the two boys preferred motorcycles over other toys such as cars, puzzles, books, animals, aeroplanes, human soldiers and teddy bears. The other toys remained untouched for long, which forced her to give them out to children of her relatives.

Focused fun

“After this realisation I stopped wasting money purchasing toys that did not interest them. Every time I took them to toy shops, they would pick BMX motorcycles. These are the toys I have been buying them since then,” she says.

Sophia, 40, a lawyer by profession had no idea her children were building sports careers out of liking toy motorbikes.

Today, Muthambi 14 and Maina ten are already making headlines in motorcycle racing, commonly known as motocross. Recently Muthambi and Maina were part of a team that represented the country in an international motocross competition held in Kampala, Uganda.

She says: “All signals show they have chosen motocross as their sports, and perhaps careers too.”

Mercy Bosire’s daughter, Michelle developed a penchant for toy aeroplanes at a tender age, despite having plenty of other toys at her disposal.

Early this year Michelle, ten, and in Class Four pestered her parents to take her to see ‘the real big’ aeroplane.

“We gave in to her desires and took her to Wilson Airport to see aeroplanes. She was extremely delighted and vowed to become a pilot,” her parents disclosed.

However, her parents are not sure whether Michelle is genuine with her dream of becoming a pilot or it is just childish whims. But they encourage her to work hard if she wants to fly a plane.

Playing with toys is a continuous and expanding process, which with early skills give rise to new ones and new experiences are integrated with previous ones. Through play, children learn about the world and engage in activities that encourage their cognitive, emotional, and social development.

For example, when a child bangs on a drum, she learns she can create a sound. Through play, she learns the important concept of cause and effect. And with time they develop a skill that can see them become percussionist.

Parents are hence required to intentionally select toys that meet a child’s unique needs.

Although toys are provided to children largely to entertain them as they play and keep them busy, they, however, proffer plenty of other benefits in the child’s development life.

Dr Ken Ouko, a Sociologist at the University of Nairobi says toys play an important role in children’s development.

“Depending on the type of toys received and preferred, a child is able to craft his or her thinking around the construct of the toy. In many cases, toys have shaped ‘career affinity’ in children making them feel suited to be associated with specific careers represented by the toy,” says Dr Ouko.

Citing Maina and Muthambi motocross case, Dr Ouko says many people have developed careers in the same way. He challenges Michelle’s parents to provide her with the environment that would make her realise her flying dream career.

“The little girl (Michelle) might be very serious about flying. After all, her mind seems fixed on planes. Time will tell,” says Dr Ouko.

Self-worth

It is through playing with toys that children grow and learn about the world around them. Toys help them to discover their identity; bodies grow strong, explore relationships and practice skills they will need as adults.

Dr Ouko advises parents to buy their children toys because they make them feel appreciated. Their sense of self worth and esteem are greatly boosted by the gesture.

Having appreciated the importance of toys, every parent should provide toys to her children. Toys can be purchased or improvised using locally available material such as carton boxes, which can make toy houses, cars, buses and lorries.

He also says toys help a child to play, which relaxes the child and enhances his or her development both physically and psychologically. And some toys form basis for friendships, especially where they help each other to build block or sand castles among others.

Sophia who has watched her children develop to become feted sports children advises parents to pay attention as their children play with toys and thus nurture their preferences.

Toys can be divided into several groups, depending on the part of the child it helps to develop. For example, toys that help develop gross motor skills, which involves greater movement such as running and jumping that use the larger muscle are wagons, bikes, brooms, and shovels.

Other toys are used to develop the sensory system of touch, sight, sound, taste and smell. Such toys include water toys, musical instruments, bubbles, play dough, and sand toys.


There also exist toys that are used for make-believe and social development such as dolls, dress-up clothes, cars, trucks, games, and books. And finally toys for creative and intellectual development, for example, clay, crayons, paints, books, paper, and scissors.

Toys for different ages

Infants need bright-coloured toys of various textures and making distinctive sounds, which are washable, non-breakable, and have no sharp edges that might cut or scratch. They should not have small-attached pieces that could be pulled off and swallowed.

?Toddlers are active and need toys for climbing, running and jumping. They also are interested in doing things with their hands as the small muscles in their fingers become more developed. Toddlers also are interested in sensory materials such as paint, play dough, crayons, and chalk.

Physical play

Preschool are dramatic, creative and need toys that propagate cooperation. They are interested in active physical play and also increasingly curious about the world around them. Realistic toys such as farm and animal sets, grocery store prop boxes, model cars, and trains will be good for them.

Early school-age children are involved in active games and will need ball games, biking, swimming, and hiking. There is also an increased interest in table games that require two or more players. These include games that use simple number skills and increased co-ordination. Toys should contain a puzzle, problem-solving technique, or mathematical proposition.

Dr John Wachira Mwangi, a paediatrician at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital warns that while play remains a vital part of a child’s development and while safer than ever before, parents should remain vigilant about hidden hazards posed by toys.

“Parents should understand safety marks and labelling to ensure that the right safety checks have been carried out and considerations when giving and receiving used toys,” he warns.

They should first determine the age of the child. Toys are designed for specific age sets. According to a standard compliance requirement for toy manufacturers, toys must always come with an indication of age suitability.

Concerning gender, boys should play with toys for boys such as tractors and girl toys such as dolls for girls.

Ride-on-toys with high backs such as horses are very hard for young children to get on and off safely.

Read More: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000066666&pageNo=4

Fun Friday: Create Your Own Crayons

Supplies:

• Multi-colored old crayons
• mini cupcake tray, or other molds that won't melt in the oven

Instructions:

• Pre-heat the oven to 250 degrees, put pieces of different colors of crayons in a mini cupcake mold (don´t forget to use paper cups or spray the mold with vegetable oil).
• Place the mold and let it melt for about 10 minutes, they melt very fast.
• Remove from the oven and let them cool completely before giving them to the kids.
• You can also give them to take home in a favor bag

Read More: http://www.sueniosencantados.com/blog/2010/08/make-your-own-crayons/

Share with us what happened with the crayons you made! Any fun shapes you were able to create?