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Parents, educators, and therapists have been witnessing anecdotal evidence of a special connection between Thomas the Tank Engine and children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) for many years. While the typical child is drawn to brightly colored, cheerful little engines, children with autism show an unusually intense love for the characters. Therefore, therapists have learned to incorporate Thomas and his companions into their repertoire of therapy tools. In 2002 and 2007, the UK’s National Autism Society (NAS) conducted studies to determine if there really is a special connection between children with autism and Thomas the Tank Engine, and if so, why. The results of these studies provided a surprisingly long list of reasons for special friendship, but not everyone believes it. Is there really a special bond between children with autism and Thomas?

The investigation

A New York Post article written in 2000 titled “Autistic Children Connect with Thomas” brought to light the observations of parents, therapists and teachers. In 2002, a very limited study by the UK’s NAS suggested that there is, in fact, a special relationship between Thomas and children with autism spectrum disorders, and explained why. Interviewed 81 parents of children with autism aged ten years or younger and summary findings showed that 57% of children connected with Thomas earlier than any other child character, remaining interested in Thomas two years longer than their peers. neurotypical siblings and that 33% of autistic children had “obsessive” relationships with Thomas characters. Studies determined that the reasons for the unique relationship between children with autism and Thomas the Tank Engine are:

1. Calm and clear narration of the stories

2. Clear and exaggerated “cues” to indicate changes

3. Easy to follow and predictable stories

4. Fixed backgrounds and scenery

5. Eye-catching colors, easy character recognition

6. Exaggerated, easy-to-read facial expressions

7. Accuracy of models

8. Predictable roles played by the different characters.

9. Collectible character of objects

The 2007 study by the same organization expanded to 748 parents with children on the autism spectrum aged 10 or younger and achieved remarkably similar results.

Children with autism typically suffer from a sensory processing disorder that makes processing information from the world around them difficult and overwhelming. The main theme of the list of reasons for the attraction of these children by Thomas trains revolves around the simplicity of the characters and stories. Simple, uncluttered settings, calm facial expressions, quiet narration, bold primary colors, and predictable storylines help limit the sensory impact of toys, books, and videos. For many, these explanations are reasonable and acceptable. Others, however, disagree with the validity of the studies and the reasons for Thomas’s attraction to the autistic boy.

Skepticism and alternative explanations

While the UK NAS admits that the results of its 2002 and 2007 studies are not scientifically valid, some insist that the results lack validity. One blogger cites the incredibly similar statistics between the two studies as unlikely and therefore unreliable. Another criticism voiced was the seemingly mutually beneficial relationship between the UK’s NAS and Hit Entertainment, which owns the Thomas brand. Others, however, suggest that similar results between studies are a natural outcome of the social sciences and actually serve to strengthen the validity of the results. Regarding the corroboration from UK NAS and Hit Entertainment; it can be argued that this is simply an example of organizations with common interests coming together for the good of the communities they serve. In 2009, Hit Entertainment and Autism Speaks negotiated a relationship for similar reasons.

As to why kids with autism love Thomas the Tank Engine, some suggest that it’s simply that kids with autism love lining up toys, and trains in general are well suited to this activity. Another thought is that young children, autistic or not, enjoy toys that can break, crash, and knock over; trains can derail and fall off bridges. However, many parents report that their autistic children are specifically attracted to Thomas brand trains, not all trains, and that their children do not crash the trains, but only line them up.

Some reviewers insist that all of the child characters have simplistic facial expressions and emotions, making Thomas’ character expressions no more autism-friendly than any other character. However, the propositions of the theory point out that the characters’ expressions that are set and not seen as they change are unique to the Thomas series. A character is seen smiling, the camera pans away from the character, and when the character is shown again, he frowns. The viewer does not witness that change in expression from the smile to the frown. This simplifies the emotions beyond other children’s shows. Since children with autism have difficulty reading facial expressions and identifying the emotions they reflect, this further simplification makes it easier for them to follow Thomas’ stories. One parent made this observation about Thomas & Friends and how it differs from other children’s programming: “Most of today’s children’s programs are not simple in and of themselves. They are unnecessarily complex and often loud, brilliant and obnoxious. Thomas shows are very simple. The low-tech way of filming is relaxing for my son. With the simple music, sets, non-animated faces, and unique narrator, you can’t even compare how different It’s Thomas from other overthought corporate shows today.”

Listening to parents and therapists of children with ASD, it’s hard to deny that Thomas has a way of connecting with and engaging these children unlike any other child character.

How Thomas helps the child with ASD

Observations and testimonials from parents, therapists, and educators of children with autism regarding Thomas the Tank Engine strongly support the findings of the NAS studies. Many parents credit the Thomas characters with getting their children with ASD to talk, helping them understand emotions, and teaching them about colors and numbers. Explaining how Thomas helped their autistic daughter, one parent commented: “Our 22-year-old daughter is high-functioning autistic and still loves Thomas the Tank and Friends. They think like her, concretely and clearly.”

Thomas has been found to motivate children with ASD to continue working in therapy and school. Therefore, Thomas toys and videos are commonly used as incentives by parents, therapists, and teachers who work with children with autism. One parent explained: “We found the Thomas characters extremely helpful during speech therapy. While the shape sorter therapists and therapy toys were well-intentioned, our son did not speak or engage with her very well. saw the names of 40 different trains recited at age 2 1/2, he began using my homemade flashcards and trains to promote his language and communication skills. Another parent commented, “From ages 3 to 6, Thomas was the our son’s only toy. All vacations, birthdays, rewards and incentives were based on Thomas.

a true blue friend

There’s no doubt that the loveable Thomas & Friends characters are a hit with kids of all kinds. However, the intensity of the connection to the characters of children with autism seems to be unique in many ways. Researchers, parents, and therapists have offered many insights as to why these children are so drawn to the Thomas characters, but perhaps “why” isn’t important. What’s important is that these kids, who are some of the hardest kids to reach, connect with, and teach, are responding to Thomas. That makes him a true blue friend to them and everyone who works with them. Many agree that when it comes to the autistic boy, Thomas really is a “really useful” engine.

This past week has been a week of firsts for me. Let me share a few with you:

• My father called me on Friday night and I remember how optimistic he was. The conversation began with him asking me many questions about my life and my health. He was very interested in hearing about my doctor’s visit and wanted to understand as much as he could. I talked a lot The conversation then changed and he explained to me his situation of being in the hospital and released while he waited for more results. But he downplayed his health concerns and he assured me that he was fine. I went to bed exhausted after a very long and eventful week. And I said to Courtney, “I’m going to turn my phone off because I really need to get a good rest.” This was the first time for me.

• I went to bed and fell asleep in 3 minutes versus my usual 5 minutes. You see, I’m like a toy doll and when I lie down, my eyes just close. Around 1 am our alarm went off in the house. That alarm is our 50 pound dog who sleeps 20-23 hours a day, but he is always on guard. We woke up and I crawled under the bed to hide. I asked Courtney to see what was going on. (By the way, just for people who don’t know me, I didn’t really go under the bed…I went in the closet.) We quickly learned that she was my sister. What a sight that was, at that late hour. Honestly, her hair looked like she had put her finger in the light socket and she was half asleep. Jan said, “Wayne, dad just called and said to look you up.” I immediately called my dad and got a short update from my mom, who quickly gave him the phone. She then she proceeded to tell me the situation and she said 4 words to me that I will never forget or thought I would ever hear from him, “I need your help”. I immediately went into crisis mode and arranged for the next flight in the morning, arriving around 2pm on Saturday. I rushed to the hospital and when I got there, he appeared to be stable. He even told me some funny stories and reassured me that everything was fine and he was going to be fine. If you made a bet with me, I would never have thought that my dad would ever say, “I need your help.” He was like me, or maybe I am like him. We are givers. He was a giver and always “Mr. Fix it”. Those words of his request for help were an absolute novelty to me.

• We spent the next few days fumbling with a battery of tests, etc., and it was soon ready to be released. During this time, we talked a lot about things and at one point in our conversations, I asked him if he knew where his new home was. He looked me square in the eye and said, “My home is in heaven, but I have a stopover in Orlando, Florida.” That’s where Courtney and I live. I was relieved because I wanted him and my mom to come to Orlando and live with us, BUT I wanted them to be on board, and he was on board! He was on cloud 9 when they were ready to move south. Meanwhile, Courtney was on her way north to help me with all of this. She was thinking: good things, life is good. My parents are really going to enjoy Florida with us, we are going to rock!

• My father was released from the hospital and we headed to a nearby hotel because I wanted them to stay one night just to make sure everything was okay before taking them home to prepare for the move to the “temporary home” in Orlando. I took them to the hotel that was literally across the street from the hospital and my mom told me to slow down, turn here, etc. I’m kidding of course, but she doesn’t like me driving at all, even though I have a pretty clean driving record, except for when I got a speeding ticket when Melissa was 3 years old. Just a reminder, don’t tell a 3 year old to keep a secret, it will always backfire on you. We got to the hotel and in the elevator my dad stopped me and said, “Wayne, I’m going down.” I did my best to help him to his knees while my mother proceeded to get more help for me and called the ambulance. We put him on the stretcher, they left and I told him, I’ll be right there. For the first time in my life I said to myself: I don’t know what to do. But I pulled myself together and went into “Matt Elsey, the tough guy, Mr. Fix It” mode and went back to the hospital.

• We were all in the ER together, laughing and trying to strategize our next moves, etc. Everything was fine. Mom was exhausted, but optimistic. We really thought that everything was going to be okay. Dad was always a fighter and he was the rock. However, in a matter of minutes things changed. And soon I was at his bedside and he was dying. And, with his dying breath from him, Mr. Fix It, Matt, he said to me, “Wayne, take good care of your mother.” He was stunned. We left the room while the medical team tried to revive him. But, in a matter of minutes, which seemed like an eternity, the doctor came out with the words: “I’m sorry, there was nothing else we could do.” It was shocking. It was devastating. It was heartbreaking. My father, my mother’s husband, the greatest entertainer you could ever hope to meet, had died.

• Mom and I stood there for a short time in stunned silence at what had just happened. But then, I knew we had to keep going. So, I fixed my mom up and had dinner. We honestly had few words for each other, as we were both, and still are, in disbelief. I got some relief as I always remembered my mom ate like a bird, she had a salad and ate every 12 inch slice of her pizza from hers.

So here we are, a few days later, which feels like months, and I have the following to share with you:

I woke up in tears at 4am on Thursday and it became vividly clear to me that we all need to think about our lives. You see, this “coffin” in front of us, we will refer to it as a box for the sake of this context. We all live our lives filled with joy, regret, worry, garbage, fear, etc. But make no mistake, each and every day we play the game of life. And what I see vividly now is that when that game is over, each of us goes back to the box. But, what remains is what we bring to the game. That never fades from time.

I ask you to think about what my father meant to you and what you mean to others, what legacy are you leaving? What I have from my father are not material things, but memories. Memories of who he was and what he stood for, that will live on in me, my daughter and then my granddaughter. Memories of him being Matt. Memories of the enormous love that he had and has for my mother, his 53-year-old girlfriend. Memories of him working hard to support my mom, Cindy, Jan, Timmy and me. Memories of how his eyes lit up for Christmas when Courtney and I showed up with a real Christmas surprise for him and my mom, which was seeing Melissa, Josh, and his new great-granddaughter, Aubree. Memories of seeing them for the first time and what we know today was the last time. You’ll see just about everything going back to the box: the cash at the top of the corporate ladder, the vacation lake house and estate vehicle, the jewelry, the clothes, and everything in between. All the chips, game pieces we collect, and prizes are left behind when it’s our time to leave the table. The only real “earnings” you claim and keep are your own soul, the memories that live on in those who knew you, and the love you have for Christ and others.

To close, “Dad, I have this. I’ll take care of your beautiful girlfriend and my mother. I have this. And, yes, I may have said for a moment, ‘I don’t know what to do.’ do’, but rest in peace friend. Dad, you’ve made it very clear to me, I know what to do.”

© 2015 Not Your Father’s Charity. All rights reserved.

For parents, or anyone who works with children, there have probably been times when a terrified crying child who had a bad dream woke them up in the middle of the night. In an effort to comfort his son, and let’s be honest, to get him back to bed as quickly as possible so he can go back to sleep, he tells her it was just a dream; It wasn’t real; and forget it. I am so guilty of teaching my children that their dreams are not important and that it is better to forget them as the next parent.

That old saying, I wish I knew then what I know now, aptly applies in this case. If I had known how valuable dreams are as a gift, I would have gladly given up a few minutes, or even a few hours, of sleep to work on my son’s bad sleep.

Children’s dreams are a reflection of their thoughts, fears and emotions. It is vitally important that parents encourage children, especially toddlers (3 to 7) to share their dreams, no matter when they have them: naptime, early morning, or even in the middle of the night.

For young children, the world is a big, vast, and scary place with danger lurking around every corner. After all, don’t we always tell our kids to stay away from the stove? do not touch the outlet; do not approach the road; don’t talk to strangers etc. As every parent should, we want to protect our children from harm, in any and all forms. But in doing so, we instill numerous fears and conflicting emotions. They have an innate desire to explore and experience their environment, but are constantly warned against doing so.

Our poor boys and girls have a lot of information to process and think about. And, being so young, they still don’t have the past experiences to draw on or the reasoning skills to fully understand their world.

Think about how you would feel, even with all your life experiences and “reasoning skills” at your disposal, if you were suddenly dropped onto another planet, equipped with only a very limited understanding of language, geography, and “people.” “. “You would have to learn to behave, to think, to react and to get by in a totally alien land. And perhaps the new world was much bigger. You would be terrified of the “giant” occupants of this planet. You would not know where to go, who to trust , what to eat, where to go for shelter, safety or anything else I’d bet my bottom dollar you’d have some pretty scary dreams.

Wouldn’t it be helpful, reassuring, and even comforting to have someone in the new world to help you understand everything instead of just telling you what to do or not to do? How would you feel if you told this helpful person that you had a bad dream about not being able to deal with all these new things and they just told you not to worry about it, it’s just a dream, and told you not to pay anything? attention to your fears, worries and confusion? I know you would be more than a little frustrated.

Our dreams are created by the same processes as our waking thoughts. Scientists can’t tell us exactly where our thoughts come from or why we think specific things at any given moment, but they can tell us that our brains are thinking at all times. In fact, we have thousands of thoughts every day. We just don’t realize it; as if we don’t really notice that we are breathing, until we have difficulty breathing. Our children also have active minds.

Dreams are like frames for our thoughts. They freeze them in time and space and give us a chance to peek at what’s on our minds; or what is on the minds of our children. When we take the time to examine our dreams (or even our daily thoughts) we find that we have many more negative thoughts than positive ones. And sometimes it seems like kids have scary dreams all the time. However, it’s not so much that they have scarier dreams than other dreams, but rather that children often remember bad dreams because those are the ones that wake them up from their sleep. Don’t panic or worry that your child is in constant terror. This is just one of hundreds, if not thousands, of thoughts that crossed their minds while they were sleeping and triggered a strong emotional response (usually fear or sadness).

After years of dream research, it has been found that both adults and children around the world have very similar nightmarish dreams. Ten of the most common topics among children that trigger a strong emotional reaction are:

• being chased
• Being attacked by an animal, person or thing,
• Fall or sinking,
• The house is on fire,
• A runaway vehicle,
• Your injury or death or that of others,
• Being stuck, paralyzed (not being able to move),
• Being kidnapped,
• Hit or miss,
• Floods, drowning, water.

There is a difference between nightmares or bad dreams and night terrors. Night terrors are incidents in which the child wakes up screaming, terrified, and in a panic. They usually do not remember any dreams prior to the episode. Night terrors are not uncommon among children and usually go away as they get older. Based on research, it appears that these night terrors are more disturbing to the parent than the child. Children rarely remember the episode.

When your child approaches you to tell you about his dream, listen to what he is saying as if he were recounting an experience he had in waking reality. Ask yourself, what could she have been thinking? Does she feel threatened? Was something or someone trying to hurt him in some way? Had she been exposed, intentionally or not, to information about the dangers of animals or “strangers,” for example?

Once you establish what thoughts might have caused the emotional response, you can talk about it with her. However, if she has persistent nightmares, it can help her to change the content of the dream. I did this same exercise with my granddaughter and it worked amazingly well:

When my granddaughter was four years old, she told me that she dreamed that there were bugs crawling all over her mommy (my daughter-in-law). My daughter-in-law had also had a similar dream that same night. While her mother quickly forgot about the dream, my granddaughter did not. She had the same dream several times and was very disturbed by the images. Her parents were concerned about the recurring dream and that she was not sleeping well.

To ease my granddaughter’s (and her parents’) distress, I told her we were going to play a game. I suggested that the next time the bugs started crawling all over Mommy’s body, she would turn them into beautiful butterflies. A few days later, my son called me to let me know that the bugs were no longer an issue; They turned into little butterflies and flew away.

Whatever the situation in the dream, let your child know that you can change it. If this doesn’t help eliminate the bad dreams, you may want to consider consulting your pediatrician or a child psychologist.

Children have amazing imaginations both when they are awake and when they are sleeping. You don’t want to discourage their creative thinking in any way. Repeatedly telling young children that what’s in their heads isn’t real; is to be forgotten; is not as important as “the real world”, we are inadvertently conditioning them to mistrust their own minds, turn off their imaginations, and stop doing what children do best: having fun, enjoying exploring their world, and living with enthusiasm. Like I said before, I wish I knew then (when my kids were little) what I know now. By all means help your kids get over a bad dream, but try not to do it by stripping away their dreams.

Christmas is the most recognized holiday in the world. After all, you have Santa as your brand ambassador. It has been the subject of many stories, poems and movies. ‘A Christmas Carol’ is the most famous of them. Items that represent Christmas, such as the Christmas tree and Santa Claus, have been an integral part of pop culture for many years. The magic of Christmas is contagious and spreads around the world when it arrives. It brings out the child in each of us. We have made a list of four elements without which Christmas would be incomplete.

Trees, ornaments and everything else

As Christmas approaches, people start decorating their houses. The first decorated house on the street is a sign that the holidays are approaching. People buy Christmas trees and decorate them to the point where you can’t even see the green. A wreath on the door, a snowman on the front porch, and lights around the house—this is the general scene if you’re passing through a neighborhood at Christmas. Decorations are one of the most unique elements of the holiday season. Without it, the Christmas spirit does not reach the same level.

H0H 0H0

It is the North Pole postal code, assigned by Canadian Post. This is where Santa Claus is said to live. Santa Claus is synonymous with Christmas, and without him the party loses its magic. It’s also an innocent trick parents use to keep their kids from misbehaving all year long. On Christmas Eve, parents dress up as Santa Claus and leave gifts for their children. This is done to keep the ruse alive, until the children are old enough to believe otherwise. The children save milk and cookies for Santa Claus as a reward for his troubles, these treats end up in their father’s belly.

Gifts, lots of gifts

Christmas is the season of giving. Therefore, the exchange of gifts is the heart of this festival. That’s why children look forward to Christmas mornings. They wake up early to find presents under the Christmas tree, which have been put there by parents and relatives. The exchange of gifts between friends and family is an important Christmas tradition. However, the spirit of giving is not limited to just these people. During the Christmas season, people give themselves to charity to help those less fortunate. This makes Christmas truly a season of giving.

It’s the season to be jolly

Apart from the material elements, there is also a feeling of well-being and happiness that makes Christmas unique. The decorations of the houses, and the songs in the street, help spread a festive character throughout the neighborhood. It is a time when the whole family comes together and spends the day celebrating. It’s also a time when you can watch reruns of the Home Alone movies on TV, with a cup of hot cocoa to keep you company. The magic of Christmas is felt more when it is shared with other people. Therefore, it is up to you to spread joy throughout the world.

Without these basic elements, Christmas is incomplete. If you really want to experience Christmas in all its glory, be sure to incorporate these elements into your celebrations.

Do you know why multipurpose toys are the best to promote the cognitive development of the little ones? You will know which specific toys to choose after reading this article. Brain development in younger children is best fostered by unstructured vs. creative playtime. rote learning and memorization.

I recently came across an interesting article, “Rethinking Children’s Play” in the National PTA’s Our Children magazine. The article explains how children learn through play, then traces the changes in playtime and toys from the second half of the 20th century to the present, significantly noting that media-linked toys can be traced directly back to the FCC deregulation in 1984. Now TV shows and movies can be explicitly marketed to children.

Think of the typical action or video game toys and figures tied to TV shows or movies. The biggest problem, according to the PTA, is that many of these toys simply tell children how to play and use them to mimic what they see on the screen.

So which toys are the best?

You can get many of the best kinds of cognitive development and learning educational toys that facilitate your child’s intellectual, social, and emotional development from websites that specialize in expertly selected developmental toys. Still, the best toys are those that can be used in a variety of ways, some of which your child will come up with himself.

Examples of unstructured multipurpose toys include clay, blocks, balls, and pretend toys such as wagons, generic toy figures, stuffed animals, and dolls; All of these encourage play that children can control and shape to suit their individual needs over time. The best part is that some of these toys are also the cheapest or free (like stackable plastic bins and boxes around the house)!

It’s good to have educational game interactions with your little one, but also let them have regular, uninterrupted playtime (away from the TV or DVD player) and let them know play is important by encouraging it every day.

Whatever you do, make thoughtful decisions about the toys and media you present to your child; focus on the ones that promote true playtime, allowing them the fullest range of freedom and creativity.

Chinese food aficionados, take heart. It’s true that many of the popular Oriental dishes are high in carbs: sumptuous fried rice served with thick sauces, noodles prepared in a savory soup, sticky buns, and tasty starchy thickened stews.

(Has your mouth watered yet?).

For those trying to stay on the South Beach or Atkins diet, your favorite Chinese restaurant suddenly becomes a temptation trap. Even outside of the standard rice and noodles, many of the dishes are high in sugar and starch. This does not mean that you will never set foot in a Chinese restaurant again. You just have to be prepared… and informed.

Before going to a Chinese restaurant, make a conscious decision about how strict your carb count will be. If you’re in the early phase of the South Beach diet, or the induction phase of the Atkins diet, even cornstarch in the sauce is a big no-no. However, both diets have a less restrictive phase that allows you to eat a little carbohydrate.

So you know how many carbohydrates you can take; Now how do you stay within those limits? Chinese food actually has its own regional variations, so depending on the style of the cook, even a particular dish can have different sugar and carbohydrate levels from restaurant to restaurant.

However, as a general rule, you’ll want to avoid fried rice or steamed rice, noodles, wontons, egg rolls and breaded meats, and sweet sauces. These include sweet and sour, and plum or orange based sauces used for duck. Hoisin and oyster sauces, often used in vegetable dishes, also contain large amounts of sugar.

You should also know that Chinese food uses cornstarch to thicken sauces. About one to two tablespoons of cornstarch are used in each dish, and this contains about seven to 14 grams of carbohydrates. Another staple of Chinese food, water chestnuts contain 3 grams of carbohydrates. Hot sauces will also contain sugar to balance the flavor.

Now you know what to avoid, but what can you ask for? Look for thin, clear EUR soups, steamed meats, and tofu. If you want to order something with sauce, ask for the ones that are a bit watery (such as Moo Goo Gai, Chicken Curry, Shrimp Schezuan, or Black Bean Sauces). If you can’t skip a favorite, you can also ask your server to omit the cornstarch entirely, as it doesn’t affect the flavor and is only used for consistency, or serve it in a separate bowl. Another trick is to remove the wrappers and eat only the meat. That’s where all the flavor is, anyway.

It is also a good idea to have a small snack before going to the Chinese restaurant. Don’t go there hungry – you’ll get drunk and lose most of your sense of self-control as you peruse the delicious menu selections. You’re there to taste, not fill up. Another suggestion is to take small amounts. By limiting your portions, even if you eat a little carbohydrate, it’s not enough to fully control your dieting attempts. (Of course, this is assuming you’re already in the phase of the diet that allows you to moderate your carbohydrate intake.)

Enjoy your meal!

It is believed that maturity only comes with experience and age. As you date a man, you will realize that they all want one thing in common: a mature woman. If you still don’t know how to act mature, here are 7 tips that will make him see you as a confident adult woman:

Learn to love your parents and friends.

There are cases when it is difficult to love these people in your inner circle. As hard as it may seem, you still have to try because these are the same people who love and care for him. And no matter what you do, they will always be there for him, so he better learn to live with them around you.

Respect the opinions of others.

No matter how in love you are with each other, there will always be times when you are on opposite sides of certain issues. If this happens, it is important that you remember to respect whatever their position is. Never force him to take your opinion.

Accept the fact that you are not perfect…

…and neither are you, so you must be patient and understanding with others. Accepting it for what it is is a big step in becoming a mature individual. Don’t turn this man into someone who follows your definition of perfect.

He also accepts that life is not perfect.

In fact, it’s going to be a bumpy ride with this guy. There will be a lot of ups and downs, so be prepared to go through all of this with your man. It’s not all romance and moments of tactile feeling every time.

Look through his eyes.

Women are perceived to be more instinctive, so you better take advantage of this. If you have a hard time connecting with or understanding the man, he tries to see things from his point of view. Reflect seriously on his thoughts and decisions.

Never corner him.

Even a tame lion will break free once cornered. So do not scold or criticize the man. No creature deserves to be treated that way. If you say you’re mature but you keep pestering him, then you’re the biggest liar there is!

Give man his freedom.

A man will want to get away from all things romantic from time to time. And you should too! It is not healthy to be together all the time. Give him some free time to spend with his friends, and use this time to go out and have fun with other people. This is the mark of a truly mature woman.

The American Academy of Pediatrics defines early childhood as ages one to five years, spanning the toddler and preschool periods. Early childhood development happens rapidly and is widely recognized as extremely important in laying the foundation for future learning, including the social, cognitive, and motor skills necessary to handle the demands of preschool and kindergarten. During these formative years, parents and other caring people in their lives have the ability to enhance this development by wisely choosing activities that stimulate and challenge their minds.

While there are a plethora of references on the benefits of reading books, playing games, etc., this article focuses on the value of wooden puzzles as a catalyst for early childhood learning. Even with the many gadgets and electronic gadgets, often children are drawn to simple things like a bouncy ball, an interesting book, and well designed and intriguing puzzles.

The benefits of puzzles can be grouped into the two periods of early childhood, toddler (1-3 years) and preschool (3-5 years).

Young children should be given puzzles that have large pieces and simple content. As the simpler ones are mastered, caregivers can introduce puzzles with more complexity and more/smaller pieces. As a result, these youth will receive the following benefits:

• Hand-eye coordination when grasping and placing puzzle pieces.
• Knowledge of various shapes and sizes.
• Problem solving skills when they master the assembly of each puzzle.
• Sense of pride in a job well done, improves self-confidence/self-image
• Enhanced memory abilities, as they remember what they did and learned
• An understanding of the concept of sequencing in the placement of puzzle pieces.
• Recognition of various colors.
• Identification of objects, animals and other puzzle content

Additionally, puzzles offer opportunities for parent/caregiver interaction with a young child, especially when a new puzzle is presented. While it’s a valuable bonding experience, it’s also an opportunity to assess the appropriateness of each puzzle, even if they’re too difficult or too simple, which could frustrate the young child. Also, by having more than one puzzle available, other children can be included in this quiet time activity, providing an excellent opportunity for social interaction.

Preschoolers will continue to benefit from puzzles, with an increasing number of pieces and more complex/challenging content. As they build on what they learned as young children, they will receive the following additional benefits:

• Recognition of geometric shapes, such as squares, triangles, circles, etc.
• Familiarization with the letters of the alphabet and the concept of spelling.
• Ability to recognize and spell their names as well as simple words.
• Identification of basic numbers and the concept of counting
• Knowledge of more complex elements in puzzles; eg, shape of the USA and its regions/states, dinosaurs, birds, marine life, etc.

To ensure that the above benefits are maximized, it is very important that parents, or anyone else considering “gifting” a wooden puzzle, keep in mind the purchase considerations outlined in the following “checklist “:

• Age appropriateness to provide the right level of challenge
• educational value
• Vivid and varied colors
• Lead-free paints (Note: Made in the USA suggested)
• No sharp edges and size pieces to prevent choking hazard, especially with small children.
• Excellent quality and durability; paints/colors should not fade or crack and puzzle pieces and frames should not break from frequent and hard use over time; quality wooden puzzles are generally much better at meeting this criteria
• Solid reputation of craftsmen; How long have they been in business? Check a number of testimonials/references for consistent customer satisfaction. Are you willing to refund or replace the product if you are not completely satisfied?

Slows down the aging process while helping you fight disease and lose weight

When I had cancer, I made a carefully thought-out decision to put a lot of effort into using natural healing before indulging in modern medicine. I spent a great deal of time studying Chinese, Ayurvedic, European herbal medicine, herbal healing, and many other styles of natural healing. I finally decided to take the advice of a Thompsonian naturopathic doctor. His was the first piece of advice that made it very clear how I got sick and how I would recover. The first thing he said to me was “make a fruit smoothie every morning for breakfast for the rest of your life.” That was twenty years ago and I have not deviated from that advice and it has turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. You may be wondering, as I did, “why do I need to make a fruit smoothie for breakfast? What good will it do me?” Here’s why. In the United States, the average person eats a diet made up primarily of acidic foods (meat, dairy, grains, vegetables, etc.). Eating a diet made up primarily of these types of foods encourages an acidic environment in your body.

The ph of most Americans is around 5.5, which is too acidic. A healthy human body has a ph of between 6.5 and 7.5 ph. Allowing this acidic environment to exist in your body is one of the biggest known threats to human health. An acidic environment leads to heart disease, cancer, diseases caused by viruses and germs, arthritis, allergies, metabolism problems, weight gain, psychological problems, hormonal imbalances, etc. The fruit smoothie you suggested I use to help me fight cancer is made entirely of fruits and some natural healing herbs that are alkaline (vegetables are also alkaline). This shake helped me neutralize the acidic environment in my body. When I started making this drink, I had been sick for some time. My energy was low; I had gained a lot of weight, had digestion problems, acid reflux, felt bloated, gassy, ​​spastic bowel, blood in my stool, and no appetite. I also had lower back pain, knee and ankle problems and stiffness all over. Long story short, I was a physical wreck, which was very depressing because I had a second degree black belt in Kempo Karate and only a few years before that I was in my best physical condition. So, I started making and drinking The Morning Drink every morning. I liked it right away because I could put my favorite seasonal fruit in it and the flavor was great. It wasn’t long before I noticed my energy coming back. Then my stomach problems started to go away and it wasn’t long before my appetite returned and my weight came off. The weight change was spectacular. In about three months I was down to the weight I was when I got my black belt, one hundred and seventy pounds. I was overjoyed at that and has stayed the same ever since. But, just so you know; I did much more than The Morning Drink to beat the cancer I had.

Benefits of the morning drink What did the morning drink do to my body that fostered a natural herbal healing effect? As we discussed at the beginning of this article, The Morning Drink provides alkaline to the body to neutralize the ph and balance the body’s environment. This only increases oxygen, cleanses the tissues, and heals inflammation. It also helps kill cancer cells because cancer dies in an environment where there is oxygen. This new environment also encourages a stronger immune system. This drink has a purifying and detoxifying effect, eliminating toxins that can distract the immune system from its main task, defending the body. Finally, The Morning Drink provides vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and proteins in a form of food that is very easy to digest. Then, because the drink is fresh and raw, it brings a lot of enzymes with it. Enzymes are the great mystery of nutrition. Without them we are dead, there is no digestion and absorption, there is no cleansing, there is no movement, there are no thoughts, there is no energy. This drink brings with it a large amount of enzymes to start the day. Enzymes are the ultimate in anti-inflammatories, relieving inflammation and repairing injury. You can take the best and most expensive multivitamin in the world and you won’t get anything without enzymes. They are the great catalyst for the body. Like the spark plugs in your car, without them there is no energy, nothing.

The rules of the morning drink OK lets start! It is easy to do and you will love this natural healing remedy. There are a few rules listed below, but they are easy to follow.Rule one: I’ll tell you exactly what they told me. You have this drink every morning for breakfast for the rest of your life! The morning drink will help quickly balance your body’s ph (the acid-alkaline balance); fruits and vegetables are alkaline everything else is acidic. Balancing your body’s ph is one of the main keys to health and healing.rule two: This is an alkaline drink, do not add any acidic ingredients to it. I don’t see much protein there; Can I add some protein powder? DO NOT add protein powders or protein-containing foods like eggs, dairy, yogurt, or tofu to this drink! Some of them are good for you, but they are sour for one thing. On the other hand, it is a problem for the liver and gallbladder to process fruit that is digested in one hour with protein that is digested in two to three hours. But guess that; This drink with its fruit mix contains all the building blocks of protein called amino acids. So that your body can create protein from this drink if it needs to. Once again, fruit is a food that is not mixed with any other food.But what about my regular breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast, and coffee? If you have a life-threatening illness, see my article “I’m sick, where do I start?”. If you do not have a life-threatening illness, eat your usual breakfast an hour or later. But speaking from experience, I would drop that and use the drink for breakfast or have a modified alkaline breakfast with lots of vegetables an hour later. What you eat later will be easier to digest because this drink is loaded with digestive enzymes.morning drink recipe Fifteen minutes before making this drink, drink at least 12 to 16 ounces of water (preferably distilled) to begin the cleansing process for this drink. Ingredients: (make fresh daily and vary amounts to suit your taste and appetite)

-8 ounces (more or less) of pure water (distilled is best) and 8 ounces of organic juice (apple, grape, etc.) -1 banana. -A pinch of cayenne pepper more or less to taste (natural healing herb). -A piece of ginger; thumb size (a natural healing herb). -Fresh seasonal fruit; pear, grape, peach, (organic if you can get it). -A quarter to half a lemon, include a small amount of peel if you like, very good for both the liver and the gallbladder. -Add a tablespoon of coconut, olive or peanut oil (cold pressed) for your skin and joints. -A scoop of green superfoods (explode every cell in your body with nutrient-dense organic vitamins and minerals to give you more energy than ever before). -Put the above in a blender, blend and drink. *Adjust the above to your liking and the amount you make.

Questions You May Have About DrinkingWhat about the sugar content of this drink? These are whole fruits that your digestive system and pancreas must process like any other food. This is not like eating refined sugar or the refined fruit juices from the grocery store. If you are diabetic, take a small amount, monitor your blood sugar, and use accordingly. By all means consult with your doctor. I had my blood sugar checked recently and the doctor commented that he was surprised at how balanced my blood sugar was considering my age which is sixty four. As I said before, I have been drinking this drink every morning for the last twenty years. What is it with this drink that feeds my Candida and makes it worse? This drink will help you heal your gastrointestinal tract. Candida is a sign of a leaky gut. Take in some gut flora through a probiotic supplement; this will bring you much relief while healing your gastrointestinal tract. Take the probiotics on an empty stomach, when you eat, before bed, and whenever you think about it until you feel the problem is resolved. To learn about the intestinal flora, read my article on Acidophilus.My bowls are loose at times; Won’t this drink make that worse? Loose intestines are a sign of a lack of balance in the intestinal flora in your gut. Take in some of this flora through a probiotic supplement; this will bring you much relief while healing your gastrointestinal tract. Take the probiotics on an empty stomach, when you eat, before bed, and whenever you think about it until you feel the problem is resolved.

Can I make this drink in bulk ahead of time and store it in the fridge? It must be made fresh every day because if you save it for the next day you will lose a lot of nutrition. You can do what I did to have more of the same batch of drink later in the day. When you make your breakfast drink, make an extra for the afternoon. To save that amount for the evening, place a freshly washed, damp glass or jar in the freezer to frost. For the afternoon quantity in that glass or jar and store in the refrigerator. What about making ice cream with the drink? If you can; During the summer I make a lot of ice creams with the morning drink. Add more bananas to change the texture. Another idea is to add mango as it will also change the texture. But don’t expect it to be like ice cream, it will be more like Italian ice cream, which I love.

Green Superfoods for Energy, Cancer Fighting and Diet: If you want to add more nutrition to this drink to help boost energy, slow the aging process, lose weight, or fight cancer, I suggest super green foods. Super green foods are a combination of foods like wheat grass, barley grass, alfalfa, spinach, spirulina blue-green algae, chlorella, kelp, etc. These green superfoods increase the nutritional content and alkalinity of this drink, just like any food you add them to. You will notice, as I did, a very subtle strong energy when adding this super green combination to your diet. When I had cancer I was advised to consume as much as I could each day. The Doctor said “super green foods are like high-octane fuel” that would instantly bring nutrient-dense, organic, whole-food vitamins and minerals to every cell in my body. The doctor also told me that they would protect and defend every cell in my body from free radical damage while I was fighting cancer. Even now I still take 2 or more scoops depending on how I feel that day. I have been drinking this morning drink for twenty years; I recently took a test called “Real Age” online. I suggest you try taking this test yourself. Based on questions about your health collected by doctors, such as diet, exercise, blood pressure, etc. an age is assigned. I am sixty four years old, my score based on the answers I gave said “I was forty seven years old”. They suggested that they would have given me a score 2 years younger if I had taken an over the counter medication every day (I wrote back and told them to keep your 2 years and your medication and I will maintain my health). See the Nutrition section of my website to learn how to change your nutritional lifestyle.

Bail: Check with your doctor when beginning any nutrition program, especially if you are taking medication. Note: Remember when it comes to your health, you are the boss, all the final decisions are yours.

A health professional can easily tell if you are obese, overweight, or healthy simply by measuring your Body Mass Index, or BMI, in short. It effectively determines your weight in proportion to your height and the more you go outside the scope of the standard range, the higher your chances of developing a number of critical health problems due to obesity and being overweight.

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is something that cannot be achieved overnight and can become a challenging task for overweight and obese individuals in the long run. Ensuring a healthy weight through appropriate means or at least avoiding gaining more weight can help overweight people reduce the likelihood of developing specific medical conditions.

Obesity is on the verge of becoming a national epidemic in the US and is associated with several chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. The serious medical condition is responsible for a staggering 18% death rate in the 40-85 age group among the US population, as noted by a 2013 health research study, which questions the deeply held notion. and predominant of medicine and science. community than a mother 5 out of every 100 deaths in the country are related to obesity. The new finding essentially suggests that it’s as fatal as cigarette smoking, when it comes to discussing public health dangers, since the particular form of nicotine consumption can be linked to 20 out of 100 deaths in the US. and is recognized as the main preventable cause of mortality in the country.

Nearly 2 in 5 US adults were diagnosed with obesity in 2015-16, a significant increase from 34% in 2007-08, and its impact deepened with a sharp increase from 5.7% to 7.7 % during that time. While no state reported an obesity rate greater than 15% in 1985, up to 5 of them reported rates greater than 35% for the year 2016.

Obesity and being overweight are often associated with emotional health problems such as depression. People who are obese or overweight may also experience weight bias and face stigma from health care providers and others, which, in turn, can lead to guilt, rejection, or shame, making it even worse. the prevailing problems related to one’s mental well-being.

The main diseases and health complications caused by obesity and overweight are briefly illustrated below.

I. TYPE 2 DIABETES

When the concentration of glucose in the blood becomes abnormally high permanently, the particular medical condition is called type 2 diabetes. About 4 out of 5 people with this form of diabetes are known to be overweight or obese. High blood sugar levels can manifest a host of medical conditions, including stroke, heart disease, eye problems, neuropathic damage, eye problems, and other health problems.

Allowing yourself regular physical activity and losing 5-7% of your weight can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes if you are in the risk group for the particular disease.

II. HYPERTENSION

When blood pushes through your body’s blood vessels with much greater force, the particular medical condition is known as hypertension, or more commonly, high blood pressure. It can cause an alarmingly large level of damage to blood vessels, strain the heart, and help increase the chances of stroke, kidney disease, heart attack, and even death.

third HEART DISEASE

The generic term heart disease is commonly used to indicate a wide and diverse range of medical conditions that can affect the overall well-being of the organ. If you are diagnosed with heart disease, you are at increased risk of heart failure, sudden cardiac death, angina, heart attack, or a heart rhythm that is not considered normal. Elevated levels of fat in the bloodstream, high blood sugar levels, and high blood pressure can increase the chances of heart disease. Blood lipids or blood fats necessarily refer to triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol. Reducing 5% to 10% of your body mass is likely to help mitigate your risks of developing heart disease, and may help improve blood flow, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.

IV. STROKE

If there is a blockage or incidence of rupture of a blood vessel in your neck or brain, it causes the blood supply to your brain to be suddenly restricted, and the particular medical condition is known as a stroke. A stroke can cause reversible or irreversible damage to your brain, resulting in partial or complete paralysis and therefore rendering you unable to speak or initiate bodily movements. It is fairly recognized that hypertension is the vital cause of strokes.

V. SLEEP APNEA

Sleep apnea is a medical condition when a person does not breathe frequently and is quite common in a large number of people around the world. You can also stop breathing completely for small intervals. If such a sleep disorder goes undiagnosed and untreated, it can increase the chances of other critical health problems, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.