Skip to content

Category: Encouraging Family Focus

This Category was previously called Family and Children. I do have a Category called Good Parents Tips/Info for Parents and Children. I do want to Encourage Families to be Closer and Spend More Time Together than many Australians do. Families can be so Enriching. These days, there are Families with 2 or even 3 Generations of Working Parents who have not or do not spend much time together. Lets see if we can change that, hey? Because this decision is new (27th Dec) I will be deleting and adding some Posts:)

Published on Leave a comment on Mood-Boosting and Over-all Benefits of Having Pets

WE BENEFIT FROM THE COMPANY OF AND INTERACTION WITH PETS AND ANIMALS. GUESS WHAT BENEIFITS HAVING A PET AT HOME AFFORDS? PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. AND THE BETTER WE LOOK AFTER THEM, THE HAPPIER THEY ARE. HAVING A WELL CARED FOR PET/PETS IS A RELATIONSHIP OF RECIPROCATION. PEOPLE DERIVE A SENSE OF COMFORT, CONTENTMENT OR HAPPINESS INTERACTING WITH THEIR PETS. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT WE BENEFIT PHYSICALLY AS WELL? IT'S AMAZING WHAT SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THESE THINGS NOW. LET'S HAVE A PEAK AND SEE:)

Pets are Cute and Pets are Cuddly - Pets are Great!

Pets come with some powerful health benefits. Here’s how caring for a dog, cat, or other animal can help relieve depression and anxiety, lower stress, and improve your heart health.

The benefits of pets
Most pet owners are clear about the immediate joys that come with sharing their lives with companion animals. However, many of us remain unaware of the physical and mental health benefits that can also accompany the pleasure of snuggling up to a furry friend. It’s only recently that studies have begun to scientifically explore the benefits of the human-animal bond.…

1

Published on 1 Comment on 50+ Ways to Cheer Someone Up – See If Some Of These Appeal

IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, SOME OF US HAVE LEARNT SOME GOOD COPING SKILLS, AND OTHERS ARE REALLY COPING NOT SO WELL. MOST TIMES, YOU CAN'T CHANGE CIRCUMSTANCES FOR THEM, BUT YOU CAN MAYBE MAKE THINGS A LITTLE LIGHTER BY BREAKING UP SOME POSSIBLE RUMINATION AND GIVING THEM SOME TANGIBLE IDEAS TO DISPERSE SOME CLOUDY THOUGHTS. SOMETIMES, JUST A SIMPLE INTERVENTION OF HAVING YOUR COMPANY FOR A WHILE AND DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT CAN BREAK UP A SOMBER STATE OF MIND THAT IS MAKING THEM FEEL SAD, LONELY OR VULNERABLE. IT'S SHOWING THEM SOMEONE CARES, HEY? AND THAT CAN MEAN A LOT.

Fill Someone's Day With Sunshine - There's So Many Ways!!!

From Different Authors

By Rachel Sharpe

Write Them A Card

If your goal is to cheer someone up, send snail mail and mail them a card. Let the card be a surprise. Within the card, write down all the reasons why you think that person is incredible. It’s a great way to make the person feel special and appreciated. It’ll likely be kept as a memento for years to come. If the person who needs cheering up typically doesn’t get mail, this will be a pleasant surprise for them.…

2

Published on 2 Comments on Do You Eat Quickly? Try Savoring Your Meals and Enjoy them More!

Discover the Health Advantages for Digestion and Weight Reduction.

I've been researching articles on this topic today. Shall I share with you what I found?

Slow Down, You're Eating Too Fast
by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD

Have you ever noticed how long it takes most thin people to eat their meals? My sister was always the last one to finish her meal, and it drove the rest of the family crazy. We were sure it was her ploy to get out of clearing the table or doing the dishes! It was not until years later that I realized her slow eating is the secret to her slim figure.

Most Westerners eat too fast, and, as a result, they take in too many calories before they realize they've eaten enough. It takes approximately 20 minutes from the time you start eating for your brain to send out signals of fullness. Leisurely eating allows ample time to trigger the signal from your brain that you are full. And feeling full translates into eating less.

Recent research presented at a meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity showed that overweight men and women took in fewer calories when they slowed their normal eating pace.…

Published on Leave a comment on So Many People Are Quitting Soft Drinks – Even In The USA – Guess Why?

I HOPE NOT TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE WHEELING TROLLEYS FULL OF SOFT DRINKS OUT OF SUPERMARKETS WITH THEIR KIDS WHEN THESE THINGS ARE BETTER KNOWN.

Chemicals In Fizzy Drinks - Perilous To Health!

MY COUSINS WERE ALLOWED TO HAVE LOTS OF FIZZY DRINKS I WASN'T BROUGHT UP WITH -
I WISHED WE COULD HAVE MORE, HOWEVER, OUR FAMILY EXPERIENCED BETTER HEALTH TO THEIRS AND TO THIS DAY, I THANK MY MUM FOR HER WISDOM WHEN RESEARCH WASN'T AROUND. SO I'M INCLUDING THIS ARTICLE IN MY BLOG TO BENEFIT OTHER FAMILIES OUT THERE.

Why You Should Be Worried About The Chemicals In Your Soda
By Riley Cardoza

It's hard, we know, and the addictive properties of the Caffeine in every can certainly don't make giving up soda any easier. But hear us out. Doubling up on soft drinks every week means doubling your risk of pancreatic cancer, according to a study in the American Association for Cancer Research's journal. Drinking a standard can of cola is like pouring 39 grams of sugar straight down your throat, and there's nothing sweet about what it'll do to your waistline. Even if you go for the sugar-free options, a recent study in the journal Stroke found that artificially-sweetened drinks lead to increased risk of strokes and dementia.…

Published on Leave a comment on A 60-Minute Walk In Nature Decreases Activity In Brain Regions Involved In Stress Processing

Researchers in Germany have found that a one-hour walk in nature reduces
stress-related brain activity.

The amygdala is the brain region involved in stress processing. It has been shown to be less activated in people who live in rural areas, compared to those who live in cities, hinting at the potential benefits of nature.

Nature Walks Are Good For Your Brain

However, no study so far has examined the causal effects of natural and urban environments on stress-related brain mechanisms.

"But so far the hen-and-egg problem could not be disentangled, namely whether nature actually caused the effects in the brain or whether the particular individuals chose to live in rural or urban regions," says Sonja Sudimac, predoctoral fellow in the Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience (LMGEN) and lead author of the study.

To address this question, researchers from LMGEN examined brain activity in regions involved in stress processing in 63 healthy volunteers before and after a one-hour walk in Berlin's Grunewald Forest and a busy city street using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

The results of the study revealed that activity in the amygdala decreased after the walk in nature, suggesting that nature elicits beneficial effects on brain regions related to stress.…

Published on Leave a comment on Uninvolved Or Neglectful Parenting: Examples and Effects

A REAL CONCERN - PLEASE READ

By Mona Bapat, PhD, HSPP Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Uninvolved parenting, or neglectful parenting, occurs when parents demonstrate low levels of nurturing, warmth and love toward their child, and little involvement in their life. If you're concerned that you might be a neglectful parent, it can be useful to know the characteristics of the uninvolved parenting style, and how being uninvolved impacts your child. You can also learn how to become more present and engaged in your child's development and activities to help promote their well-being.

Characteristics of Uninvolved Parenting

Neglectful parents tend to be "hands off" in various parts of their child's life and development. This leads to a heavy imbalance between tending to themselves versus their child. Parents who are uninvolved most of the time tend to:

  • Ignore their child
  • Prioritize their needs over those of their child
  • Be consumed with their work
  • Be consumed with their own interests

Reasons Why Parents Might Be Uninvolved

It's easy to wonder why parents can be so neglectful and removed when it comes to their child. At the same time, there is often more than meets the eye when it comes to things parents might be struggling with that can lead to this type of parenting.…

Published on Leave a comment on Is Your Smartphone Making You Feel Sick? Be Careful With Babies And Toddlers Exposure Especially!

All You Need To Know About Smartphone Sickness - Yes, It’s A Thing.

“Q: Do I have a smart phone?
A: No, it has me!”

That pretty much sums up the current scenario, doesn't it?

So it’s no surprise if suddenly scrolling through your cell phone makes you feel sick in the stomach. Don’t blame the rich chocolate cake you just ‘liked’ on your newsfeed, because the technology-generated mayhem can make you feel woozy. Maybe a dull headache, dizziness or creeping nausea - these are just some of the peculiar side-effects of spending too much time on WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, or whatever the  kids are addicted to these days.

Is Your Smartphone Making You Sick?

Cell phones emit radio frequency energy (radio waves), a form of electromagnetic non-ionizing radiation, which is absorbed by the tissues closest to them. The dose of the absorbed energy is expressed as specific absorption rate (SAR), in watts per kilogram of body weight.

Exposure to ionizing radiation (like in X-rays), increases the risk of cancer. But so far, the only consistently recognized biological effect of radio-frequency energy is heating, which is what we utilize in microwave ovens.

Can Your Smartphone Cause Cancer?

Several studies with conflicting results (depending on who has funded them) notwithstanding, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an organ of the WHO, classified cell phone use as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”.…

Published on Leave a comment on The Best Ways To Take Childrens Learning Outside, According To An Outdoor Play Expert

Bountyteam  MSN

I LOVE THIS ARTICLE BECAUSE I THINK CHILDREN TODAY SPEND FAR TOO MUCH TIME INDOORS. EVEN LITTLE KIDDIES AND TODDLERS GROW UP BEFORE THEIR TIME WITH SOME OF THE TV PROGRAMS THEY WATCH AND SO MUCH PLAY WITH TECH DEVICES. SOME OUTDOOR LIVING IS HEALTHY FOR KIDS - AND PARENTS TOO. LET'S TAKE SOME GOOD TIPS FROM SOMEONE WHO RELATES WELL WITH CHILDREN, HEY?

While we all know homework is necessary for a child’s valuable education, spending time outside is just as essential to children’s physical and mental wellbeing.

But the majority of Aussie kids prefer indoor play despite the many benefits of playing outside on their mood, feelings of satisfaction, creativity and development.

With the school holidays right around the corner and the challenges of lockdowns and restrictions continuing to impact many Australians, Penny Whitehouse, educator and outdoor play expert, shares her tips to take learning outside.

As a working mum, I know it’s easy to slip into an indoor routine and let the kids stay glued to the screen. However, the published research – and my professional experience through 12 years as a wildlife and environmental education officer working to cultivate joy from outdoor play – confirm there are major benefits to kids learning and playing outside during their development years.…

Published on Leave a comment on Spring Has Sprung: It’s Time To Build Your Organic Veggie Garden And Reap The Rewards

By Becky Searles, Family Garden Life

If you want to turn a house into a home then a garden is going to be your best move. And if you want to really improve the value of your home, it’s a productive garden where you can harvest nutrient-dense food that’s going to make the biggest impact.

When you think about a family’s basic needs, food and shelter at at the top of the list, and if your food garden is operating well, it can provide a family with food for most of the year.

Even better, if your family adopts organic gardening principles, you’ll have home-grown organic food that will leave money in your back pocket.

Some advantages to growing your own organic food include:

  • Saving serious money
  • Your family will enjoy freshly harvested food
  • Reducing your family’s carbon footprint
  • Your food will be packed full of nutrients
  • Your harvest will be free of the baddies like synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and chemicals
  • You’ll be helping the environment on so many levels
  • Mindfulness, connecting with nature and family at the same time

Planting the right foods at the right time will yield you delicious results all year round.…

Published on Leave a comment on Returning To REAL FOODS From Our Creator And Nature – They’re Good For Us!

By Janet Vargas - Independent Natural Health Researcher 30+ Years

YES, THEY PROMOTE OUR HEALTH RATHER THAN DEMOTE IT. FOOD MANUFACTURERS HAVE THOUGHT OF ONE CLEVER DEMISE AFTER THE OTHER, PROMOTING SYNTHETIC AND PSUEDO FOODS WE ARE NOT MEANT TO INGEST - INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND ALL, MAKING THEIR ARGUMENTS SOUND LEGIT, MAKING THE PUBLIC SICK. AND BIG PHARMA WITH THEIR MEDICAL AGENTS HAVE BEEN ONLY TOO HAPPY TO RAKE IN THE PROFITS. BUT AN AWAKENING IS STIRRING THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DISCOVERING THE BENEFITS OF REAL FOODS: YES OLD THINGS BECOME NEW. THIS IS INSTIGATED BY PROFESSIONAL NATURAL HEALTH ADVOCATES AND MANY HEALTH SCIENTISTS ALIKE WHO ARE NOW SIDING WITH NATURE, PROMOTING IT'S MERITS AND IT'S WAYS.

I Will Show You Some Real Health Promoting Foods That Are So Beneficial For Our Health That Have Been Drastically Altered Or Replaced (they now clash with our natural body chemistry) In Western Countries Like Australia, And A Few Really Beneficial Foods that are Very Nutritious for our Families!

Through the years in Australia – and Western Countries – we have been buying foods that are so different to food staples our Great Grandparents had and our Great Greats.…