National Massage Therapy Awareness Week October 20-26, 2013

By Terry Orr

Let us all join in celebrating the 17^th National Massage Therapy Week by doing something special for someone and ourselves by getting an appointment for a well deserved massage!

Last October, we provided a quick guide to the most popular types of massage therapy to help you figure out which massage therapy style is right for you (http://kisbyto.blogspot.com/ 2012/10/national-massage-therapy-week.html).

What are the benefits of massage therapy?  Let us explore some of the benefits of a good massage.

BENEFITS OF REGULAR MASSAGES

Physical Benefits:

• Relaxes the body;
• Reduces tension headaches;
• Lowers blood pressure;
• Increases and promotes joint flexibility;
• Relieves tired and aching muscles;
• Increases circulation;
• Reduce spasms and cramping; and
• Improves posture and balance and so much more.

Mental Benefits:

• Reduces mental stress;
• Promotes quality sleep;
• Improves mood, intellectual reasoning and productivity;
• Induces mental relaxation; and
• Improved concentration.

Emotional Benefits:

• Reduces anxiety;
• Enhances self-image;
• Provides a feeling of well being; and
• Nurtures and stimulates emotional growth.

REFERENCES AND LINKS:

http://balancedbeingtherapies.com

http://www.massageenvy.com/benefits-of-massage-therapy.aspx

http://www.massagetherapy.com/learnmore/benefits.php

Back to School Checklist

By Terry Orr

Ugh….No!…its still July…I don’t want to think about school yet Mom. Three of five my grandson’s will be returning to school soon and granddaughter begins Kindergarten in a few weeks.  Earlier today, while working on the August Blog schedule – the light went off – what we need is a good checklist for folks getting ready of school and college. Well, the first list I found (mom’s back to school checklist) starts with…2 months before school starts!!  Yikes, I am already two weeks late with this article.  Guess this ‘forgetting things’ is yet another reminder, that perhaps I’m getting older.

Each of the references below have some excellent ideas to help the parent, children and students get ready of their upcoming routine and things that need to be done prior to starting classes.

Getting them back on the routine of getting to bed and up on time has always been a long pole in the tent in our home.  They love staying up late and sleeping in late. One of the links suggest to start going to bed 10 minutes earlier each night until you reach the desired bedtime and same with getting up in the mornings – sounds like a good plan. If this will be the first year using an alarm clock, recommend an early start for that as well.

In the family – shared calendars are a must these days – and having a wall calendar in the kitchen/hallway makes excellent sense.  It’s an easy reminder for all what is going on – two months (this and next) is another good idea.

Post new rules at school where everyone can see them.  This will save lots of time and frustration for all.  Do’s and Don’t list. Emergency Contact List posted and one carried at all times.

REFERENCES AND LINKS:

http://www.momagenda.com/printable/back-to-school.pdf

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/family-health-12/back-to-school-prep

http://singleparents.about.com/od/yourchildseducation/tp/btschecklist.htm

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Parenting/back-school-complete-checklist-parents/story?id=11407354

http://www.schoolfamily.com/school-family-articles/article/762-back-to-school-checklist

http://www.parentfurther.com/blog/back-to-school-checklist-for-parents

http://www.parents.com/app/checklist/?checklistId=3002e

 [Photos from Google) 

SOCIAL WELLNESS

By Terry Orr

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” ~World Health Organization, 1948

“Wellness is the conscious and deliberate process by which people are actively involved in enhancing their well-being: intellectual, physical, social, emotional, occupational and spiritual” ~ Hatfield

Social Wellness (family, community and environment) – focuses on how you choose to define and connect with your community and the people around you. 

Physical –your body's health, which involves nutrition, exercise, promoting over-all safety and wellness, and preventing physical illness.

Spiritual (values and ethics) – to understanding your place and purpose, how you make meaning of what happens to you, and what your mind goes to for comfort and relief.

Intellectual – means feeling stimulated and engaged with learning and staying open to new ideas and perspectives.

Emotional – involves being aware of and managing your feelings, being at peace with who you are, and having the tools you need to weather life’s ups and downs.

Occupational – is the work you choose to do and how you feel it contributes to your community and fulfills you.

According to Work Smart. Life Smart –

July is Social Wellness Month and it reminds us that we need to reach out to others and build stronger social ties with family and friends. Social Wellness encourages us to develop better communications with those around us including the ability to share our feelings and needs. It involves respecting yourself and others and developing a solid social support system.

Social Wellness takes planning and effort to carve out time for those activities, as they may not happen naturally in today’s hectic world. We know from our research that socially isolated people are more susceptible to illness and have a death rate two to three times higher than those who are not socially isolated.  However people who maintain their social network and support systems do better under stress and are physically and mentally healthier.  They even achieve higher grade point averages.

So how important in Social Wellness in our daily life – one indication is the explosion of social media over the past decade.  According to eBizMBA the three top Social Media Sites (Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn) average about 1.1 Billion visits each month – that is nearly one in seven people globally.  Folks reaching out to others – finding common ground – communicating – sharing – building relationships – a virtual family/home.

What we are all looking for – is balance in our lives – while sounding fairly straight forward – with our daily lives, most folks deal with the ever increasing demands on their time – and finding true balance is all to often is simply not possible.  The challenge is to prioritizes things best we can – and review what really and truly are the important things in our lives.

References and Links:

http://worksmartlivesmart.com/social-wellness-month-july/

http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/social-networking-websites 

(Photos from Google)

National Child Abuse Prevention Month

By Terry Orr

What is Child Abuse?

Child abuse is the physical, sexual or emotional mistreatment or neglect of a child or children. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department for Children And Families (DCF) define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child. Child abuse can occur in a child's home, or in the organizations, schools or communities the child interacts with. There are four major categories of child abuse: neglect, physical abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, and sexual abuse.

Different jurisdictions have developed their own definitions of what constitutes child abuse for the purposes of removing a child from his/her family and/or prosecuting a criminal charge. According to the Journal of Child Abuse and Neglect, child abuse is "any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm." (Source: Wikipedia)

Child Abuse Types (can take several forms – but the four main types are):

1. Physical - physical aggression directed at a child by an adult.
2. Sexual - is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent abuses a child for sexual stimulation.
3. Psychological/Emotional - is defined as the production of psychological and social deficits in the growth of a child as a result of behavior such as loud yelling, coarse and rude attitude, inattention, harsh criticism, and denigration of the child's personality.
4. Neglect - is the failure of a parent or other person with responsibility for the child to provide needed food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision to the degree that the child's health, safety, and well-being are threatened with harm.

10 Ways to Prevent Child Abuse:

1. BE A NURTURING PARENT Children need to know that they are special, loved, and capable of following their dreams.
2. HELP A FRIEND, NEIGHBOR, OR RELATIVE Being a parent isn't always easy. Offer a helping hand - take care of the kids so the parents can rest or spend time together.
3. HELP YOURSELF When big or little problems pile up and you feel overwhelmed or out of control, take a time out. Don’t take it out on your kids.
4. IF YOUR BABY CRIES It can be frustrating hearing your baby cry. Learn what to do if your baby won’t stop crying. Never shake a baby - shaking can result in severe injuries or death.
5. GET INVOLVED Ask your local community leaders, clergy, library and schools to develop services to meet the needs of healthy children and families.
6. HELP TO DEVELOP PARENTING RESOURCES IN YOUR COMMUNUTY See about organizing a Parent Resource Center or be sure families know about the parent helpline at 1-800-FLA-LOVE.
7. PROMOTE PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS Teaching children, parents and teachers prevention strategies can help keep children safe.
8. http://www.cmskids.com/families/child_protection_safety/documents/10_Ways_to_Prevent_Child_Abuse.pdfWatching violent films, TV programs, and video games can harm young children.
9. VOLUNTEER AT A LOCAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM For information on volunteer opportunities, call 1-800-CHILDREN.
10. REPORT SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT If you have a reason to think a child has been or may be harmed, call and make a report: 1-800- 96-ABUSE. (Source: Child Medical Services)

“The 2013 Resource Guide for Preventing Child Maltreatment and Promoting Well-Being: A Network for Action” is available for review and download at http://www.carescac.org/april-is-child-abuse-prevention-month/1201/.

They are many good resources available to parents, caregivers, friends, family members and communities to assist in preventing Child Abuse – all it takes is being Proactive – and doing something to help a child! As Nike states – Just Do It!

References and Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_abuse

http://www.childabusecouncil.org/what-is-child-abuse.html

http://www.carescac.org/april-is-child-abuse-prevention-month/1201/

http://www.childrensadvocacycenter.org/article_20WaysToPreventChildAbuse.cfm

http://www.cms-kids.com/families/child_protection_safety/documents/10_Ways_to_Prevent_Child_Abuse.pdf

National Bullying Day - February 9, 2013

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By Terry Orr

Understanding that bullies (and imitators) have been around for ages – they need to be dealt with immediately – hopefully in a positive and corrective manner.  It has been my misfortune to have been around them since grade school, while in the military and during my consultant careers. All too often, the apple does not fall far from the tree.  This cycle truly needs to be broken.

Last February, we shared information regarding reporting bully behaviors to appropriate officials; educating kids about bullies early on; what to do when someone is being bullied; and working to  prevent bullying.

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What Is Bullying?

Bullying is behavior that hurts or harms another person physically or emotionally. Bullying can be very overt, such as fighting, hitting or name calling, or it can be covert, such as gossiping or leaving someone out on purpose. It is intentional, meaning the act is done willfully, knowingly and with deliberation. The targets have difficulty stopping the behavior directed at them and struggle to defend themselves. [Source: phillyBurbs.com]

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Facts that everyone should know about bullying:

71 percent of students report incidents of bullying as a problem at their school.

90 percent of 4th through 8th graders report being victims of bullying.

Every day, 160,000 students skip school because they are afraid they will be bullied.

The most common reason cited for being harassed is a student's appearance or body size. Two out of five teens feel that they are bullied because of the way that they look.

57 percent of students who experience harassment in school never report the incident to the school. Ten percent of those who do not report stay quiet because they do not believe that teachers or staff can do anything. As a result, more than a quarter of students feel that school is an unsafe place to be.

Nine out of 10 LGBT youth reported being verbally harassed at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.

41 percent of principals say they have programs designed to create a safe environment for LGBT students, but only 1/3 of principals say that LGBT students would feel safe at their school.

One in four teachers see nothing wrong with bullying and will only intervene 4 percent of the time.

A victim of bullying is twice as likely to take his or her own life compared to someone who is not a victim.

Only one in 10 victims of cyberbullying tell a parent. Fewer than one in five cyberbullying incidents are reported to the police.

25% of bullies have a criminal record by the age of 30

Bullying is the most common form of violence in our society

25% of teachers see nothing wrong with bullying or putdowns and consequently intervene in only 4% of bullying incidents. [This fact is terrible truth.]

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Types of Bullying

Verbal bullying is saying or writing mean things. Verbal bullying includes: Teasing; name-calling; inappropriate sexual comments; taunting; and threatening to cause harm.

Social bullying, sometimes referred to as relational bullying, involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships. Social bullying includes: Leaving someone out on purpose; telling other children not to be friends with someone; spreading rumors about someone; and embarrassing someone in public.

Physical bullying involves hurting a person’s body or possessions. Physical bullying includes: Hitting/kicking/pinching; spitting; tripping/pushing; taking or breaking someone’s things; and making mean or rude hand gestures.

Cyber bullying this type of bullying can be chat rooms, online, instant messaging, on a mobile phone; social networks; and e-mails

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What needs to be done?

Early intervention: Researchers advocate intervening in elementary or middle school, or as early as preschool. Group and building-wide social skills training is highly recommended, as well as counseling and systematic aggression interventions for students exhibiting bullying and victim behaviors.

Parent training: Parents must learn to reinforce their children’s positive behavior patterns and model appropriate interpersonal interactions.

Teacher training:  Training can help teachers identify and respond to potentially damaging victimization as well as to implement positive feedback and modeling to address appropriate social interactions.

Attitude change:  Researchers maintain that society must cease defending bullying behavior as part of growing up or with the attitude of “kids will be kids.” Bullying can be stopped!

Positive school environment: Schools with easily understood rules of conduct, smaller class sizes and fair discipline practices report less violence.

We as parents, guardians, members of the community – together need to work together to reduce bullying and that it is not acceptable behavior – regardless of ones age.

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References and Links:

http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-school-bullying

http://www.stopbullying.gov/kids/facts/index.html

http://bullyfree.com/free-resources/facts-about-bullying

http://www.phillyburbs.com/blogs/100_percent_preventable/get-the-facts-about-bullying/article_927bef0c-179b-11e2-b1d8-0019bb30f31a.html

http://www.oag.state.va.us/Programs%20and%20Resources/Bullying/Bullying_Facts.html

http://www.nasponline.org/resources/factsheets/bullying_fs.aspx