Kids
Seeing the world through kids’ eyes
Some years ago I revisited a childhood home in Texas where I lived for a couple of years as a toddler. Getting off the bus in Clear Lake City, Huston I found myself standing in front of my old home. What struck me at that instant was just how small it was compared to my grandiose memories of it. The major road on which it sat was actually a tiny street and the vast playground further down the block a mere patch of green.
Bullying: What Parents Know is the Tip of the Iceberg
What proportion of the bullying that goes on is known to parents and teachers? That’s the question I put to 11 year olds in primary school and 16 year olds in high school. Their answer was that adults are aware of perhaps 10 percent of bullying with the overwhelming majority taking place in secret, among the peer groups.
Extra-curricular Pain For Those Without Funds
The discussion was with single mums on limited incomes. The topic was providing their kids’ with opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities. The consensus was just how difficult it can be to make it happen. The lack of participation by children from lower socio-economics was profound according to a study recently released by the University of South Australia’s Health and Use of Time Group.
Watching your words around body image
Sitting in a room with kids, eight and nine year olds, and our conversation turns to body image. These are perfectly “normal” children, with different bodies, hair colour and builds. Yet regardless of what they look like they are very aware of their perceived imperfections. “My thighs are too big,” says one girl typifying the comments. Read the rest of this entry »