Mi Choza De Nipa

Are we talking about anger management here? ----- SINGAPORE - Eight people, all who have trouble controlling their temper, are attending an anger management class. A counsellor is conducting the session. In a typical setting, this would not seem out of place. At the Institute of Mental Health 's (IMH) Child Guidance Clinic (CGC), however, such sessions are attended by children aged seven to 12 years old. In spite of their young age, all of them have anger issues that are serious enough to warrant special attention. There are no exact figures on children and teenagers in Singapore with anger issues. Dr Ong Say How, Consultant and Deputy Chief at IMH's Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , explained that this is because "anger" is not considered a clinical diagnosis. At the CGC, children and teens with such problems are usually referred to anger management groups, which run for about eight sessions. Each year, about 16 youth attend these sessions...

Image via Wikipedia Here is a report that says something about older brothers. My older brothers weren't, so will the number of children studied really a sufficient part of the whole to be considered a representative of all? Anyway, read on... ----- Older Brothers More Likely to Bully FRIDAY, Nov. 5 ( HealthDay News) — Older brothers are more likely than older sisters to bully younger siblings, a new study finds. Italian researchers looked at 195 children, aged 10 to 12, who had siblings that were no more than four years older or younger. Children with older brothers were more likely to report being bullied at home. Boys were more likely to bully if they had a younger brother or sister. Older sisters were more likely to bully a sibling based on the quality of their relationship, rather than their age, according to the study. The findings appear in the British Journal of Development Psychology . “It’s likely that older sisters are raised to be responsible and ...

From Focus on the Family Having trouble remembering what your teenager looks like? Maybe it’s time to rein in their busy schedules and preserve a little family time. With all the activities available to children these days it’s easy for families to lose touch. Children are so busy with sports , art lessons, ballet and dozens of other extracurricular activities that many families can’t remember the last time they sat down for a meal together. But family times are important to a child’s development and as parents, it’s our job to see that they get scheduled. Why not pick one night of the week as a regular family night? Maybe you could go out to dinner — somewhere away from phones and other distractions — and use the time to relax and reconnect. Try going on a hike or a picnic together. Or maybe you could just set up chairs in the park. Whatever it takes to keep the family unit together and well connected. But if you don’t put it on the schedule, it may never happen. Put a fa...

By Dr James Dobson It has always been interesting for me to observe the “herd” instinct in teenagers around the world. There’s just a remarkable sameness to their culture today, no matter where you go. In Australia , Russia , Latin America, and the United States , adolescents tend to dress in similar ways and hold common attitudes. And why not? They’re watching the same movies and television shows and listening to the same music. The next generation is just being homogenised by this electronic revolution and sometimes the “urge to merge” becomes humorous. Perhaps you have read the story of a teen choir performing in Miami . In the middle of the Battle Hymn of the Republic , one young woman in the front row passed out. Well, that planted the idea of fainting in 32 other impressionable heads. Minutes later, a boy buckled and disappeared from the back row. And then a girl in the middle took a dive. By the end of the song, 20 kids lay flat on the ground. Conformity is one of t...

By Dr James Dobson Imagine being depressed and miserable over the shape of your nose, or the texture of your skin or the colour of your hair. Dissatisfaction with one's body is an experience that most adolescents live with every day. If you were to ask a hundred teenagers what they're most unhappy about, 80 per cent of them would describe some minor physical imperfection with which they're stuck. They're either too tall or too short. Or they feel fat or too thin. Or that they hate the freckles on their nose. And most teenagers have heard about these perceived flaws from their peers – who often judge human worth strictly on the basis of physical attractiveness. At least a portion of the anger and frustration usually associated with adolescence can be traced to this vicious system of values that runs amok during the adolescent years. In my book Preparing for Adolescence , I recommend that parents begin to teach a different system of values in the period immedia...

By Dr Bill Maier At what age do you plan to let your teenagers start dating? Better decide now, before your children get older. In the past, most parents said 16 was a proper age, but today, a lot of families are questioning whether that is a good idea. You have to wonder what good can come of two hormonally-charged teenagers pairing off and spending hours together with no supervision. It is a formula for trouble. Many parents now encourage their teens to group date. It is a great way for young adults to develop healthy relationships without the unhealthy temptation. Other parents allow their children to date, but not until the age of 18, and even then in moderation. However you feel about your kids’ dating habits, it’s important to discuss it with them at an early age. Make sure they understand your rules – and your reasoning behind those rules. From TODAY, Voices - Tuesday, 18-May-2010 ----- Related articles by Zemanta The Five Love Languages of Teenagers - Recomme...

Image via Wikipedia By Dr Bill Maier Is your child prepared for the changes of puberty ? If so, are you? All children are different and reach puberty at different ages. Boys normally reach it at around the age of 14 and girls at about 12. That’s why parents need to start talking to their children about the changes they can expect from puberty long before it arrives. Kids are usually more open to discussing it before the changes have begun. If we wait until it’s too late, they may feel more uncomfortable. It’s also important to be clear and specific about what changes they can expect. Don’t assume they already know. What they’ve learned from friends and other sources may not be the full story. And while you’re discussing it, don’t forget to explain your values regarding purity and why these values are important to you. They’ll be more likely to follow your principles if you state them clearly, and then model them. From TODAY, Voices - Thursday, 08-April-2010 ----- Blogged wit...

Image via Wikipedia by Dr James Dobson One of the most difficult responsibilities parents face is the task of letting go. When children are young, parents should be deeply involved in their lives, providing love and protection and authority. But when those boys and girls grow up and reach their late teens and early twenties, the door must be fully opened to the world outside. Teenagers are more likely to make the proper choices when they aren’t forced to rebel in order to gain their freedom. The simple truth is that love demands freedom. But, the key point is that a sudden release of parental guidance and direction at the end of childhood carries dangerous implications for the adolescent. Grant independence little by little, as our kids are able to handle the new responsibility. The final release should represent a small step toward freedom, rather than a tumble off the cliff into anarchy. We need to cut loose the strings of authority over a period of about eighteen years,...

Image via Wikipedia By Dr James Dobson If self-esteem is something we value for our sons and daughters, maybe it would be helpful to assist them in achieving it. It seems like every teenager has to come along today and bump his head on the same ol’ rock , experiencing those terrible feelings of inferiority and inadequacy. To help kids minimise that experience, I’ve found it beneficial to talk to them about confidence long before adolescence has arrived. For example, when a young child meets another who’s too shy to speak or even look at him, you might say afterwards, “Did you notice that Jimmy didn’t look at anyone when he spoke? Why do you suppose he seemed so embarrassed when he was talking to us? Do you think he doesn’t have much confidence in himself?” And as the primary school years unfold, you can talk openly about feelings of low self-worth, and how they translate into action. When we train our children in this way — to see others in a truer light, while preserving t...