Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Saturday, January 23, 2010
PARENTING COLUMN
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Teens are under increasing pressure to perform well at school and academic achievement is often a source of anxiety and tension.
That's the bad news. The good news is that young people, on the whole, are getting better results year on year.
Year ten (ages 14-15) is seen by many as a watershed. If your teen gets through this year and is still motivated, enthusiastic and working well, she's more than likely to continue doing well.
For others, this is when difficulties and problems emerge.
Switching off
Some teenagers go off specific subjects; others go off school generally. If your child's struggling, you'll need to know exactly what it is she's struggling with.
If the trouble is with specific subjects, it may be she's fallen out with the teacher, is having difficulties with a part of the curriculum, or is just feeling she just can't do it.
Unless you know exactly what the problem is, you won't know how to deal with it. Your teen may need help (if you know the subject, that's great; if you don't, there are lots of books available to help you get up to speed), or simply some encouragement.
How to help
If you get on well with your child, talk a lot and still enjoy each other's company, most problems will be relatively easy to overcome.
If, on the other hand, you can't discuss anything contentious without it turning into an argument, you might not be the best person to tackle the problem. Ask for help from someone your child likes and trusts, such as a teacher, relative or neighbour.
This is no time for pride, guilt or torture - the quicker the problem's resolved, the sooner your teenager can get back to her studies and you can stop worrying.
Teenagers who reject school
There are three main reasons why children skip school:
Something's going on, such as bullying, that makes them reluctant to attend
They're not coping with their subjects or they're not stretching them enough
Emotional worries make school seem irrelevant
It's vital to establish the cause and take steps to resolve it before your teen's future is seriously affected. -------to be continued
Teens are under increasing pressure to perform well at school and academic achievement is often a source of anxiety and tension.
That's the bad news. The good news is that young people, on the whole, are getting better results year on year.
Year ten (ages 14-15) is seen by many as a watershed. If your teen gets through this year and is still motivated, enthusiastic and working well, she's more than likely to continue doing well.
For others, this is when difficulties and problems emerge.
Switching off
Some teenagers go off specific subjects; others go off school generally. If your child's struggling, you'll need to know exactly what it is she's struggling with.
If the trouble is with specific subjects, it may be she's fallen out with the teacher, is having difficulties with a part of the curriculum, or is just feeling she just can't do it.
Unless you know exactly what the problem is, you won't know how to deal with it. Your teen may need help (if you know the subject, that's great; if you don't, there are lots of books available to help you get up to speed), or simply some encouragement.
How to help
If you get on well with your child, talk a lot and still enjoy each other's company, most problems will be relatively easy to overcome.
If, on the other hand, you can't discuss anything contentious without it turning into an argument, you might not be the best person to tackle the problem. Ask for help from someone your child likes and trusts, such as a teacher, relative or neighbour.
This is no time for pride, guilt or torture - the quicker the problem's resolved, the sooner your teenager can get back to her studies and you can stop worrying.
Teenagers who reject school
There are three main reasons why children skip school:
Something's going on, such as bullying, that makes them reluctant to attend
They're not coping with their subjects or they're not stretching them enough
Emotional worries make school seem irrelevant
It's vital to establish the cause and take steps to resolve it before your teen's future is seriously affected. -------to be continued
Health column
HOW TO BANISH YOUR BAD HABITS
Should you come with a health warning? Statistics show that we have a terrible track record when it comes to bad habits.
On the face of it, biting your nails and chewing your hair may seem harmless, but they could play havoc with your health and the health of those around you.
Now wash your hands:
The number of germs on fingertips doubles after using the toilet. It is therefore hard to believe that up to a half of men and a quarter of women fail to wash their hands after they’ve been to the WC, do you know the virus that causes diarrhea can survive on a toilet flush handle for two weeks and the Hygiene Council claims clean hands can be the most powerful weapon on earth for defeating infection.
Put the lid down:
The toilet seat was created for a reason – so use it and put it down when you’re finished. Flushing the toilet with the lid up releases an ‘aerosol’ mist of water containing a stomach-churning brew of faeces, urine and other evil germs which you probably don’t want to know about. These contaminated water droplets settle anywhere in the bathroom including (you’ve guessed it), your toothbrush.
Sucking hair:
Those luscious locks might look squeaky clean after a wash, but guess what - a one millimetre hair follicle can harbour up to 50,000 germs. “Hair picks-up dirt from the air the minute it’s been washed,” says Marilyn Sherlock, chairperson for the Institute of Trichologists. “And using sticky products such as hair spray help attract even more germs from the environment.” Sucking the tips of your hair allows bugs to hitchhike from the outside to inside of your body. You are also swallowing a chemical cocktail of shampoo, conditioner and styling products. -----to be continued
Should you come with a health warning? Statistics show that we have a terrible track record when it comes to bad habits.
On the face of it, biting your nails and chewing your hair may seem harmless, but they could play havoc with your health and the health of those around you.
Now wash your hands:
The number of germs on fingertips doubles after using the toilet. It is therefore hard to believe that up to a half of men and a quarter of women fail to wash their hands after they’ve been to the WC, do you know the virus that causes diarrhea can survive on a toilet flush handle for two weeks and the Hygiene Council claims clean hands can be the most powerful weapon on earth for defeating infection.
Put the lid down:
The toilet seat was created for a reason – so use it and put it down when you’re finished. Flushing the toilet with the lid up releases an ‘aerosol’ mist of water containing a stomach-churning brew of faeces, urine and other evil germs which you probably don’t want to know about. These contaminated water droplets settle anywhere in the bathroom including (you’ve guessed it), your toothbrush.
Sucking hair:
Those luscious locks might look squeaky clean after a wash, but guess what - a one millimetre hair follicle can harbour up to 50,000 germs. “Hair picks-up dirt from the air the minute it’s been washed,” says Marilyn Sherlock, chairperson for the Institute of Trichologists. “And using sticky products such as hair spray help attract even more germs from the environment.” Sucking the tips of your hair allows bugs to hitchhike from the outside to inside of your body. You are also swallowing a chemical cocktail of shampoo, conditioner and styling products. -----to be continued
QUOTATIONS TO PONDER ON
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE EVERYWHERE AT ONCE AND THEY SEEM TO GET NOWHERE -CARL SANDURG
NO ENEMY IS WORSE THAN BAD ADVICE -SOPHOCLES
NO ENEMY IS WORSE THAN BAD ADVICE -SOPHOCLES
RELATIONSHIP COLUMN
SEVEN WAYS TO NURTURE YOU RELATIONSHIP
1. Spend time alone together. Find time every day to share your thoughts about the little things as well more important things. Every week or so make a date to do something you both enjoy.
2. Make plans together for your family. Organise an outing or holiday or a family celebration.
3. Share your hopes and dreams.
4. Ask for what you want. You can't read each other's minds so be clear about what help you need from each other.
5. Talk about your feelings. There may be times when one of you feels left out of family life, perhaps you're at work and miss the big changes as your child walks and talks, or you can't get to the school play or sports day. Don't assume your partner knows how you feel.
6. Talk about money. Make a realistic budget together.
7. Laugh together
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
70 ROMANTIC WAYS TO HAVE FUN WITH YOUR PARTNER
On rainy days
1. Clear out the garage, attic, cupboards or wardrobes* - it really doesn't matter as long as you do it together.
2. Go charity shopping. While away the hours browsing for books, CDs, games, retro clothing, bric-a-brac. You could try a carboot sale or trawl round some antique shops.
3. Get some exercise. Go swimming or ice skating, or enjoy a walk in the rain.
4. Enjoy a movie marathon.* Visit the video shop, stack up on snacks and spend the day being film critics. And if you're stuck for inspiration, take a look at bbc.co.uk/films to find out which new releases should be top of your list!
5. Visit an art gallery. Find an exhibition in your area.
6. Step back in time and visit a museum. Many of the buildings themselves deserve a look and you never know you might learn something at the same time!
7. Improve your memory. Try our online memory test then spend the day testing each other's powers of recall.
8. Discover yourself. Bookshops and the internet offer a wealth of personal-profiling tools, which can help you find out your personality type, your IQ or your relationship style.
9. Make something,* such as a coffee table, some shelves, a bird table, pottery dishes, vases, face sculpture, candles or soap. Craft shops are full of ideas.
10. Go to the football or rugby.* Even if you're not into the sport, you'll find the atmosphere electric. Especially if your team is playing their arch rivals! Take a look at the fixture list before you go.
11. Have an evening of pick'n'mix. Take a look at the TV listings and create a night of entertainment. ---------to be continued
1. Spend time alone together. Find time every day to share your thoughts about the little things as well more important things. Every week or so make a date to do something you both enjoy.
2. Make plans together for your family. Organise an outing or holiday or a family celebration.
3. Share your hopes and dreams.
4. Ask for what you want. You can't read each other's minds so be clear about what help you need from each other.
5. Talk about your feelings. There may be times when one of you feels left out of family life, perhaps you're at work and miss the big changes as your child walks and talks, or you can't get to the school play or sports day. Don't assume your partner knows how you feel.
6. Talk about money. Make a realistic budget together.
7. Laugh together
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
70 ROMANTIC WAYS TO HAVE FUN WITH YOUR PARTNER
On rainy days
1. Clear out the garage, attic, cupboards or wardrobes* - it really doesn't matter as long as you do it together.
2. Go charity shopping. While away the hours browsing for books, CDs, games, retro clothing, bric-a-brac. You could try a carboot sale or trawl round some antique shops.
3. Get some exercise. Go swimming or ice skating, or enjoy a walk in the rain.
4. Enjoy a movie marathon.* Visit the video shop, stack up on snacks and spend the day being film critics. And if you're stuck for inspiration, take a look at bbc.co.uk/films to find out which new releases should be top of your list!
5. Visit an art gallery. Find an exhibition in your area.
6. Step back in time and visit a museum. Many of the buildings themselves deserve a look and you never know you might learn something at the same time!
7. Improve your memory. Try our online memory test then spend the day testing each other's powers of recall.
8. Discover yourself. Bookshops and the internet offer a wealth of personal-profiling tools, which can help you find out your personality type, your IQ or your relationship style.
9. Make something,* such as a coffee table, some shelves, a bird table, pottery dishes, vases, face sculpture, candles or soap. Craft shops are full of ideas.
10. Go to the football or rugby.* Even if you're not into the sport, you'll find the atmosphere electric. Especially if your team is playing their arch rivals! Take a look at the fixture list before you go.
11. Have an evening of pick'n'mix. Take a look at the TV listings and create a night of entertainment. ---------to be continued
Saturday, December 12, 2009
jokes
Laughter is good medicine for you. there is perhaps some truth in the saying: an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Many doctors and psychologists believe laughter is good for the physical and mental health of a person. Believe me this is very true. Log unto my blog site(www.gosimozo.blogspot.com) or send your telephone number to(gosimozo@gmail.com) to get free jokes as sms on your mobile phone that can make you laugh all through the day.
Little mugo: in my family, i'm scared of my mummy
little babu: i'm scared of my daddy
little kiama: it's my granny i'm afraid of
little hamisi: what about you Kilwa?
little kilwa: ho! ho! in my family, all the three are scared of me!!
Mrs rehema: my daughter has a B.Sc.
Mrs breada: my son just graduated with a B.A.
Mrs mando: last year, my nephew got an L.L.B.
Mrs babu: Ha! but my son is the only one with a J.O.B.
Little mugo: in my family, i'm scared of my mummy
little babu: i'm scared of my daddy
little kiama: it's my granny i'm afraid of
little hamisi: what about you Kilwa?
little kilwa: ho! ho! in my family, all the three are scared of me!!
Mrs rehema: my daughter has a B.Sc.
Mrs breada: my son just graduated with a B.A.
Mrs mando: last year, my nephew got an L.L.B.
Mrs babu: Ha! but my son is the only one with a J.O.B.
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