HELPFUL INFORMATION

Acing Math:
“Math isn’t a tough, boring subject; it’s a terrific life tool. The JUMP (Junior Undiscovered Math Prodigies) is an award winning program with the philosophy that all children –especially the young- are much more alike in potential than we are currently led to believe, and that intelligence is much more plastic than psychologists generally allow. They have begun to demonstrate that they can raise the level of the weakest students to the point where they can all be good mathematicians or scientists. At this point, sheer intelligence is almost secondary. In the sciences, factors such as passion, confidence, creativity, diligence, luck and artistic flair are as important as the speed and sharpness of one's mind. Einstein was not a great mathematician technically, but he had a deep sense of beauty and a willingness to question conventional wisdom. The JUMP program was developed to help children who have fallen behind to catch up quickly (excerpts from the JUMP web site)….for more info go to www.jumptutoring.org

Getting From “Me to We”
Daily acts of compassion and kindness turn “me” to “we” and contribute to living a life filled with meaning, purpose and personal happiness. We know that money does not buy happiness and isolation breeds unhappiness, but almost at every level of education, socialization and the media, we are bombarded with the message that we must fend for ourselves, compete against others and always look out for No.1. Instead of recognizing that we are all connected to each other, untold millions continue to live as if trapped in an episode of “survivor”. The “me” to “we” philosophy presents a shift in focus from the inside out- is grounded in the choices we make, the very way we treat people and the way we spend our time and resources, reviving key human values such as compassion, equality and responsibility. It involves decisions and actions, and ultimately by helping others we help ourselves. Excerpts from Meto We: Turning Self Help on Its Head by Craig and Marc Kielburger.

Is Your Teen Ready to Drive ?
If he’s responsible in other areas of his life, respecting curfews, calling home when he’s supposed to, schoolwork, respectful in the way he communicates with you, trustworthy, then he will likely be responsible as a driver as well…. Check out www.yd.com and click on new drivers for brief scientific abstracts on the psychology and pyschometry related to new drivers. Other helpful sites…www.madd.com, www.safeyoungdrivers.com and www.ipromiseprogram.com

What’s for Lunch?
Providing a nutritious lunch can be a challenge. One of our favourites is turkey rollups. Take a couple of turkey slices, they have to be thick enough to roll, but not as thick as a dinner slice. Place string beans, or fresh spinach, or sticks of cucumbers at one and roll up. Add some raw vegetables like sliced English Cucumbers, celery, sliced peppers (any color) and a fruit, a bottle of water and you have a great lunch that is not only nutritous, high in fibre and antioxidants, but also gluten free. Enjoy.

Parenting – Go With Your Gut
“When it comes to what’s right for your child, you’re the best expert there is. So put aside those parenting books and do what comes naturally.” –Leanne Delap. Parents are the most qualified people in knowing what is best for their children. We know our kids best, what makes them tick, their emotional highs and lows, their temperaments. As parents, we are our children’s strongest advocates. There is revolution in social thought going on today that we recognize our intuitive potential. “Trust yourself, you know more than you think you do.” Dr. Spock’s Baby and Child Care was in fact a pioneer of sorts of the parenting-by-instinct philosophy. We need to feel comfortable making decisions based on our emotional responses and intuitive reactions. “Surround yourself with people who boost your self-esteem” - Dr.Cathryn Tobin.