Talk of a “sugar tax” in the US and New York's decision next month to ban sugary drinks in restaurants and theatres to young children has people abuzz about whether it’s an American thing to financially punish people for drinking soda or not. I say go ahead and tax soda, and here are five good reasons why: 1. Soda is one more cause of the climate crisis. We have exported our carbon dioxide addiction all around the world. Just think of the costs in fuel to ship it—and the emissions produced. Maybe if we stop drinking so much of it, the appeal of American sodas will decline elsewhere. And at least in most other countries, the local soda is still made with real sugar! 2. Yeah, yeah, yeah…high-fructose corn syrup. HFCS is only cheaper than sugar because our government subsidizes the toxic, poisonous farming of corn in order to keep chemical companies (and maybe big tractor companies, too) in business. Plus, studies have shown that high-fructose corn syrup has mercury in it. So all those moms who think (incorrectly) that mercury in vaccines causes autism had better not be giving their kids soda! 3. Diet soda causes people to make poor decisions. According to a recent study, people who drink diet sodas think they are getting some energy, but their bodies still feel starved, so they kick into famine mode. Which basically means that the future doesn’t matter, all that matters is getting a next dose of fuel—hence, impulsive, short-term thinking. Amazing. 4. Soda isn’t really thirst quenching anyway. Did you ever really, really pay attention to how your mouth feels when you drink a soda? All that sugar kind of sucks out the liquids from your mouth and leaves a taste that is so icky you have to eat something to get rid of it. So not only are you getting empty calories from your drink, but you are urged to snack, too. 5. Fountain soda has fecal matter in it! It’s been a bad couple of weeks for soda in the news. Another study just this past week found that more than 40 percent of all fountain sodas have traces of fecal matter germs in them. It’s not in the ice, it’s in the soda itself. This was highly disappointing to me personally, since when I do have soda, I really like to have fountain soda with lots of ice in it to water it down and make it somewhat more thirst quenching. Now even that is off limits to me. I look at that cup of Coke with a lid and a straw and think, fecal matter? No thanks. The only time I really bring soda into my house is when we are sick. There is nothing quite like a real coke or ginger ale to soothe an aching stomach. It’s medicine, really, and frankly, I think it should be treated as such. Think of all the plastic bottles, sugar, and toxic GMO corn we can keep out of the waste stream (and our bodies) if we stop drinking soda routinely. Thirsty? Buy bottled water instead. YES, bottled water. It’s thirst quenching, has zero calories, and is damn good for you. Of course, you can fill your reusable water bottle with local tap water for free, instead of paying too much for water that’s been shipped and is probably municipal water anyway. And you should. But if you are at a gas station and need something to drink, pass over the soda and don’t feel guilty if a cold bottle of water hits the spot. (Just recycle that bottle.) | |
| IN New York City next month, a ban is set to start on the sale of extra-large servings of sugary soft drinks in restaurants and movie theatres.
The city approved the ban late last year and they did it to help fight the problem of obesity in the city.
It was proposed by New York City’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg, and approved by the New York City Board of Health in September 2012.
Under the new rule, businesses that have food-service licences – such as restaurants, theatres, delis, fast-food places, hot dog stands and sports stadiums – would not be allowed to sell what Americans call "pop" - fizzy soft drinks - in containers larger than 500 ml.
People would still be able to buy supersized drinks at convenience stores, vending machines and some newsstands.
The rule would not apply to fruit juices, diet pop, alcoholic beverages or dairy-based products like milkshakes or coffee drinks.
Mayor Bloomberg says he believes the new rule will help save lives. More than half of all adults in New York City are obese or overweight, according to the city’s health department. Obesity can lead to health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol. Studies have shown a strong link between drinking sugary drinks and obesity.
In January, the American Beverage Association went to court to stop the ban. The association represents companies like Coca Cola and PepsiCo, which make soft drinks.
They say the ban restricts personal freedom of choice for consumers. They also argue that it will have a bad impact on many small businesses, because customers will go to stores that are allowed to sell large drinks.
| | "More than half of all adults in New York City are obese or overweight, according to the city’s health department" | Other groups have joined with the beverage association to fight the ban, including the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), which represents African Americans, and the Hispanic Federation, which represents Spanish-speaking residents in the northeastern United States. They say the ban will be especially hard on the minority groups they represent.
These groups say that many small restaurants and delis in New York are owned by African-American or Hispanic people. They argue that if customers can’t buy large soft drinks at these places, they will go to convenience stores owned by big companies like 7-11, where they can still buy supersized drinks.
The mayor argues everyone will benefit from the ban.
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| Top 5 Reasons Not to Drink Soda
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| UK children are being seriously harmed by a "striptease culture in British schools and society" fuelled by the wide availability of internet pornography, a senior Labour figure warns today.
Diane Abbott, a shadow health minister in Britain, will tonight warn that the "pornification" of culture is causing children to be "hypersexualised" at an early age.
At a meeting of the Fabian Women's Network, she will say parents are struggling to cope with the tide of sexual images available on social networking websites and the wider internet.
"For so long, it's been argued that overt, public displays of sexuality are an enlightened liberation," she will say.
"But I believe that for many, the pressure of conforming to hypersexualisation and its pitfalls is a prison. And the permanence of social media and technology can be a life sentence.
Ms Abbott will call for tougher internet controls to stop children getting access to pornographic images. She will say children should not be under pressure to engage in "sexting", where they send explicitly sexual images of themselves to others.
"I want to highlight what I believe is the rise of a secret garden, striptease culture in British schools and society, which has been put beyond the control of British families by fast-developing technology, and an increasingly pornified British culture," she will say.
"There's something wrong with a society as a whole when children say they have no one to turn to for advice because their parents - outwitted by technology, and struggling to juggle work and home life - don't really know what's going on.
"There's something wrong with a society when many young girls of all classes are pressurised into exposing themselves online, and are then humiliated.
"There's something wrong with a society that normalises children of every background 'sexting' from their bedrooms."
| "There's something wrong with a society as a whole when children say they have no one to turn to for advice because their parents - outwitted by technology, and struggling to juggle work and home life - don't really know what's going on"
| Claire Perry, a Tory MP, has been campaigning for tougher internet controls on pornography and age verification of internet users. The Prime Minister has agreed to some stricter rules for households with children but stopped short of an automatic ban on pornography unless the user opts in.
It comes after new resesarch from Australia found the average age at which children first watch pornography is just 11
Australian researchers Maree Crabbe and David Corlett said children were turning to adult films because schools were not handling the positive aspects of sex.
The research found 88 per cent of scenes in pornographic films showed an element of physical aggression, with most directed at the female participant.
Pupils also appeared to believe that sexual practices shown in porn were normal features of sexual relationships.
The researchers said pupils should be taught how to evaluate porn in sex education lessons.
Last week, a separate survey found more young people were having sex under the age of consent. Among 16 to 24-year-old women, more than a quarter had lost their virginity under the age of 16.
| A young woman in New Zealand who described herself as a ''safe haven'' for children has been charged with the manslaughter of her boyfriend.
Juliette Anne Gerbes had a charge of assaulting Christopher Jones upgraded to manslaughter when she appeared in the Hastings District Court today. She entered no plea.
It is alleged that the petite 20-year-old stabbed Jones during an early morning altercation at his Hastings flat last October.
After several hours of surgery, Jones, 22, died in Hawke's Bay Hospital from the stab wounds to his stomach.
Gerbes, a childcare worker, was quoted in a magazine last year claiming she was a ''safe haven'' for children she cared for.
Jones' step-father, Carl Duxfield, said he ''seemed happy'' with Gerbes.
Duxfield and Jones' mother, Sharon, took the first flight from Christchurch to Hawke's Bay when they learned of the incident, but Jones died before they got there.
Jones grew up in Christchurch and went to Lincoln High School. He was a keen freestyle BMXer, competing around the country. He moved to Hastings about 20 months ago.
At the time of his death he was working as a kitchenhand at a restaurant.
''He was happy. He had a good group of friends up there - mostly BMXing guys,'' Duxfield said.
Gerbes was remanded on bail with the conditions that she lived at a Hastings address and did not visit the flat where the incident occurred.
She has surrendered her passport to the court and will reappear in March.
|  Juliette Anne Gerbes had a charge of assaulting Christopher Jones upgraded to manslaughter when she appeared in the Hastings District Court today. She entered no plea. |
Here's a useful go-to list for your to help you navigate new parenthood! Please send us links to other interesting - and valuable - information sites which you would like to recommend to other parents. | |
| CHILDCARE centres are scrapping places for babies, as working parents wait up to two years for day care.
Three in every four long-daycare centres in Australia's capital cities do not have vacancies for babies, a new survey has revealed.
And two-thirds do not have places left for toddlers.
In Perth, parents are having to wait up to two years for a place forcing them to quit their jobs, rely on grandparents, or hire expensive nannies or unqualified babysitters.
The Greens' survey of 231 private and community daycare centres nationally in the past week shows that vacancies for babies have fallen 10 per cent since 2010.
In Perth, 19 per cent of centres have a waiting list six to 12 months long. And in 13 per cent of the 23 centres surveyed, parents are waiting up to two years for a place.
"The Government needs to be doing far more to improve both the quality and availability of child care while also helping mums and dads cover the costs"
Perth parents are paying an average of $90 a day in childcare fees almost as much as in Melbourne ($96) and Sydney ($101).
The proportion of Perth centres with no vacancies for babies has jumped from half in 2010 to 61 per cent this year. And 58 per cent of Perth centres do not have vacancies for toddlers.
Australian Childcare Alliance president Gwynn Bridge said yesterday that parents were putting their unborn babies' names down on as many as 14 waiting lists at once.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said there was obviously a looming crisis in the sector.
"The Government needs to be doing far more to improve both the quality and availability of child care while also helping mums and dads cover the costs," she said.
|  Australian Childcare Alliance president Gwynn Bridge said yesterday that parents were putting their unborn babies' names down on as many as 14 waiting lists at once. "In Perth, parents are having to wait up to two years for a place forcing them to quit their jobs, rely on grandparents, or hire expensive nannies or unqualified babysitters"
This report by Channel Seven News: was published on Jun 3, 2012. Australian Unions called for a solution to Australia's child care crisis, with a new funding system to curb a sharp rise in fees.
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Have you ever wondered what exactly your child needs to know before kindergarten? Here is a list based upon a Preschool Inventory given to children at the very end of our local Pre-Kindergarten program. Please keep in mind as you look over this list that kids learn best with hands-on experiences, not memorization or drill practice! These early years with our children should be about fostering a love to play, explore, and learn! Also, it is important to note that our children are all different and gifted in unique ways. Obviously, if your child has special needs, exceptionalities, or is delayed in a particular area, this won’t necessarily be relevant to your child. This is simply a guide…not something to stress about! Finally, all areas of development are of equal importance to young children! Gross motor and social development tasks are just as important as cognitive and pre-reading tasks at this age. Have fun learning together through games and various experiences while still encouraging your child’s natural creativity!Personal and Social DevelopmentApproach to learning- Shows eagerness and curiosity as a learner
- Persists in task and seeks help when encountering a problem
- Is generally pleasant and cooperative
Self-Control- Follows rules and routines
- Manages transitions (going from one activity to the next)
- Demonstrates normal activity level
Interactions with Others- Interacts easily with one or more children
- Interacts easily with familiar adults
- Participates in group activities
- Plays well with others
- Takes turns and shares
- Cleans up after play
Conflict Resolution- Seeks adult help when needed to resolve conflicts
- Uses words to resolve conflicts
Language and LiteracyListening- Listens with understanding to directions and conversations
- Follows one-step directions
- Follows two-step directions
Speaking- Speaks clearly enough to be understood without contextual clues
- Relates experiences with some understanding of sequences of events
Literature and Reading- Listens with interest to stories read aloud
- Shows interest in reading-related activities
- Retells information from a story
- Sequences three pictures to tell a logical story
Writing- Uses pictures to communicate ideas
- Uses scribbles, shapes, and letter-like symbols to write words or ideas
Alphabet Knowledge- Recites/sings alphabet
- Matches upper-case letters
- Matches lower-case letters
- Identifies upper-case letters
- Identifies lower-case letters
Mathematical ThinkingPatterns and Relationships- Sorts by color, shape, and size
- Orders or seriates several objects on the basis of one attribute
- Recognizes simple patterns and duplicates them
Number concept and operations- Rote counts to 20
- Counts objects with meaning to 10
- Matches numerals
- Identifies by naming, numerals 0-10
Geometry and spatial relations- Identifies 4 shapes- circle, square, rectangle, triangle
- Demonstrates concepts of positional/directional concepts (up/down, over/under, in/out, behind/in front of, beside/between, top/bottom, inside/outside, above/below, high/low, right/left, off/on, first/last, far/near, go/stop).
Measurement- Shows understanding of and uses comparative words (big/little, large/small, short/long, tall/short, slow/fast, few/many, empty/full, less/more.
Physical DevelopmentGross-Motor Skills- Pedals and steers a tricycle
- Jumps in place, landing on two feet
- Jumps consecutively- 7 jumps
- Balances on one foot for 5 seconds
- Hops on one foot 2-3 hops
- Hops on one foot- 6 ft.
- Throws a ball with direction- 5 ft.
- Catches a thrown ball with arms and body
- Climbs a playground ladder
- Skips smoothly for 20 feet
Fine-Motor Skills- Stacks 10, one-inch blocks
- Strings 4 1/2″ beads in two minutes
- Completes a seven piece interlocking puzzle
- Makes a pancake, snake, and ball from playdough
- Grasps pencil correctly
- Copies: vertical line, horizontal line, circle, cross, square, V, triangle
- Copies first name
- Prints first name without a model
- Grasps scissors correctly
- Cuts within 1/4″ of a 6″ straight line on construction paper
- Cuts out a 3″ square on construction paper
- Cuts out a 3″ triangle on construction paper
- Cuts out a 3″ circle on construction paper
- Uses a glue stick appropriately
- Uses appropriate amount of glue for tasks
The ArtsCreative Arts- Identifies 10 colors: red, yellow, blue, green, orange, purple, black, white, brown, pink
- Uses a variety of art materials for tactile experience and exploration
Music/Movement- Participates in group music experiences
- Participates in creative movement/dance
Creative Dramatics- Makes believe with objects
- Takes on pretend roles and situations
Parents, if you’re looking for some suggestions on things you can do to prepare your child for Kindergarten, check out 33 Ways to Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten. You can download and print a list with simple, easy activities that will help to ensure your child is ready!
| Do you agree with this list? Is there anything that needs to be added (or taken away) based on your experience? |
Here are some simple things you can do to help your child (and the rest of the family!) get ready to start Kindergarten: - Read stories with your child about starting school.
- Go past the school and talk to your child about how they will soon be going there, the exciting things they will do and the friends they will make.
- Go along to the Kindergarten orientation at your school with your child. If your school does not have one, contact the school to arrange a time to visit.
- Spend time at school looking at all the activities going on.
- While you’re visiting, show your child around including where their bag goes and where the toilets are.
- Go shopping together to buy a special lunch box and drink bottle, and things they will need such as a school bag, uniform items and art smock. You will get a list of items from the school.
- Label all your child’s belongings with their name.
- Introduce yourself to other parents and become part of the school community.
- Organise play dates to help your child socialise with the other children in their class.
- Have a routine each morning as you and your child get ready to go to school.
- Iron clothes and prepare lunches and refrigerate the night before. This will make your morning routine easier.
- Make life easier for you and your child by buying clothing with large buttons or Velcro that will allow them to dress themselves. Being able to get themselves ready will also be a confidence boost for your child.
- Once school starts, ensure your child gets enough rest. You will probably find that your child is tired. This is normal as they adjust to their busy days at Kindergarten learning and playing.
- Get your child nutritious meals and snacks to keep them energised through the day.
- Talk with your child about their day when they get home. Your enthusiasm is important for them to see and feel, and will show them that school is important.
- Get to know your child’s teacher and don’t hesitate to talk to them about any issues you may have experienced, and give them feedback – both positive and negative.
Helping your child have a positive first experience of school is important because it can help shape the way they think about school in the future. Once school starts, be actively involved yourself. Children love it when their mum or dad comes along to help with reading and other activities. Your ongoing support will help them build strong foundations for success at school. |  Helping your child have a positive first experience of school is important because it can help shape the way they think about school in the future. "Make life easier for you and your child by buying clothing with large buttons or Velcro that will allow them to dress themselves. Being able to get themselves ready will also be a confidence boost for your child" |
Each December 31, while most people are counting down to the start of the New Year, mothers in hospitals across the country are giving birth to babies who could become the first babies born in the New Year in their communities. New Years Babies are babies who are born on midnight, or within the first few minutes or hours of the New Year. Oftentimes, hospitals will celebrate the arrival of their first New Year Baby of the year by presenting the baby’s family with a gift package or gift certificates. In addition, local media outlets will report the names, weights and time of birth of the first few babies born in the New Year. Businesses have long donated baby gifts and merchandise to New Year Babies and their families. Along with getting free baby stuff and a little bit of fame, there are also a number of positive superstitions surrounding New Year’s Babies. One of the most prevalent beliefs is that the baby will be lucky for the rest of its life. It’s also been said that babies who are born on New Year’s have green thumbs and are very fertile. Throughout the course of history, there have been a number of well known individuals who are recognized as a New Year’s Baby. These include: - Pope Alexander VI - 1431 - Paul Revere – 1735 - George Washington Carver – 1860 - J. Edgar Hoover – 1895 - J.D. Salinger- 1919 While many new parents may revel in the status of having one of the first babies born of the New Year, there are some advantages to having a baby born before the clock strikes midnight. Parents whose children are born in December can claim a tax deduction on their 2012 income taxes. Congratulations to every new parent who is expecting a child in the last few days of December and throughout the New Year! Did you have a New Year Baby? Share your story with us! email us! or go to our Facebook Page and tell us all about it! Pictures also most welcome! |
Did you have a New Year Baby? Share your story with us! email us! or go to our Facebook Page and tell us all about it! Pictures also most welcome!
Throughout the course of history, there have been a number of well known individuals who are recogniSed as a New Year’s Baby. These include:
- Pope Alexander VI - 1431
- Paul Revere – 1735
- George Washington Carver – 1860
- J. Edgar Hoover – 1895
- J.D. Salinger- 1919
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Daycare Communications has developed a smartphone App to keep you connected with your child, their teacher and your daycare centre managers.All you need to do is to install DayCareComs on your smartphone and your child’s teacher will be able to push information to you in real time about sleep times, meal times, nappy changes and learning activities, as well as messages and photos. You can also post messages to your child’s teacher. After all, communication is at its most effective when it’s a two-way street. DayCareComs has been developed to assist you in keeping compliant, competitive and communicating. It’s an innovative new App that does away with the need for time-consuming report writing. Equipped with an iPad with DayCareComs installed, each teacher in your Centre is able to record details of the daily activities undertaken by the children, pushing that information to your management team and parents in real time.
Parents with the DayCareComs App installed on their smartphone receive information about sleep times, meal times, nappy changes and learning activities as they happen, as well as messages, photos that reflect what is happening during their child’s day. It means no more communication books and will minimise the time your staff spend on end-of-day interactions with parents, leaving them to do what they do best, care for the children.
DayCareComs… it’s what parents want and it’s what you want too.
DayCareComs will be available for parents, kindies and childcare centres!To register your interest email info@daycarecoms.com.au or phone 0407 214 211/0448058924. | - Make it quick and easy to log daily reports and meet your mandatory reporting requirements
- Reduce paperwork – everyone knows that ‘going green’ has many benefits including saving the environment and saving your money
- Give your teachers more time to interact with the children
- Keep your parents happy because the lines of communication are open
- Keep you competitive – be one of the first Centre’s in your area to adopt DayCareComs and watch your waiting list grow.
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