Shy children are being diagnosed with "social anxiety disorder" and treated with prozac. Should we not turn to confidence booster techniques instead?

So now psycologists are telling us a shy child has social anxiety and a sad child has depression. What’s their solution. Prozac! HEY!!!? Surely careful support by parents, teachers, coaches, play groups, children’s authors, child practitioners will be a better solution. There is a wealth of help and support for shy children. We need Confidence boosters for children not Prozac!!! Theres a name for a beneficial facebook group if there ever was one!

The reason I am discussing this is the new guidelines in place in America for treating shy children with drugs for social anxiety disorder. Do we want this brought over to the UK? I’d suggest strongly – NO!! Kate Fallon, general secretary of the Association of Educational Psychologists, told delegates: “In 2013 we’re expecting new criteria for the definition of mental illness to be adopted here in the UK. These criteria will lead to many more children being diagnosed as mentally ill, based on reports of their behaviours.” So I ask: Is shyness a mental disorder that needs treating? Or something a lot of children go through while they learn about the world and about themselves? Surely its support and not drugs that our children need.

Martin Beckford, Health Correspondent in the Telegraph states our shy children “could be prescribed powerful medication such as Prozac or Ritalin to control or alter their behaviour.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8763431/Shy-children-at-risk-of-being-diagnosed-with-mental-disorder.html What ? What about long lasting effects? What about dealing with problems?What about finding solutions? Working through issues? What about social interaction and communication skill building? There are all things we need to learn and through experience and knowledge can be found easily.

Recent figures show 650,000 children aged between eight and 13 are on pscyhotropic drugs, up from just 9,000 two decades ago, while others are taking Prozac for depression or anxiety. Fears are growing that the number of children diagnosed with mental disorders and prescribed drugs will increase still further after 2013, when a new “bible” of the psychiatric profession is published. This is called DSM. The British Psychological Society have raised concerns about the proposed revisions to the DSM.

Prof Peter Kinderman, chairman of the society’s Division of Clinical Psychology, said: “We’re not certain that a diagnosis and a medical response is the best way to help these kids.” Here, Here!

Understand and help , not diagnose and treat with medication.

I was a very shy child at school. I would feel too shy to ask for a new work book once mine had finished… but yet through growing up my job is singing and entertaining thousands of people across the country every weekend. Thank goodness I dealt with my problem and didn’t turn to medication , else id be the same now. Hiding behind others, feeling intimidated by other people, feeling insecure, having low self esteem. But I did not have a mental disorder and I strongly suggest neither do most of our shy children. I recommend some other methods of help. Lets help our children now by helping them;

· Boost their Self Esteem

· Improve their Confidence

· Find their special talents

· Explore their strengths

· Interact and socialize in groups they enjoy

· Find a respect for themselves and others

· Form friendships

· Appreciate their uniqueness

Where can you find support for these confidence builders

· Local Community Centres

· Play Groups/Toddler Groups/ Activity Groups

· Childrens Books that include these issues of confidence , esteem and self respect

· Workshops/Drama Groups/Music Groups

I would highly recommend that shy children read The Magic Sunglasses and join the website www.themagicsunglasses.com . So they can interact and learn about shyness and how you can live successful, happy and confident lives. Auriel Blanche the wonderful author and founder of The Magic Sunglasses project connects and empowers children across the UK with this book and workshop. It’s a great benefit for children who are shy- and it beats taking them to the doctors to merely be diagnosed from a book and treated with medication which will not help them over come their shyness problem!!

Lets empower our shy children to socialise and interact with others by finding others of a similar age and similar interests to help form friendships, learn about each other and themselves. We are all special and equal. A positive child, a confident child and an empowered child will strive for success, strive for their potential and live a more fun and satisfying life- We owe our children the best. So please please help your children and do not abide to the DSM and the psychologists who are stopping our shy children from being happy!!

Lets get our children outside, enjoying nature and keeping fit

Do we blame societies nervousness, parents busy schedules, or the rise of technology? Im one for taking my dog for a walk first thing in the morning. One reason is because he needs exercise and it is my responsibility that he gets it. But also, I benefit from the outdoors; it clears the cobwebs, refreshes me and sets me in good stead for a productive day. Not only this but long term its keeping me active, fit and exercised aswell. With lots of parks, fields, greens, lakes and farms around me I feel very privalliged. But will our children grow to love the outdoors like I do?
Do we have a problem where our children are playing inside on computers and watching tv, instead of exploring and taking fun adventures outside? Will this have an impact on their health for the future? Do our children get the exercise they need? Is it a result of urbonised, electronic homes? Or due to parents now creating a risk-adversed world with nature-deficit disorders all round?With so many questions I can only show you my research from the experts.
Consultant Tim Gill, author of the report Sowing the Seeds: Reconnecting London's Children with Nature, "The way I unpack the idea is that regular contact with nature is part of a balanced diet of childhood experiences.
"If children do not have those experiences then they are not going to thrive to the same degree as if they did," he added.
"They are also likely to grow up not caring about the world around them; while it is not a clinical condition, it should be something that worries us." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16963807

The National Trust chief executive Dame Fiona said "Children are missing out on the sheer joy and physical and mental well-being of being able to play outside and experience nature in all its messiness.
"It's partly technology and it's partly a sort of nervousness. The freedom for children to roam unsupervised has shrunk by 90% since the 1970s.
"The world is a different place and people have become very anxious about the risks - real or perceived." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17257562

Health services are starting to take notice and organisations are now helping to get our children outside, exercising and away from the computer screens . A few to take a look at are listed below.
Play England http://www.playengland.org.uk/ - an organisation that focuses on giving children access to free play areas - has funding from Natural England to run a programme to re-engage children with the natural world. "Fundamentally, we believe that kids should be outside playing for a good proportion of the day because it is how you can stay happy, less stressed but it is also good in a whole range of ways," said Play England director Cath Prisk However, she added: "Research we carried out last year showed that parents think taking their kids to the park is something you do as a treat instead of something you do everyday.” . http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16963807
Change for life for children http://www.nhs.uk/Change4Life/Pages/up-and-about.aspx “Activity is good for kids' health. It raises their heartbeats and helps pump blood around their bodies. It’s like a mini workout for their lungs and muscles! It also decreases their chances of getting life-threatening diseases. A good dose of fresh air and exercise also helps us all sleep better. So tiring out kids with activity every day will help them nod off at a good hour and make them feel alert for the next day.”

Transform my patch charity, with Denise Van Outen and pother celebrities involved in a national competition to improve children’s playgrounds and parks in different areas. http://www.transformyourpatch.com/projects

With the olympics just around the corner we have many organisations and websites also getting children fit and active. Youth Sport Trust, Youth Ambassador Britain , Get Set London
I will be looking more into this issue and will keep blogs coming as we get closer to the olympics – so watch this space.

Childrens Reading Groups

As you all know by now, I love charities and organisations that are helping to inspire children to love and enjoy reading! Companies that have a motivation for helping the children of the nation to be highly educated and inspired children with fantastic literacy skills , communication skills, social skills and a respect for themselves and others.

Now another one I would like to shout about is Chatterbooks. This is run by The Reading Agency and has been set up for children aged between 8-11 . The aim is to get children fired up and excited about reading. They have won awards for its national network of reading groups aimed at children. The groups all incorporate fun and creativity within the story reading and discussions.

Reading for pleasure has a profound effect on individuals and communites , so chatterbooks can be organised for schools, libraries , clubs , or anywhere which it can be used.

Chatterbooks Reads is run in collaboration with Children's Reading Partners.

Chatterbooks Reads aims:
* to introduce children to the best new writing and expand their reading horizons
* to help parents make informed reading choices for their children
* to enhance libraries' promotion of current children's literature

Chatterbooks has quizzes, games and activities related to the books to encourage children to discuss issues in the book, to communicate and develop socially with the literature being at the heart of the chattering!

There are about 550 chatterbook groups across the UK, with some 8500 children aged 4-12 taking part. If you would like to learn more… or hold a chatterbooks event please view the website. http://readinggroups.org/chatterbooks/

Another reading book club to mention is the magic sunglasses. www.themagicsunglasses.com - an ideal reading group and book to encourage self esteem , self confidence and understanding of each individual having true special talents…

Written by Kaley Herrick ,researcher of child development related to the creative arts.

Can we help our children love to read?

Yes we can with the help of fantastic authors that inspire childrens imaginations. If a child identifies with the characters, or a book makes them feel good about themselves and improves their selfesteem , they will choose to read books and enjoy to read books.

Why do we need to encourage reading you ask? Because it improves literacy levels , it is educational , it offer stimulus for creative imagination , it is a great source of entertainment away from the computer/tv screen, it will improve concentration , help children explore new opportunities, adventures , experiences. When a parent reads with a child it is great for quality time - one to one - and strengthens the personal relationship and bonding. ,Reading together improves a childs communication skills and helps them learn about language and speech , rhythm for reading and and understanding that reading can be fun and sociable.

So how do we encourage children to love to read? Well I looked first at the Love 2 Read website which offers the opportunity to create personalised books , that children will love.

“The aim of each unique book is to help your child develop a love of reading. It does this by presenting photographs which reflect your child’s world and relating them to simple words. Research shows that if your child loves books they will learn to read much faster and you will be encouraging a lifelong love of reading.” http://www.love2read.co.uk/

A personaised book will make a child feel special and boost their self esteem. It will motivate them to read more books im sure.

There are many other options to inspire reading, not just personalised books. Parents are the most fundamental role models for children, so if we could just encourage them to offer a book to their child, read to them or with them , then the hard work will be done by the time the child goes to school.

A child could be motivated into books by workshops, activities and fun classes that would co-inside with the book. One I would recommend would be The magic sunglasses , written by Auriel Blanche. Who not only has a story that many children enjoy , but the book also offers stimulus for workshops to run along with the book. The Magic Sunglasses itself promotes the encouragement and connection of children. It helps boost confidence and self esteem for each individual. A great read!! www.themagicsunglasses.com

My Top Tips to help your children love reading :

Make books accessible for your child, read to them, have books around the house, take a child to a library (many are children friendly)

Show your child that you also read books. Children see their parents as role models and like to imitate what the see their parents doing.

Give a book as a gift ! children love gifts, it makes them feel special. They will love a book , given with love.

Make Reading Fun!! This can be with how you read a story together, perhaps play games, have activities related to the story. Make sure the books are inspiring and fun themselves. Maybe use puppets, song, etc

Children will find spending time with a parent a good reason to read - turn off the TV and any other distraction and give full enthusiastic attention.

Written by Kaley Herrick ,researcher of child development related to the creative arts.

Do you fear for your children’s safety on social networking sites?

With the increase of technology in this digital world, social networking is a mass phenomenon in popular culture. Each social site has a 13 year old restriction. But with the growing popularity of the internet there is now a market for younger children for social internet interaction.

Myspace , facebook , bebo and the like have a strict over 13 age limit. Due to The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act http://www.coppa.org/comply.htm

But can we stop children setting up fake profiles? not really! When director of Facebook policy Richard Allan was asked about he issue of younger children setting up accounts he said "There is a place where they can be reported. Those reports come to our staff and if it looks like they are nine or 10 they can just close the account," So really there isn’t an ideal method to stop them creating the accounts in the first place. It is inevitable that children will want to join social networking sites – we are naive if we don’t open our eyes to this. Children are actively using the internet at school and in their homes. This is the digital age and there are many positives to children using the internet. Internet improves educational attainment, makes sourcing information easy , provides entertainment, gives children inspiration and connects them to the big wide world.

But ofcourse with social networking sites comes a lot of danger to our vulnerable children – so perhaps the answer is to offer children’s social networking sites? Ok so many will say children should be outside, actually meeting and socialising with ‘real people’ but there is no evidence that children socialising with other children on the internet replace their actual socialisation. The internet can offer communication to other children in other areas, other countries, other social or other classes . The internet can connect our children globally. Also wouldn’t it be great if children could speak confidently to other children who could be in similar situations, having similar issues, dealing with similar life challenges. Some children are shy and may not feel brave enough to discuss certain things to friends or people they know. How many children actually know the number to Samaritans these day?!!

All this aside children under 13 want to be able to connect on social networking sites. Shockingly “Ofcom estimates that 30% of eight to 11-year-olds have Facebook profiles, despite the joining age of 13.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16836318 Which is worrying because as previously mentioned there isn’t enough moderating within the site to make sure our under 13s are safe! So with this I stress that parents guide them towards child friendly networking sites.

For example Club Penguin has over 150 children joined to it. And with this comes 200 moderators, who search through and look out for words that trigger a safety warning. Mr Lane Merrifeld set up Penguin Power because he felt that the internet at that time offered little chance for his own children to be social and safe. “Club Penguin takes the idea of safety and turns it on its head. Adults are not banned and, in theory, a paedophile could enter the site but their actions would be muted by filters limiting what can be discussed. …….Words such as address, school and phone number are not allowed. It is a truly anonymised environment. There is simply no opportunity for personally identifiable information," http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16836318

We need more sites like this; not all are successful. For eaxample Little Gossip social website which was shut down due to complaints form many including mumsnet as it resulted in cyber bullying and harmful gossip about youngsters. Mr Nash "I started the site with good intentions and it quickly exploded. I had 66,000 pieces of gossip in the first couple of days and it was impossible to police," he said. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16836318

So with the best of intentions not all social networksing sites are good for children; Facebook, Little Gossip , Myspace , Bebo , is naming just a few. But to conclude I do think that benefits can come from children being able to connect with other children globally and in a safe manner.

If you are interested in child friendly websites please check out my favourite The Magic Sunglasses Project which connects and empowers children globally.

www.themagicsunglasses.com

Written by Kaley Herrick ,researcher of child development related to the creative arts.

Are our children being damaged by the ‘online age’? Or is there a wealth of development to be found?

We are constantly told by the press that in today’s day and age family life is in the decline and that our parents are career focused and too busy to offer the support, motivation and encouragement that is needed to bring up happy, intelligent and self motivated children. We are told that parents damage their children’s brains by sitting them in front of the TV or computers every evening and weekend. With this, we are led to believe that we have intolerant, celebrity obsessed, social network crazed , violent children in the modern world!! But lets turn this around, lets paint a different picture, one which I believe to be much more promising for our children’s future.

I still see children playing and laughing in the parks, I still see children being ambitious, trying new things, joining classes , interacting at school, socializing in the ‘real world’ , surely the internet just adds to the many bows to our children’s strings. Lets give tour children and our parents some credit – the internet andcomputers etc are in our culture now. I suggest maybe some people anti-internet do not like change. Ofcourse like most things related to children – a safety aspect and a need for ground rules is paramount. The internet has a wealth of information – much that is not suitable for a child. As long as this is monitered the internet has a wealth of positivity to offer children, opportunities that we adults didn’t have the fortune of having.

The internet gives children access to information that will improve educational attainment . It also helps children socially! There is no evidence that children REPLACE actual socialization with virtual. On the internet children have the opportunity to engage with a larger group of people both virtually and in real life. The internet can also provide entertainment – the internet offers a world of possibilities to a child at their finger tips – it can offer inspiration, can stimulate imagination , help children explore the world in a second , they can gain new experiences, learn new things and learn about themselves – what they like, etc. When children are online they are thinking, reading, analyzing, creating opinions and using their brains. None of this is ever documented as the media like to portray all the negatives!!

According to http://www.verdick.org there are other positive factors for children using the internet; Physical development, cognitive development and social development. They suggest the use of the internet offers better hand to eye co-ordination, and improvement of fine motor skills due to using the mouse and keyboard. They also say “Children who use the Internet show gains in cognitive abilities such as memory, spatial and logical problem solving, critical thinking, concentration, abstraction and comprehension. The Internet exposes children to information to improve the quality of learning that they can transform into knowledge. Through the use of the Internet, children’s language and literacy development is often promoted, allowing for greater gains in verbal and nonverbal skills.”

Ofcourse there are other risks with the internet , it can be a minefield with spams, spontaneous pop-ups, cyber bullying etc. But as long as these things are monitored and parental restrictions put in place these issues can be controlled.

A recent survey conducted by consumer research firm Intersperience suggested that 60% of children aged between 12 and 16 would be "sad" without a web connection, while 48% said they would be lonely.

A poll conducted for Safer Internet Day by BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat found that only 6% of 13-19-year-olds were likely to accept a friends request from someone they did not know, while 69% said that they understood how to change their Facebook privacy settings. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16836318

Maybe we are not giving our children enough credit, children have internet in their lives and it is only going to develop, lets embrace it with care but be open to the opportunities it gives our children that is beneficial to their development – far beyond what we had.

We could always help our children by choosing a good website for them to view. Try the Magic Sunglasses if you are looking for a good positive start . www.themagicsunglasses.com

Written by Kaley Herrick ,researcher of child development related to the creative arts.

Can we rely on parents and celebrities to be good role models?

We all know that children are at their most vulnerable and impressionable age. While they are learning and experiencing new things they are actively taking in anything and everything around them. A child will copy or imitate any behavior they see as they have no other option than to believe that this is the normal and correct way to act. A child is also blessed with having that innocence to behave in the exact way they feel at the exact time they wish to feel it. This is an act of impulse and not an act that they have necessarily observed.

Obviously in most cases the child's parents are the first form of positive learning. A child will copy a parent eat, drink, cover their mouth when they cough, clean their teeth, say sorry when they do something wrong and clean up when they make a mess. They can also learn valuable lesson from their parents like to get straight up and try again even when you've fallen over, learn to read, potty training, learn to share, learn what is right and learn what is wrong. It would be perfect if every parent was a perfect role model but we know this isn’t the case. We also know that many external factors like school, friends, tv programmes, computer games and the such can ruin all the perfect parents' hard work.

So for these reasons we cannot rely purely on parents alone for ROLE MODEL SECURITY even if they are ‘perfect parents’!

So then we look to people in the public eye. These being celebrities, famous actors, singers, athletes, olympians. Do our children really look to history for their role models nowadays? Unfortunately I think popular culture tends to rule when role models are concerned. But can we rely on real people being good role models. People make mistakes remember!! But maybe this is also ok to teach children…. So we have popular celebrities who do have positive effects without much threat of tabloid negativity. We have Peter Andre a great dad, who is encouraging the nation to help their children to enjoy reading again. We have Gok Wan helping our teens to be confident , have self belief to tackle their anxieties. We have Jamie Oliver encouraging healthy eating for our children. But unfortunately we have other role models causing controversy. With racism on the field with John Terry, Xfactor stars on drugs, Miley Cyrus caught on camera in nightly antics , can we really trust the celebrities? Where as I personally quite like Katie Price aka Jordan and appreciate her business and family focus, is it wise to let your child find a role model in her? Should a child look up to Victoria Beckham she may be a great mum and another business woman, but is promoting that beauty in being stick thin and having unhealthy diets a great way to teach your child to be. Is it wise that a child looks up to Lindsey Lohan in her many roles in children's films including Freaky Friday. When she is actually a misled lady involved in binge drinking and drugs?

Maybe we shouldn’t rely on the celebs? So if we cant rely on celebs or the parents? Surely the only alternatives to ensure a healthy role model is to use historians , who cannot let our children down. Florence Nightingale, Mother Theresa, Otto Schindler, Nelson Mandela , Ann Frank , Ghandi , Issac Newton , Martin Luther King, etc . But is this realistic, we cant pick role models for the children they choose them themselves?

So I put to you my opinion – The only role models we can truly rely upon are creative stimulus, ie characters in books, characters in TV programmes and the such? For example The Magic Sunglasses Project includes great role models. A book that continues into a workshop, then ongoing stories for your child to develop and learn. Auriel Blanche the author, understands children and their need for a positive role model. Her overall ambition is to connect and empower children on a global scale. Within her creative and innovative writing she inspires children to appreciate their self worth and to live happy and emotionally healthy lives. She engages children through her stories to use their imaginations to explore their dreams and to reach with in for their personal powers and specialties. She encourages children to live with respect for others and act with good manners and healthy attitudes. Throughout the book Samantha is always polite and friendly. She is playful and imaginative. She enjoys making her dreams come true and strives to reach her potential. She is a happy child, enthusiastic and charismatic. She is respectful of others and through self discovery learns how to cope with the challenges she faces with optimism and self worth. All of which are attributes that a role model should inspire to give. Samantha gives many good examples that the reader can emulate and learn from and is therefore a great role model. So please if you have a child please introduce them to Samantha. Have a look yourself at The Magic Sunglasses website - http://www.themagicsunglasses.com

Is it important that celebs like Gok Wan, help our troubled teens with self belief?

Many of us have negative opinions of today’s celebrtites. We have concerns for the effects their role model statuses have on our impressionable youths. For this reason , I stress that we be greatful for the fab celebs we do have out there. You now know my love of Mr Peter Andre but another celebrity on my list is the presenter, author and fashion stylist , Gok Wan. He has helped the nation to be brave and bare their all. He is now focusing on the need to help our teens to be confident , to live with self belief and have a healthy self esteem to be encouraged to reach their potentials and live fulfilled , happy lives. Gok Wans new show Goks Teens: The naked truth, gives troubled teens the advice, confidence and self-belief they need to tackle their issues and anxieties. Fantastic in my opinion…. But here’s what the press have to say about it:

‘The programme is an eye-opener for the rest of us – and humbling too, because it highlights exactly what families such as the Watson’s have to contend with.’ Jenny Johnston, Daily Mail (Weekend)

‘Unmissable TV for parents and teens alike.’ Bella

‘In this new series, the modern-day Mr Motivator helps teenagers tackle issues such as body dysmorphia and eating disorders…Bravo, Gok, on another inspiring series! *****’ RM, TV Times Magazine

‘The exploration of various body confidence issues is a thoroughly well-intentioned piece of TV.’ Phil Harrison, Time Out

Gok also asked some other celebrity mates about their teenage years and to share their tips for teens today for his programme , so we can be positive that there are many celebrities out there who would also be good role models for our children. Included in the programme is;Sara cox (broadcaster), Stephanie davis (hollyoaks) Mica Paris (singer) Mann (rapper) Matthew Horne (gavina nd Stacey) Joe Calzaghe (boxer) Jody Cundy (paralympian) Jo Brand (comedian) Jemma Kid (makeup artist) Gorden Ramsey (chef) Fearne Cotton (presenter) Duncan James (singer) Catherine Tate (comedien) Ben Cohen (rugby player) Alesha Dixon (presenter)

So all in favour of Gok Wan say “ai” yes, Teenagers are at a fundamental age, and its fantastic what Gok Wan is doing – using his celebrity status for a great cause. However do you think that these positive affirmations would be much more beneficial if tackled at an earlier age, teenage life is hard enough perhaps if this was dealt with before this age, there will be so much more potential for our teens. So I suggest that we build children’s confidences as toddlers, babies even… perhaps with music/dance/play classes, to socialise and interact with others and explore themselves, their personal enjoyments and talents. Then perhaps at primary age our children could take part in interactive workshops, read stories , join confidence building clubs etc to improve self esteem and self respect. Projects like my favourite The Magic Sunglasses Project could be used. www.themagicsunglasses.com

With this article I leave you with this thought…..

Gok wan is doing a fantastic job, and we should be thankful that there are some celebrities that make perfect role models out there right now…but lets take a little responsibility for empowering our children to live confidently with a self esteem that allows for; self belief , respect for themselves and sensitivity for others and their individualities. Lets tackle these problems before they can become issues… lets help our own babies/toddlers/children before they reach the vulnerable and impressionable teenage years!!!

How can we help children discover the joy of reading in this digital age?

The internet is part of our lives now and most young people connect via the internet - this is fine as it allows global connection and is a great source of information (as can be TV). But what about the pleasure of hands on reading and enjoying real books?

Computer games can be great for fun, reflexes and relaxation but you need a balance, and books and reading often get pushed out. And of course, you need to learn to read even to benefit from the information on the internet. Reports and recent figures show many kids can’t read well so they are shut out from the wonder of books – there have been government programmes to improve level of reading skills and the use of iPads and Kindle have also shown encouraging signs that people will use new technologies to read. And although kids love digital stuff they still seem to enjoy books they can hold in their hand. There has been research on whether use of computers lowers the literacy level of children: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1390365/Computers-home-wrecking-childrens-reading-skills-age-nine.html

Encouraging children to read can often prove to be a difficult task, but it is important that children discover the joys of reading. Not only can you learn from reading – and become informed – it can open a new world or you can journey into a new secret world to escape from reality – sometimes that can be a good thing!

Bringing a book to life will certainly encourage a child to read, and reading can also be used as bonding time for a child and parent. Assuming they enjoy the experience, they will benefit and find the joy in reading. This will subsequently help them to develop. There are many ways to do this, some of which are more effective than others.

To keep a child’s brain active their imaginations need to be inspired. Research has proven that children develop faster through play. http://www.child-development-guide.com/child-play-development.html Choosing the right books can be beneficial; it’s always good to correspond the interest and hobbies the child has to the books they are offered. The more relevant to their tastes, the more enjoyable it will be and the more pleasure the reading will give. The hobbies and interests your child has could well be augmented by a subscription or series of reading materials. This is perfect for on-going enjoyment of literature.

The time and timing in which your child reads is also important. It is known that a child will absorb information if it is read to before bed. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/08/24/11/benefits-bedtime-storytelling It can also spark imaginative and positive images for dreams. Bed time is also a relaxed and comfortable time to delve wholly into a book. A child will probably not enjoy reading during meals, or while a parent is vacuuming or where there are other distractions.

It is important that for a child to enjoy reading the correct atmosphere must be set. Perhaps room away from the tv could be available, or maybe a little special reading space where a child can enjoy sitting to read. Fun colours and shapes, sparking creativity would be helpful. It is important that it is quiet at the time your child is reading.

The old saying reads that you mustn’t choose a book by its cover but where children are concerned it is important that the cover is colourful, fun, sparks interest and is engaging. It is important also, that children can physically see parents and other adults reading for pleasure. It is a researched fact that children act as their role models do. That is most often the parents so it is important that parents read regularly and a child is witness to that. Of course there are problems here; some parents may not have the time or inclination to sit and read with their children, or may even not be interested in reading themselves. There are also problems for parents who do not have English as their mother tongue; this can be an opportunity to improve English and share the learning process with their kids.

Reading with children makes them discover the joy of reading as they enjoy spending time with parents. They feel special and are proud when they get compliments for their reading. It is also a conversation starter and can develop all sorts of understanding for aspects both within and outside the themes of the book. A book can also inspire other enjoyable activities as a development of the book itself. Spending personal time with your children will make them feel special and they will appreciate that they are able to share something.

Visiting libraries can often be a fun and enjoyable experience for children. There are often fun interactive workshops and activities taking place with children at certain days of the week. Children certainly discover the joy of reading on these as they tend to meet other children, make friends and appreciate their special treat. During some research I was doing with primary age children in schools and libraries over the last two years I found that teachers and libraries did a terrific job in inspiring and informing children – most librarians and teachers seem to me to be dedicated and and excited about finding numerous ways of opening the wonderful world of books and reading to children. Teachers and librarians can also give advice to children wishing to read about – and learn from – their role models.

It can also be more enjoyable if your child if they are encouraged to interact with older siblings. It is perfect to involve the whole family in reading games. Understandably there will be an array of reading levels but the concept will be the same. Maybe the older ones could read to the younger ones or visa versa. Shared reading in groups is related to enjoyment and development so this is definitely worth a try.

When a parent praises children’s efforts the child will be filled with joy and will be eager to read. Reading should always be thought of something fun and enjoyable. I think we can help a child discover the joy of reading in this digital age but it needs a combination of government, teachers, parents, authors, publishers and inspired leaders working together with children to make it happen.

Motivating Children through Literature

Motivating a child to strive to their fullest potential is a very important aspect within their personal development. This fundamental element will be the stability, which will impact the rest of their lives. For this we all need a little help and any assistance is warmly welcome. So now think for a moment, about your children, a child in your class, or even a neighbor’s child. Nobody likes to think of a child dispirited, unenthusiastic and despondent. That is why we are signifying Auriel Blanches, amazing book, The Magic Sunglasses.

Once exploring the lead character Samantha’s journey throughout the book you will see a new child. Imagine now, your child no longer has to feel discouraged, depressed and frustrated from all the set-backs and challenges that he/she faces everyday. Now they can personally and independently pursue every hurdle with a leap and a smile. They just needed a tiny encouragement and motivation, which this fantastic book will inspire!

The Magic Sunglasses, written by Auriel Blanche (regularly known as Angela Buck) - is a motivational book for children aged 7-9. Enabling parents, educators, and child care workers to inspire and educate children to lead healthy, enriched, and enthusiastic lifestyles. Angela Buck, also the founder of "The Magic Sunglasses Project" believes this all starts in the playful, magical world of a child’s imagination... “I dream of a worldwide community of children who have learnt how to value themselves and to use their potential, to live personally successful lives and contribute to the success of others” is her ethos and the inspiration for her fun fantasy book.

Auriel believes all great achievements start in someone's imagination. With this as her focus, The Magic Sunglasses uses powerful paradigms to give thought to children appreciating their own special values and the understanding that everyone is worthy of success. This book uses an innovative story line and creative illustrations to inspire and motivate all children.

Imagination makes it possible for us to think differently about what is, what has been, and to envisage what may be. It's what enables us to think beyond our perceived normality, to create a world without boundaries or restrictions. Samantha does not limit herself when the super powers from the glasses are in action. When they are no longer with her she is still able to achieve her aspirations.

Auriel believes that children should aspire to infinite possibilities, through their imagination. Throughout the book the motivation in a child is brought to life. This innovative dream’s and aspirations of Samantha in the book inspires children to pursue their own ideals & dreams. The Magic Sunglasses can give a daily

inspirational boost to the child to keep their hopes alive as they face the everyday challenges in the real world. So why not give them a help in hand, by reading them the magic sunglasses as a bedtime story, or simply buying them a little gift to enjoy.

Ariel invites children globally to explore their dreams, strive to their potential, to not limit themselves and independently enrich their own lives. With the magic sunglasses, they are free from objective restraints with encouragement to explore possibilities. As they read how another child (Samantha) plays and dreams. They too imagine themselves to be a superstar, singing to the adoring crowds. They too can pretend to be dressing up as a princess or a super hero. They too can imagine being able to eat as many sweets, cookies and ice cream as they like. They can also make play of their own nightmares of witches and goblin, and overcome them with confidence and ambition enthused throughout the book.

The meaning and purpose of the magic sunglasses- is fundamentally to motivate a child by imagination and creativity. Make-believe is important to intellectual development and mental health. It is an integral part of childhood. Ariel Blanche is an influential writer and The Magic Sunglasses should be in every family household. We hope she will be inspiring and empowering children for years to come.

For more information and up and coming events, workshops and book signings – Please go to

www.themagicsunglasses.com

The Benefits of the Magic Sunglasses

i. The Magic Sunglasses provides an effective and flexible range of confidence boosting products, - books, audio and e-books, songs, self esteem and theatre workshops, a website, merchandise , competitions and events

ii. Can be tailored to suit most needs

iii. Help kids increase their self esteem, acting as a solid real life base for happier more satisfied teens and dealing with social problems of bullying, drugs, pregnancy and crime

iv. Supports and facilitates what teachers and parents are working to achieve with children in their care

v. Provides an effective channel of communication for the above

vi. Includes diversity in The Real Me workshop – Part 1 while creating the child's Magic Sunglasses ID – reinforcing that we are all different and it is great & OK

vii. Meets most requirements in the PSHE section of the UK curriculum

viii. With the Magic Sunglasses programme anybody can not only have fun but *find themselves ‘The Real Me’

www.themagicsunglasses.com

info@themagicsunglasses.com

Exciting News! The Magic Sunglasses is now available on Kindle

Buy Now! The Magic Sunglasses is now available at The Kindle Store. For your Magic Sunglasses book on Kindle visit Amazon today.

This book will give your child the gift of empowerment for life. Helping children discover their own true self and gain belief and excitement to develop their skills and live funfilled , successful lives. This book tackles low self esteem and encourages children to have confidence in themselves and have respect for others and themselves.

Also available is a parent pack and workshop for homes and schools to develop and pro-long learning .

To find out more from the Author Auriel Blaanche and to see the journey of The Magic Sunglasses Project, please see www.themagicsunglasses.com

Help kids feel great about themselves - with books,workshops and workbooks

It is important to understand that no matter how hard we try, as adults we can’t always supervise and physically guide a child all day every day. So it is important they are given the chance to believe in themselves and live with confidence and self belief. This can be achieved, reinforced and inspired in many ways. The most effective way I find is throughout a child’s own personal time, through their entertainment, play and creative times. This is when they are free of issues and absorbed in their own thought and imaginations. With this in mind, the most beneficial forms of inspiring confidence and belief in self worth is through their love of books, TV programmes, toys, special characters. If a child can see their favorite characters living confident and cheerful lives they to will subconsciously re-create these attitudes within themselves- because they themselves believe it- and not as an act they have been informed to portray.

Friends, other children and pupils at school can help children feel good about themselves, but it would be much more beneficial if they had a character that they could refer back to, that they can follow and constantly rely upon at the times when they most need the boost. This I believe to be within the books our children read. If a character in a book is confident, able, willing to try and dreams to succeed. A child can relate to the character and take in the attitudes and values of that character. The most perfect character would be one that had an interactive website which could be enjoyed and be influential on a regular basis. A character that had an on-going diary or blog would be beneficial. This will help the child to develop, maintain and be equipped with continuous thoughts and demonstrations of living life confidently and happily.

So for this reason I welcome to the wonderful world of the Magic Sunglasses!

Here’s where you can help your children feel absolutely GREAT
about themselves!

* HOW: – By using the book to discover their natural gifts and talents and learn how
to use these as a feel-good factor and so a strength in their life to
achieve and be happy

First Step - Buy the Book! Children learn from The Magic Sunglasses story how a shy young girl discovers her inner strength to fulfil her dreams

Second Step - GET THE AMAZINGLY EMPOWERING REAL ME WORKSHOP HOMEPACK, TO DO WITH YOUR CHILD AT HOME – The Real Me workshop easily shows kids how to put these empowering ideas into practice for themselves in their daily lives

The Magic Sunglasses Workshop can help Your Child:
* Increase their self confidence
* Discover their many natural gifts and talents as a strength to
live happier lives
* Achieve a more comprehensive and useful idea of who they
are – “The Real Me” ID
* Be aware and proud of their own individuality
Build a solid foundation for their challenging teenage years and
their future
* Develop a channel of highly effective communication with you
and others
* Enjoy a special opportunity to learn with you

Third Step - Join a Magic Sunglasses WORKSHOP in your area.

www.themagicsunglasses.com