Maintaining a Childs Healthy Lifestyle

Maintaining a Childs Healthy Lifestyle 1) A healthy lifestyle is paramount for other children and adults to help prevent, or minimize chronic illness and diseases. A healthy lifestyle does not only include diet and exercise but also a healthy mental wellbeing, especially in children. It involves the connection of body and mind; self esteem, self-belief, confidence and building up a natural strength to help them cope during tough times. ‘Every child matters’ a government programmed, came into affect in 2001 to ensure children have access to health are services, to prevent violence against children in their home and in their community. It is also in place to alleviate child poverty. This program helps children with building confidence and creating support networks so they understand they are not alone. Leading a healthy life style can prevent diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic heart disease, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer; I will now explore these diseases and ways to prevent them. It is know fact that the rates of obesity are higher in children who do low levels of exercise than to those who do high, frequent levels of exercise. Exercise is very important for young children in order to keep their bodies from accumulating unnecessary fat, which can lead to chronic illness later on in life such as diabetes. Children who regularly exercise will benefit in better health, not just at present but for future years as their bodies and mind will be conscious of the healthy lifestyle choice they make. Lack of exercise, being over weight and, for adults, exercise alcohol consumption is big risk factors for high blood pressure. It affects approximately one third of the UK. High blood pressure can be treated with medication; however, most of these can produce side affects such as skin irritation, dizziness and feeling drowsy. Some people are able to reduce or even stop treatment if they are able to keep their blood pressure under control whilst on the medication. If patien ts were educated earlier on how to prevent this chronic illness with lifestyle changes then medication would not be needed. Type 2 diabetes is another illness that can be controlled by the individual and their lifestyle choices. Along with taking medication, a persons diet and regular exercise are things that need to be addressed. There are over 3.1 million people in England that suffer from diabetes (type 1 +2). It is important to get diagnosed as early as possible to prevent symptoms worsening. Simple things like keeping blood pressure down and weight are two key ways of preventing type 2 diabetes, however type 1 cannot be controlled. Coronary heart disease is the biggest killer in the UK, it occurs when fatty deposits block the blood supply to the heart. Smoking, having high blood pressure or having diabetes could all cause CHD. Although it cannot be cured there are treatments and lifestyle changes that can reduce further problems such as; lowering cholesterol and maintaining a healthy weight. Strokes can also occur when the blood supply is restricted from the brain. Strokes happen quickly and often cause disabling complications such as paralysis and permanent numbness. To reduce the risks of suffering a stroke it is advised that we do simple and regular exercise and maintain a healthy weight. In doing this we lower our chances of having a stroke. Smoking is a major factor towards strokes due to the arteries clogging with tar, which causes blood clots. Another illness that occurs due to smoking is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease; this is a lung condition in which the airways become narrow and damaged. If a smoker stopped smoking after being diagnosed then the progression could be slowed down but not reversed. Keeping a healthy weight and controlling blood pressure along with keeping active and doing specialized breathing techniques are simple but affective steps to reducing the symptoms. Cancer research UK stated that ‘half of newly diagnosed cancers could be prevented by leading a healthier lifestyle, reducing alcohol intake, eating better, regular exercise, not smoking and safe sun practice.’ By following this simple piece of advice, the majority of these chronic illnesses could be greatly reduced. Smoking is also a major factor in the development of cancer, 86% of lung cancer deaths in the UK are being attributed to smoking. Research from The International Agency for Research on Cancer has shown that smoking can cause cancer in the liver, mouth, pancreas, stomach, bladder, kidney, cervix, bowel and ovaries. Obesity is a risk factor for several types of cancer; breast, uterus and kidney. Research shows many chronic diseases are increasing with poor lifestyle choices made by individuals. Education when we are young on how to make good lifestyle choices could greatly reduce the risks of people inflicting these debilitating illnesses upon themselves. 2) Eating a healthy and balanced diet is a strong foundation for a happy child. Making sure that people has the basic knowledge and understanding for a nutritionally balanced diet will help protect them against chronic illness and even behavioral difficulties. Many people are familiar with ‘5 a day’, which encourages us to eat five different fruit and vegetables a day. However there are other groups that need to be included to make up a nutritionally balanced plate. These groups are`; Fruit and vegetables Fats i.e. butter and oils Sugars Protein Carbohydrates Carbohydrates are a great source of nutrition such as vitamins and iron. Wholegrain varieties are high in fiber, which assists with regular bowel movement, and it helps manage weight. Pulses and lentils also contain fiber along with being low in fat and high in protein. Protein is necessary for growth and to help repair body cells. Another protein is dairy, which contains calcium; essential for healthy, strong bones. The fat in milk provides calories for young children and has important vitamins (B2+B12). Cows milk is not advised for children less than 12 months due to them not being able to digest the protein. Breast-feeding until the infant is at least 6 months is recommended by ‘The Department of Health’ or formula powder to insure the infant is getting the correct nutrition. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey suggest that adults and children are consuming more sugar than recommended. The sugars in chocolate and fizzy drinks are bad sugars, which can cause tooth decay (a very current problem in our country). There are naturally occurring sugars that, in moderation, can be beneficial to our bodies, these sugars are found in milk and fruit. The most important and vital food in our diet is fruit and vegetables, as they are a major source in vitamins and minerals. They are beneficial in a variety of ways; lowering risks of many illnesses and diseases such as strokes and also reducing the risk of kidney stones. Another important food is meat. Lean mince and fish are healthier options, as they are good sources of vitamin B, zinc and iron. Fish also contains fatty acids, which our body uses to keep cholesterol low. Oils and nuts also provide fats that keep low cholesterol; many vegetarians eat lots of nuts, pulses and quorn to maintain similar levels of these essential vitamins. Insuring a mixture of all these important food groups will not only keep a balanced and healthy diet but also will insure the body has the necessary tools to best fight off illness and maintain high energy levels. Children benefit greatly from eating healthily as it improves confidence with self-image; steady and healthy energy levels and can help refute behavioral problems. Being aware of healthy eating improves child’s chances of eating a nutritional food as they progress from childhood to adulthood. 3) to help maintain a healthy life style it is beneficiary to exercise. Exercise burns calories and helps build up strength, without exercising your body and muscles would turn into fat and the organs would become unhealthy. Young children can do many different activities to help prolong a healthy and happier life. Joining football clubs, swimming groups or youth groups. Research from ‘The Lancet Paper ‘ showed that as little as 15 minutes active play per day is all an infant needs to prolong a healthy life. Babies should be encouraged to move around independently by floor play or crawling as often as possible. Having this freedom allows them to strengthen trunk muscles, improve on concentration and move kinesthetically. Crawling also trains their eyes to look both near and far, this is essential for developing binocular vision. Swimming is another activity that builds on trunk muscles and also social skills. Sessions with mother and infant are great ways to initiate bonding and interaction with other mums and babies. Swimming uses trunk strength that improves infants’ balance and muscles development. Physical exercise can also improve breathing techniques; it strengthens the heart and lungs. Outings to indoor play centers and leisure centers are other ways of allowing kids to exercise; they run around with friends and other children. Free play also promotes a Childs imagination and creativity; many adventures to jungles and fairy tale worlds can take place in one Play Park. By following a child’s own ideas and other children’s imagination increases a child self esteem and self-awareness, this contributes to a happy, healthy child. Children can also take part in daily activities at home such as helping with gardening, tidying up and even helping with vacuuming, this it all classed as daily exercise but they can be created into fun activities to do with parents, especially when their parents don’t have much free time, school are getting behind this idea to encourage bonding between children and busy working parents. The government has a duty to protect and promote play opportunities for children and young people. The right to play for al children up to the age of 18 is enshrined in article 31 of the UN Convention on The Right of the Child ratified by the UK Government in 1991. With this law in place many swing parks, play grounds, football fields and more recently skate parks. These areas are for children of all ages to exercise/play and develop social skills. Clubs that teach sports are all essential in building confidence, help to focus their attention and problem solve, these all contribute to strength in mind and emotional development. Research at Monash University 9part of the National Sleep Foundation) proved, in 2009, that children who take part in daily exercise sleep better at night. ‘In addition to falling asleep faster, very active children slept longer throughout the night’. This quote concludes that active children benefit through all aspects of growing up and staying healthy and when they active this at a young age it teaches them good habits which they will use through their whole life. 4) Well being is; the state of being comfortable, healthy and happy in oneself; a person being comfortable with their existence. A childs well being can have a significant impact on their progress throughout their life. Social and health services aim to use a holistic approach when assisting children and their families. They look at all parts of the child’s life; home, school, psychological, physical and even spiritual being to find a way to best help the individual. Workshops are run for parents such as the ‘positive parenting program’ which looks at dealing with family bereavement and spotting signs of emotional stress, conflict in the home and strategies to help build confidence in their children and harmony in the house so everyone feels comfortable to express themselves in a save environment. Parenting can be exhausting and sometimes isolating so by using these free workshops it can greatly enhance the wellbeing of the parents, and ultimately, their children helping achieve a healthy wellbeing for the future. A report published by The National Institute for Clinical Effectiveness, in 2008, wrote ‘childrens social and emotional wellbeing is influenced by a range of factors, from their individual make up, family background to their local community within with they live’, with this in mind we can now find many charities like ‘BIG’, a lottery funded charity, that gives thousands of pounds every year to help continue many different project that work to strive positive mental health, physical health and strong social networks in our communities. There are programs that travel around schools and talk to troubled children about family separation, depression and many other issues. All these groups and workshops ensure that if and when a family needs help in maintaining the wellbeing of their family unit, they have financially achievable opportunities to meet in a secure, non-judgmental and confidential environment. A place they can discuss the issues and work with practioners on improving skills to enhance the wellbeing of their children and family unit. Reference www.healthline.com www.healthyforums.com www.oxforddictionary.com www.bigltteryfund.org.uk www.ehow.com www.psychologytoday.com www.medcentral.org www.babycentre.com www.science.howstuffworks.com www.sleepfoundation.org www.everychildmatters.org www.encyclo.co.uk The foundations of child development Working with children in the early years

Essay --

The Continuum Hypothesis: Shyness, Social Anxiety and Avoidant Personality Disorder In today’s extroverted world, the shy temperament has become synonymous with insecurity, social anxiety, functional deficits, inhibited social skills, avoidant social behavior and impaired behavioral, somatic and cognitive symptoms in social settings. However, shyness has been suggested to lie on a spectrum ranging from normative shyness to a pathological state of extreme social phobia and avoidant personality disorder. The distinction among the varying levels of shyness on the continuum has been a topic of interest to current researchers, specifically qualifying normative shyness from highly shy, and highly shy individuals with and without social phobia. The difference between an individual with shyness and one with social phobia can be explained by comparing how the two approach social situations, and how they respond cognitively, behaviorally and physiologically. A shy person might go to a social event but feel uncomfortable and not enjoy themselves very much. However , an individual with social phobia may not even be able to make themselves go to the event at all. Differing levels on the shyness continuum differ markedly in measures of symptom intensity, daily functioning, quality of life, and anxiety and performance in social settings or conversation tasks (Chavira, Stein & Malcarne, 2002). Individuals with social phobia differ most significantly from those with high shyness and no social phobia in dimensions such as number of social fears, avoidance of social environments, negative thinking and physiological symptoms. Even people with shyness experience much higher quality of life and less functional impairment than those with soci... ...hibiting than the generalized type. However, in the highly shy group, most diagnoses were for generalized social phobia, indicating that highly shy individuals experience more interactional fears than performance based fears, which are common of non generalized social phobia and a limited type of social fears (Chavira, Stein & Malcarne, 2002). The central finding of the study was that 49% of highly shy individuals and 18% of normative shyness were diagnosed with social phobia (Chavira, Stein & Malcarne, 2002). This distinction supports the assertion that shyness and social phobia are significantly related. Additionally, the results of the study support the continuum hypothesis which dictates that higher shyness levels towards the end of the spectrum create greater susceptibility to psychiatric diagnoses such as social phobia and avoidant personality disorder.

Enforcement of a 4 Day School Day Essay

Have you ever thought of having a 4 day weekday rather than a 5 day weekday, instead of that short 2 day of relaxation you gain another day to rest off that stress filled body to the luxurious sofa sitting at your house? Well some work places incorporated a 4 day weekend instead of the typical 5 day weekend and I feel as if we, the teachers and students, equally deserve a 3 day weekend, but there’s a catch. The regular school day would be increased by 2 hours but we should want to decrease the amount of stress school gives us for these reasons, the lack of sleep kids already have, less cost of the utilities used in school, lessened suicide rate. First of all, an important fact is a teenager of the current generation gets a poor amount of sleep. The national health society states that a teenager should have a total of 9 hours and 20 minutes of sleep to perform at their best in school but in reality a student stacked with AP classes, sport, or a job gets far less than the nation al level. The average amount of sleep a teenager gets is under 5 hours for 25% of college and high school students which correlates with decreased performance that they show at school. Some schools in the U.S. has already tried this and one teacher at Chatnooga High School said,† The kids are more attentive because they realize there is much less time so they come in and do it.† Another great reason why we should have a 4 day weekend is a dramatic decrease in the cost of utility. Schools in Georgia saved an average of $800,000 on utility since there is a less need of transportation going back and forth from academy classes, and to drive students back and forth from school. From the slightest of restrooms being flushed, trim of transportation, and janitorial costs the school would save a dramatic amount of money and find the extra funds they need to fund school sports or school clubs if needed. And last but not least, lessening in suicide rate, the current suicide rate is at a new high in America but would dramatically decrease with a 3 day weekend. Kids would have more time to to hang out with their friends or find other fun thing to do such as an internship or volunteer around at hospitals. Due to the increase in time kids would be able to ration their homework that they were given to a slower rate or finish it all and have more time to hang out with their peers. The stress caused from school would not have a huge toll which was a huge factor in suicide. They would also have more time to talk to other such as friends about their personal problems and their friends in retrospective would have more free time to be able to talk to his/her friend and give him or her a serious answer instead of the teenager regular nod of the head or a shrug. In reality kids would gain a more beneficiary advantage for school from a 4 day school day rather than the current 5 day due to more sleep gained, lowered cost of utility, and lessened suicide rate.

Superman - 1424 Words

The History of a Legend: Superman Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! Its a bird! Its a plane! Its Superman! (Bridwell 11) These celebrated words have echoed for over six decades in American cultural and social society. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joseph Shuster, Superman was intended to fight greed, crime, injustice and abuse. The impact created by Superman, or better known to the average man as Clark Kent, extends far beyond the comic book itself. Although many have grown to love him for the courage he represents, the personification Superman employs deviates from what is truly natural or innately human by challenging undisturbed and irrefutable†¦show more content†¦Wright, the introduction of Superman into American cultural was brought about by the need of young Americans to feel a connection with the common man. But instead, the connotation created by Superman strays far away from the notion of an ordinary man. By allocating the name Superman, he is connected to something that is god-like and un-human. Dennis Dooley and Gary Eagle present the argument that Superman achieves truly mythic stature, interweaving a pattern of beliefs, literary conventions and cultural traditions of the American people more powerfully and more accessibly than any other cultural symbol of the 20th century. But this mythic stature created a culture that allowed its followers to question nature and its power and allowed for the establishment of beliefs that were detrimental to the natural order of the world. Even Steve Skelton, the author of The Gospel According to the Worlds Greatest Superhero presents the fact there is a parallel between Superman and God. Have Siegel and Shuster gone too far? The cultural and social superhero of Superman was one that was intended to attract those who felt disconnected from the American world in which they lived. But, as time would tell, this action figure would translate into an omnipotent entity . Although most Americans look up to the Clark Kent disguised as his super-self, there are several blurry implications that remain at the surface of these comic books. By assuming the name Superman,Show MoreRelatedThe Heroes Of Superman And Superman927 Words   |  4 Pagesthat bring in awe to anyone s face. Some of the most iconic superheroes are Superman and Batman. Ask anyone to name a superhero that they admire, more than likely they will mention either those two. Batman is a mysterious, lone wolf style hero. With Superman, he is a more personable and charming hero. 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