ML Interest Tag: aggression

How to Educate your Children on Riots & Protests

By Reena B. Patel

Photo: iStock

With all the recent protests, this raises many questions for our children and it’s some uncharted territory for parents to explain. Children are aware of ways we differ, but they aren’t born identifying people with a particular race. Children begin to notice racial differences between the ages of three and five. An innocent curiosity that isn’t yet linked to any positive or negative qualities about different groups of people. What starts to shift is that positive and negative qualities do come into the picture through their parents, significant others and media. Parents should be very careful about passing on their own biases and prejudices before kids even understand the concept of racism.

As parents, we may not have all the answers. But we we should also be ready to answer questions. With the protests and riots happening today. imagine you’re a 5-year-old noticing this on the news, you look worried and upset and no one is telling you why. Imagine how scary and worried you would be.

Tips


1. Be open and honest. Some people get treated unfairly based on their skin color, culture or religion. By doing this, we help prepare them to challenge these issues when they arise.

2. Model it.Talking to your child about the importance of embracing differences and treating others with respect is essential, but it’s not enough. Acknowledge difference and emphasize the positive aspects of our differences. Encourage your child to talk about what makes them different, and discuss ways that may have helped or hurt them at times. Similarities become more powerful. Remember silence indicates acceptance

3. Do something. Take a stand when you witness injustice. This is the time to help our children grow into adults who value and honor diversity.

4. For teens—keep talking. Use current issues from the news, as a springboard for discussion. Ask your teen what they think about the issues. Discuss the importance of valuing differences is essential, but modeling this message is even more vital. Evaluate your own circle of friends or the beliefs you hold about certain groups of people.

5. Encourage activism. Promote ways for your family  to get involved in causes you care about.

6. Explain what protest means if developmentally appropriate for you child. Seven years and older is my recommendation. Everyone has a right to their own opinion and to voice it in America, but you also have to respect others’ opinions. A typical goals of non aggressive protest is to inspire positive social change and protection of human rights. Sometimes, people make poor choices and react with aggression because of the feelings they have. It is ok to protest in a friendly way.

photo: Reena Patel 

Reena B. Patel (LEP, BCBA) is a renowned parenting expert, guidance counselor, licensed educational psychologist, and board-certified behavior analyst. Patel has had the privilege of working with families and children, supporting all aspects of education and positive wellness; recently nominated for San Diego Magazine’s Woman of the Year

 

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Managing Anxiety & Stress in Our Kids

By Dana Sheridan

Let’s face it…life is stressful! Many of us have become masters of the art of multitasking. At the end of the day, sometimes we can’t even imagine how we got everything done and kept everyone alive and well. 

With stress, brings anxiety. The “worry monster” begins to creep up inside our brains about what tomorrow may bring or what the future holds for our family. The way we manage stress as parents directly impacts the way our children learn to manage stressors. 

Control Affects Anxiety

A feeling of lack of control sends our anxiety into a tailspin. When we feel we don’t have control over things in our life then we get anxious. Children are the same. If you think about it, children really don’t have control over much in their lives. The adults make the majority of decisions for them. We think that we know what’s best for them. 

The Impact from Today’s Society

Our children are experiencing many stressors in today’s world beginning at an early age. We tend to have the mentality that more is better. We are enrolling our children in as many activities as we can to make them “well rounded” individuals. Personally, my husband and I are raising girls that are entering high school this year. We are finding that the academic and extracurricular expectations for them are overwhelming. We have the lingering thought of…“Are they doing enough to get into a good college?” If we take a step back and look at our children’s daily schedules, they are busier than we are! We tend to forget that downtime can be beneficial. When we provide our children with time to unwind, we are fostering other important attributes to come out such as self-care, exploration, and creativity. 

Warning Signs of Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal part of childhood. Anxiety can be useful at times since it makes us more assertive and aware of our surroundings. The issue occurs once anxiety begins to negatively impact our ability to function in our everyday lives. Anxiety Disorders are among one of the most common mental, emotional, and behavioral problems to occur during childhood and adolescence. Children with a diagnosed Anxiety Disorder experience fear, nervousness, and shyness to a degree where they begin to avoid places and activities. 

Here are some warning signs to look for:

  • Preoccupation with worries and fears

  • Avoidance of social contact 

  • Difficulty sleeping

  • Loss of appetite

  • Physical expression of feelings (i.e.: emotional outbursts, aggression)

  • Psychosomatic symptoms (i.e.: complaining of physical ailments)

  • Retreating/shutting down

What Can We Do?

The main thing we can do is pay close attention to how we manage our own stress. Notice how you internally and externally express yourself when you are faced with a major stressor. Children look to the adults in their life for guidance when they are faced with a stressor. Remember, the energy we put out (whether positive or negative) directly impacts the energy we receive back. If our emotions are regulated, our children’s emotions are more likely to be regulated as well. In some situations, we need to act like a duck in the water where you are calm and collected on the surface even if your legs are freaking out below the surface. It’s all about the “game face.” Remember that you can’t take care of anyone else unless you take care of yourself at first. Visualize the safety video played before an airplane flight…you first put the overhead mask on yourself before you assist with putting it on someone else. 

Here are some things to remember:

  • Give your child as many choices as possible (it’s their life so let them have some freedom in what activities they choose to participate in)

  • Let your child choose activities they are passionate about

  • Power struggles are not very relaxing

  • Take some time to lower your own distress level before you intervene

  • Begin with a conversation that validates your child’s feelings

  • When your child begins to communicate, don’t interrupt

  • Maintain a positive and calm attitude

  • Be nonjudgmental regarding your child’s thoughts or feelings 

  • Focus on one thing at a time

  • Concentrate on the anxious emotions, rather than any outward behavior the child previously exhibited

  • Recognize and praise small accomplishments

  • Don’t punish mistakes or lack of progress

  • Be flexible, but try to maintain a normal routine

  • Plan for transitions and provide a heads up for any changes

 

Before joining Village, Dana worked in public education for fourteen years as a Special Education Counselor, Autism Coordinator, Special Education Supervisor, and Assistant Director of Special Programs. Throughout her educational career, Dana assists students, parents, and staff with the social/emotional component of learning. She enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and shopping.

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Are We Destroying Our Neurodiverse Children?

By Lindsay Leiviska

Too many children are being forced to meet expectations they were never meant to fulfill. Outside-the-box kids were made differently and distinctly with gifts, talents, and purposes. And these outside-the-box kids must be equipped with our love and support to thrive in this world.

We adopted an outside-the-box, high-needs child almost 6 years ago. When our son hit 18 months, he began to destroy our home and our family. His horrific and uncontrollable behaviors included aggression, destruction, and dangerous thrill-seeking acts. He screamed all. day. long. for about three years straight. And he did not sleep more than two hours a time for almost a year and a half. That, of course, made things astronomically worse.

Fortunately, however, God used this four-year experience of misery to radically change me as a mom. During that time, I developed relationships with amazing pediatric specialists. My son’s volatility was beyond anything I could handle on my own, and it forced me into counseling as I faced my own internal junk, which was severely impacting my ability to cope well. God allowed this all to completely transform me as a mother, wife, friend, and educator.

Most importantly, that transformation completely saved my relationship with my biological daughter. Honestly, I believe it has actually saved her life!

Saving My Daughter

At the time that we adopted my son, we had no idea that our daughter was an outside-the-box kid longing to thrive. We didn’t know that she was an Aspie girl. For years, I tried to make her into a social butterfly like her older sister and me. I didn’t understand why she was so “shy.” I worried about her heightened sensitivity level. Her tears, her emotions… I wanted to “fix” her. When she would not do what I wanted when I wanted it, I would become frustrated with her.

And she felt it. She felt my disappointment as well as the disappointment of others when she could not be who they wanted her to be. It kills me to think about what she must have felt about herself knowing that she was never “enough.”

Being “different” was not what made her feel less-than. Nope. It was the messages she was receiving from the world around her—most importantly, in her own home. She was constantly receiving messages that told her she needed to be someone she was not created to be. This is what could have potentially destroyed her sense of self.

I fight the tears right now as I think about what she would have felt and believed about herself if I had continued parenting her with the idea that she needed to be someone different.  Someone who the world wants her to be.

An Overlooked & Suffering Population

Aspie girls are suffering so much… for so many reasons. One of the most crucial reasons that these girls are suffering is because they are being misdiagnosed. They are being completely overlooked because Aspie girls (currently diagnosed as Autism Spectrum Disorder based upon DSM-V) present so differently than boys, and the criteria has been based upon boys. The mental health implications of being missed are astronomical:

  • Anxiety

  • Anorexia

  • Depression

  • Suicide

  • Trauma

Our outside-the-box girls are everywhere, and they do not have to suffer in this way. But sadly, so many have been told throughout their formative years that they are not enough. That they are inherently defective. They have been told that they should not be who they were created to be. That their interests are “weird” and they must change to be accepted. That they must shove their outside-the-box selves into the one-size-fits-all “norm” in order to be valued and loved.

Can you imagine living your life like this? So what do these outside-the-box girls do? What do so many of our outside-the-box kids do?

They hide. at home. alone. There are likely millions of outside-the-box kids out there who are not thriving.

Kids with ADHD, Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, Auditory Processing Disorder, Learning Differences, Aspies, introverts… whatever. It doesn’t matter if they have a diagnosis or not. Who cares?!!! These kids are everywhere!

Why are we forcing so many gifted, loving, talented, and brilliant people onto the hamster wheel of mental illness?!

‘I’m not good enough.’

‘I always screw up.’

‘I said the wrong thing.’

‘The noise was just too much and I couldn’t handle it.’

‘I cannot focus in a room full of other kids.’

‘What is wrong with me?’

The messages that our children consistently receive from the world are most often the ones that plague them for the rest of their lives.

How many more kids have to scream for help through drug abuse, cutting, suicide, etc… before we take a good look at this one-size-fits-all system that is failing so many children?

We Need to Value Neurodiversity

We say that we value diversity in this country, and yet we have a system set up for one type of child. Our kids have gifts and talents and hearts that just want to love and be loved. Oftentimes, we try to raise our unique kids using the “world’s” expectations as our goal. When our young kids cannot take it any longer, they explode… often times behaviorally. I have learned, by God’s grace, that our children are gifts to this world and need to be raised in a way that allows them to thrive and shine.

Moms, Let’s Be Willing to Parent Differently

Moms, we need one another to be brave for our differently gifted children. Our precious kids who simply long to be their unique selves without constantly butting up against a culture that believes they are inherently defective. Let us rally together and be brave enough to allow our children to flourish as their unique selves regardless of what the parenting peanut gallery says. Let’s put on the mom glasses that allow us to see the gifts, passions, and hearts behind our unique children and then equip them to thrive!

Lindsay Leiviska (MA Teaching) is a homeschool mom of three with over 20+ years experience working with children. The adoption of her son 6 years ago transformed her as a mom. She began A Heart for All Students with the mission is empower outside-the-box kids by equipping their amazing mommas. 

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What to Do When You Have a Dog and Are Having a Baby

By Sienna Penfold

Being pregnant and preparing for a new family member is a huge change, but a beautiful and exciting one. And as much effort as you put into getting yourself and your home ready for the arrival of the baby, things are always a bit more demanding for dog owners. In fact, many parents worry about how their dog will react to the baby. Fortunately, there are always some smart ways you can help your pet adjust to the new dynamics in your home. Here are some of the most important things you should do if you want your pet to accept your baby.

Enlist Helpers.

When your baby arrives, you’ll have less time for all sorts of things, which includes your pet. However, this doesn’t mean you’ll neglect your dog or that you’ll love them any less. In order to make things work, you may need to come up with some sort of loose schedule based on your dog’s routine, so that you can have some time for them every day. You may need to ask your partner or some of your closest family or friends for help at first since you can’t be expected to leave your baby every time your dog needs to go outside. If you know who you’ll ask for help, maybe they can start taking your dog for occasional walks while you’re still pregnant, so that they get familiar, and that they feel comfortable around each other. Also, since you know you’ll take your dog with you once you start taking your baby outdoors, you should teach your dog to walk calmly next to a baby stroller. This way you’ll all enjoy these walks, and you’ll keep your baby safe by training your pet to behave nicely around the stroller.

Prep, Prep Prep.

While decorating the nursery and buying everything the baby might need, make sure you don’t forget about your dog. It’s important that you also purchase quality dog supplies. It’s so easy to order dog supplies online and have them delivered to your doorstep like shampoo, brushes, clippers and other grooming items for your dog to look its best, as well as products to keep your dog healthy. Finally, stock up on dog food and get a new toy or two, so that your dog is always properly fed and entertained at all times. It’s important that your dog knows you haven’t forgotten about them and that you always have their best interest in mind.

Dog Talk.

Dogs may not understand every word you say, but they still understand a lot and can take hints from the tone of your voice. Problems may arise once you start talking to your baby if you use the same affectionate voice you only used for your dog before. Your pet might not understand that you’re actually talking to your baby, so take some precautions even before the baby is born. For instance, start carrying a doll or at least a folded blanket and talking to it as if it were your baby, with your pet in the room. Also, train your dog to look at you when you call their name and that you’re only talking to them when you’re looking straight at them, praising them once they make eye contact. Whenever you say anything to your dog, say their name first, so that you avoid the confusion.

Introduce Your Two Loves.

You don’t have to wait for the baby to arrive from the hospital for your dog to get the first sniff of them. There are ways you can introduce your baby to your dog even before it’s born. For instance, get the dog used to the baby’s room and that they can’t be very loud there. Also, once the baby’s born and you’re still in the hospital, send something that was in contact with your baby, such as a blanket or a piece of clothing. That way the dog can get familiar with your baby’s scent before they actually meet. When you come home from the hospital, it’s a good idea for somebody else to carry the baby into the house, and for you to greet your pet calmly. After that, you can ensure that their first real contact happens while you’re sitting down in an armchair or a couch, and the dog can approach and sniff the baby. If you notice that it’s too excited, or that it’s showing any signs of aggression, instead of sending the dog away, you should leave the room with the baby so that the dog can settle down. Once your pet is calm, try again until you get the desired reaction.

Best Friends for Life.

Pets can bring a whole range of benefits to a growing child, and it’s most likely that your dog and your baby will develop a very deep bond, becoming each other’s guardian and best friend. However, as much as children love animals and vice versa, there’s a chance they won’t know how to treat each other or behave around each other at first. That’s why you should always be there to guide them and supervise their interaction. Once they learn how to play together, they’ll have the chance to discover the world and grow together. Finally, there are many valuable lessons your dog can give your baby, teaching them how to love, be more emphatic and responsible.

There’s no reason for your dog and your baby not to get along well. With some mindful effort, you can help your dog understand that the family has a precious new member and that it only means more love to go around.

 

My name is Sienna, and I am a full-time mum and proud owner of two beautiful dogs, Coco and Hulk. I am passionate about my pets and writing too, and found a way to help others by sharing my experience and writing about topics that are found useful. 

 

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Here’s Why Superhero Play Is Good for Your Child’s Development

by Erica Loop

The littles zip across the playroom floor, swishing capes trailing behind them. They run, tumble, jump and whirl in an elaborate superhero-fueled scene. Whether they’re acting out the newest Marvel movie or are imagining their own scenario starring Spiderman, your kids are majorly into this kind of pretend play. And science says it’s okay.

When it comes to superhero play, science may actually say it’s more than okay. As it turns out, what seems like a simple good versus bad guy routine may benefit your pre-k kiddo in some pretty impressive ways.

photo: Porapak Apichodilok via Pexels

So what can superhero play do for your young child? According to a 2015 article on the subject, published in the journal Pastoral Care in Education, superhero play can help children improve language skills, social skills and problem-solving abilities. Beyond these developmental benefits, this type of pretend fantasy play can also help preschool-aged kids cope with fears.

Your preschooler doesn’t have the cognitive ability to process scary or uncertain situations in the same way that you do. Don’t worry, they will—just not right now. Superhero play allows the young child to take on a powerful role and basically defeat evil. This gives the child the chance to explore a new role and feel a sense of power.

Dr. Gene Beresin, executive director of the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital, told Romper, “They are beginning to appreciate that in many situations, they feel helpless, fearful, powerless, unable to overcome many obstacles. Many are afraid of the dark, monsters, being separated from parents, or harmed by ‘bad guys.’ They look for ominous creatures under their beds. They worry and fear about being helpless and weak in the face of adversity.”

Beresin sums up this powerful benefit, telling Romper, “By identifying with superheroes, they become strong, invincible, use superpowers, aggression, and other skills to protect themselves, and ally fears.”

—Erica Loop

 

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Here’s the Science Behind Why Kids Totally Need a Pet

By Ruth MacPete

As the mother of two young children and someone who grew up with animals, I have always believed that pets are good for kids—and there’s a growing body of scientific evidence proving what I have always known to be true. Yet despite this, most of us with kids and pets have experienced “the look.”

What I am referring to, of course, is “the look” you get from one of your friends who doesn’t have animals, when they see your dog lick your kid’s face or worse, the absolute terror on their face when your dog licks their kid. We all have those friends: the “non-animal” people who just don’t get it.

As a veterinarian and animal lover who has always had a household full of pets, I have endured many looks and comments. “You let the dog in the house around the kids?” “The cat sleeps in the bed?” “Aren’t you afraid the dog is going to give them something?” Not only are most of these concerns unfounded, it turns out that having a pet around kids is actually good for their health.

So how are pets good for our kids? In addition to teaching them empathy, responsibility and love, pets can make great friends and companions for children. Pets also show kids how to express love by petting, being gentle, hugging and kissing. Pets have been shown to help children overcome shyness, develop trust and enhance their social skills. As if that wasn’t enough, science has shown that pets also offer health benefits to children.

A study by Dr. James Gern from the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that infants who grew up with pets were less likely to develop asthma and allergies. He evaluated blood samples from infants shortly after birth and after their first birthday and looked for changes in their immune system or evidence of allergic reactions. His research supported previous studies that have shown that allergies, eczema and asthma occur less frequently in children with pets. In addition, animals have been proven to help with stress, anxiety, depression, autism, ADD and other psychological issues.

Our course, there are caveats. As much as I love and adore pets, I recognize that they are animals and they could harm a child if provoked or because of food or toy aggression. Even if you “know” your pet, supervise their interactions with kids to ensure that your pet doesn’t show ANY signs of aggression.

Likewise, teach your children to respect animals: never allow them to tease or take away food or toys from pets. Finally, exercise common sense. Even the most mild-mannered Labrador Retriever could inadvertently hurt an infant if they get too rambunctious. When it comes to children and pets, my maternal instincts always trump the animal lover in me. I always choose what is safest for my kids.

Besides having a well-behaved pet, you want to make sure they are healthy. Take your pet to the veterinarian for regular veterinary visits and yearly parasite checks (fecals). Keeping your pet on year-round parasite preventatives will protect your pet from external and internal parasites and can help protect your household from zoonotic diseases (diseases spread from animals to people).

Making sure your pets and kids know how behave with each other and knowing that your household is protected against zoonotic diseases is worth the effort when you consider all the great benefits that your kids can reap from having pets in their lives. So the next time someone without pets gives you “the look,” just smile and know that your pets are actually good for your kids.

Dr. Ruth MacPete is a veterinarian, media correspondent, writer and most importantly, mom to two young kids and five furry four-legged children. She has appeared on The Doctors, GMA, Fox&Friends, The Weather Channel and other TV news shows. She has written for several magazines and recently published a children's book, Lisette the Vet. 

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Pediatricians’ Group to Parents: Seriously—Don’t Spank Your Kids

by Shahrzad Warkentin

The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a policy statement on why parents shouldn’t spank their children, and the group remains firm on its previous stance that corporal punishment can cause harm to children in the long run.

Twenty years ago, the AAP published Guidance for Effective Discipline advising that parents be discouraged from using spanking or any form of corporal punishment to discipline their kids. The authors of the statement noted that “there appears to be a strong association between spanking children and subsequent adverse outcomes.”

Now two decades later, the AAP has reinforced its policy with a statement titled Effective Discipline to Raise Healthy Children. The group states that it not only strongly opposes using spanking, but also explains the detrimental impact that spanking can cause on a child’s heath and development. The statement lists several examples of the adverse effects associated with spanking, including:

  • Corporal punishment of children younger than 18 months of age increases the likelihood of physical injury;
  • Repeated use of corporal punishment may lead to aggressive behavior and altercations between the parent and child and may negatively affect the parent-child relationship;
  • Corporal punishment is associated with increased aggression in preschool and school-aged children;
  • Experiencing corporal punishment makes it more, not less, likely that children will be defiant and aggressive in the future;
  • Corporal punishment is associated with an increased risk of mental health disorders and cognition problems;
  • The risk of harsh punishment is increased when the family is experiencing stressors, such as family economic challenges, mental health problems, intimate partner violence, or substance abuse; and
  • Spanking alone is associated with adverse outcomes, and these outcomes are similar to those in children who experience physical abuse.

“The purpose of discipline is to teach children good behavior and support normal child development,” Dr. Robert D. Sege, a pediatrician who helped write the statement, explained. “Effective discipline does so without the use of corporal punishment or verbal shaming.”

Sege continued, “Children who experience repeated use of corporal punishment tend to develop more aggressive behaviors, increased aggression in school, and an increased risk of mental health disorders and cognitive problems. In cases where warm parenting practices occurred alongside corporal punishment, the link between harsh discipline and adolescent conduct disorder and depression remained.”

For parents who need help with disciplining their children without the use of spanking, the AAP also suggests that pediatricians offer alternatives like time-outs and positive reinforcement. “For example, parents can learn that young children crave attention, and telling a child, ‘I love it when you…’ is an easy means of reinforcing desired behavior.”

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Take Flight to Del Mar’s Exotic Bird Sanctuary

by rtchristinacross

Your kids may already be fans of Rio or perhaps they just love anything that flies (birds, airplanes, superheroes — you name it). Feed two birds with one visit (well, at least one visit) to the Free Flight Exotic Bird Sanctuary where you’ll have the chance to feed exotic birds in the picturesque tropical grounds. This hidden gem is tucked on the south side of the Del Mar Fairgrounds as you head into Del Mar Village and it’s open seven days a week, making it the perfect escape for little bird lovers at heart.

The Aviary
When you step into the peaceful, lush grounds of Free Flight filled with bird-safe plants and trees, you’ll find birds of varying colors and sizes all around you perched on tree limbs while others are resting in cages. You’ll meet Bam Bam (a blue and gold macaw); Chole (a Leadbeater cockatoo); and Mandy (an Alexandrian parrot) to just name a few from the cast of characters.

All of these birds (who were donated and/or rescued) have the late Dr. Robert (a.k.a, “Dr. Bob”) Stonebreaker to thank for their pristine living conditions. Dr. Bob founded this tropical bird garden in 1981 as a boarding and breeding facility, and overtime it became a unique aviary where visitors of all ages have the opportunity to interact with rare exotic birds. Since 2009, Free Flight has been a non-profit with the mission to provide shelter and re-socialize former exotic bird pets while raising public appreciation and awareness of endangered or threatened exotic birds as well as conservation.

The Free Flight docents play an important role, greeting visitors on arrival and helping orient them to the aviary. The docents will direct you to which birds welcome head scratches and provide you with a detailed history of each bird’s background, from their name to all about their species in addition to some general exotic bird factoids. Such as, exotic birds have the emotional intelligence of a two-year-old and many can live up to 80 years. And, since these exotic birds are social by nature, it’s important that they are stimulated daily not only by their caretakers but also by different visitors.  This interaction helps the birds lessen any fear-based aggression.

It should be noted that children must be accompanied and supervised by adults at all times. Also, kids are not permitted to run throughout the aviary because it be upsetting to some of the birds.

Bird Feed
The best way to get acquainted with the Free Flight birds is by feeding them. While you can’t give Polly a cracker or smuggle treats in from home to feed the birds, you can purchase a fresh produce mix to feed them in a bowl.

Some birds are very social and depending on your comfort level, you are permitted to handle them. Most birds are content by just you talking to them, admiring their beauty and, of course, raising a food bowl in their direction.

Another highlight is the beautiful Koi pond with a small bridge. Koi food is also available for purchase. The bright orange, yellow, and red fish definitely keep the younger kids intrigued. After interacting with the birds and Koi, there are also benches to just sit and soak in the beauty of the sanctuary.

Birds of a Feather Flock Together: Adoption Program
Many exotic birds end up needing a new home because their owners don’t realize the expense and time required to properly care for an exotic bird. Free Flight takes ex-pet birds under their wing due to a change in the owner’s situation and rehabilitates them in their free flying, outdoor environment.

Once the birds are re-socialized, Free Flight offers them up for adoption. Visitors can choose among the birds to adopt.  Due to the concern for the future welfare of the bird, potential adopters, however, must meet Free Flight’s criteria and be deemed a match. If Free Flight determines that a particular bird is unable to be adopted, the bird will stay at Free Flight to live out its life. Over the years, Free Flight has placed 155 birds in “Forever Homes” with only three adoption returns.

If adopting a bird is not in the picture, Free Flight also welcomes visitors to sponsor a particular bird that they have become fond of during their visit.

Free Flight Exotic Bird Sanctuary
2132 Jimmy Durante Blvd.
Del Mar, Ca  92014
Online:  freeflightbirds.org

Hours: Open daily 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., except Wednesday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. If there’s inclement weather (either too hot or cool), be sure to call in advance to learn if the birds are out.

Admission: $5 per adult; $2 per kiddo under 13. There’s also a membership program available for frequent visitors and group tours, for Girls Scout troops, playgroups and the like, can be arranged with advanced notice.

Have you been to this cool exotic bird sanctuary? What’s your favorite bird to watch?

Written and photographed by Christina Q. Cross

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OMSI’s Mini Maker Faire Kicks DIY Up a Notch

by Cathie Ericson

Portland’s Mini Maker Faire at OMSI just might be the coolest show (and tell) on the planet. The Faire is a celebration of the Maker movement, aka do it yourselfers willing to share their crazy-cool inventions and art. Portland’s third annual faire this weekend will feature more than 100 local crafters, tinkerers, artists, science clubs, students and educators and plenty of hands-on activities for kids. Read on to find out more, then prepare to be amazed.

Photo credit: OMSI

See It
R2D2: Got a Star Wars fanboy or girl? The R2D2 Builders Club makes replicas of droids from the Star Wars films that are so realistic, they are often used by Lucasfilms for official events, movie premieres and commercials.

Drop Tower Impact Test: Back in college we called this “roof testing.” But Portland State University’s welding research department will be demonstrating methods used to “verify fracture properties” – that sounds a whole lot more research-y for sure.

Lagerbot: This one’s for you, parents! Lagerbot is a beverage dispensing device/and friend that tracks and records who’s drinking from the keg by controlling the flow of the cold tasty beverage. (No more trying to figure out who killed the keg!)

Tesla Coil: Ask your budding scientist what this is, all we know is that it’s going to produce one million-volts of blue corona and arc discharges spanning five to six feet.

Photo credit: OMSI

Make It
As cool as it is to look at all of these incredible inventions, we know you want to make things. The Faire’s got some seriously cool stuff for your fab-ricators to get their crafty on.

Tinker Camp: Why buy new stuff when you can transform the old? It’s so Portlandia, right? But it works!  Check out the work areas Tinker Camp has provided where your Builder Bob or Betsy can make creations from all kinds of cool, inexpensive materials.

Maple XO: Still on the “reuse” theme, this company makes jewelry and accessories from recycled skateboards. They will have colorful scraps available for your Skater Boi or Girl to make key chains and magnets.

Mad Science: Two words: Stomp rockets. Your little one can make a DIY stomp rocket and next time you feel a little aggression coming on, send your stomper off to let it fly.

Light Me Up: This interactive light experience mixes flame and LED light. You control the LEDs and flame effects. Just remember, the more energy you add to the system, the more you get back. (Sounds a little like a life lesson, doesn’t it?)

But, wait, there’s more! From mask-making to jewelry to upcycled art projects to chocolate, there’s no end to the goods your little artistes/investigators/creative types can get their hands on at Maker Faire.

Photo credit: OMSI

Bring It
Yep, you’re bringing wipes, a water bottle and a granola bar just in case, though food carts will be on-site, if your kiddos get famished. It’s crowded so a backpack or holding a hand is better than a stroller if that works for your family.

Details:
Where: OMSI, 1945 SE Water Ave., 800-955-6674

When: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sept. 13-14th

Cost: $15 adults, $10 youth (3-17) and seniors (63+). Two-day passes are available. Members get $5 off all tickets.

Online: omsi.edu

What are you most looking forward to at the Mini-Maker Faire? Let us know in the Comments section below!

– Cathie Ericson

 

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Happy Mom Tip #45: Skip Those Christmas Cookies

by writerredtri

I’m a big fan of high-fat foods; fat tastes good, after all. And research has shown that some types of fats, like Omega-3s, can calm us and even have antidepressant effects. But other studies show that trans-fats, or partially hydrogenated oils, may make us feel aggressive, and that they can trigger inflammatory reactions that are linked to depression, heart disease and cancer.

Trans-fats are typically found in processed foods–particularly fried foods and packaged baked goods. Since aggression, depression, heart disease and cancer are not happiness habits, clearly what we eat affects our happiness.

This week, make an effort to eat something high in a fat that is likely to make you feel good, such as something high in the omega-3 fatty acid DHA. DHA is found in oily fish, like trout and salmon. (If you are vegetarian, algae is the only DHA-rich vegetable source that I’m aware of.) Let that yummy smoked trout salad replace your side of french fries, chips, or (sigh) those cookies that came in a package.

Christine Carter, Ph.D., is a coach and the author of RAISING HAPPINESS: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents.  A sociologist at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, her goal is to help parents bring more joy into their own lives and the lives of their children.

Want more great tips?
Happy Mom Tip #1: Disconnect
Happy Mom Tip #2: Stop Rushing Around
Happy Mom Tip #3: Express Gratitude
Happy Mom Tip #4: Organize
Happy Mom Tip #5: Forgive Someone
Happy Mom Tip #6: Get Excited About Someone Else’s Good News
Happy Mom Tip #7: Celebrate a Mistake
Happy Mom Tip #8: Talk To Strangers
Happy Mom Tip #9: Share Your Good News
Happy Mom Tip #10: Flex Your Generosity Muscle
Happy Mom Tip #11: Be Kind
Happy Mom Tip #12: Take a Break 
Happy Mom Tip #13: Dance Around
Happy Mom Tip #14: Make Yourself Guffaw
Happy Mom Tip #15: Take a Stroll
Happy Mom Tip #16: Go Out and Play With Some Friends
Happy Mom Tip #17: Give Out Some Hugs
Happy Mom Tip #18: Find Some Inspiration
Happy Mom Tip #19: Get Out into Nature
Happy Mom Tip #20: Imagine Your “Best Possible Future Self”
Happy Mom Tip #21: Get Enough Sleep
Happy Mom Tip #22: Let Yourself Feel What You Feel
Happy Mom Tip #23: Expose Yourself to Someone Else’s Pain
Happy Mom Tip #24: Turn Off the Boob Tube
Happy Mom Tip #25: Don’t Buy That Thing That You Really Want
Happy Mom Tip #26: Take a Blatant Nap
Happy Mom Tip #27: Play a Game That Makes You Happy
Happy Mom Tip #28: Spend Some Time Alone
Happy Mom Tip #29: Take a Power Nap
Happy Mom Tip #30: Learn Something New
Happy Mom Tip #31: Have an Easy Morning
Happy Mom Tip #32: One Kind Thing.
Happy Mom Tip #33: Exhale. Twice.
Happy Mom Tip #34: Stop Stalling 
Happy Mom Tip #35: Make Your Task List More Fun
Happy Mom Tip #36: Ignore Your Kids
Happy Mom Tip #37: Take 20
Happy Mom Tip #38: Call a Friend
Happy Mom Tip #39: Lower Your Expectations
Happy Mom Tip #40: Commit to Kindness
Happy Mom Tip #41: Automate a Hassle
Happy  Mom Tip #42: Say No to Someone Besides Yourself
Happy Mom Tip #43: Hang Out with an Animal
Happy Mom Tip #44: Listen to Your Favorite Songs

photo courtesy of Moyan_Brenn via Creative Commons

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