ML Interest Tag: definition

Watch Broadway Shows at Home for Free for a Limited Time

by Jennifer Swartvagher

Broadway theaters have temporarily shut down, but we still have the internet. BroadwayHD, a theater streaming service, is now offering a seven-day free trial as more and more people are finding themselves stuck at home. Normally the service costs $8.99 per month, but right now Broadway HD is offering a free 7 day trial in the wake of the coronavirus closures. 

NYC/Broadway

This subscription service makes Broadway shows available to everyone. High definition cameras capture the performances in front of a live audience. With a catalog of over 270 shows from Broadway classics to Shakespeare, there is bound to be something for everyone. 

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Vlad Alexandru Popa from Pexels

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Disney+ Makes Frozen 2 Available Three Months Earlier Than Planned

by Jennifer Swartvagher

With families needing to socially distance themselves due to the coronavirus, Disney is making things a little easier. The Walt Disney Compnay announced that Frozen 2 would be available on Disney+ beginning Sunday, Mar. 15, which is three months ahead of schedule. This surpise brought much happiness to parents and children during this trying time.

child watching video on laptop

“Frozen 2 has captivated audiences around the world through its powerful themes of perseverance and the importance of family, messages that are incredibly relevant during this time, and we are pleased to be able to share this heartwarming story early with our Disney+ subscribers to enjoy at home on any device,” said Bob Chapek, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company.

Frozen 2 will be available on Disney+ in Canada, the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday, Mar. 17. In the US, the film will initially be available in high definition, with Ultra HD video playback available to all subscribers on Tuesday, Mar. 17.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

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The World Health Organization Now Officially Recognizes Work-Related Burn-Out as Real

by Erica Loop

Is your job stressing you out? You aren’t alone. The World Health Organization now includes “burn-out” as a mental health issue associated with employment in the ICD-11 diagnostic tool.

The frazzled feeling that hits you at the end of a 40 hour (more like 40 plus, plus, plus) week is real. According to the WHO’s ICD-11 definition, “Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”

photo: Energepic.com via Pexels

So how does WHO characterize work-related burn-out? The ICD-11 definition includes, “Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion,” along with, “increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job” and, “reduced professional efficacy.”

Even though the global ICD-11 guidelines now count workplace burn-out as an actual mental health issue (at least when the guidelines take effect in 2022), the U.S.’s DSM-5 diagnostic manual does not include the all-too-common problem. But don’t let that make you feel like the serious case of exhaustion you have is just a case of the post-work Friday evening tireds. Judging by WHO’s newest definition, job-related stress is the real deal for many adults worldwide.

—Erica Loop

 

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How Coding Teaches Kids Computational Thinking Skills

By Roberta Antunes

Photo: Photo Provided By Hack

A simplified definition of computational thinking is “a set of problem solving methods that involve expressing problems and their solutions in ways that a computer could execute.” Upon further exploration, you may find the specifics of this definition a bit intimidating. Let me quickly further summarize it for you:

It is not simply the computer science; it is the related “thought process.” Computational thinking is breaking down a complex problem into smaller parts, looking for similarities within these parts while focusing on only relevant information and developing a step-by-step solution to the problem in a way that a computer and/or person can understand. Although there are literally hundreds of activities your children can pursue to develop both their problem-solving and logic, learning to code is a wonderful way to teach children computational thinking skills.

Why are coding and computational thinking skills so important? I would argue that both coding education and computational thinking should not simply be viewed as important to our children’s intellectual development, but as necessary life skills. Current research continues to show that in the near future, this type of knowledge will be important to our children in anything career path they want to pursue. Computational thinking skills are fundamental skills for all, not just computer scientists.

Coding is a tool that both encourages and cultivates so much in our children. Creativity, analytical ability, critical thinking and collaboration are some of the soft skills that learning to code will enhance. Current research underscores that students who have learned to code are significantly better prepared for the challenges of their personal and professional lives. It is as simple as that!

It is also of critical importance to urge BOTH our girls and boys to learn to code and develop their computational thinking skills. In many cases there remains a discrepancy in these abilities with regard to gender, but recent studies have shown that this imbalance is not related to aptitude but rather cultural factors. As parents, we need to make sure we educate and encourage our girls that the development of these skills is equally important to them! They, too, should be interested and engaged.

Our job remains to encourage our children’s interest in these areas to help prepare them for today as well as the future. Starting early, as with the development of any skill, is critical. We are fortunate that, currently, there variety of products and activities available to help expand our children’s knowledge. I also continue to feel that whatever avenue you pursue for your child to learn these skills, that learning through play and “by doing” is one of the most effective paths to productive learning. I have found that entertaining AND educational is the most effective combination in any sort of curriculum.

It is my belief that computational thinking skills and coding education is critical to our children today and for their future. Currently, our children’s technology knows much more about them than they know about it. As an innovator in the tech space and a mother of a ten year old, my personal mission remains to enable a new generation to feel empowered by technology and feel comfortable in being proactive with it, rather than being beholden to it and consuming it passively. Teaching our children to code and cultivating their computational skills is invaluable to achieving this.

Roberta Antunes is a visionary trailblazer who is motivated by big challenges. Roberta, a prominent female entrepreneur is slated to take the STEM industry by storm. Moved by the desire to make a difference in society, she is determined to make STEM technology available to children across the United States, and thus created Hack.

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Here’s Why Parenting Looks So Much Harder Than It Really Is (Sometimes)

By Gemma Minda Iso

I always have this “bursting” feeling in my ears whenever I listen to parents talking about how difficult their lives are because of their children or how miserable their teenage kids have made them. I am not saying of course that parenting does not have its share of challenges. Being a parent myself, I know that there are so many thuds and thumps along the way. But saying that it’s tough enough to make any parent’s life despicable is definitely far from the truth.

Actually, there is one reason why parents find it so difficult to be the parent that they should be—people’s expectations and what other people might think of them.

There Is No Parenting Formula

Today, each one of us has our own definition of what a parent should be; each one of us has our own set of rules on what we should enforce on our children; each one has a different way of looking at her children.

To add to the confusion are the thousands of self-help books that abound in libraries, in book stores and on the internet telling people what to do with their teenage kids or how to deal with their children. Thus, parents are drawn in on diverse (and sometimes conflicting) ideas on what parenting formula to follow just so they can achieve an iota of peace and harmony in the home.

That is where the real problem comes in because many parents think there is a formula. There isn’t. A mother will have to deal with her son or daughter based on the kind of personality the son or daughter has. The strategies to be carried out must be grounded on the type of temperament the child has, must be based on the child’s inclinations, perceptions, mindsets, attitude and everything else that the child inherently has within him or her.

When dealing with a child or a young adult, we need to follow our instincts. We parents should not listen too much to what other parents are saying to us on what to do with our children or be worried on what other parents will think of our actions and decisions on the way we are handling the issues of our children.

We need to remember always that our children are a lot different from the children of other people, simply because they are unique individuals. Thus, the strategies that have to be implemented should not be the same as what the neighbor parent is doing to her child.

Likewise, what other parents are thinking about us should not make us anxious. They are “outsiders” hence they don’t know what goes on inside the four walls of our domicile so they have no right to make presumptions, conclusions and judgments about us on the way we carry out our responsibilities as parents.

Parenting Is Not an Exact Science

It isn’t math where there is a formula or an equation to be followed in order to arrive at the correct solution/answer. To become a good parent, one needs to work every day with different angles, always ready to traverse diverse slopes, always prepared to see various gradients and work around those numerous perspectives.

While all these maneuvers require from a parent extraordinary emotional maturity and intellectual mellowness, it only demands one trait for a parent to be successful and effective: unconditional love.

This post originally appeared on Gemma Minda Iso/HubPages.

I am one imperfect single mom who never misses a terribly perfect moment with my children. The bummer spells and god-awful times we had were the best moments for me and for them because those were the times that we learn who we are and how much we love each other.

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A Stellar Temporary Adler Exhibit: What Is a Planet?

by Maria Chambers

Why is Pluto no longer a planet? Thanks to the International Astronomical Union (what a mouthful!) declassifying Pluto as a planet in 2006, this is yet another question our kids can ask that some of us might not know how to answer. This is when it’s good to be a Chicagoan because we have places like Adler Planetarium to turn to when we need our kids to think we’re all-knowing. Read on to hear how their temporary exhibit What is a Planet? is providing simple answers to a big question.

Our definition of a planet has changed a lot in the past 500 years. Actually, there wasn’t an official definition until 2006—can you believe that? The word itself has been used along the way to describe the Sun, the Moon and asteroids. And Earth, our most favorite planet of all, wasn’t even considered a planet at one point.

The mission of the exhibit
Who knew people were so passionate about Pluto? They are. And scientists found that out when they demoted Pluto, the last planet to be discovered, from a full-fledged planet to a dwarf planet. People, kids in particular, felt Pluto was being picked on because of its meager size. Letters were written to the voting body who made the decision in defense of this little guy, but its label remained the same – dwarf planet. The purpose of the What is a Planet? exhibit is to explore the reasons behind developing the new definition of what makes a planet and explain why Pluto just didn’t fit the bill. We could give you the answers, because of Adler we know them, but we’ll let you explore the exhibit yourself to find out.

Why we love it
You can walk in virtually clueless about how astronomers classify planets and within minutes have a pretty solid understanding of the definition. And, more importantly, be able to explain it to your littles when they ask. What’s also cool is you can walk in with very little interest in the topic and walk away with a newfound appreciation for the world of astronomy—which, the same could be said with any exhibit you visit at Adler. It’s a pretty fantastic resource we have at our fingertips.

Things to look for
Visitors can cast a vote on how they feel about Pluto’s demotion in an interactive voting poll that shows results in real time. Also, explore artifacts from the Adler collections that illustrate the ever-evolving definition of a planet.

Don’t miss out!
Take note! What is a Planet? is only on display from now through August 18, 2019, so pencil in time soon to check it out!

 

While you’re there
Save time for a visit to the Community Design Lab. Visitors can test different materials to find out which would survive the journey to 100,000 feet above Earth’s surface, build a DIY telescope-mount for smartphones and become an instant astrophotographer by testing it on real telescopes and explore daily scientific challenges developed by Adler experts. With 600 ounces of marshmallows, 10,000 popsicle sticks, 12,000 yards of duct tape, 120 ounces of shaving cream and a steady supply of bubble wrap and cardboard, the design possibilities are endless!

Other ways to explore Adler
Take your fun to the next level by scheduling an Astro-Overnight where kids can participate in hands-on activities and see sky shows. Your kids will be over the moon if you sign them up for summer camp to discover new worlds, engage in eye-opening experiments and play next to Lake Michigan.

What are you waiting for? Show your kids science can be fun!

Adler Planetarium
1300 S. Lake Shore Dr., Museum Campus
Online: adlerplanetarium.org

— Maria Chambers

Photos courtesy of Adler Planetarium

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How to Get Excited About Exercise (So You’ll Actually Do It)

by Shahrzad Warkentin

photo: Pixabay

Whether you hate the monotony of running on a treadmill, or you would rather spend your precious free time doing absolutely nothing, it can be hard to motivate yourself to exercise. New research suggests, however, that you can learn to love it. It’s all about how you approach working out.

A new study published in BMC Public Health has found that people can learn to enjoy exercise and even look forward to it simply by adjusting their perspective on it. In the study of 40 women, the participants were asked about their goals and values, as well as, their feelings and experiences with being physically active. Researchers found that whether the women exercised regularly or not they all had similar things that made them happy: connecting with others, being of service to others, participating in leisure activities and hobbies and feeling relaxed and free from daily pressures.

They also found that the women who were less physically active associated exercise with negative feelings, like dread, pressure and selfishness, as it was viewed as taking away from family time. The study’s lead author Michelle Segar, director of the University of Michigan’s Sport, Health, and Activity Research and Policy Center, told Time, “These women feel alienated by exercise, or feel that they’ve failed when they tried it in the past. They have a very narrow definition of what exercise should look like.”

In order to erase the idea that exercise is an alternative to enjoying free time or socializing with friends, it needs to be reimagined as a method to those same things, “Women need to give themselves permission to use physical activity as a way to relax—to get together with friends or loved ones and take a leisurely stroll, simply because being active and outdoors boosts their mood and makes them feel good.”

Exercise doesn’t need to be a solitary, tedious activity. Any physical activity is better than none. Segar says, “Play tag with your kids, take a dance class or even just climb the stairs a few extra times while you’re doing chores around the house.”

What creative ways do you use to make exercise fun? Share in the comments below.

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10 Things No One Told Me about Being a SAHM

By Sarah West

 

The word SAHM (Stay At Home Mom) was not a word I was too familiar with at one time. I was a career woman, bound and determined to defy all odds and prove that I could be supermom and career woman in one awesome cape.

After a few years of 50 hour work weeks, constant travel for my job on top of cheerleading and T-ball games, I had this bright notion that I would come home and try my hand at SAHM-hood and homeschooling. (Major respect for teachers EVERYWHERE!)

How hard could it possibility be to stay home all day with my children?

My expectations of being home every day were so far off that it is comical.

SAHM-ing is hard work. In fact, I think it is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. Other moms made it look so easy. The blog posts I read about SAHM-hood told me it was be the “best decision a mom could ever make.”

Well, excuse me, but somebody forgot to mention a few things. Here are ten things that no one told me about being a SAHM:

  1. Mommy has multiple meanings. The definition now includes: Wiper of butts, cook, maid, taxi driver, referee, magician, mind-reader, keeper of small useless trinkets and child whisperer.
  2. You will never pee alone again no matter their ages.
  3. In order to avoid having to share your piece of chocolate, you will lower your level of self-respect by hiding in the broom closet to eat it.
  4. Going to the grocery store, alone, is priceless.
  5. When you are around other adults, you totally forget how to carry on adult conversation.
  6. You go to the playground for a break and to see other adults. You might not talk, but there is a silent “I understand” in their eyes.
  7. Even after the kids leave the living room, you find yourself watching Disney Channel (and enjoying it.)
  8. “I’m bored” is the “B” word you want to wash out of their mouth with some soap.
  9. If you had a penny for every time one of your children said, “Hey mom, what if…”
  10. You never understood the concept of love/hate relationships until you became a SAHM.

Yes, SAHM-hood is hard but there is a community of SAHMs out there, including myself, which would not change one single moment. Most of the time, I am tired. I stay frustrated. I daydream about going back to work, but the moment one of my children reaches over and grabs my hand, tells me they love me or I hear one of their awesome laughs, I remember why I am staying home.

Even on my worst days, I cannot imagine life anyway else.

 

 

 

Sarah West is a homeschool mom and freelance writer. She balances her time teaching, speaking and writing about matters of faith and family. Sarah is also the first time author of Walking the Talk: A Parent's Guide to Intimacy and Healthy Relationships. You can keep up with Sarah on her blog.

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Today Is National Macaroon Day

by rtstephen

 

Daily
Today Is National Macaroon Day
Treat yo’ self!
1

That’s macaroon, not macaron. Confused between the difference?
Click here to get the definition.
2

Now that you know the difference, it’s time to vote:
which do you think is better?
3
Be sure your whole household is clear on the concept by whipping up a batch of these amazing chocolate-dipped pineapple macaroons.

{ Today’s ideas brought to you by Bakeries }

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What Happens When Kids Try To Dress Themselves

by Red Tricycle

Sometimes kids have a strange definition of the “perfect outfit.” In this video uploaded by WatchCut Video on Youtube, they let children dress themselves for the very first time. It reminds you how creative kids can be.

Featured image and video courtesy of WatchCut Videos on YouTube

 

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