Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory posits that an individual's development is influenced by a series of interconnected environmental systems, ranging from the immediate surroundings (e.g., family) to broad societal structures (e.g., culture). These systems include the Microsystem, Mesosystem, Exosystem, Macrosystem, and Chronosystem, each representing different levels of environmental influences on an individual's growth and behavior.
A small presentation to Animal Health Protection. Brucellosis is one of the most important zoonoses worldwide affecting livestock and humans caused by Gram negative, facultative intracellular bacteria of the genus Brucella. Most of Brucella can infect animals other than their preferred hosts. The disease has a considerable impact on community and animal…
Last year the cup stack was one of my FAVORITE team building activities (see post here). So, naturally, I wanted to give it another shot! The Cup Stack is a fun, yet challenging activity that promotes team work. The supplies are basic: cups, string, rubber bands. I go ahead and tie the string to the rubber bands so it is ready to go. I make a few for groups of 4 and a few for groups of 5, this way no matter what the numbers are in the classroom I can make it work. I start by asking students what teamwork is. What does it look like? sound like? feel like? We brainstorm a list of ideas that I hang in the classroom for students to refer to. Each class comes up with a variety of ideas, but they all center around the same theme. Then I introduce their challenge. I start off my admitting that this will be a frustrating activity. We discuss ways to handle our stress and feelings that arise when others make a mistake or don't do what we want them to do. I model that they will each be given 6 cups and a rubberband with strings attached to it. Their job is to stack the cups into a design by only holding onto their individual string. I demonstrate that when everyone pulls on their string the rubberband opens wider, and vice versa. I also show them the challenges of picking up a cup that has tipped on its side or fallen on the floor. No matter what happens, they must follow the one rule: YOU CAN ONLY TOUCH YOUR STRING. No touching the rubber band, no touching the cup, and no touching other group member's strings. I reinforce how communication is so important in order to reach the goal. Then I set them off. Here are some videos and pics. After about 10-15 minutes, we pause and reflect on our experiences. I ask them to rate their group on how well they worked together using the ideas we wrote at the beginning of the lesson. I ask them what went well for their group. I also ask them what didn't go well for their group. We talk about different strategies and ways we an handle ourselves when things don't go the way we want them to. Throughout the activity I walk around and facilitate positive communication, so I usually have a few examples to help springboard the discussion.
The food we eat brings us together as families, communities & nations. It underpins our cultures, our economies & our relationship with the natural world. #FoodSystems touch every aspect of human existence. Food & agriculture lie at the ❤️ of the #SDGs. Image by @FAO #UNFSS2021
Children will go on a nature walk and observe their surroundings, then write a letter to nature, in this two-page writing and mindfulness worksheet.
With the help of 90 extraordinary craftspeople from 18 countries, artist-architect duo Ansh and Raghav Kumar built this fairytale home in Rishikesh in 547 days
Children often suffer from impetigo, a bacterial infection in the skin that makes it look ugly. It occurs in kids who are between 2 to 6 years of age.
Although I am writing this series for therapists, the truth is, when it comes to facing our families, just as when it comes to our personal change, we are only human--we are the same as our clients. This is one of the benefits of our own family of origin (FOO) exploration: We can confident
Herbalists build their herbal libraries throughout their herbal training. To start, here are 6 herbal books that we think are worth the investment!
Einem Auslands-Aufenthalt mit Kindern steht nichts entgegen – wenn er gut vorbereitet ist. Hier ein paar Tipps für Expats mit Kindern!
Editable Word doc IB PYP Homework with family, Culture Questionnaire, Who we are IB PYP Transdisciplinary Themes Who We Are An inquiry into the nature of the self: beliefs and values; personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; human relationships including families, friends, communities, and cultures; rights and responsibilities; what it means to be human. Homework with their family. Let their family get involved with learning community organizations.
Playgrounds spread across America in the early 20th century as cities grew and the movement for public recreation started to gain momentum. From the very beginning, Black leaders recognized the value of parks and playgrounds and advocated at all levels for investment in, and access to, these spaces. These courageous stories of vision and action...
Ignite your curiosity at the Penn State Arboretum: A 350-acre oasis of diverse flora perfect for families, nature lovers, and researchers seeking an enriching experience.
Have you heard of the Interactive Resource Center (IRC)? Do you know much about homelessness in Greensboro? I admit, even though I consider myself to be fairly on top of what's going on in our community, I didn't know enough. I still don't know enough. However, today I had the opportunity to help move some cots into the IRC for the people who are about to be displaced by the emergency closing of Heritage House. I was helping a friend who works at the IRC with the cots, and she was kind enough to give me a tour and more information on what the IRC is and what they do for the people in our city who are managing homelessness. I was blown away by this wonderful resource center. They have amenities on site to help meet basic needs (showers, laundry, barbershop) but also provide a computer room, a mail room, a phone bank, a day room, a medical clinic, and more. They also house the Artifacts Cooperative, The Greensboro Voice, Changing Gears, and Food Not Bombs. On top of all that, they have edible landscaping and gardens. There are plenty of ways to help the IRC throughout the year. Read about these opportunities on their website http://gsodaycenter.org/get-involved/ and http://gsodaycenter.org/support-the-irc/ However, right now, the IRC needs help! They need VOLUNTEERS, BLANKETS, SHEETS, TOWELS, PERSONAL CARE ITEMS (shampoo, soap, shaving cream, toothpaste/toothbrushes, etc), and certain kinds of NON-PERISHABLE FOODS. (IRC is not a food bank, but will be serving as an emergency shelter so their requests are specific - please email [email protected] for appropriate items). *If you have any of these items to donate, and aren't able to travel to the IRC to drop them off, please contact me (Becky) at [email protected] and I will work with you to coordinate the collection of items. IRC #CommunityWorks From the IRC website: "We didn’t start this week at the IRC thinking that we would need to provide emergency beds by next week, but we are up to the challenge. Like everyone in the great city of Greensboro, the IRC is prepared to work with our partners and the City as we all coordinate a response to the emergency closing of Heritage House. According to WXII, the City of Greensboro must shut down the 178 unit-building due to at least 800 code violations. Learn more about the City effort to coordinate assistance here. The IRC is preparing to open as an Emergency Shelter to residents of Heritage House starting July 30th, 2014 when property is boarded up. IRC staff, along with our partners at the Greensboro Housing Coalition and many other locations, will work with residents to find permanent housing solutions. Transitioning from day services to additionally being open for nighttime emergency shelter will necessitate the IRC to operate on a 24 hour basis for the immediate future. In preparation for the Emergency Shelter opening, we are asking for community support at this time to help us purchase cots and bedding. #communityworks Please consider supporting this emergency funding campaign here." This graphic shows the services offered at the IRC: IRC Services This graphic shows a snapshot of what they did in January 2014 - pretty incredible, right?! Interactive Resource Center snapshot - January 2014
Living in Estonia, one of the world's new start-up hubs, is more possible than ever with E-residency. Read if you are considering making the move.
My wife and I have had our share of marriage highs and lows, but now she tells me that she is tired of trying to make it work with me. We don’t have any children, so there really isn’t anything keeping her in our marriage besides our history together. How can we reconnect?
Every person has human rights from birth. They are all enshrined in the Declaration of Human Rights, approved by the international community. The first right is the right to life. No one can humiliate someone, either morally or physically. Nobody can bea…
8 years ago, my husband and I, along with my parents visited Iceland. It was the first time Hubby and I set foot in this country but my parents are seasoned visitors. My dad has always been in love with the country and his trips are now into double figures. My dad wanted to share his love and passion for this country and so, for my 21st, he surprised us with a trip. Iceland is like no other country I had visited and I could see why he loved it so much. A land of black lava, white snow, green moss and, well, ice - it's landscapes have captured the hearts of many. On our short visit, we managed to see so much, even a volcanic eruption (the one that disrupted much of UK airports!), the memories made have and will always stay with me. In recent years I've often wondered about sharing this beautiful place with my own children. It's often a place associated with romantic couples weekend vacations, but I firmly believe this would be a place where children could gain so much from and of course have copious amounts of fun. So with my experience and some research I have done, here are my tips on visiting Iceland with kids. Times if year to visit Iceland is somewhere which can be visited all year round, but depending on what you'd like to do and see, there are some advantages to visiting at certain times of the year. If you're after snow and ice, winter can be a spectacular time to visit. Temperatures can plummet as low as -30°C, with December to February the iciest months. This may be off-putting to some, but as long as you're dressed appropriately, this doesn't take anything away from the enjoyment that can be had. We didn't visit Iceland during this time, but having experienced temperatures of -26oc in Finland, I know that the temperatures (as long as you're well dressed) doesn't impact your experience. If anything it's pretty incredible to feel your hair freeze! If you're after the Northern Lights, they can be seen from September until April. Of course, there are no guarantees and we were not lucky enough, what a spectacular sight it must be. Of course, being so close the north pole, daylight can be an issue. Late November through December and January are the darkest of months. Of course, Icelandic people are used to this and again, it doesn't hamper your visit. Though, it may be harder to capture moments on camera. On the flipside, June and July are the months of the midnight sun. Due to these changes, when travelling with children (younger children in particular) you may find they're a little thrown by this and bedtimes may be an issue. To help, make sure they have familiar things from home to help. Be it the same routine, a cuddly toy, or the same bath products - try to keep things familiar. Places to stay There are so many amazing options available, something that's on the top of my list for next time we visit is hiring a campervan! Iceland camper rental with 4x4 drive is the perfect way to travel (and stay!) around Iceland giving you a bit more freedom in your adventure. If hotels are more your thing, there are many that have family rooms, such as The Aldo Hotel, which is based in Reykjaviks historial disctrict. For families, it has the convenience of being located on Laugavegur, the city's main shopping and dining street. If you have rented a car to explore the island, parking is easy, street parking is plentiful and cheap, as is the car park around the corner. In the morning, enjoy a breakfast buffet before departing and discovering the city or the beautiful countryside. If you prefer the comforts of self-catering, there are so many to choose from, from apartments to log cabins, you will be sure to find something that suites for families needs. Places to visit Reykjavik We adored Reykjjavik when we visited, it was unlike any other city we had visited. It a safe and clean city with a compact centre that’s simple to navigate on foot and provides easy access to nature. Locals are also very open to youngsters, you’ll find a high chair in every café and see babies sleeping in their buggies outside on the sidewalk while their parents are inside. Icelandic people are incredibly friendly and very welcoming and always happy to help. Within Reykjavik there are museums such as The National Museum and Víkin Maritime Museum. And for a pit stop, Sandholt bakery and Kaffitar at Eymundsson bookstore on Skolavörðustígur come highly recommended. The bookstore is a perfect hangout for families who like books in combination with the Icelandic doughnut, kleina. Horse Riding I remember on my Dad's very first visit to Iceland he brought me back on Icelandic horses. Since then I always wanted to see them. On our trip we were lucky enough to see them and I fell this is something my own children would absolutely love. The Icelandic Horse offers daily tours which range between 1-2 hours and are ideal for travellers staying in Reykjavík and surrounding. About a 10 minutes drive from the centre. Me, 2008 South Coast Tour No trip to Iceland wouldn't be complete without a trip to the Geysirs, waterfalls, and volcanoes. These can be all seen easily with the aid of hiring a vehicle. If you’re adventurous and plan on taking a self-drive tour to access Iceland’s highlands, then you’ll need to be driving a 4x4 WD. It's worth noting that some of the roads in the countryside will be rougher, narrower, and far more hazardous than you are used to. Their country roads often felt like we were driving off-road (which we weren't of course)! The weather is another potential hazard and you should only hire a car if you feel confident in driving in such conditions. It's also important to mention that off-road driving is illegal in Iceland, as it damages the delicate nature, and is punishable with very high fines. If you don't fancy driving then tours of the south coast of Iceland can be purchased, covering various combinations of attractions. For me, a trip to see these natural wonders are a must for children and adults alike. It's unlikely you will have seen anything quite like it and children can gain so much from these experiences. Blue Lagoon The Blue Lagoon is a must-see, despite being a spa, its another natural phenomenon that just can't be missed. Children over the age of two are allowed to visit. This indulging experience can be so much fun for kiddies. The joy of dunking hands into the gooey white gloop and then painting it on your body is pretty much every child's dream to get messy! A big bonus to this experience is that children aged 2-13 are free. This is an experience that you must pre-book, so make sure this is first on your to-do list. Reminiscing about my own trip has seriously made me want to re-visit with the children, I know it's a place they would love adore. It's time to get saving my pennies! Mummy B xoxox *Collaborative Post
"Mom says it’s because you don’t like us anymore.”
The Conestoga hut is 6 by 10 foot shelter that can be built for between $250 and $500 depending on the utilization of re-used or donated materials.
Introduction Permaculture design is essentially a multi-faceted, integrated and ecologically harmonious method of designing human-centred landscapes. By human-centred what is meant is that an ideal pe
While the family is isolated from the pandemic, these activities for children encourage resourcefulness, creativity, and community mindedness.
The Perfect Gift Idea to Spread Christmas Kindness, Elf Bag Toppers, Kindness Gifts, Gift Tags, Kindness Elves, Advent ideas, Holiday gifts for under $5
This landscape artist won the British Art Prize’s People’s Choice Award for a powerful piece, which blends emotions with cultural resilience
Homeschool socialization can be a real concern, but a natural solution is to be in healthy community as a homeschool family. Here are ideas!
This book is dangerous. In its essence, Retrosuburbia inspires us all to stay right where we are. Turning our suburbs upside down, to make the world we want.
All places in the Atlas, on one map.
Guest post by Leah Damon - @leahdamon I spent the majority of my childhood growing up as a missionary child in a remote village in the beautiful wilderness of the West African bush. Most of my tribal friends lived in mud huts without the conveniences of clocks, watches, or other technology, and the concept of
I'm talking cervical facts, what the cervix looks like, feels like and does- even why mine sometimes gets hit in that one position and sometimes doesn't.
A blog about attachment parenting and natural family living.
