5 benefits to your child when they engage in competitive sport

There is some discussion that children are joining competitive sports teams too early and that there can be too much pressure to win. However, most agree that children generally would benefit from increased exercise. Far too many children come home after sitting in school all day and either get on the computer or sit in front of the television. By contrast, children on sports teams come home from school and go to practice. The practice sessions provide excellent exercise and could build good health habits that your child will use for the rest of their life.

In addition to the health benefits, participating in a team sport helps your child to learn to be part of a team. Good coaches will emphasize the importance of teamwork and good sportsmanship over winning and losing. 96924666When this is the case your child will be Read More

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Tennis – a sport or much, much more?

Right now we are in the middle of the Australian Open Grand Slam Tennis tournament – and what fun it is. I spent 3 days on Rod Laver Arena last week and enjoyed myself immensely. It brought back two interesting questions that I was asked – one of them I still get asked from time to time.

As many of you will know, I am an Englishman who moved to Australia 12 years ago and one of the regular (still occasional) questions I was asked is :”What is the difference between youth work in England and in Australia?” My response was that the issues young people face seem very similar – what to do in their future, relationships, self esteem, parents 200458390-001etc. Although Australian youth face an additional issue – sport!

I will explain by recounting a conversation I had with a 15 year old guy in Victoria (I will Read More

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Success is Hard Work, But So Is Failure

Some people dream of success . . . while others wake up and work hard at it. – Author Unknown

Just like every action has a consequence, inaction also brings about its own consequences. It may seem easier not to work on your goals and dreams and instead spend most of your time whinging about your hard luck and envying those who seem to have it so easy. You may think you’re taking the path of least resistance as you seek shortcuts and avoid taking big risks, but everything you fail to do now comes back to bite you later. What you fail to realise is that you are working equally hard at failure as you would at success!

Think about that: with everything you do (or don’t do) you are contributing your energy to it. Either you give it your effort, or you give it your resistance. A little piece of you goes into everything you do. Think of it as an energy investment. If you consistently try to avoid the things that seem too difficult or scary – that’s the type of Read More

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A to Z of Achieving Your Dream

This is the time of year when some have left their New Year’s Resolutions behind already but they still want to move forward this year. For others they are still working out what 2012 may hold for them. Today I would like to offer 26 thought starters to help you define and achieve your dreams for your life – in 2012 and way beyond. Feel free to comment below if any of them stand out to you or if you would like some further exploration.

You can follow the dreams theme throughout this week through Facebook and Twitter too – just click on the buttons in the right hand column.

Achieving Your Dream
Age is not an issue
Boldness is often necessary
Challenges create growth
Dare to dream
Express it – tell others about your dream92818476
Failure isn’t final
Give it your best shot
Have Read More

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5 Things to Say to your Daughter the Night before her Wedding

For a father, watching his daughter get married is a bittersweet moment. While you are so proud she has grown up into a beautiful woman and found a man who truly loves her, it is hard to let go of your little girl. She is a woman now and maybe someday soon be raising children of her own. Even though your baby girl is uniting with another man, your role in her life is not forgotten. She will always come to you in times of trouble and share with you her happiest moments. On the day before her wedding, share with her just how very special she is.

Tell your daughter how happy you were the day she was born, how her entering the world changed your life forever. Express your love for her mother and how you hope her marriage brings her as much joy. Explain what it felt like the first time you held her in your arms, the first time you helped her patch up a scraped knee, or the first time you watched her heart get broken. Tell her what a beautiful woman she has Read More

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Daughters

Dads and Daughters

Your role in your daughters life is made very significant because you are the first male that she will relate to and she will constantly be seeking your approval. Whenever possible you should encourage her in two main areas: skills and appearance. Take the time to go and watch her perform in school plays and sporting events and congratulate her on the skills she 86532219shows. At parent teacher evenings, go along and praise her in front of her teachers – don’t make it up or be over the top, be sincere and real. Tell her she is beautiful too – particularly during adolescence she will question her looks and appearance and, as an influential male, you have the privilege of shaping her view of herself. It is important, too, that it is you that tells her these things – affirmation from Mom is Read More

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6 Top Camping Safety Tips

No doubt about it, camping can be fun. But, if you don’t pay attention to safety, your fun camping outing can turn into the camping trip from Hell. What are some of the most important camping safety tips you should know?

1. Plan Ahead. Do your research. Make sure the campground you’ve chosen is a safe one. Make sure there are no current fire dangers. Check out the weather. Any health alerts in the area, such as dangerous bacteria count in the water, or outbreak of any rodent-carrying viruses?

2. Pack the Emergency Kit. Be prepared for cuts, bee stings and allergic reactions. Bring antihistamines, antiseptic, bug sprays and insect repellents, pain relievers, bandages, sunscreen and if possible, a snake-bite kit.

113474376An emergency kit should also include the following items: Whistle, Read More

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Taking your Teen on Holiday

There comes a time when your teenager will no longer automatically want to go on the family holiday – the reasons and factors will vary but some important points your son/daughter will be weighing up are:

  • Where are we going? The location will greatly determine their eagerness to come. There is no set standard – Water world = a definite winner or camping is a definite no no. It greatly depends on your child – but it plays a significant part in their thinking process.
  • Who is going? If they can bring a friend it will give bonus points – if that friend is their boyfriend/girlfriend then you could be onto a winner. (I am not saying you should do these things – just that the improve your chance of their willing attendance)
  • What will they avoid? Staying at home but with relatives could 78631215Read More

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My Psychological Doppelganger

I realise that I am more than mixing metaphors in the title of this post, I am completely messing with an idea and probably losing its point. Let me explain – I understand a doppelganger is someone that looks just like you – your identical twin, your double (or close).

Well I have met someone who has had a very similar life to me, although they look nothing like me physically, which is probably due to the almost 40 years age difference.

My father died when I was 8 – their mother died when they were 7. My mother remarried and I had (Jim recently died) a step father; he has a step mother. I didn’t cry until I was 17 – he still hasn’t “cried properly”. He has HUGE questions about God – “why did He let my mother die” etc – very similar questions that I have asked in my youth.

Our meeting was surreal to me. Of course I have no real idea what he was thinking or feeling about these things. I think Read More

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2nd Twin

The second of the ‘twins’ presented to school in exactly the same way as the first – lethargic, uninterested, de-motivated and ‘switched off’.

However, upon further discussion and questioning, this guy was facing as totally different issue.

He is motivated, he has a purpose and an aim for his life but it doesn’t involve or need school – or at least he can’t see how he needs school. A career in the performing arts is his goal. The next step is to enrol in a performing arts academy to study his craft and his acceptance will be based on interview and audition. The logical conclusion to his reasoning is that academic study is of no use and ion some measure he may be right.

My discussions began to centre on the soft/people skills that are available to him at school. Whilst he may not see the need for scientific study of the human body or the benefits of learning about religion in society there are still things school Read More

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