We will try to keep you up to date with parenting news.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
New Forum
Check out our exciting new forum on the website where you can ask questions, answer questions and gain important information.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Childhood worse in US and UK
According to a UNICEF report that ranked 21 developed nations in six categories that included health, education, relationships, behaviors and risks, material well-being and young people’s own sense of happiness, the U.S. and U.K. came up dead last overall, respectively 20th and 21st. Not surprisingly, the countries that ranked as the best places to be a child included the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark (these Nordic states frequently top this and similar rankings). What was perhaps the most surprising outcome of this survey was that children living in the most developed and best-off countries weren’t necessarily the best-off in terms of their own well-being. Some have tried to explain these findings by suggesting that these wealthier nations’ lower rankings were the result of less spending on social programs and intense competition in the job market that led to adults spending less time with their children.
It would be interesting to compare the long-hours culture in the US and the UK and its development over the years with the impact this is having on our children.
The highest individual ranking achieved by the U.S. was in education, where it placed 12th, though it ranked worse than most other countries for reading, mathematics and scientific literacy. Even worse, it placed second to last for the percent of 15- to 19-year-olds in full or part-time education. As The Economist succinctly explained it in its latest issue, Britain came up short in the rankings due to three primary factors: “sex, booze and horrid friends.” British children were least likely to trust their peers (just 43 percent were willing to describe them as “kind and helpful”) although, ironically, they were the most likely to have engaged in sex with them by the age of 15 (38 percent). Furthermore, they were also more likely to get drunk and the third-biggest consumers of marijuana.
While there hasn’t been too much fuss made in the U.S. over this report, British opposition politicians, including Conservative leader and prime ministerial hopeful David Cameron, were quick to criticize the Tony Blair-led Labor government for the country’s shortcomings. In the wake of this report and the recent string of killings of teenage boys in South London, Cameron tried to capitalize on the furor by strongly promulgating his view that family life is more important than the creation of material wealth. Though his appeal was certainly plausible, his set of policies to address this crisis, including a crackdown on fathers negligent in their duties to care for their children and financial inducements to encourage marriage, seemed rushed and impractical.
In the U.S., this unremarkable performance will only help to provide more ammunition to those who have long clamored for a massive overhaul of our current Health Management Organization (HMO)-centered private health care system in favor of a single-payer, single-product model such as the one successfully applied by our Canadian neighbors. As Daniel McFadden, a professor of economics and the director of the Econometrics Laboratory at Berkeley, explained in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed, the U.S. needs to focus on implementing three substantial reforms to fix our looming health care crisis: wring out the underlying inefficiencies in our system that contribute to over 30 percent of health care costs; bring universal health insurance coverage with a special emphasis on preventive medicine to keep the high cost of expensive procedures down; and promote incentives that match choice of expensive treatments with consumers’ willingness to pay for them. Similar plans proposed by Robert H. Frank of the Johnson School of Cornell University and his colleagues would greatly help to alleviate the extremely high per capita fee we pay each year on health care, around $6,102 (compare that to the amount Canadians pay, roughly $3,165), and, by focusing on more cost-efficient preventive measures, allow us to create a system that would cover all Americans. The continual graying of our population and the tendency for older individuals to live longer than before makes it especially necessary that we urgently deal with this looming crisis -- health care costs are projected to rise to 40 percent as a proportion of the GDP by 2050.
Although the UNICEF report is open to criticism, mostly due to the fact that much of the data used dates back to 2000 and that measures such as affluence were assessed in relative terms, it is certainly not, as the Times of London harshly characterized it, “unalloyed, ideological nonsense.” The future of our nation depends on the well-being and achievements of our children. How does this make you feel when you look at your children today. Let's move to Holland!
It would be interesting to compare the long-hours culture in the US and the UK and its development over the years with the impact this is having on our children.
The highest individual ranking achieved by the U.S. was in education, where it placed 12th, though it ranked worse than most other countries for reading, mathematics and scientific literacy. Even worse, it placed second to last for the percent of 15- to 19-year-olds in full or part-time education. As The Economist succinctly explained it in its latest issue, Britain came up short in the rankings due to three primary factors: “sex, booze and horrid friends.” British children were least likely to trust their peers (just 43 percent were willing to describe them as “kind and helpful”) although, ironically, they were the most likely to have engaged in sex with them by the age of 15 (38 percent). Furthermore, they were also more likely to get drunk and the third-biggest consumers of marijuana.
While there hasn’t been too much fuss made in the U.S. over this report, British opposition politicians, including Conservative leader and prime ministerial hopeful David Cameron, were quick to criticize the Tony Blair-led Labor government for the country’s shortcomings. In the wake of this report and the recent string of killings of teenage boys in South London, Cameron tried to capitalize on the furor by strongly promulgating his view that family life is more important than the creation of material wealth. Though his appeal was certainly plausible, his set of policies to address this crisis, including a crackdown on fathers negligent in their duties to care for their children and financial inducements to encourage marriage, seemed rushed and impractical.
In the U.S., this unremarkable performance will only help to provide more ammunition to those who have long clamored for a massive overhaul of our current Health Management Organization (HMO)-centered private health care system in favor of a single-payer, single-product model such as the one successfully applied by our Canadian neighbors. As Daniel McFadden, a professor of economics and the director of the Econometrics Laboratory at Berkeley, explained in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed, the U.S. needs to focus on implementing three substantial reforms to fix our looming health care crisis: wring out the underlying inefficiencies in our system that contribute to over 30 percent of health care costs; bring universal health insurance coverage with a special emphasis on preventive medicine to keep the high cost of expensive procedures down; and promote incentives that match choice of expensive treatments with consumers’ willingness to pay for them. Similar plans proposed by Robert H. Frank of the Johnson School of Cornell University and his colleagues would greatly help to alleviate the extremely high per capita fee we pay each year on health care, around $6,102 (compare that to the amount Canadians pay, roughly $3,165), and, by focusing on more cost-efficient preventive measures, allow us to create a system that would cover all Americans. The continual graying of our population and the tendency for older individuals to live longer than before makes it especially necessary that we urgently deal with this looming crisis -- health care costs are projected to rise to 40 percent as a proportion of the GDP by 2050.
Although the UNICEF report is open to criticism, mostly due to the fact that much of the data used dates back to 2000 and that measures such as affluence were assessed in relative terms, it is certainly not, as the Times of London harshly characterized it, “unalloyed, ideological nonsense.” The future of our nation depends on the well-being and achievements of our children. How does this make you feel when you look at your children today. Let's move to Holland!
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Chinese New Year
Tomorrow is the beginning of the Year of the Pig. Find out where the nearest celebration is to you. If you live in Birmingham, the Arcadian Centre will be holding the annual chinese new year celebrations with dragon dancers, traditional chinese dancers. The kids will love buying paper dragons and of course you can enjoy the wonderful chinese food of the area.
Chinese New Year is a tradition stretching back centuries and to Chinese communities at home and abroad it’s as important a celebration as Christmas in Europe or Thanksgiving in America with as much thought and preparation going in to the event and just as many superstitions and traditions involved.Preparations for the New Year begin a month in advance with presents bought, decorations hung and houses cleaned from top to bottom to sweep away bad luck while, in China, doors and windows are given a fresh coat of paint. The festivities really begin however on New Year’s Eve with the whole family, donning their finest red garb (the Chinese symbol of good luck) coming together for a feast of seafood, dumplings and seaweed, with each dish representing good luck, fortune and longevity. Following dinner fireworks are lit to welcome in the New Year at midnight, this symbolises the sending away of the old year.On New Year’s Day the tradition of Hong Bao commences with red packets of money given to children and unmarried adults before people take to the streets to greet their neighbours. The end of the celebrations are marked by the Festival of Lanterns, the singing and dancing street festivities that we recognise in the West as the usual Chinese New Year event.Throughout the UK Chinese New Year is celebrated with fabulous street parties complete with dancing ladies, music and the infamous dragon. The most well known of these celebrations takes place in London’s Chinatown, an event which draws in thousands of onlookers every year.2007 Year of the Pig
According to the Chinese, 2007 is Year of the Pig, beginning on February 18, 2007 and ending on February 6, 2008. To me this sounds like a great deal, pigs are highly intelligent and resourceful, plus they get to wallow about all day eating – what more could you ask for?
Due to the inherent nature of the Pig, you can expect 2007 to be a year filled with entertainment, fun and joy. The Pig is a very good-natured individual and makes a wonderful friend. They are a bundle of fun to be around and are always honest and caring, compassionate and peaceful individuals.
2007 specifically is the year of the Fire Pig and as such anyone who is born this year can be sure be to active, outgoing and extroverted, breathing life into everything they associate themselves with.
What’s Your Sign?
According to legend Buddha called twelve animals to him before he left earth, those twelve now rule over their relative years and lend their characteristics to those born under them…so are you a slippery snake or a cuddly rabbit?Rat: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
Rats are charming and generous but can be snappy and critical.Famous Rats: Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Prince Harry
Ox: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009Born leaders, Oxen are strong and reliable.Famous Oxen: Kate Beckinsale, George Clooney, Keira Knightley
Tiger:1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010Tigers are said to be strong adventurous as well as being real risk takers.Famous Tigers: Charlotte Church, Robbie Williams, Kate Moss
Rabbit: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011Although affectionate and friendly Rabbits can be a bit vain.Famous Rabbits: Jamie Oliver, David Beckham, Brad Pitt
Dragon: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1989, 2000Fun loving and popular, Dragons are the life and soul of the party.Famous Dragons: Teri Hatcher, Elle MacPherson, John Lennon
Snake: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1990, 2001Although sometimes selfish, Snakes are romantic and wise.Famous Snakes: Orlando Bloom, Sarah Jessica Parker, Liv TylerHorse: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1991, 2002
Horses are hardworking and intelligent but look out for that self absorbed streak!Famous Horses: Jordan, Katie Holmes, Kanye West
Sheep: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1992, 2003Sheep are said to be artistic and charming but can’t resist a good moan.Famous Sheep: Jodie Marsh, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts
Monkey: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1993, 2004Lucky Monkeys are intelligent and loved by all.Famous Monkeys: Kylie Minogue, Jessica Simpson, Jake Gyllenhall
Rooster:1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1994, 2005The most hard working of all the animals, Roosters can come across as bossy.Famous Roosters: Sienna Miller, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton
Dog: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1995, 2006Faithful is any Dog’s middle name but they can sometimes worry too much.Famous Dogs: Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Kirsten Dunst
Pig/Boar: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1996, 2007Born entertainers, Boars are tolerant of all and make great friends.Famous Boars: Elton John, Ewan McGregor, Kate Bosworth
Happy New Year.
Chinese New Year is a tradition stretching back centuries and to Chinese communities at home and abroad it’s as important a celebration as Christmas in Europe or Thanksgiving in America with as much thought and preparation going in to the event and just as many superstitions and traditions involved.Preparations for the New Year begin a month in advance with presents bought, decorations hung and houses cleaned from top to bottom to sweep away bad luck while, in China, doors and windows are given a fresh coat of paint. The festivities really begin however on New Year’s Eve with the whole family, donning their finest red garb (the Chinese symbol of good luck) coming together for a feast of seafood, dumplings and seaweed, with each dish representing good luck, fortune and longevity. Following dinner fireworks are lit to welcome in the New Year at midnight, this symbolises the sending away of the old year.On New Year’s Day the tradition of Hong Bao commences with red packets of money given to children and unmarried adults before people take to the streets to greet their neighbours. The end of the celebrations are marked by the Festival of Lanterns, the singing and dancing street festivities that we recognise in the West as the usual Chinese New Year event.Throughout the UK Chinese New Year is celebrated with fabulous street parties complete with dancing ladies, music and the infamous dragon. The most well known of these celebrations takes place in London’s Chinatown, an event which draws in thousands of onlookers every year.2007 Year of the Pig
According to the Chinese, 2007 is Year of the Pig, beginning on February 18, 2007 and ending on February 6, 2008. To me this sounds like a great deal, pigs are highly intelligent and resourceful, plus they get to wallow about all day eating – what more could you ask for?
Due to the inherent nature of the Pig, you can expect 2007 to be a year filled with entertainment, fun and joy. The Pig is a very good-natured individual and makes a wonderful friend. They are a bundle of fun to be around and are always honest and caring, compassionate and peaceful individuals.
2007 specifically is the year of the Fire Pig and as such anyone who is born this year can be sure be to active, outgoing and extroverted, breathing life into everything they associate themselves with.
What’s Your Sign?
According to legend Buddha called twelve animals to him before he left earth, those twelve now rule over their relative years and lend their characteristics to those born under them…so are you a slippery snake or a cuddly rabbit?Rat: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
Rats are charming and generous but can be snappy and critical.Famous Rats: Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Prince Harry
Ox: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009Born leaders, Oxen are strong and reliable.Famous Oxen: Kate Beckinsale, George Clooney, Keira Knightley
Tiger:1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010Tigers are said to be strong adventurous as well as being real risk takers.Famous Tigers: Charlotte Church, Robbie Williams, Kate Moss
Rabbit: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011Although affectionate and friendly Rabbits can be a bit vain.Famous Rabbits: Jamie Oliver, David Beckham, Brad Pitt
Dragon: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1989, 2000Fun loving and popular, Dragons are the life and soul of the party.Famous Dragons: Teri Hatcher, Elle MacPherson, John Lennon
Snake: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1990, 2001Although sometimes selfish, Snakes are romantic and wise.Famous Snakes: Orlando Bloom, Sarah Jessica Parker, Liv TylerHorse: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1991, 2002
Horses are hardworking and intelligent but look out for that self absorbed streak!Famous Horses: Jordan, Katie Holmes, Kanye West
Sheep: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1992, 2003Sheep are said to be artistic and charming but can’t resist a good moan.Famous Sheep: Jodie Marsh, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts
Monkey: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1993, 2004Lucky Monkeys are intelligent and loved by all.Famous Monkeys: Kylie Minogue, Jessica Simpson, Jake Gyllenhall
Rooster:1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1994, 2005The most hard working of all the animals, Roosters can come across as bossy.Famous Roosters: Sienna Miller, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton
Dog: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1995, 2006Faithful is any Dog’s middle name but they can sometimes worry too much.Famous Dogs: Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Kirsten Dunst
Pig/Boar: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1996, 2007Born entertainers, Boars are tolerant of all and make great friends.Famous Boars: Elton John, Ewan McGregor, Kate Bosworth
Happy New Year.