News

News update: February 2010

This month’s newsletter coincides with the launch of a new area on the website which can be used to share funny stories from our schools / colleges. If you go to the tab on the left-hand side of the screen entitled Funnies and click it you will see a large number of funny scenarios and howlers which have been collected. If you have any good examples of funny stories, then e-mail them to me and I will upload them – so that they can be shared with everyone else.

In next month’s newsletter there will be another free download available following the success of last month’s free e-book download - Behaviour Solutions: Ways to Manage Challenging Students.

Boys falling behind girls 

Figures recently released by the DCSF showing the number of 5 year olds who reach Government Early Learning Goals indicate that after one year in education 17% of boys cannot hold a pencil, write their own names or write simple words. Girls at the same stage are improving their writing skills more quickly with only 9% struggling to write their names. These statistics also show a widening gulf in attainment between boys and girls in the key areas of numeracy, social and emotional development and in reading and writing. It is suggested that the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum that schools, nurseries and childminders have to follow is imposing formal learning too soon – particularly for boys.

Parents can act as stress carriers 

The European Journal of Development Psychology recently reported on Researchers from the Academy of Finland who have interviewed 500 teenagers about stress and burn-out. Symptoms identified in teenagers were tiredness, a sense of inadequacy and a cynicism about the value of schooling. Their parents were also questioned about work related stress. A pattern emerged which showed burnt out dads tended to have burnt out sons and working mothers under pressure had daughters in the same boat. Professor Salmela-Aro said ‘The parent of the same gender seems to serve as a role model for the development of burn-out’. Financial worries brought about by the recession will have an impact. As well as absorbing their parents’ worries teenagers may also suffer from lack of attention brought about by busier lifestyles.

Firstborn children show their selfish side 

According to an article in New Scientist, firstborn children are more likely to be successful but this comes at the cost of a less trusting, uncooperative character. Firstborns are likely to give away 25% less money than non-firstborns or only children. The report also stated that firstborns are smarter than younger siblings, are more likely to become leaders whilst younger brood members are likely to be rebellious.

Demise of family meals comes with a cost 

Prue Leith, chairman of the School Food trust has said that the demise of the family meal and the exposure of children to junk food advertising is threatening their health. She warned that ‘knees under the table’ dinners were dying out with parents condoning all day snacking and grazing finger friendly products and chips. Parents are getting their children to avoid the healthy lunches available in school. Miss Leith is ‘scared rigid’ by the power of food firms which bombard children with sophisticated advertising. She said the ‘until we accept that teaching children to like good food is as important to their future success as being literate or numerate, children will succumb to the blandishments of the chip, crisp and chocolate manufacturers, who have massive marketing budgets and know how to sell sand to Bedouins. Selling sugar, salt and fat to kids is a walk in the park’.

Bacon comes from a sheep 

A survey of 800 adults and children conducted on behalf of the Home Grown Cereals Authority in partnership with the National Farmers’ Union asked questions such as from where do breakfast foods such as oats, milk and bacon come. The results show that young people raised on a diet of processed food and ready meals are unable to connect the food they eat with its source. 26% of Under 16s thought bacon came from sheep while 29% believed oats grew on trees. 17% of adults under 30 and children believed eggs were a core ingredient of bread.

Bacon and eggs boosts intelligence 

The Federation of American Societies Experimental Biology journal has published research from the University of North Carolina which suggests eating a breakfast of bacon and eggs could help pregnant women boost the intelligence of their unborn child. A micro-nutrient choline found in pork and eggs can help the baby’s growing brain to develop – particularly the parts of the brain linked to memory and recall. High levels of choline are found in liver, milk, chicken and nuts. This nutrient can also help to protect against heart problems.

Canine Compulsive Disorder 

Researchers at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Massachusetts have found that dogs can suffer from a form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Researchers found a gene that makes animals susceptible to CCD which makes dogs chase their tails, spin in circles and snap at imaginary flies. They hope the discovery of the gene responsible for this in dogs will also be located in human DNA and that a treatment may be developed to help with the condition.

Smashtacular ….. not 

Jean Gross, a Government advisor on children’s speech has said that teenagers have such a limited vocabulary (just 800 words) that they are becoming unemployable. Their limited linguistic range consists of made up words and ‘teenspeak’ from texting and social networking sites. By 16 most teenagers have developed a broad vocabulary of 40 000 words but limit themselves to a much smaller range in daily life. Teenagers need to understand the difference between textspeak and the formal language needed for success in life. For those wondering – smashtacular means something wonderful.

Where do babies come from, mum? 

Parents often struggle to answer such questions and a survey of 2500 parents commissioned by the UKTV channel Watch for the programme ‘What do kids know?’ has found that parents have many head scratching moments caused by such tricky questions from their children. Parents struggle with mathematical and scientific questions as well as with more delicate topics. When lost for an explanation, parents often make up the answer.

How would you respond to some of these most frequently asked questions?

            What is infinity?

            Why is the sky blue?

            Where does wind come from?

            How big is the world?

            Why do you blink?

            Is God real?

            What is time?

            What are black holes?

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