Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Greenbelt / Blog

Greenbelt 2010… on your phone

Released last week, the Greenbelt 2010 iPhone app has already attracted considerable acclaim from eagle-eyed twitter users who saw our late night celebration of its release.
Building on the success of last year's app, we've added this year's programme (obviously), an all new browse system, a revised updates system to keep you posted on what changes [...]

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I just wanted to let you know - in case you haven't already discovered - that there are two ways that you can get a sneak peak of the full Greenbelt programme before you arrive on site:

1. You can download a pdf of the Daily Diary from the Greenbelt website here: http://www.greenbelt.org.uk/?p=1571

2. If you have an iPhone, you can purchase the official Greenbelt application: http://itunes.apple.com/uk/app/greenbelt-festival-guide-2010/id386598810?mt=8
  • The Hub, Church Times and G-Store going up

    Video 23/08/2010

  • Greenbelt Festival
  • "The future of Christianity in a plural world involves living out a fresh, hopeful way for humanity, rooted in critical faith and action for justice and peace," says Ekklesia co-director Simon Barrow. "It is not about clinging to privilege, preaching at people from on high and becoming caught up with inward-looking arguments."

    Greenbelt 2010, backed by global development agency Christian Aid and a range of other organisations, is expected to attract some 21,000 people from 27-30 August at Cheltenham Racecourse.

  • The Line-up for Greenbelt 2010 is bold, innovative, daring and exciting. Talks features new faces to Greenbelt alongside established favourites; the Literature programme encompasses poetry, journalism, printed word and new media; Visual Arts work includes installation, participation and craft; and Comedy features puns, wit, satire and whimsy.

    With plenty still to be announced across the wider programme (including - of course - a strong programme of Music, from Mainstage headliners to Performance Cafe troubadours), there's something for all ages, all backgrounds; those who want to be challenged and those who just want to be entertained; those with a faith and those with none. It's Greenbelt 2010: The Art of Looking Sideways, and it's going to be brilliant.

Weather for this week in Cheltenham

Location InformationSun InformationMoon
Tools
Lat : 51.9N Lon : 2.1W ASL : 81m Rise : 6:07 BST Set : 20:12 BST

DayTimeTempFeelsUVPressureRainCloudDirSpeedWeather
Wed 25 AugMorning15 °c15 °c11014 mb0.3 mm100 %4 mph
In Detail
Afternoon15 °c12 °c11012 mb2.6 mm100 %5 mph

Evening11 °c9 °c01007 mb15.2 mm100 %8 mph

Thu 26 AugMorning12 °c10 °c01006 mb1.3 mm98 %9 mph
In Detail
Afternoon13 °c12 °c01008 mb2.8 mm99 %10 mph

Evening11 °c9 °c01009 mb0.7 mm94 %7 mph

Fri 27 AugMorning13 °c12 °c11011 mb0.4 mm99 %7 mph
In Detail
Afternoon17 °c17 °c31013 mb0.7 mm91 %4 mph

Evening10 °c9 °c01017 mb0.0 mm33 %5 mph

Sat 28 AugMorning14 °c13 °c21021 mb0.0 mm0 %5 mph
In Detail
Afternoon18 °c18 °c61020 mb0.2 mm20 %6 mph

Evening8 °c7 °c01021 mb0.0 mm18 %4 mph

Sun 29 AugMorning14 °c13 °c21019 mb0.1 mm87 %9 mph
In Detail
Afternoon17 °c17 °c41018 mb0.4 mm58 %11 mph

Evening7 °c5 °c01021 mb0.0 mm2 %7 mph

Mon 30 AugMorning12 °c11 °c21024 mb0.0 mm7 %7 mph
In Detail
Afternoon16 °c16 °c71024 mb0.0 mm3 %5 mph

Evening6 °c5 °c01026 mb0.0 mm49 %4 mph

Greenbelt Festival Quick links: Buy weekend tickets | Buy day tickets | See the full lineup | Download the Daily Diary | Press

Weather for Cheltenham

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15°C | °F
Current: Partly Cloudy
Wind: N at 0 mph
Humidity: 82%
Wed
Chance of Rain
15°C | 12°C
Thu
Chance of Rain
18°C | 8°C
Fri
Chance of Rain
18°C | 8°C
Sat
Clear
18°C | 9°C

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Be a better parent – and improve your child's mental health

Mothers developing nurturing skills on pilot course report big drop in behavioural problems among their children

Nicola Williams and her children
Parent and teacher . . . Nicola Williams and her children. Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian

As a parent it can sometimes feel as if you are drowning in conflicting information about your child's requirements; what they should be eating, what they should be learning. But there is one area where we might all like a little more help; how to improve parenting skills that can be of long-term benefit to their mental health.

One in 10 children in the UK suffers from a diagnosable mental health disorder, and mental health issues for young people are an increasingly urgent concern. Now a pilot project in Southwark, south London, has found that teaching parents skills and techniques to better care for their children is having impressive consequences. The Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities course offers training in parenting, then teaches the mothers and fathers how to pass on what they have learnt. The results, for families in one of the most deprived boroughs in the country – where children have an above average likelihood of mental health problems – are being described as "inspirational".

Hunaida Osman took the original course at the Maudsley hospital and now teaches the techniques to other parents. "I was definitely the sort of parent who got angry easily and just shouted, 'Stop that'," she says. "I've got much better at explaining why I don't want my children to do something, and at praising them when they do something right. And it's been great for the parents I've taught too; for some families who are on a low income, living in crowded conditions, with children who are playing up, you really need a bit of help and support in the best ways to deal with those kids."

Nicola Williams, another parent teaching the course, says those whose children have mental health issues have been particularly pleased. "There was one mother who'd had a lot of trouble with her son. She came along for a couple of sessions, but she didn't have any faith in what the course could do for her. She didn't really want to get involved in it at all.

"We gave her a handout which was about a really simple technique, using little mood faces to show what sort of mood you're in; smiley faces if you're happy, that sort of thing. And it was amazing. Her son used them when he got home from school every day, and she said just knowing what mood he was in made everything much simpler."

Dr Crispin Day of the Institute of Psychiatry is evaluating the course as part of a long-term study. "About half the children whose parents are on the course have difficulties which would be equivalent to a diagnosed disorder, but the parents who go to the group are reporting that their children are showing a significant reduction in the severity of their behaviour problems."

Day has been running several groups simultaneouslyand early results are promising. For example, when parents were asked to say how concerned they were about their children on a scale between one to 10, levels on average dropped from approximately five-and-a-half out of 10 to two-and-a-half. Parents also filled out the Eyburg child behaviour inventory, which gives a score indicating how likely it is that the child may need clinical help (a score of 127 and over); the average score of the attending group dropped from just above 125 to 106.

Lessons to learn from the course

Start with yourself

You need to know that you are good enough. Think of it like a jug of water: you can't keep emptying yourself out to look after children around you without filling yourself up again.

Remember what it's like to be a child

Think back to your own childhood and recall how it felt when you said to your parents you were upset because no one wanted to play with you at breaktime. Then, as a parent, respond accordingly. Spend time with them and do something they like doing for a change, instead of trying to be in charge. Don't undervalue the importance of this: it can immediately shift things.

Descriptive praise

Be specific about what they have done, instead of just saying "good boy/girl". Learn to tell them what you want them to do instead of saying what you don't want: "Hold my hand tight", not "don't run into the road".

Explain your behaviour

It's important your child understands why you're doing what you're doing, so make sure you explain. And try to understand why they are behaving as they are.

Use sticker charts and star charts

Tangible rewards can teach and encourage self-discipline and end bad behaviour.


Blobtastic Sticker Book
By Pip Wilson & Ian Long
Blobtastic Sticker Book
Click to enlarge

UK Price: £29.95 + VAT
Format: Spiral bound
Pages: 30
Series: Blobs
Published: 31/03/2009
ISBN: 9780863887567
Order Code: 0025619W
Status: Available & in print