Youth Activities

Educational Activities Which Keeps Young Visitors Happy!

In any waiting room, the children are going to be at the very least cranky and at the worst, nervous and scared on top of possibly feeling ill. It is extremely important in any waiting room situation to provide children with some sort of distraction or entertainment, but in a hospital or clinic situation, it is absolutely vital. The child's guardian will be busy dealing with paperwork and will have little ability to entertain a restless child. Waiting room toys can be a great way to make sure the parents can do what they need to do.

One place to start is an activity table. Activity tables come in a variety of educational models, so the child can learn as well as play. The size of the activity table will make it difficult for a child to walk off with it and it will also reduce mess for staff when the time comes for cleanup. This is also a device that encourages quiet play, rather than toy drums or keyboards. Activity tables are designed for toddlers and preschoolers and with their bright colors and educational aspect, they will be ideal for a waiting room. Activity tables also have the advantage of being entirely enclosed, making clean-up a breeze.

Wooden activity cubes are another good choice for any waiting area. These self-contained activity centers are excellent for grabbing a child's attention. A multitude of activities can be combined into one unit, lending a great deal of versatility to a small amount of space. In addition, many wooden activity cubes can be surrounded with small chairs, allowing several children to play with it at once. This maximizes your space and gives the children a chance to play with each other.

In pediatric waiting rooms, especially, it is very important to set the right tone. Pediatric clinic toys should encourage a restful attitude in a child, encouraging them to relax and be trusting. Educational toys are ideal, pleasing both parent and child, and can even give the doctor and the child something to talk about during the session. It is very important that children who are in a medical situation trust and respect the person who is
examining them, and one way to do that is set them at ease from the very moment they walk in the door. If the child associates the office with fun toys and bright colors, he or she might be less nervous the next time a visit has to occur, making the situation easier on everyone.

Waiting area activities toys can also set the mood. While quiet is probably ideal, there is a huge difference between a quiet sullen waiting room and a bright enthusiastic one. One way to affect the mood of your waiting room is through the toys you keep there. If you can make them fun and entertaining, your customers will be grateful and so will their children.

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About the Author

Marina Neiman, author and mother of two, writes for 1888Toys.com - Children Educational Toys Store, featuring classic toys with truly developmental value. To learn more about this subject visit: http://www.1888Toys.com

7 Signs Your Teenager is at Risk for Violent Behavior

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In the last week alone, four shootings/murders made headlines. They shared something shocking in common ? the alleged offender was a teenager.

1. A teenager was arrested and charged with attempted murder in the shooting of five people at a club.
2. Sentencing for a 16-year-old boy who admitted stabbing his mother 111 times was postponed.
3. The first of four teenagers to be tried in the killing of a Chinese restaurant deliveryman was found guilty of first-degree murder.
4. A teen in a middle school shoots two classmates, but is stopped by hero teacher.

Dr. Kathryn Seifert a youth and family violence and trauma expert who has over 30 years of experience believes that a recent study sheds light on the issue of teen violence. While some behavioral (aggressive) disorders have a biological base, they may also have roots in childhood maltreatment and in exposure to violence. The overlap between behavioral disorders and histories of childhood trauma is greater than has been previously recognized,? said Seifert. While not all traumatized children become aggressive, there are warning signs that can help parents determine if their child needs to get professional help.

Using recent studies, other scientific data, and 30 years of experience, Dr. Seifert has created 7 questions to determine if your teenager may be at risk of committing violent or aggressive behavior. The more questions to which you answer yes, the more likely it is that your child needs professional help. If the answer to 6 or 7 questions is ?yes?, then data shows that your teenager may be at risk of aggressive or violent behavior and needs immediate professional attention.

1. Has your child or teen witnessed or been a victim of violence?
2. Has the child in your care been abused, neglected or abandoned by a family member?
3. Has your child been cruel to animals?
4. Has your child had moderate to severe behavior problems (such as stealing, punching holes in walls, or staying out all night without permission) that began before the age of 13?
5. When your child hurts or injures someone does he feel sorry he/she got caught, rather than sorry for the harm caused to his/her victim.
6. In the past, has your child assaulted another person that was not in self-defense? (This is particularly important if it was a younger, weaker child or a parent, policeman, or teacher.)
7. Has you child had severe learning and/or behavior problems in school for more than a year?

Dr. Seifert warns that although these questions can be easily answered, their answers should not be taken lightly. Adults and caregivers need to take immediate action to seek help for families and teens that have experienced traumatic experiences. Without professional help, such as counseling from organizations like Dr. Seifert?s firm, Eastern Shore Psychological Services, many teens may never get the help they need. And without help, a troubled teenager could become the next headline. With the proper interventions, youth violence is preventable.

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About the Author

Dr. Kathryn Seifert has over 30 years experience in mental health, addictions, and criminal justice work. She has authored the CARE and numerous articles. Dr. Seifert has lectured internationally on youth and family violence and trauma. http://careforusall.com