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Mental health issues can negatively affect how your child feels, acts and thinks. That’s why mental well-being is just as important as physical well-being. And as a parent, you play the most crucial role in your child’s mental health.  Many parents understand the importance of keeping their children physically active and having healthy eating habits.

However, the rates of mental health problems in kids are rising. According to WebMD, at least 20% of children are diagnosed with a mental illness each year.  Some parents automatically turn to devices to calm their children down and distract them.

Screen time isn’t the best solution as it can worsen mental health — such as poor emotion regulation and difficulty finishing tasks.  It also can additional complications for children with specific traits that require special attention, such as SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder).

Here are the best ways to nurture your child’s mental health without depending on screen time.

1. Provide a Healthy Environment

The simplest and best way to support your child’s mental health is by giving them a safe and loving home environment. A positive home creates a happy child.

Ensure you’re aware of your child’s media usage. One way to create a safe home is by being aware of who they interact with online. That is where you must try to monitor their activities and reduce screen time by keeping them busy with other activities.

For instance, you could play board games or introduce them to philanthropy. Giving is an excellent way to boost your child’s mental health when they learn they’re improving the quality of life for others.

You could also be a role model by taking care of your mental health, such as by talking about your feelings. Or by getting into activities such as meditation, physical exercise and yoga.

2. Give Your Child Unconditional Love

Show unconditional love for your child on a regular basis. You can accompany your child and let them know that you love them no matter what type of issues they may be facing.

This is the ultimate way of supporting your child’s mental health because it shows them that we all make mistakes. And they must understand that they can learn from their mistakes. So instead of communicating failure — even if you feel disappointed in their choice — they need to know that you bear lots of love for them.

3. Be Open to Communication

When your child is dealing with a difficult situation, you must be on board with talking about their emotions. Open communication allows your child to explore their feelings freely. As communication is more consistent, you’ll be more likely to notice issues and have discussions with them.

Consider starting a conversation by asking open-ended questions. Get them to share about their school day or a special event. Having your child share these things provides you with more opportunities to find them a solution.

4. Give Your Child a Routine and Set Boundaries

Uncertainty in daily schedules can lead to more stress and anxiety in your child’s life. Therefore, it’s crucial to establish a routine to provide them with more peace of mind. This could mean unplugging from computers and phone, as well as scheduling their meals or having a weekly family night together.

Additionally, setting clear boundaries is also an excellent way to minimize feelings of frustration. Once your child knows what you expect of them, the both of you can live in a stress-free environment and make life easier for yourselves.

5. Offer Your Child a Mental Health Day

Just like a sick day, you can give your child a “Mental Health Day” once a year. With mental health being as crucial as physical health, a “Mental Health Day” can be a way for your child to get a break. Encourage them to stay off social media channels and spend time doing other things offline.

Every once in a while, it’s important for your child to recuperate and let them spend the day they would want. Breaks are more than okay to give your child what they need — as it is like an investment in helping them feel better.

So when your child feels like they need a break from their routine, you can tell them it’s okay to stay home. And you don’t have to feel guilty for it since your child’s mental health is a priority — even if it’s not the traditional view of how society perceives health.

6. Praise Their Character

Praising and encouraging are viable ways to build your child’s self-esteem and confidence. More importantly, it supports their mental well-being. With low confidence comes academic stress, anxiety and even depression.

These can all affect your child’s quality of life, so praising them for who they are is just as important.

Children respond better to positive reinforcement. It’s the best way to reinforce what parents want to see in their child — such as showing kindness and empathy towards others.

Once your child knows what they’re doing right, they’ll ultimately feel better about themselves in several ways.

Build a Solid Foundation For Your Child’s Mental Health

When it comes to mental health, the best solution for your child is to be a part of their life consistently. Talking with them and spending time together can benefit their mental health significantly. Ensure you give them guidance, offer support and be loving.

Taking action and being a good role model can reduce your child’s risk of negative impacts on their well-being. However, if the way they’re acting is worrisome, consider talking to your child’s health care provider. They can help you find solutions that are the best possible fit.

About the Author
Ava Roman (she/her) is the Managing Editor of Revivalist, a women’s lifestyle magazine that empowers women to live their most authentic life. When Ava is not writing you’ll find her in a yoga class, advocating for her children or whipping up something delicious in the kitchen!

Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in different countries including the United States, Canada, Saint Lucia, and Liberia. It is observed as celebrating the harvest and the blessings of the last year to give thanks for it. In the United States, it’s held on the fourth Thursday in November, and in Canada, the day is on the second Monday in October.

Some popular activities during the Thanksgiving holiday include meals of turkey, pumpkin pie, cranberries, and feasts with family and friends. But do you know the origins of this annual tradition?

Thanksgiving dates back to 1621 in Plymouth Colony Harvest Festival. Whether you are an American or non-American you may be interested to know the history of Thanksgiving Day and how it became an important celebration?

In the United States, Thanksgiving is a four day long weekend with time with family on Thursday, followed by a big shopping day on Friday.  Today it’s called Black Friday.

Now, let’s explore the true history of Thanksgiving Day for history-loving people like you who like to know our traditions begin.

Pilgrims Thanksgiving At Plymouth

The story begins in 1620 Fall (August/September), when the vessel Mayflower left Plymouth, England with 102 Pilgrims. A group of 102 passengers who were religious separatists quit Plymouth in search of safe land to practice their beliefs.

Due to the cold weather and lots of difficulties, almost half of the Pilgrims died and 66 of them lasted. They anchored the ship in Cape Code, which was far north of their desired place i.e. mouth of the Hudson River.

One month later, Mayflower reached the Massachusetts Bay. And the Pilgrims intended to establish Plymouth village here. The weather was too cold in the winter thus they suffered from a scarcity of food, water, and shelter and contagious diseases are also outbreak there.

As they were unprepared for the winter thus the brutally cold weather wiped out almost half of the crew and passengers. In the Spring (March), the remaining migrants shifted ashore. They were also concerned that Native American Indians Might attack them anytime.

One sudden day, Samoset, a member of the Abenaki local tribe visited the settlers and greeted them in English. A few days later, he came with Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe who was a Native American.

Squanto taught the Pilgrims different life-saving hacks and cultivation methods such as malnutrition, illness and revival tips, catching fish, hunting animals, growing corn, avoiding poisonous plants, extracting sap from maple trees, preparing medicine from plants, and so on.

Peace Treaties with the Native Americans

Pilgrims also took the opportunity to create a peace treaty with the Native Americans through Squanto. And Squanto also helped the Plymouth inhabitants to build an alliance with a local tribe Wampanoag for 50 years that was a successful treaty between Native Americans and European colonists to protect them from other tribes.

In November 1621, the Pilgrims proved themselves to harvest corn successfully in the first year. Pilgrim Governor William Bradford arranged a festive feast after getting a bountiful harvest to give thanks the God and their alliance tribes. They invited their Native Americans Allies including Squanto and Wampanoag.

Wampanoag chief Massasoit with 90 braves joined the feast and it lasted for three days. They feasted on fruits, turkey, delicious meals, and many more. This harvest feast before winter wasn’t called Thanksgiving at that time but this was the first Thanksgiving Day in history actually.

Two years later, the Pilgrims suffered from drought. Then Governor Bradford ordered them to pray and fast to God. It’s said, after their praying and fasting, rain comes and they become happy. So, they declared the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day.

Edward Winslow the chronicler of Pilgrim wrote about it:

“Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a more special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruit of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the company almost a week, at which time amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest King Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain, and others.  And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.”

–Edward Winslow, December 11, 1621

Ancient Origins of Thanksgiving

Although it’s widely accepted that Thanksgiving originated from the Pilgrim Feast at Plymouth. But this was also found in ancient traditions among Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians. They feasted and paid tribute to God after getting their harvest.

Thanksgiving is also seen among the ancient Jewish, as they arranged the harvest festival Sukkot. As Native Americans had rich traditions thus, they set their footprint in Thanksgiving history before Europeans.

Thanksgiving Controversies

Some historians jury still confused about whether the Plymouth Feast was the first Thanksgiving or not. There is proof to historians that the tradition of giving thanks was recorded among the European Colonies in North America before the Plymouth Thanksgiving.

In 1565, Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilé arranged a dinner feast and invited the Timucua tribe in Florida. After the safe reaching of the crew, they arranged a thanksgiving to God. In 1619, 38 British settlers reached their desired destination on the banks of Virginia’s James River, Berkeley Hundred. Then, they declared the day as a day of thanksgiving to the God.

Today, Wampanoag Indians point to a different telling Thanksgiving.  In subsequent years, there would be many conflicts that would result in thousands of deaths.  The idea of Native American’s and pilgrims eating together was not in the tradition of big celebration of giving thanks for a large harvest.  Food preparation for Native American’s already had daily rituals of giving thanks to the Creator for their food and survival.  While the English and the Wampanoag Indians did eat together at times, the celebration of the first harvest in 1961 looked very different to the ancestral natives of the land.

How Thanksgiving Became a Holiday

Pilgrim Thanksgiving celebration become very popular among New England settlements quickly. In the 19^th century, Sarah Joseph Hale, an American writer campaigned for a national Thanksgiving Day in the United States. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln also encouraged Americans to celebrate Thanksgiving Day.

The following President George Washington issued an announcement on November 26, 1789, for a public thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November. From then Americans, particularly North Americans celebrated the public holiday as Thanksgiving Day.

Canadian Parliament declared the second Monday in October as a general Day of Thanksgiving to God for the blessings of Canada and bountiful harvest.

Conclusion

Thanksgiving Day is now an important day for Americans and Canadians. And more countries have adopted this tradition to be thankful for for their blessings. Today’s Thanksgiving festive celebration adds more fun and events but the origin was the Plymouth Harvest Feast in 1621.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Explore how other special days and holidays came to be:

• The History of Mother’s Day
• The History of Valentine’s Day

Every day, millions of children around the world go to childcare centers. These centers must have staff who are properly trained in paediatric first aid. A child care professional plays a vital role in keeping children safe.

Paediatric first aid training will give you the skills and confidence to deal with various medical emergencies, from minor scrapes and bruises to serious injuries and illnesses. You can provide the best possible care for the children on your watch with proper training.

What Are The Benefits Of Paediatric First-Aid Training?

In the UK, all childcare professionals must have at least a basic level of paediatric first-aid training. This includes nannies, au pairs, childminders, and nursery staff. If you work in a childcare setting, you must ensure that you are properly trained in paediatric first aid.

There are many benefits to having proper paediatric first aid training.

• Saves lives during an emergency
• Provide better care to children
• Essential for first-aid administration
• Easily spots serious problems

Paediatric First Aid training is not just for childcare professionals. Parents at home and teachers in school can benefit from taking a paediatric first aid course as well. By finding a paediatric first aid training provider, parents can be better prepared to deal with minor injuries and illnesses at home. In a more severe accident or illness, parents will know what to do and how to get help for their child.

Understanding the qualifications needed in a childcare setting is essential. Some of these qualifications are legal requirements, while others are best practices. By having a good understanding of the qualifications needed, you can ensure that you provide the best possible care for the children in your setting.

What Paediatric First-Aids Should You Learn?

Regarding paediatric first aid, there are a few essential skills that every child care professional should know. These include:

How to Deal with an Unconscious Child

An unconscious child is not breathing normally. If you see an unconscious child, the first thing you should do is call for help. Then, you should check the child’s airway to ensure it is clear. If it is not, you will need to give the child CPR.

Many factors can cause a child to become unconscious. It is essential to be familiar with the signs and symptoms of common causes of unconsciousness, such as seizures, hypoglycemia, and head injuries.

All of these conditions require immediate medical attention. By knowing how to deal with an unconscious child, you can potentially save a life.

CPR for Children

In the UK, approximately 60,000 children under 15 are taken to hospital each year after suffering a cardiac arrest. CPR can double or triple a child’s chance of survival.

When performing CPR on a child, it is essential to use the correct technique. The ratio of compressions to breaths is different for children than for adults. Additionally, the strength of the compressions and the depth of the breaths must be adjusted for a child’s smaller size.

How to Control Bleeding

When bleeding happens due to an injury, it is vital to act quickly to stop the bleeding. Three main ways to control bleeding are direct pressure, elevation, and compression.

Direct pressure is the most effective way to stop bleeding. To apply direct pressure, use a clean cloth or gauze pad to apply firm pressure directly on the wound. If the cloth or gauze becomes soaked with blood, do not remove it. Instead, add more cloth or gauze on top of it.

If the bleeding is coming from an arm or leg, elevate the limb above the level of the heart. This will help reduce blood flow to the area and slow down the bleeding.

Compression is another way to stop bleeding. To use compression, place a clean cloth or gauze pad over the wound and then wrap an elastic bandage or Ace wrap around it. The bandage should be snug but not too tight.

How to Deal with Burns

Burns are a common type of injury in children. There are three types of burns: first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree.

First-degree burns are the least serious. They only affect the top layer of skin and usually heal within a week. Second-degree burns are more serious. They damage the second layer of skin and may take several weeks to heal. Third-degree burns are the most serious. They damage all layers of skin and can cause permanent nerve damage.

If a child has a first or second-degree burn, you should run cool water over the area for at least five minutes. Then, apply a sterile bandage or gauze pad to the area. Do not use ice, ointments, or butter.

If a child has a third-degree burn, do not apply anything to the area. Instead, call 9-1-1 immediately and wait for medical help to arrive.

How to Deal with Choking

Choking is a leading cause of death in children under five. In most cases, choking occurs when a child is eating or playing with small objects.

There are two types of choking – primary and secondary. Primary choking occurs when the airway is completely blocked. Secondary choking occurs when the airway is partially blocked.

If a child is primarily choking, you will need to perform CPR. If a child is choking, you must do the Heimlich manoeuvre.

The Heimlich manoeuvre involves standing behind the child and placing your fist below their ribs. Then, you must thrust your fist upwards and inwards until the object is dislodged.

How to Deal with Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. It can occur in response to certain foods, insect stings, or medications.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis include difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, hives, and dizziness. If a child is experiencing any of these symptoms, you should call 9-1-1 immediately.

While waiting for medical help to arrive, you can give the child an EpiPen if they have one. An EpiPen is a device that delivers a dose of epinephrine, which can help to reduce the symptoms of anaphylaxis.

What To Do in the Event of a Seizure

Seizures are a common type of medical emergency in children. They can be caused by various conditions, including epilepsy, fevers, and head injuries.

If a child is having a seizure, you should stay calm and not try to stop the seizure. Instead, you should focus on keeping the child safe. Move any nearby objects out of the way and place something soft under the child’s head. Do not try to restrain the child or put anything in their mouth.

Once the seizure has stopped, you should check the child’s airway and breathing. If they are not breathing, you will need to perform CPR.

Final Words

Adding paediatric first aid training to your list of qualifications is a great way to improve your childcare skills in the UK. Not only will you be able to provide better care for the children in your setting, but you will also have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you are prepared for any emergency.  Therefore, childcare providers must have their staff trained for emergency situations.

Do you sometimes feel stuck in a rut when it comes to your education? Are you not learning in the traditional school system as you expect to? If so, consider autodidacticism as an option. Autodidacticism is a self-directed approach to learning, and it is an effective way to get more out of your education.

In this guide, we’ll outline some tips for becoming a successful self-learner. So if you’re ready to take your study into your own hands, keep reading!

What Is an Autodidact?

An autodidact is someone who self-teaches a particular subject or skill instead of acquiring knowledge through formal instruction. Actually, many well-known historical figures were self-taught, including Leonardo da Vinci and Abraham Lincoln.

Nowadays, with the vast amount of online information and new emerging avenues in education, it has become more accessible for people to educate themselves on any topic they prefer. While formal education is still valuable, there is no longer a need to rely solely on institutions to learn. Anyone can be an autodidact.

Is this something you’re looking forward to?

If so, you’re at the right place! Let’s discover eight proven practical tips to help you get started.

1. Find Your Field of Interest

We all know how challenging choosing a field of study can be, especially with many available options. To narrow your choices, you must find what you are passionate about. What topics do you think about even when you’re not in class? What are the subjects that inspire you?

For example, consider studying environmental science if interested in ecological and sustainability issues. On the other hand, if you enjoy learning about social justice, consider studying sociology or criminology.

Choosing the field study that excites and inspires you will set you up for a lifetime of learning and discovery.

2. Develop Self-Discipline

 Autodidactic learners are not born with extraordinary abilities but share one important trait: self-discipline. This quality allows them to teach themselves new skills and knowledge on time. With self-discipline, it is possible to maintain the focus and stimulation required to learn independently. So how can you develop this skill?

The first step is to set realistic goals. Learning an entire subject overnight is doomed to failure. Instead, break down your goals into manageable pieces and set a timeline for each goal.

As you work towards them, track your progress and document any challenges you encounter. You can also use tools to help you count your studying hours, such as time trackers, virtual notes, and task management apps.

Most importantly, remember to reward yourself for your accomplishments. A little positive reinforcement will keep you motivated and on track.

3. Focus On One Thing at a Time

In today’s fast-paced world, learning new things quickly and efficiently it’s more important than ever.

One of the key characteristics of an autodidact is fitting into the requirements of real-life challenges. In our era, people of all ages constantly seek to learn new things. According to a recent study, the average person will change their working careers 5-7 times during their life.

That’s where “just in time” learning comes in. This educational aspect is all about acquiring the skills you need when you need them. There’s no need to waste time learning something you may never use. Instead, focus on the things that will affect your life or career the most.

This form of learning can take many forms. For example, it might mean watching a tutorial on YouTube when you need to learn how to solve a problem—or reading an article when you want to learn more about a particular topic.

4. Match the Proper Learning Methods

There is more than just a one-size-fits-all approach to learning, especially in subjects like language learning. For example, some people understand best by listening to audio recordings, and others by speaking with a native speaker. The key is to find the right mix of methods that work for you.

If you’re a visual learner, you can start by watching a few episodes of your favorite TV show in the target language. Then, you can build up your viewing with related reading material, such as books.

Another effective way to practice what you’ve learned is conversing with friendly native speakers. This will help you quickly match your learning experience to your needs and goals.

5. Attend Seminars, Workshops, or Courses

One exciting and effective way to learn more about what you are passionate about is to attend beneficial activities related to it. This allows you to hear from experts in the field and learn about recent developments in the topic area. While there are courses like Coursera Plus, a paid subscription model, most of Coursera courses are entirely free to audit!   Courses also include interactive exercises and real-world projects.

Attending events also helps you network with others who share your interests on a range of subjects, including business, computer science, and history. This can lead to new opportunities and collaborations and inspire fresh ideas for pursuing your passions.

6. Think Outside of the Box

As an autodidact, you have the advantage of tailoring your education to suit your own interests. However, only pursuing information reinforcing your beliefs can get you stuck in a rut. To truly be creative, you must seek diverse perspectives and open yourself up to new ideas.

Fortunately, there are many free resources to do that. For example, online forums and chat rooms offer a great way to connect with people worldwide and share international experiences.

7. Take Notes and Create Action Plans

As an autodidact, you can choose your own learning materials and pace of study. However, it’s easy to get overwhelmed or lost in all the information out there. That’s why taking valuable notes and creating action plans as you go is essential.

You’ll manage your time effectively and learn more adequately by tracking your progress and organizing ideas. Connecting with other autodidacts or in person is also helpful. There’s nothing like sharing ideas and motivating each other to keep learning!

8. Use Study Affirmations

As a self-learning student, a study affirmation is the easiest way to keep your motivation high. This includes a positive statement you repeat to yourself regularly. For example, you can say, “I will complete this today,” or “I am a successful student.”

Repeating these statements will make you believe them, keeping your productivity and commitment on track. The most important thing is to stay consistent in your use of affirmations. Say it to yourself daily, even write them down, and eventually, it will become part of your routine.

Tools for Autodidacts

There are many free tools available for self-taught learners. First and foremost, a good dictionary is always essential. Not only does it provides definitions for unfamiliar words, but it also helps with pronunciation and usage.

Another great resource includes self-education books. But, again, countless options exist on every imaginable topic, many of which can be found for free.

In addition, many universities offer free online courses that provide a structured introduction to various subjects.

Here are some of the free resources to help you on the self-education journey:

Wikibooks

Wikibooks is a Wikimedia Foundation project which serves as an online library of free online textbooks. This project started in 2003 and has grown to involve over 33,000 books. Wikibooks is one of the largest and most popular projects, with over 1.5 million monthly visitors.

While most books are in English, the project is also home to many works in other languages, including Spanish, French, and Chinese. As the world’s largest provider of free educational content, Wikibooks is a critical resource for students.

Bookboon

If you love reading, there’s a new website that you’ll want to check out. Bookboon is a free online library that offers thousands of ebooks for readers of all ages.

Many textbooks help students learn for free and can be easily downloaded as PDFs. Best of all, Bookboon is free to use – so why not start browsing today?

Khan Academy

You’ve probably heard of Khan Academy already. This non-profit organization offers students free online classes and resources. The Academy was founded in 2008 to provide “a free, world-class education for anyone worldwide” and now has over 20 million students using it.

You can find courses in various subjects, from science to history and art. Besides its online classes, Khan Academy provides practice exercises, video lessons, and articles.

YouTube

Recently, YouTube has become an increasingly popular resource for educational videos, along with the safe alternative KidzTube, which features screen educational YouTube videos.. So whether you’re looking for a tutorial on how to solve a math equation or want to learn a new language, you’ll find what you’re looking for on YouTube. Also, you can often access this information for free.

Bottom Line

Understanding how self-education works is one of the most significant experiences you can cultivate as an individual. It’s a skill that will always serve you well, regardless of your working industry. And luckily, it’s something anyone can develop with enough commitment and effort.

If you’re interested in becoming an autodidact, the above guide should give you a good starting point. So what are you waiting for? Start browsing and learn something new today!

Additional Resources:

• Explore how a lack of education, knowledge, and experience can mislead people because of the Dunning-Krugger Effect.
• Discover how to learn a new language faster.