Did you know your imagination is one of your greatest assets? It’s the tool we use to envision the unseen, solve problems before they happen, and escape into worlds of our own creation. When we’re young, imagining comes easily—we conjure up friends from thin air and embark on epic journeys in our backyards. However, imagination isn’t just child’s play; it’s a vital part of how we adapt and thrive. By understanding how to cultivate our imagination, we can find better solutions to problems and connect with our goals and dreams in meaningful ways Read more

A natural disaster is the highly harmful impact on a society or community following a natural hazard event. The term "disaster" itself is defined as follows: "Disasters are serious disruptions to the functioning of a community that exceed its capacity to cope using its own resources. Disasters can be caused by natural, man-made and technological hazards, as well as various factors that influence the exposure and vulnerability of a community. Read more

Connecting with others. Humans are social creatures, and it's important to have strong, healthy relationships with others. Having good social support may help protect you against the harms of stress. It is also good to have different types of connections. Besides connecting with family and friends, you could find ways to get involved with your community or neighborhood. For example, you could volunteer for a local organization or join a group that is focused on a hobby you enjoy. Developing a sense of meaning and purpose in life. This could be through your job, volunteering, learning new skills, or exploring your spirituality. Developing coping skills, which are methods you use to deal with stressful situations. They may help you face a problem, take action, be flexible, and not easily give up in solving it. Meditation, which is a mind and body practice where you learn to focus your attention and awareness. There are many types, including mindfulness meditation and transcendental meditation. Meditation usually involves: A quiet location with as few distractions as possible A specific, comfortable posture. This could be sitting, lying down, walking, or another position. A focus of attention, such as a specially chosen word or set of words, an object, or your breathing An open attitude, where you try to let distractions come and go naturally without judging them -- edited Read more

Stress management offers a range of ways to help you better deal with stress and difficulty, also called adversity, in your life. Managing stress can help you lead a more balanced, healthier life. Stress is an automatic physical, mental and emotional response to a difficult event. It's a common part of everyone's life. When used positively, stress can lead to growth, action and change. But negative, long-term stress can lessen your quality of life.   Stress management approaches include: Learning skills such as problem-solving, focusing on important tasks first and managing your time. Improving your ability to cope with difficult events that happen in life. For example, you may learn how to improve your emotional awareness and reactions. You also may learn how to increase your sense of control. And you may find greater meaning and purpose in life and have more gratitude and optimism. Practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, yoga, meditation, tai chi, exercise and prayer. Improving your personal relationships. Read more

Vitamins and minerals are as essential for living as air and water. Not only do they keep your body healthy and functional, they protect you from a variety of diseases. Vitamins and minerals get thrown together, but they are quite different. Vitamins are organic substances produced by plants or animals. They often are called "essential" because they are not synthesized in the body (except for vitamin D) and therefore must come from food. Minerals are inorganic elements that originate from rocks, soil, or water. However, you can absorb them indirectly from the environment or an animal that has eaten a particular plant.-- edited Read more

Too much glucose circulating in your bloodstream causes diabetes, regardless of the type. However, the reason why your blood glucose levels are high differs depending on the type of diabetes. Causes of diabetes include: Insulin resistance: Type 2 diabetes mainly results from insulin resistance. Insulin resistance happens when cells in your muscles, fat and liver don’t respond as they should to insulin. Several factors and conditions contribute to varying degrees of insulin resistance, including obesity, lack of physical activity, diet, hormonal imbalances, genetics and certain medications. Autoimmune disease: Type 1 diabetes and LADA happen when your immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. Hormonal imbalances: During pregnancy, the placenta releases hormones that cause insulin resistance. You may develop gestational diabetes if your pancreas can’t produce enough insulin to overcome the insulin resistance. Other hormone-related conditions like acromegaly and Cushing syndrome can also cause Type 2 diabetes. Pancreatic damage: Physical damage to your pancreas — from a condition, surgery or injury — can impact its ability to make insulin, resulting in Type 3c diabetes. Genetic mutations: Certain genetic mutations can cause MODY and neonatal diabetes. Long-term use of certain medications can also lead to Type 2 diabetes, including HIV/AIDSmedications and corticosteroids.edited Read more

The student may exhibit symptoms that include behaviors from both categories above. In order for a student to be diagnosed with ADHD, symptoms must appear before age 12 and be exhibited across at least two settings. They must also have adverse effects on academic performance, occupational success, or social-emotional development (APA, 2013).  To add to the complexity of the diagnosis, children with ADHD are likely to have co-existing emotional, behavioral, developmental, learning, or physical conditions (Wolraich & DuPaul, 2010).  As a result of the behaviors listed above, students with ADHD are at greater risk of academicdifficulties, social/emotional issues, and limited educational outcomes. Read more

ADHD is one of the most prevalent psychiatric illnesses of young people in America.  A recent study showed that ADHD diagnosis has gone up 43 percent from 2003 to 2011.  The study was not designed to look at the underlying reasons for such changes in prevalence, however it could be the result of a tendency to over-diagnose the situation. “There has definitely been an upward trend in diagnosed ADHD cases. If the condition is over-diagnosed and the stimulant to correct the condition is taken casually, then treatment won’t be durable and it could ignore other problems in their environment that are the actual stressors, like: internal worries, home conflicts and learning disorders.”  -Cabrera. Read more

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Play Play is a wonderful way to help a baby or toddler’s brain develop. Play might be a game, talking or singing to actively engage your child’s brain. "Peek-a-boo" and holding toys out to watch help a baby’s brain develop. Talk to your baby about what you are doing. For toddlers, sing songs with actions, like “Wheels on the Bus,” encourage pretend play, color and build with blocks and toys. These foster imagination and creativity. Comfort Babies can feel stress. Hold and cuddle your baby. Let him/her know you are there to comfort and help them when they feel stress. Studies show that responsive, loving and supportive care helps babies handle stress better than if care is inconsistent. Read Reading is one of the best ways to promote a child’s brain development. Even before he/she can recognize letters or words, reading kick starts language and communication skills. Hearing words and seeing pictures connects the two in a child’s mind. Repeating the same books further builds recognition between the words you speak and the images on the page. As a child grows, ask him/her to point to specific pictures on the page, like “Where is the dog?” Read more

Children’s brains develop rapidly from ages birth through three. Brain development affects all areas of a child’s growth. There are four main areas of development: motor (physical), language and communication, social and emotional, and cognitive. Brain development is part of cognitive development. Cognitive development describes how a child’s intellect grows, and includes thinking, learning and problem-solving skills. These skills affect all other areas of development. The first three years of a child’s life are critical for learning and development. Many parents ask how they can help their child’s brain develop. The best way is to actively engage your child through everyday activities like playing, reading and being there when he/she feels stress. Read more

The goal of behavior management strategies is to help students learn to manage their ownbehavior. The following strategies are most effective when used in conjunction with evidence based instructional strategies. Prevention StrategiesHere are some preventive measures that support students in demonstrating positivebehavior. Nonverbal Supports: Together with the student, develop inconspicuous,nonverbal messages such as eye contact, hand gestures, or other signals that teach Read more