Art – A Great Alternative

Art therapy continues to gain popularity as an effective alternative treatment.  It is based on the principle that the creative process of making art is potentially healing and life-enhancing.  This form of therapy can help children deal with trauma, stress, illness and aid the child in personal development. While there are professional art therapists, any parent can introduce and encourage the child to draw, copy or create.

Drawing encourages children to express and understand emotions through artistic expression and the creative process. This is particularly important for children with disabilities who often face physical and social challenges they must deal with emotionally.

According to a study by the nonprofit organization Americans for the Arts, creating art builds cognitive and problem-solving skills, strengthens critical thinking, develops social skills and helps the child learn to set goals and accomplish them.

One art teacher of children with special needs observed:

“…  art represents one amazing subject, at school and home, at which children with special needs can succeed. Along with being a catalyst for skill development, art teaches life lessons through a therapeutic method. One lesson is the power of planning. For special needs students, the planning that drives the artistic process is more important than the finished work.”  

Finding time to allow children to create can sometimes be a challenge, especially when packed in with school, therapy and the demands of family life. Fortunately, companies like Crayola offer products to create artwork at home, on the go, or while sitting in a waiting room.  The Crayola Dry-Erase Travel Pack provides a portable activity center that contains dry-erase crayons, activity sheets, crayon sharpener, drawing surface and an erase mitten so kids can create again and again.

The activity sheets help inspire the budding artist and the numbers and letters sheets make the act of writing and copying both fun and mobile.  The other advantage is that the erase mitten allows children to wipe away slip-ups and start again adding to their sense of empowerment and self-esteem.

Price: $9.99

Web: www.ableplay.org

The Answer®

Replaces both the toothpaste and the mouthwash. The Answer is a Complete Oral Care solution that cleans the mouth and the teeth. Developed by Dr. Cloonan, who searched for a more efficient method to help the nurses perform oral hygiene on his father, after his father had suffered multiple strokes and left him paralyzed to some degree. His goal was to help the residents maintain their teeth and preserve their dignity. The Answer is clinically proven to improve oral health and easy to use by both participant and caregiver.

REVIEW

“The Answer”. While working with disabled adults I have the opportunity to use The Answer.  The Answer is the best and easiest way to provide oral hygiene care.  With The Answer, you do not need to use toothpaste, which we all know is hard to rinse out.  The Answer is non-alcoholic and no water is required for rising.   It contains XYLITOL  which promotes healthy gums and teeth  (does not stain the teeth) and eliminates breath odor.  The Answer also keeps plaque from building on the teeth. I used to have recurrent canker sores and now have only had one in two years.  There is a web site to get more information:  www.theanswer2oralcare.com <http://www.theanswer2oralcare.com> .

A couple of results I found while working with it were:  When eleven people were taken for their annual dental visit, only one had a cavity (this person did not use the answer at the families request).  She now uses The Answer and has had no more cavities.  One gentleman with CP had a very bad breath odor.  When you entered the house you could smell the odor.  My husband liked being with him but could not stand the odor.  Now, my husband likes joking around with him as he no longer has the bad breath odor.

Submitted by

Nomie Frazzetta

Price: $125.95 (Plus S & H)

Web: http://www.theanswer2oralcare.com

Save Your Kids Now!

Douglas Haddad the Author of “Save Your Kids…Now!” is a graduate of Connecticut State University. He holds a B.S. in Biology/Secondary Education, M.S. in Biology, as well as a Ph.D. in Natural Health.

“Save Your Kids…Now!” is a comprehensive guidance book for parents giving pointers in behavior, parent/child interaction, motivation, goal setting, bullying, healthy eating and much more. The Author explains the problems that affect today’s youth, while supplying tools and strategies to help parents reach the child on the child’s level and create changes that will help build a better future for them. He even has customized exercise programs to help a young person get into shape! With his practical guidelines, your child can achieve mind, body, and spiritual wellness.

The book is written in an easy to understand format. The author provides parents with good examples of how to deal with the many situations that must be faced in their child’s world including: gambling, sex, alcohol, smoking, drugs, body images, etc…

This book is designed to give you options for dealing with myriad situations and much more.

Price: $17.05

Web: http://www.douglashaddad.com