Toddlers are becoming so obsessed with iPad’s they require therapy!

Posted on May 8, 2013 by admin

Children as young as four are becoming so obsessed with Smartphone’s and iPad’s that they require psychological treatment.

A young schoolgirl left her family with a £2000 credit card bill after using an app on her grandfather’s iPad.

Experts have warned parents who allow young children access to tablet computers such as an ipad for several hours a day are causing dangerous long term effects on children. The youngest known patient being treated for over-use of a iPad, is a young four-year-old girl in the South East of the UK. Her parents sent her for compulsive behaviour therapy after she become “distressed and inconsolable” when the iPad was taken away from her. Due to the use the young girl had she became obsessed to using the iPad for over four hours a day!

Dr Richard Graham, who launched the UK’s first technology addiction programme three years ago, said he believed there were many more addicts of her age.

“The child’s mother called me and described her symptoms,” he said

“She told me she had developed an obsession with the device and would ask for it constantly. She was using it three to four hours every day and showed increased agitation if it was removed.”

Dr Graham said that young technology addicts experienced the same withdrawal symptoms as alcoholics or heroin addicts, when the devices were taken away.

He warned that the condition prevented young people from forming normal social relationships, leaving them drained by the constant interaction.

“Children have access to the internet almost from birth now,”

“They see their parents playing on their mobile devices and they want to play too. It’s difficult, because having a device can also be very useful in terms of having a reward, having a pacifier.

But if you don’t get the balance right it can be very dangerous.

“They can’t cope and become addicted, reacting with tantrums and uncontrollable behaviour when they are taken away. Then as they grow older, the problem only gets worse. Even the most shy kids, when they hit their teens, suddenly want to become sociable and popular.”

It is feared that products such as baby-proof iPad covers and iPotties, which feature built-in iPad stands, only fuel the problem.

Parents who have found themselves unable to wean their children off computer games and mobile phones are paying up to £16,000 for a 28-day “digital detox” programme designed by Dr Graham at the Capio Nightingale Hospital in London.

Psychiatrists estimate that the number of people who have become digitally dependent has risen by 30 per cent over the past three years.

A survey last week revealed that more than half of parents allowed their babies to play with their phone or tablet device.

One in seven of more than 1,000 parents questioned by babies.co.ukwebsite admitted that they let them use the gadgets for four or more hours a day.

James Macfarlane, managing director of the website, said: “Given that babies between 3-12 months are awake for only around 10 hours per day this is a huge proportion of their waking day.

“Although 81 per cent of our users felt that children today spend too much time on smart devices, it hasn’t put most of them off using them to entertain their baby.”

‘Yoga helps you prepare for everything’: Jennifer Aniston reveals limb bending discipline is aiding her ahead of Justin Theroux wedding

Posted on May 3, 2013 by admin

Yoga’s her secret helper: Jennifer Aniston revealed she is bending over backwards to get ready for her wedding with Justin Theroux

Preparing for a wedding is always stressful.

But Jennifer Aniston has revealed she is using yoga to help her get ready for her nuptials with Justin Theroux.

The Friends star said the limb bending discipline is something that helps keep her calm

The 44-year-old told E: ‘Yoga kinda helps you prepare for everything. Honestly, it’s like meditation.

‘It just allows anything that is coming at you throughout the day to be kind of doable.’

The thrilling revelation came as she attended the launch of her yoga instructor Mandy Ingber’s new book, Yogalosophy: 28 Days To the Ultimate Mind-Body Makeover on Tuesday night.

The Thin Pink Line actress got engaged to the actor and writer last August, and speculation has been at fever pitch ever since about their plans.

In March the couple were forced to deny claims they would be tying the knot in Hawaii, and have been keeping tight lipped about where and when it will happen.

Jennifer was far keener on talking about yoga, and said that before she took up the practice her body was far different.

She said: ‘We were a lot rounder. We ate terribly. We did that, and then we sort of grew up a little bit more and we got jobs.

And she credited her yoga guru for her now famous finely toned physique.

She said: ‘That was always my ‘ugh’, my legs. That’s why I credit her for (them) – with yoga.’

Jennifer the ancient Indian limb bending discipline with Ingber at least three times a week.

She previously said: ‘Yoga strengthens my muscles and gives me a great sense of peace and calm. It also improves my breathing and centres me.

‘I usually follow yoga with about 40 minutes of cardio – hiking, running or at the gym,’ the star said in 2010.’

Sourced from: www.dailymail.co.uk

School sport handed £150m funding boost

Posted on March 20, 2013 by admin

The government has announced new funding for school sport and PE worth £150m a year for the next two years.

As revealed by the BBC on Tuesday, ring-fenced money will be given directly to primary schools in England.Schools will be able to pay for extra coaching sessions to improve the quality of sports and PE provision.Prime Minister David Cameron said: “We can create a culture in our schools that encourages all children to be active and enjoy sport.”He added: “The Olympic and Paralympic Games marked an incredible year for this country and I will always be proud that we showed the world what Britain can do.

“I want to ensure the Games count for the future too and that means capitalising on the inspiration young people took from what they saw during those summer months.”

The Government says the new scheme will involve:

Lump sums for schools – a typical primary school with 250 primary-aged pupils would receive £9,250 per year, the equivalent of around two days a week of a primary teacher or a coach’s time
A greater role for sporting and voluntary organisations, including sport’s National Governing Bodies (NGBs), who will increase the specialist coaching and skills development on offer for primary schools
Tougher assessment of sport provision by inspectorate Ofsted to ensure the funding is bringing the maximum benefit for all pupils, with schools held to account for how they spend the money
Sport England investing £1.5m a year of lottery funding through the County Sport partnerships to help schools link up with local sports coaches, clubs and sports governing bodies
More primary teachers with a particular specialism in PE via a new teacher training scheme.

The long-awaited policy is the result of months of talks in Whitehall, and comes after widespread calls for more investment in school sport to help build on the legacy potential of the 2012 Games. Despite record investment in elite and community sport in the last six months, the government has been criticised for making cuts in schools sports.

In 2010, £162m of ring-fenced funding for the national School Sport Partnerships (SSPs) was abolished, provoking an outcry. The network enabled well-equipped ‘hub’ secondary schools to lend PE teachers to those that needed them, especially primary schools.

Shadow Sports Minister Clive Efford said: “This money is extremely welcome but we would be in a much better situation had the government not taken £162m away from SSPs in 2010 and left the structures that were in place to crumble.

“David Cameron wanting praise for putting money back into school sport is like a burglar returning stolen goods and expecting to be hailed as a public hero.”

Last month a four-year long Ofsted report concluded there was not enough strenuous, physical activity in many of England’s school PE lessons, with teachers tending to lack specialist training, and a minority of schools playing competitive sport at a high level.

Andy Reed, chair of the Sport and Recreation Alliance, the umbrella organisation for the sport’s governing and representative bodies in the UK, said: “It’s a policy that will tick a lot of the boxes. There’s investment, there’s ring-fencing, there’s NGB involvement and there’s measurement, all of which were at the top of the list for sports bodies. There was a glaring gap in the Government’s Olympic legacy plans and this policy addresses that.

“This is an acknowledgement that PE and sport should play a central role in every pupil’s experience and that the skills they give children are as important as being able to read, write and add. It also recognises that it makes sense for schools to draw on the expertise of governing bodies as early and as deeply as practical.

“Ministers should encourage heads to embrace the wide variety of physical activity on offer to them so that every child can find something that they like.”

Lord Coe, the prime minister’s Olympic and Paralympic Legacy Ambassador, said: “When I stood up in Singapore in 2005 I spoke of London’s vision to connect young people with the inspirational power of the Games so they are inspired to choose sport.

“Today’s announcement does just that and by focusing on primary schools we have the opportunity to make sport and physical exercise a habit for life. I am particularly pleased to see the proposals around initial teacher training and continual professional development because I know from my own experience what an impact teachers and their engagement can have on the lives of young people.”

Baroness Sue Campbell, chair of the Youth Sport Trust, said: “This is a landmark day for PE and school sport and now the work really begins to make sure this impressive investment benefits all young people.

“For many years we have been championing the need for greater investment in primary school PE and school sport provision, and it is welcome news that the Government has now recognised this as a priority area.

“If this funding is to reach every young person it is important to recognise that schools will need support in how to maximise its impact. Funding will need to be used in a way that makes high quality PE and sport sustainable, and embeds both within school life. Primary schools in particular will need support to achieve this.

“Investment in teacher training at primary school level is desperately needed. For too long a child’s first experience of physical education has been delivered by teachers who lack the confidence and in some cases the competence to deliver PE well. We hope this investment will address that.”

The new support for primary school is funded by the Department for Education, Department of Health and Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, said: “We must harness the sporting spirit of 2012 for all our young people. We have listened to teachers, and to Ofsted, who have said that sport provision in our primary schools is far too often just not up to scratch.

“That is why we are putting money directly into the hands of primary head teachers to spend it on improving PE in their schools.

“By providing this money and reintroducing competitive sport back into the heart of the curriculum we can achieve an Olympic legacy in our schools we can be proud of.”

Article sourced from: www.bbc.co.uk/sport

School sport set to receive funding boost from the government

Posted on March 13, 2013 by admin

The government is preparing to make a major announcement on new funding for school sport in the next few days, the BBC has learned.

A new strategy for school sport has been debated within Whitehall for months. While the precise details remain shrouded in secrecy, I’m told the amount of money involved is “significant”.

Between £100m and £150m could be committed by the Department for Education in a bid to help primary schools improve the quality of their sports provision.

That could mean schools each receive thousands of pounds of ring-fenced funding that must be spent on sport, with the various sporting governing bodies encouraged to help provide expertise and coaches to work alongside teachers.

I understand the Football Association, England and Wales Cricket Board, Lawn Tennis Association and other organisations are being briefed on the plans on Thursday by the government. An announcement is being planned for this week, with plans overseen by No 10 Downing Street. The Premier League is also in discussions with the government over how its club community projects might be used as a delivery vehicle for the new policy.

The new funding comes after widespread calls for more investment in school sport to help build on the legacy potential of the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics.

Despite record investment in elite and community sport in the last six months, the government has also been criticised for making cuts in schools sports and failing to devise a national strategy for this level of sport.

In 2010, £162m of ring-fenced funding for the national School Sport Partnerships (SSPs) was abolished by Education Secretary Michael Gove, a decision that provoked an outcry.

The network enabled well-equipped ‘hub’ secondary schools to lend PE teachers to others that needed them, especially primary schools.

Following protests, £65m was reinstated, allowing the programme to run partially under a different guise. But that is due to cease before the start of the next academic year in September 2013.

A recommendation for two hours of PE in schools each week has also been abandoned, something which the opposition wants reversed.

Crucially, the new policy will not be a reinstatement of the SSP infrastructure, with Gove insisting that money goes directly to schools without it being spent on any additional levels of administration.

A number of projects have been established by governing bodies and professional clubs in recent years that focus on coaching teachers in PE and sport. The LTA claims to have trained 26,000 teachers as part of its Aegon Schools Programme. The Manchester United Foundation’s “Hub of the Community” scheme has seen academy coaches based permanently at eight secondary schools in the north west.

Now, eight months after the Olympics, the Prime Minister will announce that the Government’s new strategy could replicate projects like these nationally.

Last month, a four-year long Ofsted report concluded there was not enough strenuous physical activity in many of England’s school PE lessons, with teachers tending to lack specialist training and a minority of schools playing competitive sport at a high level.

The report said PE teaching was good or outstanding in two-thirds of the primary schools it visited, an improvement on the results of its last survey in 2008, but it put much of this down to the SSP programme, saying its impact in “maximising participation and increasing competition was clearly evident in the vast majority of schools visited”.

Ofsted warned that sustaining this level of improvement would be challenging against the “backdrop of greater expectations following last summer’s London Games”, and called for a new national strategy building on the success of SSPs.

There have been repeated calls from the Sport and Recreation Alliance and the Youth Sport Trust for every primary school to have a specialist PE teacher.

The government says its draft PE curriculum will put competitive sport back at the heart of school life but has been accused of failing to grasp the fundamental issue of a lack of basic physical literacy at primary school level.

With the help of the prime minister’s legacy advisor and London 2012 chairman, Lord Coe, a new strategy announcement was originally intended to be made before Christmas.

However, amid reports of disagreements between the Departments of Education and Health, it was delayed.

Article sourced from: www.bbc.co.uk/sport

Is fast food having an impact on your child’s learning?

Posted on March 8, 2013 by admin

The news keeps highlighting the fact that more children are becoming obese and we in a country are in dire need to get children to exercise more in their daily life, weather it is in school hours or out. It has now come to the attention that fast foods could be a major contribute in to the lowering of children’s IQ. This gives us the best reason to make this a high priority to get children eating more healthy foods and to get them into fun activities.

Children who are given more fast food meals than children who are given more fresh fruit and vegetables and freshly cooked homemade meals, will grow up to have a much lower IQ than the children who eat more healthier according to a study. Childhood nutrition has long lasting effects on IQ, previous intelligence and wealth and social status are taken into account, it found. The study examined whether the type of main meal that children ate each day had an impact on their cognitive ability and growth.

It looked at 4,000 Scottish children aged three to five year’s old and compared fast food with freshly-cooked food meals. The study, undertaken by an academic at Goldsmiths, University of London, found that parents that gave their children meals prepared with fresh ingredients more often, which positively affected their IQ. Then those parents that gave their children fast food, which led to lower IQ. Dr Sophie von Stumm, from the department of psychology at Goldsmiths, said: ‘It’s common sense that the type of food we eat will affect brain development, but previous research has only looked at the effects of specific food groups on children’s IQ rather than at generic types of meals.

‘These children score lower on intelligence tests and often struggle in school.

‘Schools in less privileged areas must do even more to balance children’s diet, so that they can achieve their cognitive potential. ‘It shows that the freshness and quality of food matters more than just being full, in particular when children are young and developing.’

By the age of eight the ‘junk food’ children had IQs up to two points lower than their healthy counterparts, according to the researchers from the University of Adelaide.These children were tested five years later and had IQ scores that were as much as five points lower than their healthier-eating peers.

The researchers suspected that the negative effect of eating junk food so early in life may not be altered by future healthy habits because brain development is hindered.

Do you believe this? are we really making our children dumb?
What parents need now is good advice, ideas and tricks to help children to become better and healthier eaters.

Do you have any special tricks, ideas and thoughts please share.

Graduate and Young Entrepreneur, Simon Duong, Wins YogaBugs Franchise

Posted on February 6, 2012 by admin

More than 2000 applications, from graduates aiming to win a franchise opportunity with YogaBugs, were whittled down to one lucky winner! Simon Duong, who has a first class degree in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship from Coventry University, learnt that he had won the franchise at the Midland Business Awards on Friday evening.

In common with many budding young entrepreneurs, Simon has already tried his hand at running an online business. Passionate about health and fitness and inspired by the inventiveness of Richard Branson and James Dyson, Simon jumped at the opportunity to be part of a growing company which gets children and families active through its creative, story-style yoga inspired classes.

“I knew of YogaBugs through the company’s appearances on Dragons Den. Yoga is a tried and tested activity, and its popularity in this country is increasing. In the same way that Jamie Oliver’s campaign has been transforming school dinners, I believe the YogaBugs programmes have the potential to get more children active.”

The judges for the competition were Mark Goode, CEO of YogaBugs, Jabbar Khan, Director of leading Midlands restaurant Lasan and Professor Chris Prince, Executive Dean of Birmingham City Business School. Applicants had until 24 November 2011 to submit a short two-page business case. A short-list of candidates were invited to make a short presentation to the panel of three judges, and this was whittled down to three, all of whom were invited to the Midlands Business Awards on Friday, 3^rd February.

Although thousands of graduates are still struggling to find work, YogaBugs CEO, Mark Goode, was nevertheless amazed when the company received more than 2000 applications in its competition to win a free franchise contract.

“As a company, YogaBugs is passionate about helping the next generation so we thought we should give a chance to young adults to progress in these difficult times. Simon impressed me with his passion, determination and confidence. His entrepreneurial skills, attention to detail and enthusiasm are key attributes in a successful franchisee. I was very impressed with the high standards of applications. There were many young potential entrepreneurs who, if given the chance, could take this county forward in business. That’s why we will be meeting with the two runners-up to discuss them working with YogaBugs in a similar capacity.

Partnering with Birmingham City University was an obvious choice as we have an existing relationship with them. In summer 2010, we joined the student graduate scheme, employing Birmingham City University graduate, Oliver Tuck, as our graphic designer. We were extremely pleased with the hard work and high level of skills Oliver brought to the company.”

The competition was run in partnership with Birmingham University’s Research, Innovation & Enterprise Services (RIES) and open to competition to graduates and third year students from Midland Universities. Birmingham University has an impressive track record of supporting business start-ups – 200 since 2003 with 68% of those businesses still trading. As a creative University, it recognises that a number of students will enter self-employment. This franchise opportunity therefore fitted the ambitions of the University to support enterprise, employability and entrepreneurial skills in this uncertain economic climate.

Reflecting on his success, Simon Duong said:

“I really appreciate the opportunity YogaBugs has given to a young graduate like myself. The result was kept under wraps until the winner was announced at the Midland Business Awards on Friday evening. I’m over the moon to be given this break and can’t wait to get started so that children in South London get the yoga bug.”

Competition To Win YogaBugs Franchise Attracts 2000 Graduate Applicants!

Posted on February 1, 2012 by admin

Although thousands of graduates are still struggling to find work according to recent research conducted by the Higher Education Careers Service Unit, YogaBugs CEO, Mark Goode, was nevertheless amazed when the company received more than 2000 applications in its competition to win a free franchise contract.

“As a company, we are always looking for enthusiastic and entrepreneurial people who want to make a positive difference to the health and well-being of the UK’s children. We know how tough it is for graduates to find graduate entry-level jobs so we came up with the idea of running a competition to win a free franchise contract as our company’s way of giving back. We were overwhelmed by the response which we believe reflects how hard it is right now for graduates to get a job. Being a well-known company with a reputation for integrity, built up following our appearances in Dragons Den, also generated a lot of interest in this competition.”

In partnership with Birmingham City University’s Research, Innovation & Enterprise Services (RIES) YogaBugs launched the competition to all Midlands graduates and third year students. Birmingham University was an obvious partner because of its record of supporting business start-ups – 200 since 2003 with 68% of those businesses still trading. As a creative University, it recognises that a number of students will enter self-employment. This franchise opportunity therefore fitted the ambitions of the University to support enterprise, employability and entrepreneurial skills in this uncertain economic climate.

The judges for the competition are Mark Goode, CEO of YogaBugs, Jabba Khan, Director of leading Midlands restaurant Lasan and Professor Chris Prince, Executive Dean of Birmingham City Business School. Applicants had until 24 November to submit a short two-page business case. Shortlisted candidates were invited to make a short presentation to the panel of three judges. The winner, to be announced on Friday 3^rd February, will be awarded a free franchise contract with YogaBugs with a market value of £10,000. Included within their prize is free business and teacher training.

Teaching Yoga At 93 Years Young!

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

When we saw this inspiring story about a 93 year old yogini who gets up every morning at 5am to teach classes, we had to share this on the YogaBugs blog. Even after a total hip replacement in the early 2000s, Tao Porchon-Lynch is as flexible as ever. The energetic 93-year-old, from Westchester, who has been practicing yoga for over 70 years, also does the waltz, jitterbug, samba and cha cha cha in her spare time.

Do you think yoga is the secret to a happy old-age?

Humans Have Yoga… And Now Dogs Have Doga!

Posted on January 25, 2012 by admin

Chasing after balls and fetching sticks has been replaced by Doga, a new form of exercise for the pampered pooch and the latest craze among New York dog-owners. ‘Doga’ is said to appeal to your pet’s natural instinct to stretch and creates a unique bonding experience between pet and owner.

Classes involve stretching, massage and even chanting. The animals take part in the classes either by acting as weights to help balance their owners or by doing some of the moves themselves.

One Doga devotee explained: ”Just as dogs pick up anxiety and negativity, they benefit from being a calm, happy environment with their owners. ‘The owners often say that they’ve never see their pet so relaxed.” Animal health experts say they have witnessed dramatic changes in stressed or anxiety-prone animals after attending doga classes. for dogs that spend a lot of time on their own, Doga offers a unique bonding experience with their owner.

Can you see Doga taking off in the UK?!

Hullabaloo Over Changes To Yoga Inspired Show, Waybuloo

Posted on January 13, 2012 by admin

The BBC has been forced to make a U-turn after hundreds of angry parents complained about changes to the hit childrens’ show, Waybuloo. More than 150 official complaints were received, with hundreds more expressing their fury over the internet.

BBC bosses brought in Come Dine with Me’s Dave Lamb to provide a voiceover. Parents and – more importantly – toddlers hated the changes. Waybuloo is one of CBeebies’ most popular shows. The show features four fictional characters called the Piplings who live in Nara and play with real children, referred to as ‘cheebies’. It encourages children to get interested in exercise by showing them a simple version of yoga. YogaBugs founder, Fenella Lindsell is yoga consultant to the show.

The changes were unveiled by the show’s boss, Vanessa Hill, on Sunday night. She said: “We wanted to make the show easier for families to watch together, engaging older siblings to enjoy the action too….. And what a narrator we’ve got! We’ve struck gold with brilliant Dave Lamb. I hope that we’ve created a series that is funnier, clearer in the stories it tells and is something the whole family will enjoy together.”

Complaining that Waybuloo had been “ruined”, one parent complained: “I’m raving, they’ve put a narrator (the annoying bloke from Come Dine With Me) over the top of Waybuloo. I’m so mad I’ve even complained on the BBC website.” Whilst another said, “We’ve had to switch off. It has ruined a lovely, calming programme.”

After the first instalment proved to be so unpopular, BBC bosses quickly conceded and agreed to bring back the original format. “We appreciate all the comments we’ve received on the new format for Waybuloo.”

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