Yoga and More

Here is some information for you parents to use in parenting your children in a direction towards a healthy and compassionate lifestyle.  The Yoga principle is to attain a higher level of sensitivity or consciousness towards human kind, and all living things in the universe.

A Dr. Seuss book is helpful in advancing this theme.  We have all heard more and more about "sustainability".  "Sustainability" is a term coming into wider use.  Sustainability may be taught to kindergarten children by simply reading to them "The Lorax".  The core definition of "sustainability" is that the current generation fulfills its needs without compromising the needs of future generations. This story demonstrates the concept.  In the place of Grickle-grass, the harvesting of Truffula Trees to make Thneeds in a factory employing many people.  There transpires an over-harvesting of Truffula Trees without replanting them.  This caused the Bar-ba-loots, who played in the shade of Truffula Trees, and ate the fruits, to leave.  Then the Swamee-Swans to left, and then the Humming-Fish  left, as the decreasing number of Truffula Trees could not support this wildlife.  Eventually, the economy based upon Thneeds manufacturing collapsed with the harvesting of the last Truffula Tree.  The employees in the factory were out of work.  The story ends with the thought that a Truffula Tree seed could be planted, and if the new growth was protected and nurtured, the environment, the economy, and the social life of the Grickle-grass area could make a comeback.

There are two web sites for you parents to learn about appropriate content for your children as new content is published online, in the movie theaters, and on television, and to assist your children in their online social experiences.

• www.commonsensemedia.org provides families with reviews of movies, DVD’s, games, etc.  The mission statement of this site is: “Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology.  We exist because our nation's children spend more time with media and digital activities than they do with their families or in school, which profoundly impacts their social, emotional, and physical development.  As a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization, we provide trustworthy information and tools, as well as an independent forum, so that families can have a choice and a voice about the media they consume.” 
• www.facebookforparents.org gives helpful advice regarding the use of Facebook by children and young adults.  This site presents the following theme: “To help kids reach their potential, parents today must know about Facebook.”