Invite_Front (Easter 2012)-blog

Little miracle Tarbark Al Gazawe is one in a billion

SHE’S Australia’s very own Thumbelina. But unlike the fairytale character, little Tarbark Al Gazawe is very real and continues to defy medical odds. Tarbark, aged 3½, is just 68cm tall, weighs 6kg, still wears 000-sized baby clothes and has dolls that are bigger than she is.She was born with the rare genetic condition Sanjad-Sakati syndrome, which is characterised by a severe growth failure in-utero and continues throughout life.

It is unclear just how tall she will get because little is known about the condition but doctors at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead will soon begin to give her growth hormones in the hope they will help her grow.She started walking a few months ago and can only say a few words. Her condition is so rare there are only few known cases worldwide.

Her mother Azhar was initially told by doctors Tarbark would not survive past three months but, although she has many medical issues, her only child is thriving. “The doctors told me she would die after three months. Then they said they didn’t know if she would be able to talk, walk or even grow teeth but she has,” Ms Al Gazawe said. She’s a happy baby and she keeps me busy.”

Tarbark was conceived via IVF after Ms Al Gazawe and her husband Mohammed tried for years to have a baby, but her condition was not known until she was born premature at 31 weeks. Tarbark – who was 36cm long at birth and weighed only 1.19kg – had to stay in hospital for six months before her parents were able to take her home.

Tarbark now mostly drinks a special milk formula and, although she is able to eat solid food, does not like to eat much, her mother said. She also has other health issues associated with the disorder and is a regular at the hospital for check-ups as well as to treat the viruses she is more prone to contract.

Her geneticist Dr Carolyn Ellaway said Tarbark will remain at risk of life-threatening complications of the disorder as she continues to get older but it is hard to predict what will happen to her.”You can’t predict her development. She should continue to make gains in her developments. That’s assuming she doesn’t have any life-threatening complications,” Dr Ellaway said.”She’s a delightful little girl. She’s really sweet and interactive and very alert,” she said.

The hospital is running its annual Bandaged Bear Appeal this month to help raise money for sick children, with one-third of patients at the hospital being treated for rare disorders like Tarbark.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/little-miracle-tarbark-al-gazawe-is-one-in-a-billion/story-e6frg12c-1226305899052

Hi all, found this interesting website from National Geographic Kids =) Learn something new today~

Eggs-Periments: Balancing Egg

You will need:

• One raw egg
• Salt

HERE’S HOW

1. Take the raw egg and try to balance it on a hard surface (you will have a difficult time keeping the egg balanced).
2. Now, make a tiny mound of salt on a hard, smooth surface.
3. Very carefully balance the egg on top of the salt, then gently blow the excess salt away. With patience and a steady hand, you should succeed.

Note: Try this experiment without the salt about March 20, on the spring equinox, or about September 23, on the autumn equinox. During the equinoxes the sun appears directly overhead at the Equator, and the length of night and day are nearly equal worldwide. Carefully balance the egg on a hard smooth surface. If it doesn’t balance, then try the experiment with some salt.
WHY?

Some people believe that the gravitational pull of the sun that occurs on the equinoxes can help keep an egg standing on its end. This idea is unproven, but it’s interesting to test it. Another way to stand an egg up—on any day—is to use salt.

The salt crystals are almost perfect cubes, and they help form a pedestal that supports the egg.

Source: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/activities/funscience/balancing-eggsperiment/

Happy Chinese New Year everyone! Be blessed and keep your passion up for what God had in store for you in your life. Found this article and would like to share with you:~

Direct Instruction – Teachable Moments to Build Character

Discipline strategies are an important tool to use teachable moments to build character. We should always take the opportunity to explain why our child’s behavior is wrong when we correct him. Make a habit of identifying in your own mind the value you wish to teach the child based on the particular behavior. Choose a consequence that is appropriate to teach that value. One natural consequence that we can use is to ‘make amends’. For example, dishonesty is best resolved when we confess and are held accountable. Sometimes an apology to the person wronged is enough; other times we must take action to right the wrong. Brief, but direct instruction about why we have a family rule and the underlying value we hold helps the child learn from consequences and discipline.

Source: http://childparenting.about.com/od/emotionaldevelopment/a/charactered.htm

Happy New Year to all! A new year, a new beginning =)

Enjoy the video ^o^

*Rules from God*

1. Wake Up !! 
Decide to have a good day.
“Today is the day the Lord hath made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up !! 
The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.
Man looks at outward appearance;
but the Lord looks at the heart.”
I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up!!
Say nice things and learn to listen.
God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant
for us to do twice as much listening as talking.
“He who guards his lips guards his soul.”
Proverbs 13:3  

4. Stand Up!!…
For what you believe in.
Stand for something or you will fall for anything..
“Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time,
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good…”
Galatians 6:9-10
5. Look Up !!… 
To the Lord.
“I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up !!… 
For something higher.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not unto your own understanding.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him,
and He will direct your path.”
Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up !!… 

Your Prayers.
“Do not worry about anything;
instead PRAY ABOUT
EVERYTHING.”
Philippians 4:6

Hi everyone!!

Time flies!!It is coming to the end of the year already. Hope you have achieve much this year. All the best to the students that are sitting for exams and may God’s wisdom and strength always be upon your life.

It is also the time of the year that everyone will be busy flying out of Australia going for holidays/breaks. Would you please send me or your group leader your travel dates (estimated date is fine) so we can start planning for the summer break?

Besides this, we will be having an appreciation dinner (tentatively on 13 November , Sunday). Will update you soon for the details =) I hope to have all of you there and would not want to miss anyone of you. Stay tune for more info! 

On another note, we are embarking on the parables series, it will be really exciting as we watch what our in house”acting” talent can bring to this ministry.

Encouraging good behaviour

Children do as you do. Your child watches you to get clues on how to behave in the world. You’re her role model, so use your own behaviour to guide her. What you do is often much more important than what you say. If you want your child to say ‘please’, say it yourself. If you don’t want your child to raise her voice, speak quietly and gently yourself.

Get down to your child’s level. Kneeling or squatting down next to children is a very powerful tool for communicating positively with them. Getting close allows you to tune in to what they might be feeling or thinking. It also helps them focus on what you are saying or asking for. If you are close to your child and have his attention, there is no need to make him look at you.

Keep promises.  Stick to agreements. When you follow through on your promises, good or bad, your child learns to trust and respect you. So when you promise to go for a walk after she picks up her toys, make sure you have your walking shoes handy. When you say you will leave the library if she doesn’t stop running around, be prepared to leave straight away. No need to make a fuss about it – the more matter of fact, the better. This helps your child feel more secure, because it creates a consistent and predictable environment. 

Whining: be strong. Kids don’t want to be annoying. By giving in when they’re whinging for something, we train them to do it more – even if we don’t mean to. ‘No’ means ‘no’, not maybe, so don’t say it unless you mean it. If you say ‘no’ and then give in, children will be whine even more the next time, hoping to get lucky again.

Keep it simple and positive. If you can give clear instructions in simple terms, your child will know what is expected of him. (‘Please hold my hand when we cross the road.’) Stating things in a positive way gets their heads thinking in the right direction. For example, ‘Please shut the gate’ is better than ‘Don’t leave the gate open’.

Responsibility and consequences. As children get older, you can give them more responsibility for their own behaviour. You can also give them the chance to experience the natural consequences of that behaviour. You don’t have to be the bad guy all the time. For example, if your child forgot to put her lunch box in her bag, she will go hungry at lunch time. It is her hunger and her consequence. It won’t hurt her to go hungry just that one time. Sometimes, with the best intentions, we do so much for our children that we don’t allow them to learn for themselves. At other times you need to provide consequences for unacceptable or dangerous behaviour. For these times, it is best to ensure that you have explained the consequences and that your children have agreed to them in advance.

Make your child feel important. Children love it when they can contribute to the family. Start introducing some simple chores or things that she can do to play her own important part in helping the household. This will make her feel important and she’ll take pride in helping out. If you can give your child lots of practice doing a chore, she will get better at it and will keep trying harder. Safe chores help children feel responsible, build their self-esteem and help you out too.

Raisingchildren.net

Everyone lies. But the way young children lie is different from the way adults lie.

Three- and 4-year-olds “live by a simple rule: Good people do good things,” says Lawrence Kutner, Ph.D., author of Parent & Child. “By lying, [a preschooler] is, in essence, protecting his ability to be loved by you.”

Older children know what a lie is but don’t consider its consequences. “[Children are] aware of the probable unpleasant consequences of [what they did] and are simply protecting themselves,” says Kutner.

What should you do if you suspect your child is lying?
* Give children alternatives to lying. For example, let them know that breaking a vase accidently won’t be treated the same as breaking it on purpose. Help them understand why lies aren’t necessary or helpful.

* Talk calmly. Focus on the child’s action-not the lie or the child. Don’t ask accusatory questions and don’t press for a confession. Just present the facts as you understand them. For children up to the age of 5, parents should just say, “I saw you do it, and that isn’t nice.” Then suggest an action that would’ve been better.

* Avoid harsh punishment. “[Harsh punishment] creates a fear of punishment, rather than an internalized belief in moral behavior,” says psychologist Paul Ekman (Why Kids Lie). Use a story such as The Boy Who Cried Wolf to help younger children realize the damage lying does. Use object lessons from the news for older children. Or talk about what the Bible says about lying (Proverbs 19:22).

* Set an example. Admit your mistakes. When children see you handle mistakes, they’ll be more able to cope with problems. And avoid telling lies yourself.

Children as young as 4 can tell deliberate lies to get out of trouble, according to researchers. But the fear of parents’ disapproval discourages them from lying.

Ninety-two percent of 5-year-olds thought it was always wrong to tell a fib. But by the age of 11, only 28 percent said they “never told a lie,” according to research.

Source: childrenministry.com

Fact 1:
The average age children begin to use a microwave is seven.

Fact 2:
A 3-year old Boy’s voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

Fact 3:
Fathers tend to determine the height of their child, mothers their weight.

Fact 4:
On average, a 4-year-old child asks 437 questions a day.

Fact 5:
Watching television can act as a natural painkiller for children.

PARENTS (teachers) need to set limits and boundaries. But what do you do when your child is screaming like a wild animal and you just want them to stop?

1) Give kids food and sleep. Tired, hungry and overstimulated children are more likely to throw tantrums. Certain situations -shopping, visiting or mealtimes – might frequently involve temper tantrums. So think of ways to make these events easier on your child. For example, you could time the situations so your child is not tired, eats before you go, or doesn’t need to behave for too long.

2)    Distract them: If you can see a tantrum brewing, step in and try distracting your child with another activity.

3)    Stay calm, wait out the tantrum and ignore it. Getting angry will most likely make this situation worse. When you speak keep your voice calm and level, and act deliberately and slowly. There is no need to use a “circuit breaker”. Just ignore the behaviour until it stops. And it will stop eventually. Once a temper tantrum is in full swing, it’s too late for reasoning or distraction. Your child won’t be in the mood to listen. You also run the risk of teaching your child that tantrums get your full involvement and attention.

4)    Make sure that there is no pay-off for the tantrum. If the tantrum occurs because your child doesn’t want to do something (such as get out of the bath), calmly insist that he does (pick him up out of the bath). If the tantrum occurs because your child wants something, do not give him what he wants. If they throw a tantrum in the shopping centre, or the park, take them home. Be consistent and calm in your approach. If you sometimes give your child what she wants when she tantrums and sometimes don’t, the problem could become worse. Eventually children will get the message and the tantrums will ease.

5)    Reward good behaviour. Enthusiastically praise your child when he manages frustration well. And talk to them a few hours later about the tantrum, what went wrong and why screaming doesn’t get them anything.

“Easy to understand ground rules, ignoring minor bad behaviour, logical consequences and time out are all proven and safe alternatives to smacking,” Raising Children Network’s Warren Cann said.

Effective discipline is based on teaching the right behaviour; helping children learn what is expected. This involves instructing, modelling, and praising them when they behave well. From the child’s point of view, its not easy learning new behaviour if the only guidance you get is punishment when you do something wrong.

Source: News.com.au

The Lord’s Prayer

A mother was teaching her three year old daughter The Lord’s Prayer. For several evenings at bedtime, she repeated it after her mother. One night she said she was ready to solo. The mother listened with pride, as she carefully enunciated each word right up to the end…”And lead us not into temptation”, she prayed, “but deliver us some e-mail, Amen.”

^o^ Have a good week ahead, everyone =)

Please kindly take note of the following upcoming Zion Kidz recruitment drive:

 Date: 11 Sept 2011 (Sunday)

Time: 12:30pm to 1:30pm (after Curtin service)

Venue: Case study room 104, Bldg 210 (Crèche room – room outside EJLT)

 This recruitment drive is important for all new members that are interested as I will be introducing our very own “Zion Praise Harvest” style of running children ministry inside out in brief to you (e.g. area of interest, groupings, WWCC requirements, what we do etc).      

It is also an opportunity for them to find our more and feel free to ask any questions relating to children ministry.

Kidshaper 2011 – 3D ( If you want to change the world where would you start?)

What is Kidshaper?

Kidshaper is a children’s ministry conference with a difference. Leaders from all over Australia, and beyond come with hungry hearts to be inspired and challenged in their call to reach God’s children. Kidshaper is an atmosphere of faith and fun, you will feel your expectations lift as you connect with God and people with the same heart as you.

Have the opportunity to go to Kidshaper Conference in Melbourne and feel really blessed coming back. It is a conference that is specially for children ministry. Not only you learn practical tips but also catch the spirit of the children ministry leaders from different churches coming together and being so passionate in making a difference in the lives of the next GENERATION! It is great to be inspired and learned from the speaker such as Ps David Wakerley (children pastor- Hillsong), Ps Rob Bradbury (children pastor Planet Shaker), Ps Steve Adam (children pastor saddleback church) etc.

Would really encourage you to come for the conference next year. Plan early and invest in yourself! Do check out the website from Kidshaper: http://www.kidshaper.com/index.php/kidshaper-australia-home

God bless, Ivy

*Invest in children to raise up a generation who loves God*

We are kicking off 2011 with a 4 week series entitled “I’m Not Ashamed of the Gospel” from Hillsong BIG program. Its going to be awesome with a new action song (no prizes for guessing the name of the song) along with more BIG ideas, BIG picture applications, BIG points to take home and BIG words to commit to memory! Come join us as we kick off 2011 with a BIG bang on 9 Jan 2011.

BIG PICTURE :

I’m Not Ashamed
  
BIG WORD (memory verse):

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the jew, then for the gentile” – Romans 1:16

THEME SONG:

I’m Not Ashamed (Hillsong Kids – Tell the World CD).

Enforcers… LEAD THE WAY!