Therapy Animal Resource

Today's program resource is a state-by-state list of animal therapy organizations. Additionally there are a multitude of organizations that provide working with these therapy animals and your child through reading. Since this week is all about the significance of reading, we were ecstatic to find such a thorough resource!

To begin lets take a look at therapy animals in general and the comfort that they could provide your child during treatment...

What is Animal Therapy?

It is a guided interaction between the certified animal, an individual and the animals trainer. The purpose of this interaction is to provide comfort and help the individual cope with health problems or mental disorders.

What does Animal Therapy do?

The bond between humans and animals have been an established part of our nature for centuries and this type of therapy simply builds on this bond to accomplish progressive coping skills. According to Healthline.com it can help with [but not limited to]:

• improve fine motor skills
• improve assisted or independent movement
• increase self-esteem
• decrease anxiety or loneliness
• increase verbal communication 
• develop social skills
• increase willingness to join in activities
• improve interactions with others
• motivate willingness to exercise

Check out a full list of Animal Therapy Services in your state HERE at the Local Therapy Animal Organizations resource!

5 Inspirational Children's Books

Yesterday, we discussed the benefits that reading has on your child's emotional health. Now, we would like to share with you 5 inspirational children's books to get you started on your reading journey!

Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss

 A perennial favorite, Dr. Seuss’s wonderfully wise graduation speech is the perfect send-off for children starting out in the world, be they nursery school, high school, or college grads! From soaring to high heights and seeing great sights to being left in a Lurch on a prickle-ly perch, Dr. Seuss addresses life’s ups and downs with his trademark humorous verse and illustrations, while encouraging readers to find the success that lies within. [Amazon.com]

 Every Little Thing by Cedella Marley

Bob Marley’s songs are known the world over for their powerful message of love, peace, and harmony. Now a whole new generation can discover one of his most joyous songs in this reassuring picture book adaptation written by his daughter Cedella and exuberantly illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. This upbeat story reminds children that the sun will always come out after the rain and mistakes are easily forgiven with a hug. Every family will relate to this universal story of one boy who won’t let anything get him down, as long as he has the help of three very special little birds. Including all the lyrics of the original song plus new verses, this cheerful book will bring a smile to faces of all ages—because every little thing’s gonna be all right! 

[Chronicle Books]

                         I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont

Positively bursting with energy and imagination, this ode to self-esteem encourages kids to appreciate everything about themselves, inside and out. Messy hair? Beaver breath? So what! This little girl knows that being proud of being you is the most important thing to remember.

At once silly and serious, Karen Beaumont's joyous rhyming text and David Catrow's wild illustrations unite in a book that is sassy, soulful, and straight from the heart. [Scholastic]

Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae & Guy Parker-Rees

This story is about a giraffe called Gerald who can’t dance. At least he can’t dance very well. As a result, he gets teased by the other animals. After a devastating encounter at the local 'Jungle Dance', he is laughed out of town.

With the guidance of a wise and gentle cricket, Gerald learns to listen to the sounds around him and to his own body, and is able to dance so well that the other animals are left in awe.

The message of this lovely rhyming tale is that it is okay to be different and dance to the beat of our own drum.

The book is delightfully illustrated with rhinos who rock and roll, lions tangoing, and baboons performing a Scottish reel. The humour appeals to adult and child alike.

The rhymes makes for easy reading and children will love and laugh at the pictures showing animals doing all manner of unusual things. As well as the message about being brave by doing brave things, the story is a wonderful tool for teaching about the damage prejudice can do. [Kid's Book Review]

          Have You Filled Your Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud

Through simple prose and vivid illustrations, this heartwarming book encourages positive behavior as children see how rewarding it is to express daily kindness, appreciation, and love. Bucket filling and dipping are effective metaphors for understanding the effects of our actions and words on the well being of others and ourselves. [Amazon]

The Benefits of Reading for Emotional Health

Being a pediatric cancer patient can have an impact on a child's school attendance. This alone can cause unnecessary stress but when you account for the enriching activities they may be missing, it can be overwhelming. That is why for todays "Emotional Support" post we want to share with you a few things about the benefit reading with your child has.

Why is reading with your child important?

• Reading aloud or having your child read to you help lay their foundation for cognitive and critical thinking skills
• It can create a strong bond between you and your child
• Helps develop an enriching vocabulary

What does reading do that helps my child's emotional health?

According to an article released by the Huffington Post reading benefits your child's emotional help through...

"Early readers will be armed with the vocabulary necessary to communicate to their peers, teachers, and parents. Education provider Gemm Learning says children who have the ability to find the words they want to use are more likely to have a strong self-image, sense of confidence, and higher academic standing. Also, well-read kids are more likely to attempt to formulate their thoughts before becoming angry or demonstrative. "With more knowledge comes more confidence. More confidence builds self-esteem. So it’s a chain reaction. Since you are so well-read, people look to you for answers. Your feelings about yourself can only get better," Gemm Learning says."

So, this week whether you are at home or even at the treatment center and spend a little time reading with your child! Sometimes the little things can mean the most.

Controlled Breathing Technique that Combats Nausea

We have had various of posts through out our blog surrounding the topic of nausea from teas to natural medicines, we know how overwhelming nausea can be and we want to provide you with a multitude of tips to help you control it.

Controlled deep breathing techniques has been clinically proven to help ease on coming nausea. So what do these techniques look like? Well it is fairly simple-lets take a look:

1. When a wave of nausea hits, make sure to get your self in a comfortable position
2. Close your eyes in order to avoid distractions from focusing on your breathing
3. Deeply inhale through your nose
4. Then, exhale completely through your mouth
5. Complete this at least three times and assess if your nausea has let up

If you are still feeling nauseous try this again but you may also try these techniques:

• Focus on a particular muscle group by tightening and releasing these muscles in a slow pattern while maintaining deep breaths as you complete this 
• Try raising your shoulders to your ears and slowly drop them into a relaxed position again while deeply breathing 
• Stand in an upright position with your arms relaxed by your side, slowly [we mean very slowly or this technique could have the opposite effect] begin to let your arms go towards the floor. Try to focus on breathing but also try to envision every vertebrae in your back opening and releasing as your finger tips make their way to your toes.

Recipe for the Week

The chillier the weather, the more we crave our favorite homestyle comfort food. We have found a fabulous fall recipe that combines TWO delicious comfort meals into one. Check out this awesome "One Pot Chill Mac" recipe by Damn Delicious

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, diced
• 8 ounces ground beef
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 3/4 cup canned white kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 3/4 cup canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 10 ounces uncooked elbows pasta
• 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add garlic, onion and ground beef, and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the beef as it cooks; drain excess fat.
2. Stir in chicken broth, tomatoes, beans, chili powder and cumin; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a simmer and stir in pasta. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer until pasta is cooked through, about 13-15 minutes.
3. Remove from heat. Top with cheese and cover until melted, about 2 minutes.
4. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.

Check out this recipe in full and more wonderful recipes here

Breathing Exercise: Bellows Breath

Bellows Breath is a breathing exercise that is made to stimulate the mind and increase awareness and is adapted from a yoga breathing practice.

How To from Dr. Weil:

1. Inhale and exhale rapidly through your nose, keeping your mouth closed but relaxed. Your breaths in and out should be equal in duration, but as short as possible. This is a noisy breathing exercise.
2. Try for three in-and-out breath cycles per second. This produces a quick movement of the diaphragm, suggesting a bellows. Breathe normally after each cycle.
3. Do not do for more than 15 seconds on your first try. Each time you practice the Stimulating Breath, you can increase your time by five seconds or so, until you reach a full minute.

If done properly, you may feel invigorated, comparable to the heightened awareness you feel after a good workout. You should feel the effort at the back of the neck, the diaphragm, the chest and the abdomen. Try this diaphragmatic breathing exercise the next time you need an energy boost and feel yourself reaching for a cup of coffee.

Watch a video of Dr. Weil demonstrating the Stimulating Breath.

D.I.Y. Stamping Pumpkin Craft

Happy Friday Dreamers...today SPLURGE! on this perfect fall craft by Crafty morning that is simple and fun!

Materials:

• Plastic Water Bottle
• Construction Paper
• Paint Brush
• Orange, green and brown paint

Directions

1. Dip the water bottle cap in the paint and stamp the circles to your liking to shape your pumpkin. Crafty Morning arranged theirs in a row.
2. Add your stems and stumps with your paint brush
3. Let Dry

See this craft and more at a Crafty Morning

"Stronger": Inspirational Video from Seattle Children's Hospital

 Seattle Children’s Hospital hosted a video project showing cancer patients, parents, and staff lip synching and dancing to Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger.” The video went viral even catching the eye of the songs artist and Kelly Clarkson herself recorded a video message thanking the kids in the video for making her day.

Improving Your Emotional Well Being

There are a multitude of steps one can take in order to ensure high levels of emotional well being but it is also important to recognize how easily we can let it go as well. That is why today, lets focus on a few simple steps we can take in order to improve our emotional well being...

1. Engage in things that positively impact others. Sometimes the most gratifying experiences do not necessarily have a direct impact on ourselves. By doing good for others, we are able to find a sense of purpose and happiness that one cannot find anywhere else
2. Educate yourself on a new topic or activity. By learning new things provides our mind with stimulation and our emotional well being with a sense of accomplishment.
3. Managing Stress through limiting unhealthy mental behavior. Stress is a very consuming emotion that can weigh heavily on the mind and body. By seeking out alternative coping methods you may not have tried before will help you adapt to healthier coping processes. Avoid unhealthy habits such as self criticism, repetitive worry and nervous ticks [maybe biting your nails].
4. The practice of self-descipline. Self control in turn leads to a sense of accomplishment and can overcome anxiety.

As Cold Weather Comes, Dryness is Right Behind It..

Combat the side effects of the dryness cold weather brings by taking simple steps to maintain moisture in your life. Today lets look at the 10 benefits of owning a humidifier has provided by Dr. Frank Lipman..

1. Reduce risk of infections. Viruses and bacteria can’t travel as well in moist air. A humidifier could mean the difference between getting the flu this winter and remaining healthy.
2. Softer, more vibrant skin. Cold, dry air saps moisture from your skin, which causes all kinds of problems, including dryness, dullness, flaking, and accelerated aging. A humidifier can help prevent all these damaging effects, and help you maintain that glowing, vibrant look for all your holiday parties and get-togethers.
3. Comfortable sinuses. You know that dry, tight feeling you get in your nose in the winter? Even if you don’t have a cold (it’s worse when you do), winter air can dry out your sinuses, lowering your resistance to bacteria and viruses. Sleep with a humidifier and wake up with a more comfortable nose—and throat!
4. Faster healing times. Say you do end up with a cold, a sinus infection, or the flu. A humidifier will shorten your suffering. Keeping your nasal passages and your throat moist will help you heal faster, and will reduce symptoms like coughing and sneezing.
5. Healthier houseplants. Plants help pull toxins out of the air. But they can suffer in dry, winter air. Have you noticed that the soil is dryer than usual? Are the leaves looking droopy and sick? A humidifier can help keep your houseplants healthy—which helps keep you healthy, too!
6. Protected wood furnishings. Dry air can damage wood furniture, as well as moldings and doors, causing them to split and crack. A humidifier can help preserve the integrity of the wood, maintaining your pieces for years to come.
7. No growling morning voice. Do you often sound like a bear in the mornings? That’s dry air getting to your vocal cords. Sound more like your normal self when you sleep overnight with a humidifier in your bedroom!
8. Reduced heating bill. Did you know that moist air feels warmer than dry air? It’s true. If you add some moisture to the air, it will feel warmer, which can help you save on your heating bills this winter.
9. Fewer electric shocks. No one likes a static electricity shock—especially not the cat! But you may have noticed that in the winter, it’s harder to avoid it. That’s the dry air again. Use a humidifier and leave the lightning outside.
10. Improved sleep. If you or a partner snores, a humidifier may help. We tend to snore more if our sinuses and throats are dry. A moist environment also tends to feel warmer and more comfortable, which can encourage a good night’s sleep.