Childhood stress can trigger skin cancer

Childhood is that base on which the entire building called “life” stands. It is flexible. Whatever you inculcate in the mind of a child is there to stay for a long, long time, unless of course the child changes things for himself as he grows old through sense experience.

Every little thing in one’s childhood has a role to play in the future; interests, hobbies, dreams, fears, beliefs and health issues.  Recent studies have suggested that stress in childhood, be it in the form of a tragic event or neglect by parents can make a severe damage on the child’s future, by harnessing his immune system, making him more prone to skin cancer.

Source: naturallyhealthyskin

This study was conducted by the scientists of Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and involved the study of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), which is a type of skin cancer tumor. It is generally considered to be nothing severe and is not malignant as scientists suggest that one’s immune system is capable enough to fight against such cancer types. However, things are way too different if your body’s immune system is weakened due to early exposure to stress and mental turbulences.

The studies also suggested that early life stress can not only trigger skin cancer in an individual’s later life, but also cause ovarian cancer—as it too is a result of immunogenic tumors.

It is thus very crucial for parents to prevent their children from being exposed to any form of stress and give them a happy and healthy childhood that they will fondly recall as they grow old. Spend as much time with your children as possible and always make them talk to you. Your child might be an introvert, but it is your responsibility to convince him that he can open up to you without any hesitation.

As it is rightly said, happiness is the key to solve every problem. 

English grammar—5 ways you can improve your grammar

If anything works the best when it comes to language, it’s a good accent and impeccable grammar. Quite often we end up making some petty mistakes with our grammar even though our fluency in the language maybe excellent.

source: timelydigest

Here are five quick tips on how you can improve your grammar and make your grip on English language more strong—

1.      Agree with the subject-verb agreement

The most common mistake one makes when it comes to grammar is not following the subject-verb agreement. It is crucial for making a meaningful sentence. If your subject is in singular form, ensure that your verb is in singular form as well. If subject is plural, then so will be the verb.

For example,

The girl sings well.

The girls sing well.

2.      Be aware of how to use homophones

There are many words in English that sound the same, and often, in hurry we end up using the wrong word in place of the right one. We must pay close attention to the meaning the word is making in a sentence, rather than jotting it down in a flow of hurry.

Examples of the common mistakes we make when it comes to homophones are with the use of “there” and “their” and also “its” and “it’s”

Some other examples include misuse of “weather” and “whether,” “then” and “than,” “you’re” and “your,” etc.

3.      Know the difference between adverbs and adjectives

For attaining the right grammar, one needs to understand the difference between an adjective and adverb. While an adjective defines a noun or a pronoun, adverbs are used to define a verb.

For example:

4.      Read as much as possible

The benefits of reading are multidimensional. You get to learn a list of new words and increase your vocabulary, improve your writing skills and also your grammar as regular reading lets you understand about proper sentence structures more and more and helps you polish your grammar.

5.       Try making proper use of technology

There is a list of mobile phone apps that help you correct your grammar and also learn new words. Additionally, you should always take help of MS word grammar checker to ensure whatever you write is grammatically correct.

Growing up with imaginary friends—Should you be concerned?

“Astronaut!”

“Doctor!”

“Singer!”

“Actress!”

“Wrestler!”

Phew! The list of aspirations for a kid is always a never ending one. With ambitions, dream jobs and hobbies changing every day, every minute, there are a plethora of things that kids do. Some of which amuse us, some surprise us, while some worry us.

While it is only common for kids to have their own perceptions about things, which of course, change as they watch and learn, and grow up, some things, however, remain somewhat stagnant. One such thing is having imaginary friends.

source: millennialinflux

It differs from kid to kid how the imaginary character created by them or to an extent by the society blends in their lives.

How by the society, you may ask? Well, characters like Santa Claus and Tooth Fairy, which are definitely not real, but we raise our kids making them believe in these characters. No, it is not wrong to introduce them to these characters since they are an integral part of childhood, but we must know that children need to be aware about the difference between fictional characters and real ones.

It is beyond doubt that kids these days are more aware than kids of prior generations, thanks to rapid developments in technology and communications, but despite such progresses, there are many children who become prone to psychological identity disorders, as they grow up believing something and someone to be real, when they are not.

Sometimes, getting neglected by parents, avoided by peers, and harshly treated by people can have a grave impact on their minds, and they may end up finding solace in a friend, whose existence isn’t even real. What can be worse is its intensity may get magnified and as they grow older, they may end up getting diagnosed with identity disorders, jeopardizing their mental states.

While psychologists say that it is normal for kids to confide in their imaginary buddies or pets, as a part of growing up, they also suggest that parents need to step in when it gets too serious and continues after their kids have attained a certain age of maturity.

It is very important for parents to look out for such elements from their kids’ early childhood days. Share stories with them, introduce them to fictional characters, but make sure that they treat them as fiction and not reality.

Spend as much time with them as possible, and make sure they don’t feel neglected.

Keeping these simple points in mind can actually help them understand and appreciate life better, and remain as close to reality as possible, rather than finding solace in something that is only an illusion.

How to protect your children flu season

“At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child's success is the positive involvement of parents”- Jane D. Hull

Never ceasing love

From the point of conceiving the journey of child care never ends, the love that you feel for your child is like none other. Your need to protect your child from every bad thing can be overwhelming at times. Many parents are going all out to protect their children. One dad in America got his baby girl a Pit bull puppy which grew up with her and went everywhere with her. That’s smart because no one would want to mess with anybody if they've got a Pit bull at their heels.

One thing that even a dog can’t protect is cold and the flu. The summer and monsoon are times when the flu bug is in the air. Your child can pick up the common cold to a fever and more from the air they breathe. This can happen especially if they share water and spoons when they eat each other’s food. There was a recent article that said that even through hugs the flu virus can transfer. There is always an answer or tips and ways you can protect your children from the flu and keep them happy and healthy.

Fight the flu this season

Some of these tips and tricks that you could use to better protect your child go like this:

·        Make sure your child gets this season's flu vaccine

·        Practice good cough etiquette and social distancing

·        Keep hands and shared objects/surfaces clean

·        Stay healthy

·        For kids with flu, treat the symptoms and keep them comfortable.  

Lawrence School 

We at Lawrence have a nurse and hospital wing to ensure your kids get the best treatment when they show signs of illness. We are well equipped to handle any situation and our school located in HSR, Bangalore is the one for you.

Stay tuned and keep coming back for interesting and informative topics every week! When it comes to schools, choose Lawrence.

Seven must do creative things this summe

Kids might not spend much time at home but creativity does exist everywhere. Let your kids try these innovative #DIY room décor ideas this summer and have fun doing it. And meanwhile you can prepare some delicious food for them.

These ideas will surely bring your kids rooms to life and add character. Let your children explore their creativity by using these simple tips and tricks.

String lights decoration



Giving an extra glow to your room with some unused bottles and string lights will add to the charm of your room giving it a shimmering appearance. http://bit.ly/1Ru9Ofv


Bed Canopy

Via DIY Ready

Using some hooks and lacy fabrics, make a beautiful shell around your bed to feel cozy and sleep deep with sweet dreams. http://bit.ly/1Fe1tE4


Bubbly Lava Lamps



Create a colorful bubbly lava lamp and place it on the most visible place to let it show off your style. http://bit.ly/1FHu6ge


Fabric Quote Banner




Let your favorite quote talk for you. Customize it on a fabric and hang it on your wall. http://bit.ly/1J7LSgo

Tape Picture Frame



Get some colorful tape and start sticking your awesome pictures, making collages near your study table. http://bit.ly/1HA97Kr

Decorate Pillows

Comfort plus style both combined in a pillow. Make it stylish with beautiful, fluffy velvet covers. http://bit.ly/1FHulrE

Glitter jar & flower


Via The Knotty Bride

Deck those simple jars with some glitter, giving it a shimmering look that dazzles your sight. http://bit.ly/1J7M6UP

Parental Pressure: Don’t Push It!

Kids of today

Children of this day and age are the recipients of information overload, but are being pushed to their limits by loving, if not misguided parents. There is increasing pressure on an individual’s status, pressure to prove their place in society. Adults are tested on a daily basis, as pertaining to their job resources. And children seem to be going the same way. Children enjoy learning, but there must be set guidelines as to how they are taught and the wealth of knowledge they acquire.

Establish rapport

Too little, and it is useless. Too much, and it causes stress and mental breakdowns. The writer of this article is acquainted with a school teacher, who has reported that during the time of parent-teacher meetings, parents are often complaining of their child’s performance. However, said children are high scorers, who have unfortunately lost a few marks in their examination. But their parents want full grades. That isn’t always possible, and the child is utilising his/her resources to the best of their knowledge. And it is worrying to note that the parents have full time jobs, that don’t allow them to tutor their ward (s) as often as should be done. There is an obvious difference between a paid tutor and a parent; children are naturally closer to their parents, whereas a tutor is just an outsider. Children need a level of rapport to incorporate new knowledge into their heads, and repeatedly. Homework does the trick, if only the adult in charge and the child in question are in tune with each other.

Each child is unique

But do remember, each child is unique and unwraps their packages at different times. And pressurising a little one may stunt their mental and emotional growth, so accept them and guide them patiently and lovingly. Never withdraw affection if the child has performed badly, as this may result in him/her repeating the results, due to lack of confidence. And we don’t want that to happen now, do we?

Peer pressure

Should I or shouldn’t I

Every one of us has our own cliques, people we go out and spend our time with. Peer groups in school can direct the way your child behaves in school and outside. Peer pressure is a very real thing that plagues your children, no matter what age group they belong to. When your child’s  alone they might not do certain things but when there’s a crowd it’s a whole different story.

Padma’s story

Padma was a young girl who behaved well and listened to everything her parents or teachers told her. When she got to high school though things started to change. The famous saying ‘rules are meant to be broken’ became her motto. What was the root cause? The peer group she chose to spend her time with the school’s naughty ones. They skipped classes and went out and did things they shouldn’t be. Even though she hung out with them, she didn’t do many things that they did. She wouldn’t miss classes but outside class hours she would spend all her time with them and do things her folks wouldn't be too proud about . This over a period earned her a reputation that wasn’t very pleasing. Many people thought that just because she was with them, she acted and did the same things.

The reality of peer pressure

Peer groups can alter many things and change the course of your life. Padma had planned many things but ended up doing it differently only because she was pressured into it. Peer pressure is a very real thing. Here’s an interesting article about how you can help your child deal with this pressing issue faced by all our children today http://bit.ly/1JNFZ8o