The Magic of Think

It's a beautiful day in my neighborhood, frands. Won't you be my neighbor? Okay, if uprooting your family and moving all your junk to me is out of the question, I completely understand. Packing up a house is for the birds.

Anymovingboxesaren'tmyjam, this morning we have a guest speaker typer! Meet Janyse Jaud. She is an award-winning singer/songwriter, author, thinkolgist, and voiceover actress. She has even worked with clients such as Discovery, The Cartoon Network, Hasbro, Marvel, and Disney. You know, the big dawgs.

Janyse Jaud has also created a way to help empower kids. After working with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, The Magic of Think® was delevloped. The Magic of Think® is a series of lesson plans that include music, activities, games, and stories that focus on academic subjects and boosting a child's self-esteem.

That said, I'm super excited to introduce Janyse Jaud of The Magic of Think®!

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5 Early Childhood Techniques Taught Through The Magic of Think®
By Janyse Jaud

The Magic of Think® concept began to take flight after an amazing experience I had with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I watched a child recite every word I had performed as an animated character in his favorite television show. The show was so important to him that he made his “one wish” to meet all of us in the series. I was so touched. I will never forget that memory.

Intrigued I began to ask myself: “What if I could create a program to help children become mentally stronger?” So with a sprinkle of seriousness, a dash of humor, and a bunch of fun, The Magic of Think® was born.

There are a variety of subjects covered within The Magic of Think® program, but today I’m going to focus on a story, song and lesson that specifically deals with bullying. Following are 5 of the many techniques that I cover:

1. Understanding and Managing Your Emotions – When we talk about our emotions it enables us to disconnect from those feelings and see ourselves in a more objective manner. We can look at the situation calmly, gain the power to make better choices, and become proactive. This is better than getting trapped into the habit of reacting, where emotions control our lives, leaving us victimized and powerless. 
2. Metaphors – Another way to gain control over our emotions is by creating a metaphor that can defuse a negative thought. For example, the animated character in the story, Little Red, decides to think of the bully as a “boogermonger.” Creating a humorous definition and image in his mind, this metaphor helps Little Red to minimize the bully’s position and credibility. 
3. Act As If – By using his imagination and “acting as if” he has courage, Little Red is able to act calmly and with confidence in a tense situation. 
4. Repetition – Using visual, audio and tactile learning, the message is discovered, repeated, and reinforced in a number of ways through songs, stories, games and activities. 
5. Humor – Little Red decides to agree with the bully, laugh at himself, and react as though what the bully says is unimportant. This becomes another way to calm the confrontation, disengage, and minimize the severity of the situation. 

“Humor is a very important component of emotional health, maintaining relationships, developing cognitive function and perhaps even medical health,” said Allan Reiss, MD, who directs the Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research at Stanford. […] “In particular, we think a balanced and consistent sense of humor may help children negotiate the difficult period of pre-adolescence and adolescence,” he said.

SCOPE published by Stanford Medicine (January, 2012) Study shows how humor activates children’s brains. Retrieved from http://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2012/01/31/making-kids-laugh-for-science/

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I also want to let everyone know that I'm guest typing over at Love, Joleen Photography today! 

Baby Alive and Well

We were sound asleep yesterday morning, and I heard a loud knock on the door. I looked at the clock and it was 7:51 a.m. in the morning, on Sunday, mind you. I made William get up and run to the door. Then, I heard my dad's voice. My dad had driven up to see us on a complete whim. I was super surprised.  He missed his little Adrienne too much. The sweetest thing was when my dad went to wake her up, she opened her eyes and said, "Hey, Pappy!" Adorable. I wish I would have gotten it on video. Think ahead, Jade, think ahead.

We ate breakfast, had some coffee, and did some coloring before Pappy took Adrienne to go pick out a new toy. Maybe that's why she thinks Pappy is Santa. It's becoming clear now. 

So, we headed to the store. My child is a seasoned shopper, mind you. She knows what she wants when she sees it. After looking up and down the toy aisles, she picked out some kind of Baby Alive. This doll needs to be fed her bottle, needs her teeth brushed, then wets her diaper. All the expectations one could ever want out of a baby doll. At least she doesn't talk. Plus, my little mommy loves her.

This made me think of my Baby Alive. The very first one that pooped and peed. I was in kindergarten, and a first grader had one. There were so many envious kids surrounding her, ooing and ahhing over the doll with a dirty diaper. Including me. I went straight home and demanded a Baby Alive. When I finally got one (probably a few hours later) I hated the thing. I hated the way the food smelled when you fed her. I hated waiting for her to go number 2.  I hated the way I had to hold her over the bathroom sink, while the water ran into her mouth and out her bottom to clean her insides. Because, you know, I had to keep my baby tidy. My mom made me. Ugh. What work for a five year old. 

Anypoopingtoysarentfun, in a previous post, I listed some toys I had from my childhood. Here is the next batch of memories. Oh, to be a kid again...

Sparkly pink Caboodles makeup carrier case from the 80's. I actually still have mine underneath my vanity.

Cherry Merry Muffin dolls were produced in 1988-90 by Mattel. They smelled so flippin good!!

 Don't Break the Ice 1980's version. Loved this game. Skill and strategy at it's finest.

Flip 'n Fancy was produced by Playskool in 1991. I remember getting one of these at a Toys"R"Us and being amazed by it. Oh, the simple things.

This Krystal Princess was produced by Playskool in 1992. It was just a little figure that could sit in her own snow globe. I had a few different ones, brushed their hair, and they got old after a minute.

Li'l Miss Makeup by Mattel in 1989. Loved this doll. She looked so fancy. You could wet an eye-shadow brush and glide it across certain areas of her face, and voila, makeup appeared. Amaze.ing.

Little Pretty animals were produced by Mattel from 1989-91. I remember the pink kitty vividly. These were similar to My Little Ponies. Same concept, I guess.

Lost 'n Founds were produced by Galoob in 1989. One of my earliest stuffed animal memories. Or maybe I remember it because there are photos of me at Christmas with it? I dunno. But, I do know that this little guy cried wet tears when you gave him a bottle. Him's so sweet!!

Do you remember any of these toys?!