The Uffington Horse

Next to the Stonehenge, the Uffington Horse is probably one of the best known Tourist attractions of England. A strange, graceful figure that stands out markedly white against the backdrop of the rolling green hills of the Berkshire Downs, it is the oldest of the strange and unexplained white chalk figures found in Merrie England. Unlike the famous Wiltshire horse figures which are more or less fairly realistic and straighforward representations and moreover all face towards the left, the Uffington Horse is right-facing and is composed of stylistic curves which give it an appearance of being in motion. It does not actually look like a horse though – it has only been assumed to be so over the centuries – it might have been meant to be any other creature really.

Found about 30 miles from the city of Oxford, the Uffington Horse is carved near the top of an impressively steep escarpment that rises to the height of 856 feet. The hills are made of chalk, but in this case the Uffington Horse hasn't been carved deep enough to reveal the chalk. What the designers did instead was dig ditches that were 3 feet deep and 10 feet wide and then filled these up with chalk. The figure is 374 feet long.

The Uffington Horse is one of those interesting man-made monuments that somehow seem to have been perpetually around. It has been known to the nearby villages since time immemorial. The origins are mysterious and although various theories have been put forward regarding it, nothing definite is known about who made it and for what purpose. There is a reference to it - "the place commonly known as the White Horse Hill" - in a cartulary of the Abbey of Abingdon from between 1072 and 1084.

The Uffington Horse was originally thought to have been from the Saxon Age or the Iron Age. But more recent, more technologically advanced studies that can measure when the chalk was last exposed to light date its origins to the Bronze Age. There are some theories now that perhaps it even dated way back to the Neolithic Age, but that hasn't yet been corroborated.

There are a lot of theories about who made it. Since, like the faces and figures found in America, it is seen best when viewed from the air and can be seen only fairly or not well from the ground, there are theories about a UFO connection. Perhaps it was a signal for them or something. Why else would the ancients carve such a figure?

Other less fantastic and perhaps more plausible theories point towards its being a tribal symbol or a territory marker. Some people accord it with religious significance – as a symbol of the horse goddess who was worshipped as Epona by the Celtic Tribes of Gaul and as Rhiannon by the tribes in England. It may also have had something to do with the Sun God Belinos or Belenus, as he was also known – this might explain why it was carved so high up on the hill. Perhaps it is a fertility symbol.

Still others say that the Uffington Horse is in fact the dragon slayed by St. George on the nearby Dragon Hill. This is a small, flat-topped hill on which no grass grows – supposedly because the blood of the dragon was spilt on it and dragon blood, it is well known, offers no incentive for the growth of life forms. The Uffington Horse might also be a depiction of St. George's steed. Still other stories link the Horse to King Alfred – he may have had it carved in the hillside to commemorate his victory over the Danes in 871. Still other claims link it to the leader of the Fifth Century A.D. Anglo-Saxon hordes, Hengist. There are even some wags who claim it was just somebody prehistoric being abstractly expressive.

The White Horse was over the centuries cared for by the nearby villagers. This was known as Scouring and they turned that into a three day festive occasion in which many other fun and sporting activities also took place – rolling wheels of cheese down the hill, wrestling, and so on. Now the Uffington Horse is cared for by the English Heritage Foundation. Every seven years the chalk outlines are divested of the overgrown and the borders are smoothed. These days it seems the chalk is getting spoiled due to pollution.

The Uffington Horse can be visited anytime and there is no charge. Also worth visiting are the Uffington Castle, Wayland's Smithy, the Manger, and the Ridgeway. The Uffington Castle, excavated in 1850, is a really grand name for what is in actuality a grassy knoll with raised mounds and ditches around it. In the Iron Age, when it was built, it was bolstered by timber and sarcen stones. It is probable that it was the Tribe that lived here that carved the Uffington Horse – probably the Dobunni Tribe, going by the Iron Age coin that was found here. Wayland's Smithy, first a megalithic burial place and later an elaborate, chambered tomb, is named after the Scandinavian God Wodin. According to folklore if an unshod horse is tethered outside it and fetched a few hours later, it is found to have been newly shod. The Manger is the hillside down which the Cheese was rolled – it is thought to have been formed in the Ice Age and certainly has strange fold shapes. It is of special importance to the Uffington Horse, who supposedly goes to feed there on moonlit nights. The nearby Ridgeway is one of the most ancient routes of the world and stretches across the crest of the hills to join with the Icknield Way and the Wessex Ridgeway and form an almost continuous path all the way to East Anglia.

Also worth visiting are the Great Coxwell and the town of Wantage. The first is the best preserved and most grandly constructed example of the Medieval English Tithe Barn, and the latter, a wonderfully old-fashioned town, is the birthplace of Alfred the Great.

People less interested in history are sure to be enthralled by the magnificent scenery and the exhilarating local pursuit of kite flying on breezy, windy days.

England Celebrates Its Past with The Festival of History

Historical re-enactments are far from a new phenomenon. In the Middle Ages, many European villages enjoyed an abundance of mock tournament and other displays of chivalric skills that still remain quite popular today. Ancient Roman emperors took pride in restaging historical battles in which they had emerged victorious, often using the re-enactments as an excuse to have gladiator contests. Religious customs and stories have traditionally been presented as re-enactments, such as the passion plays that are the restaging of the most climactic episode in the history of Christianity. And the pageantry of Victorian-era military re-enactments is legendary.

Just as the popularity of historical re-enactments has spread, so has the intricacy and accuracy of the proceedings. In the United States, military re-enactments really took off in the 1960s as a result of centennial celebrations of the end of the Civil War. Now historical re-enactments are a multimillion-dollar industry in the United States, and in 1998, as many as 25,000 living historians gathered to restage the battle of Gettysburg, in the largest re-enactment ever held.

Historical re-enactments have been performed through the ages in the name of national pride, and Great Britain is no exception. Known as "living history," "historical interpretation," or "public history," such re-enactments of famous episodes and circumstances in various historical periods have been one of the favorite pastimes of the British. According to Rachel Evans, editor if Skirmish, a magazine for re-enactment enthusiasts, "There are indications that it may be the fastest growing hobby in the country." The first modern re-enactment society in Britain, the Sealed Knot, was formed in 1968 to produce and put on re-enactments of the English civil war. That same year, British enthusiasts of the American Civil War formed the Southern Skirmish Association. Later, in 1971, another group of re-enactors formed the Sabre Society to present re-enactments of battles that took place during the Napoleonic era. Some of its members seceded in 1976 and developed their own splinter re-enactment group, the Napoleonic Association.

Historical re-enactors all across Britain come together once a year to compare techniques, learn new ones, and put on demonstrations of their abilities, including cooking, music, and weaponry. At the annual Festival of History, the air is thick with the aroma of spit-roasted meats and acrid gunpowder smoke. Women and men dressed in period costumes roam the premises to help visitors immerse themselves in the feeling of living in various historical periods, despite the anachronisms that abound, such as portable toilets and mounted speakers loudly barking out excited blow-by-blow accounts of an 1812 battle being waged on the grassy arena between British and French infantry brigades. This year’s festival was held over a rainy mid-August weekend on the grounds of a stately Northamptonshire home. The event gathered together nearly a thousand professional re-enactors and attracted over 17,000 visitors. The increasing popularity of the annual festival illustrates the growing interest of the general public in the re-enactment of British history.

Today there are over 700 different living history groups in Great Britain representing a wide variety of historical eras from the Saxon era to the Vietnam war. The uniqueness of each group’s specific focus is mind-boggling. "Pretty much all periods have been covered," says Evans, "although there are new groups being created all the time, whenever there's an anniversary."

The Great Fire of London : Rebuilding Act 1666-67

The Great Fire of London lasted from Sunday, 2 September 1666 to Wednesday, 5 September 1666. The medieval City of London in the old Roman City Wall was affected by this. The fire was close to the aristocratic district of Westminster, Charles II's Palace of Whitehall and many suburban slums. Approximately 87 parish churches, 13200 houses, St. Paul's Cathedral and many buildings of the City authorities were affected. About 80000 inhabitants were destroyed by this fire.

Great Fire of London 1666

The fire began at the bakery of Thomas Farriner in Pudding Lane just after midnight on Sunday, 2 September and spread very fast. The creation of firebreaks was the major firefighting technique at that time. Lord Mayor of London, Sir Thomas Bloodworth delayed the use of this technique. On Sunday night, large scale demolitions were put into effect. By this time, the wind had raised the bakery fire into a firestorm. Due to this, the above measures were not effective. On Monday, the fire progressed towards the North in the heart of the City. There were rumors that foreigners had set fires in the City. The suspicion was on the French and the Dutch. These were England's enemies in the Second Anglo-Dutch War. These immigrant groups were subjected to street violence and mob attacks. On Tuesday, the fire destroyed St. Paul's Cathedral and tried to hamper Charles II's court at Whitehall. The attempts to extinguish the fire was successful due to two reasons: the strong east winds subsided and the Tower of London garrison utilized gunpowder to have efficient firebreaks.

Many London houses were made of wood and pitch construction and could be easily lit. Due to this, the fire spread very fast. This fire spread across the hay and feed piles on the yard of the Star Inn at Fish Street Hill and then moved across the Inn. The strong wind that existed that night caused sparks to travel in such a way that they ignited the Church of St. Margaret. It then spread to Thames Street. Here, the riverside warehouses and wharves contained oil, hay, coal, hemp, spirits, timber that served to intensify the flames. The citizen firefighting brigades were not much successful in controlling the fire using the water from the river. At about eight o'clock in the morning, the fire had engulfed half of the London Bridge. The fire of 1633 had created a gap that prevented the fire from reaching Southwark. The standard process was to destroy the houses in the direction of the flames. Such firebreaks deprived the fire from any sort of fuel. However, Lord Mayor Bludworth pondered on the cost of rebuilding and was very hesitant for such a step.

The Rebuilding Act 1667

Christopher Wren designed a excellent plan that had grand boulevard's and buildings. Those people who had land aimed at retaining it or selling it at a correct price. The 1667 Rebuilding Act was decided by a special commission made by the King and enforced by an act of Parliament. The main roads were widened and the size of the buildings were subject to officially determined dimensions. The thickness of wall, limits on storeys and types of material were all planned. The King and London Corporation finalized three grand structures to exhibit to the world how London had bounced back. The Royal Exchange and a new Customs House had crucial economic functions. The Monument had sixty-two meters of Doric column with a sculpted flaming top. Wren became reputed as the architect who created London as he included fifty-one churches and a new St. Paul's Cathedral. A Fire Court dealt with many cases to consider arguments concerning the fire and smoothened the reconstruction.

The Great Plague: "Ring-A-Ring Of Roses"

Without a doubt the greatest tragedy to ever hit Europe, greater then any war where man went against man….this was the war where man fought an enemy that he did not see and did not understand.

Some people blamed it on their livestock, others believed that it was a "miasmas" of infected air that floated around…some said it was the wrath of an angry God against sin….they did not know. What had happened in fact, was that merchant men came from China, on the of board their ships were rats and those of course had fleas…these fleas were different though, these fleas had bacillus; it only takes four to eight bacillus to kill a rat; a flea can transmit up to 24,000 in one bite…the merchants arrived in Italy and the war began.

It is estimated that over one third of Europe’s population died in the 1300’s…so many people falling victim to their unseen enemy. Many years later in 1665 London had become a big and prosperous city, the population had tripled in the last five years; housing was cramped and there was no where to throw out trash and human waste, the only place to throw such things was the street, making the perfect living and breeding conditions for rats; rats that carries a lot of fleas that had the bacillus.

People started dying of the Plague and those who had the right kind of money fled the infested city and moved to the country where there was a much smaller chance of getting the disease. There was a nursery rhyme that described the symptoms and the beliefs of the people at the time….a rather sordid thing to teach your children actually.

"Ring-a-ring of roses,
A pocketful of posies’
Attischo, Attischo,
We all fall down."

The roses are describing the large red swelling of the lymph nodes, the posies refer to the fact that many people believed that there was a large cloud of miasmas, infected air that would make you sick if you breathed it in; the posies had a pleasant smell that was supposed to hold the infected air away. Before death, a person would experience a violent coughing fit after which death moved in to claim his victim. Many people were too weak to get to the coughing part and they would suffer a much quicker and more merciful death.

It was the poor people of London who suffered the most from the plague, probably because of the fact that living conditions were perfect for the rat population in such areas.

People who became victims of the plague were locked into their houses with their entire family; the door would get a big red cross painted on it to tell everyone what happened, showing that the place was infected. Guards were placed at the doors of such houses to make sure that nobody came out of the house until the appropriate amount of time had gone by.

The families that had enough money to pay had "nurses" come to the house and bring food, although there are reports of these so called nurses stealing more then anything else. There were really no qualified doctors or nurses in London at the time because they had all left the city in an attempt to escape death…the doctors and nurses serving the people were nothing more then people hired to do a job that they were not qualified for and that they had no way of winning.

So it went on and on all that year in 1665, until winter came and brought some relief because the rats had a much harder time surviving during the winter then in the summer, the disease was not fully taken care of until the Great Fire of London that swept through the poor parts of the city and cleansed away the dirt and filth…at the rebuilding of London the streets were wider and there was a greater air of spaciousness…..a battle had been fought and a war had been won, the people had won the battle against an unseen enemy. God was no longer pouring His wrath over the people of England, and they could live in peace and happiness.

The Victorian Parlor

By Earl Hunsinger

In the Victorian Era, when a young man had an interest in a young lady, he asked if he could call on her. This may be a foreign concept to the younger generation. Maybe I should explain. He didn’t text message her. He didn’t ask for her phone number. He asked whether he could call on her at her home. This involved coming to her house, sitting a modest distance away from the young lady, and conversing politely, perhaps in the presence of a chaperone. Often this was done in a room of the house called the parlor. This was appropriate, since the English word parlor comes from a French word that means "to speak."

In Victorian times, the parlor was the best room of the house, reserved for special occasions, or special visitors, such as the aforementioned suitor. It contained family photographs and other treasured possessions. It might have contained an organ or piano. Vases, statuettes, lamps, and dried flowers would have revealed the family’s social position and taste. The parlor table would have proudly displayed the family Bible. The furniture, while the nicest that the family could afford, was made for looks rather than comfort.

During the nineteenth century, people found that they had more leisure time than previous generations had enjoyed. This led to the creation of various forms of recreation, including games played indoors. Since these were often played in the family parlor, they became known as parlor games. Some of these involved logic or word play. Others relied on dramatic skill, such as in charades. Formal musical recitals could also have been held in the parlor.

Often, the family parlor was also used for a custom that many today would find strange, even macabre. When a family member died, they were laid out in the parlor. Neighbors and friends would bring food and pay their respects. In some areas, they would have a wake or stay up all night with the body.

The twentieth century brought changes in practically every aspect of society. Radio, movies, and eventually television changed the way families viewed entertainment. Rather than converse and interact with family and friends, they began to sit passively and absorb whatever was presented. Funeral customs also changed. People began to take their loved ones to professional funeral parlors rather than lay them out themselves.

As the world changed, parlors began to be used less and less. Or, perhaps it would be more correct to say that they either died or their use began to change. One option when customs changed was to just get rid of the parlor. Why build a house with a room that was never used? If you already had a parlor, why not turn it into something else? The other option was to change the way you thought of the parlor. To encourage this, and in an attempt to erase the picture of its other use, the term living room began to be promoted. Comfortable furniture began to replace showpieces and the family began to use the room for less formal purposes.

Today, few remember the days of the parlor. Usually the word is only associated with ice cream parlors, beauty parlors, and, of course, funeral parlors. While probably few would desire to return to the days of home wakes, the parlor games and formal, not to mention modest, courting of the Victorian Era certainly had a charm that’s missing in today’s world.

Taking a Bath in Roman England

By Earl Hunsinger

Imagine going to town to take a bath. For centuries that was a common practice for many people. This took many forms, from a simple basin of water placed near a place used for exercise to an elaborate facility complete with carved stone fountains and pools deep enough for total immersion. The customs involved also varied over the centuries, from a simple and practical way of cleansing the body to ritualized, religious, or social customs taking all day. In some places and times strict segregation of the sexes was enforced; in other instances mixed bathing by men, women, and children seems to have been the common practice.

In addition to bathing in water, some public bath houses included steam baths and saunas. In some eras bathing was encouraged and people washed daily. At other times and in other cultures, bathing was connected with sin, or frowned upon for other reasons, and so was less frequent. Public bathing seems to have begun in Greece sometime in the sixth century B.C.E. The Romans later adopted the practice, building bath houses all over their widespread empire. One of the most famous of these Roman bath houses can be found in what is now Great Britain, in the city of Bath.

The Roman baths in Bath, England have been called the best preserved religious spa from the ancient world. The baths found here are built around a natural hot spring that the Romans believed were sacred (some believe that the native peoples before them also viewed them as sacred). It’s easy to see why the ancients were impressed by this site. For at least the last couple of thousand years, water has been rising from the ground here at the rate of about 240,000 gallons per day. This water is approximately 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 Celsius), just the right temperature for a bath. To catch the sacred water, the Romans first drove oak piles into the mud for a foundation. Roman engineers then built a stone tank around the spring and lined it with lead. Eventually they constructed a building around it. This building had a barrel vaulted roof and was decorated with stone columns and statues. This was the Temple of Sulis Minerva. The Romans would come here and throw offerings into the water for this goddess. Although eventually the roof collapsed (perhaps in the sixth or seventh century), the oak piles are still providing a stable foundation for the reservoir.

The hot water from the sacred spring also made possible the bath complex found here. This is much bigger than would have been needed by the local people, but there is evidence that it was popular with pilgrims from all parts of the Roman empire. It was also different in another way: it used a tremendous amount of hot water. Normally, hot water was expensive to produce. In a typical Roman bath, a person would move through a series of heated rooms that would get progressively hotter. Rather than using soap, the Romans rubbed olive oil on their skin. Then when a good sweat was worked up, a tool called a strigil was used to scrape the oil, sweat, and dirt off the body. This "bath" would usually end with a plunge into a pool of cold water.

In other places the bathing sequence might also include a dip into a small pool of heated water. In the facilities found in Bath, this was expanded so much as to be almost unrecognizable as the same experience. Just as with other Roman baths, archaeologists have found evidence of progressively hotter rooms at this facility. Series of these can be found on both the east and west sides of the complex, perhaps enabling both men and women to use the baths at the same time. However, in addition to these traditional bathing facilities, the ready source of free hot water allowed the Romans to create a large heated swimming pool. Known today as the Great Bath, this was lined with 45 thick sheets of lead and is 1.6 meters deep. Niches around this large pool would have allowed bathers to relax and possibly even enjoy drinks or snacks. An enormous barrel-vaulted ceiling once rose forty meters above the water. For some in the Roman empire, this might have been the largest building they had ever entered.

One of the most fascinating things about the bathing facilities found in Bath is the durability of the engineering involved. Just as with the Roman roads still found throughout Europe, in Bath the Roman engineers built things to last. While parts of the building have collapsed over the centuries, the plumbing and drainage systems are still largely in place, still fulfilling the duties for which they were designed by those ancient engineers.

So the next time you’re in western England, why not stop and see this piece of history for yourself and see why people in past centuries went to town (or across a continent) to take a bath.

Britain Publishes Blacklist of Those Not Welcome in UK

The British government published a "blacklist" on Tuesday, a list of individuals who have been officially banned from the country. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith noted that she decided to publish what she called the "name and shame list" to indicate specifically the type of behavior that will not be tolerated in Great Britain. Said Smith, "I think it’s important that people understand the sorts of values and sorts of standards that we have here, the fact that it’s a privilege to come and the sort of things that mean you won’t be welcome in this country."

Smith went on to say that, "If you can’t live by the rules that we live by, we should exclude you from this country and, what’s more, now we will make public those people that we have excluded." The Home Office has excluded 22 people for what they refer to as "fostering extremism or hatred." Among those on the list are Hamas lawmaker Yunis Al-Astal, Jewish extremist Mike Guzovsky, former KKK leader Stephen Donald Black, neo-Nazi Erich Gliebe and American radio host Michael Savage.

Savage may be the most interesting among the bunch, though likely not the most extreme. Smith noted that Savage has been "engaging in unacceptable behavior by seeking to provoke others to serious criminal acts and fostering hatred which might lead to inter-community violence." In an official statement to Parliament, Smith also noted, "It is therefore right that we have an ongoing engagement with interested parties in order to strike the appropriate balance and ensure we protect public safety and vital national interests here and abroad. Therefore my officials will continue to engage with community representatives to seek their views on the way this policy is operating."

British Bill of Rights 1689

The British Bill of Rights officially titled An Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and Settling the Succession of the Crown is an act of the Parliament of England and one of the foundations on which British constitutional law was laid.

After King James II abdicated his throne, following the Glorious Revolution, a statutory form of Declaration of Rights was presented to William and Mary in February 1689, by the Convention Parliament, inviting them to become joint sovereigns of the kingdoms of England and Scotland. King William III and his wife Mary II (daughter of King James II) were the only joint sovereigns in British history to have ruled with equal powers. In December 1689, the Bill of Rights was passed by the Britain Parliament. The Bill was prepared with the aim of ensuring certain rights to which citizens and permanent residents would be entitled to. It also included the right to bear arms for self defense and right to petition the monarchy.

British Bill of Rights 1689
The Bill of Rights declared illegal certain acts enacted by James II, which were deemed unfit for the new constitution. Following are some of the basic rights and liberties specified in the Bill of Rights:

British Bill of Rights 1689
Law	Explanation
That it is the right of the subjects to petition the king, and all commitments and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal	The right to petition (call upon) the monarchy.
That the pretended power of suspending the laws or the execution of laws by regal authority without consent of Parliament is illegal.	Freedom from the crown's interference with the law.
That the commission for erecting the late Court of Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Causes, and all other commissions and courts of like nature, are illegal and pernicious.	The sovereign cannot unilaterally establish new courts, act as a judge or influence the independent jury.
That the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with consent of Parliament, is against law.	Freedom from a peace-time standing army, which meant, an agreement of parliament was mandatory before the army could be moved against citizens, when not at war.
That levying money for or to the use of the Crown by pretense of prerogative, without grant of Parliament, for longer time, or in other manner than the same is or shall be granted, is illegal.	No taxes (existing and new) could be levied by the royal sovereign without the Parliaments approval and agreement.
That the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defence suitable to their conditions and as allowed by law.	The right to bear arms (only protestants) for self defense, in accordance to its said law.
That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.	Freedom from excessive bail, harsh, cruel and unusual punishments.
That all grants and promises of fines and forfeitures of particular persons before conviction are illegal and void.	Freedom from forfeiture and fines, without a trial.
That election of members of Parliament ought to be free.	The right to democratically elect members of parliament without interference from the royalty.
That the freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament.	The right to free speech and debates for all citizens. The proceedings in parliament can not be questioned in a court of law or by anybody outside of parliament itself.

King John's Magna Carta and the British Bill of Rights, formed the basis of many other constitutional drafts such as the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, the United States Bill of Rights and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Bill of Rights also applies to each of the jurisdictions of all 16 sovereign states within the realms of Commonwealth Nations. The Bill of Rights underwent amendments over the years, but the basic tenets of securing and ensuring rights and liberties to all English citizens, remains the same till today.

Why Other Children are Rejecting Your Child

Introduction

Developing healthy peer relationships is critical for the normal development of a child. Peer relationships have been found to be an important predictor of positive adult adjustment and behavior. Difficulty in finding friends leads to feelings of low self-esteem and these feelings usually continue into adulthood.

Children with poor social skills are at risk for delinquency, academic underachievement, and school drop-out. Even though the inattentiveness, impulsiveness, and restlessness frequently persist into adult life, these problems are of less importance as the child gets older. Rather, the main difficulty ADHD patients encounter as
they reach maturity is their inability to interact appropriately with others.

ADHD children often lack the social skills that are essential to success in life. These children can be socially inept, and their lack of interpersonal skills may cause them a multitude of difficulties.In addition, positive relationships with friends in childhood provide a critical buffer against stress and help to protect against psychological and psychiatric problems. ADHD children lack these positive interactions and thus are at risk for
a number of emotional problems.

Probably 60% of ADHD children suffer from peer rejection. ADHD children are less often chosen by peers to be best friends, partners in activities, or seatmates. As the children grow older, their social problems seem to get worse. Their inappropriate behavior leads to further social rejection and exacerbates their inability to relate to others appropriately. Long term these children are more likely to have difficulty finding and maintaining
successful careers. This is not surprising since social aptitude can make or break careers and relationships in the adult world.

Causes of Poor Peer Relationships

ADHD children are frequently disliked or neglected by their peers. It is difficult to determine all the factors that make a child unpopular, but children who frequently display aggressive or negative behavior tend to be rejected by their peers.

Impulsivity and Aggression

ADHD children tend to be more impulsive and aggressive than other children. Teachers observe that the social interactions of ADHD children more often involve fighting and interrupting others. These children are more intense than others and behave inappropriately in social contexts. For example, ADHD children are more likely to yell, run around and talk at unsuitable times. They also tend to want to dominate play, engage in off task behaviors and engage more in teasing and physical jostling of peers.This sets up a process of peer rejection.

Academic Problems

ADHD children often do not do well in school. Poor school performance by itself does not result in social rejection. However, the way the child responds to his academic difficulties can contribute to inappropriate social behavior. Children who cannot engage themselves with classroom work assignments often
disrupt and irritate their peers.

Inattention

ADHD children have difficulty with sustained attention. Deficit in attention seems to be related to peer rejection independently of the aggressive, impulsive,and hyperactive behaviors of ADHD children. These children become bored more easily than other children. As a result, they are more likely to become disruptive in the classroom.

ADHD children have difficulty in modulating their behavior and changing their conduct as the situation demands. They have apparent social-cognitive deficits that limit their ability to encode and recall rules of social cues. Children with ADHD pay less attention to others verbally in games and other activities.

Many ADHD children are aware that they are socially inept. Children who are anxious or fearful about peer relations are unlikely to behave in an effective manner. These children withdraw from peer interactions and, in this way, limit their ability to gain acceptance and friendship.

Children are rejected by peers when they appear to be different. Similarity fosters social acceptance. Because ADHD children do not learn social clues as well as other children, they tend to be viewed as strange.

Bad Behavior

One of the keys to your child's social success is proper behavior. If your ADHD or ODD child frequently misbehaves, it is your obligation as a parent to teach your child how to improve his behavior.

If your child is aggressive or defiant, if he does not accept the authority of adults, or if he conducts himself in a such a way that children his age will view him as a behavior problem, then your child will have a difficult time making and maintaining friendships. The friends he will attract are other aggressive problem children, the type of child with whom which you would rather your child not associate.

All children need friends. Behavior problem children have trouble making friends with others, so these children tend to congregate together. They reinforce each other's bad behavior. If you are an aware parent and you have control of your child you can put a stop to friendships with these children. However, you must have control of your child's behavior in order to help him to avoid the trap of bad friends.

Conclusion

Helping children with ADHD build close peer relationships is an important goal to focus on, and is one that often may be over looked. You, as a parent, have the ability to help your child accomplish this important social goal. You should make every effort to help your child in this area. His psychological health and his happiness, both now and in the future, are very much dependent upon how successful he is at making and maintaining
childhood friendships.


Anthony Kane, MD

ADD ADHD Advances

http://addadhdadvances.com

Anthony Kane, MD is a physician and international lecturer who has been helping parents of children with ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder online since 2003. Get help with Oppositional Defiant Disorder child behavior (http://addadhdadvances.com/ODD.html), help with defiant teens (http://addadhdadvances.com/ntpcentral.html ) ADHD treatment (http://addadhdadvances.com/childyoulove.html ) and ADHD information.

ADHD Symptoms in Children

ADHD is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. As the name suggests, this condition is a cognitive disorder, quite common in children. A few significant signs such as hyperactivity, diffused concentration and uncontrolled behavioral patterns confirm this condition. ADHD disorder is classified in subtypes as listed below:

    * Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive
    * Predominantly inattentive
    * Combined Hyperactive-Impulsive and inattentive (this is most common in children)

So let's get into knowing ADHD symptoms in children, better.

Symptoms of ADHD in Children

As mentioned, key behavioral patterns in ADHD symptoms in children are excess hyperactivity, impulsiveness and inattention. Most of the times, these symptoms are ignored as they are confused with the playful attitude of the child. However, ADHD rings a bell of alarm if the child has the following symptoms for 6 months or more, and if these symptoms are more prominent than in other children.

Distinct ADHD Symptoms
Inattention (Predominantly inattentive subtype):

    * Easily distracted from focus
    * Forgetfulness
    * Difficulty in learning a new thing or completing a task
    * Not paying attention when he is addressed
    * Easily confused and disoriented
    * Day dreaming
    * Struggling to follow instructions or process information

Hyperactive and Impulsiveness (Combined Hyperactive-Impulsive and inattentive):

    * Extremely impatient and talkative
    * Blurting out inappropriate comments without a restraint on speech or thought about the consequences
    * Interrupting conversations
    * Playing and touching anything and everything that comes in their way
    * Squirming and fidgeting (read fidgeting in children), when things do not work their way

Causes of ADHD
Causes for ADHD symptoms in children are attributed to various reasons like:

    * Emotional trauma (like death in family or divorce)
    * Undetected seizures
    * Anxiety followed by depression
    * Existing medical disorders concerning brain
    * Smoking and drug abuse in pregnancy
    * Environmental toxins (like lead and polychlorinated biphenyls)
    * Heredity (1 in 4 children diagnosed with ADHD have at least one relative with the same condition)

Complications
Every disorder has a trailing list of complications. ADHD can be a trying condition for children and their family as children are not much aware that something is not right with their behavior. ADHD symptoms in children makes them more susceptible to other serious medical conditions like:

    * Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) (a hostile behavioral pattern towards authoritarian figures and is more prominent in boys)
    * Conduct Disorder (a repulsive behavioral form that includes stealing, destroying property, harming animals and fighting for no rhyme or reason)
    * Anxiety Disorders (most apparent outcome of aggravated ADHD symptoms, exhibiting fear, worry, shunning oneself from everyone and depression)
    * Learning Disabilities (A symptom mostly observed in classrooms where these children fail to focus on a subject and follow the instructions correctly)
    * Tourette Syndrome (a neurological disorder caused by compulsive vocal and muscular tics)

Treatment for ADHD in Children

Diagnosis precedes treatment for any medical condition. Unfortunately, there is no certain test that can diagnose ADHD symptoms in children. As mentioned earlier, if a child has persistent issues like low concentrating levels and defiantly impulsive behavior for no reason, for more than 6 months, the child needs medical attention. The doctor prepares a prognosis report on the child after examining the child medically and after having gathered requisite information about the child's health, behavior and issues at school and home. In United States, a manual: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders has been prepared by American Psychiatric Association, which dictates the criteria for ADHD diagnosis. It states that the child must have six or more signs of ADHD symptoms from either of the subtypes of ADHD mentioned above.

Medications prescribed for ADHD treatment, are stimulant drugs (Methylphenidate, Dextroamphetamine-amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine) and non stimulant atomoxetine. These ADHD medications enhance the neurotransmitters of the brain and help in calming down impulsive behavior and symptoms of loss of focus and hyperactivity. However, these stimulant drugs have varying effects with a few showing effect for 4 hours and some for 6-12 hours. Methylphenidate is recommended for children (aged 6 years -12 years). However, every child responds differently to the medication and hence these drugs pose side effects too, like loss of appetite, irritability, weight loss, muscle twitches and sleeplessness. In cases, where side effects surpass the desired effect on the child, non stimulant drugs are prescribed. These medications also aid in bringing down the anxiety levels in children. In a few cases, it has been observed that prolonged use of non stimulant drugs can induce suicidal thinking in children, which is a dangerous side effect.

Sometimes, what a medication cannot do, a therapy does! There are many counseling sessions for combating ADHD symptoms in children. Some alternative ADHD treatment options have been listed below:

    * Psychotherapy (Helping the older children talk their mind out about the issues they have faced and are facing in life)
    * Behavior therapy (A combined effort of parents and teachers working together to understand the behavioral patterns of the children)
    * Family therapy (Helping parents and siblings cope up with the trying times that are faced when a child from the family exhibits ADHD symptoms)
    * Social Skills training (Teaching children about appropriate social behavior)

Children are like flowers which bloom only when tended with care and attention. Many a times, ADHD symptoms in children are confused with naughtiness and hyperactivity in toddlers. This is one of the main reasons as to why it is difficult to diagnose this condition. Reprimanding a child with ADHD will get you nowhere. It is better to observe your child's activities, if you feel he is inattentive and impulsive for most of the times. And after 6 months, you can fix an appointment with the doctor to confirm your doubts! Do read child support guidelines (on our website), for helping children, who are diagnosed with this condition. ADHD is not a disease, but a disorder which can be treated over a period of time with good care and affection. Natural remedies for ADHD children are available, both diet and herbal based. For more information, you may refer our article: Herbal remedies for ADHD. All said and done, the most important tip should not be missed out: Be patient with your child and give him your precious time. The time you spend with your child, hearing his incessant chatter, is worth it!

ADHD Symptoms in Teenagers

If your child has entered adolescence and is exhibiting traits of impulsive nature, irritability and persistent distraction over a long span of time, it is best to consult a doctor to diagnose the medical condition, if there is a doubt of ADHD. ADHD is also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This condition is found prominently in children and toddlers, though the symptoms can also show up in adolescents. Studies have shown that about 8-10% of the school children are affected with this behavioral disorder, and the most affected are teenagers. So to understand this disorder in teens, it is first important to understand the ADHD symptoms in teenagers.

Symptoms of ADHD in Teenagers

Teenage is a trying time not only for the teen, but for the family too. And if the teen is suffering from ADHD symptoms, it can get worse. Because diagnosing this condition is not easy, as many of the symptoms exhibited in this condition are ambiguous with the normal teen behavior of hyperactivity, irritability and impulsiveness. And in some cases, symptoms of ADHD in teenagers also coexist with anxiety disorders and mood swings, which makes it even more difficult to detect. Drug abuse can also mimic ADHD symptoms in teenagers. The symptoms of ADHD are classified across three categories of the disorder

    * Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive
    * Predominantly inattentive
    * Combined Hyperactive-Impulsive and inattentive

Of the above, the third one is most common in children and toddlers and the rest are common in teens and adults. Below are some prominent ADHD symptoms in teenagers.

    * Lack of concentration and extremely restless (Predominantly inattentive)
    * Easily distracted (Predominantly inattentive)
    * Insomnia (Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive)
    * Difficulty in following instructions and organizing tasks (Predominantly inattentive)
    * Jumping from one task to another without finishing the first (Predominantly inattentive)
    * High levels of impulsiveness and aggression(Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive)
    * Incessant talking and interrupting conversation (Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive)
    * Poor listening (Predominantly inattentive)
    * Taking unwanted risks without assessing the consequences (Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive)
    * Extremely forgetful in daily activities (Predominantly inattentive)
    * Avoiding tasks and activities like homework (Predominantly inattentive)
    * Constant fidgeting with feet or hands (Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive)

ADHD Symptoms in teenagers are not attributed to any particular race or socioeconomic background. Causes of ADHD are mostly factored by conditions like emotional trauma (like death or divorce), anxiety, smoking, drug abuse during pregnancy, grave effects of environmental toxins and heredity.

Teenage is a phase when there are certain hormonal developments and changes which are managed by the endocrine and nervous system of the body. The neurotransmitters in the body help the brain to form, translate, store and recall the thoughts. Two of the important neurotransmitters which are responsible for this function are dopamine and acetylcholine (responsible for controlling memory, attention, reasoning, perception and judgment). Any fluctuations in their levels can alter the brain function. ADHD symptoms in teens attribute to low levels of these neurotransmitters. Such chemical imbalances can be caused due to the above mentioned causes related to anxiety and depression. ADHD symptoms in children can leave a deep scar in the psychology of the child, if not identified on time.

ADHD Treatment is a mix of both medical and psychological treatment. ADHD medications like Methylphenidate, Dextroamphetamine-amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine) and non stimulant atomoxetine are used for treating ADHD symptoms in teenagers. They help in calming down the jittery nerves and enhance the neurotransmitter levels. Besides, teenagers are also advised to opt for ADHD treatment options that include psychotherapy, behavioral therapy and social skills training which pep up their confidence and socializing ability.

Teenage is a time, when many pressures like peer pressure, parental pressure and academic pressure strike the teen at the same time. And if the above ADHD symptoms in teenagers are ignored, it may lead to a severe emotional disturbance in the teen, resulting in unwelcome situations like traffic accidents, teen pregnancies and obsessive compulsive disorders. Parents need to understand these symptoms and should take the help of academic and psychological counseling for their children to help them overcome this roller coaster phase of their life.

ADHD Symptoms in Toddlers

Recognizing ADHD symptoms in toddlers is necessary for all parents, as this can prepare them for the hardships that lie ahead. Though ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), also known as ADD, occurs in varying levels amongst children and adults, it can still have a crippling effect on families. By recognizing its signs and symptoms at an early stage, the parents of the child can start providing the child with some special attention, and nurture the best out of them.

When ADHD is discovered at a later stage, things get very difficult for everyone involved. The parents are left perplexed at the complexity of the condition, and the child's mind is thrown into a lot of turmoil. As a result, there is a lot of unpleasantness generated, and this is something that ruins the family life and the peace of mind of the child and everyone else involved.

Symptoms of ADHD in Toddlers

Once you understand the importance of noting ADHD symptoms in children at a young age, you should start looking out for potential signs. You must read up on the subject extensively, and get all the possible information that you can. If you suspect that your child may be suffering from this condition, then you must visit a specialist and plan your next step. You must also remember that children have tendencies that adults cannot understand sometimes, so you must not over react to certain situations, and must treat the condition with no small amount of sensitivity. Here are some common signs and symptoms of ADHD that you must be on the lookout for.

    * The biggest sign of ADHD is when the child faces great difficulty in concentrating on something. Whether he/she is 1 year old, or 5 years old, this factor remains constant. A short attention span is normal in children, but it is also one of the prominent and widespread ADHD symptoms in toddlers.
    * Another obvious sign is constant fidgeting in children. This is something that accompanies the lack of concentration. No matter what the child is doing at any time, he/she is always fidgeting with something in his/her hand, and this contributes to the lack of attention.
    * Hypersensitivity is another thing you should be on the lookout for. This can be noticed if the child displays intense dislike and aversion to being touched, or when a certain texture or material touches his/her body. The child will suddenly start screaming and panicking, and this is one of the well known ADHD symptoms. This also happens to be one of the ADHD symptoms in adults.
    * When children suffer from this condition, they move around very quickly and impulsively, without thinking about the consequences of what they are doing. As a result, they will be very accident prone, and will keep bumping into things and falling all over the place, and thus hurting themselves.
    * Another common sign of this disorder is when the child has immense trouble falling asleep at night. This will happen because the mind of the child will keep wandering from one object to another, and this will prevent him/her from falling asleep in peace.
    * Children who suffer from ADD cry excessively, and are very difficult to soothe. This is a symptom that is hard to recognize because all children cry from time to time, but ADHD afflicted children are excessively hard to placate. There are many forms of ADHD treatment that can cure this.
    * The last of the ADHD symptoms that you should be on the lookout for is the ease with which the child lets you feed him/her. Children suffering from this condition will be very hard to feed, as their attention will keep loitering around very rapidly.

One of the biggest causes of ADHD is the genetic makeup of the child, and it occurs in different degrees in different children. Each child is unique, and you will require a distinct way to deal with their issues. Visit a psychologist and enquire about treatment for ADHD in toddlers. Recognizing the ADHD symptoms in toddlers early is beneficial, and you must learn to deal with the situation sensitively.

Cell Phone Recycling Facts

May dad was against cell phones and he used to scold us for using it. But today he has a cell phone and he keeps calling us from it. Well, this is a short and real life example of people getting addicted to this technology. It has become a necessity, and we cannot even think of living without our cell phone. There are millions of people who use more than one cell phone, and the old ones are just thrown away in the drawers or are just dumped in the trash can. But do you know that cell phones can be very hazardous to nature? Yes, that's true. The best way to save the environment from the dangerous effects of cell phones is to get it recycled. To know more about cell phone recycling facts, keep reading ahead.

Facts About Cell Phone Recycling

There is a huge list of facts about cell phone recycling. To start with, I will tell you a very interesting fact. Over 70% Americans have no idea that their old cell phones can be recycled. Let's find some more facts in the following points.

    * On an average, people in United States purchase a new cell phone every 18 months. In Europe, the frequency is 15 months, whereas in Japan, people get one every 9 months!
    * Most Americans own three or more than three cell phones, and more than 14 million cell phones are left idle every 18 months.
    * The National Office of Pollution Prevention of Environment, Canada, reports that next year, around 4,500 tons of cell phones, telephone and fax machines will be dumped. This quantity can be compared to the weight of nearly 600 African elephants.
    * INFORM Inc., North America, has reports that, 500 million cell phones, weighing over 250,000 tons, are left untouched, which should been given for recycling.
    * Do you know what a single cell phone can do if it is just thrown away? It can pollute 40,000 gallons of ground water.
    * An estimation shows that from the total e-waste produced by North America, about 50 to 80% is dumped in countries like China, Thailand, India and Pakistan. In these countries, people are given less wages and are exposed to toxic material without any protection.
    * A cell phone has toxic substances like antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc, which are very dangerous for the environment. They pollute the air, soil, as well as the water.
    * Toxic substances from cell phones may result in many health hazards such as cancer, fertility problems, defects in child birth, neurological problems, and development disorders.
    * Rechargeable batteries of the cell phones are also very harmful. They contain toxic substances like cadmium, lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride, which consists of cobalt, zinc, and copper, and many other heavy metals. These substances may be responsible for lung, liver, and kidney damage.
    * In cell phone recycling, many important metals like iron, copper, silver, etc., are recovered, which can be used in other areas. According to the reports given by the Environmental Protection Agency, every 1 million units of old cell phones recycling, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, 33 pounds of palladium and 35,274 pounds of copper is yield. This can saves energy which is used to mine these metals from the earth's crust.
    * One of the largest cell phone recycling company, ReCellular, collects about 25,000 cell phones daily from over 40,000 different collection sites.
    * Many people recycle cell phones for money. Yes, you can just give away your old cell phone and can get between $1 to $20, based on the standards set by the company.

By the above facts, you can understand the benefits of mobile phone recycling. So collect your old mobile phones and take them to the mobile recycling collection site. You may or may not get money for it, but remember you are doing this for your healthy environment. Make your family and friends too aware about the recycling facts, and help conserve nature.