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Thank you Jayne for posting some pictures of your animal sanctuary at the childrenâ��s home â�� I am hoping to get some eco â�� projects set up which can help generate income to help them  - anyone wishing to be involved in this project â�� please let me know or if you have any other ideas please â�� they need all the help they can get and needless to say social services arenâ��t willing to contribute anything and Jayne puts in endless unpaid hours to get this going.  This is going to be a HET  online sanctuary â�� please help â�� it is part of working with children to get  random acts of kindness rolling in, as well as the therapeutic relationship with animals. I shall be

posting some interesting findings on this research in my blog if you are interested � check this out; http://tucsoncitizen.com/kare/2010/02/09/pets-keep-us-healthy/

Quote: �Helps with ADHD � The whole process of keeping a pet and taking responsibility for something can help children with ADHD learn to plan and be responsible. Playing with pets allows better sleep (they get rid of excess energy) and they bond in an unconditional way so the child learns about self-esteem.�

Well I�ll check this out with Daisy!

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·         Anyway, Welcome to two new members â�� firstly catmilan who  teaches in Kuwait  and has some great experiences of teaching children presenting behavioural challenges â�� so please say Hi to her and perhaps share some of your experiences. I know some parents have had terrible problems getting teachers involved and supporting their childâ��s behaviour so it is always a good connection to make with other professionals and ask their opinion.

·         Anyone wanting to know the benefits of fish oils for ADHD please contact Adam â�� he has some great information on research done on this â�� and an amazing story about his own son.

·         Another new member I  have great pleasure in  introducing is RawAlchemy â�� I know her personally and we worked together  - she and her partner made a valuable contribution to establishing the family retreat at willow bridge. They set up the growing area and built the poly tunnel which we were fortunate enough to have won for our programme there last year! She is going to help us with some of the eco projects â�� so any questions on growing foods with your children â�� she is the lady to ask! We will be posting  more info on our eco projects page â�� watch this space!

·         However RawAlchemy has  built a new business since leaving Willow Bridge â�� she has developed an amazing new chocolate. This is additive free and uses carob , so those of you who have children with food sensitivities â�� this may be the answer! Please contact her and her website for  further information is  http://www.rawalchemy.org.uk

I have of course your gift for this week � but first a bit of background information:

Labyrinths as you know  span millennia and have many amazing properties, many even now are not fully understood.

 Quote:

 â��A finger labyrinth or lap labyrinth, is a labyrinth design, carved in wood, that you trace with your finger.  It functions in much the same way as a full-size walking labyrinth, (to further relaxation, meditation and prayer) except that the user traces the path to the centre using their finger rather than their feet.  For many, this combination of movement (tracing the path) with introspection (eyes closed), is a more relaxing way to meditate or pray.  For those whose meditation or devotional practice seems demanding or sporadic, finger labyrinths provide a unique way to bring renewed vitality and meaning to these activities.â��

Now some years ago, I trained in using brain gym techniques and one of the helpful approaches in that  for improving attention and focus was in  synchronising left and right hemispheres of the brain â�� this  approach is now being researched using mirror labyrinths for children with ADHD see: http://www.labyrinthproducts.com/research.htm

So I have included a picture of the famous Glastonbury labyrinth â�� for you to try.  I spent time doing this during  my stay at Willow Bridge -  Print it off have a go at making one with your child in card with string. Make one to walk in, in your garden out of pebbles or shells and see how it goes. 

I have made a mirror copy of this as well for you to try the left / right brain synch thing and have attached it  so please enlarge and print off . Perhaps have a go at using the emplate and making it in clay?

Please let us know how you get on?