It is quite common for children of about three or four years to have an imaginary friend. This may be another child, a magical person or an animal. Sometimes the imaginary friends change as the child grows older.

Often children who have an imaginary friend are the only child in the family or the oldest one. Having an imaginary friend does not mean that your child is lonely. They are usually creative, imaginative children.

As the child grows up the real world takes over and by the time the child is going to school the imaginary friend usually just quietly disappears.

Imaginary friends are a part of normal development and rather than being a problem they can help children to deal with some of stressing situations in their lives.
Sometimes an imaginary friend can help parents to see where a problem is.

• For example if the imaginary friend is afraid of the dark it is likely that the child is afraid of the dark and learning to manage her fears through the friend. 
• If the friend is always misbehaving and getting into trouble it may be that the child is having too may rules or punishments.

Sometimes children can use their imaginary friends to avoid doing something they don't want to.
If get on well wit others and also enjoys doing things with you and other children there is not likely to be any problem. If the child continues to choose the friend very often rather than doing things in the real world it is helpful to have a look at what is going on in his life and think about ways to help him enjoy doing real things as well.

Fifty years ago children of dual nationality parents tended to learn only the language of the country they were living it. Bilingualism was not encouraged as many felt that kearning two languages would slow down the language development of the children. However, research discredited these ideas.

It is now acknowledged that bilingualism is a valuable asset in the development of a child. Apart from the obvious benefits of being able to communicate easily with people of different nationalities, the bilingual child is acquainted with two cultures and thus is better at understanding the viewpoints of other people. This means that having more than one cultural identity heightens your ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes.

So, while the particular usefulness of the language the child speaks depends on how widely spoken they are internationality, in terms of a broader, more abstract value, learning language in advantageous.  

Also, research has found that bilingual children do better at school than those who speak only one language. This has been put up to the fact that bilingual chlidren have more subtle use of language, can analyse and develop better communication skills.

But is it not easy raising these children. Is it better to start teaching a child a second language from birth with the father speaking to the child in one language and the mother in the other. But young children are often embarrased if one parents speaks to them in foreign language whem they are with their friends. They feel it sets them apart from their peers at an age when they want to conform. Also, some children rebel against the mionority language which makes the parent who speaks it feel rejected and it can upset family relationship.

Yet the benefits outweight the disadvantages.

• free books
• free covers
• free readings
• reading by listening

Government is working on an idea of introducing netbooks for the children in Elementary School. Every pupil will have their personal computer, used for educational purposes. This project would be financed by state budget.  

Wheather this investment is well-considered in every aspect and possible mistakes that are certainly inevitable or is it another trick designed to convince the voters? 


Almost every child has their own computer at home so is it necessary to spend state money for netbooks? We think that there are plenty of others ways to spend state money and improve conditions of schools. For example many schools haven't got an appropriate sports hall or canteen.

We should know that introduction of netbooks is not only the cost of purchasing computers but also various types of repairs the faults and software.

Moreover, it does not lead to proper mental development because children will do everything by the computer. They can forget how to write, read, count or draw. It is very disturbing because firstly we will teach children how to used the computer and later the basic steps necessary for life.

There are plenty of other drawbacks of using PC at schools, for instance: health problems such as deterioration of eyesight or curvature of the spine.

We claim that this idea isn't as brilliant as everyone expected. It can bring more harm than good. It is possible that this idea can have bad impact on pupils.


SOURCE:
www.wyborcza.pl

Shyness may not seem to be a serious complaint, but for some who suffer from it, it can become unbearable. Even talking to a small group of people you know can seem like an orderal - it can feel as if you've been asked to give a speech on a topic you know very little about to a number of experts. You start to feel hot and shaky, your heart beats faster, your knees feel weak, you began to stutter and the whole experience seems to last forever.

The fact of the matter is that shyness is something we often recognise in others: blushing (going red) is one of the more visible signs, for example. Yet we don't judge someone harshly because of this. But shyness does mean that you're harder to approach, so you become more isolated. As one shy person put it, " It's like being in a prison, and its very hard to break out".

Experts on the subject have come up with various possible solutions, and one has been singled out as being the key to success - namely, finding an interest in common with other people. Spending a lot of time on the sidelines watching other people and envying them because they are much more outgoing doesn't help; remembering that some of the peopleyou envy most are probably shy themselves, does. The secret is how you deal with it. And experts have come up with four things you can do today to help.

Firstly, you can start by listening to other people. You will find yourself getting interested in what they're talking about and asking questions - and before you know it, you'll be having a conversation.

Secondly, you could try asking neighbours if you can walk their dog. Like children, pets can be excellent icebreakers for conversation with passer-by.

Thirdly, try joining a class to learnsomethind like tap-dancing or salsa, where people are likely to laugh a lot. You'll feel relaxed, and also you'll be much too busy concentrating on what you're doing to feel shy.

Lastly, try telling yourself that it doesn't matter if you say or do something silly. Most people make a fool of themselves every so often - and it's not the end of the world if you do!

Research shows that for about 60% of Polish children aged 8-14 the computers and the Internet are so important that they cannot imagine life without it. They often play computer games than interact with friend.

• stress and lack of support
• mental illnesses of torturer
• domestic violence
• alcohol and drug abuse

Even though teaching is not treated as highly prestigious profession nowadays, many women seem to choose this career as there are some obvious benefits involved.

The most important advantage of being a teacher is that teachers need to develop their knowledge all the time. It means that they find out about new ideas that is itself interesting. This contributes to overall personal growth. Furthermore, many people are convinced that teachers feel they have power over others, which may help them feel good and have high self-esteem. In addition, teacher's job is good one because being a teacher is that you can enjoy quite a long holidays. There is no problem of taking leave in the summer months, which may be difficult in an office or a firm, and a teaching mum can take the children away and spend the holidays with them.

On the other hand, it happens more and more frequently that pupils are rude or unpleasant to teachers. Teachers may sometimes even be physically attack or abused, as recent reports in the media show. Moreover, in addition to working at school they often spend hours correcting students' papers at home or preparating for lessons.

Taking into consideration teacher's job maybe isn't as well-paid as some of us expected but is very interesting. I think that the positive points overweight negative ones.

Peer acceptance is measured by the quality rather than quantity of a child or adolescent's relationship. While the number of friends varies among children and over time as a child develops, peer acceptance is often established as early as preschool. Factors such as physical attractiveness, cultural traits and disabilities affect the level of peer acceptance. Children who are peer-accepted or popular have fewer problems in the middle and high school, and teens who are peer-accepted have fewer emotional and social adjustmant problems as adults. Peer-accepted children may be shy or assertive, but they often have well-developed communication skills.
By contrast, rejected children tend either towards aggresive, antisocial behavior, or withdrawn, depressive behavior. They also do not listen well, tend not to offer reasons for their behavior, don't possitively reinforce their peers, and have trouble cooperating. Antisocial children will interrupt people, dominate other children, and either verbally or phisically attack them. Depressive or withdrawn children may be excessively reserved, submissive, anxious and inhibited. Competitiveness or dominance by itself is not necessarily indicative of low peers acceptance. In fact, popular children tend to have the characteristics of both competitiveness and friendliness.

Source: taken from the Encyclopedia of Psychology