AANII/HELLO,

Welcome to October 2022 edition of our newsletter dedicated to the topic of FOCUS.

We live in a world that is undoubtedly full of distractions. In fact, it could be even claimed that once combined, distractions take more of our time than regular priorities/tasks do:

“In an eight-hour day, that is about 60 interruptions. The average interruption takes about five minutes, so that is about five hours out of eight. And if it takes around 15 minutes to resume the interrupted activity at a good level of concentration, this means that we are never concentrating very well.” The lost art of concentration: being distracted in a digital world | Health & wellbeing | The Guardian

Distractions are time stealers. Focus, on the other hand, is a time giver. The better our ability to focus, the more likely we are to have time to do things that we want, to see people that we love, and to give ourselves time and care that we deserve.

As always, below you will find resources that you will, hopefully, find interesting, encouraging, and helpful. If you have any resources on the topic of focus, that you would like to share with our Early Years Community, please send them my way.

On a personal note, I am sharing with you a photo taken during my first post-covid trip home. It was very moving to see my parents in person after three years of not being able to do so. I hope you enjoy and appreciate the beauty of the city I grew up in.

Stay in touch,

Baa Maa Pii Gaawaabmin (I’ll See You Later)

Kasia Oxley, Children’s Services Community Facilitator, Children’s Programs and Services

Work Cell: (705) 644-1533

Email: kasia.oxley@muskoka.on.ca

Please note that the information contained in this newsletter is intended to encourage conversation and self-reflection and is not to be considered as advice.

Do Binaural Beats Increase Focus & Attention? | Dr. Andrew Huberman

Time commitment: 8 minutes 38 seconds

Areas of interest: focus, binaural beats

Format: video

Dr. Andrew Huberman discusses how binaural beats can increase your attention and ability to focus. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Lab Podcast.

Click here for the video!

Pure 40 HZ Binaural Beats: The Frequency for FOCUS, MEMORY, and CONCENTRATION

Time commitment: 30 minutes 06 seconds

Areas of interest: enhancing focus, practical tools

Format: video

When two tones of slightly different frequencies are played in separate ears simultaneously (through headphones), the human brain perceives the creation of a new, third tone, which is called Binaural Beats. According to a 2017 study (Colzato) 40 Hz binaural beat is the most beneficial for enhancing focus and generating improvement in cognition. For maximum effect, listen to this for 30 minutes BEFORE working / learning.

12 Brain Games for kids to improve concentration

Time commitment: 5 minutes

Areas of interest: memory games

Format: article

We may not realise it but concentrating is harder than it seems! Here is a wonderful list of 12 mind games for kids that will help improve to concentrate and remember. It works great on both children and adults alike!

Reclaim Your Time by Setting Simple Tech Boundaries

Time commitment: 22 minutes 28 seconds

Areas of interest: focus, social media, technology, built-in apps, screen time

Format: video

The good news is that most smartphones now have built-in apps that will tell you how long you've used your phone and what you're using it for. The bad news is that people tend to avoid looking at the numbers. The reality is that everyday you probably spend hours on your phone - those are hours that could be used to accomplish the big goals you've set for yourself! Today, Courtney, Blake, and Nick talk about their own phone usage and they tackle three ways to set some simple boundaries around screen usage. In this episode, you will learn: -How to check your smartphone usage -How individual apps can eat up a lot of time -Just how much Courtney, Nick, and Blake are using their phones -Why exploring the issue of screen time is important in the first place

Tips for Helping Your Child Focus and Concentrate

Time commitment: 5 minutes

Areas of interest: child development, tips on how to increase child’s ability to concentrate/focus

Format: article

Concentration is like a muscle that requires regular exercise to strengthen. Some kids are born “stronger” in this area than others, but all kids can learn strategies and engage in practices that help improve their ability to focus and sustain their attention. This is, after all, a very important skill for kids to acquire—school demands that students concentrate for long stretches of time, and as kids get older they have extracurricular activities after school that require even more concentration. Most children are able to concentrate on activities that are fun and intrinsically enjoyable. It’s the ones that are more boring, difficult or just less enjoyable that really challenge their focus. Yet this ability to concentrate and sustain attention on all kinds of tasks is crucially important, because it helps kids learn and improve, which leads to self-confidence and positive self-esteem.

Click here for the article!

Please write to Kasia to let her know your thoughts on focus or any other topic for a chance to win a resource of your choice (value of up to $50)

EARLY YEARS PROFESSIONALS IN MUSKOKA

Stacey Bullock

What is your current job, and how did you arrive at it, in other words why do you do what you do?

I am currently the Manager of Child and Youth Services at Community Living Huntsville. I started on this path many years ago attending university for psychology, and became interested in learning and development and disability. I volunteered with a Community Living agency in Peterborough and haven’t looked back! I started out working with children privately and started here over 20 years ago as a part time staff.

Without disclosing confidential information, please tell me how your involvement within the early years profession created a better outcome for a child/family.

I feel like I can support families to get connected to the right places and to provide needed supports and understanding for them in childcare and early years. When a child goes through the process of transitioning from childcare into school, there is so much fear and anxiety – when it goes well and is successful, it makes us so happy.

What's most challenging about the work you do?

Seeing families struggling. At CLH we try to change the community and foster inclusion, but it is a slow process and families still run into closed doors.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I spend time with my family, including a teenage son and two big dogs. I love to read, feather my nest, camp and canoe. Although I don’t rough it anymore as I have a trailer!

What book/resource could you recommend to our readers?

Jean Clinton – Love Builds Brains is one my team is reading now. I have also seen her speak.

I have also heard Michael Jacques speak and either of his two books are wonderful.

What is your favorite quote?

This changes frequently! Right now – “This too shall pass”

Who inspires you and why?

One of my favourite authors is Madeleine L’Engle, and her children’s, adult and inspirational books have always inspired me. Her faith in life and love throughout her lifetime is inspirational.

In the last couple of years, what new belief, behavior, or habit, or item, has most improved your life?

One item that has made a world of difference in my life is my insulin pump and CGM(Dexcom) – this has not only changed my life, but will change the lives of a generation.

What advice would you give your teenage self?

I have actually been thinking about this recently! I would tell myself to be kind to her body. You feel invincible when you are young, and it catches up with you.

What would you take with you to a desert island?

A good book – probably an anthology of multiple books.

Anything else that you would like to share?

A big thank you to all of the people I have worked with over the years, it truly does take a village.

Fun Corner!

Click here ,or the picture above, to answer this month's question!

September 2022 winner:

Carly Jefferson

Congratulations Carly!

INSPIRATION CORNER

Recipe Corner!

Dark Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites

Click here for the recipe!

For a chance to win a resource of your choice (value of up to $50), please submit a reflection of yours to Kasia on a topic of your choice that you would like to be considered for publication in one of the upcoming newsletter editions.

Your submission does not have to be in a form of an essay, other forms of expression are welcome, such as: poetry, video footage, note, opinion piece, interview, photos accompanied by a short text, review, etc.

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