Friday 21 May 2010

Hebrew Translation of the Challenge Me! TM Mobility Activity Cards designed by Amanda Elliott

On 19th May 2010 Jessica Kingsley Publisher confirmed that they have received the counter-signed contracts for Challenge Me! TM Mobility Cards to be translated in Hebrew.

Amanda Elliott the creator of the Challange Me!TM Mobility and Activity Crads is a senior conductor, one of the first graduates of the National Institute of Conductive Education UK, and the director of Conductive Education Support Services UK.

The set of beautifully illustrated full-colour mobility cards, together with a detailed instruction booklet, is a valuable tool for all professionals and parents facilitating the rehabilitation of children with neurological disorders and general developmental disabilities.

The activities address the development of mobility and coordination skills, while also promoting independence and self-esteem, using a fun approach that is motivating for children.

The cards were designed to give parents and professionals plenty of new ideas of tasks to practise at home/school to help improve mobility and all over motor skills based on Conductive Education.

Using the cards is fun and provide you with many useful ideas how to help children to improve essential skills. The cards also enable children to choose, focus, plan, empowering them to take charge in their own problem solving in a playful way.

Children can create their own activity regime which they can practise every day until they master the skills required, or they can choose ad-hoc challenges throughout the day which will build their abilities.
The cards were created in mind that everyone involved with child care, upbringing and education can easily be involved in helping children in a relaxed and joyful way.

In her resource review Julie Hughes of Down Syndrome Education International writes about the Challenge Me! Mobility Activity Cards.
"I'm always on the look-out for useful, practical activities that can be worked into everyday games – and that is just what I found in these cards.

The Challenge Me! Mobility Activity Cards - a set of useful, practical activities that can be worked into everyday games. They address mobility, balance coordination, spatial awareness, trunk control, transferring skills, gross motor skills, flexibility, adaptability, safety awareness, and independence. Practising these skills can also have a knock-on effect on self-esteem and confidence."

Link to full article: http://www.down-syndrome.org/resources/2023/

Link to order the cards directly from the author: http://www.challengemecards.com/order.html

Links to order the cards in USA:
http://www.amazon.com/Challenge-Me-Mobility-Activity-Cards/dp/1843104970/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274429105&sr=8-1

In Australia:
http://www.thebrainary.com/shop/product.php?productid=3583&cat=0&page=1

Challenge Me! TM Speech and Communication Cards are also available by Amanda Elliott.

'Speech and language skills are a vital part of being able to communicate with others and express one's own needs. The Challenge Me!™ Speech and Communication Cards provide fun and dynamic challenges for children aged 3-12 with any form of speech problem, whether this is a severe problem which is related to a motor disability or a general delay in speech. This set of beautifully illustrated full-colour cards with accompanying instruction booklet will be an ideal creative tool for parents and professionals working to improve a child's speaking skills.’


For further reading and to order the cards please follow these links:

http://www.challengemecards.com/speech_and_communication.html

http://www.challengemecards.com/order.html

Mandy at the moment is in Italy helping out with homeless, abandoned and cruelly treated dogs. Well done Manda and congratulations for your achievement!

Friday 14 May 2010

When a child sees with his heart

On Monday, one of our boys a 2½ year old was walking across the room towards a little toy sports car, which was put on a small side table at the centre.
When he arrived to the table, he looked at the photograph of Dr. Pető, which was also on the table, he stopped for a moment and gently stroked the picture, ignoring the car. We never talked to him about Pető. One of the conductors said to the little boy ‘that’s Petö, say hello to him’. The young child said ‘Hello Pető’, smiled and then he turned around and continued practising his walking… It was like he knew who this special man was.

Saturday 8 May 2010

Shanghai Tang Hong Kong



I decided to create a separate posting about Sanghai Tang as it is something really special. If during the busy schedule of the 7th World Congress of Conductive Education you have only time to visit this beautiful flagship store you are in for a real treat.
Sanghai Tang is gorgeous, stylish and a 1930’s inspired, art deco boutique.
This ‘East meets West’ designer store is an adventure on its own. As you step through the doors the spirit of genuine creativity blending Chinese traditional designs with contemporary styles absorbs you and carries you to a different world. To me it felt like arriving to a movie set and depending on where I chose to focus my attention different stories emerged blending cultures, past and present and gently immersing me to participate.
I just wanted to hold everything in this magical place, the smell in the store, the colours, the shapes, and the textures of the goods are second to none.


Sir David Tang the creator of Shanghai Tang


References:

http://www.ce-congress2010.org/CE/

http://juditszathmary.blogspot.com/2010/05/7th-world-congress-on-conductive.html

http://www.shanghaitang.com/

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article1803225.ece

Photos from Google Images.

Friday 7 May 2010

Peak tram, dim sum and more

Whether you decide to travel to Hong Kong to participate in the 7th World Congress of Conductive Education or not I thought you might like to know about some interesting places to visit. The Peak tram takes you up to Victoria Peak. It is a breathtaking journey amongst the lush vegetation with an ever-expanding view of Hong Kong as the train gently clatters to the top.
If you like you can have breakfast, lunch or dinner at the 'Pearl on the Peak Restaurant' depending upon which lighting you prefer to see Hong Kong below while you are dining.
I think tasting some dim sums is a must. I prefer the ones filled with prawns. It is quite hard to get prawn-filled dim sums without pork so watch out if you don’t eat red meat like me. You can also have it for breakfast. If you wake up early and walk on the early morning streets of Hong Kong you can see them being cooked on street corners and people are buying them on the way to work. If you are a visitor I would recommend that you buy them in a restaurant.


The Jade Market


Please be aware that genuine jade is rather pricey and if you don't know much about jade it is hard to distinguish them from replicates.


Stanley Market and Temple Street Night Market are also worth a visit.


Rainbow Finley March 2010.

References:

http://www.ce-congress2010.org/CE/

http://juditszathmary.blogspot.com/2010/05/7th-world-congress-on-conductive.html


http://www.thepeak.com.hk/en/home.asp


http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/dining/dim-sum-guide.html


http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/attractions/kln-jade-market.html


http://www.12hk.com/area/SouthIsland/StanleyMarket.shtml


http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/attractions/kln-temple-street-night-market.html


All photos from Google Images.

Tuesday 4 May 2010

The 7th World Congress on Conductive Education 5-8 December 2010 Hong Kong

A few people have been asking me about the 7th World Congress on Conductive Education, in Hong Kong. Some of them were unaware of it. I guess when people are absorbed with their everyday work and life, it is easy to loose touch with all that is happening around the world of Conductive Education. I believe when you just roaming the Internet and ‘accidentally’ come across information about something close to your heart synchronicity just appeared in your life. So my answer to those who just discovered the information about this event…you were meant to find it for a reason…To defy that reason is up to you.

Hong Kong is a magical place on many levels. Hong Kong professionals working in the field of Conductive Education have a very good reputation and are highly respected in our Conductive community and they are also blessed with excellent organisational skills.

‘Tuning in’ to that event brings excitement and pleasant feelings…definitely an opportunity not to be missed.

I was looking for a video clip about the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre where the conference will be held, to show you the magnificence of the place on the waterfront without any luck. There are a few amateur clips available and one, which is not the best quality.
Nevertheless here is the link to it:
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

The submission for abstracts has been extended to 17th May 2010. Soon after that date we would be able to see the complete conference programme.
Whether you choose to present at the conference or choose to enjoy being enthused sitting in the audience this event promises an unforgettable adventure.
The last time I visited Hong Kong I stayed in the Island Shangri-La. It was a fabulous experience. The words “Shangri-La” stand as a synonym for paradise. On my pillow I found a lovely bookmark with a quote printed on it from the book of Lost Horizon.
“ That evening,
after dinner,
Conway made occasion
to leave the others and
stroll out into the calm,
moon washed courtyards.
Shangri-La was lovely then,
touched with mystery
that lies at the core
of all loveliness.
Conway was physically happy,
emotionally satisfied,
and mentally at ease.”
James Hilton Lost Horizon

I sincerely hope that the 7th World Congress on Conductive Education will be an event, which promises to find the Lost Horizon.




Me and Finley my White Light Warrior puppy, April 2010
Finley has a white star shaped patch on his chest.:)


References:
Photo of Hong Kong Convention and Exchibition Centre at Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island by Christopher Biggs from Flickr images.
Link to official website of the conference:
http://www.ce-congress2010.org/CE/
James Hilton Lost Horizon. A captivating story written in 1933 by an English novelist who wrote of an idyllic settlement high in the mountains of Tibet.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Horizon-Classic-Tale-Shangri/dp/1840243538