~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The
ARKGroup (Adults Relating to Kids)
formerly The Children's Center for Self-Esteem
ARK 'N ACTION June 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
in this issue
-- Hunger For Touch
-- It Takes a Good Parent, Neighbor, Grandparent, Aunt, Uncle,
Teacher - A Good One - To Raise a Child
-- Independence Day Quiz - Test your Knowledge of American
History
-- Consider These Gift Opportunities
The
sun, heat and humidity have returned to south Texas, but I have noticed
our children and our neighbors children are "loving" every minute of these
"Lazy Days of Summer". We at ARK, truly hope that you and your families
will have many opportunities to make this the best summer of memories
ever. Sometimes life only requires that we slow down and watch those
around us to again appreciate the wonders of relationships, warm days and
the magic that occurs when we share our lives with others in a lazy kind
of... , slow kind of... and amazing way. Please share our website with your friends and colleagues - - The ARKGROUP's WEB site can assist you now to get to the information you need. The ARKGROUP's website provides the information that you need , about the ARK (Adults Relating to Kids) Programs and Processes for Teachers and Schools, Parents and Others who would be Intentional in the lives of Kids, both faith based and secular. Visit our site today. ARK (Adults Relating to Kids) programs and processes are here to help. Thanks for joining us this summer through our newsletter. Start these summer months to commit to renewal and growth with education and networking facilitated by the ARK Program DVDs: ARK for Teachers, ARK for Parents (Faith and Secular based), ARK Facilitator Training, The ARK Group Process and an Introduction to ARK hosted by Pat Summerall. Order yours today at www.thearkgroup.org. The ARK Program has excellent lessons, DVD's, manuals, workbooks, texts and advertising materials -- they will equip you to begin ARK programs today. ARK programs provide breakthrough parenting and teaching "skills courses." With your help, we can make ARKrelationships the norm for the 21st century family, church, school and community. For our Friends and Followers , we have had outstanding record breaking participation through June with over 200 churches in the Dallas and Houston areas participating in our ARK for Parents - Church Programs . Facilitation training can be scheduled to fit your schedule. Thanks to a wonderful gifts by kind benefactors, we are able to provide ARK for Parents Programs to Dallas area churches and in Houston. The program includes facilitator training, lessons on DVDs, books, and a host of supporting materials and services. We invite you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. Contact us today by e-mail, letter or by telephone in Dallas at 817- 268-2100 or Houston at 281-537-1301 to reserve these programs for your church to enable your church family to become the parents and intentional adults in the lives of children that will change the world through your care | |
Hunger For Touch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  My thanks to Helen Braun and to
the Teachers programs and processes at Hogg Middle School, Houston
Independent School District for the following insightful views. Each day
these teachers and their principal solve challenges which our Public
School's teachers face and they grow and
Recent research in brain studies has shown that a caring touch is not optional for raising children. It is essential for a child's development and a lack of touch can actually damages individuals and all of society. Loving touch release hormones of oxytonin and dopamine. The lack of caring touch results in an increase in their stress level hormone cortisol. Other studies in laboratories have shown that the more pleasurable
feelings a human being experiences, the less likely violent urges are to
surface. Our western society has become a touch needing people where the fear of "lawsuits and social norms restrict touch outside family relationships. There is a mass market for bouncy baby cradles, swings, seats and exercise products to free Dad and Mom who are to busy to cuddle baby. Touch is a world wide language that transcends language. A pat on the back, "high-five, squeeze of the hand or a gentle embrace conveys important human contact that is so vital to human development. Reassurance in a hug is an anchor that we all should consider as needed by our neighbors and their children, students and our own family. ARK for Teachers and ARK for Parents explores It is important to incorporate non-responsive touch into our children and student's lives to provide emotional and brain development opportunities. Reading stories, brushing hair, or good simple back- rubs during homework can be important. Our modern day world includes the Internet, text messages, telephone's constant chatter, and emailing which all serve to help us communicate, but not necessarily to experience the most important fabric of being human. Take a few minutes to think about how your relationships with kids and students can also include We would like to hear your thoughts. | |
It Takes a Good Parent, Neighbor, Grandparent, Aunt, Uncle, Teacher - A Good One - To Raise a Child ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The question
then is - "what is a good parent?"
Consider the following as tools to add to your "good parent" toolkit.
There is magic in every action we take together with children. How magical are we? | |
Independence Day Quiz - Test your Knowledge of American History ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  What is the title of the National
Anthem?
Which of the following rights is guaranteed by the first amendment?
What is the title of the head of city government? Who has the ability to declare war? How many branches of government do we have? Who elects the President of the United States? How many states are there? How many stripes are on the flag? Who was the President during the Civil War? How many Senators are there? Which President was born in Texas? Answers in order.
And finally, it was not Lyndon Baines Johnson. but Dwight Eisenhower. Check out the following for ideas on How to Get Involved in Your Local School | |
Consider These Gift Opportunities ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Consider These
2008 Gift Opportunities. Become a program sponsor by funding an ARK for
Teachers Program in School Districts: Electronic Packages for $950.
Funding an ARK for Parents Program in Schools, Community Centers,
Churches, Neighborhood Centers, Sunday Schools, Youth Centers: Facilitator
Training Programs for $500. Purchasing individual manuals for $25 each to
support organizations who need materials. Purchasing ARK for Kids or Teens
workbooks for $25 each for deserving kids' networks.
Your support of The ARKGroup, Inc. creates possibilities in our churches, community centers, and public and private schools. If you have an opportunity, idea, challenge, or destiny to fulfill through helping children to grow into their full potential, please contact us. Together we can improve the quality of life in our communities--one child, one family, one classroom, one school at a time. Helping other people lifts one's spirits and gives hope for the future. GoodSearch - a way to support ARK while using the Internet. You can contribute to the ARKGROUP which we will invest in your favorite community services, church, juvenile justice program or school just by searching the Internet or shopping online with GoodSearch - www.goodsearch.com - powered by Yahoo! | |
Contact Information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
email: wduffyark@sbcglobal.net
phone: 281-537-1301
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