It's "happy days" at the Hodson household!

Rachel Hodson, local South Aussie mum and inventor of BucklePodz®, has been selected as a finalist in the 2011 Bio-Oil AusMumpreneur Awards.

Help create smooth, comfy, pinchless buckling in prams, highchairs, car seats, wheel chairs and more!

The 2011 Bio-Oil AusMumpreneur Awards presented by connect2mums celebrate and recognize Super-Mums in business achieving outstanding success in all areas of business.  The awards are designed to recognize the growing number of women who successfully balance motherhood and business in a way that compliments their family and life.

For firm fitting helmet straps without the fear of a painful PINCH!

Hide those HOT car-seat buckles to avoid burning your baby!

“BucklePodz® are all about  enhancing the safety, sense of security, and well being of young children, with safer buckle-up solutions.” Says Rachel. “As a mum and childcare worker, I was shocked at how easy it was to accidentally “pinch” your precious child in the harsh “SNAP” of their buckle (Helmet, highchair, pram, carseat) or accidentally burn them on a HOT car-seat buckle… Which is why I created BucklePodz®, to put an end to the age-old buckle-up hazards creating safer, comfier buckle-up experiences. Best of all, they enable firm fitting straps for BEST protection, without the fear of a painful pinch.”

There are many benefits to balancing business and motherhood as Mrs Hodson explains, “Developing my business around BucklePodz® has given me the opportunity to share my passion for creativity and children’s wellbeing in a credible way, bringing a sense of community spirit to families and children’s services across Australia. What I love most of all about this journey is the fact that I am showing my children that if you dream big and try hard, you can achieve anything!”

BucklePodz® are the safer buckle-up solution, for so many reasons!

It can be challenging to be a successful business woman whilst raising a family and Rachel gives this advice for others thinking about starting their own enterprise: “Just like Henry Ford said, “whether you say you can, or you say you can not… you will be right”… so I say- just go for it!  Embrace your creativity and live your dream today… if I can do it, so can you, and if you are unsure of where to next with your big idea, contact me through www.bucklepodz.com.au for a chat!”

The winners of the 2011 Bio-Oil AusMumpreneur Awards will be announced at a glamorous Awards dinner at Mercure Sydney on Saturday 27 August 2011.

For more information on the AusMumpreneur Awards visit: www.connect2mums.com.au

For an interview with Rachel contact her by email:

Rachel@bucklepodz.com.au

BucklePodz Mini are for lovers and learners of skating, scooting, bike riding, horse riding, even cricket!

Please support Rachel and Vote for BucklePodz in the Bio Oil AusMumpreneur Peoples Choice: BEST PRODUCT Category before 21st August. Thank you!

Please copy and paste this link to vote, supporting Rachel in the Best Product- Peoples Choice Award Category, and remember to share with your friends…

http://connect2mums.com.au/photo/buckle-with-care-rachel?context=album&albumId=3120381%3AAlbum%3A232960

And whatever you do, make sure you Buckle With Care! xx

For a quick, easy, all natural night time drink for the whole family, try the good old recipe of sleepy-warm milk with a good dollop of soothing honey… just like granny used to make!

Warm milk at night time is known to help bring about sleep,this is an age old remedy loaded with the many natural healing benefits of honey, as well as being a delicious gift to the mind, body and soul… and taste-buds too!

Unlike other night-time pre-made drink powders, this delicious treat has no added artificial flavours, colours, numbers or chemicals, it’s simply a nutritious drink.  And, if you suffer from insomnia, research suggests that honey at night time can help relieve insomnia- so go on, treat yourself!

So tonight before bed, treat your family to a sweet, hot cup of love! Great for the mind, body and soul.

Sweeeeet Dreamzzzzzzzzz

xx Rach

I have often wished there was something else… a healthier option… tea? Sometimes. Milo? perhaps. But neither really does the trick like a nice hot cuppa… until… I figured out the perfect little luxury that is now my most favourite hot drink!

It’s the very simple, yet oh so soothing and HEALTHY… Yes, it’s just what granny used to make… the Honey and Lemon Magic Potion!

With all the naturally fabulous health benefits of these 2 natural ingredients… honey has been used for thousands of years for it’s antibodies, and its wonderfully healing qualities, while lemon has a zingy, detoxing effect, kick starting the metabolism, cleansing the palate and boosting vitamin c levels! The combination of honey and lemon with hot water is such a gorgeous delight to the senses, it is my new GUILT FREE PLEASURE! Oh, and to really feel special, try making it in a teapot and treat your senses with a cute tea cup and saucer… I found mine in Miss 2′s tea set collection, shhhh! It really does feel like im doing good for my body, mind, and spirit! And the best thing about it is, the kids can join me! (We all know they were going to anyway:)

So next time you are contemplating a coffee, re-invigorate yourself with a nice hot honey and lemon treat instead! You’ll thank nature for it!

Cheers!

xx Rach

BucklePodz

Buckle with Care

BucklePodz was not one of them this year. But it made me think, who were the other mums with great ideas that applied?

I have dedicated this page to those ladies who anxiously waited to hear if they were  a winner… because you already are winners! If not for the Huggies grant program, you are a winner by applying in the first place, and by taking action to make the world a better place for parents and children.

So if you were an applicant of the Huggies Mum Inspired, and if you did not win the grant, Please feel welcome to promote your idea here!

If you have a jpeg advertisment, please email to enquiry(at)bucklepodz.com.au, I am more than happy to help you advertise!

From one mum to another, well done! xx Rach

Here is the amazing idea of a wonderful mum named Lisa:

Quality clothing for your children should not be a major expense for a family… And kids grow so fast, it’s hard to keep up at times!

ThreadEx was formed to give Australian parents the opportunity to dress their rapidly growing kids in good quality clothes, without it costing the earth.

Exchange and receive a wide variety of clothes ranging from Polo Ralph Lauren, Bebe, Country Road to Pumpkin Patch, Target and Bonds!

At ThreadEx you give only what you would be happy to receive. Our high standards ensure only quality garments are exchanged. Buy a bundle of clothes for just $7 + Shipping ($10).

Join NOW at www.ThreadEx.com.au

Remember the yummy home made custard that granny used to make?

Well, here’s a recipe that’s sure to get your taste buds tingling… and it’s super easy!

No more custard powder full of preservatives, colours, numbers and flavours… just click

SuperGranny’s Custard and print off your own, easy peezy custard recipe!!!

If you love it, share the link with others so they can love it too!

Enjoy! xx

I would even go as far as to say it is slightly evil how the big brand, glamorous boxes of cake mix, pancake mix, and other irresistible treats in the desert aisle fool us into thinking that there’s simply no way we could ever possibly bake such delicious creations from scratch… And if we attempted cooking a “real” cake it would take so long that we may as well not even bother trying.

Being a parent, working or not, is one of the busiest jobs in the universe. There is constantly a zillion tasks pulling you in all directions from the time you wake up till the time you go to bed, (washing, folding, dishes, rescuing toys from the toilet, cleaning, floors, play time, wiping scribble off the walls time, bath time, wipe up wee time, nap time, snack time, lunch time, shopping, wipe up wee time again, childcare, stuffing all the tissues back into the box, and the list goes on), so it’s understandable that we opt for the simple, never fail, packet cake mix. Well not any more!

This could possibly be the yummiest, easiest little cupcake recipe on this planet, so easy that you can whip them up in a jiffy!

CLICK HERE to download “Baby Cakes… Simple Cupcake recipe that works every time!”

That’s right, this is an easy peasy, no fuss cupcake recipe which will have your guests begging for more… great for your child’s birthday party, your husband’s birthday party, and even for a delicious way to make sure your business is on the tip of every-one’s tongue. This recipe is for you! No sifting, no need for scales, no separating eggs… just dump it all in and mix it up and in no time at all you’ll have delicious cupcakes.

I am a busy mum of 2, running a full time business and so when I find a good thing, I pass it on so other busy parents can get their groove back too!

Spoil yourself, and spoil those you love… share the link, and we can all enjoy our just deserts;) Enjoy!

Rach xx

Buckle With Care

P.S: Please share the love by posting your easy peasy, no fuss recipe’s for busy parents here too;)

Does your child keep getting out of bed? Do you long for a peaceful night… some quiet time to yourself with children sleeping soundly? Well never fear, Super Granny is here! She says it’s all about a consistent routine. “Don’t wait until your child is out of bed or calling you before you go in to check on him/her.Nip it in the bud before your child gets a chance to even think about getting out of bed”.

Want to teach YOUR child to stay in bed? Here’s how…

At a decent hour, eg: 7 or 8pm max, begin your normal bed time routine  (quiet time, eg story or quietly chatting about their day, then kiss and cuddle, explain it’s bed time etc, then brush teeth, a tiny drink, toilet and into bed).

Now, say “night night, I’ll be back in to check on you in a minute“. Then leave the room… (maybe walk the hall way, pop the kettle on, or walk to the front door and back). Now go straight back into their room to check on them, BEFORE they get a chance to call out. Be prepared to go in every minute and say, “Shhhh, Ill be back to check on you in a minute” then leave the room, and make sure you return in 1min or less- before they get the chance to act… because once they get up or start calling out,  it’s like the point of no return and it can become a real struggle of power and will. So keep it simple and short, and return to their room BEFORE they make a move- this might mean returning in as little as 20 seconds, and that’s okay. Continue “checking” every 20 seconds or so, then gradually extend to a minute, then 2 minutes etc. The trick is to get there before they do. Sure it sounds crazy, but it works!

The first 2 times of “checking” on your child, you will probably catch him/her with a toe on the floor, about to climb out of bed. Just use a firm voice, “uh-uh, back into bed, it’s bed time.” Put your child back into bed, dont enter into 2-way conversation, just say “good night, ill be back to check on you in a minute” and leave the room.

If your child is a professional at getting you to come back, then they might try every trick in the book, like “I’m hungry… thirsty… need to do a wee… hug”, etc, but don’t be pulled into the conversation tug of war.

You know they have just had a drink, they have already done a wee, and they have eaten dinner (if they didn’t eat much at dinner, make sure you have “supper” as part of pre-bed-time routine). So if your child tries to pull at your heart strings with these “pick-me-up lines” say something like “shhh, ill be back to check on you in a minute“, then leave the room and make sure you return in a minute (or less- before they have a chance to get their foot on the floor again), and say the same thing…. “good, ill be back to check on you in a minute“.

Remember not to enter into any deep conversation. If your child wont lay down or keeps calling out, feel welcome here to use “do i need to close the door? okay, I’m closing the door…(attempt to close and if they respond well, then open the door again and add…) that’s better. It can stay open because you’re resting nicely now. I’ll be back in a minute to check on you.”

Keep doing this every minute for about 5 more times, eventually just popping your head in the room without saying anything (so they know you are still there) and it’s like magic! Before you know it you’ll be sitting in the lounge room with your feet finally up, soaking in the peacefulness echoed through the sound of the clock ticking amidst the still night air.

Why does this work?  Quite simply, your child won’t feel the overwhelming need to keep getting up because he/she knows you are close by and that you WILL be back, and this is a comforting thought. Your child knows you aren’t going to leave them and that, most importantly, you mean what you say.

If you are having trouble keeping your child in bed at bed-time, please try this, and remember, when you are in control of the situation (instead of being worked like a marionette puppet by your child’s behaviour) it is a comforting feeling for your child because they no longer have to worry about the world. They can be at peace with the fact that you are doing all the worrying about the world for them, and that they are safe, warm, loved. You are their protector. Be kind, be strong, be in control… and then their little minds can be filled with all things fun, instead of worry.

Super Granny says “Your child will  know what to expect, as will you. You will gain confidence in your parenting, and your child will gain confidence in you. Remember, be confident about your approach and stick to the routine (even if it means writing it down with pictures for all parents and children in the house to go by), be persistent and consistent, and don’t give in”.

At the end of the day, your child will learn that you mean what you say… or that you DON”T mean what you say. You make the choice.

To sum it up, you are the coachman (or coach-woman) of a horse drawn cart. The horse has slowly become more in control, and becoming wild and fast and crazy, bumping off course in a frantic race towards a fast approaching cliff… it’s time to take the reins back again and show the horse that every thing’s okay… and steer the horse back onto the right track… the track of calmness and peacefulness.

And the last thing to do, is put your feet up and enjoy your quiet nights. Ahhhh. happy children, happy parents, happy children.

PS: You may be sceptical about this, but as a parent, we can all use a new tip now and then.The art of parenting is handed down from generation to generation and although we alter bits and pieces to suit our own personality, the majority is universal parenting techniques… and not limiting that to human kind. Knowing that we all have struggles, and hearing other parents ways of dealing with situations can do wonders for our sanity! My son and daughter (3 and 1) are pretty good kids, but bedtimes can become long and drawn out… especially when I’m feeling tired, or when my favourite show is about to start (Packed to the Rafters). So tonight, with the help of Super Granny, I tried this  new approach, and both were asleep within 10 minutes (Miss 1 took 10 mins, and Mr 3 only 5mins… without any tears)!  Gotta love mums and their wealth of experience and wisdom! Thanks Super Granny!

Stay tuned, we will have a regular tip for you right here from “Super Granny”!

If you have a topic you “need” covered, you can email Super Granny directly: enquiry(at)bucklepodz.com.au (“Help me, Super Granny” in the subject line). Not all emails will be responded to directly.

Note: This article and it’s contents are copyright R.Hodson, Buckle With Care 2011. All rights reserved.

Visit www.bucklewithcare.com.au for more Super Granny Tips, and always remember to ~Buckle With Care~ using BucklePodz for your child’s well being. www.bucklepodz.com.au

Children learn about technology from an early age.

“Screen media affects our thoughts and behavior… watching television causes physiological changes, and not for the better… The greatest health scandal of our time” ~Dr Aric Sigman; 16 Biologist Volume 54 Number 1, February 2007

My 3 year old son has recently discovered a treasure trove of arcade games on our computer… and he is utterly drawn to it like a mosquito to a sweet, slumbering baby. And he is surprisingly computer savy already. He turns the computer on, types in “OK” and presses “any key” when the computer prompts, he then clicks on the games folder and scrolls down through the list untill he finds the game he wants to play. If he wants to pause it to go to the toilet, he knows where the “p” button is. I had never wanted a Nintendo or other machine in our household, because I know the value of active, physical play. But to be totally honest, the arcade games have been a godsend. It has given me that extra time to get dinner cooked, watch a segment of the news, or just have a quiet cuppa.

But what begun as a curiosity of computer games has fast tracked its way to becoming an obsession. My son asks to play computer first thing in the morning and last thing at night. I am finding myself saying no to a screaming, crazed child over and over again. His behavior when asked to turn it off is typical of any over stimulated child, and it’s frightening. It’s becoming unhealthy, and I needed a plan.

I did a little googling, and I was not too surprised to find that many professional researchers (CSIRO; Dr Aric Sigman; American Academy of Pediatrics; Raising Children Network) forbid any screen time at all for children under 2 and 3 years old due to it’s detrimental effect on brain development in the early years and leading into global health problems/habits later in life. And more to the point, the reasons why they have come to this conclusion are frightening.

According to Dr Aric Sigman (an associate fellow of the British Psychological Society) there are 15 harmful effects which exposure to more than 2 hours a day TV/screen time can have on children- some of which I already knew, and all of which I would never wish upon my own children. They include:

Obesity (the result of little exercise).

Disrupted hormones. (Light from televisions suppresses production of the key hormone melatonin).

Lowered immune system. (Reduced melatonin may increase the chance of mutations in cell DNA, which causes cancer).

Premature puberty. (Also linked to low levels of melatonin).

Sleep disorders. (Over-stimulating the senses causes sleeplessness).

Autism. (Linked to a lack of social interaction).

Increased body fat. (Altered levels of the hormones leptin and ghrelin produce fat and boost appetite).

Poor concentration. (Development of brain cells governing attention span is impaired).

Difficulty reading. (A result of poor intellectual stimulation while young).

Type 2 diabetes (From eating high-calorie food while watching TV).

Changes to skin immune cells. (Waves emitted by screens are linked to changes in skin ‘mast’ cells).

Increased cholesterol. (A result of an inactive childhood).

Slower metabolism. (Watching TV may slow the metabolism more than simply doing nothing)

Shortsightedness. (Staring at a screen can lead to eye damage).

Alzheimer’s Disease. (Heavy viewing linked to increased risk).

However, many researchers and health professionals agree that screen time does have it’s place in a household, and it’s simply a matter of healthy balance, parental guidance, and limiting exposure, (according to CSIRO and Raising Children Network). How? A few simple steps you can take are: keeping TVs and computers out of children’s bedrooms; setting time limits; using TV guides to plan for program viewing; involving ourselves in some of their screen activities; being prepared with alternative, interactive activities.

According to the Raising Children network,

“Children can benefit from media. For kids aged 2-12, carefully chosen TV programs, movies and computer games can promote literacy, numeracy and social skills. For teenagers, the positives often come from using blogs, chat rooms and social networking sites. It’s all about balancing screen time with other creative and physical activities”.

Ofcourse, there are programs such as “Computer Time” (http://www.softwaretime.com) which can easily be installed onto any computer to automatically limit a child’s access to screen time, shutting down when your child’s session limit is over. This is a great resource for parents, but there are other, simple ways of limiting screen time. And it’s as easy as harnessing the power of your child’s strengths and interests to shift their focus and divert their energy into other areas of play within their world.

Yes, I admit, allowing my son time on the computer or TV is an easy way for me to sneak a quick cuppa in, or get some emails sent off, but I would not wish this to the detriment of his development and well being. With his new found addiction to computer games, I knew I needed to work with his interests in mind, and develop some interesting and fun ways of involving him in the decision making process. This often comes down to providing a limited number of choices (two-three maximum) so he still have control of his own world, to some extent. Often my son thinks outside “my” square and chooses a different option all together. I embrase his creative thinking because, after all, parenting is about learning together, and empowering my children to make healthy decisions, and developing a strong sense of self.

The key for me was owning the responsibility… it is up to me as the parent to take a pro-active step and guide his screen interaction time. I collated the recommendations from a variety of professionals, (remembering 1-2 hours a day screen time is the recommended limit for 2-5 year olds, 2 hours a day for 5-18 year olds), and I have combined my sons interests and ability to introduce an opportunity for him to feel empowered about deciding upon his own computer time/ TV time- that way I would surely see the tail end of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

I introduced a Pie chart, but it wasn’t any old pie chart. I needed to come at it with an angle which would have my son gladly participating. My son loves having wood oven pizzas at his uncle Tezz’s house, and often role plays this at home. And as they say, the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach… so Pizza Pie Charts it was!

Pizza Pie is an empowering tool for children.

Pizza Pie is an empowering tool for children.

We started the Pizza Pie Chart on a fresh day. I explained to him that he gets 1 whole “pizza” every day. It is cut into quarters and each quarter is like a ticket for 15minutes of computer time, so he had four times a day he could have a turn on the computer. He could choose to use all four tickets at once, or just one now and another later, or even use ½  now and ½  later. He smiled an excited grin, “awesome” he said.

(Pizza Pie~ CLICK HERE for your FREE download with compliments from ~Buckle With Care~… Enjoy!)

CLICK HERE to download more Pizza Pie Flavours (Including Hawaiian, Mushroom&Tomato, BBQ Chicken) so now each child can have their own Pizza Pie, or your child can have a different Pizza Pie for TV, Computer etc.

We have been using the Pizza Pie Chart every day (and some days he dosen’t even use any at all) and there has been no complaints about turning the machine off, when the Pie has run out. It is up to him to use the Pizza Pie however he wants, but like the old “marshmallow test” I truly believe this is helping my son to develop a sense of ownership, responsibility and self control.

What to do when the Pizza Pie runs out?

This research has also made me take a look at my own habits, and spend more time focused on my children’s passions. Life goes by too quickly and I am so glad for the Pizza Pie, because it pushes me to come up with fun, interesting and enticing play experiences to shift the children’s attention from computer/tv and into discovery-rich experiences. If youre feeling stuck for ideas, involve your child in helping to create a list of fun things to do in and out of the house.

Each child lives this day only once… make it count.

A simple key to truly engaging children in learning and discovery is recognising and harnessing the individual and unique strengths and interests of your child, then transfering this into their every day experiences (routines, activities, decision making etc). By doing this, your child may develop a longer attention span, greater learning outcomes, and heightened feelings of self worth because you have shown that you know who they are and appreciate all their uniqueness. This will enable stronger, trusting relationships between you and your child, and sets the scene for future learning opportunities. The benefits of true play are amazing.

If you would like a printable version of the humble Pizza Pie chart, I have included the link below. Simply click, print, and laminate to use in your home… it may take a little while to download, so patience is a virtue;) (magnetic version available for sale soon, enquire through www.facebook.com/bucklepodz).

(TIP: fits perfectly into a Large Milo tin’s lid… the perfect pizza tray. Now just stick magnetic strips to the back of your laminated Pizza Pie;)

Pizza Pie~ CLICK HERE for our FREE download, with compliments from ~Buckle With Care~… Enjoy!

CLICK HERE to download more Pizza Pie Flavours (inspired by families valued feedback).

Thanks for your company, awareness is the first step. Please share with those you love.

Sincerely,

Rachel Hodson

For more info, follow the links below:

An excellent Australian Parenting website, Raising Children Network, can be found at the following link, with easy to understand articles and advice:

http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/tv_babies_toddlers.html

http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/video_games_playing_it_safe.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/family/family_relationships/you_tv.shtml

http://www.csiro.au/resources/10-steps-for-healthy-families-ScreenTime.html

http://www.education.com/facts/quickfacts-digital-world/recommended-ages-screen-time/

http://www.aricsigman.com/IMAGES/VisualVoodoo.LowRes.pdf

http://familyinternet.about.com/od/introtofamilycomputing/a/growthchart.htm

For info on programs such as “Computer Time” please follow http://www.softwaretime.com/ to watch the demo.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-436941/The-15-ways-TV-wrecks-childs-health.html#ixzz1DtrrtO32

They say “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, but what if, to the beholder, colour did not exist?

I often find myself staring out the passenger window relishing in the beautiful, lush scenery on the way to my mum’s house in the Adelaide Hills.

The rolling landscapes and sun-lit valleys are adorned with colours so vibrant, it’s an absolute delight to my senses every time. The crisp, bright, leafy greens, the endless blue skies, the dappled rays of sunlight peering through the mixed tunnel of gums and pine trees lazily dances across the ever winding road. This drive always delivers an ever-changing pallet of colour throughout the year, as the different shades of greens turn to yellows, ambers, purples, and reds.

The drive is so serene, the air so fresh that it seems to melt away my worries if only for an hour, as I indulge in the essence of true beauty.

The Power of Colour…

Colour is  such an important part of life. Scientifically proven, it can lift your mood, and calm you down. It can make you feel hungry, or make you hurry. It is powerful enough to capture your attention and signal danger. Red means stop, green means go… doesn’t it? No, as I have recently discovered, not to 12 ½ % of the population who live every single moment with colour blindness, as if some of the colours simply fell off the rainbow… and never even existed.

I try to imagine a world without red apples… or with rainforests painted only in shades of fawn and khaki. Driving would become a nightmare, with traffic light signals being all the same colour… amber. To think my 3-year-old son may miss out on this vital, vibrant part of life saddens me deeply, but this is the reality of people living with colour blindness.

(Above: depiction of what a colour blind person sees, taken from the website http://mattwilcox.net/archive/entry/id/513/)

Could my son be colour blind?

The idea that my son might be colour blind only dawned on me a few days ago when we were visiting my mum. She had noticed often that “J” (my son) would not be so sure of certain colours (especially the reds, blues and greens) and asked if I noticed it too, and perhaps he’s colour blind. I had previously just put it down to his young age, and he hadn’t had an interest in colour names yet.

The concept of colour blindness hadn’t even entered my mind before this conversation, but after is quite another story.

My mum’s curiosity brought my mind to a grinding halt. Like any parent, I think the world of my children (“J” three years, and “I” one year). They are, of course, the most beautiful, talented children on the face of the planet (to my husband and I), and they blow us away every day by the sayings they come out with, or little things they remember from long ago. They are both very energetic children with a love for exploration, discovery, and pushing the boundaries! There seems to be nothing they can’t do and will try everything with enthusiasm. So the thought that my little boy might be missing the cone receptors in his eye-cells that translate certain colours/light had never entered my mind.

What the research says…

As I began to research colour blindness, I found countless websites dedicated to this condition. Up to 2 in 20 males and 1 in 200 females will be born without the specific cone or rod shaped cells in their eyes that help to capture and translate colour.

Above: the colours of a rainbow as a full colour vision person would see. Below: the exact same image through the eyes of someone with colour blindness.

There are different types of colour blindness, some people may see most colours, including red, but not green, some may not see red or green, some might see just shades of grey, dull colours or as if they are living in a sepia world. Because people are often born with the condition, they are not aware that they are missing an entire range of colour… and often feel ashamed, stupid, embarrassed and stressed as a result of the pressures from questioning, and judgment from others.

The more I read into colour blindness, the more my heart goes out to those living with it every day. The trials and tribulations they face in a normal day are things we would not even imagine… like the red warning text on a computer screen (eg: if you enter the wrong password, the warning phrase comes up to alert you, often in red text). Some people with colour blindness cannot even see this. Other screens look blank.

While my son knows his numbers really well (counting up to 14 without a flinch), I had never directly tried to “teach” him his colours. We chat about colours, smells, taste, concepts (full/empty, heavy/light) all the time, because for me, this how learning is most real and engaging, when it is a natural part of every routine not just in a set 15min activity which is packed away into a cupboard until next week. Learning in our house has always been fun. We chat at the traffic lights about green meaning go and red meaning stop. Both the kids help me watch the lights for it to turn green again. Often I am told to “go” when it is still red, and now I am thinking perhaps this is a result of colour blindness.

As you can see in the image above, many people living with colour blindness see all three signals on a traffic light as the same colour, amber. Their only way to read a traffic light is to remember that “stop” is the top light, and “go” is the bottom. Surely the traffic authority should have cottoned on to this long ago and introduced a flashing red light for stop, especially if the condition affects so many people driving on our roads.

Two perspectives, two rights…

So as you can imagine, since I have been contemplating the prospect of my son possibly having colour blindness, I have been testing him in every way I can, as discretely as I can (I don’t want him to feel pressured or stressed). I held up 3 pairs of jocks and ask which colour he wants to wear today. He replied with absolute certainty “the red ones”… reaching for the blue  (I wasn’t even holding a pair of red jocks).

Do I correct him? For, to him, the pair he chose could be the exact same “shade” which I call “red”. So to him, it IS exactly the same. Other times, I’ve asked him “what colour is this?” and he will just say (with a sigh, and a hint of confusion/frustration in his voice)“I don’t know” without even trying to name the colour. Of course he can quickly name the colour of a frog, by association. I wonder what would happen if I coloured a frog in red and asked what colour it is.

While cooking dinner I held up a bright red capsicum and asked the kids what colour it was. Jules was first to quickly and excitedly reply “Blue!” with absolute certainty. When wiping up a spill, I used a bright pink towel. Jules called the colour “purple?” with question in his voice. And when we went to a 3D movie, he would not keep the glasses on… could this be the result of colour blindness? However, often he does get the colour right… but now I find myself wondering, is this simply what colour name he has “learned” to call that object? The confused reaction is mostly just with reds, blues and greens- the colours most alike to the colour blind eye,  because they have the same shade/hue.

Cherries on a cherry tree are near impossible to see for some colour-blind people. Does this mean strawberry picking as a family outing is out of the picture?

How would you feel?

Here’s an example: Imagine there were 3 yellow apples in front of you. You were asked, in front of an audience, to “choose the red apple”. Thinking that it’s a ridiculous question, because there aren’t any red apples there, you easily reply, “there is no red apple” to which the audience laughs, or boos (the audience, can see a red Royal Gala, a yellow Golden Delicious and a green Granny Smith).

You might feel confused, and wonder if it’s a trick being played on you. The teacher points to one of the yellow apples and says: “This one is red”. By now you might feel ashamed, maybe irritated, stupid, and embarrassed. Now that the teacher has explained firmly to you exactly which yellow apple is called “red”, you must remember which position it is in incase she asks you again, or perhaps you will just say “I don’t know” even though you believe it is yellow.

Colour blindness for young children…

Imagine for the excited new child at kindy, the teacher asks everyone to sit on the red mat… there are 2 red mats… or maybe there are 2 blue mats. Which one to choose? Is it a trick? The colour-blind child might wait, and follow others. It wouldn’t take long for the teacher to notice the child who keeps doing the opposite to what was asked, but will she have the awareness of colour blind vision and make a pro-active learning curve, or simply put it down to bad behavior?

This can have a devastating effect for a child going through this over and over again, because they would quickly loose their self esteem, motivation and probably have quite a short attention span. Feelings of disappointment would come into play, feelings of frustration, and confusion as well. The teacher could also begin to feel frustrated, wondering why she’s not getting through to the child. It could be easily miss-interpreted as “disobedient behavior” or “stupid” by his peers. Some children are kept back from graduating into the next year level/class because the condition hasn’t been picked up and the child consequently is not engaged in the class activities and his learning suffers. Once teachers are aware of this, learning can become more inclusive and engaging.

Inclusive ways of engaging children…

There are so many ways we teach children using colours. When we consider that 1 in 10 children might be colour blind, we begin to realize there are more inclusive ways of engaging children using other describing words. Parents and teachers especially should keep a constant awareness for this common condition and ensure learning doesn’t rely on our own perceptions of what is right and wrong- because for some people who are colour blind, the “red” apple isn’t red at all. It’s yellow or brown. In fact, red doesn’t even exist. So how can we expect a child to sort the blocks into correct piles, when they all look the same colour?

Colour recognition comes with age…

For younger children, colour recognition can be confusing even if you have full colour spectrum. For example, they may not realize that  the ‘yellow’ of a ball, for example, is the same colour as the ‘yellow’ of a banana. The child will know the ball is yellow, as you have said, but the banana does not look like the ball, so can feel confused when we use the same describing word for two clearly different objects. Shapes, size and colour concepts come with age, usually by the age of 4 a child will have colour recognition.

What You Can Do…

A few simple, inclusive strategies to make learning easier for colour-blind children could be:

~writing the names of the colours on each pencil,

~using other describing words together with the colour, (eg: “the round, blue mat” or “the blue mat next to the book shelf”),

~being aware that sorting things by shape/size might be more appropriate than by colour,

~using bold colours on white paper.

~ gaining a good understanding of the different types of colour blindness and how it affects vision, and being open about this with children.

~If you are concerned, there are many online tests you can download (as seen in picture above)- or simply consult your optometrist.

~Build on a child’s strengths and interests, and use these as cornerstones for individual programing.

Be Grateful for happiness…

I’m not sure whether my son is colour blind or not, but I am glad my mum shared her concerns with me because it raised my awareness. Yes, I am sad to think he might be missing out on a whole spectrum of colours, as this will bring a lot of challenges to face in life, as well as limit him from applying for certain career positions (eg: police, electrician, army, pilot, and more). However, “J” is a bright, passionate person and always finds a way. Every single person has differences, which is what make us all unique. We all have our quirks, and while Colour Blindness is a condition which limits full colour vision, the grateful perspective is that he otherwise has excellent vision, is healthy, intelligent, and happy.

“Everybody is a genius. But, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

~ Albert Einstein.

Awareness is the key…

Colour blindness is a condition we should all be aware of and compassionate about, especially those who work with children (parents, teachers, and caregivers). When it affects as many as 1 in 10 boys and 1 in 200 girls, it is definitely an issue we need to develop an awareness around to be truly inclusive in our practice, and in our parenting. Lets join together and take off our rose coloured glasses so we can begin talking openly with children and parents about the different ways our eyes work, and how not everyone sees the same thing, and that it’s still okay. This is a small step for educators, and a giant leap for those living with colour blindness. Let’s embrace differences in a positive light to enrich our programs… learning about other peoples perspectives is a healthy outcome for all. Invite parents to share their “views” with the class. Teaching colours has never seemed so challenging, and hopefully this will inspire educators to be creative and supportive in their interactions with children, remembering that while blue is blue, it may also be green.

Regardless of my son’s vision ability, I hope this article opens up a spectrum of thought. It’s not what we have, it’s what we do with it that counts. While life can often seem like a bitter sweet journey, what remains true is that there is adventure and discovery around every corner, every day. The moment we think there is no more to learn is the moment we turn our back on self-growth. We just need to keep our eyes open wide enough to see it. I am thankful for the information available online about colour blindness. There are so many different ways to perceive the same thing… comparing apples has always been so complex, I just wasn’t aware.

Thanks for your company. Please feel welcome to link this to your website, print off, distribute and share with as many people as you can (including your children’s teachers) even if your child is not colour blind, it may help someone who is.

Take care xx

Rachel Hodson

www.bucklewithcare.com.au

A voice for children; a passion for safety.

BucklePodz- the safer buckle-up solution.

Here are some helpful websites regarding colour blindness:

• http://mattwilcox.net/archive/entry/id/513/
• http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Colour_blindness
• http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=304&id=1860
• http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&np=152&id=1700
• http://www.toledo-bend.com/colorblind/ishihara.asp

Especially when you’re a parent of young children, it’s easy to get busy and let all our sense go flying out the window. Before you know it, the car is full of toys and food wrappers, with that too familiar musty smell to greet you every time you open the door on a hot summers day.

“Today I’m going to clean out the car” I have said for the past 2 months. But being a mum of 2 busy children under 3, well, things come up. Last week, I finally got around to finishing the job. It is such a relief to drive around in a car smelling of tea tree oil, rather than wet carpet.

Why am I telling you this? It is the “Silly Season”. We might be the best, most careful driver on the road, but sadly, there are always other crazy, tired, frustrated, and even drunk drivers on our roads. Does it matter if the car is messy? Yes it does.

Any object in the car (toy, torch, groceries: cans of food, bottle of milk etc) has the potential to become a deadly missile if you have an accident. Even that Buz Light Year toy that’s been lying in the car since christmas could become a fast moving, dangerous object.

There are so many things we get too busy to think about, which is why I wanted to quickly share my thoughts with you.

Car safety often gets forgotten about, especially in the busy holiday season, So here are a few points to think about…

• Check your spare tyre for air next time you fill up.
• Make sure all the tyre changing essentials are still in the car.
• Pop a torch in the boot/trunk because you might get a flatty in the dark.
• Make a habit of putting extra objects (bags, shopping, toys etc) in the boot when headding off somewhere.
• Check all your signals are working (blinkers, tail lights, head lights, horn)
• Clean out your car every time you get home, take out all the toys, shoes, bags… anything that didn’t come with the car. We don’t want any potential projectiles in the car, but also, the extra weight you are driving around the country side is costing you more in fuel. So if you’re not using the pram much any more, just leave it at home.
• If you can, invest in membership at the RAA, or similar. This way if you do break down, they will help you to get back on the road, to safety.
• Make it a new years resolution to keep your phone in the boot/trunk or in the glove box when you’re driving. This way you wont be tempted to quickly check a message or answer that phone call while driving. Phones are distracting at the best of times, make your car a no phone zone. It’s actually quite refreshing, and you’ll find the drive more relaxing.

I hope this little list can bring you a little peace of mind this busy holiday season. If you have anything to add, please do! And feel welcome to share this with every one you love this holiday season.

Thanks for your company, take care on the roads, and have a wonderful new year!

Always ~Buckle with Care~

Rachel Hodson