Danny the Dragon author
Danny the Dragon Supports Deaf Literacy
A passionate literacy advocate, I was alarmed by the literacy statistic among the deaf, and now I’ve begun raising support for education for deaf children. Upon the release of my Danny the Dragon DREAMS, the proceeds of my Danny the Dragon DVD, which features a signed reading of the book for deaf children, will be donated to the local deaf children’s school, Blossom’s Montessori School for the Deaf in Clearwater, Florida. I’m very happy that I’m able to do something to improve deaf education! Tina Turbin
Get Some Help, Mom!
Get your family to pitch in with chores around the house, especially the kids. Children may not be expert dishwasher loaders and you’ll always be able to do the chores better yourself, but learn to let it go and get them to help you out with some of the things they’ll be able to handle on their own, even if it’s just pairing together and folding socks. Studies show that children who participate in family chores have a higher chance of growing up more successful than other children. It will raise their feels of self-esteem, make them more competent, …
Keeping Your Celiac Child Safe at School
First of all, you’ll need allies, and who better than your child’s teachers? This means all of his teachers, including his physical education instructor or his home room teacher, with whom some children only meet with periodically. I highly recommend meeting with each teacher individually. Writing a note or e-mail is usually insufficient to communicate the seriousness of the condition and the details of the diet, including crucial issues such as cross-contamination and hidden sources of gluten, such as beauty products, for instance. There are a few things his teachers should know about it in this meeting. First …
Gluten-Free Summer Camp
Summer camp is a cherished summertime tradition for children. Just because your child eats gluten free doesn’t mean he has to suffer without summer camp this year. There are actually some camps that specialize in the gluten-free diet, which you can find online; other camps specialize in other restricted diets, such as for diabetic children. You don’t have to choose a special camp for your child, though, as he may want to go to the same summer camps as his friends. Just as you had to meet with your child’s teachers and school administrators regarding his diet, talk …
Write Your Goals Down
Writing your goals down on paper (or on your computer in this computer age) is essential. A recent study was conducted recently to find what made Harvard’s most successful graduates so successful. It turns out that the common denominator among these prosperous alumni was writing down their goals. Luckily, you don’t need a degree from Harvard to do that. Tina Turbin
More Studies Support Health Benefits of Friendship
Other research suggests the health benefits of social support. One study, published in the journal Cancer, followed 61 women with advanced ovarian cancer. The women with lots of social support had much lower levels of a protein linked to more aggressive types of cancer, and higher levels of a protein that boosted the effectiveness of chemotherapy. In 1989, David Spiegel, MD, a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University, published an influential paper in Lancet, showing that women with breast cancer who participated in a support group lived twice as long as those who didn’t and reported much less …
Finding Great Gluten-Free Cookie Recipes to Bake with Your Celiac Child
Baking cookies goes back a long way in my family, and I was quick to establish it as a Turbin family tradition with my own kids. When I was diagnosed with celiac disease and adopted a gluten-free diet, I began accumulating gluten-free recipes for cookies and other baked goods so the tradition could carry on. I now publish a wealth of gluten-free recipes online, on my gluten-free website as well as on my gluten-free blog. There are plenty of straightforward, delicious gluten-free cookie recipes for everyone’s favorite cookies. Gluten-free doesn’t mean sugar-free, so the kids will enjoy the …
Increased Awareness of Celiac Disease in U.S. Brings Increased Support
In the United States, a slightly increased rate of celiac diagnosis among adults has already lead to increased support. Gluten-free foods and gluten-free recipes are more readily available than ever. The Gluten-Free Restaurant Awareness Program (GFRAP) assists in the mutually beneficial relationship between people diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten intolerance and restaurants, resulting in an increase in the number of restaurants which can provide service to people following a gluten-free diet while increasing their patronage. Participating restaurants are able to provide gluten-free meals. As more and more people are diagnosed with gluten intolerance, their list of participating restaurants …
Traveling with Your Celiac Child
As a gluten-free advocate and mother, I am often asked by parents for tips on how to travel with celiac children. A surprisingly easy task, traveling with your celiac child requires a little planning and a few of the same adjustments you’re already mastering at home. First of all, how you’ll manage your trip depends on your travel arrangements—will you be flying or driving? Each airline has its own set of guidelines which you can usually find online or ask a customer service representative about over the phone. Bring extra gluten-free foods, at least twice as much as …
Studies Show Link between Gluten Intolerance and Autism
Autism is a disorder that is causing more and more concern in the U.S., provoking much research and debate. Recently, various studies, particularly those conducted in the field of alternative medicine, have suggested that there may be a link between autism and food allergies, specifically to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Researchers are showing that allergies may be responsible for causing or worsening autism. Autism is a disorder that affects cognitive development and functioning in children, leading to problems with social interaction, communication skills, and behavior patterns. Until recently, autism was thought to be …