More than 100 years ago, in 1903, Helen Thompson published the first ever comprehensive study on gender where she found that men and women are very similar rather than dissimilar. In fact, Thorndike (1914) concluded from her study that individual differences are so large that gender differences may be disregarded.

Amazingly, 100 years later gender studies are still a major topic in psychology and the Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus mentality still continues to live on amongst other outdated popular beliefs.   LHE

News Flash (4.11.2009):

If you walk Croydon streets, you might have noticed the following poster:

It is true that gum chewers are an environmental problem with an estimated 26 million gum chewers in the UK, chewing their way through more than 3 Billion packs of gum per year of which a great amount ends up on our streets (if it doesn't get left stuck under a table). Still, much of the problem is artificially created by telling generations of children that if you swallow your gum it will remain in your stomach for ever (till you die). However, ask any medic and (s)he will tell you that this is one of those old wives tales. In fact, gum passes through your system within about 2 days and does not cause any harm when swallowed. So the message should read:

If you can't bin your gum, swallow your gum!

LHE

News Flash (12.11.2009):

Rise in women child abusers (metro - 9th November 2009): The highly publicised case of Vanessa George the nursery worker, who was a member of an internet pedophile ring, shocked the core of our nation. The thought that a woman, a mother, a nursery worker could commit such a horrific crime is unthinkable. Unfortunatley though, it does happen and is rising - statistics show an increase in the number of women sexually abusing children and in many cases their own. SH

News Flash 18th November 2009 (BBC News)

Young 'must have swine flu jab'

All school children and college students should be vaccinated against swine flu, the Tories say. The party urged the government to act as evidence suggested the young were more likely to get the virus - and develop complications.

Vaccination is already underway in the UK with those with health problems and pregnant women getting the jab first.

The Tories said NHS chiefs should prepare to extend it to under 24s now. A decision is expected soon.  SH

News Flash (24.11.2009)

Is Alcohol Good or Bad for You?

A recent study carried out by researchers in Spain comes to the conclusion that regular moderate drinking decreases the risk of heart diseases by up to 52%, for heavy drinking by up to 54% and for very heavy drinking by up to 50% with women benefiting less from such alcohol consumption. At the same time researchers in Sweden found that people above the age of 80 who drink regularly up to 5 units for men and up to 2.5 units for women are less healthy than their counter parts. Even further, researchers from Australia (Perth’s Telethon Institute) report that an increased amount of alcohol consumed during pregnancy correlates to an increased risk in children developing behavioral and mental disorders. So there is the question: Is alcohol good or bad for you? One thing is clear: The guidelines as set out by the NHS are so oversimplified that we might wish to call them good intended but wrong. If you consume alcohol, the amount which is appropriate for you depends on so many factors such as your BMI, your body fat, your food intake, your general health, your blood pressure, your gender, your age, your alcohol tolerance, your mood and stress factors surrounding you, that a guideline of 21 units for men and 14 for women per week is actually absurd. So the advice: “Please, drink responsibly!” is still the best advice, and if you regularly drink during the day or late at night, you might have to think about this issue. LHE

News Flash (04.01.2010)

Croydon Family has reopened today and wishes a Happy New Year to all our families.

We also would like to remind all that our groups are open and welcoming to all families regardless of their ethnic background or their religious beliefs. LHE

News Flash (09.01.2010)

Last week, Britain has seen her worst winter for several decades with temperatures reaching -22.3 C in the North of the country. And just like in the rest of the country where 8500 schools had to be shut, Croydon had to close a number of schools as well. Croydon Family Groups too did not open its doors for the Forestdale and the two Waddon Groups. Thankfully, the situation in Croydon has improved over the weekend and Croydon Family Groups will resume normal service even if particularly in Scotland the worst is not as yet over.  LHE

 

News Flash (26.01.2010)

At first it might come as a surprise that Mrs Gilderdale has not only been cleared of murdering her terminally ill daughter Lynn aged 31 but walked free from court yesterday. This despite the fact that even assisted suicide can carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years. However, Mr Justice Bean described the decision of the jury as a decision which “shows common sense, decency and humanity”. Crucial to the jury's reasoning were four factors: a) Lynn was an adult, b) Lynn was terminal ill, c) Lynn expressed clearly that she wished to die and was clearly aware of its meaning and d) Mrs Gilderdale's character was without reproach and acted out of respect for her daughter's wishes. In case not all factors area given, the verdict can easily change into a guilty verdict for assisted suicide or even murder as the case of Mrs Inglis shows. Mrs Inglis killed her son after he had suffered brain damage to a point that he was unable to communicate. Additionally, his condition appeared to be improving which means factors b) and c) were not given resulting in the long term imprisonment of his mother. LHE

News Flash (08.02.2010)

Croydon now operates the Early Years Inclusion Teams. The teams are divided into the Home Support Team which links the setting of the child with the home of the child through home visiting, the ABC Team, which will work with parents/carers whose children have behavioural difficulties, the Portage Team, which supports families with children who have special needs and the Settings Support Team, which supports children with special educational needs within pre-school settings. Referrals can be made by parents, early years practitioners, health, social care and education services. The telephone number for this team is: 020 8726 7401. Alternatively, parents and carers may wish to approach the charity Croydon Home Start which provides volunteers for home visiting families with a child under the age of 5 with no further implication. The phone number is: 020 8667 0207. LHE

News Flash (25.02.2010)

A new study published by Demos (February, 2010) and executed by Sonia Sodha & Julia Margo states many a thing which has been been obvious if not known for a substantial amount of time. Summarizing the study, it states that risk factors for disengagement of young people from our society are primarily rooted within early childhood. Factors listed within this study are such as parental educational level, parenting style, economic status and parental aspiration. The study further identifies that national frameworks of providing prevention and early intervention too often consist of “short-term, ring-fenced grants rather than long-term funding”, that needs are not being picked up in time and that responsibilities are shifted from agency to agency with no clear cut accountabilities. However, what is truly amazing about this study is the fact that it acknowledges the need for health visitors and Sure Start children centres, but fails to mention the enormous amount of work contributed to early years prevention and intervention by the voluntary sector within the summery section of this report. If then, a think tank of the status such as Demos apparently fails to understand the picture on the ground, it may come as little surprise that the DCSF as well the local authorities have been following suite with the same misconceptions leaving the voluntary sector struggling to deliver front line work without near sufficient support. LHE

News Flash (10.03.2010)

The serious case review as published yesterday in regards to the Sheffield case concerning a father who had raped his two daughters over a period of 25 years inducing 19 pregnancy and resulting in 9 children reads almost like a deja vous to Lord Laming's report from 2003. However, there is one critical difference and this is that the current serious case review highlights not just professional but personal failure of the people involved. This is, professionals involved in the case were, so the report, too “afraid” of the father to act. To be frank, this is something we suspected for some time and find it confirmed now; the two daughters were let down because of the cowardliness of the professionals around them. It seems there is not much hope to see any improvement over the next 10 years just as there has not been an improvement over the last 10 years unless social services manages to attract workers who actually have character, dignity and courage. LHE

News Flash (31.03.2010)

Croydon Family Groups is proud to say that another successful term has been completed although January saw some disturbance due to bad weather conditions. Groups are well attended and the feedback has been incredibly positive. The majority of staff has taken part during a first aid course during March which was not only very informative but great fun too. This means that there are now at least 2 first aiders in every group able to deal with bumps and bruises.

Season Greetings to all of our families over the Easter Holidays 

News Flash (19.04.2010)

We hope, all our families had a great holiday break.Croydon Family Groups is back to normal service and all groups are up and running. So see you at our groups. LHE

News Flash (21.04.2010)

Following the live televised debate of the three main party leaders, it comes with little surprise that the general media has already opened its rather predictable media war with the attempt of throwing its weight into the campaign in order to bias the election results according to their own agenda and political affiliation. And it also does not come as a surprise that the Sun is as nasty as can be expected by pointing its dirty finger at Clegg for being a quarter English only. On the other hand we have the refreshing surprise that The Independent has issued a free special Edition under the motto: Rubert Murdoch Won't Decide This Election. You Will. The contrast could not be more stark. LHE

News Flash (13.05.2010)

Croydon Family Groups wants to thank all those visitors who browse our site. Currently, we have around 1200 visitors per month with the numbers growing. We particularly want to thank those visitors who have left notes in our guest book. Further, we are always open to suggestions on how to improve our service and our website. So, please don't be shy and make your voice heard if there is something which niggles you. Finally, we are very pleased for having been asked to contribute to the national programme of Every Child a Talker with our mobile music service under the motto Music Talks to All. Watch the space as more info will become available. LHE

News Flash (19.05.2010)

Channel 4 is looking for women under the age of 20 or above the age of 37 who are due to give birth before August 2010 to take part during the documentary series Cutting Edge. For more information, please call: 020 7290 0535 or email: mums@betty.co.uk. More information about the producer can be found on the website of the production Company: www.betty.co.uk. LHE

News Flash (11.06.2010)

The Crystal Palace Triangle Safer Neighbourhood Team from the Met at Upper Norwood is setting up a Dog Watch on Upper Norwood Recreation Ground at SE19. This has become necessary after some irresponsible dog owners have rendered the recreation ground partially unsafe for the general public. The launch for the new Dog Watch will take place on the 2nd July 2010 at Upper Norwood Recreation Ground (corner Hermitage/Chevening Road) between 2 pm and 6 pm.

During this fun day, the Met will bring along their Dog Unit, the Children Centre at Heshima will come along too. RSPCC will be represented, the local library join in and much more. Additionally, Croydon Family Groups will come along with our musical instruments. So for a great fun day out, why not come along and take part in loads of fun activities. LHE