Oh...it's to chill out your temper

Every parent know that their children are the most precious gifts in their lives. They treasure them until they are able to stand on their own. But there are times where mums and dads can not control their temper due to the non-stop crying of their tiny tot who is yet too small to 'listen' to his or her parents.

Follwoing are some tips to 'wade off' your anger and to become a cool mum or a dad. Just try the following:

Take a Time-Out

Why it works for your kid: By placing your child in a brief time-out (one minute per year of his age) in a separate room, you'll eliminate a major reason for why he's flipping out in the first place: to get a rise out of you. "The vast majority of the time, a child has a temper tantrum to get attention and control," says Carl Arinoldo, PhD, a child psychologist and coauthor of Essentials of Smart Parenting. "An actor doesn't get on stage and play to an empty house." Plus, time by himself halts the downward emotional spiral, allowing him to regroup more quickly. Why it works for you: Hiding out behind a closed door for a few minutes gives you space to chill out. You can even say it's the punishment for losing your temper. "I tell my kids, 'I'm sorry I yelled at you. I'm going to my room to take a time-out until I can calm down,'" explains Katie Baird, a mother of three from Flower Mound, Texas. "Sometimes they pound the door and try to get in, but more often than not they think it's really funny that Mommy has to go to time-out." Whether you're reading, meditating, or surfing the Web, five minutes alone helps you regain perspective and control.

Have a Tickle-Fest Why it works for your kid

Giggling not only lightens the mood, it provides a physical release for all that tension - one that doesn't involve kicking and hitting. When Robin Alexander-Keenan's 3-year-old daughter Megan was starting to lose it on an 11-hour transatlantic flight, her mom lifted Megan's arms above her head and then counted her ribs. "By the time we made it to five she was hysterical and so was I," says Alexander- Keenan, of Haswell, England. "Now when I get really cross she does the same with me." Why it works for you: Laughter isn't called the best medicine for nothing; it's long been known for its ability to reduce stress. In fact, one recent study showed that even thinking about laughing releases beta-endorphins, a natural analgesic, into your bloodstream. If playing Tickle Monster with your little one doesn't crack you up, break out the knock- knock jokes, or dive into a book by humorist David Sedaris while your toddler's down for her nap.

Breathe deeply

Why it works for your kid: Even little kids can be taught to recognize how their body feels when they're getting worked up - hot, itchy, stiff, jerky - and can learn to counteract those feelings by taking a few deep breaths. In a calm moment, show your child how to pretend he's blowing out the candle on a birthday cupcake; then, the next time you see him start to get upset, you can use a simple code word like "candle" to remind him to take a breathing break. Why it works for you: Dealing with your child's tantrum throws your nervous system into crisis mode, but slow, deep breathing shuts off those emergency signals. "If instead of yelling you stop and take a breath, you begin to calm your body's arousal system," says Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, author of Raising Your Spirited Child. "Then you can tell yourself, 'He's not out to get me. He's upset, but I don't have to be too.'"

Use words

Why it works for your kid: For a 1-year-old, an inability to string the right words together exacerbates his frustration, which is why he'll resort to biting his big sister instead. But if you offer him words to describe his feelings, along with a bit of empathy, he'll feel better. "When I say, 'I know you are upset that it's time to leave' or 'I know you wanted that toy and you're very angry that Mommy didn't buy it,' I always see relief wash over my children's faces," says Sachia Logan, a mother of three from Independence, Missouri. "It's like they're saying, 'Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking!'" Why it works for you: Simply saying out loud, "I'm really angry right now," validates your feelings and clarifies that you need to stop engaging with your kids for the moment. Plus, if you say it only on occasion, it can stop your child in his tracks. "It can be valuable to let our kids know how we feel, and how their behaviours are affecting us," Hal Runkel says.

Tap into Your Creative Side

Why it works for your kid: When your child is getting upset, hand her some crayons and paper so she can draw a picture of how she feels. Even making just a few angry black scribbles is a healthy way for her to express her emotions, and it lets her know that you're paying attention to how she feels. Why it works for you: Getting creative by drawing, writing, or playing an instrument is the perfect way to vent, and it can channel the day's frustrations into a more fruitful outlet. Knowing that she'll spend the evening blogging about her kids' annoying behaviour tones down Stephanie Elliott's irritation about it for the moment. "Sometimes I even say it out loud: 'That's a blogger!' And it's almost like I have to get to the computer immediately to get it out of my system," says the mother of three from Woodridge, Illinois. Blog bonus: Readers offer helpful comments and dispense sympathy when you're struggling.

Offer a reward

Why it works for your kid: When children are learning to control their behaviour, an extra incentive doesn't hurt. Throw a marble in a jar when they manage to head off a tantrum at the pass, with the promise that 10 marbles earn them a trip to the bowling alley or a movie night at home. It might make them think twice before they blow their top. Why it works for you: Everyone loves to be rewarded for good behaviour, so if you have your own marble jar, it'll give you a tangible way to track and recognize improved patience. "If you know you've got a problem blowing up around your kids, and you've started doing deep breathing or drinking a glass of water to calm down, why not take yourself to the spa as a reward?" says Linda Pearson, a family nurse practitioner in Lakewood, Colorado, and author of The Discipline Miracle.

Count to 10

Why it works for your kid: Counting warns your child that his behaviour is unacceptable without requiring you to launch into a lecture. Plus, it gives him a set amount of time to transition from one activity to another, such as from hogging the toy truck to sharing it or from roughhousing the dog to petting her gently. Why it works for you: The mantra-like focus you need to slowly count to 10 in the midst of a battle with your kid enables you to ratchet down your anger a few notches. And it buys you time. "When your kid's driving you crazy, if you can just pause before you respond, that's when you can make a great choice about how to react," Runkel says. Soothing Solution: Lighten Up Why it works for your kid: Singing a silly sing, talking in a wacky accent, or pretending you're Cinderella's wicked stepmother is the parental equivalent of cracking a joke in a tense meeting at work: It reminds everyone that the situation isn't nearly as dire as it seems. "Doing something like singing shifts the area of your child's brain that's functioning, and that can actually calm her," Mary Sheedy Kurcinka says. "It breaks the tension." Why it works for you: Getting a little silly forces you to ditch your angry face. "One way I interrupt meltdowns is by turning on some goofy kid songs, like John Lithgow's Singin' in the Bathtub CD, and dancing a silly dance," says Vicci Radake, of Fenton, Missouri, the mother of an 11-month-old. She has also tried the technique with her daycare kids. "It gives me a burst of energy and gets the kids to forget what they were even crying about."

Go to your happy place

Why it works for your kid: Children tend to focus on one thing at a time, so if you can nudge their one-track mind in a more pleasing direction, they'll forget why they were so upset. When 2-year-old Calvin Charles is on a crying jag, his mother, Jessie, of Brigham City, Utah, says, "Let's think about something that makes you happy. What makes you happy?" As Calvin wails, Jessie offers suggestions, like seeing a kitty, getting a hug from his baby brother, or eating marshmallows, until one of them makes him smile and he starts chatting about it. Why it works for you: Mentally taking yourself some place you love is like meditating - it calms and centres you.

When household tensions run high, Carri Perry, a mother of five from Gilbert, Arizona, shuts herself in the bathroom, closes her eyes, and thinks of the beach. "It's like a 10-minute vacation without the sunburn, and I emerge refreshed and ready to handle all of their issues."

Even if you can't escape behind a closed door, simply take a deep breath and envision your favourite place (that cabin in the mountains, a field of flowers) for 30 seconds to relieve stress.

Keep dengue at bay

To prevent the spread of dengue fever, you must first prevent the breeding of its vector, the Aedes mosquito. The Aedes mosquito is easily identifiable by its distinctive black and white stripes on their body.

It prefers to breed in clean, stagnant water easily found in our homes. You can get rid of the Aedes mosquito by frequently checking and removing stagnant water in your premises.

The guidelines below will give you an overview of how you can prevent the Aedes mosquito from breeding.

At all times

* Turn pails and watering cans over and store them under shelter.

* Remove water in plant pot plates.

* Clean and scrub the plate thoroughly to remove mosquito eggs. Avoid the use of plant pot plates, if possible.

* Loosen soil from potted plants to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water on the surface of the hardened soil.

* Do not block the flow of water in scupper drains along common corridors in HDB estates.

* Avoid placing potted plants and other paraphernalia over the scupper drains.

* Cover rarely used gully traps. Replace the gully trap with non-perforated ones and install anti-mosquito valves.

* Cover bamboo pole holders after use. Rainwater can potentially accumulate in these bamboo pole holders if they are uncovered and create a habitat.

* No tray or receptacles should be placed beneath and or/ on top of any air- conditioning unit so as not to create a condition favourable for mosquito breeding.

Every other day

* Change water in flower vases. Clean and scrub the inner sides of vases. Wash roots of flowers and plants thoroughly as mosquito eggs can stick to them easily.

Once a week

* Clear fallen leaves and stagnant water in your scupper drains and garden. These leaves could collect water or cause blockages to the drains, thus resulting in the buildup of stagnant water.

* Clear any stagnant water in your air cooler unit.

Once a month

Add prescribed amounts of sand granular insecticide into vases, gully traps and roof gutters, even if they are dry. v Clear away fallen leaves in roof gutters and apron drains. If structurally feasible, remove the roof gutters.

Are you homophobic or anti homosexuals?

Dr. R. A. R. Perera - Consultant Clinical Psychologist,

The term homophobia often is used to denote the irrational and persistent hatred of homosexuals. Many heterosexuals characterize homosexuals as being sick and dangerous. Because many people's reactions to homosexuals have been so extreme, psychologists suspect that these reactions are phobic-that is, that they are based on a fear beyond the realm of rational.

Deviating from a community's sexual norms often has resulted in punishment for those persons who so deviate and who are discovered. Homosexuals, especially males, have been subjected to ridicule, exclusion and physical abuse over the years. When someone is identified as a homosexual, people often avoid being near him or her.

When a group is told that a male group member is homosexual, that individual often becomes one of the least popular members of the group-even if he had been one of the most popular group members before being labeled. Further a man who is being labeled as homosexual is evaluated as being less honest, unfair, unhealthy, unstable and with a low intellectual ability.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declassified homosexuality as a mental illness.

Psychologists have offered a variety of explanations for homophobia. Sex role training that places a strong emphasis on being either male or female is one possible-causal factor. Boys learn at an early age, that displaying feminine characteristics exposes them to ridicule.

Some western countries are less rigid in the rules of sex-appropriate behaviour and they are less homophobic. Some psychologists believe that homophobia may have its origins in individual's doubts about their own sexual preferences. By directing hostility toward homosexuals, an individual may convince him that he is not homosexual. A heterosexual who finds that he may have characteristics similar to those of a homosexual become particularly negative in their evaluations of homosexuals.

People tend to dislike those people who are different and this dislike can form a basis for prejudice. At times even the slightest indication that another person is different may be enough to produce prejudice and discrimination. Why do people have such discriminatory reactions? One reason is that a dissimilar person can be a threat to one's self-esteem. The difference in beliefs calls an individual's own belief into question. Prejudice persists and is expressed if sustaining mechanisms are present to support and maintain it from one situation to the next. Without sustaining mechanisms an individual's attitudes and actions may change as circumstances change.

The persistence of prejudice depends largely on the social support that the prejudices receive. If expressing prejudices elicits acts of friendship, then prejudiced attitudes are hard to give up. These individuals posses highly traditional views about family, women and religion. Majority of them believes that families should have a dominant father, a submissive wife, and obedient children, and they often are fundamentalist in their religious beliefs.

In SriLankan the attitude towards homosexuality is generally negative. But the magnitude of this 'problem' is seen in school hostels, training camps, prisons, armed forces, etc. Even with rigid rules and regulations the prevalence is substantial. Some times in schools in a homosexual relationship, the dominant partner is regarded as a hero among other schoolchildren, and they would like to be associated with the dominant partner specially if he is a popular personality. This might lead to a situation where homosexuality becomes an accepted behaviour among some of the students.

Members of men or women's groups that concentrate on problems of intimacy, communication and friendship have become accepting of homosexuality.