Five Steps to Better Handwriting

    Some kids love handwriting, but others hate when it's time to put their pen to paper. Maybe they are worried about their handwriting. Are you one of them？{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are five steps that really work!

    Get a great grasp

    Try this—hold your pencil at the top and try to write your name. Pretty hard？ But when you hold your pencil the correct way, writing is much easier. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Hold it in place with your thumb, and your index(食指) and middle fingers.

    Let the lines be your guide

    Lined paper is your friend！ Those lines can help you create letters that are the right size and proportion(均衡)．{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Also be sure to fill up the lined space completely. Those capital letters should be from the bottom line to the top one.

    Slow down

    If your writing is hard to read, try slowing down a little. If you rush, it's hard to control where you stop and start your letters.

    Lower the pressure

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} That makes it harder to make the smooth lines. Try easing up and don't hold the pencil too tightly.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Lots of games require you to write or draw pictures. So even though it's not schoolwork, you're still using the skills you need to control your pen better.

A. Play games.

B. Ask for more advice.

C. You've been writing since you were a little kid.

D. So "a" should be half the height of a capital "A".

E. Some kids press down really hard when they write.

F. The good news is that just about everyone can improve their handwriting.

G. The best way to hold a pen or pencil is to let it rest next to the base of your thumb.

    Depression can be harmful to those affected by the disease， but the pain it causes doesn't end there.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} They can see the damage the disease is causing, but may feel helpless orconfused about what to do to assist. Yet there are many ways that friends and family can help.

    Know the symptoms

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} That means learning the symptoms of depression. Also, it means realizing that the individual may not recognize the signs himself or herself. Depression may appear as persistent unhappiness, anger, tiredness or other feelings and emotions that the individual may owe to something other than depression.

    Be sympathetic

    The most important thing is to be sympathetic.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Listen with patience and acceptance. Let the person talk about how they're feeling no matter how sad or negative their comments are. Do not argue about their points or try to convince them to see things in a more positive light, because someone wrestling with depression does not have the ability to do so.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Talk to your physician and share what's going on and ask what they suggest. It won't be the first time they have heard this, and they have resources that will be helpful. For the friend or loved one, the best thing to offer is your understanding and a sense of hope. Let them know that, they will start to feel better and see things differently once they seek help and undergo treatment.

    Support them through treatment

    It can be helpful to point out that depression is not a personal problem or weakness of character but it's a medical condition that responds to treatment, just like most other medical problems. And help your loved one stick with treatment. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Seek your own support.

B. Ask doctors about your symptoms.

C. Friends and loved ones are affected, too.

D. The first step is to recognize that he or she may be depressed.

E. Those with depression are at increased risk of harming themselves.

F. It may take several weeks before the patient sees signs of improvement.

G. Do not suggest in any way a sense of surprise that this person is depressed.

    For the first time in 10 years, the United States government has changed its guidance on how much exercise people need to stay healthy and when they should start.

    For children and teens

    The new guidance states that the most important time for children to begin exercising is between the ages of 3 and 5. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} That could be light activities, moderate activities, or even vigorous(剧烈的)activities.

    Doctors say it is important to start young. They add that from birth to age 5, a child's brain develops more than at any other time in life. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Also, children who start exercising at a young age are more likely to establish healthy behaviors they will continue into adulthood.

    But that does not mean putting a small kid on a treadmill(跑步机)or other exercise equipment. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}  After all, it's a kid's nature to play freely and happily.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} But it shouldn't be less than one hour a day three times a week. Their activities should mostly be aerobic(有氧的)exercise, such as biking, swimming or running, which can strengthen the heart and lungs. Such exercise should also include muscle-and-bone-strengthening activities; such as climbing trees or playground equipment and playing sports.

    For adults

    For adults, the guidelines recommend exercising 150 minutes a week. That could be walking, gardening, dancing, etc.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Experts say that even short amounts of aerobic exercise can provide health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, reducing anxiety and improving sleep.

A. Any kind of activity that gets people exercising will do.

B. Aerobic activity works only if it lasts for at least 10 minutes.

C. Simply giving a kid the time and space to play actively is enough.

D. Children above 5 can have a relatively shorter time for daily exercise.

E. Children in this age range require about three hours 'active activities daily.

F. Attaining the health benefits from exercise may be harder than earlier thought.

G. These developments have a 1asting effect on a child's ability to succeed in life.

How to Build a Better Breakfast

    We've all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and that may actually be true. A study found that breakfast eaters were more likely to lose weight than those who didn't eat a morning meal. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} But it's not just when you eat; it's what you eat. These tips will help you really rise and shine:

    ⒈Eat even if you're not hungry.

    Although you might not feel like eating first thing in the morning, it's a good idea to get something into your system. Eating within 90 minutes of waking up will jump­start your metabolism（新陈代谢）and keep you from getting hungry later. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    ⒉Be boring.

    Changing what you eat is a good idea in theory, but if you are watching your weight, you might want to stick with the same old menu. People who allowed their breakfast calories to change have larger waists（腰围）and a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome（代谢综合征）than folks who keep their morning calorie intake constant, no matter how much they eat the rest of the day. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    ⒊Add peanuts or peanut butter.

    By eating peanuts or peanut butter, the carbohydrates(碳水化合物）are taken in more slowly and blood sugar does not rise as high. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} So they are less likely to snack later.

    ⒋{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    There's an old saying that advises "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper." It's worth following. Those who eat a balanced 700­calorie breakfast over a 12­week period lower their blood sugar and blood pressure twice more than people who eat a 200­calorie meal. They also lose an average of 19.2 pounds and have lower levels of ghrelin, the "hunger hormone（激素）.

A. Go big.

B. Pile on the produce.

C. Other studies link skipping breakfast with a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes（糖尿病）.

D. So it's worth making the effort to hold it steady.

E. It could set you up for overeating throughout the day.

F. Just a banana will do the trick.

G. Plus women feel fuller for up to 12 hours after eating the peanut butter or peanuts.

Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for cardiovascular disease, bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and potential social and psychological problems. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Of course, the CDC recommends healthy lifestyle choices—healthy eating, physical exercise. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} That is to provide a safe and supportive environment where healthy lifestyle choices can be made.

What don't kids need?{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Too much focus on overweight leads toward more weight gain.

A new data analysis of two studies found that children whose parents considered them to be "overweight" tended to gain more weight over 10 years than children whose parents considered them "normal weight". Children whose parents label them as "overweight" had a negative self-perception about their bodies. They were engaged in more attempts to lose weight. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

The clear message from this study is that dieting is more likely to lead to weight gain, not weight loss, in both children and adults. Psychology researchers Eric Robinson and Angelina Sutin argue that the stigma of being labeled overweight as a child might actually gain weight in the future.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}For the study, children's height and weight were measured at age 4 or 5, and parents were asked to describe whether they thought the children were best described as underweight, normal weight, overweight or very overweight. When the children were 12 or 13, they used images to best depict what they perceived their bodies to look like and were asked whether or not they engaged in any dieting behavior. Height and weight measurements were taken again when the children were 14 or 15 years old.

A. Labels and pressure around weight and weight gain.

B. Left untreated, these problems can continue into adulthood.

C. They also point out another important way to keep kids healthy.

D. The researchers cannot be certain about what is driving.

E. They analyzed the data from a study of Australian children.

F. But it actually contributed to weight gain over the 10-year period.

G. A number of mothers in this study suffer from depression and anxiety.

Sometimes the toughest thing about feelings is sharing them with others. Sharing your feelings helps you whether your feelings are wonderful or terrible. Sharing also helps you to get closer to people you care about and who care about you. But how?

 You can't tell your friends what's inside our backpack if you don't know what's in there yourself. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Before you can share them with anyone, you have to figure out what feelings you have. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} You can do this in your mind or by writing them out or even by drawing pictures. Is something bothering you? Does it make you frustrated or terrified? Do you feel this emotion only once in a while or most of the time?

 The way a person feels inside is important. If you keep feelings locked inside, it can even make you feel sick! {#blank#}3{#/blank#} It doesn't mean your problems and woes magically disappear, but at least someone else knows what's bothering you and can help you find solutions.

 Your mom and dad want to know if you have problems and what's happening in your life. But what if a kid doesn't want to talk with parents? Then find another adult you trust like a relative or a teacher at school. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

 Once you know who you can talk with, you'll want to pick a time and place to talk. You can talk publicly in your family. But some kids are more private than others and they will feel shy about sharing their feelings. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} A kid doesn't have to share every feeling he or she has.
 

A.Feelings are the same way.

B.Making a list of your feelings can help.

C.And there is always a person you can turn to.

D.Thinking about what you can do is of great importance.

E.Then find a quiet place or write it down on a piece of paper.

F.But if you talk with someone who cares for you, you will almost always start to feel better.

G.Maybe this person can help you talk with your parents about your problem or concern.