Breastfeeding Benefits

Posted by joever on June 26, 2009

The Benefits of Breastfeeding

During breastfeeding nutrients and antibodies pass to the baby while it helps to strengthen the maternal bond. Most people agree that, under normal circumstances, breastfeeding is best for your baby. It provides the perfect nutrients and has many known benefits:

-Superior nutrition
Breast milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby’s growth and development.

-Most babies find it easier to digest breast milk than they do formula. The protein that is present is more nutritious and digestible that the major protein component of cow’s milk. The mother’s fat is also more easily broken down. Infants also have an easier time absorbing the important micro nutrients in breast milk than those in cow’s milk. The proportion of protein in mother’s milk is lower than in cow’s milk, making it more digestible.

-Breastfeeding also helps a mother bond with her baby. Physical contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm and comforted

-Breast milk has agents called antibodies in it to help protect infants form bacteria and viruses and to help them in fighting off infection and disease. Breastfed babies are less subject to lower respiratory infections, ear infection, septicemia and urinary tract infections. virtually no baby is allergic to breast milk, while certain substances in cow’s milk can trigger allergic responses.

-Human milk straight from the breast is always sterile, never improperly prepared, contaminated or spoiled.

-Breastfeeding saves time and money. You do not have to purchase, measure and mix formula, and there no bottles to warm in the middle of the night.

-Nursing uses up extra calories making it easier to lose pounds gained from pregnancy. It also helps the uterus to get back to its original size more quickly and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth.

-Breastfeeding may lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

-Nursed babies are healthier. The rates of constipation and diarrhea are lower in breast-fed children. Also, breastfeeding is less likely to cause overweight infants or obese children later in life.

-Breastfeeding in convenient for the mother. It requires no planning, packing or equipment. It is always available, and at just the right temperature.

Cooking With Kids

Posted by joever on June 2, 2009

The kitchen it can be a fascinating place for young children. They see grown-ups working briskly in the kitchen, watch the steam rise from pots on the stove, and smell what’s on the menu that night. Even older kids might be intrigued by how baked goods and meals come together. It isn’t always convenient to invite them into the kitchen to help, but consider doing so when time allows.

Younger kids can watch on what you’re doing and help out with small tasks, like setting the table or stirring something. Older kids can be taught how to measure ingredients and crack eggs. Even teens might be
lured into the kitchen to help you something by telling them they can choose the dish and you’ll help prepare it with them.

To the kids, it will seem like fun, but there are other benefits to this time together:

-Preschoolers
see on how the dishes they eat are put together, and they get a hands-on experience, which is great way to learn and feel like they are helping out.

-School-age kids
can learn some cooking basics or lessons and use their skills in math as they help combine ingredients for the recipes. You can also use the time to talk about good nutrition and why you chose the ingredients you’re using. it can lay groundwork healthy eating later on.

-Teens
might appreciate the chance to improve their skills in cooking – good preparation for when they’ll need to cook for themselves. they might be interested in trying different cuisines. Do they love Asian foods? Visit and Asian market and put together something authentic.

Parents get out of this kitchen togetherness, too. First, there’s the quality time you’ll share. Then there’s a pleasure of sitting down the table together to enjoy what you’ve whipped up.

Here are some tips for having fun and staying safe while you’re cooking with kids

Choose the Right Time
If you’re going to have kids helping you in the kitchen, you don’t want to be on a tight time schedule. Instead of involving them in the dinner you have to cook lightning-fast, enlist their help on a weekend afternoon.

With younger kids, choose a time when they’re well-rested and not easily frustrated. And It’s also a smart idea to have another adult in the kitchen to help you something like helping you to keep an eye on your junior chef.

Choose the Right Tasks
Plan ahead a little when deciding what you’ll prepare together. For younger kids, consider starting with simple dishes with fewer than five ingredients. Then your child won’t have to wait it out while you tackle a complicated step. A tossed salad or easy muffin recipe can be good starter projects. Older kids can take cooking to the next level and work with you on more challenging recipes.

Stress Safety
Children need a supervision when they’re in the kitchen. Preschoolers must learn not to touch whirring electric beaters, hot pans. and stove tops.

Here are some safety tips:

-Give frequent reminders about what’s OK to touch and which items can hurt them.

-Talk about which kitchen tasks are for kids and which are for grown-ups.

-Establish a kitchen rules, such as washing hands and not touching knives or stove knobs.

Even older kids are need to be remind for their safety, especially if they’re working with knives and appliances, or at the stove.

Loosen Up
Kids cannot be counted on to be neat in the kitchen. Even adults have trouble with that. To make your experience together more enjoyable. Try to be patient and allow for some extra mess. To prevent cooking disasters, be sure that your child isn’t measuring ingredients over the bowl – risking a big oops. Instead, you might measure them separately and put them in bowls, like they do on TV cooking show.

Obesity on Children

Posted by galleca on May 27, 2009

Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height. Childhood obesity is particularly troubling because the extra pounds often start kids on the path to health problems that were once confined to adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

One of the best strategies to combat excess weight in your child is to improve the diet and exercise levels of your entire family. This helps protect the health of your child now and in the future.

The Problem of Obesity

Not all obese infants become obese children, and not all obese children become obese adults. However, the prevalence of obesity increases with age among both males and females (Lohman, 1987), and there is a greater likelihood that obesity beginning even in early childhood will persist through the life span (Epstein, Wing, Koeske, & Valoski, 1987).

Obesity presents numerous problems for the child. In addition to increasing the risk of obesity in adulthood, childhood obesity is the leading cause of pediatric hypertension, is associated with Type II diabetes mellitus, increases the risk of coronary heart disease, increases stress on the weight-bearing joints, lowers self-esteem, and affects relationships with peers. Some authorities feel that social and psychological problems are the most significant consequences of obesity in children.

Although there are some genetic and hormonal causes of childhood obesity, most excess weight is caused by kids eating too much and exercising too little. Children, unlike adults, need extra nutrients and calories to fuel their growth and development. So if they consume the calories needed for daily activities, growth and metabolism, they add pounds in proportion to their growth. But children who eat more calories than needed gain weight beyond what’s required to support their growing bodies.

Far less common than lifestyle issues are genetic diseases and hormonal disorders that can predispose a child to obesity. These diseases, such as Prader-Willi syndrome and Cushing’s syndrome, affect a very small proportion of children. In the general population, eating and exercise habits play a much larger role.

Early Childhood Cancer

Posted by galleca on May 26, 2009

Cancer (medical term: malignant neoplasm) is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth (division beyond the normal limits), invasion (intrusion on and destruction of adjacent tissues), and sometimes metastasis (spread to other locations in the body via lymph or blood). These three malignant properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited, and do not invade or metastasize. Most cancers form a tumor but some, like leukemia, do not. The branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer is oncology.

Typically, the factors that trigger cancer in children are usually not the same factors that may cause cancer in adults, such as smoking or exposure to environmental toxins. Rarely, there may be an increased risk of childhood cancer in kids who have a genetic condition, such as Down syndrome. Those who have had chemotherapy or radiation treatment for a prior cancer episode may also have an increased risk of cancer. In almost all cases, however, childhood cancers arise from non inherited mutations (or changes) in the genes of growing cells. Because these errors occur randomly and unpredictably, currently there is no effective way to prevent them.

Chemotherapy is the treatment of diseases such as cancer with drug therapy. Since the 1960’s the development and use of drugs has significantly improved the prognosis for some types of cancer. Chemo- means chemicals, for most types of cancer chemotherapy will consist of a number of different drugs, this is known as combination chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may be given in a variety of ways; Intravenously (IV) -into a vein is the most common, Intramuscularly (IM) -injection into a muscle, Orally -by mouth, Subcutaneously (SC) -injection under the skin, Intralesionally (IL) directly into a cancerous area, Intrathecally (IT)-into the fluid around the spine, or Topically -medication will be applied onto the skin.

Imagine a world without childhood cancer.
No painful chemotherapy treatments.
No emotional stress on children and their families.
No financial sacrifice.

Safe Water For Children

Posted by galleca on May 25, 2009

Almost fifty per cent of the developing world’s population – 2.5 billion people – lack improved sanitation facilities, and over 884 million people still use unsafe drinking water sources.

Kids need constant supervision around water — whether the water is in a bathtub, a wading pool, an ornamental fish pond, a swimming pool, a spa, the beach, or a lake.

Young children are especially vulnerable — they can drown in less than 2 inches (6 centimeters) of water. That means drowning can happen where you’d least expect it — the sink, the toilet bowl, fountains, buckets, inflatable pools, or small bodies of standingwater around your home, such as ditches filled with rain water. Always watch children closely when they’re in or near any water.

It’s a good idea to learn to swim, and kids older than 4 years should learn to swim, too (check the local recreation center for classes taught by qualified instructors). Don’t assume, however, that a child who knows how to swim isn’t at risk for drowning. It’s important to supervise kids while they’re in the water, no matter what their swimming skill levels.

Invest in proper-fitting, Coast Guard-approved flotation devices (life vests) and use them whenever a child is near water. Check the weight and size recommendations on the label, then have your child try it on to make sure it fits snugly. For kids younger than 5 years old, choose a vest with a strap between the legs and head support — the collar will keep the child’s head up and face out of thewater. Inflatable vests and arm devices such as water wings are not effective protection against drowning.

Child’s Brain

Posted by galleca on May 14, 2009

The brain is one of the very first things to develop in an embryo, even before other organs have developed. By the time your child is born, he has a fully developed brain, although parts of his brain may not reach full maturity until adolescence. In fact, when he is born, his brain contains over 1 billion brain cells! Interestingly, how your child’s brain develops has a lot to do with the environment that he is in.

What are the parts of the brain?

The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain, and is divided into four different lobes, each of which controls different cognitive functions. The temporal lobe is the part of the brain that is responsible for language, hearing and smell. Memories are also stored in this part of the brain. The frontal lobe controls fine motor skills and becomes more active as speech develops. The parietal lobe controls space and perception and the occipital lobe is responsible for interpreting visual stimuli. All parts of the cerebrum continue to mature throughout childhood, and neural connections can continue to be made even into late adulthood.

The brain stem is the part of the brain that controls very basic bodily functions such as heartbeat, breathing and reflexes. This part of your child’s brain is fully developed at birth. The thalamus is responsible for delivering signals from the bodies sensory organs to the cerebrum, where it will be processed. The basal ganglia controls voluntary movements such as clapping, walking or waving. The brain also contains the limbic system, which is responsible for unconscious behavior. The hypothalamus gland, which although located in the brain, is actually part of the endocrine system, controls some of the automatic body functions.

How do your interactions with your child influence brain development?

Recent research is beginning to indicate that a child’s environment has a large impact on how his brain will develop. For example, if you spend a lot of time reading and talking to your child, neurons will make connections in the part of the brain that controls language, basically strengthening it. A child is born with the brain cells that give him the capacity to develop any number of skills. However, if the neurological connections are not being made, the brain undergoes a natural pruning process, which basically does away with unused circuits. The good news is that this pruning process allows the remaining circuits to become more efficient. If you want your child’s brain to become developed in a variety of areas, you must provide adequate stimulation in the areas of physical activity, music, language and spatial reasoning, among other areas. Begin as soon as your child is born. A child’s brain undergoes an enormous amount of development during the first year.

How can I make sure that my child’s brain gets enough stimulation to develop properly?

During the first two months, you can stimulate his eyesight by using mobiles and letting him see and respond to your facial expressions. Also talk to your baby frequently. He is learning language at this point, although it will be many months before he talks. Also touch your baby, and play gentle games, such as softly bicycling his legs. As your baby gets older, he will be ready to play with and respond to simple toys. Let him practice grabbing a toy that you are holding, and play simple games of peek-a-boo, which teaches object permanence. Continue to have a high level of interaction with him. Did you know that levels of parental interaction with infants and young children are directly related to IQ? Of course genetic factors also play a role, but you cannot underestimate your importance in your child’s development. After six months of age, make sure that your child has plenty of opportunities to build his strength and to practice crawling and walking. You will also want to label objects when you are out, and talk about them. Take lots of pictures, put them into a photo album and use them as a bedtime story occasionally. Talking about past experiences stimulates your child’s memory. As your child gets older, give him plenty of time to learn new information, and make sure that learning is fun. Provide plenty of opportunities for him to interact with his peers, and expose him to as many interesting situations, such as trips to the zoo, as are feasible. You also want to make sure that you have plenty of age appropriate toys that focus on a variety of skills. For example, puzzles build spatial skills, while blocks can build both spatial skills and fine motor skills.

What stimulation should be avoided?

Keep in mind that negative experiences also influence the development of your child’s brain. This is one reason why you should be especially careful when choosing a caregiver. If a child is exposed to abuse, neglect or violence at an early age, the experience can literally affect how his brain becomes wired, just as hearing the positive sound of the language you speak to him can also cause these changes in a good way. You want the neural connections that your young child makes to be beneficial ones. A stressful environment can cause a young child’s body to produce too much cortisol, which if constantly produced, will remain elevated, causing the child’s brain to have a smaller cerebral cortex. Cortisol also affects the limbic system and can cause him to be unable to control emotions well, which can lead to behavioral problems. A high level of stress and the associated elevated cortisol levels can also cause memory problems.

As a parent, you will want to provide as many stimulating activities as possible, while making sure that your child is not exposed to overly stressful situations. This will promote optimal brain development. You, the parent, have more control over your child’s early learning experiences than you probably imagine! Make the most of it, and not only will your child experience the advantage of having an easier time later in life with cognitive tasks, but you will be forming the foundation for an excellent relationship with your child.

Children: Elbow Fracture

Posted by galleca on May 11, 2009

Fractures about the elbow are very common in children, but the anatomy of the child’s elbow may make the diagnosis less obvious than in a mature skeleton. An understanding of the ossification and fusion of the secondary growth centers about the elbow is essential to avoid overlooking these injuries and to optimize treatment. If plain radiographs are equivocal, an arthrogram of the elbow may clarify the anatomy and diagnosis. Early neurologic and vascular complications are not uncommon and must be recognized before fracture reduction. Many late complications, such as malunion, osteonecrosis, and physeal bridging, are largely preventable by correct early diagnosis and treatment. Anatomic reduction of articular surfaces, restoration of physeal anatomy, and near-anatomic alignment of fracture fragments in the frontal plane are the corner-stones of successful treatment of pediatric elbow fractures.

What is an elbow fracture? An elbow fracture (FRAK-chur) is a break in one or more of the bones in your child’s elbow. It may also be called a broken elbow. The elbow is the joint where the upper arm bone (humerus) meets the two forearm bones (radius and ulna). The elbow joint helps greatly with arm movements.

What causes an elbow fracture? A fall on an outstretched hand, in an attempt to stop a fall, often causes an elbow fracture. This may also happen by falling directly on a bent elbow. Your child’s elbow may be broken while playing sports. A bad twist of the elbow and overuse of the elbow may also lead to fractures. Broken elbows may occur because of a direct blow or if the elbow is hit straight on.

What are the signs and symptoms of an elbow fracture? Your child may have pain, swelling, and bruising in the injured elbow. Your child’s arm may bleed if the skin is broken. The bones may poke through the skin, not look normal, or look bent or out of place. He may have a hard time moving his elbow, arm, or hand, or may refuse to use his elbow or arm. Your child may hold the elbow with his other hand to lessen the pain. Your child’s arm, elbow, or hands may feel weak, numb, or tingly.

How is an elbow fracture diagnosed? Imaging tests may be needed to see if your child has a broken bone. These may also be done to check for other injuries, such as a bone, muscle, or blood vessel problem. Your child may have one or more of the following:

• Bone scan: During this test, pictures are taken of your child’s bones. Your child is given a small, safe amount of radioactive dye in an IV. Caregivers can look at the pictures for broken bones, infection, or cancer in the bones.
• Computerized tomography scan: This test is also called a CT or CAT scan. This is a type of x-ray that uses a computer to take pictures of your child’s arm and elbow. Your child may be given a dye before the pictures are taken to help caregivers see the pictures better. People who are allergic to iodine or shellfish (lobster, crab, or shrimp) may be allergic to some dyes. Tell your child’s caregiver if your child is allergic to shellfish or has other allergies or medical conditions.
• Magnetic resonance imaging scan: This test is also called an MRI. The test uses magnetic waves to take pictures of your child’s arm and elbow.
• X-ray: This is a picture of the bones and tissues in your child’s elbow. X-rays of the elbow and arm may be done to check for broken bones or other problems. Several pictures of your child’s bones may be taken. X-rays of both your child’s injured and uninjured elbows may be needed.

How is an elbow fracture treated? Treatment will depend on how bad your child’s fracture is and whether other parts of his elbow are affected. Your child may need one or more of the following:

• Devices: Keeping the broken elbow from moving is very important. A splint or cast with a sling may be put on your child’s elbow and arm. This may be used to decrease pain and prevent further damage to the broken bones.
• Medicine: Medicines may be given to help with your child’s pain. Your child may need antibiotic medicine or a tetanus shot if he has a break in his skin.
• Supportive therapy: Ice packs may be put on your child’s elbow to decrease swelling, pain, and redness. Physical therapy may be needed once swelling and pain are gone. A physical therapist may assist your child with special exercises. This may help his elbow recover faster and become stronger.
• Surgery: Your child may need surgery with an elbow fracture, especially if his bones are out of place. It may also be needed if your child’s fracture does not heal with other treatments. Surgery helps return bones to their normal position by putting them together with pins, wires or screws. Surgery may also be done if your child has other injuries, such as nerve or blood vessel damage.

Children’s Thought

Posted by galleca on April 29, 2009

One of the biggest setbacks facing any child today is a lack of imagination. As they grow older, this shows itself in many subtle ways–constant boredom, lack of descriptive capacity, problems with empathy, struggle with creative thinking and other conditions. There is no doubt that imagination is a hard thing to place in the developmental cycle, but this doesn’t mean that there aren’t concrete decisions you can make to strengthen one of the most important assets we possess as human beings.

• Imagination helps school-age children solve problems by helping them think through different outcomes to various situations and role playing ways to cope with difficult or new circumstances.
• Imagination allows children to practice real-life skills. From shopping at a pretend grocery store to assigning roles and dialogue to dolls or puppets, children’s pretend play helps them practice and apply new learning and better understand how those skills are used in the real world.
• Imagination encourages a rich vocabulary. Telling and hearing real or made-up stories, reading books and pretend play help children learn and retain new words.
• Imagination helps children grow up to be adults who are creative thinkers. Adults who were imaginative children often become problem solvers, innovators and creative thinkers

Muscle Weak Point

Posted by galleca on April 29, 2009

What is hypotonia?

Hypotonia is a disorder that causes low muscle tone (the amount of tension or resistance to movement in a muscle), often involving reduced muscle strength. Hypotonia is not a specific medical disorder, but a potential manifestation of many different diseases and disorders that affect motor nerve control by the brain or muscle strength. Recognizing hypotonia, even in early infancy, is usually relatively straightforward, but diagnosing the underlying cause can be difficult and often unsuccessful. The long-term effects of hypotonia on a child’s development and later life depend primarily on the severity of the muscle weakness and the nature of the cause. Some disorders have a specific treatment but the principal treatment for most hypotonia of idiopathic or neurologic cause is physical therapy and/or occupational therapy to help the person compensate for the neuromuscular disabilitySince the muscles that support the bone joints are so soft, there is a tendency for hip, jaw and neck dislocations to occur. Some children with hypotonia may have trouble feeding, if they are unable to suck or chew for long periods. A child with hypotonia may also have problems with speech or exhibit shallow breathing.

What causes hypotonia?

Hypotonia can be caused by a variety of conditions including those that involve the central nervous system, muscle disorders and genetic disorders. Some common causes can include but are not limited to Down syndrome, Muscular dystrophy, Cerebral palsy, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Myotonic dystrophy, Marfan syndrome and Tay-Sachs disease.Some hypotonias are not progressive and are of an unknown origin. Central nervous system function and intelligence in children with this kind of hypotonia, benign congenital hypotonia, is normal. Children with benign congenital hypotonia may not experience developmental delay, although some children acquire gross motor skills (sitting, walking, running, jumping) more slowly than most.

What are the symptoms of hypotonia?

The following are common symptoms associated with hypotonia. Each child may experiences symptoms differently. Symptoms vary depending on the underlying cause of the problem: decreased muscle tone, muscles feel soft and doughy ability to extend limb beyond its normal limit failure to acquire motor related developmental milestones (such as holding head up without support from parent, rolling over, sitting up without support, walking) problems with feeding (inability to suck or chew for prolonged periods) shallow breathing mouth hangs open with tongue protruding (under-active gag reflex) The signs and symptoms of hypotonia resemble that of other conditions. Always consult a physician for a diagnosis.

How is hypotonia diagnosed?

Your child’s doctor will obtain a medical history for your family and your child and will perform a physical examination that will likely include a detailed muscle function and neurological examination. The latter, also called a neuro exam, may be performed with instruments, such as lights and reflex hammers, and usually does not cause any pain to the child. The nervous system consists of the brain, the spinal cord, and the nerves from these areas.There are many aspects of this examination, including an assessment of motor and sensory skills, balance and coordination, mental status (the child’s level of awareness and interaction with the environment), reflexes, and functioning of the nerves. The following diagnostic tests may also be used. (Tests will vary depending on the suspected cause of hypotonia): blood tests computerized tomography scan (Also called a CT or CAT scan) – a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images (often called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – a diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body. EMG (electromyogram) – a test used to evaluate nerve and muscle function. EEG (electroencephalogram) – a test that measures the electrical activity in the brain, called brain waves. An EEG measures brain waves through small button electrodes that are placed on your child’s scalp. spinal tap – also called lumbar puncture, a spinal tap is done to measure the amount of pressure in the spinal canal and/or to remove a small amount of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) for testing. Cerebral spinal fluid is the fluid that bathes your child’s brain and spinal cord. karyotype – This test, a chromosomal analysis from a blood test, is used to determine whether the problem is the result of a genetic disorder. muscle biopsy – a sample of muscle tissue is removed and examined under a microscope.

Treatment for hypotonia:

Specific treatment for hypotonia will be determined by your child’s physician based on: your child’s age, overall health, and medical history the extent of the condition the underlying cause of the condition your child’s tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies expectations for the course of the condition your opinion or preference No specific therapy is required to treat benign congenital hypotonia, but children with this problem may periodically need treatment for common occurrences associated with hypotonia, such as recurrent joint dislocations. See Dislocations.Treatment programs to help increase muscle strength and sensory stimulation programs are developed once the cause of your child’s hypotonia is established. Such programs usually involves physical therapy through an early intervention or school-based program among other forms of therapy.

Generate A House Library

Posted by galleca on April 8, 2009

One of the best things you can do for your child is to get him to start reading. It is a gift that remains with him throughout his life.
It is not very different for children. Just as they physically grow up in a slow and orderly pattern, they learn to develop a taste for books in a slow predictable manner. If books are to have any meaning, it is necessary that they suit the personal and social needs of the child

Home schooling gives you the opportunity to guide your child’s education, both academically and socially. But it’s not a path to embark on lightly.

The first step in home schooling is knowing your resources – who can help you and where to get the supplies you need to give your child the best education. From there, you’ll need to plan a curriculum and investigate government guidelines and requirements. If home schooling is in your child’s best interest, it pays to do the research.

Here are six vital skill sets your child should practice regularly:

1. Reading. We need to isolate arguments and recognize key phrases, incomplete thoughts, hidden agendas and so forth. Skilled readers move from information to actions quickly.
2. Communication. Today’s fast-paced world emphasizes both writing (anything from e-mails to blogs) and speaking (from one-on-one meetings to large public forums).
3. Computer Use. Nowadays, everyone is expected to know the mechanics of e-mail, blogs, spreadsheets and flyers, and basic Web design.
4. Public Relations. We all use basic social skills in our interactions with others, and a concern for those who are having problems with our company’s policies or are less fortunate than we are is crucial.
5. Dedication. We have to be responsible and be willing to go the extra mile in whatever we choose to do. Frustration is merely an obstacle blocking our way forward.
6. Creativity. Developing new products and innovative approaches to current situations or problems, and infusing beauty into everyday items are things everyone from a flower arranger to a CEO of a business must be capable of.