Calming Holiday Crafts for Kids and Adults

GE Privacy

Introduction: protecting your privacy, enhancing your online experience

When it comes to data privacy, protecting your personal information is most important. We feel it’s also important to give you, your colleagues, and your family members a voice in the development of this web site and your overall experience with it. To do this, we need to collect certain types of information to help us evaluate how the HealthAhead web site is being used, so we can continually improve your experience and the content we offer to you. By tracking overall usage patterns, providing an easy channel for your feedback, and allowing you to tell us what content is most useful to you, we can refine our offerings and provide more of the content you personally find valuable.

Overall, we are committed to giving you the option to participate – or not participate – in a manner that’s right for you. Read more for how we do this.

Information we collect and how we use it

Identifiable Information Collecting

All methods of identifying yourself to GE will be optional and opt-in, may be updated by you at any time, and will not be required for all areas of the web site.

We will not collect any identifiable user information from the areas of the HealthAhead web site which do not require SSO (Single Sign On), unique User ID (Identification), and/or Password.

There are areas of the web site that require you to identify yourself to us (authenticate). This allows you to access certain parts of the web site that may otherwise be restricted for privacy and security purposes.

There are also areas that may provide the option to create a personalized profile. The information you provide is optional and what you tell us will determine the level of personalization you will experience.

Access to identifiable information is restricted to internal, administrative personnel and solely for purposes of providing web site support, awarding prizes and other recognition, and customizing the web site content and overall functionality for the user. However, we will also allow you to change your mind and opt-out of sharing personal information with us at any time.

Non-Identifiable Information Collecting

When you visit the HealthAhead web site, we track, collect and report on certain aggregate and non- identifiable information. In other words, the information we collect does not relate to a single identifiable visitor. It tells us things such as how many users visited our web site and what pages they viewed.

This non-identifiable data will be collected and stored in a secure database in the U.S., and may be viewed by GE. We will analyze this information to refine our web site to better reflect user preferences, such as the type of content users are searching for most, and to improve the usability of the web site and the user’s web site experience. The information may also be used for purposes of promoting the web site. The data will not be used for medical analysis or other medical purposes.

Cookies

Like many web sites, the HealthAhead web site uses browser cookies – bits of text placed on your computer’s hard drive when you visit. We use them to tell us things like whether you’ve visited us before, and to help us identify features in which you may have the greatest interest. We also use cookies to track country and language selection.

In the future, we may use cookies to track additional details, such as city and state.

We keep this information unless you don’t wish GE to capture this and choose to delete your cookie history. If you wish to stop accepting new browser cookies, get notification when you receive a new cookie, or disable existing cookies, the “help” portion of the toolbar on most browsers will tell you how. Keep in mind, without browser cookies, you may not be able to take full advantage of all our web site features or have your preferences saved for future visits.

We also use Flash cookies on the web site to enhance your online experience. These are similar to browser cookies, but they store data more complex than simple text. Flash cookies, by themselves, cannot do anything to or with the data on your computer. In addition, Flash cookies cannot access or remember your email address or other personal information unless you provide the information on this web site.

Web Beacons

Certain pages on our web site contain “web beacons” (also known as Internet tags, pixel tags and clear GIFs). These web beacons obtain information such as the time the page was viewed, the type of browser used to view the page, and the information in cookies. Web beacon data does not include IP address. The web beacon data is stored at Google Analytics, a third party (see ‘Tracking and Reporting’ for more information on this technology).

Tracking and Reporting

Specifically we will track, collect and report on the following data using software from Google Analytics. For more information about Google Analytics, including information about how to opt out of these technologies, go to www.google-analytics.com

Our primary metrics include: Poll response rate, repeat visits, number of times content is shared, and visits by country.

The sub-metrics include:

Most Popular Content Types, Most Popular Content Topics, User Pathing, Exit Links, Bounce Rate, Traffic by Source (region), Time on Web site, Visit Time of Day, Unique Views/Page Views, Thumps Up/Down, Most Shared Content, Number of Times Content is Rated, Most Rated Content by Type, Language Selection.

We will also be tracking how much communicators, web site leaders and other HealthAhead operations teams are leveraging the web site to support and align their business, regional and web site specific efforts. Some of these metrics may be tracked using existing support central tools.

These metrics may include:

Number of Content Submissions by Region, Number of non-corporate Driven Promotions by RCs, Number of Promotional Downloads by Region, Support Central Survey

Feedback Form

Your feedback is important to the web site’s ongoing development, so we’d love to hear your opinions and ideas. To contact us, please use this Feedback form. We will not be able to respond directly, but all feedback will be reviewed, evaluated, and factored into future content decisions. Please note: this form is monitored by IT support staff only. Please do not submit any personal or medical information. And thank you in advance!

Poll and Quiz Responses

On the web site, we will conduct polls and quizzes to better understand user activities, attitudes, interests and knowledge across multiple health topics. These polls may also help us serve you better by asking questions that relate to the usefulness of our web site. We will not capture any personally identifiable information through the collection of poll response data. As part of these polls and quizzes, we will capture responses sorted by country. In the future, we may capture responses sorted by additional anonymous demographics such as language, affiliated GE business, work web site location, gender, etc.

Sharing Content with Family and Friends

We want you to share the web site’s content with important people in your life, so most articles, videos and slideshows can be emailed. To do so, we will ask you to provide your name and the recipient’s email address. We simply use this information to send the content as you request. At this time, we do not capture or store your, or the recipient’s, email address. Please see below to learn how we track and report on email sharing activity.

Please also review GE’s Social Media Guidelines

How we protect information

GE maintains administrative, technical and physical safeguards to protect against unauthorized disclosure, use, alteration or destruction of any information you provide on this web site. We use secure socket layer (SSL) technology to help keep the information you provide on this web site secure. See ‘Information We Share’ and ‘Information We Transfer’ for additional details.

Information we share

We do not sell or otherwise disclose personal information about our visitors, except as described here. We may share information provided by visitors with service providers we have retained to perform services on our behalf. These service providers are contractually restricted from using or disclosing the information, except as necessary to perform services on our behalf or comply with legal requirements. In addition, we may disclose information about you if we are required to do so by law or legal process; to law enforcement authorities or other government officials; or when we believe disclosure is necessary or appropriate to prevent physical harm or financial loss or in connection with an investigation of suspected or actual illegal activity.

Information we transfer

We may transfer the information we collect on this web site to other countries where we do business, but only for the purposes described above. When we transfer your information to other countries, we will protect that information as described here unless otherwise required by applicable laws.

Links to other web sites

We provide links to other web sites for your convenience and information. These web sites may have their own privacy statements in place, which we recommend you review if you visit any linked web sites. We are not responsible for the content of linked web sites or any use of the web sites.

Children’s privacy

This web site is not directed to children under the age of thirteen and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of thirteen on the web site. If we become aware that we have inadvertently received personal information from a visitor under the age of thirteen, we will delete the information from our records.

Some links on this web site may take web site visitors to web sites that are directed to children. These web sites have their own privacy notices that address children’s privacy. We encourage you to read these privacy notices if you visit any linked web sites directed to children.

Updates to our privacy & data policy

This Privacy & Data Policy may be updated periodically and without prior notice to you to reflect changes in our online information practices. We will post a notice on this web site to notify you of any significant changes to our Privacy & Data Policy, and indicate at the top of this policy when it was most recently updated.

How to contact us

If you have any questions or comments about this Privacy & Data Policy, or if you would like us to update information we have about you or your preferences, please contact us by visiting our Feedback Form.

Calming Holiday Crafts for Kids and Adults

Craft Your Way to a Stress-free Holiday

The holiday season is a wonderful time to reconnect with family—but it is also a busy time, and that can add up to stress. You may be making plans for a big family gathering, while also finishing last-minute shopping and trying to keep your kids entertained.

Fortunately, there’s one old-fashioned holiday tradition that studies have shown may help relieve the symptoms of stress: Arts and crafts. In addition to promoting relaxation, research has also shown that leisure activities like crafting may help lower the risk of dementia in older people. Arts and crafts are a wonderful way to connect your kids with their grandparents, while providing a soothing source of entertainment. Consider adding these leisurely craft activities to your holiday plans to help reduce stress—and boost the joy—at your family gatherings.

Scrapbooking: Start A Family Tradition

Scrapbooking is a perfect craft for family events, since it provides both a relaxing activity and a beautiful keepsake that loved ones can enjoy for years to come.

Scrapbooking can be simple if you stick to the basics. All you need is a scrapbook album with sheet protectors (standard sizes include 12”x12” and 8”x8”), a pair of scissors, some type of adhesive such as a glue stick, a pen for labeling photos and adding comments, and photos that you’d like to include.

To get started, simply pick your photos, trim them to size with your scissors, and use your adhesive to mount your photos on the scrapbook page, or patterned paper. You can embellish each page by writing descriptions around the images and adding stickers or fun labels.

Knitting: Connecting Grandparents and Kids

Despite the long needles, knitting is a craft that’s been studied for its stress-relieving benefits. Academic Medicine, the Journal of the Association of Medical Colleges, suggests that knitting may help promote the body’s relaxation response because of its repetitive nature. The holidays offer the perfect time to slow down together, as a family. Knitting is also a great way to bridge the generation gap, since it is an enjoyable craft for people of all ages.

When your family is gathered over the holidays, consider asking a grandparent to teach a child how to knit. According to research from Ohio State University, grandchildren benefit from practicing leisure activities with their grandparents. The goal of teaching children to knit should be more about bonding time between grandparents and children than any result of the knitting. Patience is important, so encourage elder knitters to coach kids to focus on the process of the activity rather than the product.

Sewing for Stress-Relief

A study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association considered the stress-relieving benefits of sewing. Participants in the study showed significant signs of stress reduction, including lowered heart rate, breathing rate, and perspiration rate. Consider taking these findings to heart and trying your hand with a needle and thread to soothe frayed nerves this holiday season.

While you may think of sewing as a solo craft, you can make it a social activity. With supervision, even kids can learn and enjoy working on simple sewing projects. Consider investing in a children’s sewing kit, which usually includes large plastic safety needles and an easy project to complete. The enjoyment and relaxation that sewing can bring—whether done alone or as a family—can be well worth the effort.

Stamp Crafts: Easy Holiday Table Runner

While knitting and sewing might be too difficult for some young children, that doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy fabric crafts. Stamps using non-toxic fabric paint are fun for kids and adults alike, and can create beautiful finished projects.

For a starter project, try making a holiday table runner, based on a design from Martha Stewart Living. You can tailor it to fit any holiday tradition—whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, the Festival of Light, or another annual holiday. You’ll need a length of fabric, some non-toxic fabric paint, a paintbrush or foam brush, and stamps in a holiday-themed shape, like stars (or you can make your own stamps –as Martha Stewart suggests –from card stock). Simply lay out the fabric, show your kids how to brush paint onto the stamp, then start stamping! Let your kids get creative. Just be sure to lay down some newspapers or garbage bags first, since this craft gets messy.

Popsicle Stick Ornaments and Other Crafts

Popsicle stick crafts can keep kids occupied for hours. They are also simple and safe: With supervision, kids as young as ages 3 to 6 can participate. Plus, you can choose holiday-themed projects—such as popsicle stick wreaths or ornaments—to lend a festive spirit to your kids’ handiwork.

For an easy starter project,try snowflake ornaments that you can make from three popsicle sticks and craft glue. If you’d like these ornaments to be more colorful, first paint both sides of the sticks and let them dry. Then form an “X” with two sticks—glue them together in this shape. Take the third stick and glue it through the middle of the crisscross. After the glue dries, you can use string or cord if you’d like to hang them. Simply fold the string in half and tie a knot with the ends. Glue the end with the knot to the tip of one stick.

Homemade Play-dough: A Gift for Stress-Relief

The stress-relieving benefits of play-dough may come more from the act of playing with it, than making it. At least two universities –the University of San Diego and Northern Illinois University –have even started encouraging stressed-out students to use play-dough for relaxation.

You can make your own play-dough at home with this easy recipe from Family Education. Simply combine half a cup of salt and 2 cups of water in a large pot, and boil the mixture until the salt dissolves. Next, remove the pot from the heat and tint the mixture with a touch of food coloring. Add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, 2 cups of flour, and 2 tablespoons of alum. When the mixture is cool enough to touch, knead the ingredients together with your hands until the dough is smooth. Once it is completely cool, your dough is ready for play! Don’t hang on to it forever though –this dough is only good for 2 months.

Crafting Relaxation

In the hustle and bustle of a big family fathering, a craft activity can provide more than simple entertainment. Arts and crafts offer you and your family the chance to unwind and spend quality time relaxing together, while creating holiday keepsakes. What’s more, crafts are an amazing way to bridge the gap between the older and younger generations: Grandparents can offer their knowledge and children can experience the joy of learning to make something new. So create some special memories this winter, and break out the crafts!