UK Government Guidelines on Food and Nutrition

UK Government Guidelines on Food and Nutrition â€Å"Nutrition is the term used for the science or study of food and how the body uses the constituent s of food† (Carolyn C., Food Nutrition and How the Body Works, P.23) Children require the right amount of vitamins and minerals to promote healthy development, therefore the UK government has set guidelines for babies and children’ food consumption to promote healthy development. The Food Standards Agency is responsible for food safety and food hygiene across the UK. The Food Standards Agency works closely with local authority enforcement officers to make sure food law is applied throughout the food chain. The Food standards Agency enforces good food hygiene through the hygiene rating and a child care provider must be able to perform to a good rating. The rating is from a scale of 0 – 5. The main government guidelines on food and nutrition can be identified in the table below; BIRTH TO 6 MONTHS 6-9 MONTHS 9 MONTHS + Breast milk or infant formula is the only food that a child needs from birth to 6-months. In the child care setting breast milk must be properly stored to prevent food poising .Adequate sterilization and hygiene must be maintained for both breast milk and infant formula. Various ranges of prepared food and cereals are available for baby consumption and these could also be prepared and pureed at home, frozen into ice cube trays and used when needed. Along with healthy fruits and cereal snacks, breast milk and infant formula can still be given. For hungry babies weaning process begin ealier, though government guidelines states that solid food should be introduced after 6months.Child care provider has to avoid some food types such as –Eggs, Liver, fish, shellfish, nuts, seeds, wheat and gluten-based food, unpasteurised and soft cheese. Babies diet should include milk and dairy, fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, eggs and beans, rice, potatoes and starchy foods and these should be observed by the child care provider in a child care setting for healthy living The recommended guideline for serving of solid food portion from 9 months is ; 2 servings per day of meat, fish, eggs and pulses 3 to 4 servings per day of fruit and vegetables 3 to 4 servings per day of potatoes, bread and rice. Vitamins drops may still be given to supplement the vitamins A , C , and D got from food as advised by the Department of Health to prevent children lacking these vitamins. Vitamin A –helps children to see in dim light, supports and strengthen the immune system and ensure healthy skin. Vitamin C – helps the absorption of iron and supports immune system. Vitamin D – helps strengthen bones and assist the absorption of calcium. All these must be maintained by the child care provider to achieve healthy lifestyle for the children. TYPES OF FOOD THAT ARE UNSUITABLE FOR BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN Any food and drink provided by the childcare setting should be properly prepared, nutritious and comply with any special dietary requirements. (Teena K, Children’s Care Learning and Development, P.128) Government guidance on food considered to be unsuitable for babies and young children is key for both parents and child care providers. The food type that is unsuitable for babies and young children are sugar, honey, Nuts, Eggs, Raw shellfish, Foods low in Fat, Swordfish, Shark and Marlin. Sugar causes acid erosion which is the main cause of tooth decay in children. Young children should avoid sugar especially sugary drinks and snack which are majorly in pre-packed convenience foods. Child care provider must ensure that children are encouraged to take only water and milk and avoid fizzy drinks and sugary snacks to prevent tooth decay which affects the milk teeth. Good. Honey – It is naturally believed that this liquid gold is better for consumption that white refined sugars but for infant below 1 year of age, ingesting honey is unsuitable for their health and wellbeing. Honey may be contaminated by bacteria called Clostridium botulinum though not harmful to adult but grows in the gastrointestinal track of babies below 1 year and cause a medical condition called Infant Botulism. One of the symptoms is constipation, child failing to feed and later lethargy which manifest months after consumption of spores, which grows in the gastro-intestinal track of infant as they grow and releases toxins into the bloodstream. Infant Botulism in babies can be treated with artificial Ventilation in incubator and a drug named botullinum Immunoglobulin (BabyBIG). Salt – It is one of United Kingdom’ most excessively consumed minerals. Salt is dangerous for babies because their kidney cannot process the salt the way an adult’ kidneys can. It is important for parents’ and child care providers to prepare food for babies at home and avoid processed convenience foods, as recommended in the guidelines by Food Standards Agency in the salt consumption table below; The recommended maximum daily salt intake for infant children and adult Age Target average salt intake (g/d) 0-6 months Less than 1 7-12months 1 1-3years 2 4-6years 3 7-10 years 5 11 years+ 6 Nuts – Nuts can cause choking hazard in children under 5years especially whole nuts. From NHS information, percentage of population affected by peanut allergy is 1%.Childcare provider must ensure that children with allergy reaction to nuts or who have siblings with allergy to nuts should not be given nuts with parental consent. Eggs – Eggs should be avoided for babies below 6months, especially if a family member has egg allergy. Babies’ delicate intestinal system reacts to protein in eggs up to the age of 6months and after 6months child care provider must ensure that egg is well cooked to reduce the risk of salmonella infection in eggs which causes diarrhoea and vomiting. Swordfish, Shark and Marlin – These have levels of mercury which can be detrimental to the growth of a baby’ nervous system. If the recommended limit is exceeded, it allows a toxic build-up in children and adverse effect on the central nervous system and cause impairments in movement and cognitive brain function by displacement of essential neurons. Foods low in fat – Children should be given whole milk yoghurt fromage frais, as children get essential nutrients and energy from foods containing fat and this is not present in low fat food. The fat containing food can be slowly reduced after the age of 2years. Raw Shellfish – shellfish should be avoided in children as it is allergenic and contains salmonella bacteria that cause food poisoning. It should be avoided until older age. CHILD RECORD FORM Child record form for a new child in child care setting with specific dietary requirements; CHILD RECORD FORM To be completed and signed by the parent/guardian/carer and given to the childminder. Child’s nameJoy Idara Date of birth23/11/2009 Home address44 Well road, Colchester, Essex Post CodeCO4 0AZ Telephone number 074 Parent/Guardian/Carer’s NameEsse Idara Address (if different from above) ___________________________________________________________ Place of work Milnet, Colchester Work number 01206†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Mobile074†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Parent/Guardian/Carer’s NameMatt Idara Address (if different from above) ___________________________________________________________ Place of workBaka Mill, Colchester Work number 01206†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Mobile074†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Who to contact in an emergency (other than Parent/guardian/carer) Mary Band Telephone number 074†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Name of person who will collect childEsse Idara Other persons who may collect childMatt Idara Further information (if necessary) _________________________________________________________ Child’s doctorRaymond Rock AddressMain Surgery, Ipswich road, colchester Telephone number01206†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Immunisation/Vaccinations: Has the child been fully immunised against: YES/NO Diphtheria Whooping cough yes Tetanus yes Polio yes Measles yes Mumps yes Rubella yes Hib Meningitis yes Other________________________________________________________________ Special Diet/ Allergies/ Health problems/ Childhood illnessesJoy is allergic to cow milk and so must not take cow milk or come in contact with a cow as this can cause allergic reaction by swelling of throat and mouth, or burn on skin. If there is an emergency due to ingestion, administer adrenaline through an Epi-pen as prescribed by her Doctor this is kept in her locked container. This should be administered by a properly trained person. Good. Anything else the childminder should know about your child e.g. likes dislikes, fears, comfort items, Special words ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ PARENT/GUARDIAN/CARER Signature _____________________________ Date ________________ Note that this form should be documented accurately in case of emergency and for first aid administration and treatment CHILDHOOD CHRONIC DISEASES Chronic Disease is a long-lasting condition that can be controlled but not cured. Most chronic diseases do not resolve spontaneously, and are generally not cured completely. Some can be immediately life-threatening; others can persist over time and can be intensive in terms of management (e.g. diabetes). Most chronic diseases persist in an individual through life, but are not always the cause of death. Children suffer from various chronic diseases which can have effect on their physical and mental development. Some childhood chronic diseases which can affect development are; Diabetes, Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis and Cerebral Palsy. Diabetes – â€Å"Diabetes is a lifelong condition thatcauses a persons blood sugar level to become too high† (NHS Choices, Health A-Z, Diabetes). It is caused by having too much glucose in the blood and has two types. Type 1 is diagnosed in adolescence and controlled by insulin injection, Type 2 diagnosed in adulthood and controlled through diet and tablets. Development can be adversely affected by diabetes retinopathy, in which damage occurs to the blood vessel in the retina which can impair a child’ vision and damage the eyes, thereby affecting the physical and intellectual development due to loss of sight. Also, diabetes nephropathy causes complication to the feet and if sores and blisters to the fee are not treated infection can occur and result in nerve damage to the feet. Asthma – Asthma is a chronic condition affecting the lungs which can be effectively controlled in most children. Asthma affects the airways, when a child comes in contact with something that irritates their lungs know as trigger such as tobacco smoke, pollen or allergy like pet hair, their airways narrow, the lining becomes inflamed, the muscles around them tighten, and there is an increase in the production of sticky mucus or phlegm. This makes it difficult to breathe and causes symptoms such as wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. Some of the medication for the treatment of asthma is preventer and reliever inhaler, and steroid medication. Asthma can affect emotional and intellectual development, for instance if a child is always absent from school to get treatment for the disease, this in turn affects the child’ target in school by missing work at school. Cystic Fibrosis Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition in which the lungs and digestive system become cloggedwith thick sticky mucus. It is an inherited chronic health condition that affects a child’ internal organ particularly the lungs. This causes pancreatic problems resulting into poor digestion of food and leading to poor development by inadequate growth as a result of malnutrition. Cystic fibrosis can be treated with range of therapies, including medication, diet, and physiotherapy to remove mucus from the lungs. Cerebral Palsy Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the brain, that usually occurs before, during or after a child is born. Cerebral palsy refers to group of neurological conditions such as muscle problems, speech impairment and stiffness on one side of the body. Cerebral palsy affects children in many ways such as children having mobility problems, and some requiring lifelong care. This affects physically, emotional and intellectual development through hearing and visual impairment and delayed growth. Also, it can cause serious distress for those caring for the child. Help and support to parents and those caring for children is available on NHS choices website. Reference List Carolyn Childs, 2001, Food and Nutrition in the Early Years, UK, Hodder Stoughton Marilyn B.Dawn R. and Katty W. , 1999, Early Years Care, UK, Hodder Stoughton NHS Choices, Health A-Z (www.nhs.uk) Teena Kamen, 2007, Children’s Care Learning and Development, UK, Hodder Arnold Tina B Carolyn M, 2006, Understanding the Behaviour of Children, UK, Hodder Education

The Significance of Suicide in Hamlet

The Significance of Suicide in Hamlet The concept of suicide is one that is greatly contemplated and discussed by Hamlet and other characters in William Shakespeare's play. It can be seen through two of Hamlet's soliloquies and his overall demeanor throughout the play. Hamlet has many issues that he must deal with such as the death of his father and the marriage of his uncle and mother. These two incidents led Hamlet to consider the extreme act of suicide to escape the fate that he had been bestowed. Although Hamlet did not commit suicide, in the end the path that he took inevitably led to his suicidal intentions and his eventual downfall.The contemplation of suicide threatens Hamlet and various characters in the play leading to the demise of the characters and the kingdom of Denmark. The sudden and tragic death of King Hamlet left the kingdom of Denmark and more importantly his son, Prince Hamlet, in a state of distress; as a quick fix to this problem Claudius married Gertrude. In t he beginning of the play, after Hamlet's confrontation with Claudius, he states in his soliloquy that, â€Å"O, that this too too solid flesh would melt / Thaw and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd / His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter! O God! God! †(Act I, Sc. 2) Hamlet clearly expresses his Christian beliefs and his fear of being punished for â€Å"self-slaughter. † He believes that it is better to live in his current state then be damned to hell in the afterlife. One may view this outburst as his method of venting or an over exaggerated teenage rant. For it seems that Hamlet is not capable of dealing with the death of his father or the marriage, however incestuous it may be, in a reasonable and non-destructive way.The appearance of his father's ghost sparked a fire inside of Hamlet; he took it upon himself to avenge his father's death; a deed that he would not be able to complete if he committed suicide. Hamlet's Christian beliefs m ay have held him back from an untimely death at first but his craving for revenge overpowered everything else, driving him to live on. Hamlet was not the only person that struggled with his life and developed a disturbed psyche, the most notable character being Ophelia.Many factors led to Ophelia's death, one of the reasons being Hamlet's so-called fake craziness which drove him to ruin his relationship with Ophelia, but it wasn't the only factor that led to her downfall. Ophelia's father and brother, warned her against Hamlet, and even though she heeded their warning it led to her ultimate demise. Some people speculate that Ophelia was pregnant and in the Elizabethan era that this play takes place; suicide was the preferred method of â€Å"abortion† or a solution to premarital sex.Preceding Ophelia's death, she was in a mental state of distress and disturbance; this may have been a reason that led to her death. She may have viewed suicide as the only escape from her cruel, h arsh life after Hamlet denied her and after the death of her father; taking into account that her death may have been an accident. She was given a very forced funeral, the priest even stating that, â€Å"As we have warrantise: her death was doubtful. †(Act V, Sc. 1) Had her death been truly recognized as a suicide she would not have received a burial and her body most likely would have been left in the river to rot.The death of Ophelia was devastating to Hamlet, for when he heard of her death and saw her pale body in the casket, he admitted to Laertes and the clown that he did in fact love Ophelia. This deepened his depression, but strengthened his need to avenge his father. The controversy behind her death and the mock funeral that was held for her only further led Hamlet to lose faith in humanity and his own life. One of the greatest obstacles Hamlet faced was how he was going to avenge a murder without committing a crime.Although he wanted to avenge his father’s dea th, he did not want to do so under circumstantial evidence, he wanted to be completely sure that Claudius was the culprit. He underwent his plan by persuading the troupe to perform a play reenacting the killing of King Hamlet. Claudius' sudden departure from the room proved to Hamlet that his suspicions were true. This incident pushed Hamlet closer to death. His thoughts and conscience were clouded by the need to kill his father's murderer. Hamlet believed that if he committed this act he would find his resolve.He believed that he could not leave the world without finishing this task, but once he had done this, there would be nothing more except his questionable Christian faith and fear of the unknown to keep him in the light and away from the darkness; which in the end might not have been enough. Hamlet's iconic quote, â€Å"To be, or not to be: that is the question,† (Act III, Sc. 1) is the greatest example of his suicidal debate. Hamlet questions why it is not a common act for people to commit suicide, for individuals to escape reality and their current problems.He cannot fathom why a person would endure the tragedies of life throughout the years and whether it is nobler to do so or nobler to end it all. Albeit his Christian beliefs, Hamlet believes that the real reason is fear of the unknown. Death is an intangible force that cannot and will not be explained. Humans fear concepts they do not understand, so they would not willfully venture into unknown territory. One cannot foresee what lies beyond death, heaven, hell or nothingness and Hamlet realizes this, posing the question, â€Å"For in that sleep of death what dreams may come. †(Act III, Sc. ) Individuals feel they must attain truth and sanctity from their lives and ultimately our consciences get the better of us. â€Å"†¦conscience does make cowards of us all†¦ thus the native hue of resolution / Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought. †(Act III, Sc. 1) T he events that occurred around Hamlet may have pushed him towards the brink of death, but they also allowed him to realize that life was worth living. Avenging his father's death was Hamlet's prime purpose in the play. He believed that if he in fact did commit â€Å"self-slaughter† that his father would have died in vain.His duty in life from then on was to investigate Claudius and avenge his father. During his return to Denmark, after being forced to leave, Hamlet witnesses Fortinbras and his army on their way to defeat King Claudius and reclaim their pride and power. Despite Fortinbras being an enemy of his country, Hamlet sees how ambitious and driven the man is. This allows Hamlet to realize that life is precious and that if Fortinbras can have that amount of motivation, so can he. â€Å"Witness this army of such mass and charge / Led by a delicate and tender prince / Whose spirit with divine ambition puff'd. †(Act IV, Sc. ) He now possesses a new goal that he feel s he must complete; warn his country of the Norwegians attack. Death overtook the entire kingdom of Denmark and Hamlet's entire family. The final scene of the play when Hamlet fights Laertes shows the internal corruption of the family and the kingdom. In a sense every person that died in the play committed suicide. Laertes' scheme with Claudius backfired on him and his death was caused by being slashed with his own poisonous blade. Gertrude drank the poisonous drink and although she was not aware of the poison she drank the drink willfully, even after being told by Claudius not to.Claudius died from his own poisonous sword, albeit it was forcefully thrust into his chest by Hamlet, he was without a doubt murdered by his own plan. Hamlet delayed his quest for vengeance and almost ran away from his mission; this delay led to his battle with Laertes and ultimately his demise. The sight of Hamlet dying made Horatio consider following him, he wanted to drink the poison and follow his frie nd into the afterlife, even if he did commit â€Å"self-slaughter†, the death of his friend was too much to bear, but Hamlet convinced him otherwise, so he may tell his story for years to come. But let it be. Horatio, I am dead / Thou livest; report me and my cause aright / To the unsatisfied. †(Act V, Sc. 2) These deaths left a bad taste in the mouth of the kingdom of Denmark and displayed the true colors of the royal family. From the beginning Hamlet and his family were on the path that would eventually lead them to their end. With the death of King Hamlet and the incestuous marriage of Claudius and Gertrude, Hamlet's life and the fate of the kingdom spiraled into madness. The play ended in various deaths and tragedies representing the true significance of suicide in the play of Hamlet.

Young College Athletes - 730 Words

Everyone wants to be a champion. Many people have the dream of becoming a college athlete and going down in history. With the many controversies in athletics today it is getting harder to fulfill this dream. One of the main controversies is college athletes becoming employees of the college. There are many reasons why athletes should not be employees. College athletes should not be considered employees of the college it will send a bad message to younger generations, cause contract disagreements and lastly it would make the cost of colleges much high than they are. Young athletes always look up athletes at higher levels. Most of the times they have a favorite athlete and try there hardest to be just like their idol. With that thought college athletes getting paid will send a bad message to younger generations. Seeing these controversies about payment will eventually trickle down. Younger generations will see this as an opportunity for them to get paid as well. If it passes that coll ege athletes become employees why shouldn’t high school athletes get paid, or even junior high athletes. The argument is the amount of money that athletes raise for their schools colleges. According to ESPN in 2008 Alabama made 28,410,419 dollars off of ticket sales alone. ( ) If they base the decision on this fact then many smaller colleges would be in trouble. The larger universities with more money would have an unfair advantage. Most of the skilled athletes would look towards theseShow MoreRelatedThe NBA One-And-Done Rule1584 Words   |  7 Pagesgraduates to forego their eligibility to play college basketball and enter straight into the NBA draft. The informed high school basketball players that they had to be at least one year removed from high school and had to be at least 19 years of age in order to partake in the NBA draft. Currently, the league does not require players to play NCAA basketball as you can be drafted after playing a season overseas. 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The Holocaust The Mass Murders - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2017 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2019/04/26 Category History Essay Level High school Tags: Holocaust Essay Did you like this example? The Holocaust is undoubtedly one of the most horrifying events in history. The mass murder of more than eleven million people, six million of them Jews, has left its mark on history and should never be forgotten. The events and the history of the Holocaust are presented in two very different ways in the movie The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and in the movie The Pianist. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Holocaust: The Mass Murders" essay for you Create order The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a historical drama film, which attempts to show the horrors of the concentration camps through the eyes of an eight-year-old German boy named Bruno and an eight-year old Jewish boy names Shmuel. The Pianist is a film based on Wladyslaw Szpilmans memoir of life during the time of the holocaust. Both attempt to show the atrocities committed by the Nazi Regime, but the attempts to do so are done in very different ways. I found it difficult to make many comparisons between the two movies, but one of the comparisons that can easily be made is the element of obscurity in each situation in the opening scenes. Szpilman is Jewish and is forced to sit around a radio with his family and wait for further instructions from the Nazi regime deciding his familys fate. Bruno on the other hand, the son of a Nazi officer, is forced to relocate from Berlin to the countryside with his family so that his father can help run one of the concentration camps. Though the each movie attempts to capture events that took place during the time of the Holocaust, many aspects of the movies are extremely different. I would argue that The Pianist is a much more educational representation of the Holocaust as compared to The Boy in the Striped Pajamas which is more of a Hollywood movie with the setting of the Holocaust. Even thought only one was supported by authentic historical events, both movies had a powerful impact on their viewers. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas has repeatedly been called a childrens film, and I would argue that it is significantly less graphic that The Pianist. The two main child characters are Bruno, the son of a Nazi party member, and Shmuel who is inside the concentration camp. These characters, because they are so young, represent innocence in such a dark time of history. I found the film to be more emotional than some of the others we have watched, but that is because I got to see a side of the Holocaust that I had not seen in other movies. One major criticism of this film, and its representation of historical events, is the friendship between Bruno and Shmuels characters. It seems almost impossible that two boys would be able to form a friendship on either side of a barbed wire fence. In the movie, Shmuel is seen sitting on the ground by the fence unsupervised. In reality, the number of security guards in each camp was so high that it would have been impossible for Shmuel to have stayed by the fence all afternoon, or for him to get out of doing work, let alone form a friendship with a German boy. Shmuel, at the age of eight, would most likely have been sent to the gas chambers upon arrival to the camp. It is possible that when he arrived to the camp he was evaluated by one of the Nazis and thought to be a good worker, but this is highly unlikely. In my opinion, in order to watch this movie we are required to forget any knowledge that we have on the Holocaust and just immerse ourselves into the minds and lives of two innocent and naive main characters. We find ourselves at the end of the movie feeling sorry for Brunos family. This is the first Holocaust movie I have seen where we cannot help but feel sorry for the German family as well as the Jewish people. I wonder if this ending was chosen for the movie so that the views are able to see that Brunos father, although a Nazi, is capable of love. Why do we find ourselves feeling sorry for the murder of one boy but not the murder of the thousands of Jews who also died in the camp with Bruno that very same day? Even thought the movie is not historically accurate, I dont think it is suppose to be. The movie pulls on the heartstring of its audience because it is centered on the drastically different lives of two children, and you cannot help but feel bad for them. Brunos character is portrayed as innocent and nave. He has no idea what the war really entails and, I believe his character is important because he represents the rest of the world during this time. Not many people, or countries, truly understood what was going on in the concentration camps, or how gruesome they were. Propaganda videos were sent out depicting the camps to be something completely different than they were. In the videos children were seen playing and there is an imaginary caf? ©. Of course we know that this is not even close to how terrible life was in the camps. Bruno is not the only ignorant character, his mother also was not aware of what was really going on inside the camps or farm as Bruno called it. Her husband had kept the secret of the gas chambers from her, which in turn caused her to lose all trust and respect for him. Again, we find ourselves feeling bad for Elsa, but what we dont think about is how much she did know. She was by no means innocent. The mass killings might have been kept from her, but she was well aware of the deportations to the labor camps, and how the prisoners were treated inhumanely. She knew this because she saw it first hand in her own house. She allowed a prisoner names Pavel to work under her roof, and be treated unfairly. If she didnt like what she saw she could have spoken up to her husband about the situation. Her biggest fault was when she accepted and agreed with her husband when he told Bruno they are not real people (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas 2008). In sharp contrast to The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, The Pianist, is much more autobiographical. We learned that the films director, Roman Polanski, is a Holocaust survivor himself, which probably helped contribute to the movies historical accuracy. Very early on in the movie we see how brutal the living conditions and treatment are in the Warsaw ghetto. One of the hardest scenes is when we see the ghetto wall being built up and just on the other side of the wall the non-Jews are at the markets buying food and living a normal life. Inside the walls of the ghetto we see famine, and cramped, and inhumane living conditions. Most movies we have seen, and testimonies we have read, have been from the inside the concentration camp fences. The Pianist was able to give us understanding of what life was like in the Ghettos before the Jews were sent off to the camps. I consider this movie to be an accurate display of a time during the Holocaust that is not always discussed. We are able to see Szpilman and the Jews living a somewhat normal life in the opening scene of the film. Then we watch and follow along with them as they begin to understand their fate; from the scene where the family is gathered around listening to the radio and are told they will be relocated to the ghettos, to the scene where they are put into the cattle carts on the way to the actual concentration camps. I found Szpilmans character to be interesting, he was not a hero by any means or an outsider, he was a survivor and we were able to follow his memoir and see how much luck played a part in his survival. This I found to be a very similar theme to most of the testimonies we read. If you survived, you survived because of luck. However, I did find myself attached to Szpilmans character which made the film ever more difficult to watch. It was hard to watch the dehumanization that played out during the film, of him and is family. We also were able to get a sense of how historically authentic The Pianist is because of how the film plays out in perfect chronological order. We are shown dates at the bottom of the screen to better understand at what time frame during the war the scene took place. Szpielman never had a flashback scene and we mostly see what he sees through his own eyes. We are also shown that not every Jew was perfect. For example, Itzak was a Jewish policeman who was very brutal with fellow Jews when he did not need to be. This was the reality in the ghettos, and from what we have read in previous testimonies, in the concentration camps as well. We saw fighting, stealing, and the smuggling of food. Children would even crawl through the gutters to smuggle food into the ghetto. There was a scene of a little boy stuck between the ghetto and the other side of the wall and he was brutally beaten to death over a small portion of food he had stolen. It was the scenes like this one that really gave viewe rs like myself a better understanding of what the circumstances were really like in Warsaw. Another particularly gruesome scene was when Szpielman and his family witnessed, from their kitchen window, Nazis march into a Jewish home, make the entire family stand, and when a man in a wheelchair did not stand they tossed him over the balcony to his death. Scenes like this one showed the audience just how horrible living in the ghetto really was. Another particularily horrific scene took place while Szpilman and his family waited in the courtyard to be deported. A woman near them was screaming, Why did I do it? Why did I do it? (The Pianist). The family learned that the poor mother had smothered her own child out of fear that the Nazis would have heard its cries and killed it. The unimaginable crime of a mother killing her own child does not seem true, but the sad reality was it happened all the time. It is nearly impossible to compare the film The Boy in the Striped Pajamas to the film The Pianist however, both films explore the context of family during the Holocaust. I found myself thinking, while watching The Boy in the Striped Pajamas for the first time, that the film was over exaggerated by Hollywood, and that it would not fulfill the expectations of someone who is as fascinated with the history of the Holocaust as I am. After watching the film twice more I have a different understanding and appreciation for the film. While not historically accurate, it still gets the viewers thinking about the Holocaust and it does leave a lasting impression on us. During my first time watching The Pianist I had a much different opinion than I do now. I originally thought the film was maybe too historically accurate, if that is even possible. I found myself shielding my eyes from the graphic scenes and stopping the film every once in a while. Now, I realize and can appreciate how important i t is to see a film like this one. Together, both films are part of a large genre of Holocaust representations that speaks to its twentieth century viewers and gives us a purpose, as viewers. It is important that viewers see both of these films in order to ensure that a horrific genocide, like the Holocaust, never happens again. Holocaust survivors unfortunately will not live forever, so it is up to movies like The Pianist and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and testimonies, like the ones we have read, to tell their stories.