By the way....

I have been cleaning all day. Seriously cleaning and I still can't find the yellow sippy cup that is full of milk. I think it has been about a month now! Ugh! Where in the world could a one year old put it? I have looked everywhere. However, I have not smelled it yet. I wonder if that will be the clue I need.
-NewsAnchorMomJen

Non medical approach to ADHD

I got this email after posting a story earlier this week on ADHD medications and heart problems in kids:

"You should consider informing your audience that there are alternatives to battling ADHD, other then medication. Play Attention is a computer based attention training program that has been helping clients develop attention skills since 1996. Thousand of people have graduated from the program and have gained success in coping with attention programs."

The goal of this blog is to help parents stay informed, not make people money who are selling kid related products. That has really been a challenge. I get so many emails each day from people asking me to plug their product. It's hard to determine which products parents would like to know about and which ones are a waste of time. That being said, I do feel like "non-medical approaches" to treating ADHD is a good topic. I have no idea whether the product mentioned above works, but it is very interesting. There is an interview with the product's inventor at the end of this post.

Here's some information on Non-medical approaches to treating ADHD.

Several intervention approaches are available for ADHD such as:

• Psychotherapy works to help people with ADHD to like and accept themselves despite their disorder. As they talk, the psychologist tries to help them understand how they can change.



• Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps people work on immediate issues. Rather than helping people understand their feeling and actions, it supports them directly in changing their behavior. The support might be practical assistance or to encourage new behaviors by giving praise or rewards each time the person acts in the desired way. A psychologist might use such techniques to help a belligerent child to control his fighting, or an impulsive teenager to think before she speaks.



• Social skill training can also help children learn new behaviors. In social skill training, the therapist discusses and models appropriate behaviors like waiting for a turn, sharing toys, asking for help, or responding to teasing, then gives children a chance to practice.



• Parenting skills training offered by a therapist or in special classes gives parents tools and techniques for managing their child's behavior. Parents may also be taught to give the child "quality time" each day, in which they share a pleasurable or relaxed activity.

Now to the product mentioned above called Play Attention.

Play Attention uses special games that don’t require a joystick to play. Instead they work off brainpower. The student can control video games through a sensor-lined helmet. The child's mind power controls screen action.

Play Attention is based on the same technology that NASA uses to train astronauts to increase
attention during flight simulator training to insure peak performance during flight.

Typically within the first 30 days, minor changes will appear. These may include better listening skills, beginning homework on one's own, or staying more organized. It is important to understand that these are significant positive leaps forward for ADHD students and must be rewarded/reinforced so that they are likely to be repeated.

Jen: How did you come up with this invention?

CEO Peter Freer: I was teaching children in rural Appalachia and met John. He had severe attention problems and his family could not manage him. Even though I had a Master’s in Education, I was not trained to teach ADHD students. I went back to university to ask my professors what to do. They told me to do the same things we do now: move John closer to my desk, give him and IEP, rewards program, behavioral shaping program, checklists, etc. I was reasonably successful when I incorporated these strategies. John’s family was not satisfied as John could not comply at home. He came in one day and placed his head on his desk which abutted mine. I asked if he were sleepy. He pushed a note across his desk without saying a word or lifting his head.

His pediatrician had placed him on medication. They could never get John’s dosage correct or the medication was just not right for him. I couldn’t determine which. I had special training in educational computer programming from my graduate work. I began to research what I could do to help kids like John do to increase attention. I knew that computer programs were intrinsically interesting to students. I also stumbled across the fact that NASA was using feedback based technology to increase attention in pilots and astronauts. I closely examined their work and actually began speaking with the scientists who developed the work there. Six years later, I had Play Attention. However, I had watched John struggle through the educational system. He had been incarcerated twice and I think he’s in jail now for impulsively stealing and fighting. Watching many intelligent children and adults struggle and fail galvanized me, pushed me to find a solution.

Jen: How much does it cost to purchase the system and get training? Do you take insurance? Peter: The home system is $1795.00. The price includes everything a family needs to train including: full 2 hour telephone tutorial with a Master’s level educator who serves as a dedicated family support agent; free data analysis from our educational staff to help every step of the way; free technical support; free educational support should the parents need an IEP developed at school; a full behavioral shaping plan to extinguish fidgeting, etc.; cognitive training to improve skills lacking like finishing tasks, organization, memory, filtering-out distractions, auditory processing, etc.; and of course, attention training. Some insurance companies cover educational interventions, other do not.

Jen: How do you measure how successful the product is?

Peter: All data are stored in Play Attention related to cognitive training. So we assess improvements to short-term memory, time-on-task, ability to discriminate visually and audibly, visual tracking, working memory, spatial memory, attention perseverance, auditory processing, reaction time, and data chunking capability. These data can be printed and viewed as graphs so everyone can watch improvement over time. We also specialize in Academic Bridging. This is the act of generalizing time-on-task to an actual homework assignment. Academic Bridging is something we may want to chat about as it is too complex to describe here.

Jen: Your website mentions Play Attention and autism. How has it helped these kids?

Peter: I’ve attached an article that demonstrates this. It’s quite compelling.

(If you want me to forward you the article, email me at newsanchormom {at} gmail {dot} com.)

Jen: Does play attention have a better success record with kids than it does with adults? ( because kid's brains are still developing)

Peter: The brain in highly malleable, even in adulthood. We term this neuroplasticity. If one wishes to rewire or make change, the brain can accommodate through deliberate practice in either children or adults.

Jen: Anything else you want to mention?

Peter: We are in thousands of homes, over 450 school districts in the US, psychologists’ offices, doctors’ offices, learning centers, TBI (traumatic brain injury) hospitals, and even work with the US Women’s Olympic Bobsled Team. NASA invited me to speak at the National Space Society Conference to discuss enhancements to their space technology which have aided terrestrial citizens of Earth. We’ve received three patents with one pending based on these enhancements. I spoke at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria last year as a recognized expert in the field of human performance training.

If you are interested in this device, there is a live webinar showing how it works next Wednesday, April 30th on PlayAttention.com.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Sleep Solutions for Kids

I have a ton of sleep questions related to kids and you'll be happy to know, I have a ton of answers too. I interviewed pediatric sleep specialist and neurologist Dr. Sarah Zallek this week. I was flooded with emails about sleep problems and kids, so I am going to tackle the questions one at a time. I plan on posting a new question/answer from Dr. Zallek every Thursday.

Here's the first question from newsanchormom.com reader Rachel:

"My son is 2 and we just had a baby girl on 2/15. My son was still in the crib when his sister was born -though his big bed was on the other side of the room! Now that Natalie is over a month old, we need Brady to get out of the crib! Last week we tried moving him to the bed and were successful, most of the time. He goes down fine at night, the problem is when he wakes up in the middle of the night. We got into the habit last week - since it was the first week of the move - of letting him sleep with us when he got up in the middle of the night.

I don't want him sleeping with us forever, so when he woke up last night at 12:15, I tried putting him back in bed and he cried hysterically - so loud that he woke his dad up which is nearly impossible! I really don't know of any tricks to get him to go to bed and stay in bed. needless to say with that going on with him and the midnight feedings with the newborn, i need some sleep! help! Thanks, Rachel - Heyworth, IL by the way - i love your blog - good work! :)"

Here is Dr. Zallek's advice:

"This is a very common problem and you’re smart to be addressing it now when it starts. First, be positive. He needs all the support you can give him now that he has competition. He has to share his parents and give up his crib. For the best chance of success, get him to fall asleep in his own bed at the start of each night and each nap. Return him to his own bed if he gets up. At this point, getting him out of your bed and into his own is key.

Make a sticker chart to reward him for each night he falls asleep in his own bed. Let him pick out his special sleep stickers and show him that chart with 3 boxes for stickers on it, and a picture of a small reward (that you know he’ll like) for when he does well for 3 nights. The nights don’t all have to be on a row at first. Keep doing this reward chart for increments of success (3 nights of falling asleep in bed, then 3 nights of falling asleep and staying asleep in bed…) until he does it consistently. If he cries, reassure him until he settles down and have him fall asleep in his own bed. At any point if you return him to your bed, it will take much more effort to undo that “reward” for crying.

This takes a lot of effort and consistency, but the more consistent you are, the better it works. Remember, positive works better than negative. Make his bed the place to fall asleep and not to do anything else (except reading to him at bedtime). He should not play on his bed or have toys at bedtime (other than a snuggly thing if he likes to sleep with one). He should also not be sent to his bed or bedroom for time out if he misbehaves. That should always happen elsewhere so he can develop a happy sleep association with his bed and bedroom."

Thank you Dr. Zallek! I really enjoyed our interview. I have done a lot of research on sleep because my four-year-old has major sleep issues, and Dr. Zallek has a lot of "tricks" and advice you won't necessarily find on the Internet!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Bike Helmets

I rarely see a child in my neighborhood riding a bike without a helmet. When I was a child, no one wore helmets. I don't even know if they were available. And anyone who would have worn a helmet would have been considered a dork. I am so happy that thought has changed and kids at a young age are being taught helmets are a must, not an option.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission held an event this week in Chicago.

Here's the story from the Associated Press:

Parents should take their children along when shopping for a bike helmet to get the best fit. That's the message from Nancy Nord of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Nord says nearly 240,000 bicycle injuries sent children to emergency rooms in 2006.

Those bike injuries topped the list of sports-related injuries for children under age 15. Nord spoke at U.S. Cellular Field where White Sox catchers A.J. Pierzynski and Toby Hall handed out free bike helmets to children from Chicago's McClellan Elementary School. Nord says wearing a bike helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent.

Do your kids wear helmets? If you have older children, did they wear helmets? When do you think this trend started?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

ADHD and Heart Problems

I know from a prior post that some of you are dealing with ADHD. I thought you might want to read this.

From CNN:

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD should be carefully monitored for heart problems before receiving treatment. The American Heart Association recommends kids with ADHD receive electrocardiograms before taking stimulant drugs for their condition.

Studies have shown these medications can increase heart rate and blood pressure, even in children, although most young people with ADHD undergo a physical exam. Researchers say that's not enough, because underlying heart problems are tough to detect in children until it's too late. By looking at the child's heart history before prescribing drugs, doctors hope to cut down on the number of heart problems before treatment begins.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Head Lice and Kids

According to Bupa:

What are head lice?
Head lice are wingless insects. They are grey or brown, have six legs and are about 1 to 3mm in length when fully grown. Female lice lay eggs that are smaller than a pinhead and these attach to your hair close to the scalp. The eggs hatch about seven to 10 days later. Young lice are called nymphs - it takes about 10 days for them to become adults and capable of laying new eggs.
When lice hatch they leave empty shells called nits attached to the hair. You may mistake them for flakes of dry skin. Unlike dandruff, nits stick to the hair and you won't be able to remove them with normal shampooing.

What are the symptoms of head lice?
The obvious symptom is an itchy scalp.
Other signs of possible head lice infestation include:

• nits stuck to the hairs as they grow out


• pillows being dirtier due to louse droppings

Who gets head lice?
Anyone can get head lice, but they are most common in children aged four to 11. This may be because of their close contact with each other at school. Girls seem to be more likely to get them than boys.

You can only get head lice through head-to-head contact. They can't hop, fly or swim. Head lice can only live for a short time away from the scalp and those found away from the head are usually dying.

Head lice can be found in all types and lengths of hair - having head lice is not a sign that your hair is dirty. They are found just as often in clean hair.

Treatment for head lice:
Insecticides for treating lice are available as lotions, liquids or shampoos. These are either alcohol-based or water-based and there doesn't seem to be any difference in effectiveness between the two.

Alcohol-based insecticides aren't suitable for everyone, particularly if you have eczema or asthma, so it's usually recommended that you use water-based products. These are also recommended for young children.

Here's the story we ran on WHOI this week:

Head lice is one of the most contagious conditions among children, not to mention hard to get rid of. After hearing reports of lice infestations at two separate schools in Tazewell County, we asked the State Health Department what you need to know to protect your child. They say it's more of a nuisance than a danger, but the stereotype that only people with poor hygiene get lice is false.

Lice just need some sort of direct contact to travel so teaching our kids to share with each other may be contributing to lice outbreaks. Local teachers say girls tend to share combs and clothes and boys share athletic equipment.

The Health Department says the easiest way to treat lice break outs is with over the counter treatments. Heat is another way to kill it around your house so washing contaminated clothes in hot water or putting them in the dryer for 20 minutes will help.

Have any of you had to deal with this? My kids haven't, luckily! Do you have any stories about head lice going around your child's school. I hear it spreads like crazy!

UPDATE: Here's a link to natural lice remedies. Some moms on another blog say they worked for them!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Kids and Pollutants

Here's the latest research on kids and pollutants from ABC:

Most parents encourage their children to play outside, but new research shows the air your child breathes outdoors could be harmful to their health, especially kids who have asthma.

“We know that environmental pollutants have a very significant impact on children with asthma,” said pediatrician Avril Beckford. Beckford explains children's lungs don't fully form until they are adolescents, making them especially vulnerable to air pollution. “The long term effect of air pollution on child health is devastating. children do not grow as well because they do not breathe as well,” said Beckford.

Proper treatment helps open breathing passages. Some childhood asthma suffered use an inhaler with a low dose of steroids twice a day. Considering experts estimate 50-percent of air pollutants are created by cars and trucks, Dr. Beckford advises parents of asthmatic children to think carefully about where they live. She said, "Do not choose a house that is close to a busy road or highway, we know that that exposure all day is a significant risk factor. She also warns young patients to avoid outdoor activities late in the day when air quality is often at its worst.

My kids don't have asthma, but they both have seasonal allergies. They got that from me, unfortunately! I guess I need to keep this in mind.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Banning Bisphenol-A

I am having a hard time deciding what kind of cup to give my sons. I am grateful I used the medela bottles when my youngest son was a baby because they do not contain the chemical bisphenol-A, but now what? The sippy cups obviously have it in them. I am debating whether to spend the money to get some cups that I know are bisphenol-free. After reading this story, I am thinking I better.

From ABC News:

Citing health concerns, Wal-Mart say it will no longer sell some products in plastic bottles made with a common chemical. And the government of Canada says it will ban the chemical completely. Several studies have shown the chemical bisphenol-A can cause behavioral and neurological symptoms later in life. Toxicology studies also show there's an increased risk of early puberty, breast and prostate cancer.

Officials at the National Institutes of Health concluded last August, that there is a potential threat to humans, but more research is needed. Some experts recommend buying bisphenol-free plastic or using glass. Researchers say boiling or heating water in plastic baby bottles and other products has been shown to cause BPA to leak out.

Here's a post I did in February that looks at which bottles/cups are bisphenol-free.

This is the sippy I am considering buying, but it's $12.00 for one! That's steep!

What do you think? Should we be throwing away our plastic baby bottles, sippy cups and food containers? It certainly makes you wonder.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Favorite Kid's Music

My boys absolutely love music. It doesn't matter where we are or what it is. The oldest one starts humming and the youngest one starts bending his knees and bobbing his head. A fellow journalist, who has since decided to focus on his music, recently sent me some new kid's Cd's. My kids love them. The Rock of All Ages starts out with this "high-ya" and sound effect. My four-year-old runs in the room every time it's on and does a big karate kick. (he now wants to take karate too.) Big Rock Rooster has this song called I wanna be an action figure. That is right up our alley. The daddy a go-go website has more information.

I am completely annoyed by this one because I have heard it so much, but I have to mention the Baby Songs DVD because my kids could sit and watch that thing all day. There's a song about eating finger foods and about getting dressed by yourself. I can barely type this post without getting the songs stuck in my head.

We are also very fond of our Veggie Tales Cd's. The music is great and they have a great message. My four-year-old particularly likes our Justmemusic.com Veggie Tales songs. Bob the tomato says my son's name throughout the CD. You can pick from an assortment of Cd's like Barney and The Wiggles and then have a child's name added to it. Great gift!

I have to mention the Laurie Berkner Band. We haven't gotten that one out in awhile, but last year that was really big in my house. I am not sure which CD/DVD has this song but my oldest son love the Buzzy, buzz, buzzy bee boppin boogie, be boppin boogie, buzzy buzz buzz song. (I don't know the actual name!)

Send me your kid's favorite music by posting a comment. I would love to get a new assortment. And if you have kids older than preschool age, please give us some of your recommendations.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Subscribe via email

Finally! You can once again subscribe to this website. When you subscribe, you will get an email when I post new stories. Look for the "Subscribe via email" on the right hand side and type in your address. Thank you for all the emails letting me know it was not working!
-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Kids and Food Labels

Here's a story we ran on WHOI this week that I thought you might want to read:

Excess weight continues to be an important health concern for many of America’s children. And the problem starts at a young age.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Nearly 14 percent of two- to five-years olds are overweight.


• Among those 6 to 11, nearly 19 percent are overweight.


• Over 17 percent of the 12- to 19-year-olds are overweight.

Overweight children are more likely to keep those excess pounds and remain overweight as adults. In addition, overweight children have many of the same health issues seen in overweight adults (like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol).

Weight gain occurs when the body takes in more calories than it uses. The ideal way to lose weight, or maintain a healthy weight, is to balance calories and energy expenditure through a healthy diet and regular exercise. The CDC reports many children don’t eat properly. Only 20 percent of American children eat the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Fewer than 40 percent meet fiber recommendations. And 85 percent of adolescent and teen girls don’t get enough calcium.

Keli Hawthorne, R.D., a Registered Dietitian with Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, says the best way to gauge how well you meet dietary guidelines is to use a nutrition facts label found on packaged foods. Food labels are based on a 2000-calorie/day diet and are relevant for most Americans four and older. (Parents who have a child with specific nutritional concerns should seek advice from a registered dietitian.)

Hawthorne says there are several important things to look for on a nutrition
facts label. First is serving size. The top line lists the amount per serving as well as the number of servings in the container or package. This number is important because looks can be deceiving. A food that appears to be a single-serving package may actually contain one-and-half or more servings. Thus, if a package contains two servings and all of it is consumed, the nutritional values must be doubled. Second, check the number of calories and calories from fat (the second line). According to the FDA, 100 calories is a considered a moderate amount. 40 calories is low and 400 calories is high. The number of calories from fat is important because even low calorie foods can have high amounts of fat.

The next few lines list the amount of fat, cholesterol and sodium. Hawthorne recommends consumers follow a “5 and 20 rule,” with five percent being a low amount of the nutrient and 20 percent being a high amount. Fat, cholesterol and sodium are nutrients that, in excess, can increase the risk for cardiovascular disease. So less is better – aim for 5 percent. There is no percent value for trans fat. However, this fat should be limited because it has been linked to an increased risk for heart disease.

The next lines list carbohydrates, fiber, sugars and proteins. Look for foods that are low in sugars and high in fiber. Children need protein to build and repair muscle, blood and organs.

The last few lines list important nutrients, like vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron. Using the same 5- and 20- rule, look for foods that have more of these ingredients – aiming closer to 20 percent. Health experts say it’s important to teach young children the importance of good nutrition because poor dietary habits in childhood can have lasting effects, leading to significant arterial plaque by 30 or 40. Hawthorne says children as young as 9 can be taught to read and understand a food label, enabling them to make wiser choices in the foods they eat.

Children’s Nutrition Research Center
Make Your Calories Count
Cartoon Network

It makes sense that kids need to be taught how to eat healthy and they learn from example. I guess some of us aren't setting the best example. I can barely get my four-year-old to eat anything, but my one-year old eats everything. I think the way the child naturally eats should be taken into consideration when we teach kids how to eat.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen