Kids who always choose electronics first

There's a good chance you battle with the same electronic issues we do at our house. I am constantly trying to get the kids to play with something other than a DS, television, computer, iPad, etc. And I just want them to do it without getting into some big argument and without screaming and fighting and whining. Sometimes I think a blackout would be nice. However, I am sure that day the DS would actually be fully charged!

Last night the kids turned off all the electronics by themselves. They got out the old fruit in the fridge (oranges, pears) and found dad's drill on the counter. They spent two hours drilling into the fruit (safely) and making up some game that went along with the fun. Surprisingly, they didn't even make much of a mess. I thought it was great. I think parents tend to try and avoid messes too often. Sometimes kids just need to make a big mess and have fun. They can always help to clean it up later. That's my two cents for the day.

The topic of electronic books came up in this article FROM THE THE NEW YORK TIMES:

According to Lisa Guernsey of the New America Foundation’s Early Education Initiative, is that when we read with a child on an e-reader, we may actually impede our child’s ability to learn. Ms. Guernsey interpreted recent research on childhood literacy for Time magazine, and found that parents interact differently with children over an e-reader than over a physical book. That difference may make children slower to read and comprehend a story.

Children sitting with a parent while an e-reader reads to them understand significantly less of what’s read than those hearing a parent read. Researchers at Temple University, where the study was done, noted that parents reading books aloud regularly asked children questions about the book: “What do you think will happen next?” Parents sitting with the child while a device read to them (like a LeapPad or some iPad apps) didn’t ask these questions, or relate images or incidents in the book to the child’s real life. Instead, their conversation was focused on how to use the device: “Careful! Push here. Hold it this way.”

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Limiting Video Games

An Iowa State University study shows kids who watch television and play video games for more than four hours a day are more likely to have attention problems. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends kids have less than 2 hours of television/video game time each day. The kids followed by this study averaged more than four hours per day. I don't think my kids watch/play more than two hours right now. They're outside most of the day. But I am sure my oldest exceeds two hours a day during the winter. He gets so bored. And I think he naturally has a short attention span. That doesn't help!

Why does this happen? Douglas Gentile, ISU associate professor of psychology said, "Brain science demonstrates that the brain becomes what the brain does. If we train the brain to require constant stimulation and constant flickering lights, changes in sound and camera angle, or immediate feedback, such as video games can provide, then when the child lands in the classroom where the teacher doesn't have a million-dollar-per-episode budget, it may be hard to get children to sustain their attention." Here's the full story from Iowa State University:

FROM NBC: Kids who regularly play video games may be more likely to develop attention disorders. Researchers at Iowa State University studied over 13 hundred elementary school students -- looking at their video game and television habits. They also studied two hundred college students. They found children who spent more than two hours a day in front of the screen were two times more likely to have attention problems.

The same link was found among college students -- suggesting playing video games as kids can have a lingering effect. More than 27% of kids age 9 to 15 exceeded the recommended limit of screen time. Researchers found boys, african american children and kids from lower income families watched more t-v than other populations.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

What if you could look younger? Soderstrom Skin Institute was one of the first medical facilities to offer laser services in Central Illinois 20 years ago and today provides one of the most comprehensive laser treatment programs available. Call 674-7546 to schedule your FREE CONSULTATION today!