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Now this is really an eye-opener; we've known this for some time, but i think many more don't know this. So how about the iPad ? I've heard parents say that it is a 'boost' to their child's learning the alphabets and numbers. Maybe it is just the videos after all. Think so? ----- Posted: 18 October 2011 WASHINGTON: Watching television or videos is discouraged for babies under age two because studies suggest it could harm their development, a US paediatricians ' group said on Tuesday. Instead of allowing infants to watch videos or screens, parents should talk to them and encourage independent play, said the first guidelines issued in more than a decade by the American Academy of Paediatrics. The advice is the same as that issued in 1999 by United States' largest association of paediatricians, but this time it also warns parents of how their own screen-watching habits may delay their children's ability to talk. "This updated policy ...

Image by MoonSoleil via Flickr NEW YORK   |   Thu Mar 3, 2011 ( Reuters Health ) - Parents who have a hard time getting their babies and toddlers to sleep at night may also often have trouble at mealtime, new study findings suggest. So-called behavioral insomnia , where a young child regularly resists bedtime or has trouble staying asleep, is common -- seen in up to 30 percent of children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. A similar percentage have problems at mealtime, ranging from being an overly "fussy" eater to having a full-fledged " feeding disorder" - in which, for instance, parents can't get their child to follow any regular eating schedule, or the food refusal affects a child's weight. It might not be surprising to many parents that sleeping and eating issues often go hand-in-hand. But the new study, published in the journal Pediatrics , is the first to show this may be true. Among parents of 681 healthy kids 6 months to 3 years old, I...

Image by vancouverfilmschool via Flickr By Dr James Dobson When you sit down to watch a 30-minute television programme , eight minutes go to advertising. I'll have to admit it seems like much more than that to me, but over the course of a week, we and our children are exposed to an incredible number of advertisements. I believe it's essential that we help our kids determine the merit of those messages. Author Faith McDonald suggests we can teach our kids how to analyse the commercials they see. This assumes you will set aside time to watch television with your children, to help them understand the differences between fact and fantasy and how to discern the truth amidst what can be a confusing mix of contradictory messages. Start by discussing the difference between “real” and “pretend” on television. With special effects and computer-generated graphics, such differences can be blurred in a child's mind. As you watch various commercials, point out to your child...

By Dr Bill Maier What do you do when you’re cooped up indoors with a bunch of bored kids? That’s easy — you get creative! Instead of mindlessly flipping through the channels, hoping something decent is on, why not turn off the television and get busy having fun? Try designing an obstacle course with pillows and chairs, and cardboard boxes . Get a stopwatch and see who can get through it the fastest. After that, try a game of musical chairs , hide and seek or play your favourite board game . I’ll bet it’s more fun than you remember. When’s the last time you played tag? Or jumped rope? There are tons of great indoor games to play if you’re willing to move furniture around and make a path in the middle of the room. If all else fails, get the kids dancing to some energetic music. Anything is better than vegging out in front of the television on those bad-weather days. From TODAY, Voices - Monday, 07-June-2010 -----

By Dr Bill Maier Kids today are spending more time than ever in front of the television or computer screen. And dormant kids tend to be chubby kids. As parents, it’s our job to recognise when our kids aren’t getting enough sunshine and exercise, and to do something about it. Left to their own devices, a lot of kids would spend all day lying on the couch. But they need to be active, especially if they’re getting a little flabby around the waist. If your family has gotten into some bad habits, consider joining a local health club . Indoor sports , like badminton or martial arts , are great ways to stay healthy while developing invaluable motor skills and coordination. In good weather, get the kids outside all you can. Take a family hike or biking trip, or just play frisbee in the park. Do whatever it takes to get your kids out of the house and into some good, healthy habits. From TODAY, Voices - Thursday, 03-June-2010 ----- Related articles by Zemanta How to Avoid B...

by Dr James Dobson I remember a bank advertisement that encouraged people to borrow, asking the question : “What do you need to make you happy?” How foolish, I thought, to believe that a new car, a boat or even a house can bring lasting bliss. Materialism is a disease that infects the human family — and it’s not a problem only in affluent cultures. Author and financial counsellor Ron Blue tells of visiting a small, rural village in Africa . Ron asked a villager what was the biggest problem facing his community. The man said: “Materialism.” Ron was taken aback. He expected it to be the lack of food or medical help, or perhaps problems with neighbouring villages. But materialism? These villagers didn’t have televisions or cars or cable TV — the sorts of things we associate with “the good life”. But this villager told Ron: “If a man has a mud hut , he wants one made out of cow manure. If he has a cow manure hut, he wants a stone hut. If he has a thatched roof , he wants a tin...

By Dr Bill Maier What would you say is your biggest struggle as a parent? Many parents might point to television and other media . Others might say peer pressure — and that is a big one. The wrong kind of friends can do irreparable harm to our kids’ future. Still others might point to drugs or alcohol — especially if there’s a history of abuse. These are all real concerns, but for most of us, our biggest struggle as parents is our own emotional inadequacies. We carry a lot of psychological wounds and baggage from our childhood, and don’t always know how to handle problems when these occur. That’s why it’s so important to read and research advice from those who have already been through what we’re in the midst of. There are lots of great resources on the market, if we could just take the time to look. From TODAY, Voices - Wednesday, 05-May-2010 ----- Related articles by Zemanta Teen Girls and Drugs: A New Crisis? (lifescript.com) The Effects of Smoking: De...

Image via Wikipedia By Dr James Dobson According to a study by Dr Burton White at Harvard University , there are six key factors that contribute to the development of intelligence in children . Here are the first three: It is increasingly clear that the origins of human competence are found in a critical period of development between eight and 18 months of age. The child’s experiences during these brief months do more to influence future intellectual competence than any time before or after. The single most important factor in the life of the child is his mother. Says Dr White: “She carries more influence on her child’s experiences than any other circumstance.” Fathers are important too, but nothing compares with a mother’s love and involvement during that critical period. The amount of live language directed at a child (not to be confused with television , radio , or overheard conversations) is vital to his development of fundamental linguistic, intellectual, and social sk...

Image via Wikipedia By Dr James Dobson Fences make good neighbours. Sibling rivalry was responsible for the first murder on record when Cain killed Abel. And it has been going on at a furious pace ever since. While conflict between brothers and sisters occurs in virtually every family, it is possible to lessen the antagonism and create a more family-friendly atmosphere at home. The key is for parents to enforce a reasonable set of boundaries between warring factions. Someone said: “Fences make good neighbours”. And I agree. Let’s suppose the man next door and I lived in a rural village 100 years ago, without policemen and laws . We would be more likely to fuss with one another than in a civilised society where laws are known and can be enforced. So it is with children . When the older child can make life miserable for the younger boy or girl, or when the younger one can break the toys and mess up the things of his big brother or sister, then hatred is a natural outgr...

Image via Wikipedia By Dr James Dobson Divorce carries lifelong negative implications for children . Anything that interferes with the vital relationship with either parent can have lasting consequences for the child. For example, one landmark study revealed that 90 per cent of children from divorced homes suffered from an acute sense of shock when the separation occurred, including profound grieving and irrational fears. Some 50 per cent reported feeling rejected and abandoned, and half of the fathers never came to see their children three years after the divorce . One-third feared abandonment by the remaining parent, and 66 per cent experienced yearning for the absent parent, with an intensity that researchers described as overwhelming. Most significantly, 37 per cent of the children were even more unhappy and dissatisfied five years after the divorce than they had been after 18 months. It is certainly what I think about with righteous indignation when I see infidelity and marital ...

Image via Wikipedia By Dr Bill Maier Have you noticed how most television commercials look more like music videos than product ads? There is a reason for that. When it comes to spending huge advertising budgets, do not think that companies are not aware of what they are doing. Media groups have done their homework. They know who's buying their products, and what works to get their attention. It is our kids that they are targeting, and commercials reflect that fact. One recent media study showed that more children than ever have televisions in their rooms and Internet access at home. Over 40 per cent had visited a website because they saw an ad on TV , and many have money to spend once they get there. This may be good news for advertisers, but it should give parents a little cause for pause. How well have we taught our kids to be discerning, and to keep from being manipulated by the media? Let's make sure our kids are as savvy as the advertisers who target them. From TOD...

Image via Wikipedia By Dr Bill Maier Is your child spending too much time in front of the television? Here are a few good ways to "uproot" your little couch potato ! Young kids often watch television simply because they're bored and can't think of anything else to do. Why not have them list all the things they enjoy doing, like playing board games , kicking around a soccer ball , riding bikes, or drawing pictures. Then post that sheet on the fridge and give them a reward whenever they do something on their list other than watching TV . It could be as simple as a gold sticker or an after-dinner snack. You might also promise a special celebration for kids who choose to go a whole week without TV. Throw a party to affirm them for spending their time in more productive ways. Watching television can easily become a negative habit, and the best way to break it is through encouragement and rewards. And kids who learn to tune out at a young age are much less likely to grow ...

Image by billnwmsu via Flickr By Dr James Dobson You talk and talk , but your husband just doesn't seem to get the point. Have you ever felt that happening? Maybe it's time to try a new way of explaining how you feel. One very effective way to communicate your feelings is to paint a word picture. A good friend once told me how one such word picture actually changed the lives of a married couple he knows. The wife was feeling distressed because her husband would come home from work and clam up. She told her husband a story about a man who goes out to breakfast with some good friends. He eats a big breakfast and then gathers some of the crumbs and throws them into a bag. Then he goes to lunch with some other friends, eats a big steak, and again throws a couple of crumbs into a bag. Then when he comes home at night, he hands his wife the bag. His wife told him, "That's what it feels like you are doing. All day long the children and I wait to talk with you, but do you k...

Image by Terry McCombs via Flickr By Dr James Dobson There's a fancy word for kids who don't do well in school. We call these kids underachievers. I would make three recommendations that can reach some kids: 1. Since most underachievers are terribly disorganised, help him establish a system for studying. Turn off the television set and make sure the proper investment in homework is made. 2. Stay in close contact with his teachers and know what's going on in school. I promise you that your son or daughter will not keep you so informed. 3. Seek tuition to provide the one-on-one help that may make the difference. There are some hardcore underachievers who seem determined to fail in school. For them no amount of pushing will get them motivated. In those cases I recommend that you go with the flow and accept the child just as he is. Not every youngster can be squeezed into the same mould, and it's a wise parent who knows when to race the engine and when to let it idle. F...