Childhood music lessons may provide speech benefits for adults
- Home & Family
- November 16, 2013
People who take music lessons as children develop lasting speech benefits as adults because they have a faster brain response, according to a new study in the Journal of Neuroscience. “This study suggests the importance of music education for children today and for healthy aging decades from now,” says Nina Kraus, professor of neurobiology, physiology
READ MOREPediatricians Set Limits on Screen Time
- Home & Family
- November 3, 2013
How much screen time is too much for your child? A recent survey from Common Sense Media found that 17% of kids aged 8 and under use a mobile device every day, leading the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to revise its recommendations for children’s screen time.“Excessive media use is associated with obesity, poor school
READ MOREThe selfie syndrome: Why teens use social media for validation and how parents can counteract it
- Home & Family
- October 28, 2013
Do you find yourself waiting to see how many “likes” or comments you get after posting a picture of yourself? Writer Carolyn Savage, a mom and contributor to Mamaonthefly.com, says, “As the scenario plays out daily, it makes us parents wonder: Why are our children turning to social media for validation?” Teen development specialist Dr.
READ MOREHousehold chaos may be hazardous to a child’s health
- Home & Family
- October 16, 2013
Did you know that a chaotic household can cause your children to have poorer health? New research from The Ohio State University (OSU) has found that having a routine is essential for young children to develop and stay healthy. While the study focused on low-income families, lead author of the study, Claire Kamp Dush, believes
READ MORETeaching Children to Read Emotions
- Home & Family
- October 9, 2013
Reading allows children to learn about emotional experiences. As author and clinical psychologist Eileen Kennedy-Moore says, “Books can give children a window into the emotional world. Through the eyes of a character in a story, children can explore feelings and viewpoints other than their own.” A recent study by the University of Pittsburgh offers further
READ MOREGirl’s Suicide Points to Rise in Apps Used by Cyberbullies
- Home & Family
- September 21, 2013
Do you really know what your kids are doing when it comes to social media and mobile apps? The recent suicide by 12-year-old Rebecca Sedwick in Lakeland, Florida is a sad reminder that cyber-bullying happens daily, and despite their best efforts, some parents may not even know about the apps that are being used to
READ MOREHappy families should tackle challenges together, says author
- Home & Family
- September 11, 2013
In his new book, The Secrets of Happy Families, author Bruce Feiler recommends spending 20 minutes a week on improving family life. He says, “The easiest path to happiness is to do something. Tackle the challenge that’s been nagging your family, tweak the routine that’s not working any longer, have the difficult conversation, pull the
READ MOREFrom The Classroom To The Big Wide World, Empathy Matters
- Home & Family
- August 28, 2013
We need to teach children that empathy matters, so organizations such as Ashoka are heading to classrooms to do just that. Ashoka celebrates “Changemaker Schools” that reinforce empathy, including Mission Hill School in Boston, the Inspired Teaching School in Washington, D.C. and Lake Forest Park Elementary in Seattle. “It helps us to identify the good work
READ MORETips to help increase breast-milk production
- Home & Family
- August 18, 2013
Do you know any new moms who have struggled with breastfeeding? The beginning stages of breastfeeding are most important for ensuring a good milk supply for the baby, and there are a few things to be aware of. Dr. Deborah Bain, a pediatrician at Health Kids Pediatrics in Frisco, Texas, explains why breastfeeding can be difficult for
READ MOREToddler tech: How young is too young for a smartphone?
- Home & Family
- August 16, 2013
Many parents are giving their children smartphones at younger ages. A new study found that 25% of kids age two and younger now have their own device. While some parents may look at smartphones as a learning tool for their children, experts like psychiatrist Gail Saltz believe these devices may actually do more harm than
READ MORERaising royal baby: ‘Fall crazily in love with him’
- Home & Family
- August 5, 2013
Are you nervous about being a new parent? Here’s some expert advice for new parents (including Prince William and Duchess Kate): fall in love with your baby, enjoy every moment, and trust your own instincts. As Berry Brazelton, a pediatrician and author of more than 30 books on child development, says, “You know your baby
READ MOREKids Watch TV As Parents Do, Not As They Say
- Home & Family
- July 23, 2013
Do you limit how much television your children can watch, but then let yourself watch as much as you want? “If the parents watch TV in their free time, the kids are being socialized to watch TV in their free time,” says senior research scientist Amy Bleakley, who led a recent study by the Annenberg
READ MORELack of regular bedtime may affect kids’ learning skills
- Home & Family
- July 14, 2013
Do you give in when your kids ask to delay their bedtime? Not going to bed at the same time every night may be harmful to the developing brain, new research suggests. Amanda Sacker, author of the study, says, “Early child development has profound influences on health and well-being across the life course. Therefore, reduced
READ MOREA big push for a different birthing experience
- Home & Family
- July 6, 2013
Los Angeles Times, 6/22/13While some women opt to have their babies at home, some are looking to redefine the more traditional experience of giving birth in a hospital by bringing movement into the delivery room. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s new “Rock-and-Roll” program encourages women to move and change positions about every 20 minutes, since staying in
READ MORESocial media could be teen suicide prevention tool
- Home & Family
- July 3, 2013
New research has found that young adults who are feeling suicidal tend to show signs through text messages and social networking sites, demonstrating how important it is for family and friends to pay attention to those signs. Oftentimes teens post how they are feeling or share song lyrics that may hint at suicide. “It leads
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