ChildControls.com

Early Education Important in Saving Children from a Life of Crime

2007-04-07T22:29:13-04:00

Leading children's charity Barnardos is recommending early intervention and education as the most important factors in preventing young people from falling into crime or drugs.

The group says the first few years of a child's life are crucial in fostering the positive attitudes necessary to become a fully contributing adult citizen later on.

(Adapted from IOL)

Does Software really Help Improve Student's Test Scores?

2007-04-07T22:26:16-04:00

The US Department of Education conducted two studies which looked in to the usefulness of computer software to improve student's math and science skills. The first recently released report found no evidence of improvement in the children's math skills after using the software. The study involved 33 districts and 132 schools.

The second report from the study will look at the effects of individual products and determine whether reading and mathematics software is more effective when used by teachers who have more experience teaching with the programs.

PC World has further information on the study.

The Last Mimzy

2007-04-07T10:47:16-04:00

Yahoo Movies has both the user and critic ratings at B-. However, I found the movie to be more C level. The idea was a good one and like many other movies, the preview were more exciting than the actual movie. It just seemed to drag on and on. On the good side though, my kids seemed to be engaged throughout and although agreed that it was not as good as it could have been, did not think too badly of it either.

This is the movie you go to, when you have nothing better to do with the kids!

Corporal Punishment: Just Say NO!

2007-04-07T10:37:50-04:00

Susan Paynter of the Seattle PI writes, "after interviewing countless parents, child-development specialists, psychologists and practitioners of juvenile justice over the years, I am convinced of this: Kids learn nothing at the other end of a hand, fist, belt or backscratcher except a sense of impotent rage that they are highly likely to pass on like an ugly, poisonous hand-me-down."

Full opinion piece at nwsource

Video Games Harmful to Children?

2007-04-07T10:32:32-04:00

Recently, we saw a study claiming no direct connection between violence in video games and agression in children. Now 3 new studies done on the violent effects of video games on kids by ISU professors claim otherwise.

"They also found that habitual exposure to violent media was associated with higher levels of recent violent behavior -- with the newer interactive form of media violence found in video games more strongly related to violent behavior than exposure to non-interactive media violence found in television and movies. "

"Even the children's violent video games -- which are more cartoonish and often show no blood -- had the same size effect on children and college students as the much more graphic games have on college students," said Gentile. "What seems to matter is whether the players are practicing intentional harm to another character in the game. That's what increases immediate aggression -- more than how graphic or gory the game is."

More at Zee News

Bicycling Safety tips for Kids

2007-04-03T15:11:19-04:00

The vast majority of bicycle accidents are low-speed, single participant accidents, and these rarely produce more than just a scratch or scrape. However, some accidents can include multiple riders, high speed, cyclists and pedestrians, or even bicycle versus motor vehicle. These accidents have a great potential to be dangerous, and certain safety measures should be taken to reduce the risk of serious injuries while cycling.

A recent study showed that nearly 60% of bicycle accidents are single participant accidents caused by operator error or collision with an obstacle or animal. Nearly all of these accidents are preventable. In order to prevent such types of accidents consider taking certain precautions. First, pay attention when riding your bicycle! Constantly look where you are going, actively identify possible obstacles and create a plan to avoid them. Slow down when the situation calls for it. Even if you cannot manage to avoid an accident, lowering the speed at which the accident occurs can greatly reduce the risk of serious injury. If you ride in low light conditions, make sure your bicycle has reflectors and that they are clean, and consider purchasing a lamp so you can see potential obstacles better.

Somewhere between 60%-85% of bicycle accidents involving serious injury are the result of negligence of a motor vehicle driver, whether involved in the accident or not. While these accidents may not be preventable by the cyclist, there are still precautions to take to reduce risk of serious injury should an accident occur. Wear a helmet! Almost 75% of serious and fatal injuries in bicycle accidents are due to head injuries. Approved bicycle helmets can be purchased for as little as $20.00, and have been proven to significantly reduce the risk of head injury in the unfortunate case of an accident. When cycling on the road, follow the same rules as motor vehicles, following any additional provisions as according to your local city legal code. Use hand signals when turning or stopping to let drivers around you know what your intentions are. Ride defensively! We are constantly reminded to drive defensively, and the same strategies apply to riding a bicycle. Always keep your eyes open and be looking for routes of escape should your current lane of travel be suddenly cut off.

(Adapted from snap9)

New Study claims kids Unaffected by Violence in Video Games

2007-04-02T17:02:19-04:00

Via Game|Life, an article in the Syndey Morning Herald discusses a new study indicating most children are unaffected by videogame violence. Though the study did indicate that children already predisposed to violence or neurotic behavior were over-stimulated by these games, most children showed no difference in behavior as a result of game play.

"The study monitored the behavior of children from 10 schools in eastern and southern metropolitan Melbourne before and after playing the violent video game Quake II for 20 minutes, Swinburne's Professor Grant Devilly said. Prof Devilly said only children predisposed to aggression and more reactive to their environments changed their behavior after playing and of those only some showed more aggression."

(Adapted from a story appearing in slashdot )

A fun day at the Park!

2007-04-02T10:26:49-04:00

Kite flying is a great family activity and is fun for kids of all ages. Kites can be had for as cheap as $1. They should be flown only in parks and never near power lines. Its best to fly on slightly windy days for ease of flying. The following is an excerpt on kites from wikipedia on the history of kites .

"Nearly 3,000 years ago the kite was first popularized, if not invented, in China, where materials ideal for kite building were readily available: silk fabric for sail material, fine, high-tensile-strength silk for flying line, and resilient bamboo for a strong, lightweight framework. The earliest known Chinese kites were flat (not bowed) and often rectangular. Later, tailless kites incorporated a stabilizing bowline."

Review: A Night at the Museum

2007-04-01T23:28:33-04:00

The plotline goes something like this. A good-hearted but bumbling security guard at the Museum of Natural History accidentally trips an ancient curse which causes the animals and gigantic insects on display to come to life, causing havoc in the city.

It is a very good family comedy and my family enjoyed it more than I thought we would. It's rated PG so there was not any crude/sexual humor like in some of Stiller's other movies. However, that did not take away from the humour at all. The best indicator of the success of any kid's film are the kids themselves and on this account, it was a resounding success! Not only did my own kids enjoy the movie immensely, the theater itself was jam packed with excited kids who shrieked joyously throughout the film!

Since the movie is now out in dollar theaters everywhere, its definitely worth the effort and outing to watch it as a family! You can check the timings and such using the Yahoo Movie page.

The Window Hazard?

2007-04-01T21:40:12-04:00

Right across North America, injuries due to falls are one of the main reasons for children being admitted to hospitals. It may be a fall from a change table, slipping on a kitchen floor or a fall from a window. During the warmer months of spring and summer, when windows are often left open, incidents of children falling out of them increases dramatically and results in some pretty serious injuries, explains Anne Williams with the Safe Start program at BC's Women and Children's Hospital.

"Falls from windows result in the most serious injuries such as broken arms, legs and head injuries. A lot of the kids who fall through windows fall through screens. Screens themselves are not enough to prevent a child from falling out of a window."

(Full article can be accessed at The Parent Report )

Using Video Games to Help Relieve Pain

2007-04-01T20:06:48-04:00

At the Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore, Maryland, young patients are finding hospital visits easier to deal with, thanks to a test program called the Hospital-based Online Pediatric Environment (HOPE).

Patients in HOPE have a life-threatening condition where their kidneys no longer filter wastes from their blood. To get their blood cleaned, these kids must be hooked up to dialysis (pronounced dye-AL-uh-sis) machines at the hospital three times a week, for at least three hours each time. HOPE allows kids to play online sports, racing, and adventure games with each other. Eventually they will be able to connect with kids in other hospitals who are undergoing the same procedure.

Many researchers elsewhere are testing video programs that might help young patients. For example, nine-year-old Ben Duskin of San Francisco, California, who was struggling with cancer helped to design a video game where players get rid of cancer cells.

That's all great news, because doctors already know that reducing pain and worry helps patients heal faster!

(Adapted from National Geographic News )

Questions Arise about the effect of Day Care on Children

2007-03-31T14:22:55-04:00

A study released this week found the more time a child spent in daycare the more likely they were to be disruptive once they started school. If parents do not have a choice, how can they make sure their daycare is the right one?Psychologists said there was no need for parents to panic.

"Quality really matters whether it's you as a parent or the place you're bringing your child," said a psychologist. "And you as an individual, you have to figure out what fits for you and your situation." They said if a parent is concerned about their child's daycare or are in the process of finding a daycare, there are five things to look for.

Make sure it is an environment the child feels safe in.
Ask about the adult to child ratio.
Observe adult-child interactions at the daycare and stop by at different times of day to see what goes on.
Check to see if the center provides structure, routine and sets limits.
Make sure the daycare provides fun for kids too.

On top of all that, experts suggested managing stress at home.

"The best predictor of how kids are doing is how mom and dad are doing. So take those few minutes before you walk in the door; calm down, think about the fun you are going to have, that you're excited to see your kid and it's not another job," said a psychologist. (Read more at http://www.ohionewsnow.com/?sec=news&story=sites/10tv/content/pool/200703/1894059353.html)

7 Ways to Limit TV for Kids

2006-11-08T14:21:30-05:00

Most American children watch too much TV, so experts have come up with seven ways to turn off the trend.

Amongst the suggestions,

# Pay attention to kids' "screen time," including TV, computers, and video games.
# Don't put a TV in a child's bedroom.
# Turn the TV off if no one is watching it as their main activity.
# Limit TV on school days.
# Don't put a TV in household eating areas.
# Don't tie TV viewing to eating, including snacks.
# Find other in-home activities that don't involve screen time — playing, for instance.

(full text at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/07/health/webmd/main2160945.shtml)

R-Rated TV Affects Smoking, Drinking?

2006-11-07T13:18:13-05:00

Two new studies spotlight both the difficulty parents often have in keeping children away from the TV and also the potential health rewards for kids in cutting down on TV and other media.
For example, one study found that 9-to-12-year-olds who were barred from watching R-rated movies on television also had lower risks for smoking and drinking.

Don't let the "all the other kids are doing it" ruse flummox you

2006-11-07T13:01:43-05:00

Dear Amy: I really need a sane opinion. My 16-year-old daughter recently requested that I allow a "friend" to sleep over at our house.

The friend is a boy whom she is getting to know.

He lives about 30 minutes from our house. I said absolutely not and told her that I would be happy to drive him to our house and back.

She said that all of her friends' parents are allowing these sleepovers. Some are even allowing the boy to sleep in the girl's room.

Am I out of touch with reality or are these parents crazy?

- Old-fashioned Mom

Dear Mom: You are out of touch with reality. By that I mean that you don't seem to even consider the idea that your daughter could be "playing" you.

Think back to when you were 16. Didn't you ever say to your folks, "But all the other parents are letting their kids do it!" (Of course you did. It's a classic teen comeback.) The best way to find out what all the other parents are doing is to ask them.

Most schools have parent peer groups, and these groups are invaluable, especially to parents of teens. Getting together with other parents and keeping in regular contact is a great way to find out what other kids are talking about, what other families are wrestling with, and who is playing both sides against the middle.

If your school doesn't offer these groups, then consider starting one. You can learn a ton at a parents' potluck. dinner.

The next time your daughter suggests that all of the other parents are allowing all of the other kids to do something, keep your cool, get out a pen and paper, and say, "OK, honey, tell me who these parents are. I'd like to call them so that they can explain their reasoning because I just don't get it."

Regardless of what other parents might be permitting, you should continue to set reasonable limits and boundaries with your daughter.

Teens are as hungry for direction as they were when they were toddlers.

(adapted from Denver Post column)

Reduced Stress and Increased Activity for Pet Owners

2006-11-07T12:53:01-05:00

Pet ownership could be the key to improving family stress levels. According to new research by Masterfoods, over a quarter of pet owners admit that they have been less stressed since having a pet in their lives.
Sounds like a match made in heaven!

Antidepressants Lower kids Suicide Rate?

2006-11-02T14:38:57-05:00

Spurred by reports of suicidality in pediatric antidepressant users, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration two years ago slapped a "black box" warning on popular selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs such as Celexa, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft, warning of the possible risk.
But now a new study has found that this class of drugs may actually reduce the risk of suicide in troubled children and adolescents.

Kids Safety on Halloween

2006-11-01T10:43:33-05:00

Halloween is an exciting time for kids as they go trick or treating. However, some basic rules should be followed to ensure the safety of your kids.

Flame resistant costumes, costumes which do not cause the kids to trip, arming kids with a flashlight and giving kids a cell phone can all enhance their security.

Healthy Eating Amongst Kids Should be Reinforced at School

2006-07-24T22:40:55-04:00

Research has shown that what kids and adults eat is inconsistent with the U.S. dietary guidelines. Good intentions at home, where parents offer milk, juice or water most of the time, haven't been the same at school.

Once kids hit middle and high school, healthy choices compete against sweetened drinks and other nutrient-light, calorie-laden snacks. Chances are the child will push the button for the jingle that comes to mind, rather than the milk mustache. Healthier snack options have never been heavily advertised to our kids, a fact that parents and schools are up against.

Parental Control System via Library Cards?

2006-07-12T15:15:52-04:00

Recently Brevard Public Libraries developed a system whereby parents could restrict their kids online access at the library using the library card. While the idea itself is not novel, it is interesting that the system actually required parental authorization for the kids to be able to use the internet.

Is this something that holds promise? Or is requiring parents to be involved in their kids' lives asking for too much?