Archive January 2010

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Living Longer

TED Talk is a really cool site that has videos from only those who are invited to speak about particular topics. I found one about how to live longer and the myths about longevity. Science tells us that the capacity of the human body is about 90 years although life expectancy is about 78 years. What we really need to do is look at other cultures where the life expectancy is high. Other things to consider is the way you live your life, the foods you eat , the people you connect with, and the attitude you have, Check out the video on how to live longer it's a bit long, but well worth it.

Children are Using Media Almost 8 Hours a Day

I read about a new study that showed that showed that the amount of time kids spend  using media, like watching TV, using the internet, and playing video games has increased dramatically to about 8 hours a day. That to me, is staggering! At the same time it doesn't seem that surprising when you think about our culture today with the cellphones, PDAs, and the internet becoming so popular. It's not that these things are terrible bad, but the time factor is what can be an issue. Some ways to limit the usage is not to have TVs and game station in kids' rooms. Children don't necessarily need a cell phone until high school if even then. Just make sure to be monitoring their usage and make some changes if you feel they are exposed to too much of it.

How to Talk to Your Kids About Haiti

This tragedy has been all over the news for a while now and because there are Haitian-Americans here it will soon really hit home. If your kids ask questions respond in an age-appropriate way not worrying them with devastating details. If you don't know the answer to the question be honest and tell them so. If you want to follow the news about it, do so privately so as not to unnecessarily scare them. Let them have a chance to be involved in relief efforts if they'd like.  Help them feel safe, if a natural disaster such as this doesn't happen in your area let them know. Children should be aware of things that happen outside their world, it's your job as their parent to help them understand it and work through it.

Fight Child Obesity

There are several ways you can keep your kids fit, healthy and slim just by changing some of the ways you shop and changing the food you eat. Be more conscious when grocery shopping staying away from process foods, sugary sodas and high-fat foods. For snacks try using fresh carrots and cucumbers, or nuts and dried fruits. You can make your own sodas at home using sparkling water and fresh juice. Substitute red meat with low-fat turkey or even veggie options like tempeh or tofu.  A good thing you can do is grocery shop alone so that you are in charge and can be sure no junk food gets into the basket. Also packing your child's lunch can assure you they are getting the nutrition they need without all of the sugar and fat.

Bacon a New Brain Food?

I've been reading articles about bacon being a possible brain food for developing fetuses helping to grow the regions of the brain associated with memory. Bacon as well as pork, and eggs are rich in choline which look to create new brain cells. In the studies that have been done pregnant mice were given different diets during the time that the fetus develops it hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory. Those that did not have the choline had marks on the proteins that wrap the genes responsible for creating new brain cells. I wouldn't say that we can call bacon healthy, but it may be helpful in this arena.

Dad's Day on Baby Duty

For many moms it can be hard to leave their child, but they need the time and dads need the experience. Here are a few things to keep in mind to make dad's day go smoothly and not make mom worry. You don't all that much, but be sure you have a bag that can carry all of the essentials; diapers, snacks, a beverage and toys to entertain while you're out. It's a good idea to have a camera on hand for those special moments you want to remember. A booster seat is a good thing to have if you'll be eating out or even eating at a friend's where an extra seat boost is needed for your child.  Most of all have your cell phone available for when you have questions or for when mom might want to check in!

Teens Will Make the Rules if You Don't

It can be hard when your children reach the teenage years to set rules that they will follow. They need to understand that just because they are not young children anymore doesn't mean they don't have to follow the rules that you set. It's a good idea to set a bed time so they get enough rest for the next day ahead. They are old enough now that they want to go out with their friends, that's fine, just be sure to agree on a curfew and how many times a week it's ok for them to go out. They should contribute to the household chores, giving them regular jobs to do every week is important not only to keep the house clean but to prepare them for when they are on their own in the world. These are just a few important rules to have out of many that you may want to include.