Important Touchy-Feely Stuff
Rabbits were placed on a high-cholesterol diet thinking they would all get heart disease. They were stacked in cages to the ceiling. Those in the higher cages got significantly more heart disease compared to the lower ones. It was found the technician caring for them was short and only played with the lower ones. The study was repeated.…
Read MoreWhy You Should Read with Your Kids
The web site EarlyMoments.com has posted an excellent description of why reading to children is so valuable. We all know reading to our kids is a good thing, but are you familiar with the specific advantages your toddler or preschool-age child can receive by being exposed to reading? Here are some benefits that highlight the…
Read MoreLack of Sleep in Teens and Young Adults
Teens and young adults who don't get adequate sleep are at higher risk for automobile crashes, poor grades and performance in school, depressed moods, and problems with peer and adult relationships.PositiveTip: Take sleep seriously, set regular times for going to sleep and waking up, and get 7-8 hours of sleep a night.
Read MoreIt Takes a Village to Produce Positive Youth
The "Find Youth Info" website talks about elements of positive youth development:Positive youth development is an intentional, pro-social approach that engages youth within their communities, schools, organizations, peer groups, and families in a manner that is productive and constructive; it recognizes, utilizes, and enhances youths' strengths; and promotes positive outcomes for young people by providing…
Read MoreParental Connectedness: Violence and Home Atmosphere
This is the sixth in a series of blogs about the benefits of parents and children connecting with each other.There is an abundance of research on conditions at home that relate to violent behavior. They include early aggression and witnessing violence in homes and neighborhoods. Once children are victims of violence they may become perpetrators…
Read MoreParental Connectedness: High Risk Behavior
This is the second in a series of blogs about parent-child connectedness.Recent research from eight African countries surveyed adolescents to learn rates of different high-risk behaviors, including sex at an early age.Researchers discovered that 27.3% had experienced sexual debut before age 15. Boys and girls with sexual debut at younger than age 15 were more…
Read MoreGirls, Drugs and Parental Influence
This series of posts is about drugs and young girls. We aren’t suggesting that anyone should ignore the issues of boys and drugs -- boys certainly have potential to abuse drugs at an early age. But too often people think of drugs as a boys-only problem. And it is important to recognize that drug use is…
Read MoreCan a Great Relationship with My Child Reduce Risky Behaviors?
Today's kids face a ton of risks. Their choices are tough, including issues like drugs and other substances, teenage pregnancy, and what to look at on the Internet. The temptations for kids can be overwhelming. So, parents keep asking themselves, "What can I do to help my child make smart choices?"The answer? You can do…
Read MoreHow Can We Ensure that Our Kids Excel in the Face of Adversity?
Resilience, in the field of health as it relates to youth, is the ability to face adversity and survive in spite of that adversity. Even more, it is the capacity to excel when things aren’t going well. Sounds confusing? Let’s clarify.Some kids grow up under such terrible circumstances that you might think they'd have no chance…
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