I was recently interviewed for an iParenting Media article about the problems with TV for young children. In a nutshell, TV can cause sleep problems, weight gain, poor attention and school difficulties. This week is a great time to try cutting back on the amount of screen time your family uses (including television, video games, computer use, etc.). Many families appreciate the "extra" time they discover when they turn off the tube.
For the full article, please see http://www.toddlerstoday.com/articles/baby-and-toddler/catch-you-later-cookie-monster-5687/
For more information about TV Turnoff Week, please visit www.tvturnoff.org
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
When I was a kid, I walked 2 miles to school....
Now my son can walk 2 miles at school!
In an after-school Walking/Running Club founded by the school's Wellness Committee and a PE staff member, children can earn special tokens for every 25 laps around the school yard. This program offers a great way for kids to get exercise with their friends.
According to the CDC, children should get at least 60 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. At this school, kids get 30 minutes of PE each day and have the option of spending another 30 minutes in Walking/Running Club. Any out-of-school activities such as baseball, soccer or gymnastics is icing on the proverbial cake.
With obesity rates on the rise, we should all be eating healthily and staying physically active. The great thing about school-based exercise is that it involves positive peer pressure. Also, kids who exercise become adults who exercise!
CNN recently filmed the Walking/Running Club at my son's school. I have posted the video in my media clip section, or you can view it here: http://www.cnn.com:80/video/?/video/health/2008/04/10/fortin.walking.clubs.cnn
In an after-school Walking/Running Club founded by the school's Wellness Committee and a PE staff member, children can earn special tokens for every 25 laps around the school yard. This program offers a great way for kids to get exercise with their friends.
According to the CDC, children should get at least 60 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. At this school, kids get 30 minutes of PE each day and have the option of spending another 30 minutes in Walking/Running Club. Any out-of-school activities such as baseball, soccer or gymnastics is icing on the proverbial cake.
With obesity rates on the rise, we should all be eating healthily and staying physically active. The great thing about school-based exercise is that it involves positive peer pressure. Also, kids who exercise become adults who exercise!
CNN recently filmed the Walking/Running Club at my son's school. I have posted the video in my media clip section, or you can view it here: http://www.cnn.com:80/video/?/video/health/2008/04/10/fortin.walking.clubs.cnn
Friday, April 4, 2008
Say something or bite your tongue?
What do you do when you don't agree with someone else's parenting choices?
At the grocery store recently, I noticed a mom who was pushing a 2 or 3 year old who was sitting on TOP of the grocery cart that's designed to look like a truck. The truck part is low to the ground, has 2 steering wheels and contains seat belts. With 1 shopping cart injury occurring every 20 minutes in the U.S., this scenario made me cringe although I didn't say anything to this mom for fear of ruining a pleasant shopping trip for all of us.
While driving my son to school in the mornings, I sometimes notice 6 and 7 year old children riding in the front seat of the car on their way to being dropped off. Now, while this is not illegal, this practice is not the safest option. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (not to mention many car owner's manuals) recommends that all children under age 13 sit in the back seat. In fact they say “Research has shown that children aged 12 and under are 26 to 35 percent less likely to be fatally injured in a crash if they are in the rear seat, and front seats are even less safe when equipped with an air bag which, when deployed, can harm younger children.”
In retrospect, since the well-being of the child should ultimately come first, I wish I had asked the store manager to ask the mother to use the cart correctly. Fortunately, it appeared that they made it through the checkout line without any problems. I'm not sure how to deal with children not properly seated or restrained in a moving car.
Have you been in a situation where you strongly disagreed with a parent’s choices? How did you respond? Why do you think parents put their child at risk—are they not aware of the risk, or do they feel any benefits (for example, the child’s enjoyment) outweigh the potential harm?
At the grocery store recently, I noticed a mom who was pushing a 2 or 3 year old who was sitting on TOP of the grocery cart that's designed to look like a truck. The truck part is low to the ground, has 2 steering wheels and contains seat belts. With 1 shopping cart injury occurring every 20 minutes in the U.S., this scenario made me cringe although I didn't say anything to this mom for fear of ruining a pleasant shopping trip for all of us.
While driving my son to school in the mornings, I sometimes notice 6 and 7 year old children riding in the front seat of the car on their way to being dropped off. Now, while this is not illegal, this practice is not the safest option. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (not to mention many car owner's manuals) recommends that all children under age 13 sit in the back seat. In fact they say “Research has shown that children aged 12 and under are 26 to 35 percent less likely to be fatally injured in a crash if they are in the rear seat, and front seats are even less safe when equipped with an air bag which, when deployed, can harm younger children.”
In retrospect, since the well-being of the child should ultimately come first, I wish I had asked the store manager to ask the mother to use the cart correctly. Fortunately, it appeared that they made it through the checkout line without any problems. I'm not sure how to deal with children not properly seated or restrained in a moving car.
Have you been in a situation where you strongly disagreed with a parent’s choices? How did you respond? Why do you think parents put their child at risk—are they not aware of the risk, or do they feel any benefits (for example, the child’s enjoyment) outweigh the potential harm?
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