Thursday, August 10, 2006

What Parents Need to Know: Treating Depression in Children and Teens

During a National Mental Health Association telephone media briefing, a teen with depression, her mother and two mental health experts discussed what families can do if they think their child needs mental health treatment.

The briefing went beyond current controversies — such as rumors and myths concerning specific treatments and mental health screenings in schools — to address What Parents Need to Know: Treating Depression in Children and Teens. Read on ...

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Study Finds Breast Milk Helps Preemies

A study found that extremely premature infants who were fed breast milk in the hospital did better on tests of mental development later in life than others fed only formula. The more breast milk the babies consumed, the better they did on the tests. Researchers believe this is because ingredients in breast milk, particularly fatty acids, aid in brain development. Breast milk had no effect on rates of cerebral palsy, blindness or hearing problems.

More on the subject...

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Experts debate labeling children obese That seems to be at the heart of a debate over whether to replace the fuzzy language favored by the U.S. government with the painful truth — telling kids if they're obese or overweight. Read on ...

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Genealogists discover royal roots for all

Even without a documented connection to a notable forebear, experts say the odds are virtually 100 percent that every person on Earth is descended from one royal personage or another.

Read the whole article

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Thursday, August 03, 2006

Soup up your health... and scare off disease.

Pumpkin, aside from its great taste and versatility, is high in antioxidants and beta-carotene, known heart-disease and cancer fighters, so cook this up:

Get the recipe

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Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Interactive Tool: Are You Ready to Quit Smoking? What does this tool measure? Click here to find out whether you're ready to quit smoking. This interactive tool measures your readiness to quit smoking. The tool uses the stages of change approach, which is based on research about how people typically make behavior changes. The approach suggests that to make positive change, people must go through distinct stages from not thinking about quitting to actually quitting. Based on your answers, this tool will identify the stage you are in and help you think about what to do next.

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Bookrapt - Children's Literature Seminar

Bookrapt presents its 26th Annual Children's Literature Seminar(Bookrapt is the new name for the Bay of Plenty Children's Literature Association)

The 2006 seminar showcases local talent. Some of New Zealand's (in fact the world's) best known and loved authors and illustrators live in the Bay of Plenty.

Last year'sseminar was a sell out success (just like Eric Clapton at the MissionEstate!) so be in quick to secure a place. The Seminar will take place on Saturday August 5 2006 at the Tauranga Intermediate School Library from 8.45 a.m. and should wind up around 2.15 p.m.

Speakers:

LynleyDodd,

Sherryl Jordan,

Phyllis Johnston,

Jean Bennett,

Angie Belcher,

KimWesterskov

and Debbie Tipuna.

(Wow what a line up!)

The programme will also feature the official launch of the new name Bookrapt so come and celebrate with us!

Seminar cost is $25 for members, $30 for non-members.

(Membership costs $20)

For a full seminar programme and enrolment form please contact Lois Rout on 07 578 4956 Email: lois.rout at xtra dot co dot nz Fax 07 578 4953

Friday, July 28, 2006

ConsumerLab.com

ConsumerLab.com, is the leading provider of independent test results and information to help consumers and healthcare professionals evaluate health, wellness, and nutrition products. It publishes results of its tests at www.consumerlab.com — which receives nearly 2 million visits per year

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Should You Take Your Baby Along On Your Bicycle??

(Via the Play Library Blog)

"If you love biking, you may be particularly eager to have your young child enjoy it with you. Don't be in too big a hurry to share the experience with your child.

In fact, NEVER carry a child under the age of 1 on your bicycle, either in a bicycle seat, a child trailer or any other carrier," warns Debra Holtzman, an internationally recognized safety and health expert and the author of the new book, "The Safe Baby: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Home Safety (Sentient Publications, 2005).

" A baby does not have sufficient neck strength to support the weight of a helmet or to control head movement during a sudden stop. A one year old who can sit well when unsupported will have neck strong enough to support a lightweight helmet; at that point he can be carried in a child trailer or a rear-mounted seat.

Debra Holtzman's offers a checklist of suggestions to help keep young children safe: >> More

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Video Game Facts

This site looks at what video games are out there at the moment and explains exactly what's in them and who they are suitable for. Also features a range of tips for parents who want to control the content and amount of gaming their kids get up to.

Visit the site

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Saturday, July 22, 2006

Found Money: Surprising Ways to Save

Looking for money? Check your car, your mortgage - your child?

With minimal attention and effort, I bet you can reduce your typical costs by at least 10 to 15 percent -- maybe even a lot more.

This stuff is not about making any major life changes. The truth is that you may well be needlessly tossing away a bucket of money each year, simply by being a bit careless here and there.

With that in mind, here are some simple and surprising ways to save.

>> more

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Tech creates a bubble for kids

" ...you've got a generation that doesn't have the same concept of privacy and personal boundaries as generations before," Verhaagen says.

"They're tuned out in some ways to the social graces around them and the people in their lives, in their physical realm, and tuned in to the people they're with virtually," says psychologist and sociologist Sherry Turkle of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge.

On top of that, young people don't care as much about making a good impression as their parents and grandparents did growing up, says Jean Twenge, an associate professor of psychology at San Diego State University."

>> more

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Tuesday, July 18, 2006

The downside of Google

There may be some information here you can use to remind family members about checking the accuracy of information they find on the internet ... Stephen Pritchard

Back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth, journalists seeking enlightenment and chasing a deadline relied on their dogeared contacts books to find experts, spokesmen and pundits. Today, we still reach for those phone numbers, but we also have an infinitely more powerful aid in our research - the internet.Search engines such as Google find acres of instant information and more 'experts' than you can shake a stick at, but every computer screen should carry the warning: 'Beware: all is not as it seems.' Read on …

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Storytime online

This website uses online streaming video to feature Screen Actors Guild members reading childen's books aloud.

There are actiities to use and these can be downloaded.

visit Storyline online

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Saturday, July 15, 2006

All New Square Foot Gardening (Paperback) by Mel Bartholomew ...anyone, anywhere can enjoy a Square Foot garden. Children, adults with limited mobility, even complete novices can achieve spectacular results. I've rarely seen a more reader-friendly book! It comes complete with layout pages, very consise planting guides, even planting time tables for your area and the amount of time you can store your seeds! If you have never gardened before or started a garden that eventually left you frustrated, then this is the book for you! I just think that you should check your area for agricultural grade vermiculite before you buy the book. But once that little snafu is over, you are going to be amazed at how brilliant and easy this book makes successful gardening. I highly recommend this method for busy people and parents like myself. It is wonderfully easy to maintain, makes loads of produce, and looks very attractive. Two green thumbs way, way up. More reviews from amazon where the book is selling for $13.59 gardening, families

Thursday, July 13, 2006

'Safe' social networking sites emerge

Companies launch more secure, educational alternatives to MySpace and Friendster

Amid rising concerns over popular social networking sites, a new crop of "safe" sites is currently emerging. These "safe" sites hope to limit the dangers associate with other sties, such as talking to predators and revealing too much personal information. In addition, these safer sites aim to develop in users a proper online skill set--one that incorporates elements of online safety as well as proper behavior in virtual communities. Read on ...

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Business profs rethinking ethics classes

By CATHERINE TSAI

Last fall, Bentley College management professor Tony Buono taught a class on corporate scandals with colleagues pitching in from finance, accounting and even the philosophy department. The four picked through the cases of Enron, WorldCom, Tyco and Shell.

At the end of the semester, the number of students in a simulated trading room who were caught in misconduct or misusing information for insider trading was significantly higher than at the beginning. The students said, "You taught us how to do it," Buono recalled.

Read the whole article

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Sunday, July 09, 2006

Calorie Restriction May Prevent Alzheimer's Through Promotion Of Longevity Program In The Brain

A recent study directed by Mount Sinai School of Medicine suggests that experimental dietary regimens might calm or even reverse symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The study, which appears in the July 2006 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, is the first to show that restricting caloric intake, specifically carbohydrates, may prevent AD by triggering activity in the brain associated with longevity.

Read on ...

Saturday, July 08, 2006

More U.S. Teens Are Shunning Risky Behaviors (Risky health behaviors -- such as unsafe motor vehicle use, sexual activity, and tobacco and alcohol use -- are on the decline among American youth. Read on ... ,

Thursday, July 06, 2006

What is your Parenting style?

Everyone has their own parenting style - what's your parenting style?

Take this fun quiz to discover your style, and learn some fun tips on parenting.

Visit the quiz

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