Bullying and Your Child Your child has always enjoyed learning, but lately seems eager to avoid school. Stomachaches and mysterious illnesses pop up in the evening and seem to get worse as the school bus creeps closer to your street the next morning. It's possible the problem has nothing to do with how last night's dinner was digested. Your child could be worried sick over a schoolyard bully. REad on ... Tags: parenting, Bullying

For Extra Health Benefit, Don't Chill Watermelon US Department of Agriculture scientists reported that watermelons stored at room temperature offer more nutrients than refrigerated or freshly picked melons. They found that watermelon stored at 70 F had up to 40% more lycopene and 50% to 139% more beta-carotene than freshly picked fruit. The researchers said their findings showed that watermelons continue to produce nutrients after they are picked and that chilling slows this process. More on the subject... Tgs: nutrition, health, fruit, food storage

Play by the Rules provides information and online learning about how to prevent and deal with discrimination, harassment and child abuse for the sport and recreation industry. Visit the site

VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES CAN INCREASE AGGRESSION May Be More Harmful Than Violent Television and Movies Because of the Interactive Nature of the Games Playing violent video games like Doom, Wolfenstein 3D or Mortal Kombat can increase a person's aggressive thoughts, feelings and behavior both in laboratory settings and in actual life, according to two studies appearing in the April issue of the American Psychological Association's (APA) Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Furthermore, violent video games may be more harmful than violent television and movies because they are interactive, very engrossing and require the player to identify with the aggressor, say the researchers. Read on ... Tags: Video games, gaming, parenting

Gene Simmons shows parenting skills on TV By night, Gene Simmons goes to work wearing makeup and spitting blood in the rock band Kiss. By day, he's got some downright normal ideas about parenting. Shannon Tweed and their kids — 17-year-old Nick Tweed-Simmons and 14-year-old Sophie Tweed-Simmons — let cameras into their home for the new A&E series "Gene Simmons Family Jewels." Read on ... Tags: parenting, Gene simmons

Violent Video Games - Psychologists Help Protect Children from Harmful Effects Psychological research confirms that violent video games can increase children's aggression, but that parents moderate the negative effects. Read on ... Tags: Video games, parenting

Depression tied to risky teen sex By Anne Harding Sexually experienced middle- and high-school teenagers with higher levels of depressive symptoms are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior, a new study shows. Read on ... Tags: teenagers, depression, teenage depression

Adolescent sleep problems: Why is your teen so tired? Adolescents are notorious for staying up late at night and being hard to rouse in the morning. Your teens are probably no exception. But it's not necessarily because they're lazy or contrary. This behavior pattern actually has a real physical cause. And there are ways to help mesh your adolescent's sleep schedule with that of the rest of the world. Read on ... Tags: sleep, teenagers,parenting, family

Guide to a healthy heart

This is a visually exciting,interactive website which gives information about the heart, how it works and why it fails. Explore the Invision Guide to a healthy heart.

heart

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 ...

depression in kids

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...

breastfeeding

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 ... obesity in children

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

family, genealogy

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

antioxidants, soup, recipes, pumpkin,

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.

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

children's books

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

families

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

parenting

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

video games, families

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

family