Boys Will Be Boys.
Submitted by Childn’Parent
What do you do when your excited son shows you the snake that he has just captured? Do you get angry when the spiders that he gathered get loose in your house? How do you feel when he comes home with his new outfit covered in mud? I think that all Moms’ will agree that boys will be boys.
My son has always been terrified of bugs. He liked to look from a distance, or on a brave occasion poke at them with a long stick, but the second a bug made any contact with his skin or clothing he would become terrified. While I felt bad that he had this fear, I was also relieved in a way. I have always heard that having a son would mean that he would always be dirty, and would bring home all kinds of bugs which I was not excited about. Until recently, none of this had happened.
My husband took my son exploring in a nearby field. He had never gone into the field because I had told him about all of the bugs and snakes in there; that did not sound fun to him. However after exploring with Dad, he had a new appreciation for all of the creepy crawly things that he saw.
A few days later he told me that he had caught a bug. I pictured a little ladybug or something and congratulated him. Minutes later he came up to me and had a large cricket on his arm. It was crawling from hand to hand and arm to arm; my son was smiling from ear to ear. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, grab the camera, or hurry and get the bug off of him.
I watched for a minute and then thought to myself…boys will be boys. One fear conquered, what will be next?
Need More Cowbell?
Submitted by Boys and Schools Blog
So, this is admittedly completely off-topic, but I found an excellent time-waster today in the form of Nerve and IFC’s list of the 50 Greatest Comedy Sketches of All Time. Alas, not all of the entries have working links, but enough of them work to put a serious dent in your afternoon. I could try to drag this back on-topic by discussing Christopher Hitchens’ work about men and comedy (short version: men are better at comedy than women), but not only do I not want to touch that claim with a ten-meter cattle prod, but I’m not entirely sure that Hitchens himself isn’t being a tad controversial purely for the sake of controversy there. Of course, I did once write an essay for a college scholarship about why there were so few great female lead guitar players. (Yes, I had forgotten about Heart. No, I did not forget about Courtney Love or Lita Ford.) But that only because that kind of pop culture riffing is a lot of fun to do–not because I think there’s any great insight to be found there about the battle of the sexes.
So, to drag things back on topic, albeit kicking and screaming, I’ve heard a bit of the outrage about the provacative Miley Cyrus picture for the cover of Vanity Fair. Seeing as I get up every morning and thank God that my house has so far been untouched by the Hannah Montana craze, I wasn’t exactly aware of the issue at first, but it seems that Ms. Cyrus has made quite a name for herself as a wholesome Disney ‘tween star, and that the Vanity Fair photos are not exactly compatible with that image. I do know that parents of girls are upset (and rightly so in my opinion) that a major celebrity (and role model) who has been marketed to their pre-teen daughters as a wholesome “regular girl,” seems to be going down the same tired sex-kitten path that Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, and company have travelled. And I do sympathize with this view–I don’t like the message we send to young women that this kind of early sexualization is something to be admired or emulated–or that it somehow is connected to being glamorous and popular. But I don’t think that this is just a problem for young women. I think we should also be aware of how these same messages affect young men. Because if we are teaching girls that this is what they should be, then we are also teaching boys that this is what they should expect and admire as well–and I don’t see that as any healthier for young boys than it is for girls.
Can doctors have a life?
Submitted by Dr. Gwenn Is In
White Coat Notes yesterday mused about “What happens when doctors what to get a life” and my mind jumped to a World Wrestling Entertainment Main Event. I could even hear the announcer: “In one corner, standing inches tall, the doctor and his or her life. In the other corner, towering high above the ring, the medical establishment.” And the winner is….
It’s not just “young” doctors who want to balance family and work these days, as Elizabeth Cooney points out in her post. But, all doctors, in my opinion. This is a wrestling match that occurs in young and old, male and female, these days. The field of medicine is tough and can suck up all of your time and energy if you are not careful. Perhaps that is why many doctors I know who wanted a life have ended up tweaking their careers in a way to minimize clinical medicine for other pursuits: patient education, research, writing, teaching, medical communication, medical administration, health care administration. And, the list goes on - even to include leaving the field of medicine entirely.
I will admit that younger doctors do have more clinical options out of the gate than my colleagues and I had even a decade a go. There are now more shift opportunities and part time opportunities. There are more specialty choices that allow for creative scheduling of time such as hospitalist work and urgent care work. And, medical groups are going to some interesting team concepts, as Cooney mentioned. All of these models, however, do strain the work place. And, there in lies the problem. So far, there have been no great solutions for that issue and some fields of medicine have dramatic workforce shortages. Yet…doctors are more awake and happy, which is good for patient care.
Cooney’s post was prompted by yesterday’s Wall Street Journal article called “As Doctors Get A Life, Strains Show”. The initial paragraph well describes today’s medical work environment:
“U.S. medicine is in the middle of a cultural revolution, as young physicians intent on balancing work and family challenge the assumption that a doctor should be available to treat patients around the clock.”
Even the AMA is admitting that this change may be for the better. According to Ronald Davis, AMA President:
“There has been a sea change in how young physicians today balance professional responsibilities and personal needs compared to their colleagues from a few decades ago…Physicians who manage their own stress and feel happy with their own daily circumstances are probably better physicians.”
If all goes well, tomorrow’s young physicians won’t have to face the wrestling match many of us have had to endure. This is one match that should end in a tie.
So, please don’t get upset if you learn your doc is off doing something personal. Just think about your own life and realize that he or she is not doing anything different than you do to blow off steam or manage your family. And, when you do see your doctor next, you’ll have a more attentive and focused doctor as a result.
A Tummy Ache Or Something More
Submitted by Dr. Gwenn Is In
April is Irritable Bowel Awareness Month and I just posted some interesting info over at A Dose of Dr. Gwenn. While tummy aches are common in kids, so is Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In fact, much more common than I realized! Head over and check it out
Knowing is Half the Battle
Submitted by Boys and Schools Blog
I sometimes feel like it’s it’s almost too easy to jump on the anti-video game wagon when it comes to pinpointing problems with boys. They can be a handy punching bag, especially when you consider the fact that they don’t punch back. But I’m limited by my own biases–namely, that I like video games and don’t think that they’re universally bad. Just that they require a lot of parental knowledge and awareness.
For example, today is the US release of the game Grand Theft Auto IV, the latest in a blockbuster game series, and virtually guaranteed to become one of the biggest selling, most popular games of the year. It’s also the game series that pioneered the ability to pick up prostitutes to help your health in the game, and then shoot said prostitute to get your money back. So, it’s not a kid’s game. With that said, the reason it’s so popular is because it’s well made, well-scripted, and interesting to play. Heck, it’s even interesting to watch. (In one of the previous titles, James Woods voiced the character of a rogue CIA agent who constantly dropped references to his part in wild government conspiracies, and Dennis Hopper played an anarchist hippy.) There are moments in the game that challenge movies for watchable entertainment value.
The main issue though, is that we’re talking solid R-Rated movies here, not harmless action movies featuring plucky kids or talking animals. I think that some people get a little misled by the word, “game,” in video game, and think of harmless Atari and NES era pursuits, like eating power pellets and swinging over lakes of crocodiles. (I maintain that it is impossible to jump over the three crocodile heads in the originial Pitfall without the swinging rope.) But the truth is that the spectrum of games now is so wide, that there is such a thing as a purely adult game. Unfortunately, we parents aren’t all on the same page, so making sure that your children aren’t playing (or exposed to) titles that are too mature for them requires research and communication. And there’s a certain amount of personal judgment that goes into it as well. Some might have no problem with games that involve violence so long as their kids are older and the game takes the side of the “good guys” (e.g. you play as a soldier fighting terrorists–believe me, when various games let you play as anything from a mafioso thug to a professional hitman, this is not an insignificant difference). Other people might put a moratorium on all games that involve any kind of violence or gun play. And some parents might not have any limits at all. So it’s up to us as parents to communicate and do our homework about what kind of game play is appropriate for our kids–and to respect other parents’ boundaries if they are a bit more restrictive than you.
Of course, I’m focusing on content here rather than time spent playing games, which is its own problem, and arguably as serious an issue as game content. Clearly, both need to be managed by careful parents, since umpteen hours playing Hello Kitty’s Island Adventure can be just as harmful in its own way as 20 minutes spent playing Hitman. But it’s up to us to us–not the gaming industry or the government–to police these things in our boys’ lives.
Get the Fun Going for Your Child With Tee Ball!
Submitted by Childn’Parent
With spring here, its time to get your child ready to take off in tee ball! This exciting sport gives children experience in running, coordination, muscle strength and cooperative teamwork skills. Working with your child on basic tee ball drills will help them get ready to play a better game.
Soft Sock Ball Grounders
This fun inside drill helps a child get ready to catch grounders. Roll up one or two socks into a big softball. Have your child stand several feet away and roll the soft sock ball in a straight line toward the child. Have your child practice using the mitt by scooping up the sock ball in a clutch. Point out that the clutched mitt is like an alligator with a mouth that opens and closes. Practicing the alligator clutch over and over will encourage the habit of squeezing the mitt whenever the ball is in it.
Running the Bases
Small children can get easily confused by which way to run, especially during an exciting game. In the backyard or at a park, set up a baseball diamond with three bases and a home plate. Have your child run the bases touching on each one briefly while yelling out which base they are on. This experience helps build confidence and gives your child a directional map so they know which way to run during an actual game.
For great help on sporting drills, coaching your child’s team, selecting a bat and saving money on sporting equipment be sure to read our tee ball article at Childn’ Parent.
Non- Toxic Pets (not so much)-
Submitted by Non-Toxic Kids
The good folks at the Environmental Working Group recently launched Pets for the Environment, a website devoted to keeping pets (and people) safe from toxic chemicals. The website is a fun place for pet owners, is very cute, and has meaningful tips for lessening your pet’s chemical exposure. This is also a helpful read for the parents of young children, who contact many of the same chemicals in many of the same ways (on the floor, in their mouths).
The site includes ways to take action, a detailed body burden report of “Eddie” the spokesdog, and a blog devoted to Eddie. This poor mutt’s chemical load was significantly higher than his human counterparts. Visit the site to learn more about how you can protect your pet from toxic chemicals in our environment.
Photo: Zuby dog from EWG
Going Bananas for Bad Puns
Submitted by Boys and Schools Blog
This little piece of news has been getting a lot of coverage–I think because it lets headline writers indulge their love for cute pun-related headlines–but I still couldn’t resist. Apparently, there may be a connection between a mother’s diet before she conceives and the gender of the baby. More specifically, a good appetite, with a lot of potassium-rich foods (like bananas, hence the journalistic puns), and not skipping breakfast seems to raise the odds of having a boy. The theory goes that the extra calories and nutrients may be needed to help boy babies grow, and that the diet somehow (err. . . .how to put this delicately) makes for a more hospitable situation. (Maybe that was too delicate.)
Anyway, the opposite of the higher calorie, high potassium diet can be associated with low blood sugar, which seems to be a problem for male embryos. It all makes sense (sort of), as it’s fairly well established that boy babies tend to be more likely to encounter complications in utero, so I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that they do better with more calories and nutrients available. Needless to say the scientists behind the study (as well as any good nutritionist or doctor) advise against changing one’s diet drastically in order to influence sex selection–it’s not necessarily healthy, nor is it guaranteed to work. So, if you’re not a fan of bananas, take heart. I hate bananas myself with the passion of a thousand fiery suns. (It’s the texture–they’re so mushy.) But I did have two boys. I will admit, however, that I probably had the 400 extra calories a day covered. I don’t know if that influenced the gender of my babies, but if so, that’s about the only good thing I can say about it.
Body Burden Tests: Dateline Explores Toxic Chemicals in Two Families-
Submitted by Non-Toxic Kids
Thanks to a friend, I learned that Dateline ran a story about the chemical load of two families with starkly different lifestyle choices, and the results were very telling.
The two families’ food choices couldn’t have been more different. One family (the Greens) buy mostly organic food, uses non-toxic cleaners, and lives in a home that was build in a green and chemically conscious fashion. The other family (the Browns) tested was a more typical American family, eating mostly processed and convenience foods, eating lots of fast food, and using conventional (and chemically laden) products.
They tested many of the chemicals we are concerned about and I write about here, including phthalates, fire retardants, perfluorochemicals/PFCs, tricolsan, BPA, lead, mercury and parabens.
The results were suprising. In the end, their total chemical loads were very similar, with only a one point difference. But the message is in the details.
The Browns tested significantly higher for phthalates, which are present in a whole host of items, including cosmetics, paint, food packaging, and plastics. The Browns commented that they microwave in plastic frequently, and they eat a good deal of packaged and prepared foods, increasing the contact with phthalates. Phthalates are linked with problems of the male reproductive system, including testicular cancer and inferitily. Another good case for eating whole, minimumally processed foods!
Both families came in with low levels of fire retardants in their blood, although I would like to know more about what constitutes a “low” rating. In 2005, manufacturers stopped using the most toxic flame retardants, but unfortunately, they remain in many of our homes, in dust, and furniture. Flame retardants have been linked to physical and cognitive development in children, and thyroid problems as adults.
PFCs are coatings on non-stick pans (Teflon), clothing, and food packaging, including fast food containers, microwave popcorn bags, anti-stain coatings on furniture, and they have been linked to many different types of cancers. I’ve been meaning to write an article about PFCs and Teflon for quite some time. I threw out my old, chipped, Teflon pan after I read reports that using it on high heat gives off enough toxic gases to kill a bird in the same room. I apparently missed the memo that you aren’t supposed to heat up Teflon pans beyond medium heat. Now I live with non-crispy hash browns and corn cakes. Just ask my mom, she doesn’t like my Teflon ban. It is hard to tell if the Browns increased numbers for PFC is because of food packaging or use of a Teflon pan. But it is enough for me to continue to have less than stellar crispy, fried foods. And next time I buy furniture, I will not have them apply any stainguard, although I wince at the idea of all the stains that will accumulate with two small kids.
The Green family also had very low levels of triclosan, a bacteria killing pesticide found in hand soaps, cutting boards, and even toys and toothpaste (!?). Dateline states that this chemical is toxic to wildlife, linked to cancer, and bioaccumulates in the food chain over time. It is also a chemical that is showing up in our wastewater treatment plants, rivers and streams. I had heard of this chemical before, but I haven’t been viligant about avoiding it, as I will now be.
Now here’s the shocker. The Green family tested much higher for BPA then the Browns. Turns out they eat a lot of canned refried beans. They didn’t know the lining of the canned foods they were eating contained BPA, in higher amounts than that of the #7 water bottles. I’ve been trying to buy only Eden’s Beans, which are reportedly free of BPA. I’ve also read that Trader Joe’s canned goods do not contain BPA as well.
Both families had low and moderate amounts of parabens present. Parabens are a preservative in cosmetics and body care products, as well as some foods, drinks and medicines (this I did not know). According to Dateline,
“Some parabens can irritate the skin or cause allergic reactions. Laboratory studies indicate that parabens are estrogenic, meaning they can mimic the hormone estrogen, disrupting normal function of the hormone system. In a recent study, traces of 5 different parabens were found in the breast cancer tumors of 19 of 20 women examined. Other lab studies also link parabens to cancer, and to reproductive health problems as well.”
This is enough for me to continue to seek out body care products free of parabens and phthalates.
The mercury levels of both families were low. Maybe they had not dropped a CFC light yet!Finally, the Green family had higher rates of lead in their blood, which was alarming. I wonder if they used salvage materials when building their house, because it was ecologically responsible, and ended up with some lead paint or stain somewhere. This is similar to what happened with our doors. Or it could have been lead in their pipes, tainting their water.
Watch the Dateline video by clicking on the link above, then on the video link.
There are also some great links on the site, including our beloved Environmental Working Group, and a way to take a quiz to estimate your chemical load. I took the quiz, and learned a great deal, for example, I should vaccum more to prevent PFC exposure (not sure if that will ever happen, but it is good to try, right?).
Who’s Afraid of Take Your Kids to Work Day?
Submitted by Boys and Schools Blog
So, tomorrow is the official, “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.” If you’re familiar with the history of TODASTWD (no idea if that’s the official acronym or not, but I really hope not–though if anything ever needed an acronym, it would be this day), you know that the inclusion of “and Sons” in the day counts as a minor victory for boys. Or at least a recognition that it’s a bit unfair to dismiss the needs of schoolboys altogether.
If you remember back when it was first introduced, it was just “Take Our Daughters to Work Day.” The whole concept was started by the Ms. Foundation, and it fell nicely into the whole “You Go, Girl,” style feminism that was so big in the ’90s. Obviously, the point was to teach girls about how empowered they were to succeed by taking them to work. This may be the ultimate in upper middle-class ideas. I can just imagine everyone getting excited at the meeting where they first introduced the theme, with people thinking about all the little girls who would be learning about Mommy’s law office or PR firm or college faculty meetings. Or maybe, as someone who has done everything from waiting tables to cleaning on construction sites, I’m just a tad bitter. Anyway, what a lot of people don’t know is that when they first publicized TODTWD (note the lack of, “and Sons,”), boys were left more or less out in the cold. In fact, some of the suggestions about what to do with the boys left behind in school on TODTWD revolved around spending the time teaching boys about the glass ceiling, sexism in America . . . you know, the fun stuff that wouldn’t alienate them at all.
Anyway, I’ve never actually been in or known an office that participates in TODASTWD, so I don’t know if offices actually follow the recommendations on the Foundation website for how to spend the day, but it looks like it has maintained a shred of its roots. Apparently, workplace coordinators are given a number of suggestions on activities to do with the kids that have been brought to work, and several of them are of the, “discuss stereotypes about gender roles in the workplace,” type. As it happened, my own dad did take me to work, long before TODASTWD ever existed. I did what most children do when they end up in workplaces where there is actual, you know, work to be done rather than conscious-raising sessions: I drew on pieces of copier paper, played with the stapler, and probably bothered his secretary more than I should have.
This is not to say that I don’t understand the value of the intent behind TODASTWD. When I was a little older and desperately interested in being a journalist, my parents had a journalist friend of theirs take me to work with her. She covered the Bullets (yes, it was that long ago–they were still the Bullets), and I got to go sit in the press box, watch the reporters work on the story, and attend the post-game interview. It was definitely one of the coolest days ever. And that is the kind of mentorship and inspirational opportunity that can be incredibly valuable to kids–boys and girls. I would just rather the whole Take Your Kids to Work thing focused more on a valuable mentorship or inspirational experience rather than being a day to forward politicized goals.
Troubled at Heart
Submitted by Boys and Schools Blog
We talk a lot about the health risks that men face based on behaviors and choices–that is, the fact that men are less likely to see a doctor at the first signs of a health problem, or that certain ilnesseses (like depression) manifest themselves differently in men and boys. But another side of the issues in male health is the fact that the age-old stereotype of men as the stronger sex is more than a little flawed.
I’m not talking here about stronger in the, “how much ya bench?” sense. It shouldn’t be a revolutionary statement to point out that males have greater upper body strength than women and are generally physically stronger. (I say, “shouldn’t be,” because of course there are plenty of people that would get all worked up about that statement–as though there’s some kind of connection between physical ability and moral worth.) When I talk about the, “stronger,” myth, I’m thinking about general health. And, from facing higher risks of miscarriage and complications in utero to having a shorter life expectancy, health-wise, you can make a pretty firm argument that males are actually the weaker sex.
Take heart disease. It’s the number one cause of death among men, regardless of ethnicity. It’s also the number one cause of death among women, but not only do more men die of it, but men also tend to develop heart disease earlier and are more likely to die of it before age 65. For a long time, men’s health behaviors, from poor diet to avoiding doctors, has been blamed for the high rate of heart disease among men, but now research has indicated that this risk may be present from boyhood. A study to be published in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests that changes during adolescence (even among healthy boys) raise boys’ cardiovascular risk, while girls may be protected somewhat during their childbearing years. It’s truly startling to think that the risk for heart disease starts increasing even during what many would consider the peak physical period of young adulthood for men. Hopefully, considering the profound devastation that early death from heart disease causes men and their families, this study might lead to more ways to reduce that threat. But it is sobering to realize how vulerable the health of our strong men and boys can be.
Let’s Celebrate Earth!
Submitted by Dr. Gwenn Is In
today is Earth Day - a day to pause and remember that we actually live on a planet and have a responsibility to care for that planet. I know - sounds a bit lofty but let’s face it, if we live on it, shouldn’t we care for it??
Caring for our environment is not necessarily a natural skill given our society is currently structured around a disposable, use and toss mentality for just about everything. Many of us have to learn to live a bit differently if we want our planet to continue to thrive. We somehow have to remember that there is a domino effect of everything we do. Perhaps that is the way to picture it: we are all dominoes and everything we do causes the next one to fall over all over the earth continually using some resource or another. If you want proof of the problem just check out the price of gas or milk or lumbar. While clearly a sign of the economy, also a sign of natural resources being strained.
In my family, we recycled and did what we could to use environmentally safe cleaning products. We even purchased our first hybrid car this year. We figured that was a good start. Our 7th grader, however, didn’t agree. Learning about the environment this year and the “go green” movement, she has developed quite the spark for saving the environment. We’re suddenly finding ourselves with recycling bags for all sorts of cans and bottles we didn’t do as diligently before and we’re now having many more discussions about “giving back” and ways to “improve our foot prints”. Cool stuff, especially since this was all kid-drive and parent approved!
We are far from a green family but today we are greener than yesterday thanks to our daughter for reminding that we have a daily job to do. And, let me tell you, she is right there if we forget!
Today take the first steps to turn your family a bit more green. It all really starts with a bit of awareness and some simple steps. Perhaps recycle more or conserve energy more. Use cleaning products differently. Consider commuting by public transportation or with a buddy. Just remember, you’re a domino…and so am I. What we all do impacts each other and if we all go just a bit more green, think of what that will do to our future and the future of our kids.
Here are some resources to get you on your way:
US Earth Day Site
GMA Environmental Myths
Yahoo! Earth Day Site: Reuse Groups
BPA Post Roundup (a tired parent’s summary of helpful BPA posts)–
Submitted by Non-Toxic Kids
The environmental health blogs and mainstream news outlets are buzzing with lots of BPA news. It certainly looks like the tides are changing, but until the U.S. bans BPA in all products for all people, its important for everyone to limit their exposure to this toxic chemical.
In light of this, I am recapping some of the previous posts on Non-Toxic Kids that might be helpful to parents as they decide what to use, what to pitch (Ugh! Piles of BPA laden water bottles in landfills-), and what to buy.
For sleep deprived, busy parents who are concerned about BPA but don’t have the time for gobs of research, I offer:
* BPA in Canned Goods (this is a serious concern for parents, as the BPA used in the can linings is higher than exposure from bottles)
* Q and A about BPA from Enviroblog
* And my very first post, about BPA free baby bottles
* Breastfeeding? Which storage bags are BPA free? Lansinoh and Medela are for starters.
And moment by moment, you can almost hear the folks in corporate boardrooms yelling, “We’ve got to do something about BPA!” Hence, Safe Mama reports that Playtex has a list of their products that are BPA free (and they are giving away BPA free samples). Rubbermaid has also released a list of their products that are BPA free, with pictures, shared by The Soft Landing.
If you have a question about BPA, please leave a comment and I will do my best to research it and share with our readers. Also, if you come across an interesting article or post about BPA in the news, please add it here, too.
We Run for Fun!
Submitted by Childn’Parent
After seeing Mom run as a way to stay fit and keep her piece of mind with three small children, my daughter, age 9, decided that she would like to begin running and eventually start to race.
As we sat down and discussed what she knew about running, I realized that she did not know much. However, she noticed that when I would run, I would have fun. She said that she wanted to be healthy, and she wanted to learn to run faster so that she would do better at sports. I told her that this was a great idea and that I would love to help her get started.
The first thing that any runner needs is some good running shoes. I explained to her the value of having shoes that would properly support your feet and help keep your body in proper alignment. Second, she would need to spend a little time stretching before and after her run. Stretching helps to prevent injury. Third, she would need to start out slowly, and gradually build up her mileage and speed.
After the quick lesson, she was ready to run. She got ready, put on her iPod, and was out the door. She came home about 10 minutes later and said that she felt great and was ready to race. It was the fastest run ever, but the important part was that she had planted a seed. She found something healthy and active that could benefit her for years to come and she wanted to pursue running for fun.
As parents, we need to encourage our children to engage in healthy activities that keep them moving, and build strong lungs and a healthy heart. Running is a great way to give your child an amazing workout in a short amount of time. Running will help them gain strength and build endurance and will help them to excel in future sports.
Canada Bans BPA in Baby Bottles-
Submitted by Non-Toxic Kids
Oh, Canada! How you act so quickly. While it takes our congress years to reform the CPSC, you move in one week to ban BPA from all baby bottles. You have the honor of being the first country to ban BPA (I thought the EU would win on this one). And look what you have started–
I learned from this article in the Washington Post that:
*Walmart will stop selling products with BPA by next year.
*Playtex will offer BPA free alternatives and stop selling BPA products by the end of the year.
*And in a reversal of policy from even a week ago (see my post about the confusing marketing of Nalgene’s new BPA free line), Nalgene said it will stop production of water bottles containing BPA and recall water bottles currently in stores.
*And according to the Post article, “Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he will file a bill to ban BPA from all baby products as well as dental sealants and any bottle or container that holds food and drink.” Bravo!
It just keeps getting better. More action on this, please, keep it coming. Especially here in the U.S. It’s high time we started protecting consumers (especially little ones) from an unnecessary chemical load.
Mumps On The Rise Is Why You Immunize
Submitted by Dr. Gwenn Is In
Recent news that mumps is on the rise places new importance on infant immunizations, and gives new meaning to this week’s National Infant Immunization Week.
A 2006 outbreak has cast a large and dark curtain on the hope that mumps would be eradicated by 2010. In that outbreak, there were no deaths but there were over 6500 cases and 85 hospitalizations. College campuses and Midwest states were the hardest hit in this epidemic, according to Reuters.
Waning immunity and a likely change to the mumps virus are likely contributors to this 2006 US epidemic as well as the 2004-2006 UK outbreak, but, as Reuters aptly pointed out, we have to consider the misplaced fears of many parents over the combination MMR vaccine and the immunization program in general.
Here’s the map of where we were going with mumps outbreaks pre-2005.Do we really want it to go back up again?
Here’s what life was like pre-massive immunizations of all the shots we have today. And, this.
Do we really want to go back to that life again??
Some people think that once a vaccine-preventable illness is eradicated in our country, we can stop the vaccine program for that illness. Keep in mind that we live in a global community and other countries may still have outbreaks. We have no idea where our kids will end up as adults or where our grandkids will end up. As the CDC states on their website,
“We don’t vaccinate just to protect our children. We also vaccinate to protect our grandchildren and their grandchildren. With one disease, smallpox, we “stopped the leak” in the boat by eradicating the disease. Our children don’t have to get smallpox shots any more because the disease no longer exists. If we keep vaccinating now, parents in the future may be able to trust that diseases like polio and meningitis won’t infect, cripple, or kill children. Vaccinations are one of the best ways to put an end to the serious effects of certain diseases.”
So, be wise, immunize…for the sake of not just your children but all the children of the world. This really is a act locally, think globally issue.
National Geographic Kids Show, Mama Mirabelle, Airs Earth Day Show this weekend-
Submitted by Non-Toxic Kids
We don’t have cable. We are weak and get sucked into whatever pumped up drama is on TV, especially my husband. It is a problem for our productivity and creativity, and we weren’t interested in exposing our preschooler to all those ads for things we don’t need, are bad for her, the earth, but good for mega-corporations.
In light of that, she’s seen a few movies, some shows, and whatever is on at friend’s houses. But if I could buy a few channels ala cart (could someone make that happen, please?) I would buy access to PBS in a heartbeat.
So I was excited to get an email from someone at PBS promoting an Earth Day episode of a show called Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies. She sent me two shows for my daughter’s viewing pleasure, which corresponded nicely with her having a cold.
For days now, too many times than I’d like to admit, she has watched the shows. They feature colorful cartoon African animals and real video clips of animals from all over the world. This is my favorite part. Many times kids don’t see what the animals actually look like, and this is a great way to show kids actual footage of real animals in their habitats. Also, each show has a basic ecology theme, boiled down for preschool aged kids. And you can find activities that go with each episode on their website. The Earth Day episode, Kings and Queens of the Savanna, explains the circle of life, and will be shown on PBS this weekend.
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U.S. Report issues “Warnings and Concerns” about BPA-
Submitted by Non-Toxic Kids
Finally! The National Toxicology Program, in its draft report, labeled BPA as a chemical of concern (shocking, I know, to anyone who has been reading anything about parenting lately, especially this blog and many others-). The National Toxicology Program’s findings are used by the FDA and the EPA to regulate certain chemicals.
These findings are much different than an expert panel found just last year, but those studies have been widely disputed because of much of the study done by scientists hired by the chemical industry (no conflict of interest there!).
In this article from today’s Washington Post, I learned that 3 states are considering outright bans of BPA: California (ah, the sunshine state may do it again), Maine, and New Jersey. Where is Vermont?
Now it looks like some politicians are paying attention, too, and calling on the FDA to regulate the use of BPA.
It’s heating up folks. And everyone thought we were overreacting. Take action to tell baby bottle manufacturers to stop using BPA in baby bottles, and to not wait for government action (because we all know how long that can take) by clicking here. At least now we have some momentum on our side, and action will soon hopefully follow.
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Physically Demanding
Submitted by Boys and Schools Blog
If you’ve ever spent the day looking after one or more young boys, then you probably know what it’s like to just be happy that they’re wrestling with each other rather than the furniture or innocent bystanders. And you probably are also familiar with the feeling that hits right around 2pm or so, where you would willingly saw off your own leg with a plastic dinner knife if you could just have a moment of peace. Not that my boys engender that emotion, of course. They’re too busy learning Latin and quietly diagramming sentences to, say, break three different lamps in the course of the day. Ahem. Anyway, like I was saying, if you do know the feeling I’m speaking of, then you can probably summon up more than a little sympathy for teachers, whose job it is to find constructive ways to channel the boundless energy of a group of young boys. Seriously, they deserve combat pay.
Anyway, there definitely are teaching strategies to help focus boys’ energy in the classroom so that they stay attentive instead of getting fidgity and making trouble. But two of the things that help boys stay active in school (and therefore give them an opportunity to move and expend energy so that they can better focus in class) seem to be in danger. I’m speaking, of course, of recess and physical education. I’ve written before about the move to shorten or otherwise limit recess in schools, but now it seems that phys ed classes are being overlooked, eliminated, or “fudged.” And this at the same time that schools are looking at how to combat childhood obesity. Here’s a hint: “fudging” gym class doesn’t help. (No pun intended.) Florida lawmakers are upset that schools aren’t following the spirit of the newly mandated 150 minutes of P.E. per week. While the intent was to get students outside and exercising, schools are counting things like stretching at their desks or walking to the lunch room as part of the mandatory P.E.
In their defense, the schools claim that there are insufficient funds for PE teachers and the activity the law desires, and that there is too little time in the school day to implement it. And while I sympathize with the stress of trying to find the gym teachers and meet the requirements, I can’t help but think that the complaints miss the bigger picture. By giving students the opportunity to get exercise, they might actually find that they’ll be helping themselves create more attentive students who are better prepared for class. Perhaps by spending time on PE, they’ll be saving time on admonishing kids who just need a little exercise and activity to better focus on their lessons.
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Canada moves on BPA, Labels it a “Dangerous Substance”-
Submitted by Non-Toxic Kids
Great news from north of the border. Two readers alerted me to the fact that Health Canada has labeled BPA (bisphenol A) as a dangerous substance, essentially paving the way for potential bans, action, or regulation of the hormone mimicking chemical. This forward thinking move could have international implications.
Turns out as a result many major Canadian retailers are pulling BPA containing bottles off the shelves to protect consumers. Check out a news video clip about this, here. And you can read more about it here.
Yet another area that the U.S. lags behind in. And I shudder to think where all those bottles will end up. Landfills, likely. But at least the many good folks in Canada (especially the wee ones) will not be exposed to this chemical anymore.
Thanks to John for these links and to chemicalsouplynne for the heads up!
New here? You can learn lots more by reading the posts labeled BPA in the right column of this blog. Strapped for time? Visit the Quick Tips for Busy Parents section on the left.
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The Tangled Web
Submitted by Boys and Schools Blog
Given that I’m writing this online and you’re (presumably) reading it online, it may seem like an odd forum for a warning about the dangers of the internet. One would assume that we’re all fairly web-savvy here. However, I tend to feel that the familiarity of the web can make us forget about just what a jungle it can be. A jungle populated by a mish-mash of lip-syncing videos, blogs about conpsiracy theories, and porn, perhaps, but a jungle nonetheless. Or at least a very poorly zoned city.
Am I an alarmist? Well, if so, I am in pretty good company. The state of Virginia, for example, has become the first state to require internet safety lessons for schoolchildren. The measure appears to have been prompted primarily by concerns over sex offenders soliciting children online–according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 13% of internet users aged 10-17 have received unwanted sexual solicitations (the vast majority of these victims were teens), and 4% of them reported being asked for nude or explicit photographs.
Yeah, the anonymity of the internet is a real boon for the darker side of human nature. In addition to concerns about sexual predators, the internet has also helped school bullies leap into the information age, sparking a rise in cyberbullying–apparently the hip new way to ostracize and belittle others.
So what should parents do? Experts generally recommend keeping close tabs on your children’s computer use, installing an internet filter, and keeping the family computer(s) in public areas of the house. In addition, it’s probably a good idea to help your kids understand how very public the web can be–that anything you post will be available for all the world to see. And that just maybe it’s a bad idea to post your full name, address, phone number, or pictures of you and your friends engaging in minor acts of juvenile delinquency. It’s just possible that the college admissions officer or hiring manager at their dream job might not be as impressed with their freewheeling antics as their friends were. And really, the world doesn’t need another picture of underage drinkers flashing defunct gang signs at a camara phone.
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Ready, Set…Unplug! Tv Turn Off Week is Coming!!
Submitted by Dr. Gwenn Is In
During my daughter’s 5th grade play yesterday, there was a very cleaver twist where the book community of fairy tails stood up against the new commercial venture of a TV production company wanting to put all their stories “live for all!”. In the end, Mother Goose herself kiboshed the idea reminding everyone that the point of books and stories was to entice kids to use their imaginations actively and that without that life and childhood would be boring. TV, they agreed, had a place but more for special events and a small amount of down time. Order was restored and they all lived happily ever after.
If only real life were so simple to restore order between plugged and unplugged media! National TV Turnoff week is a week away - just in time for school vacation week for many of us, and a time where many of us will be less plugged in by nature of our vacations. Perhaps we can use next week’s national event as a launching pad for a new and unplugged journey for all our families…what do ya say??
You’ve heard the studies on the news about the downsides of TV in bedrooms and the impact of too much TVs on young brains. I’m not going to go down that path today. I want you to just focus on family time - just old fashioned unplugged family time. To me, that is what our over-plugged obsession with the tube is eroding and what may have the biggest impact on our future society and lives. Add to that all the other issues of the myriad of studies you’ve been hearing about and it makes sense that we all try to unplug - perhaps using next week as the start of something new…to borrow from High School Musical.
You know the American Academy of Pediatrics is for this cause, but the NIH and other groups are, too. This should tell you how important cutting down screen time is for kids’ health!
This won’t be easy…I know. Some habits are hard to break but with a bit of prep time and replace time that was spent with tube time with other fun activities, it can be done. That, my friends, is the key. Don’t just unplug. Unplug with a purpose: a game with your kids, a walk, preparing a meal together, an outing somewhere, reading books all in the same room. The lists of possibilities are endless. I suspect after some initial resistance, your kids will quickly start coming up with unplugged things to do themselves. How do I know? Because they will quickly start to feel the amazing benefits that happen in a home when a family is really connected - and to each other, not to a TV.
I’ll blog more on this next week but wanted to put the bug in your ear now. To make this a positive experiences for your family, here are some links and ideas to get you on your way - check these out with your kids and let them know the clock is ticking on days to a new unplugged adventure!
TV Turn Off Week Website
We Can! Gets Involved With National TV Turn Off Week
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Celebrate Earth Day with your Little Ones-
Submitted by Non-Toxic Kids
In the coming days before Earth Day, I thought I would put on my old environmental educator hat and share some ways to discuss, share and learn about the earth with kids, and open up the idea for folks to comment and share any ideas they have as well.
For us, the snow is barely melting out there, so we have yet to be fully enveloped in spring.
One simple idea is to go outside with your child and have him or her listen, describe and count how many different sounds of spring he or she can identify. They can be something as simple as water dripping, mud squishing, birds calling, you get the idea. You can then discuss what is happening in nature at springtime (birds coming back, frogs and toads waking up and coming out, plants starting to grow, etc). From there encourage your child to tell stories about spring, make up songs, and create art that shares about spring in your area.
If you have an older child, and the warmer spring rains have started in your area, you can help frogs, toads and salamanders cross the roads safely when they are heading to their breeding grounds. Many nature centers have volunteers that organize and do this, but you can do it yourself as well. You just need to find a spot on a road where frogs, toads and salamanders cross in the spring (and often suffer high mortality rates). If you don’t know where this might be, call your local nature center. You can then venture out with your child on a rainy night, with a flashlight and reflective clothes (if possible) and a bucket. Your mission in simple: walk along the road (being careful of cars, of course!), looking for frogs, toads and salamanders trying to cross. If you spot one, gently pick it up, or put it in your bucket (they are usually cold from the long winter, so they aren’t moving quickly) and walk them across the street. Then set them down on the other side. Show your child how to do this, and then continue the quest. Not only will you be helping lessen the death rates of these incredible creatures, but you can go back and look up exactly what you found in a guide book or on the web. Here are some good resources about frog, toad and salamander crossing.
New Jersey Audubon Society’s site
This is a once a year amazing opportunity to see, close up, the amazingly beautiful spotted salamander (if you live in the eastern U.S.). Kids love their bright spots and long bodies, and helping them is an unforgettable experience.
You can find other Earth Day tips and green activities at The Savvy Source for Parents website and blog. This month, in honor of Earth Day, they are focused on sharing ways we all can lessen our impact on the environment. This site also shares many creative activity ideas for kids, preschool selection information, information on toys, books, and a really cool looking feature I have yet to explore that shares specific learning activity suggestions based on your child’s developmental level and interests. Check it out here. The site is packed with truly usable information for busy parents.
photo by: www.MichaelCravens.com
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Fun in the Sun Activities for Kids !
Submitted by Childn’Parent
Springtime is here and its time for fun in the sun with inexpensive outdoor activities for kids. In the last twenty years, the number of overweight children in the United States has doubled making child obesity a serious parental concern. Outdoor games can help parents and kids stay in shape and create lasting memories in your own backyard!
Red Rover Red Rover
This old fashioned game involves running and stretching. Divide children into two teams with one team situated on either side of the backyard. Have the children stand in a line, face forward while stretching out their arms and clasping hands. One team starts the game by calling “Red Rover, Red Rover send (child’s name) right over.” The child named runs to the other team and tries to break through the clasped hands. If the child cannot break through, they return to their original team. If the child does break through, have them join hands with the opposing team. The next team then takes a turn. Play the game until each child has had a running turn.
Duck, Duck Goose
This is a fun game for small preschool children which involves running and memory skills. Have the children sit in a circle. Pick one child to be it. Have the child walk around the circle tapping each child on the head saying duck. When the child is ready to run, have them tap a child and say goose. The child tapped as the goose then gets up and runs around the circle chasing the other child until he or she finds a spot in the circle to sit down. If the goose child taps the duck child before sitting down, the duck child is out. Play the game until each child has had a turn.
The Two-Legged Relay Race
This game teaches teamwork, running and coordination skills. Divide children into two teams and have them buddy up with a partner. Have them stand with their legs side by side. Take an old rag and tie it securely around the left leg of one partner to the right leg of the other partner. Putting their arms across their shoulders, have them practice running across the yard. Set a starting point and have the first two teams race across the yard and back to the next set of buddies. Each set of buddies takes a turn tying the rag around the legs and racing across the yard. The first team to finish wins!
Find Parenting Tips for swimming and team sports at Childn’Parent and more fun games at: Rainbow/Org and Disney Family
By: Debby Hoffer
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You Gotta Jacques the Monkey
Submitted by Boys and Schools Blog
If you’ve never seen a stegosaurus fight a Disney princess hand mirror, then you’ve obviously never had your son receive the wrong gender Happy Meal toy. (And if your money is on the stegosaurus, I should warn you that the mirror is actually pretty vicious–and tenacious to boot.) It’s interesting how politicized the entire notion of kids’ toys can be–especially when you consider that there’s pretty convincing evidence in the form of centuries of experience pointing to the fact that boys and girls generally have different tastes in toys and different styles of play.
Yes, I can hear the shouting now: “But it’s all socialization! We program boys and girls to like gendered toys! I know a boy that loves dolls and a girl that loves trucks.”
First off, I did say, “generally.” We’re talking about trends here, not what each individual child may do. Of course, there are always exceptions. As far as the socialization argument goes, it’s just another rehashing of the nature versus nurture debate, and I think it tends to operate from an innate assumption that there’s something wrong with being inclined to one kind of toy. (Or even that there’s something wrong with girls toys. Hey, I wasn’t a big fan of Betsy Wetsy myself, but I’m not going to try to make my dislike of dolls that wet themselves into a grand sociological statement.)
Anwyay, one of the funny things about the whole debate is how often actual scientific studies tend to support the idea that there’s some biological basis to play preferences. Parents who have seen innocent dolls turned into weapons accessories or heavily armed GI Joes become stay-at-home dads who support Barbie’s hectic career as a fashion designer know what I’m talking about. And we now know that male monkeys would rather play with trucks than stuffed animals. It’s strange how these minor indicators that gender matters would be so threatening to some people, when in the end we’re talking about toys and play. We seem to have no problem accepting that adult men and women have different tastes–unless there’s a vast male fanbase for “Deperate Housewives” that I’m unaware of.
Personally, I feel like this particular tempest in a tea party comes from the classic feminist double standard. It’s fine (good even) to celebrate what it means to be a girl or woman, whether that means that we’re breaking stereotypes or reclaiming them. But to point out that boys are different gets us into threatening territory, even if that difference is only about plastic trucks.
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