Giving Kids Control of Play

Here is a link to a NPR audio file and article that deal with giving kindergarten students control of play for development of working memory and cognitive flexibility (executive functions): Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control.

Spying on a Teacher

Parents of a 4-year old decided to spy on a teacher after repeated citations from the school concerning the child's behavior. Here is a link to the ABC video: Spying on a Teacher.

How Low Can We Go?

More and more I'm being convinced that adults are trying to make kids into little adults. I saw this story concerning a kindergarten student being suspended for wearing a mohawk hair cut. Upon reading the article, I learned that the charter school also have kindergarten students wearing uniforms. I wonder whether all these restrictions on very young children have the net effect of causing children to later "act out."

Sleepless in Day Care

Science Daily on line is reporting that a study of 300 preschoolers at the University of Rochester School of Nursing indicates that preschoolers who lack adequate sleep may have more injuries. It is worth noting that children ages 3-6 need to have 11 or more hours of sleep according to the National Sleep Foundation per the article in Science Daily.

Babies Count

A February 9, 2008 NewScientist on-line summary of a research article, Babies Reveal Natural Gift for Numbers, is indicating at infants as young as three months are able to respond to situation requiring processing of quantities. Apparently, infants use the same region of their brains as adults to process numbers. A subscription is required to view the entire article.

Building Blocks

The New York Times (February 10, 2008--Sunday Edition) has an article in the style section (p. 11) concerning Freiedrich Froebel's gift's--the theme for this blog. [Remember Froebel is considered the Father of the Kindergarten concept.] The gifts are actually wooden blocks for children that invites open-ended play. The Times article, Long Before Legos, Wood Was Nice and Did Suffice, is written by David Colman and captures the childhood experiences of designer Tucker Viemeister who used the wooden blocks as a child. Viemeister reminisces about playing with the blocks and saving them for his children. The article is a nice reminder that simple toys can be cherished and become part of the family, much unlike electronic toys that have very short lifespans.

Decay-Fighting Lollipop

Last summer I visited local herbal stores searching for sugar-free candy or healthy candy to give kids in programs that I had designed. I was dismayed when I learned that none of the local shops had "good" candy to offer. I then searched on line for recipes that a novice cook could make. Again, I was disappointed when I found no source.

Today I struck gold when I visited Science Daily and found an article highlighting that Wenjuan Shi, a UCLA microbiologist, had developed a decay-fighting lollipop. The article mentioned that the candy was being sold, and I found a Web location (The Future of Things) that provided additional information concerning the candy including the opportunity to order the candy. Yippee!

Underestimating Kids

Two articles of studies concerning young children have caught my attention on the Science Daily Web site. In both study I question whether up to this point as a society we have underestimated young children's learning capability. In the first study, Children As Young As Three Can Navigate Successfully Outdoors, Study Shows, children as young as as 3 years of age were able to decode landmarks to find positions ouside. Scientists thought such skills were developed at alater age.

In the other study that piqued my curiosity, New Thoughts On Language Acquisition: Toddlers As Data Miners, researchers learned that young children may develop language not at the rate of one word at a time. Instead, young children in the study seem to sort though information for patterns to form language.

I'm wondering whether we have been assuming that young childern's learning is linear and as a result we try to force that pattern on them and may have not credited them for learning; perhaps we have even limited their learning.

Moms Need to Listen to Their Children

A study at Vanderbilt University (Bethany Ritter-Johnson lead author) found that mothers can help their children learn better by asking their children to explain school work. The act of explaining the information while mothers listen helped children to learn information better and even solve more challenging problems later. The researchers believe that any caregiver listening may have the same effect as mothers in the study. Read more in an article at Science Daily (Kids Learn More When Mom is Listening).

PBS New On-Line Neighborhood for Preschoolers

I just read an article (by Mike Snider of USA Today) that highlights a new PBS on-line site for preschoolers. I went to the "PBS Kids Play" site and discovered that the site's activities are subscription based, but is currently being beta tested.

I knew it was only a matter of time for a service like this since the cost of providing activities on line is less costly than CDs or VHS tapes, etc. Also, the children's on-line market is fertile ground for marketing.

Even though I support computer use for young children, I strongly think that just as television, it should supplement not replace direct face-to-face instruction. We need to remember that there is so much more than lesson content that students learn in face-to-face instruction with teachers, particularly parents.

Children's Personality Set by Pre-School Level?

MSNBC on line has an article titled Personality May Be Set by Preschool by Linda Carroll, which presents some interesting information concerning personality development. This longitudinal study, spanning 19 years, followed 103 children from age 4 to their early 20s. Within the study, children were divided between three personality categories: undercontrolled (shy), overcontrolled (aggressive) and resilient (balanced). Over the years children in the study developed skills to allow their behavior to be socially acceptable; however, their personality essentially remained the same.

As with may studies, there is room for critics to question why other factors weren't included in the research. I think the study has value in that it provides insights over time and offers notes for parents and teachers to help children cope with pitfalls in life regardless the personality type. The one caution I have is that we take care when labeling children along personality lines. Often do so has damaging effects on children.

Those Computer Kids

I was scanning the Slashdot Web site for my daily shot of tech news, and came upon an article concerning children's Internet search skills as reported in a press release of a British study. Many adults will concede that even very young children are highly tech savvy when compared to many adults. There is a difference between the two groups, however, in using the Internet to search for information. Even though many kids are proficient in using the Internet for searches, they don't seem to use analytical skills to determine the quality of information they find and aren't patience enough to take time to cross check information.

Years ago in each education course I took I head the mantra that educators need to teach students critical thinking skills. Even television news reports and magazine articles touted this need. These days I don't hear much talk about teaching students critical thinking skills--Florida State standards does include this requirement though. I think about our failure as a society each time I see a news report about students being caught in scams on Facebook or Myspace. Yes, our children are handy with computers, but to what end? Moreover, schools are challenged to teach these skills to students within the time students are in their care, but what about the responsibility of parents under with whom kids have the greater amount of time?
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Children Who Choosing to Smoke

An article in Science Daily (Jan 18, 2008) titled Exposure to Smoking in Movies Influences Kids Lighting Up indicates that children watching smoking behavior in movies help them determine to smoke later. The common thought has been that children make a decision to smoke at the adolescent age level. The research revealed that children are influenced at a much earlier age. Moreover, the study found that the influence to smoke is from "youth-rated movies. The article recommends that parents should limit children's view of movies that contain smoking. Somehow that recommendation seems impossible to me. I think a better recommendation is that parents have continued dialogue with children about the pitfalls of smoking while setting an example by not smoking.

Girls Behaving Badly

NPR (National Public Radio) on line has an audio story (Aggression Becoming More Common in Girls by Sandy Hausman) that caused to me to wonder how effectively we are addressing girl's aggressive behavior. Here is the link to the story: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18112648

For quite a while I've thought that as a society, we have glorified violence under the banner "that just who we are." Now girls are believing that being aggressive to the point of being violent is a sign of equality with boys. Moreover, Sandy Hausman reports that fights between girls are even treated differently than fights between boys in school. Hausman indicates that schools routinely suspend or expel boys, but are more lenient on girls in fighting situations.

I guess I'm wondering whether we should be sending a message to girls from pre-school onward that equality with boys does not mean behaving just as badly. In the meantime schools should treat girls in similar ways as boys for aggressive behavior to demonstrate equality.

Food Allergies in Children

I've been curious about children's food allergies for quite a while. I have a niece of whom I've know for at least 40 years that she is allergic to eggs. I couldn't understand how that was possible as we grew up--I'm from a large family of brothers and sisters and have nieces near my age. Increasingly, children are being reported as having allergies than in years prior.

Today (January 9, 2008) the New York Times printed an article by Kim Severson titled "Food Allergies Stir a Mother to Action." The article highlights the actions of Robyn O'Brien, a mother active in addressing foods that trigger allergies in children. Here is the link to the article, but you need to log in to the Times Web site to read it: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/09/dining/09alle.html?pagewanted=2&_r=5&th&emc=th

According to the article, Robyn O'Brien advocates throwing out nonorganic food to help children with allergies. However, food companies and other groups counter with the fact that research doesn't indicate that the problem is within the food.

I find it amazing that this discussion has continued for years and still little definitive research has been completed. Moreover, I don't trust any research from any organization that receives money directly or indirectly from the food industry. The sad point is that as adults have this food fight, children suffer.

Traffic Fumes Affect Children

NewScientist on line is citing a study that indicates that traffic fume still is hazardous to children years after the band on lead in fuel. Apparently, the soot particles from vehicles have a negative effect on children's.

Disorganized Boys

A New York Times article by Alan Finder on January 1, 2008 (Giving Disorganized Boys the Tools for Success) indicates that many middle school and high school boys are disorganized to the point that it negatively impacts their grades. My question is: How did these boys get the way? I'm thinking that early in their schooling these boys were allowed to be disorganized--"boys will be boys"--and as a consequence never developed the habit of being organized. The easy and long-term fix for this problem is one that requires boys to conform to organizational rituals from first grade onward.

While reading the article, I wondered how many of these disorganized boys are ADHD.

Here is a link to the article, but you will need to have and sign up for an account if you don't have one already: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/01/education/01boys.html?pagewanted=1&_r=5&th&emc=th

Last Words for 2007

As I reflect on 2007 as it relates to children, I think there are reasons to be concerned. A major problem is the lack of governmental support in identifying tainted toys. When I listen closely to Nancy Nord, Acting Chairperson of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, I get the impression that her job is to protect businesses and not the consumer. With more and more products being identified as being tainted with lead or other harmful substances, I think things will get worse before they get better. I've heard Oprah remark many times that "When you know better, you do better. I'm not too sure that is the case with protection of children against tainted toys and adults as well.

Also, I think more creative thinking is needed in childcare. I just read an article in the New York Times titled Bright Ideas, which highlights how we often fail to think outside the box, career field notwithstanding. I think this situation is prevalent in early childhood education. As a local certification authority for Child Development Associate (CDA) eligible students, I was able to visit many childcare locations. After a while, I could predict what apparatus I would see in the next location on my list. Moreover, many of these products were made in China. I believe the same instructional ends can be achieved with a wider range of products, perhaps made in the US.

All in all, 2007 was good for me as it relates to child development because I'm not clear that helping children in same way is a central purpose in my life. I'm very anxious to see how 2008 will unfold for children. I know I'll do my part toward helping to create safe products and positive environments for children.

Happy New Year to All!!!

Children and Colors

When a NY Times article indicated that the Pantone Color Institute had announced the Color of the year as Iris blue: http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/pantone.aspx?pg=20540&ca=10, I decided to check more into colors as they relate to children. I have been annoyed that we have chosen to make children's toys in primary colors as the rest of the world they interact with is painted in a kaleidoscope of colors. I guess the argument could be made that primary colors could be mixed to make other colors; however, that is a cop out in my view. In any case, I have decided to develop activities for young children using every imaginable color. My thinking is that children will find the wide rangie of choices refreshing. The Pantone Color Institute also has a link to a 2001 article concerning children and color with an angle to 9/11.

How to Praise Children

Good information concerning praising children.