Lead Exposure in Children May Lead to Later Crimes

I first became aware of the link between lead exposure in children and later crimes from the book by Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner--both are economists and have expanded the book's ideas and more within their Web site: Freakonomics. Just today, however, a new article titled Lead Exposure in Children Linked to Violent Crimes at TruthOut.org provided additional data supporting the impact of children's exposure to lead, even in small amounts.

Prior to Christmas last year numerous news reports highlighted the problem of lead in toys from China. Since that time, the news coverage has dwindled.

Help Mediate Allergies With Early Exposure to Cats

Here is an article highlighting research concerning curbing children's allergies with early exposure to cats.

An Approach to the Environment That I Like

An Ancient Native American Proverb:

Treat the Earth well.
It was not given to you by your parents;
It was loaned to you by your children.
We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors;
We borrow it from our Children.

Reading Aloud to Young Children

Here is more evidence that parents who read aloud to preschool children are helping to enhance those children's language and literacy skills.

Benefits for Children Speaking More Than One Language

I always thought people who speak more than one language are smarter than those speaking only one. For one reason or another, I've made attempts to learn quite a few languages other than English: Spanish, German, Swahili, and Arabic. I haven't become proficient in any of them although I got by a bit in Germany for two years with displaying some knowledge of German verbs and nouns.

Apparently, children who speak more than one language benefit later in life in having stronger cognitive abilities according to a study at Tel Aviv University (Science Digest, May 7, 2008 article). Read more here.

What Are Children Reading?

Have you wondered what books children are reading around the U.S.? Well, Jay Matthews. writing for the Washington Post, provides the results of a recent survey that reviewed U.S children's reading patterns. As a Dr. Seuss devotee, I was happy to see that children still enjoy Dr. Seuss's writings.

Ideas on Raising an Optimistic Child

The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California at Berkley has information concerning raising an optimistic child. I believe some of us are born with optimism hardwired in our genes and some of us learn to be optimistic.